<em>There is a mystery on Miller Farm. </em>

<em>When I went to let the chickens out, there were two dead quail. One was in the cage – which is not completely unusual. However, there was one on the ground near the chicken feeder, which was the mystery.</em>

<em>How did it get out of the quail cage? Why did it die? </em>

<em>I’m pretty sure both quail were dead before I opened the cage so it was not the shock of seeing  me in my daughter’s sock monkey footed pajamas (it was pajama day at the school where I teach) .</em>

<em>I guess what happens in the quail cage stays in the quail cage, and the mystery will remain a mysery.</em>

<em>There is justice on the Miller farm. </em>

<em>Three of the roosters have gotten big enough to go to freezer camp so they were put on death row (in a separate cage). The hens who were tormented by these roosters perched atop the cage with what would be the equivalent of a smug look on their faces. </em><em>I consider that poetic justice.</em>

<em>There is also new life on Miller farm. </em>

<em>We have baby chicks and quail in the garage. They were due to hatch on December 21<sup>st</sup>, but one quail made his appearance on December 19. We call him the very loud overachiever. The others appeared on schedule. </em>

<em>Now there is much noise in the garage, which drives the dachshunds crazy. </em>

<em>There is randomness on Miller Farm.</em>

<em> My daughter received a text last week asking if should would be able to hatch goose eggs. Being an adventurous Miller she said “sure.” So we are awaiting the arrival of a special thermometer and will then set the goose eggs.</em>

<em>I must confess I am a little nervous. The size of eggs being hatched at the Miller Farm is becoming increasingly larger.</em>

[caption id="attachment_2092" align="aligncenter" width="300"]<a href="http://judythewriter.files.wordpress.com/2013/01/eggs.jpg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-2092" alt="quail, bantam, chicken, goose" src="http://judythewriter.files.wordpress.com/2013/01/eggs.jpg?w=300" width="300" height="187" /></a> Eggs left to right: quail, bantam, chicken, goose[/caption]

<em>I’m not sure I want to know what will be next – ostrich eggs?</em>

The Miller Farm is always bustling with life. I’m not at all surprised Rachel agreed to hatch goose eggs. She loves all animals. She’s going to be a caring nurse one day. I can’t wait read the email when the geese start cracking their shells. Should be an interesting email. I'm betting the geese give the daschshunds a run for their money!

After reading CW Sara’s email and looking at the picture of the eggs she included, I thought about how a story idea begins a little kernel—an overheard conversation, a picture, a senior citizen or child’s face, a building—so many little things can trigger <i>What if</i> for the creative mind.

That tiny <i>what if</i> then progresses through research, writing, editing, and finally becomes a full-blown, hold-in-your-hand book.That’s a life cycle too.

The life cycle of a novel. And writers never know what size the next kernel will be.

<strong>YOUR TURN</strong>: How are things in your world? Any mystery or poetic justice? Any surprises? Any idea kernels to share?