{"id":36640,"date":"2021-06-27T11:57:22","date_gmt":"2021-06-27T15:57:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=36640"},"modified":"2025-09-25T15:38:34","modified_gmt":"2025-09-25T19:38:34","slug":"springtime-vignettes-by-ac1830","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=36640","title":{"rendered":"Springtime Vignettes (by AC1830)"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Summary: A collection of three vignettes based on three Springtime themes &#8211; mud, allergies, and memories.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p>Rating: K, Word Count: 2676<\/p>\n<p><!--more--><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center\"><strong>Springtime Vignettes<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">#1 &#8211; Spring Mud<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Based on a discussion and challenge in the Brand forums, I wrote this story in 2nd person POV.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The Prompt: You step down from the Overland Stage and are greeted by [name someone] who [does something]. \u00a0 You [react].<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center\"><b>Mud!<\/b><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">You step down from the Overland Stage and are greeted by your father who sees your warm smile turn upside down as your boots sink into the muddy street. He tosses you a slicker, grabs your bag, and makes for the buggy while hollering over his shoulder, \u201cLet\u2019s get out of here before it gets any worse!\u201d \u00a0 You release an audible groan when you tug your feet loose and trudge over to the waiting vehicle. Thank goodness Pa had the sense to bring something with a cover and not the buck board or, heaven forbid, the horses.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The ride is silent for most of the way home as you split your time between watching Pa maneuver the buggy over the sodden road and looking out at the dismal, dripping landscape. A deep sigh sneaks out when Pa mentions it all started the day you left for California. That was a week ago. When you finally arrive at the house, you seriously wish you were back in the warm sun and balmy sea breezes of San Francisco.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">After settling back home and going over the new contracts with Pa, the real fun begins. The rain abates just a little but you know it would take a month or more for the ground to dry out. Each day you, Hoss, and Joe head out to check the herd and pull stuck cattle out of mud pits or swollen watering holes. And each night each of you fight over who is the dirtiest and therefore gets the tub first. Hop Sing settles it with a rotating schedule and enforces it with a stern look and the threat of no bath for whoever breaks the rule. When you finally get your turn in the tub you soak as long as you can to get the blasted mud out of all the places it should never have gotten into in the first place.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">After a week of all this, the sun breaks through one morning and its rays coming through the open curtains in your bedroom nearly blind you. You leap from your bed and stare at the cloudless blue sky. Throwing your eyes upward in thanks you quickly dress and head to breakfast, a new found spring in each step.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">At the table as you dig into your ham and eggs, Pa makes an announcement. \u201cAdam, would you take the contracts back to San Francisco? I want everything in place before roundup begins.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Slipping your mask into place to hide your disappointment at not being able to stay home and enjoy the sunshine, you respond quietly. \u201cSure. When do I need to leave?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u201cBy the end of the week should be sufficient. Make sure to come right back since we\u2019ll need you for roundup.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u201cSure, Pa.\u201d Well at least you have a few days to enjoy the fresh Spring air. Then a thought hits you and you recall how nice the city was when you left. A smile creeps in and you find breakfast tasting better already as you reach for a biscuit and jam.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">A few days later, the stage finally arrives in San Francisco. It\u2019s been an arduous journey as the driver navigated the last of the muddy roads. The last leg of the trip is smoother so you stretch out and doze since you are the only passenger left. When the stage rocks to a stop you grab your bag and plant a smile on your face as you can already smell the sea air. The door pops open and you freeze. Why is the station manager looking dour and holding an umbrella over the door? Resisting the urge to lock yourself in the coach for the return trip, you smile your thanks and step down&#8230;into the mud. Couldn\u2019t the driver at least have gotten close to the boardwalk? As a string of forbidden words fill your head, you decide that next winter and spring you will hibernate in Mexico!