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.)
Comments 34
I feel like I’ve failed miserably trying to guess the mystery pictures. The shiny part in that last picture threw me thinking it had to be a countertop.
This picture looks like the sun reflecting on water and sand but I’m sure it’s something else entirely according to my previous guesses. I’m wondering if your question of our favorite dessert has anything to do with it or if you were referring to the chocolate chip cookie?
My favorite dessert is crème brûlée but I also love brownies and anything chocolate!
Author
No failure in this game, Janet. Just fun. Glad you decided to give it another try. Check back on Wednesday to see if you are right this time. 🙂
Sounds as though you might be a chocolate lover. Nothing wrong with that.
My first thought was banana pudding, but one of my kiddos says it’s a sunflower.
Now I’m going to see what everyone else is guessing. 🙂
Author
Fun that you let one of your kids take a guess, Lavon. Fun guesses.
Flour with eggs
Author
I could be pausing in the mixing up of some cookies or a cake, Susan. We shall see on Wednesday.
Maybe because I live in Florida, not too far from the beach, but that looks like ocean waves to me!! It could just be telling me I need to go for a walk on the beach, though!
Author
Ahh, a walk on the beach sounds like the best, Trudy. Enjoy the waves tickling your toes for me.
Author
You all are the best. Love your guesses and your favorite desserts are making my sweet tooth go crazy.
Water of some sort seems to be the popular answer to this one. We will see if that turns out to be right or wrong come Wednesday night. Or maybe one of these other thoughts will turn out to be right. Or maybe none of the guesses. One thing sure you aren’t all right since there are a variety of answers. That shows imaginations are being exercised. Yay!
Lisa, once you know the answer or what the rest of the picture is, it’s easy to see. I really thought maybe that one would be easy and many guesses did mention chocolate. So they were close or half right.
Deborah, I love strawberry shortcake. And I’m guessing that your great grandmother made a best ever one. Yum.
I never would have guessed a chocolate chip cookie on that last one, even though I thought of some kind of food. I think this one looks like waves coming in on a beach with the sky above, but am thinking I am probably wrong since you have a way of tricking us or maybe it is our minds tricking us? lol
Author
I like that comment about how our minds can trick us, Hope. Of course, I am trying to trick you and hope that you don’t all get the right answer. I did try to fix one that I decided all of you would know. But I thought that wouldn’t be a bit of fun for me. lol. Thanks for playing the game with me. So fun to read all the comments.
I guess lots of water and maybe the sky above it.
Birdie
You’re coming up with some good stumped this time, Ann! I don’t know what this one is but there are loads of possibilities. I can see all sorts of faces and animals in this one. There’s even a duckling blowing a horn while sitting in a boat. All I can think of is sky or water. Since you asked for our favorite dessert, I’ll guess it’s banana cream pie. My favorite dessert is rhubarb pie with vanilla ice cream.
Author
I took another look at the picture, Lee, and I do see that duck. Thanks for sharing that to have me doing a little more imagining exercise too.
I don’t think I’ve ever eaten a rhubarb pie that wasn’t mixed with strawberries. I was a picky eater as a little girl and rhubarb just didn’t seem like something I wanted to eat. It looked too slimy. So, I guess I’ve never given rhubarb pie the consideration I should. My sister grows rhubarb and makes a pie now and again. My aunt had rhubarb in the garden for years. The same plant. It does make a beautiful pinkish sauce and pie.
I will say mashed potatoes.
My favorite dessert is my great grandma Thomas’ Strawberry Shortcake.
A stream with reflection of sun ?
My guess, looking out airplane window at the sky.
Favorite dessert my Mom’s fudge pie
Hmmm, my best guess is wet dough with butter in it.
Looks like a beach to me.
Looks like water to me, I’m guessing it’s a lake or stream at sunrise.
Well,I see that chocolate chip cookie now!!! Easy to see when you know what it is!
This next one looks like a shell on a beach to me. Probably wrong ,but that’s ok.
I am torn between a pot of soup and a snow melting puddle.
Chocolate cake
I’m sure I’m wrong, but a snow-covered valley?
I’m sure I’m wrong, but a snow covered valley?
Looks like sausage gravy to me! Lol. I’m not good at this game…at all!