Finding Mystery in Photos

The more things remain obscure and mysterious, the more they interest me. I even try to find mystery in things that have none. ~Patrick Modiano

Are you ready to stir a little more mystery into your day? Well, if not mystery, how about imagination exercise. I have to admit that sometimes I think my imagination is lagging a little when I’m in the midst of writing a book. Generally that happens somewhere in that middle part after the polish of a new idea has worn off a little and before the mad rush to the end.

We all can appreciate how sometimes we start a task with enthusiasm. Maybe we set out on a new diet plan or the wish to get back in better shape. Or learning a new language. Or teaching your dog better behavior. I can get on board with that last one with Frankie! After a week or so, maybe longer, that enthusiasm starts draining away. The diet has cut out some of the foods we love. The exercise has our muscles aching. And who can say those foreign words anyway. Last but not least, some dogs are too hard-headed to learn. Frankie says, “What? Are you talking about ME?”

If we lose that enthusiasm, then determination can take over. Or perseverance. I didn’t practice that perseverance the way I should have with Frankie. But, I do practice it when in the middle of writing a new book, I hit a spot where the currents of imagination to come up with what next seems to stop. Since I’ve been writing so many years and have gotten stuck like that in almost every book I’ve written, I know if I just keep on writing, things will come clearer about the story. That creative wind has a way of starting to blow again if I’ll trust the story idea and my characters and keep following that mysterious story stretching out tantalizingly in front of me.

But your imaginations didn’t desert you after you saw Wednesday’s post. The popular guess always included chocolate. Those sweets added to the many other food-related guesses. Two fruits were mentioned. A banana way riper than I like  or maybe anybody would like with a rotten spot. Then there was the mention of a kiwi.

Add on, the snow guesses. Slush, ice, Snowman’s stone eye. Of course, to cover all possibilities, Hope also was seeing ice cream with candy. I liked all the snow guesses, especially Marji’s mud  and how things were showing through a melting snowy spot.

Dana guessing butter pecan ice cream had me heading for the freezer where I just happened to have some butter pecan ice cream. Lisa shied away from the sweets and guessed soup.

And one person guessed exactly what it was – Lauren. A chocolate chip cookie. I had some cooling on a rack. Too bad it was just a picture I took a few years ago. I not only couldn’t reach and taste one, I couldn’t even smell them baking in the oven. But I did once and no doubt sample tasted one too.

I loved all the guesses even if some of them had me getting a hankering for chocolate.

So on to the next mystery. I think you might get this one.  Or not. It’s hard sometimes to tell what is mysterious. Disappearing cookies wouldn’t be any kind of mystery around my house. Now we will see what you think of Mystery Photo 3.

What is your favorite dessert. What is mystery photo number 3?

(Each time you guess on a new mystery photo, you get a new entry into the drawing for a choice of one of my books. I’ll pick two winners. Midnight EST on June 9, 2026 is the deadline for entries. You have to make the guess or a whatever  comment for your entry here on my post and not on FB or Instagram if you see the post there. You have to be at least 18 years old to enter, but feel free to let your kids help you with your guess. Oh, and thanks so much for playing and making the game fun.)