Fireside Questions for Santa

December 24, 2014December 24, 2014 / jrmilson / 4 Comments

With Christmas Day drawing nigh,

I have some questions and wonder– “Why?”

Like, what is it about Santa that makes little kids cry?

And how in the world does he get reindeer to fly?

How high do leaves go when they “mount to the sky”?

How many toys do elves make versus having to buy?

So going to stay up late, or at least I’ll try,

And will hide behind the sofa, on Santa to spy.

I want to face him– eye to eye,

To directly ask the jolly elf guy—

“With no disrespect or meaning to pry–

How is it a fat old man can be so spry?

And get down the chimney without bruising a thigh?”

So busily hanging stockings by the chimney to dry,

While waiting here for Santa with questions to ply,

But for now I’m hungry and will bid “goodbye”,

Here anxiously awaiting the Old Boy to drop by.

Goodness, gracious, me oh my.

I wish that I had some Pumpkin Pie!

Wishing a Merry Blessed Christmas to all– “and to all a Good Night!”

— Jim (and Red!)

Santa Claus Drying Socks By The Fireside

An Original Short Story– “Susie’s Bear”

December 8, 2014 / jrmilson / Leave a comment

An unexpected major winter storm and a very sick little girl compound the problems of an Indiana farm family struggling to survive in the depths of the Great Depression.

An original short story to share for the holiday season. Please click here for a Free Read here on the Blog — “Susie’s Bear”.

I hope you enjoy the story, and please feel free to share with friends and family. Thanks as always for reading and following! Wishing all a very Merry Christmas and the best of the holiday season! — Jim (and Red!)

ps- Please watch for the first collection of short stories in the “Adventures of Little Red Bear” series coming in the new year!

Currier & Ives– “Winter Moonlight”

Picture Book Pass it On!

November 24, 2014 / jrmilson / 2 Comments

The month of November is Picture Book Month and Michelle R. Eastman, children’s book author of “The Legend of Dust Bunnies, a Fairy’s Tale”, has started an initiative called Picture Book Pass it On (#PBPiO). Here is a link to the Facebook page → Picture Book Pass it On. The purpose is to celebrate the power of the picture book. For more information about Picture Book Month, here is a link to their website for more information → Picture Book Month.

Picture Book Month Ambassador

I was tagged by the wonderful and creative Sylva Fae. If you have not visited her delightful family friendly Blog yet, I invite you to do so at → Sylvanian Ramblings Blog.

To participate in “Picture Book Pass it On”, there are three steps–

1- Post a “shout-out” to celebrate your favorite picture book. It can be anything from posting a selfie of you and your favorite picture book, to tweeting a line from one of your favorite characters or scenes, or post a picture or video of you reading a favorite picture book with a child, pet, or loved one. Or blog about a favorite picture book memory from your childhood.

2- Pledge to donate a copy of your favorite picture book to a local children’s charity or cause (doctor waiting rooms, battered women’s or homeless shelter, prison waiting room where children wait to visit an incarcerated parent, a struggling school, etc.)

3- Pass it on. Help spread the word about Picture Book Pass it On (#PBPiO) by encouraging others to accept the three calls to action to keep the movement going year ‘round.

The Little Blue Engine, from “The Little Blue Engine That Could”

I am very happy to participate in this activity, so here we go.

1- Because it had such a great impact on my early life and beyond, my favorite picture book of all time is “The Little Engine That Could” by Watty Piper. Challenged with physical disabilities very early in life at age two, this book’s positive messages of determination, optimism and hard work in overcoming challenges and obstacles still influence my life and work today. I do not remember how early in life my Mother began reading it to me not only for the story message, but also using it to teach me to read very early. It helped foster a life long inner determination and attitude of “I Can. And I Will.” Along with a life long love of reading, books and everything trains!

“The Little Engine That Could”, my old copy

“The Little Blue Engine That Could”

“The Little Engine That Could”- Goldenbook

2- I have a collection of Little Golden Books from days past with my own children, and will be donating those along with copies of “The Little Engine That Could” to a local preschool in need of a boost.

