So according to Merriam-Webster a blunder is a “gross error or mistake, resulting usually from stupidy, ignorance, or carelessness.”
I’d be a a very rich writer if I could earn money from my bucket o’ blunders. But maybe this time, I’ll get a blunder or two to pay off. Because Birds and Blooms is sponsoring a Backyard Blunder Contest. All I need to do is a. write 400 words or less about a funny birding or gardening blunder, b. send it in by March 15th and c. win the $500!
Easy-peasy. What may be a tad more difficult is really honing in on what a backyard blunder is. Because I’m not sure that picking up a hanging plant and throwing it three stories off our deck to make my point, could be classified, technically, as careless. Stupid, yes. Hilarious, definitely. But there was no mistaking what I meant.
Cathy C. Hall Writes 
I saw this contest, too, and although I stink at gardening, I don’t know if that qualifies as a blunder! I don’t think they want an essay on how much I hate weeding, otherwise I’d win, hands down. 🙂
There’s birding, too, Deb. Although I have to admit that I’ve never thought of bird-watching as a laugh-a-minute activity. 🙂
Thanks Cathy, I passed this contest on to a few people I know. Good luck with it. I’m sure I can come up with some blunders, but I don’t know how funny I can be!
Oh, go for it, Lynn! Blunders by their very nature tend to be funny. 😉
I sent soemthing but not too funny, but humor is subjective. Last year, I sent something to Erma and it was hilarious, but they chose a bland story.
I didn’t read your Erma story, Linda, but I’ll sure agree with you about the winning essay. (And I’m pretty sure YOUR essay was funnier!)
Hey Cathy,
Thanks for the tip. I don’t think I have anything to submit, but maybe I’ll have a huge blunder soon that I can write about.
Donna
Ha! That’s the spirit, Donna! Think positive. 😉
Do chickens count as birds? Probably not. And technically, they rule the side yard. I have plenty of chicken and goat blunders, but nothing about cute backyard warblers. Maybe that tomato hornworm faux pas would qualify. Thanks for making me rethink this contest.
Chickens are birds, aren’t they? I’m trying to think what else they’d be…;-)
I say go for the chicken blunder. Knowing you, Val, it’ll be a heckuva story. 🙂