\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">=======================<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">#2 &#8211; Spring Allergies\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center\"><b>Spring Fever<\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Adam loved Spring in the Sierras. The sky changed from slate to azure and was filled with cotton ball clouds. The wildflowers and tender grasses created a patchwork of color in the valleys. The air smelled sweet and carried the happiness of bird song and animal chatter.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">On one glorious day in May, Adam helped Clara Watkins up the last of the rocky path and together they settled on a flat boulder to gaze at the newborn earth below. This was his last Spring before heading to college in the East and Clara had just arrived from there to start a new life in the West. They had known each other about a month and Adam felt it was time to show her his favorite spot on the Ponderosa.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u201cOh my, Adam, this is breathtaking. I feel as though I\u2019m on top of the world. If I were a hawk I would never land.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Adam grinned as he slipped his arm around her waist. Noting she leaned toward him he nuzzled her ear then gently touched it with his lips. Clara giggled and swiveled toward him leaving a mere inch between their faces. Adam watched her eyes flutter shut as he floated closer. When their lips touched she moaned quietly and he felt his heart beat faster. After that first kiss, she rested her head on his shoulder as he played with her braided auburn hair.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">An hour later they descended to the colorful field near the lake below them to pick wildflowers and play a game of tag. Falling into the flowers the couple kissed again before laying on their backs gasping for air and staring at the deep blue sky.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Adam turned to gaze upon Clara\u2019s beauty framed by the purple, yellow, and red flowers. \u201cYou\u2019re beautiful laying here among the flowers.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">She rolled closer to him and smiled. \u201cYour tawny eyes reflect the sun and life itself.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Adam pulled her body to his and trailed kisses over her cheeks and lips. She responded in kind, until a shout broke the romantic tryst.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u201cAdam, where are ya? I saw you an\u2019 Miss Clara heading this way. Pa says you\u2019re late gettin\u2019 home and he sent me to find ya.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u201cYeah, you better come now or you\u2019re gonna get it from Pa.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Panic broke the two would-be lovers apart and Adam whispered frantically. \u201cThat\u2019s Hoss and Joe. If they find us like this we\u2019ll never hear the end of it.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Clara could only nod as she tried to squelch her fears of being discovered in a compromising position by Adam\u2019s younger brothers. The couple separated and lay quite still, holding their breath. Both could hear the boys moving around the field and getting closer.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Just as Adam felt sure his brothers were moving away, Clara let out a stifled squeak, and then another. Adam rolled his head to the side to look at her and was aghast to see her rubbing her eyes and nose. He reached for her hand to stop the movement when she released a full blown sneeze. That brought the brothers running just as Adam arose from the flowers pulling Clara with him.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u201cAdam! What\u2019re you and Clara hidin\u2019 in them flowers for?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u201cNot a word from either of you. Clara and I fell, and then she started sneezing. Looks like she\u2019s allergic to the flowers. I\u2019m going to get her to the lake to wash her face. You two go home and tell Pa we\u2019ll be there straight away.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">When Hoss and Joe continued to stare at the young lady with her braided hair coming loose and puffy lips, and Adam\u2019s shirt with one extra button undone, Adam reached out to spin them around, yelling in the process. \u201cI said scram!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The boys didn\u2019t need to be told twice. \u201cHoss, did you see\u2026?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u201cI didn\u2019t see nothin, and neither did you. We just tell Pa that Adam\u2019s comin\u2019 home right behind us.