I do have one thing I try to do everyday and that is to play with Chachi, the cat. We’ve come up with a different version of hide-and-seek and the little guy knows exactly what to do! I hide and he needs to find me. The difference to this version is that when he finds me and I catch him, he gets 10 kisses each time.
It’s not about the finding but the kisses that matters. Some days he walks away with more than 30 kisses but who’s counting! I love giving him kisses and he loves getting them and that’s what counts. It is a sort of bonding time for us but let me tell you, I am pooped by the time we finish! He walks off with a grin on his face if you can call it that, happy with the world and with his mommy.
Daily writing prompt
Do you play in your daily life? What says “playtime” to you?
Animals and fireworks don’t mix! However, every year on New Year’s Eve they are put through “terror” that they don’t understand. All they know is that their safe world is suddenly filled with noise and flickering lights. It was the same for Chachi, the cat.
It was a good thing that I was home to keep him company. This year, the fireworks started as early as 8:30 p.m. Some neighbors decided that they had waited long enough and it was time to ring the new year in. First, it was a few but even that sent Chachi in a tizzy. He looked at me with his big eyes, sat up on his haunches, looked to the window and then back at me.
HIM: “What is that MOM?!!”
ME: “Don’t worry, you’re safe.”
Then a few more went off and lit up the sky with a splash of color and he took off running. I let him go. He found a spot under the bed and stayed there. Half an hour later, he poked his nose out and looked at me again, suspiciously this time.
HIM: “Mom, why are you making all that noise? I don’t like changes!”
I picked him up to hold him close and to reassure him that there was nothing to worry about but he wasn’t having it. He jumped, scrambled, and went back under the bed.
Then midnight rolled around and the village went up in flames! Well, it was lit up like a stadium, with fireworks shooting left and right, you get the picture. This quiet little village that usually goes to sleep at around 7:30 in the evenings was loud and noisy with children running around with sparklers and parents trying to outdo each other as far as fireworks was concerned. It was a free for all! I watched sans Chachi. He was behind a cupboard and refused to budge!
It took all of 30 minutes but seemed like forever to the little furball. As things settled down, he stayed behind the cupboard. After much coaxing, he showed his tiny little face looking like he had been through a war zone! I picked him up but he was jittery and restless. A lone firecracker going off sent him running again.
Needless to say last night was a sleepless and restless one. He kept waking me up, meowed “Mommy” every five minutes and refused to cuddle. Morning rolled around before I knew it and he was up at 5:00 a.m. ready to go downstairs but not without his mommy! He kept close as I made my way downstairs and stayed close. It’s going to be a long day as I try to get him back to his normal self.
Should fireworks be banned? That’s like the Grinch who stole Christmas? It was banned for a couple of years but they are back at it with a vengeance. I’ll have to go out there and see what kind of damage was done. Each year, they use the garage area to set off their fireworks and this year was no different. Irritating? Absolutely. Cleaning up is left to someone else to do.
Okay, it is the first day of a new year and I’m going to take it in stride and work on getting Chachi back to his normal self.
It’s page 1 of 365! A blank one to put whatever you want on it. Let’s make it a good one as we step into the New Year with hopes, dreams and unfulfilled wishes. May it all come true!
Dear Past:
Thank you for all the lessons you taught me. Not all of them were good but they had to be learned.
Dear Future:
I am ready to embrace whatever is coming my way! However, if I want to run back to my old ways, please drag me to the water and make me drink from it!
As the calendar turns and a brand new year stretches its wings, Honey and Hubie pause on the edge of their favorite woodland hill, watching the first sunrise of the year spill gold across the trees. And just like those two tiny adventurers, we — readers, dreamers, families and little explorers–take a moment to breathe, to look back, and to look forward with hope.
This past year has been a journey neither Honey nor Hubie ever expected. What began as a small tale about a courageous miniature greyhound and her daring frog friend slowly grew into something larger, warmer, and beautifully shared.
Children discovered them in classrooms.
Parents read their story at bedtime.
Teachers used their adventures to spark imagination.
Families met them together, one cozy page at a time.
And through it all, Honey’s gentle bravery and Hubie’s loyal heart reminded us that even the smallest characters can teach the biggest lessons.
Looking Back on the Journey So Far
The world of Honey and Hubie blossomed with every reader who welcomed them into their home. Their adventures –filled with fairies, Moppets, talking woodland friends, and magical landscapes — became a place where children could laugh, dream, and learn what courage can look like.
But something else happened too.
Grown-ups began to see themselves in Honey’s quiet determination and Hubie’s fearless curiosity. The story reminded many of us that imagination isn’t something we grow out of. It’s something we return to when life feels heavy and we need a spark again.
As the dedication says:
“May you never lose your sense of fantasy because it is what dreams are made of.”
This year, that message touched hearts in ways words can barely capture.
Stepping Into a Brand New Year
With the start of a new year, Honey and Hubie are ready for more.
