Prompt = this picture: http://weheartit.com/entry/20287604

A pretty, young girl, her red curls bouncing despite her stealthy steps, walked along the path. She listened carefully. She her only the sounds of the forest. She paused and inhaled deeply, enjoying the scent of pine and the slightly damp . A deep love of nature was ingrained in her, helped along by her father. The outdoors were an essential part of him. A rustle in the brush reminded her she had a goal in mind.

She began quietly walking again and shortly reached to her destination, an old tree. It wasn't too far from 'civilization' but far enough that it felt as though she was deep in the woods. It was one of her favorite spots and she had to sneak away to get to it. With her family, both immediate and extended, it was hard to get time to one's self. They valued each other, greatly. They also valued privacy when they got it. 

After adjusting the pack on her back, she carefully climbed up to a wide branch that was rather straight. It was a perfect spot to sit. She hung her pack on a nearby branch and just sat for a few moments, looking around and down. She tried identifying some of the birds she heard but wasn't quite there yet. The sun dappled through the branches and leaves, warm on her skin. She took a book out of her pack and with a peaceful sigh, leaned back against the trunk to read. 

Prompt = "And what do we have here?"

She was tired of sitting here. She fidgeted a little. Sighed. Sipped from her water bottle. She never stopped watching the house. That's why she was there after all. This was the subject's home. Idly she tapped her fingers on her knee. This has to be the most boring surveillance job I've had yet. Suppressing another sigh she shifted in her seat. My butt is going numb. Wait. Don't focus on that. Focus on the assignment. These investigations might be their bread and butter right now but they sure didn't stimulate the same way the ones in their teens had. 

She stopped herself from reaching for another drink. Investigators usually learned the hard way what happened when you operate surveillance alone and drink too many liquids.  Then the petty little distractions were forgotten as a very familiar vehicle pulled up and even more familiar person got out and walked up to the door. "And what do we have here?" she murmured to herself, reaching for her binoculars.

I had continued to write more from yesterday to reach 750 words. :) Just in case any one wants to read it...
She bustled about to make more coffee and get breakfast started. Since it was a Saturday and they could be a little more leisurely she decided to do a heartier hot breakfast. It wouldn't matter if it took longer. Smiling, she thought of her children's friends a decided a Sunday buffet brunch just might be in order too. She do the biscuit mixings today. Stop by the store for some more fruit... hearing movement upstairs she stopped planning for tomorrow and pulled out the cinnamon, oatmeal, and vanilla.

Brian's insistance on switching to steel cut oatmeal had made her nervous at first. She liked her family (and their friends) to enjoy the things she cooked and she had never made them before. But like many other kitchen experiments, she had managed to make them tasty and was pleased that she was providing a healthier choice. (There was a never a doubt in her mind that Brian's advice the steel cut variety was better for their hearts and cholesterol levels was solid.)

Mixing a little vanilla with some milk she set it on the table. She then put a water and milk mix on to simmer. Just as she started melting some butter in her trusty skillet she heard someone behind her. She turned and was surprised to see it was her daughter. "Good morning, Trixie. What has you up and about so early?"

"Good morning, Moms!" Trixie answered with her normal exuberance only slightly dimmed in the morning."I must have slept really well last night. I woke up and heard you down here and thought maybe I could help." She leaned over to give her mother a hug and kiss on the cheek. "Oh! You're making your really yummy oatmeal! Do you want me to get the fruit ready?"

"That would be nice. Thank you, dear." While Trixie got out blackberries and raspberries to wash and bananas to slice, Helen turned back to the stovetop. Once the butter was melted she poured in the oats. Stirring them until they were golden brown and toasted. Checking to see if the liquid was ready she slowly stirred in the toasted oats.

"Bacon today, Moms?" Trixie had set small bowls of the berries mixed at everyone's place but thought that the banana slicing could wait until closer to serving time.

Helen thought for a second as she stirred. "Yes, I think that will be good. If we do it the oven instead of the stovetop it will be ready just about the time the oatmeal is." She smiled at her daughter as Trixie covered a baking sheet in foil and began carefully placing bacon slices on it. "Thanks for your help this morning, Trixie."

Trixie looked up and grinned back. "How else can I make sure we have bacon?" She set the oven temperature and placed the baking sheet in it. "There!" She exclaimed, washing her hands. "Now, we have bacon in the oven. Bananas can be sliced closer to the time. The oatmeal still needs to cook. Mart will set the table... what else Moms? Toast?"

"I thought no toast this morning since we're having the oatmeal. Do you want some tea or cocoa? We can sit in the nook and discuss a little idea I had for tomorrow before everyone else comes down." Helen poured herself another cup of coffee as she talked.

"Sure, Moms! But you go ahead and sit down. I'll be there in a jiff. I'll just have some juice." She poured some orange juice and hurried to sit with her mother. The cozy little breakfast nook was an add on during the kitchen remodel. Happily for Trixie and her brothers a dishwasher was another one. Because the kitchen was a favorite place for all of them the nook was perfect for a little spot for one or two people do homework, household accounting or just sit and talk. Often Peter and Helen would have their dinner there if all the children were gone.