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Thirty minutes later, Adam drove the buggy into the yard. He noted his father and Mister Watkins were in deep conversation on the porch. He helped Clara down and escorted her to her father.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u201cWell, Adam, it&#8217;s about time you got home.\u201d Ben\u2019s dark eyes burned into his son.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u201cClara, what happened child? Are you hurt?\u201d Her father took her face in his hands to get a better look at her puffy eyes and lips, and red cheeks.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u201cI\u2019m fine, Father. Adam and I were walking in a field of wildflowers and after bending down to smell several of them I got like this. Adam says it\u2019s an allergy. He took me to the lake to wash my face and hands, and I feel much better now. At least the sneezing has stopped.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u201cAdam, is this true?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u201cYes, sir.\u201d He locked eyes with Mister Watkins to avoid his father\u2019s scrutinizing gaze.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u201cWell, we best get you home. Thank you, Adam, for acting quickly to help my daughter. Why don\u2019t you and your father join us for dinner after church tomorrow.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Ben had moved closer to Adam and placed a strong arm around his son\u2019s shoulders. \u201cThank you, Matthew. We would love to come. Is it alright if Hoss and Joe come too?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u201cOf course, the more the merrier.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">With their own child safely ensconced in their arms the two fathers exchanged satisfied glances while Adam and Clara exchanged worried glances that spoke volumes&#8230;the fathers didn\u2019t believe a word of their tale.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Just before the buggy rolled out of the yard, Clara looked back with a quick smile. Adam saw it and winked back. They may not have completely fooled their fathers but Adam and Clara had enjoyed every minute of their time together.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">=======================<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">#3 &#8211; Spring Memories\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center\"><b>Timely Treasures<\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Spring cleaning was a ritual that had been ingrained in Adam\u2019s life since he was a child, thanks to the family cook and general caretaker, Hop Sing. Even now, with his own family, they followed the ritual for one week out of the year.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Temporarily sharing his father\u2019s home until his own family home was complete, Adam was once again drawn into the annual ritual. He was almost finished going through boxes and trunks he had left at the house during his travels. After dinner, while his wife and children were outside enjoying the Spring evening, he sat in the middle of his bedroom room floor going through one last trunk. Everything in it smelled musty but was otherwise in fairly good shape. Once the papers and old clothes had been sorted he found several packages wrapped in oil cloth. Retrieving one and gently removing the cloth he found a collection of small faded books. As he thought hard about when he had received these books a memory was triggered\u2026<\/span><\/p>\n<p><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u201cTime for Spring Clean. Everybody clean own rooms upstairs. Hop Sing very busy downstairs.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u201cYou know my room is spotless.\u201d\u00a0 Adam leapt onto the stairs to avoid having his backside swatted by the venerable cook\u2019s rag. Continuing upstairs, Adam smiled back at his friend.\u00a0<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">That evening while a cool Spring breeze wafted through his bedroom window, Adam strummed his guitar.\u00a0 A quiet knock interrupted the peaceful moment.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u201cCome in.\u201d<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Peering around the door Ben slipped into the room. \u201cI take it you\u2019ve finished cleaning?\u201d<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Adam gave a lopsided smile, continuing to play his guitar. When Ben remained silent, Adam stopped strumming and noticed the books his father held. \u201cWhat are those?\u201d<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">As he leaned his guitar against the nightstand, Ben pulled a chair around and sat down.\u00a0 \u201cI was cleaning out my old sea trunk which hasn\u2019t been opened in years. I found these under my uniform.\u201d\u00a0 He held them out for Adam to take.