As Grover, the Sesame Street monster, says in his cute book “A Monster at the End of the Book,” NO MORE MR. NICE GUY!! That’s one of my grandkids’ favorite books. I must have read it five hundred times and on one of the pages that’s what Grover yells. And of course, when I’m reading it, I yell too or at least say it very forcefully while shaking the book a bit. The kids love it. So much that now that they’re all reading themselves, they sometimes read it aloud with the same dramatic flare.
But this is not simply drama. I am really trying to trick at least a few of you with these mystery 
photos and so far, I’m not doing so hot. A few of you guessed something different on Wednesday’s photo simply because you thought I wouldn’t have given you one so easy. But yes indeed, the mystery picture was brush bristles. You all must have the very same hairbrush I do. But I do want you to know that I did wash that brush really well before I took a picture of it. LOL. I should have hunted up my old brush with some of the red tips missing. Oh well, you would have probably guessed that too.
Nancy shared a link in her comments on Wednesday’s post suggesting I try a microscopic picture. I don’t quite have the camera for that, but I did go check out the pictures on the link she suggested. I don’t think you would guess those. Or maybe even want to. That used dental floss was enough to make me quit flossing my teeth or maybe make me floss them twice as much. LOL. I didn’t have the nerve to look at the eyelashes photo.
Mystery Photo #3
And being extra observant as you all obviously are, you’ll probably guess the new picture too. I want you to know that I am trying. Maybe I’ll have to be like Grover in another book we have starring him. In it, he’s trying to play hide and seek with the reader and of course the reader can always spot him no matter what he does to try to hide himself on the page. At the end of the book he tells the reader that if they are really his friends, they will pretend they don’t see him. I won’t go that far yet, but who knows, maybe by the last picture next week, I might. 🙂
But first we’ll see what you think about Mystery Picture 3. Remember that a guess on a new picture gets you another entry in my drawing to win some books, one of mine and a grab bag book. I’ll pick three winners on January 31 and contact them by e-mail and also post their first names and last initial here on Sunday night, January 31. You must be 18 to enter but it’s open to readers everywhere.
Now Back to Work
I’ve got a deadline approaching for Hidden Springs Mysteries Book #3. I did find those magic words “the end.” But unfortunately I found too many other words first, so I’m having to trim and pare and cut to get back to the word count my publishers want for the book. Other books where I’ve needed to cut out thousands of words have been improved by the tightening. I’m hoping this one will be too. Also, don’t forget that if you have an e-reader and you need to grab another book or two for it, my 1855 Louisville book, Words Spoken True, is on e-book sale until the end of the month. It’s $2.99 on Amazon Kindle. It’s on sale at other e-book selling sites too.
Thanks for reading and for guessing. I always have fun playing the mystery photo game with you.
Comments 40
I think there may be some merit to the previous guess of a spider egg sac. I scanned various pictures of some I found on a website and could see some similarities. Of course, the ones I typically see around my house look more like clingy cotton balls.
Author
I see plenty of those little clingy cotton balls around my house too, Edward. But there are all sort of spiders and no doubt, spider egg sacs. Fun that you went out looking to find something that matched my mystery picture. The big reveal will be later tonight along with yet another mystery photo to guess. I probably won’t be able to top this one.
I’m guessing a succulent of some kind, like sedum or chain plant-but the blue orb has me stumped!!
Good mystery photo, I’m going to puzzle over it all night, LOL!
These are fun, Ann. Thanks!
Good luck and God’s Blessings to everyone!
Author
I’m glad I finally stumped some of you guys, Robbie. I’ll be posting the rest of the picture Wednesday night and trying to come up with another one that might stump a few of you. I have fun seeing your guesses any time, but it’s more fun when some of you doing guess the right thing. 🙂
My guess is an asparagus stalk. I think you did well at stumping us this time!
Author
A different guess, Donna. It could be, but it could not be. At last I have stumped you all. So far.
M’kay, Ann, you’re playing rough now. 🙂 How about the rear end of an orb weaver spider? Well…it could be.
Author
Everybody kept guessing my mysteries too easily, Gin. I had to try to get a bit more mysterious. I like your guess and that would make a really good mystery picture. I’ll have to keep that in mind. Not sure what an orb weaver looks like, but I’ve never seen a spider exactly this shade of purple. I’ll reveal the rest of the picture on Sunday. I think you may be surprised.
Could you be growing a flower from a bulb in a vase of water? You’ve got a good one this time!
Author
Finally, Connie Lee. It was about time I tricked some of you. Well, so far all of you. 🙂 I am smiling and wondering how I’m going to top this on Sunday. I will reveal the rest of the photo then.
Hmmmm….don’t laugh:
new buds for hens and chicks plant ??
Author
That’s a great guess, Loretta. And I’m not laughing. Just smiling because so far nobody has guessed this mystery photo. Yet. Those hens and chick plants are sort of interesting looking and would probably make a great mystery photo.
Fish egg sac in a aquarium? Or maybe not. LOL Prayers for wisdom in cutting your words.
