December 2025 – Site Title

Christmas Eve with Honey and Hubie

Christmas Eve has a feeling all its own.

The rush of the season finally slows. The lights grow a little softer, the last gifts are tucked away under the Christmas tree, and the world seems to take a breath before morning arrives.

It’s in these gentle hours, when excitement and calm meet, that The Excellent Adventures of Honey and Hubie feels right at home.

This is the night for quiet magic.

The kind that doesn’t need bells or fireworks, just a story, a shared moment, and hearts open to wonder.

A Story for the Stillness of Christmas Eve

After the lists are checked and the house grows quiet, Honey and Hubie invite readers into a world where courage is tender, friendship is steady, and imagination is allowed to wander freely.

Honey’s bravery isn’t loud.

Hubie’s confidence isn’t showy.

Together, they remind us that the truest magic often arrives softly, just when we’re ready to listen.

For children, their adventure sparks anticipation and warmth.

For adults, it offers a rare pause — a reminder of what Christmas felt like when wonder came easily.

A Moment to Share Before Morning Comes

Christmas Eve isn’t about rushing anymore. It’s about sitting close. About voices lowered, pages turning, and knowing that this quiet moment will be remembered long after the toys are opened.

Honey and Hubie’s story becomes part of that memory.

A tale read under twinkling lights.

A world visited together before sleep arrives.

A gentle closing chapter to the year’s most magical night.

More than a Story, a Feeling

What makes The Excellent Adventures of Honey and Hubie special on Christmas Eve isn’t just the adventure. It’s the way the story feels.

It feels safe.

It feels warm.

It feels like kindness matters.

And on a night when love and hope sit quietly in the air, that feeling is a gift all its own.

A Christmas Eve Wish

From Honey, from Hubie, and from every woodland friend waiting between the pages:

May your Christmas Eve be calm.

May your home be filled with warmth and soft laughter.

May imagination find its way into your night, and courage gently follow.

And when morning comes, may the magic stay just a little longer.

Get The Excellent Adventures of Honey and Hubie on Amazon.

The Biggest Influences…(Archives)

Who are the biggest influences in my life?

There were many so I can’t mention them all here. One person I would like to give credit to would be my mother. She taught me the biggest lesson which has stood the test of time. I remember as a little girl I would come running to her about something that made me cry or sad and she would say, “Remember whatever you do and whatever happens, always stand back up. Take your time, but dust off and get back on that horse.” I have been doing that all my life and it has helped me through the years.

Others who influenced me are the writers. One person in particular was Nora Roberts. I loved and love her writing. The romance novelist was one of my all- time favorite person. There were many nights where I lay cuddled in bed with one of her books helping me to escape whatever it is that I wanted to escape and to keep my head somewhere in the clouds. I think in a way she helped me fashion my writing. Thank you both.

Daily writing prompt

Who are the biggest influences in your life?

View all responses

A Proud Mom!

Photo by RDNE Stock project on Pexels.com

My son is home for the holidays. I can see that he has lost some weight but that cheeky smile remains the same. The first thing he did when he walked in was to look down at me and to put his hand on my head, not in reverence, but to show me that he was a big guy now! And he is. He is much taller but still the little kid I raised.

There is just this certain something that makes your heart skip a beat or two when you see the child you brought into this world doing well as a young adult. He is doing well. His current job keeps him busy and even though there are times that he “hates” the job, he is learning that working life will have its likes and “hates” but I’m sure he will take it all in stride. He is made of stronger stuff.

A little later in the day, I got a call from him from his Oma’s place that blew my socks off and left me in tears. I couldn’t believe what he was saying and I asked him to repeat it twice.

Him: “Mom, I got the job!”

Me: “The job?”

Him: “Yes, the JOB!”

He had applied for his dream job a year ago. Yes, a year ago. He went for two interviews and made it through both times. Then there was the painstaking process of finding out if he was the right person for the job. I can’t say too much but it is a dream job. This kid had never worked a day in his life! He was spoiled rotten and I thought he was going to have a tough time finding a job but he proved us wrong. Every job he applied for, he got. He seems to be an expert at doing interviews and breezing through them!

Anyway, he has landed his dream job and the person who called him told him that it was his Christmas present! He is on cloud nine and I am so proud of him! I’ve been walking around the house saying, “This is unbelievable!” So far, he has landed the job, the rest will be made clear when the new year arrives. There will be changes coming, a big move and so much more but for now, we are happy.