\u00a0 <\/span><\/i><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u201cThey\u2019re journals, son.\u00a0 They belonged to your mother.\u00a0 I thought this would be a good time to share them with you.\u00a0 Keep them for as long as you like, Adam.\u00a0 I want you to have time to get to know your mother. <\/span><\/i><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">There are more but I thought you\u2019d like to begin with these.\u201d<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Dark eyebrows rose in curiosity as Adam took the books.\u00a0 The patterns on the covers were faded and the leather binding was split.\u00a0 Gently laying the two bottom books aside Adam reverently opened the top one and began reading.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u2018I have met the most wonderful man.\u00a0 He\u2019s tall, has the warmest brown eyes and the deepest voice.\u00a0 Thoughts of him fill my waking hours and my dreams.\u00a0 Alas, he is a sailor on my father\u2019s ship so my dreams are all I have at the moment.\u00a0 I don\u2019t know if Father would approve of my heart\u2019s desire but I know Ben will keep his promise and convince him that we would make the most wonderful couple.\u00a0 The ship is due to arrive tomorrow after being gone for months.\u00a0 I am so impatient to see him again, to be held in his strong arms and become lost in his soulful eyes.\u00a0 Oh Benjamin, my love, may the waves speed you back to me post haste&#8230;\u2019<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Later that night, Ben noticed Adam\u2019s light was still on.\u00a0 He knocked, then entered slowly when no answer came.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u201cAdam?\u201d\u00a0 Ben found his son leaning his head against the window, staring past his reflection into the black night.\u00a0 The first journal lay on his bed still on the first page.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u201cI can\u2019t do it, Pa.\u00a0 When I read the lines her voice somehow fills my head and it becomes overwhelming.\u00a0 These are memories and stories I should have heard as a child, that I\u2026.I missed out on.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Ben saw Adam\u2019s shoulders slump and shudder. He moved closer and rested a hand on his son\u2019s shoulder and quietly spoke, \u201cSon, memories are nothing more than ghosts that we let in.\u201d* He gently placed the worn book into Adam\u2019s hand. \u201cDon&#8217;t be afraid of them.*<\/span><\/i><b><i>\u00a0 <\/i><\/b><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">These are your mother\u2019s memories &#8211; embrace them. Let her embrace you.\u201d<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">After a few moments Adam gave his father a crooked smile that reminded Ben so much of Elizabeth\u2019s smile. Adam returned to his bed and opened the book once more.\u00a0 This time, though, Ben remained and together, long into the night, father and son relived the life that was Elizabeth Stoddard Cartwright&#8230;<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">As the memory faded, Adam caressed each book before opening it and scanning its pages. Lost in reading a particular passage, a knock interrupted his trip across time.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">When Adam looked up he saw his wife enter followed by his father carrying a slice of pie.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Ana sat on the bed and gazed at her husband sitting on the floor surrounded by small books and oil clothes. \u201cWhen you didn\u2019t come down for dessert I thought I should check on you. What are all these books, Adam?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Ben handed the pie to his son and reached for one of the nearest books. \u201cThese are your mother\u2019s journals. I wondered what had become of them. I\u2019m glad to know they are safe.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u201cI packed them away before I moved to Boston. Guess I forgot to tell you where they were.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Ana picked up a book near her and read the first page. \u201cAdam, these are a treasure. Will you share them with me?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Adam reached for Ana\u2019s hand to help her to the floor. Ben slipped out quietly, letting Adam share these precious memories with his wife for the first time.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Adam chose a different book from the one he had been reading. \u201cLet\u2019s start at the beginning.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">For the next couple of hours, Elizabeth Stoddard Cartwright came to life once more for her son, and now her daughter-in-law, and one day to be shared with her grandchildren.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">&#8212;&#8212;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">*Lyrics by Bon Jovi &#8211; Memories are nothing more than ghosts that we let in. Don\u2019t be afraid of them.