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The DNA of Stories

Ideas and first drafts with a bit of analysis from time to time

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Tag: Fantasy

A double rainbow over a large herb garden with a forest in the background AI image

Woods Cottage – Day 11

On January 1, 2025December 24, 2024 By Kat RedfernIn One Day at a Thyme, StoryLeave a comment

Life has been blessedly quiet after the nightshade episode. School is back and the new little coven has been introduced to a few other witches in the area as potential apprentices. There’s no way I could take all of them on, I barely cope with Sarah and Ben. Even sour-sauce Emma has a mentor in …

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a day in the life of a young woman in a fantasy forest village - breakfast, laundry in the central bath house, carding and spinning wool, harvesting vegetables, and baking bread AI image

Routine

On December 18, 2024November 27, 2024 By Kat RedfernIn Story, ThrushbeardLeave a comment

When Cadan announced, during dinner, that he would be staying in the village the following day, Matthew looked worried. “Not that I’m quibbling, lad, your wife is important, but someone needs to get word to the castle about fixing their road before this rain washes a new river straight through it. Ingrid’s already said you …

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A Baroque-style manor house of decent, but not excessive size, against the backdrop of the rolling English countryside AI image

Woods Cottage – Day 10.5

On December 11, 2024November 26, 2024 By Kat RedfernIn One Day at a Thyme, StoryLeave a comment

Yes, I know that was not a helpful place to leave things, but I had an interruption. It’s all taken care of now, so I can resume. We set off about fifteen minutes later, the girls finished their tea and cake while I pulled together a few odds and ends that might come in useful …

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a basket on a table in a small greenhouse. The basket is half full of mysterious round linen bundles, tied with string AI image

String

On December 8, 2024November 26, 2024 By Kat RedfernIn 10 Minute Sprints, Story2 Comments

String, string, where was the damn string when you needed it? I dug through the drawer under my planting table, I knew I had some in here somewhere. Or, wait, did I run out of it when I was tying up the tomato plants? Damn! Why hadn’t I added it to the shopping list? And …

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A weathered wooden chest in an old cottage room, standing against the stone and timber wall with an oil lamp on the table beside it. The rich mahogany wood is worn from many years of use, showcasing intricate carvings that hint at untold stories. This detailed depiction, likely a painting, captures the warm glow of lamplight, high lighting the chest's aged beauty. AI image

Homesick

On December 4, 2024November 26, 2024 By Kat RedfernIn Story, ThrushbeardLeave a comment

Sarah was knitting by the fire when Eleanor let herself in. “No wool?” Eleanor’s explanation ended up as a full recitation of the afternoon’s events and Sarah chuckled. “She’s a wily one, is Maggie, and I’ll do you a trade. Make up that pillowcase of yours into an apron for me, and I’ll give you …

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Glass walls and gate, with delicate vine decorations. AI Image

Gate

On December 1, 2024November 23, 2024 By Kat RedfernIn 10 Minute Sprints, StoryLeave a comment

The walls of Glasslight Palace were transparent, only the tracery of frosted vines winding across their surface kept people from running into them. They looked like fine crystal, or ice, about to melt into nothing in the morning sun. They were neither fine, nor fragile, the substance harder than diamond, able to absorb any attack, …

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built of spun glass and miracles and filled with beauty, and music AI Image

Delicate

On November 24, 2024November 8, 2024 By Kat RedfernIn 10 Minute Sprints, StoryLeave a comment

Glasslight Palace was the wonder of the most wondrous city in the known world, and Sera hated it. A prison was still a prison, even when it was built of spun glass and miracles and filled with beauty, and music, and the most vicious, snake-tongued court this side of the Cataclysm. Sera assumed the bland, …

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a basket full of homespun wool in natural-dyed shades of yellow and green, the basket sits in the corner of a cottage room with wooden floors and stone walls AI image

Spinning Tales

On November 20, 2024November 8, 2024 By Kat RedfernIn Story, ThrushbeardLeave a comment

Sarah removed the bandages and paste after lunch. Eleanor’s hands were noticeably better, less swollen, less pink. Sarah said. “My burn paste is best applied overnight, but this will see you through to bedtime. Put some of that soothing salve on your palms and I’ll re-wrap them but we’ll leave your fingers free so you …

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wellferns on a sunny windowsill AI image

Woods Cottage – Day 9

On November 13, 2024October 26, 2024 By Kat RedfernIn One Day at a Thyme, StoryLeave a comment

I was repotting young Ben's wellfern - he's growing like nobody's business just now, so naturally the plant assigned to monitoring his health is putting out new shoots, and roots, all but cracking its pot in response. I had it happily re-planted in a wide wooden tub on the windowsill of my still room, and …

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An illustration of a gryphon lying on a vegetable garden, squashing the cabbages AI image

Sore Hands

On October 30, 2024October 26, 2024 By Kat RedfernIn Story, ThrushbeardLeave a comment

She followed him out and found both Sarah and Matthew preparing for the day. Sarah smiled and said. “Can you get the bread?” Cadan made for the fire nook, grabbing a cloth on the way. “Not with your hands in that state, Nora.” “They’re fine.” She stalked over to the pantry, only to find the …

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