Author
Interesting guess, Lucy. Not sure what that looks like so can’t say how near you are to right. 🙂 Thanks so much for your prayers for my editing wisdom. Sometimes it’s cutting out words and then going, “Wait, I need those in there.” But there are always ways to tighten the writing. At least for me.
I was going to be nice and pretend I didn’t know, but seriously all I can come up with is something fungusy on carpet! You win! Can’t wait to find out!
Author
You must have read Grover’s book too, Linda. But it’s good you didn’t have to pretend. I will tell you that it is not something fungusy on the carpet. LOL. Come back Sunday night or Monday to see the rest of the picture. I think you’ll be surprised.
I watched a TV show this morning that was called “Monsters Inside Us.” Enough said.
Author
Be assured I didn’t swallow my camera to take a picture of those Monsters inside us, Sandi. Some things are better left to the imagination or not!
It looks like something in a fish tank…a rock or the end of a finger that got smashed when the alien ship crashed… . Or it could be something that got in with the asparagus.
Author
Great guess, Sandi. Not saying you’re right. Actually I’m smiling because so far nobody is sure what it is. Finally!! Although that smashed finger due to that alien ship crashing might be coming close. LOL.
This is a hard one. I think maybe it might be things in a fish tank.
Author
Things in a fish tank is an interesting guess, Deborah. Who knows? You might even be right or you might not. I’ll post the rest of the picture on Wednesday with a new mystery photo.
I went on a walk, and thought about this picture. (see, Ann? your blog goes so many places!) I think, but I’m not positive, that this is Kentucky blue grass shooting up seed stalks.
Not positive, because the seeds look a little chunky, but that’s my best guess.
Author
Well, glad to hear my blog is getting out for some air, Nancy. And that you were looking around for inspiration for your guess. KY blue grass is a fun guess. You’ll have to wait until Wednesday to see if it’s right. 🙂 But at least, this one is finally a little harder, right?
Yes, it’s a GOOD puzzler! Congratulations! I know you’re proud of yourself! LOL
Author
I am, Nancy. I’m smiling as I get ready to do the big reveal. One person got it right, but not here in the comments. She left her answer on my Facebook post.
OK, this one is difficult, but I’ve seen this thing before. I know I have. Let me think about it and get back.
Okay, it’s been a while since I played. I’m guessing a mushroom in grass.
And as far as the editing goes … Geez, you have to cut thousands of words?!? Good luck!
Author
Great to have you drop by with a guess, Kristy. And you don’t have to be right to maybe win those books. I have done mushrooms in the past. Not saying whether I’m doing a mushroom now or not. You’ll have to wait and see. As to the editing, I’m always too wordy. Sometimes while I’m writing that first draft I just have to let the words spill out even if I know some of them might be repetitive. One famous writer said (and I can’t remember which one) that you throw up in the morning and clean up in the afternooon. Sort of a gross analogy but maybe fitting sometimes. Not with your beautiful words. You always sound as if you’re singing. Lyrical prose.
It looks like it may some kind of plant in a fish tank. and a rock beside it .You really did it this time Ann !
Author
Fish tank plants has been a popular guess, Faye. Of course, rock is a bit more sensible rather than Sandi’s smashed finger from an alien ship. LOL. I’m just extra pleased that I think I’ve finally mystified most of you. Yay!
Ooooo! YOU SAID MOST!! Someone has it right!
You have me puzzled this time.
I’ll just make a wild guess….
Looks like a Q Tip you put in front of the ‘plant’ picture, and then took another picture 😊
PS Can’t wait for both new books ❤️📚
Author
Fun guess, Marji. I really would be getting sneaky if I did that, wouldn’t I? I must have dipped the Q tip in some grape juice first. 🙂 I tested this picture on my husband first and he had no idea what it was. He’s seen it a lot. As have I. Of course, my husband wouldn’t be the great guessers all of you are.
A rock? Or a grape? At first, I thought it was the green seedy things. Don’t know what it’s called, but when we were kids we pretended they were green beans. 🙂
My son LOVED The Monster At The End Of The Book. I thought he had it memorized. They called me to school. I thought there was trouble. It turned out that he knew how to read already and they were trying to figure out what to do with him. 😱
I love this pictures.
Author
That book is extra fun, Ann. My grandkids loved all the Grover books, but they liked the Monster at the End of the Books best. He had one with Elmo they liked too. They also liked the “Everything in the Whole Wide World Museum.”
I like your guesses. Not saying they’re right or wrong. Just that I like them. Especially the green seedy thing guess. I think I need to go take a picture of that. 🙂
I loved those Grover books when I was a kid! Poor Grover, he couldn’t be scary if he tried.
Is this a mushroom? If so, I could use it to make a nice mushroom pizza for lunch. 🙂
Author
Thanks for dropping by with a guess, Amy. Mushroom is a good thought, but I have to admit I’d be leery of cooking any mushroom I found out in the field. Don’t they say some of those are deadly poison? I always pick all the mushrooms off my pizza slices anyway. 🙂
Can it be a spider egg sac ?
Author
Nice guess, Evelyn. Not saying it’s right or wrong. Gonna try to be mysterious with this one a little longer. LOL. Always fun to hear from you. And you did get that new entry into the drawing with your guess.