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Tag:\u00a0 Adam Cartwright<\/p>\n<div class=\"pvc_clear\"><\/div>\n<p id=\"pvc_stats_36640\" class=\"pvc_stats all  \" data-element-id=\"36640\" style=\"\"><i class=\"pvc-stats-icon medium\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" version=\"1.0\" viewBox=\"0 0 502 315\" preserveAspectRatio=\"xMidYMid meet\"><g transform=\"translate(0,332) scale(0.1,-0.1)\" fill=\"\" stroke=\"none\"><path d=\"M2394 3279 l-29 -30 -3 -207 c-2 -182 0 -211 15 -242 39 -76 157 -76 196 0 15 31 17 60 15 243 l-3 209 -33 29 c-26 23 -41 29 -80 29 -41 0 -53 -5 -78 -31z\"\/><path d=\"M3085 3251 c-45 -19 -58 -50 -96 -229 -47 -217 -49 -260 -13 -295 52 -53 146 -42 177 20 16 31 87 366 87 410 0 70 -86 122 -155 94z\"\/><path d=\"M1751 3234 c-13 -9 -29 -31 -37 -50 -12 -29 -10 -49 21 -204 19 -94 39 -189 45 -210 14 -50 54 -80 110 -80 34 0 48 6 76 34 21 21 34 44 34 59 0 14 -18 113 -40 219 -37 178 -43 195 -70 221 -36 32 -101 37 -139 11z\"\/><path d=\"M1163 3073 c-36 -7 -73 -59 -73 -102 0 -56 133 -378 171 -413 34 -32 83 -37 129 -13 70 36 67 87 -16 290 -86 209 -89 214 -129 231 -35 14 -42 15 -82 7z\"\/><path d=\"M3689 3066 c-15 -9 -33 -30 -42 -48 -48 -103 -147 -355 -147 -375 0 -98 131 -148 192 -74 13 15 57 108 97 206 80 196 84 226 37 273 -30 30 -99 39 -137 18z\"\/><path d=\"M583 2784 c-38 -19 -67 -74 -58 -113 9 -42 211 -354 242 -373 16 -10 45 -18 66 -18 51 0 107 52 107 100 0 39 -1 41 -124 234 -80 126 -108 162 -133 173 -41 17 -61 16 -100 -3z\"\/><path d=\"M4250 2784 c-14 -9 -74 -91 -133 -183 -95 -150 -107 -173 -107 -213 0 -55 33 -94 87 -104 67 -13 90 8 211 198 130 202 137 225 78 284 -27 27 -42 34 -72 34 -22 0 -50 -8 -64 -16z\"\/><path d=\"M2275 2693 c-553 -48 -1095 -270 -1585 -649 -135 -104 -459 -423 -483 -476 -23 -49 -22 -139 2 -186 73 -142 361 -457 571 -626 285 -228 642 -407 990 -497 242 -63 336 -73 660 -74 310 0 370 5 595 52 535 111 1045 392 1455 803 122 121 250 273 275 326 19 41 19 137 0 174 -41 79 -309 363 -465 492 -447 370 -946 591 -1479 653 -113 14 -422 18 -536 8z m395 -428 c171 -34 330 -124 456 -258 112 -119 167 -219 211 -378 27 -96 24 -300 -5 -401 -72 -255 -236 -447 -474 -557 -132 -62 -201 -76 -368 -76 -167 0 -236 14 -368 76 -213 98 -373 271 -451 485 -162 444 86 934 547 1084 153 49 292 57 452 25z m909 -232 c222 -123 408 -262 593 -441 76 -74 138 -139 138 -144 0 -16 -233 -242 -330 -319 -155 -123 -309 -223 -461 -299 l-81 -41 32 46 c18 26 49 83 70 128 143 306 141 649 -6 957 -25 52 -61 116 -79 142 l-34 47 45 -20 c26 -10 76 -36 113 -56z m-2057 25 c-40 -58 -105 -190 -130 -263 -110 -324 -59 -707 132 -981 25 -35 42 -64 37 -64 -19 0 -241 119 -326 174 -188 122 -406 314 -532 468 l-58 71 108 103 c185 178 428 349 672 473 66 33 121 60 123 61 2 0 -10 -19 -26 -42z\"\/><path d=\"M2375 1950 c-198 -44 -350 -190 -395 -379 -18 -76 -8 -221 19 -290 114 -284 457 -406 731 -260 98 52 188 154 231 260 27 69 37 214 19 290 -38 163 -166 304 -326 360 -67 23 -215 33 -279 19z\"\/><\/g><\/svg><\/i> <img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"16\" height=\"16\" alt=\"Loading\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/plugins\/page-views-count\/ajax-loader-2x.gif?resize=16%2C16&#038;ssl=1\" border=0 \/><\/p>\n<div class=\"pvc_clear\"><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Summary: A collection of three vignettes based on three Springtime themes &#8211; mud, allergies, and memories.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Rating: K, Word Count: 2676<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":8333,"featured_media":37050,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"template-full-width-post.php","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[1005,23,40],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-36640","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-adam-cartwright","category-drama","category-challenges","wpcat-1005-id","wpcat-23-id","wpcat-40-id"],"a3_pvc":{"activated":true,"total_views":911,"today_views":0},"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Springtime-Vignettes.jpg?fit=960%2C640&ssl=1","jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":2981,"url":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=2981","url_meta":{"origin":36640,"position":0},"title":"Brothers and Mud (by frasrgrl)","author":"frasrgrl","date":"April 24, 2013","format":false,"excerpt":"Summary:\u00a0 \u00a0This is my entry for April's 2013 Chaps & Spurs\/Pinecone Trifecta.A WHIB for Springtime. Have you ever wondered what happened between the brothers making a \"Joe sandwich\" and the mud fight? Well, here's my answer to it. Word Count: 708\u00a0\u00a0Rated: K","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Chaps and Spurs&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Chaps and