Can I say it again? I will. This is worth repeating.

I AM SO PROUD OF YOU!

With tears of joy in my eyes.

The Year of my Birth (Archives)

Is that like a nice way of asking how old I am?

All I can share with you is that I don’t remember much about it. I know that my parents had been trying for a very long time and were about to give up when I came along. Needless to say, I turned their world upside down in more ways than one!

I was the proverbial tomboy. Mom wanted a “lady” in the making but she got the total opposite! I loved playing around in mud and singing with the ducks! Anything the boys could do, I can do better and that was my motto. I kept true to that until I turned 16 and blossomed and became the Belle of the Ball so to speak. They (the boys) never looked at me the same way again!

I think I was a blessing but I put my parents through a hard time. Those days are done with but a little rebellion still remains!

Daily writing prompt

Share what you know about the year you were born.

View all responses

STRESS

“I stress about stress before there is any stress to stress about.” Unknown

Does that ring a bell? It does with me and I’m sure there are many others out there who do the same thing. We STRESS before stress gets here. I’ve been stressing for the past week or so and I’ve been putting it down to Christmas. Well yes, this time of the year does bring its stress factors. So much to do and so little time. However, I think that we contribute to that stress and make it a lot worse than it is.

“Stress is an ignorant state. It believes that everything is an emergency.” Natalie Goldberg

How true?!! I’ve been rushing around trying to make everything perfect for my son when he arrives home tomorrow for the holidays. The house has to be just right, it should look Christmassy like he remembers it, presents need to be bought and wrapped and food, yes food is important for a kid who has been away from home and one who craves all his favorites! So much to do and there is just too much STRESS! That was my cry until I decided to put the brakes on it today.

“Stress is not what happens to us. It is our response to what happens. And response is something we can choose.” Maureen Killoran

I decided to choose how and what I do to get everything done in time. It doesn’t have to be a mad dash, I can take my time. I’ve slowed down, I’ve taken deep breaths, I’ve given Chachi, the cat, several hugs and kisses and I’m almost done for his arrival tomorrow. The presents are wrapped, they don’t have to be perfect, a stress factor in itself! Let’s just say, they are wrapped and under the tree, the lasagne is done and ready for tomorrow, the house looks festive and I’ve got what I need to make it through Christmas! Dare I take a sigh of relief? I think I will, it is well-deserved.

“The greatest weapon against stress is our ability to choose one thought over another.” William James

Choosing carefully is the key. Not everything is an “emergency” and some things can take their time getting there. It is not the end of the world. So what if things are not perfect, you did your best and that is what matters.

“Give your stress wings and let it fly away.” Terri Guillemets

AND

“Everyday brings a choice: to practice stress or to practice peace.” Unknown

Choose carefully.

Have an amazing day.

Character Traits

I would say that I’m a very good judge of character and sometimes more so than some people would like! I think it comes from holding myself to a high standard and I expect others to follow suit. However, sadly that is not the case.

Quite often I see through someone from the get-go and my intuition tells me to tread lightly or to completely pull the plug and shut the door. However, my other self, the one who has honed empathy to the top of the ladder tells me to give the person another chance. And so it goes. After the second or third try, I finally come to the conclusion that I need to shut the door and never look back.

Yes, I am a good judge of character. I can see through lies, I am attuned to falsehoods, and something within says, “I smell a rat here!” However, being a good judge of character is not the problem, it is “empathy” and it can work both ways. Sometimes it is a good thing and at other times, it puts me in situations I would rather not be in. As with all things, I am working on it.

Daily writing prompt

Are you a good judge of character?

View all responses

Christmas Time (Archives)

It is that time of year when there seems to be a certain something in the air. It just feels kinder, softer and gentler. People seem friendlier, more in tune with life and rushing around becomes a “must do” and even though the hustle and bustle is not liked in some circles, it is part and parcel of the season.

Driving home yesterday, I noticed the Christmas tree vendor setting up his booth for the mad dash of Christmas tree buying. Not fake ones but ones that make your living room smell wonderful and out of the ordinary as the countdown begins to Christmas. I’ve always loved the scent of fresh pine accompanying my morning coffee as I go back in time to Christmases past.

