Most Recent: Art-Universe (The) #21 – With a Flourish – posted 12/24/2024 see summary below
A Lifetime of Unhappiness – by Faust
Summary: Gravely hurt and completely helpless, Adam finds himself at the mercy of a person from his past who seeks nothing but revenge. And for once, there’s no chance he’ll talk his way out of it. In the end it might come down to who’s more determined; and Adam surely won’t give up. No, he won’t, will he?
7,500 words, Rating: T
Summary: Wisdom has different faces. So has solace. Especially on a sunny Sunday afternoon at the lake. 1,300 words,
Rating: K
Art-Universe (The) # 1 – The Art of Horse Selling – by Faust
Summary: Adam Cartwright has a lot of things to deal with: burglars, unwanted newspaper articles about his family, and someone who doesn’t want to saddle a horse. Will he at least be able to survive the whole mess? A WHN for Enter Mark Twain, in a way.
31,100 words, rated T
Art-Universe (The) # 2 – The Missing Week or The Art of Convalescing – by Faust
Summary: The way to recovery can be stony. But sometimes obstacles come from the most unexpected origins. And just how many times will Doctor Martin have to come to the Ponderosa to patch up Adam once again?
16,750 words, rated T
Art-Universe (The) # 3 – The Art of Setting Priorities – by Faust
Summary: Both Adam Cartwright and Juliet Heatherstone encounter someone from their past, with grievous impact on their lives. Where will they set their Priorities? Life or honour? Safety of a once-in-a-lifetime offer or perchance to dream of even more?
58,200 words, rated T.
Art-Universe (The) # 4 – A Warm Welcome – by Faust
Summary: An American in England, lukewarm beer, and haunting experiences. Is it possible to adjust with people who insist you’re from “the colonies?” Halloween story, a PS for “The Art of Setting Priorities,”.
3,000 words, rated K
Art-Universe (The) # 5 – Somewhere Beyond the Sea or The Art of the Impossible – by Faust
Summary: Prequel set in Adam’s college years in Boston. A formal ball, a friendly social, a red dress, a flamingo, and the sea, the sea! The beginning of Adam’s complicated love life, and, somewhere beyond the sea, someone’s first tentative steps into becoming The Queen. Can be read by itself, yet it is a part of the “Art” series, and best read after “The Art of Setting Priorities”
12,750 words, rated K.
Art-Universe (The) # 6 – Home Sweet Home or The Art of Settling Down – by Faust
Summary: Clementine Hawkins’ story – how an English artist came to settle down in Virginia City. And what is it with her and Ben Cartwright? Set in the Art-universe, but definitely a stand-alone.
1,800 words, rated T
Art-Universe (The) # 7 – The Art of Serenading – by Faust
Summary: Adam tries to serenade The One — if she’d only let him.
1,250 words, rated K.
Art-Universe (The) # 7a – Flowers – by Faust
Summary: Five women, five flowers, each of them holding a special meaning.
990 words, rated: K+
Art-Universe (The) # 7b – What Matters – by Faust
Summary: Three times it didn’t matter that he loved her, and the one time it did.
630 words, rated K
Art-Universe (The) # 7c – The Art of Bronco Busting – by Faust
Summary: It might look like everyday business, but it’s more, much more. Ben makes some quite interesting observations, and Juliet learns something, too.
2,300 words Rated: K
Art-Universe (The) # 8 – The Art of Belonging – by Faust
Summary: After a long day out in the rain, Adam longs for more than a hot drink and a hearty meal, and he knows where he’ll find it. # 8 in the series.
4,400 words, rated K
Art-Universe (The) # 9 – The Art of Giving – by Faust
Summary: Christmas on the Ponderosa is, more or less, always the same. Yet this year, there’s a certain moment of unpredictability: there’s a visitor staying over the holidays who could jeopardise it all…or make it extra special. And maybe she even knows a better present for Adam than yet another book….
3,200 words, rated K
Art-Universe (The) #10 – The Art of Mopping, Making Tea and Keeping Your Sanity – by Faust
Summary: Like so many before it, the day began uneventfully, quietly, normally. But nothing would ever be the same again.
4,250 words, rated K.