More discoveries.
More laughter.
More unexpected bravery.
More reminders that friendship is one of the strongest kinds of magic.
Honey hopes this year brings quiet courage — the kind that helps little ones take their next brave step.
Hubie hopes this year brings curiosity — the kind that makes children ask questions and explore the world with wonder.
Together, they look forward to meeting new readers, revisiting familiar ones, and continuing their journey with anyone who believes the world becomes brighter when we choose kindness.
A Heartfelt Wish for the Year Ahead
From T. J. Mueller, from Honey, from Hubie, and from every magical creature hiding between the pages:
May this new year bring gentleness to your days, courage to your heart, and wonder to every corner of your life.
May children discover new stories, new questions, and new dreams.
May parents find small moments of calm and connection.
May teachers continue shaping young minds with stories that lift imginations toward the sky.
Above all, may this be a year filled with the kind of adventure that reminds you that magic is real, and it often begins with a single page.
From our little woodland world to yours, HAPPY NEW YEAR!
I think it is learning to undo some learned patterns and behavior traits. We become accustomed to what is comfortable and that doesn’t necessarily mean that it is good for us. The same goes for me. I tend to be very accepting of things that do not serve me knowing full well that they don’t but instead of putting a stop to it I make excuses and that right there is my problem. Sometimes being “nice” doesn’t necessarily bring the same into your life.
This year I need to stop being nice and accepting of things I know that are not good for me and learn to break the patterns that enable such behavior. It starts with looking within to see why such patterns exist and that is not a comfortable thing to do. It means owning up to and accepting what is there and changing it for the better. Not always an thing easy to do.
“Taking care of yourself doesn’t mean me first; it means me too.” L.R. Knost
Taking care of yourself should be at the top of your list but it rarely is. We pull ourselves in different directions trying to appease others and we put ourselves where we are barely visible at times. I do. “Me too” is not what I think of when I go about trying to help someone else and often, I forget myself in the process. I forget that I need nurturing too, I need taking care of, and I am important too.
“Remember to take care of yourself. You can’t pour from an empty cup.” Unknown
Take care of yourself. You can’t be much help to anyone else if all you’re doing is looking to see how you can put yourself out there being the “angel” who is there for the calling, the helping, and one who comes to everyone’s call of distress without thinking about the toll it is taking on your being. I did that three years ago when I came to the aid of a sick friend and I put myself through hell and high water to care for him only to find out that even though it was a good deed, the price you have to pay is a high one as far as your own well-being is concerned. Will I do it again? It is a definite NO!
“Take care of your body, it’s the only place you have to live.” Jim Rohn
Taking care of your body is a must. You don’t do it to look good for others, it is a necessity to survive in a world where much is needed from you, and if you don’t take care of yourself, no one else is going to do it for you. Do whatever is necessary to put yourself first, take care of yourself first and the rest can follow.
“Take care of yourself. Go for a walk, eat your favorite food, get a haircut, cry if you need to, read a book, take a vacation, have a drink, do what you need to do. Take care of yourself, because at the end of the day you’re all you’ve got.” Unknown
As the year draws to a close, the one resolution that matters for next year is to take care of myself first. I do that religiously, but sometimes I forget when life rolls around with its demands and I forget about “me” in the process and take off to do whatever is necessary for someone else. A helping spirit is a good one but not when it is to the detriment of your own well-being. I’m going to remember that as I move forward into the new year. It is not being selfish, it is called self-preservation.
“When you start taking care of yourself you start feeling better, you start looking better and you start to attract better. It all starts with you.” Unknown
AND
“Change the changeable, accept the unchangeable and remove yourself from the unacceptable.” Jane Travis
That last one speaks to the heart of the matter. Removing yourself from the unacceptable can mean many things. Toxic people, things that drain your energy, and people who don’t give two hoots about your well-being. Put them into context, take a long hard look at what you will accept and what you won’t and go from there. Most of all, you MATTER!
I think it is those days when I was young and running wild as the proverbial tomboy in the woods behind my home. It was a time of freedom and not caring for the norms that life or society stipulates on how you should be. No rules, no regulations and no listening to that inner voice, just letting go and living life as it was meant to be.
Those days are gone but if I had a chance to go back there again, I would! Some days the rebellion sets in and I still jump in duck puddles when no one is looking but it is few and far between. I am all prim and proper now but don’t let that fool you, there is that little “wild child” still inside of me. Some days I revisit those days and it still brings a smile to my face. Good memories of days gone by but still precious and they live on in the grown-up me.
Mom, if you’re listening, I am more like you wanted me to be, more of a “lady” but I can tell you, it is NOT that much fun!
Update: The Cheesecake Fetish is all but out the door! I’ve toned it down to once a week and small bites at a time. No fun? Exactly but I had to do something before the cheesecake monster took a hold of me and took me to places I didn’t want to go! The guy is gone and so is the constant presence of cheesecake in the fridge. So things are looking up and I hope that I’ve got the cheesecake dilemma or rather “fetish” where it belongs!