"So what's your idea? Is there a mystery?! A trip?!" Trixie may have gained some patience but still jumped from idea to idea.

Helen laughed. "No, nothing like that. I just thought with the older boys back from college and the younger Bob-Whites out of school it would be nice to have a Sunday brunch here at the farm tomorrow. We can do it buffet style and invite the adults too. It could be a start of summer celebration." Knowing her daughter well she stopped and waited.

She didn't have to wait long. Trixie began talking a mile a minute. "That's a perfectly perfect idea, Moms! I don't think the Wheelers have gone out of town yet since Jim just got back. And the Lynches don't need to be in Virginia until later this month. If we promise Mr. Maypenny some of your crabapple jelly we might even be able to get him to come." Dan's guardian enjoyed each and everyone of the Bob-Whites and their families but preferred to stay at his cabin on the little pie shaped piece of land in the preserve. "Brunch would give Regan time to finish with the horses too." Stopping to take a breath, Trixie had another thought. "Oh but what a lot of work for you! I'll get up early and help you get everything ready." And to make sure my hair doesn't look like a Fiji Islander's when everyone gets here, she added silently to herself.

Helen smiled and answered calmly, "That will be good, dear. I think we won't need to be up too early though. There are many things I can prep ahead of time today. I'll give Marge, Maddy and Caro a call later." She winked at her daughter. I have a feeling you'll see the other Bob-Whites for a ride later and can take care of inviting them and Regan. If you wouldn't mind riding out to invite Mr. Maypenny along with that, we should be covered."

More and more noises were coming from upstairs letting the two women know their time would be soon interrupted. Trixie got up from the table and took down a platter to line with paper towels for the bacon. "No worries, Moms! I have it under control." She twinkled. "Can I promise we'll have the crabapple jelly?"

Helen laughed as she stirred the oatmeal, adding cinnamon, and checked the bacon. Turning off the oven and the burner, she answered. "Yes, you may. I have plenty available." Mart and Brian entered then. "Perfect timing! Mart, please set the table. Bowls and small plates. The large ones aren't needed today. Brian, would you please take down the large serving bowl from on top the cabinet?"

Smelling the delicious aromas of breakfast about to be served both hurried to do her bidding. Trixie added the freshly sliced bananas to the bowls she had already set out and began transferring the bacon to the platter she had prepped while her mother poured the oatmeal in the serving bowl. Brian poured milk and juice into the glasses. Helen set the serving bowl on the table with a spoon and surveyed everything. Trixie set the full platter next to the bowl. "Perfect!" she exclaimed just as Peter and Bobby walked in. Bobby with the comment, "Something sure smells good!"

"Good morning, sweetheart!" Peter said with a kiss for his wife. "It really does smell delicious." He winked at her and she patted him on the cheek earning groans from their children who had already taken their seats. Peter and Helen joined them and the normal chaos of a Belden breakfast began.

Prompt = Blush

With her curls tossed by the breeze and the soft, early light erasing many of those pesky lines enjoying life brings to one's face, Helen was  completely unaware that she could almost pass for her daughter. She loved coming out here to this rose garden off the patio in the early mornings. It was quiet. There were no voices raised in frustrated sibling squabbles. No one asking her for anything. Oh she loved her family dearly and treasured them. But this was her time. She treasured it also. 

She sipped her coffee and leaned back, cradling the mug in her hands. The air around her was scented with the sweet fragrance of the Blush Ramblers covering the pergola over her head. She smiled, thinking how Peter managed to surprise her with the help of his parents and Andy. He had noticed how much she enjoyed his mother's arbor and how she would pull over a chair to sit by it and smell the roses. 

Sipping more coffee Helen lost herself in the memory. His mother had coerced her out to White Plains for the day, wanting to do a huge shopping day. She told Helen she could use the company but that she also wanted her input as it was her home too. Touched, she was unable to decline, even if she had wanted to. While they were gone the three men hurried to build the pergola. They set it up so the current arbor worked as an entryway. Just inside they set up a lounging bench. There was even enough room for small al fresco meals. 

When they had returned and Peter asked her to close her eyes, she didn't know what to think. Then she opened her eyes-and was speechless. It was a lovely spot even bare, although she had taken care of that quickly. She had carefully propagated cuttings from the arbor roses and trained them to cover. Soon she had a pretty little hideaway. A few tears welled in her eyes when she thought of how she had come here when they had lost Peter's father and then again when his mother passed. 

This is where she had come too when she first discovered she was pregnant, every time. It was her spot for both comfort and joy. Helen came back to the present with a start, realizing the light was brighter and if she didn't hurry inside breakfast would be late. With one last deep breath to enjoy the scent, Helen slipped inside.