Art-Universe (the) #11 – Early One Morning – by Faust
Summary: Early one morning Adam muses about where his home is—and why.
1,100 words, rated K+
Art-Universe (The) #11a – Night Duty or the Art of Living the Moment – by Faust
Summary: “You go.” Dreaded words, Juliet knew that, but Adam simply had to admit that this night’s duty had lain heavily on her shoulders and to understand it was his turn to pacify their unhappy child.
Art-Universe (The) #12 – Oh Brother, Where Art Thou? or The Art of Love and War – by Faust
Summary: Adam embarks on an adventure his family had not expected him to — although maybe they should have. And now they all have to watch helplessly as their once peaceful world shatters around them..
74,600 words, rated T
Art-Universe (the) #12a – Gettysburg – by Faust
Summary: A dying man’s last thoughts, a family’s grief…and a glimpse of hope? Warning: character death
1,400 words, rated T
Art-Universe (the) #13 – What Do You Tell Your Children? or The Art of Explaining – by Faust
Summary: There’ll come a time your children ask questions, uncomfortable questions. And then you might find answers that’ll help you, too, to cope with what was and is.
970 words, rated T
Art-Universe (The) #13a – Fortuna Smiles – by Faust
Summary: Written for the prompt: Adam wins the lottery. And that’s all there is to it.
800 words, rated K+
Art-Universe (The) #14 – The Birds and The Bees – by Faust
Summary: Some questions are easier to answer than others. And it doesn’t help that Adam is entirely on his own when his son asks this particular one.
1,650 words, rated K
Art-Universe (The) #14a – Bushwhacked or The Art of Negotiating – by Faust
Summary: On coming home after a long day out, Adam find things are not quite as they should be. There is someone lurking, someone with evil intentions. But as Adam realises that, it’s too late already to stop the inevitable.
1,200 words, rated K
Art-Universe (The) #15 – The Eyebrow of Doom – by Faust
Summary: Bankrobbers, mysterious family secrets, burnt food, some new additions to the household, and even two shot wounds — what else could possibly make a six-year-old’s summer more interesting?
10,700 words, rated K
Art-Universe (The) #15a – Snow – by Faust
Summary: Written for the 2016 Bonanza Brand Advent Calendar.
Rating: K 2,180 words
Art-Universe (The) #16 – Fortuna’s Children and Other Lucky Creatures – by Faust
Summary: It’s a scandal, that much is certain, and Adam becomes aware of it only when it’s much too late to do anything about it. But that doesn’t mean he can’t get agitated. Even though, taking everything in account….
Rating: K 2,300 words
Art-Universe (The) # 16a – Christmas Magic – by Cheaux (special guest author)
Summary: There’s disappointment when the Cartwrights can’t be home on Christmas Eve.
Written for the 2017 Advent Calendar
Rating: G 1,600 words
Art-Universe (The) #17 – Broken Sugar Bowl – by Faust
Summary: A Christmas continuation of The Art Universe
Written for the 2018 Advent Calendar
Rating: G 2,280 words
Art-Universe (The) #18 – Heirlooms – by faust
Summary: The most treasured family heirloom are our sweet family memories.
Rating: G 3,115 words
Note: This story was written for the Bonanza Brand 2020 Advent Calendar, originated in the Forums.
Art-Universe (The) #19 – The Icicle of Doom – by faust
Summary: Those often ridiculed have vulnerable souls, too. Who better than a Cartwright to acknowledge that?
Rating: G Words 1,860
Written for the 2022 Bonanza Brand Advent Calendar
A continuation of The Art-Universe, links to all stories included within
Art-Universe #20 – To Build a House – by faust
Summary: It’s suddenly Christmas, and Adam has to come up with an alternative plan. The solution is quite a surprise, but one enjoyed by the whole family.
Rating: G Words: 2,785
Part of the Art-Universe
Written for the Bonanza Brand 2023 Advent Calendar
Art-Universe (The) #21 – With a Flourish – faust
Summary: A Christmas continuation of The Art Universe
Rating: G 3,410 words
Written for the 2024 Bonanza Brand Advent Calendar
Summary: What has happened that has changed Adam so much? A story about the ravages of life and the endurance of love with references to ‘Triangle’ and ‘Forever.’