3- I strongly encourage anyone reading this to take up the challenge, and keep moving this wonderful effort forward.

Picture Book Month Ambassador

“The Little Blue Engine That Could” with Clowns

Thanks again to Sylva Fae for asking me to participate in this wonderful activity, and for rekindling some very fond memories. Happy Picture Book Month! Pass it on!

“I think I can. I thought I could. And I did!”

An Original Short Story– “Haystack Harry”

October 29, 2014 / jrmilson / 1 Comment

Hey folks! Happy Halloween Week! Hope the pumpkins are carved and candy bins resupplied, because the little ghosts, goblins, superheroes and Disney Princesses will all be making their rounds very soon. It’s not wise to disappoint. As the old saying says– “Trick or Treat!” I find treat wrappers a lot easier to clean up the next morning than dried up trick leavings.

Speaking of Halloween and the Autumn Season, what do October, fall harvest time, sweet potatoes, Missouri Mules, old wagons, hay bales, cornfields, crows and a scary character in a dilapidated old barn all have in common? They’re all featured in a new, original short story, of course. It’s entitled “Haystack Harry” and appears under the “Free Reads” heading at the top of the page. Is it scary? Is it not? You’ll have to read to find out for yourself. Here’s a little bit to get you started.

“Sunday. Thinking back, yes, I believe it was a Sunday. An exceptionally warm day as I recall now. Maybe even a little hot for an early October morning on my Uncle Coley’s farm outside McKittrick, Missouri.

“I had traveled out to the country that morning with my parents to visit and look for a Halloween pumpkin, and we were not surprisingly recruited into digging sweet potatoes from the field and storing them in the root cellar. “Gotta beat Ol’ Jack Frost!” he barked while bringing the mules up to hitch. It seems Uncle Coley always had a “helping out” chore to “lend a hand” on when visiting.”

Here’s a quick link to read the rest of the story → “Haystack Harry” Short Story.

“Haystack Harry” is a farm and country story for all ages. Please feel free to read to little ones, and pass along to share with others. Hope you enjoy the story.

Thanks as always for the visit and reading! — Jim

“Crows in Cornfield”– Artwork by Teresa Tanner, Landscape Artist

Out-thunked! | Sylva Fae

October 18, 2014October 18, 2014 / jrmilson / Leave a comment

Check out a delightful Blog post by Sylva Fae. Have you ever been “out thunk” by a four year old? Sylva’s family oriented blogs are always delightful and entertaining. Please visit with the link below and see for yourself.

Out-thunked! | Sylva Fae.

Ladybugs on a Leaf

‘Twas the Seventieth Night Before Christmas . . . . . . .

October 15, 2014 / jrmilson / Leave a comment

‘Twas the Seventieth night before Christmas, and all thru the house, not a creature was stirring. Because it was five minutes after midnight on October the 15^th and I had just gone to bed. But maybe not so fast . . . . . . .

♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦

It’s a little early to be talking about Christmas already, but folks, I got in trouble with the Big Guy last night. I should have known what was coming but wasn’t paying attention to the date. Every year on October 15^th I get a call. Five minutes after midnight this time. Earliest ever. No sooner had I switched my light off to turn in for the night the phone rang. A direct call from the Big Guy. Yep. That one. Santa Claus. Knew I was in trouble the moment I saw the display on the phone—“North Pole Hotline”.

By calling at that hour Santa was purposefully demonstrating that he was burning the midnight oil, still busy at work and wondering why I wasn’t doing the same. We have a working relationship that goes way back, Santa and I, and to be honest I get that call from him on this day every year, with Santa checking in to see how my production is coming along on his orders for the upcoming holidays. Just never in the wee hours of the morning, and usually I’m not this far behind so the conversation goes a little better.