One of my resolutions for this year is to cut out the “Cheesecake Fetish” altogether! If you don’t know what I’m talking about, it is this all-consuming lust for cheesecake!
This particular fetish started last year and since then it has taken on a gigantic personality. I never used to be a person who needed a “fix” of something sweet or of anything else for that matter. Somehow I got on the cheesecake train and have refused to get off.
To make matters worse and as life would have it, I met someone who offered me a slice of the best cheesecake in town and I was hooked. I wasn’t hooked on the guy but on what he had to offer. This love fest took off to new heights when every time he went to play tennis, he would bring me a whole cheesecake from the store close to the tennis club. How convenient? What’s that saying? “The way to someone’s heart is through their stomach.” He basically took it to heart and I had my never-ending supply of cheesecake of the very best kind.
The problem. Ever heard of cheesecake taunting? Neither have I but every time I walked past the refrigerator, I would hear it knocking and calling out my name! It got to the point where I would just open the fridge, stand there in its all-encompassing presence and bathe in its scrumptiousness. I was able to ration it to one slice a day and so it has been until I realized that thoughts of “cheesecake” accompanied me on my walks!
It was time to hit the brakes. Willpower needs to take a stand and show this bad behavior the door! This year I’m going to have one slice per week, no ifs or buts about it. It will be my reward for working on myself. I don’t care how loud it cries from behind the refrigerator door and begs me to take a bite, I WILL turn a deaf ear and sip on mundane coffee to stave off the craving.
Hard is not the word for it, but I’ve got to start somewhere before that “craving” takes over my life! What about the fixer? Well, I’ve put him on notice not before seeing the disbelief go flitting past his face but I’m sure he’ll find new ways of getting through to the heart that has locks, chains and a moat surrounding it! If there’s a will, there’s a way as they say.
It’s time for coffee and I swear I can hear the half- finished cheesecake screaming my name but nope not today. It’s time to put on my shoes and do 30 minutes of HIIT training! Willpower do your thing! Yes, WE CAN do this!
It’s the last walk for this year. The weather has kept me away for the last week or so. There has been lots of fog and add the constant fine rain or drizzle as some may call it and you’ve got weather that is neither fit for man nor beast to venture out in.
Today, there is no sun and the same thick fog is playing havoc with visibility but now we have to contend with frost as well. Looking out of the kitchen window this morning I noticed that the rooftops are dressed in white making it look spooky in the dawning light.
I’m dressed for the weather. I’ve got my Down jacket on, gloves on my hands, a scarf around my neck but decided against a hat since I just washed my hair last night and winter caps do not do justice when it comes to long hair! Vain? You can say that.
The fields are shrouded in pea soup thick fog and it is cold, much colder than it has been. However, the trees are frosted and that right there is my belated Christmas present from Mother Nature! They look like they’re straight out of a picture postcard and gorgeous doesn’t even begin to describe it!
It was quiet as I walked, my hands shoved into my jacket as I took in the view before me. Nothing was moving except for a few crows picking at the frozen ground for whatever they could find and as I passed them they let out a loud caw in unison. They are loud creatures and not to my liking but they are a part of the fields and there are plenty of them here.
The herons seem to have taken refuge from the cold and that’s sad because my heart soars whenever I see them. I have a soft spot for them or perhaps for the luck they might bring. Out of nowhere, I spot three deer in the field. Suddenly, one of them runs towards me and my breath catches in my throat because that has never happened before. Just as suddenly, it stops and watches me as I make a loud clicking noise with my tongue more out of fear than anything else. It was enough to scare it away and they turned and ran off in the opposite direction.
The rest of the walk was calm and peaceful as usual. I can hardly believe that the year is almost over. We’ve almost gone through 365 days in a blink of an eye or so it seems. They say time flies when you’re having fun but that hasn’t been the case as far as I am concerned so why is time flying like it has wings? Could it have to do with getting older? Hmm….maybe but whatever it is, the new year is waiting in the wings and good or bad, it will be here soon.
Take care fields and I’ll see you in the New Year.
In my opinion, relationships are hard. There are ups and downs and sometimes they don’t contribute to your well-being. I find it hard navigating through relationships and at times I’ve had to let some go because it didn’t serve me and my needs.
One relationship that has had a positive impact on me is the one I have with Chachi, the cat. This little guy is a handful and a macho at times but if there is a “perfect” relationship then this is it. It is one where I do the talking and he listens. Not always but that adoring look does go straight to the heart. What he is really thinking that is another story altogether! We know our boundaries and as long as that is respected all is well in this household. It is a sort of give and take but what I get from him is hard to explain. It is comfort, warmth and definitely love as Chachi sees fit and that too is part and parcel of this relationship. Not always a win-win situation but I’ll take it. I am more relaxed in his presence and less stressed and that has made a positive impact on my life.
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