9,500 words, Rating: T
Summary: Adam is coming home, but not everyone seems eager to meet him. Joe rather goes fishing.,
Rating: K. 1,100 words
Summary: Celebrating Adam’s birthday was always a somewhat strained affair. But the new addition to the family didn’t know that, and so something new happens that has everyone holding their breaths.
Rating: K 870 words
Summary: Hoss talks to Adam while taking care of him. Ben faces the unthinkable. And copes.
Rating: K.. 1,300 words
Summary: Growing up isn’t easy. Two vignettes, two times in Joe’s life when he is forced to mature—and he’s all on his own. Or is he?
Rating: T. 1,250 words
Summary: “You gotta be smart, boy, fast…” Who outsmarts whom?
870 words, rated K
Summary: Adam muses about church bells. Or about his family?
730 words, rated K
Summary: Roy Coffee has his reasons for doing what he does. Really, he has.
700 words, rated K
Summary: It’s the end. The end of everything–or is it? No KAOS in this story. Honestly!
700 words, rated K
Summary: Adam’s first love is different from what one would expect – or is it?
720 words, rated K
Summary: Most people thought Adam wasn’t a gambler. They thought wrong.
1,800 words, rated K+
Summary: Baby Joe has need of a crocheted blanket, at least that’s what Hoss concludes, and he has an exact idea who’s going to bring on one…enter Adam.
Written for Day 4 of the 2021 Advent Calendar
Rating: G 2,540 words
Summary: All Joe wanted was some blackberry pie; was that too much to ask for?
Rating: T mild violence and a mention of blood
Word Count: 2659
Summary: He was special, even among the special men: his father. If only….
1,600 words, rated T
Summary: After so many years, Adam is coming home.
540 words, rated T
Summary: Hope is the thing with feathers…it falls into your lap, but is blown away so easily.
1,650 words, rated T
Summary: What if things had gone differently the night Adam had wooed Abigail Jones? What impact can a lost horse shoe, a squirrel and a spider have on a blossoming romance? And had Faust gone completely bonkers?
4,000 words, rated K
Summary: There are lots of things that could possibly go wrong in a nativity play, but the reverend certainly hadn’t expected that.
2,000 words, rated K
Summary: Adam and Joe are caught in a cave in. Adam is not amused.
Rating: K+ Word Count: 3,937
Summary: How can one get through the self-loathing and grief at a time like this?
Written for the 2019 Advent Calendar
Rating: G Word Count: 2,070
Summary: Christmas invitations extend beyond the borders of the Ponderosa.
Written for the 2017 Advent Calendar
Rating: G 2,800 words
Not a Political Man – by Faust
Summary: Yet another discussion with Adam prompts Joe into doing something rash and potentially life-threatening—and into thinking more about politics than he ever wanted to.
2,600 words, rated K 2,605 words
Summary: No one signed up for the fourth, so this day was opened to all members in the Forums to try their hand at writing poetry for the season.
Rating: G 230 words
Written for the 2024 Bonanza Brand Advent Calendar
Summary: Adam’s fate is sealed. Written for the Pinecone Challenge. The first sentence was given and had to be developed into a story. This is the slightly polished version.
650 words, rated K
Summary: Most unexpectedly, a trip to the barbershop with Little Joe brings Adam new appreciation of his little brother’s personality. An earthquake seems to play a major part in this…
3,000 words, rated K
Summary: Adam recovers after having been ill at Christmas. Enter Hoss’s bedside manners, lots of Britishness, a little boy, and an orange. Bliss.
1,225 words, rated K
Summary: Saturday night, Adam and Hoss got stranded in an abandoned cabin, and what Adam wants most is a bath. And hadn’t Hoss just reckoned that? But there’s more at stake than just washing off road dust.
Rating: PG / Word count: 6,223
Summary: Adam decides to join the Federal Army and has to deal with the consequences. A story of losses and miracles, told in ten vignettes.
3,300 words, rated T
Summary: A young widower, a small child, and a wonderful gift.
840 words, rated K
Summary: To what length will Adam go to prove a stranger’s innocence?
Word count: 9,499