“I’ve been going over my mid-month status reports, and the open and received orders book here Jim, and notice that I have not received a single thing I ordered from you yet. Now, I placed those orders back in March before I left for my annual beach vacation. There’s only 70 days left until Christmas and it’s going to be here before you think. Is there a problem? I also have new orders for you. You know how we all look forward to your teddy bears and things every year. Are you going to be able to fulfill these orders or should I look elsewhere? It’s been quite a while since you’ve been on my Naughty List. We don’t want that now, do we?”

Santa Claus with the Naughty and Nice Books

Santa is many things—a master craftsman, innovator, expert sleigh and reindeer handler, navigator extraordinaire, Elf coordinator, cookie connoisseur, bringer of good will and cheer, youth motivator and positive reinforcement master, and the list goes on. Quite an accomplished fellow. An unheralded ability that should be recognized is his mastery of delegation and follow-up. Not many orders or items slip thru the cracks on his watch. And if they do, Santa and we all have Mrs. Claus to answer to, the real “Power Behind the Sleigh” if you will. Accordingly, Santa makes it a high priority to stay on top of things, and last night it was my turn to report in and be held to account.

He noted that I had sold three jewelry pendants in the last 24 hours from my store, indicating a noticeable uptick in activity and a clear sign that the holiday busy season might be getting underway. He also reminded me in no uncertain terms that, according to his morning flash reports, my store indicated a “Low Inventory Status” for gift seekers he referred, and again that none of his personal Sleigh Delivery orders had been filled yet and wanted to know why, and what was I going to do about it? And would I be able to handle additional new orders?

Santa Claus Reviewing Records and Accounts

One thing you need to know about Santa Claus. Twinkling eyes, dimples how merry, cheeks like roses, nose like a cherry—yes indeed, that’s all spot on. But when it comes to the business side, he gets right down to it in true executive fashion. He asks pointed, direct questions, doesn’t accept any hem-hawing around and cuts right thru the mistletoe! And he carries the threat of that “Naughty Boys List” around in his back pocket like a Cherokee War Club. Santa is all business when it comes to his orders and running a tight ship at the North Pole.

Santa Claus- Performance Evaluation Day

Now, having talked about Santa, one thing you need to know about me is that I live to make things in addition to writing, and have been making up new designs and creations for months- collector bears, accessories, pendant jewelry, a new line of bear and doll display chairs, and more. When it comes to photographing and listing it all online for my store, well, quite honestly, that’s where it all breaks down for me. Not being my favorite thing and being commonly human, I keep putting it off. My aching back and standing, bending and taking photos all day just don’t go well together it seems. But believe me, that is not an acceptable explanation to offer up to an elderly, overweight gentleman who spends a 24 hour shift scrambling up and down chimneys with a heavy sack, and bouncing around in a sleigh behind gassy reindeer for thousands of miles. Santa expects and works hard to keep everything coordinated, in order and on schedule.

Santa Claus- Planning, Scheduling and Coordination Meeting

And that’s why he was calling of course, to offer a firm reminder to put it in gear and get going myself. As I said, he knows me well from over the years, and gives me this “kick in the britches” about this time every holiday season. It was just a little harder kick this year. He knew the state of things here before he called. He knows and sees everything. When you’re sleeping, when you’re awake. Just like the song says. That’s why the phone was ringing before my light had lost its glow after turning it off last night. You couldn’t put anything over on the Big Guy if you tried, and really—why would you want to?

So, as he clearly reminded, it’s time for me to “Be good, not pout, not shout and get busy!” filling my store and his orders. And there is no way I want to disappoint him. If you see me a little less the next several weeks on Social Media and the like, please understand that I’m just busy on Santa’s orders and trying like the dickens to stay off his “Naughty Boys List”. And Mrs. C has already been after me about finishing Little Red Bear’s stories and getting them out, so I don’t want to go within a country mile of getting on her bad list. You know what I’m talking about.

Mrs. Claus- Angry- Don’t Get On Her List!

Off to work on Santa’s list and orders then. Lots of photos to take and more things to make so better get to it. “Hey, Little Red Bear! Better get some cookies going and put on the teapot. We’ve got some long nights ahead.”

Thanks as always for reading. – Jim (and Red!)