Spurs","link":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?cat=39"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/springtime6.jpg?fit=768%2C576&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/springtime6.jpg?fit=768%2C576&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/springtime6.jpg?fit=768%2C576&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/springtime6.jpg?fit=768%2C576&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":3390,"url":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=3390","url_meta":{"origin":36640,"position":1},"title":"Remember (by Lily of the West)","author":"Lily of the West","date":"April 25, 2014","format":false,"excerpt":"Summary:\u00a0 a tender father\/son moment between Adam and Ben \u00a0 Rated:\u00a0K+ (770 words)","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Ben \/ Adam&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Ben \/ Adam","link":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?cat=1016"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":61919,"url":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=61919","url_meta":{"origin":36640,"position":2},"title":"A Wise Man Said (by JC)","author":"JC","date":"January 14, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"Summary: Insightful observations from the Journal of Hop Sing Rating: G\u00a0 \u00a0WC: 445 Venerable Hop Sing has been a mostly silent witness to pivotal Ponderosa events through the years, Cartwright triumphs, tragedies, and misadventures. But he has been taking notes. Here are a few excerpts from his journal, his observations\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Hop Sing&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Hop Sing","link":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?cat=1010"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/05\/vlcsnap-error737.png?fit=768%2C576&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/05\/vlcsnap-error737.png?fit=768%2C576&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/05\/vlcsnap-error737.png?fit=768%2C576&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/05\/vlcsnap-error737.png?fit=768%2C576&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":1582,"url":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=1582","url_meta":{"origin":36640,"position":3},"title":"Spring Forward (by the Giggly Sisters)","author":"The Giggly Sisters","date":"August 20, 2009","format":false,"excerpt":"Summary: \u00a0Paschal Musings from the Ponderosa. Rated: T \u00a0WC 1250","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Humor&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Humor","link":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?cat=4"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/bonanza31.jpg?fit=573%2C389&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/bonanza31.jpg?fit=573%2C389&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/bonanza31.jpg?fit=573%2C389&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":20238,"url":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=20238","url_meta":{"origin":36640,"position":4},"title":"To the One &#8212; A Poem by Adam Cartwright (By JC)","author":"JC","date":"March 5, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"My entry for the World Poetry Day (March 21) Challenge -- A poem by Adam Cartwright.\u00a0 Summary: The choices a man makes in his youth may be called into question over time. Rating K\u00a0 \u00a0221 words","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Poetry&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Poetry","link":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?cat=9"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/02\/coming-soon-4.jpg?fit=320%2C240&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":14347,"url":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=14347","url_meta":{"origin":36640,"position":5},"title":"Becky&#8217;s Bonanza World Anthology (by BeckyS)","author":"BeckyS","date":"January 28, 2000","format":false,"excerpt":"Summary: \u00a0The vignettes\u00a0contained within were written and posted in the long-gone Bonanza World website. \u00a0Individually, they are too short to post in the Brand Library as stand alone stories, so we have created this anthology to help preserve these stories. Rating: \u00a0G","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Short Stories&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Short Stories","link":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?cat=8"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/02\/coming-soon-4.jpg?fit=320%2C240&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/36640","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/8333"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=36640"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/36640\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/37050"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=36640"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=36640"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=36640"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}