Well folks, here we are — back again. As they say, it’s been a minute, hasn’t it? It’s almost like starting over. Again.

I am just now resuming work and writing after a much-too-long, lengthy absence due to personal health issues. This time, another four-level spinal fusion surgery, followed by a complication and another major surgery a month later to remedy that. Anemic leaving the hospital, the last six months have been a period of slowly recovering and rebuilding strength, complete with two oral surgeries a month ago. For someone who is normally a fast healer impatient to get things going again, this has been a lesson in patience, accepting what is, and allowing everything to unfold and heal on its own schedule.

But — while not yet fully recovered, I am back to about 80%, it is my very favorite season of Autumn now with the holiday season soon to follow, and my story character friend Little Red Bear is back from his extended vacation and fishing trips during my absence, and we are both fit and raring to go again! We can talk more about my surgeries and personal health at a later time. So for now, let’s talk about Autumn, what is ahead here, and get back to it, shall we?

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As stated above, this is unquestionably my favorite time of year. Days are getting cooler, the air is crisp and refreshing for early morning walks, and the leaves are beginning to change colors here.

Vivid Autumn memories begin to color my mind — the arrival of sweater weather –fall trips to my uncle’s farm when a youngster, hitching mules to the wagon and helping to bring in the last harvests of the season, scarecrows in the fields — raking leaves and jumping over and into piles — the fall smell of burning leaves and woodsmoke in the air — playing football after school and weekends, bonfires and hayrides, taking the kids to the Pumpkin Patch every year — carving Jack O’ Lanterns, creating Halloween costumes and Trick or Treating — hot chocolate, fresh apple cider, candied caramel apples, pumpkin pies, and so much, much more!

Autumn — don’t you love it?

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After such a long (for me) downtime and so much to do to begin catching up now, I have the overwhelming urge to get busy working on everything all at once but at the same time find my desires and personal expectations exceed my ability to do that.

As my writing character, Little Red Bear, always reminds me — “Being busy is not the same as being productive, Jim. It only counts if you truly accomplish something.”

Yeah, that bear can be a real task master sometimes when it comes to getting down to working on and writing his stories. “Focus” and “Produce” are the keywords of the day around here now.

So, nevertheless relentlessly intrepid and sometimes overreaching perhaps, Little Red Bear has outfitted me with a ridiculously large, bear-sized pencil, and here is a rundown of what I am working on right now or will be soon, along with new posts and features coming soon thru the Autumn and coming Holiday Seasons . . . .

• Resuming Regular Posting Here On The Writing Pages
• Completing the “Animal Alphabet” Coloring Pages for Young Children
• Adding New Pages and Educational Videos on Nature, Wildlife, the Environment, and Conservation, with accompanying Coloring Pages for Young Children
• Creating a New Added Premium Bonus for Patreon Supporters
• Finishing, Editing, and Publishing “The Ozarks Ostrich Crisis” Serialized Story
• Adding a Large Print version of “The Adventures of Little Red Bear: The First Holler!” available for Seniors and other vision issues
• Making the “Pine Holler Christmas” Kindle book available in Regular and Large Print Versions for the coming holiday season
• Creating More New Little Red Bear Video Features
• Adding New Poetry to the Writing Pages
• Adding More Positive & Inspirational Permanent Pages
• Adding a Page for my Favorite & Guiding Life Quotes
• Creating New Christmas Feature Pages for the Holiday Season
• Continuing Work On The Next Little Red Bear Adventure Stories Collection — “The Second Holler Over!” for a Targeted Spring 2024 Release
• Writing stories to begin the process of publishing a new series of illustrated Little Red Bear Storybooks for beginning young readers

So, that’s a lot, isn’t it? Will it all happen according to plan? Given my personal history where unknown issues and unplanned surgeries can pop up at any time — we’ll see.

That is simply the reality. Once again, I have learned that not everything is within my control, to not issue promises or guarantees anymore, but rather merely to keep a steady writing pace and do my very best while allowing things to progress as they will.

Relax, Breathe, and Allow the Universe to unfold according to plan. As Disney fans of “The Mandalorian” have been reminded — “This is the Way.”

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Thank you so much for your patience and for visiting with us today!

We (that would be my story character friend Little Red Bear and me) hope you stay in touch and visit again soon!

If you are new here, I encourage you to please Register today to be notified of every upcoming post and feature because a whole heap of entertaining, informational, and positive-themed material is on the way!

We are all about Positivity, Kindness, Compassion, Love, Peace, Children, Family, Conservation, and the Environment. That is who my story friend Little Red Bear and I are. And it’s all Free with no distracting advertisements to slow things down because that’s just how we roll here.

In closing, Little Red Bear and I are back and hard at work again. New story ideas and features for this site are pouring into my brain faster than I can write them down now. We have a great deal of catching up to do, and are SO happy to be back with you here!

Thanks again and always for stopping by!

Until next time — Best Wishes & Blessings! — Jim  (and Red!)  🤠   🐻   ❤️

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In A World Where You Can Be Anything — Be Kind. Because Kindness Matters!

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With children and grandchildren around (and for those of any age who like to color!), we invite you to visit “Little Red Bear’s “Happy Autumn Season!” Coloring Pages”.

Enjoy hours of family coloring fun and time together, all offered Free for our visitors!

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If you enjoyed this piece, you may also like — “Happy October — The Gateway To Autumn & The Holiday Season!” and “Wishing You Deep Peace, Love, Happiness, and Joy –  And A Very Good Day!” 

(New Visitors — Welcome! To find out what we are all about, please check out — “Welcome To My Writing Pages!” and “About the Blog, Jim & Little Red Bear” — and sign up to follow and be notified of every new post! Because really, why in the world wouldn’t you?)

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                “Mindfulness isn’t difficult. We just need to remember to do it.”  – Sharon Saltzberg

“Anyone who thinks fallen leaves are dead has never watched them dancing on a windy day.” – Shira Tamir 

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Meet Little Red Bear & His Friends —  “Once Upon A Time In A Very Special Woods . . . .”

“Find ecstasy in life; the mere sense of living is joy enough.” – Emily Dickinson

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Because together, we can do so much! 

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