However, it is not just about the good times, joyful times, the cozy times, but also about the moments I still hold dear in my heart. Memories of Christmases past where a special someone was there and he made Christmas so much better. The sale of Christmas trees brought back some memories that also brought a ache to the heart. He is gone now but those memories remain. The way he would make his way here excitedly on weekends ready to make Christmas a fantastic affair. A fresh tree was a must, he got the tree and I did the decorating. Menu planning was left up to me but there was always something special on the table, he made sure of that. Presents galore were all his doing and he loved giving. The Christmas tree vendor brought back some memories as I am sure more will come rushing in as we get closer to Christmas. He’s an “angel” now, this friend of mine, having earned his wings and I’m sure he’ll be singing with the rest of the angels welcoming the season in. Have a fantastic Christmas, “my angel.”

“But I am sure that I have always thought of Christmas time, when it has come round…as a good time, a kind, forgiving, charitable, pleasant time; the only time I know of, in the long calendar of the year, when men and women seem by one consent to open their shut-up hearts freely.” Charles Dickens

It is a time to rejoice, to enjoy the sights and sounds of the season, to breathe a little freer and to hug a little tighter. A time to step back, to sit by the fireplace with a cup of something warm and to take in the beauty of Christmas time. Sure, memories will rush in, they will hurt at times, you will shed a few tears, but when all is said and done, it is the most beautiful time of the year.

Have an amazing day.

A Clear and Peaceful Mind

I’m most happy when my mind doesn’t chatter all the time. My mind has a tendency to feed me both positive and negative vibes. Some days, it does a fantastic job of feeding me the happy hormones and on other days, it goes downhill and stays there.

Happiness is something that I work towards and it takes work. It doesn’t just arrive and announce that it is there. Constant work is needed to get those feel good chemicals, Dopamine, Serotonin, Endorphins and Oxytocin in the right frame of mind, at least for me anyway. Dopamine is the reward/pleasure chemical and I’m not always there. I think I am lacking in that respect. Seratonin is the chemical that is responsible for your mood/well-being and I can tell you that it has a hard time with me! Endorphins are your natural pain relief/euphoria chemicals and it’s up and down with me. Lastly, Oxytocin views me with caution, it is responsible for love/bonding and trust and I think it looks at me as a lost cause! All of these work together to create happiness or at least feelings of satisfaction and motivation

So far they haven’t achieved their goal to get me to that happy place. I guess I am happy in the mornings when I have a clean slate to put whatever I want to on it, however, when something (a problem) comes along to rattle my well-organized world, it blows it all to kingdom come!

There is no specific answer to your question. It could be any time of day and for whatever reason, depending on what it is.

Daily writing prompt

When are you most happy?

View all responses

Christmas!

We’re days away and it is picking up speed. Christmas is a time where “magic” is in the air but let’s not forget the modern version of Christmas. It is not about a babe in the manger a long time ago, it is about the craziness that accompanies what we call the Christmas of today. The shopping, the presents, the food fest, friends and family gathering together and of course, the “STRESS” that accompanies the whole shebang!

I’m there too. I feel it as I put the finishing touches to the house, making sure I didn’t forget anyone in the mad rush, last minute menu planning, and everything else that goes with Christmas. I’m sure when all is said and done, it will be wonderful and a time to relax and enjoy! Fingers crossed!

I Took a Walk on the Wild Side!

The last thing I did for fun was to take a walk when it was dark and gloomy outside and the wind was picking up speed. It was also very cold. My nose and face were uncovered so they did feel the effects of the cold but I truly enjoyed that walk! I love it when the weather decides to show me a different face, one that is not always accommodating but not too bad either.

I was feeling stressed and even though I had told myself that I wasn’t going to let the Christmas stress get to me, it never fails, it finds me and puts me through the hoops. Sometimes, I don’t know if I’m coming or going!

However, Chachi, the cat, did his best to breakup the stress and it did help but I needed more. I bundled up and ventured out into the cold and wind. Believe it or not, I was the only out there. Not surprising. I did my usual round and halfway through I felt the cold sting my face and nose. I burrowed deeper into my jacket, pulled the scarf up against my face and kept going. The good thing, stress was now forgotten! I was dealing with something else. I let the cold do its thing and as I made my way back, I realized that I actually had some fun. It was an exhilarating walk and I came back with a smile on my face and ready to tackle the day with whatever else it had to offer.

That was the last thing I did for fun. Poor me? Not really, fun is what you make it. I find immersing myself in nature is a fantastic way of having fun. I absolutely love it and it is a great stress buster.

Daily writing prompt

What was the last thing you did for play or fun?

View all responses