The Muse’s Challenge — A Christmas Story for Little Red Bear

October 27, 2016 / jrmilson / Leave a comment

Do you recall the ‘Writing Muse’ that I have mentioned before? The one that awakens me anytime between 3-5am in the mornings with writing and other creative ideas and inspirations? Well, she paid me a visit this morning right at 5am, with an idea for a Christmas themed short story featuring Little Red Bear. She openly challenged me to have it completed for the holidays and is really adamant about it. I have learned over time that one should never decline the challenge or assistance of a determined muse!

So, despite an already overloaded schedule, Little Red Bear and I began work this morning on a Christmas Story. But a lot needs to be accomplished in a short time to pull this one off. Muses never really give much weight to schedules, working on Celestial time as they do.

As I said, the muse is insistent this be done and the story seems to be coming to mind rather quickly, so Red and I will be very busy to get it all completed in time for the approaching holidays. Probably need to place some large chocolate and honey orders to get us thru this one!

I mentioned that her name should maybe be changed from “Creative Inspiration Muse” to “Last Minute Muse”, but she didn’t see the humor. I guess it may have been too early in the morning for that, even for a muse.

Thanks as always for visiting with us. Please wish us well with so much to do and pull together. We’re off now to get to work and will keep you posted on our progress over the next few weeks. — Jim (and Red!)

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“The Adventures of Little Red Bear” Short Stories on Amazon.

Old-fashioned, Family-friendly Stories and Fun for All Ages and Fitness Levels!

About an Uncommonly Special Bear and His Friends.

Sunday Family Day — At the Pumpkin Patch!

October 23, 2016October 24, 2016 / jrmilson / 3 Comments

Shhhh! . . . . . Quietly . . . . . Listen . . . . . . Wait for it . . . . . .

Do you hear it? The almost imperceptible sound of a straining vine under pressure. A snapping and heavy rolling along the ground. And . . . . the ever-so-soft sound of dried hay, tumbling to the ground off a wagon . . . . and wheels . . . . tractor wheels rumbling along a dirt road. Could it be . . . . a hay ride? Dry, rustling leaves in the breeze. And crows. Do you hear the crows, caw-caw-cawing from a field along the stream bank?

Thill and excitement fill smiling faces of young adults enjoying a seasonal hay ride. A scene of wholesome outdoor entertainment for a group of well dressed group of four people. Action filled shot as man on left throws hay into the air to the others surprise.

Family Fun on a Hayride (via GatlinburgLodgingGuide.com)

And do you smell it? It’s very faint in the breeze . . . . the unmistakable scent of apple cider being poured into a glass. And, oh! Did you hear that? And again? The undeniable giggles and squeals of children playing and having fun.

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Happy Autumn! Getting full swing into the beautiful autumn season now, with only eight days to Halloween. Time to round up the family and head to the Pumpkin Patch!

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Pumpkin Patch- Studts Pumpkin Patch. (StudtsPumpkinPatchandCornMaze.com)

Pumpkins in the Field via Country Living Magazine

It’s a beautiful autumn day to track down that perfect pumpkin for the front porch and partake in that grand old tradition of carving a pumpkin with the kids. Carefully opening the top, scooping out the seeds (be sure to roast them and let none go to waste!), coming up with a design and carefully carving an eye-popping Jack O’Lantern for Halloween to summon the little Trick-or-Treaters next week.

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But first, a visit to the Pumpkin Farm is in order to locate the ideal pumpkin. Rows and rows of pumpkins patiently awaiting your arrival, each hoping to be the one selected for the ride home. Tractors bumping along dirt roads and thru the fields, pulling wagon-loads of laughing children and families on hay rides. Face painting. Refreshing apple cider. Delicious apple butter and more for sale. Corn mazes and hay castles to crawl thru and climb. Good times! Fun times with the family!

Pumpkin Patch- Petersen Family Farm. (PetersenFarm.com)

Fun in the Pumpkin Patch (via MeFitStudios dot com)

Welcome to the Pumpkin Patch! (via mommypoppins.com)

Make this Sunday a family day and head out to the local pumpkin patch for a healthy day of fresh air, exercise and delightful family fun, good times and memories.

Creating Memories at the Pumpkin Patch (via WoodTV.com)

Wishing everyone a beautiful, Sunday Family Day! — Jim (and Red!)

The Smith Family, by Sarah Whitwell Photography (SarahWhitwellPhotography.com}

“The Adventures of Little Red Bear” Short Stories on Amazon.

Old-fashioned, Family-friendly Stories and Fun for All Ages and Fitness Levels!

About an Uncommonly Special Bear and His Friends.

A Short Story for the Season — “Haystack Harry”

October 21, 2016 / jrmilson / 2 Comments

An eight-year-old boy from the city confronted by a tall, seedy-looking stranger, alone in a dark barn in the country. What could possibly happen?

Relax, we don’t tell those kinds of stories here. Sharing an entertaining, Free Short Story for the autumn season and weekend enjoyment — “Haystack Harry.”

Hope you enjoy. Please feel free to Like, Comment and Share with friends, family and others. Thanks as always for visiting! Wishing everyone a beautiful fall weekend! — Jim (and Red!)

(Spooky Barn image via Literary Hoarders Blog, WordPress.com)

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“The Adventures of Little Red Bear” Short Stories on Amazon.

Old-fashioned, Family-friendly Stories and Fun for All Ages and Fitness Levels!

About an Uncommonly Special Bear and His Friends.

Kindness and The Power of Words

October 17, 2016October 15, 2016 / jrmilson / 6 Comments

My Mother, who I consider to quite possibly be the wisest person I have ever known, raised me on the adage of — “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words can never hurt me.” Her intent was to both support me when on the receiving end of hurtful barbs sent my way, and to make sure that I learned not to launch any in the direction of others myself.

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With all due love and respect to Mom, that’s plain hogwash. Sticks and stones may break our bones, but Words can be truly hurtful. We need to be especially careful, supportive and encouraging with our chosen words for children, whose self-images and psyches can be so fragile. And with everyone, really. Words have the power to hurt or heal. Support or discourage. Build up or tear down. Words can serve to create or to devastate and crush a young and loving spirit. Broken bones and wounds tend to heal well over time, but poorly chosen, hurtful words can leave lasting impressions and scars that stay with us forever.

An unkind word is like toothpaste. Once out, it is impossible to put back. Hurtful and demeaning words may be forgiven, but likely never forgotten.

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A kind word can mean the world to someone who may be going thru a rough stretch of road. And we never really know what someone may be going thru from outward appearances. Oftentimes, all a struggling person may need to turn a life in turmoil around is a kind word to know someone else cares. On how many occasions after someone has passed, have we heard the sentiment — “If only I had told them . . . . “?

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We should never let pass the opportunity to lend a hand, help someone, or as William Makepeace Thackeray put it — “Never lose a chance of saying a kind word.”

Thanks as always for stopping in to visit. Share a kind word, and make someone’s day a little brighter. — Jim (and Red!)

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“The Adventures of Little Red Bear” Short Stories on Amazon.

Old-fashioned, Family-friendly Stories and Fun for All Ages and Fitness Levels!

About an Uncommonly Special Bear and His Friends.

Sunday Family Day — Putting “Family” Back Into Sundays!

October 16, 2016October 16, 2016 / jrmilson / 5 Comments

Things tend to change over time. Oftentimes for the better. Sometimes not.

Sundays were family days a while ago. Back in the days before over-hyped sporting events and media distractions began to dominate the scene and steal away quality time. Sundays were spent relaxing from the weekly routine, the hustle and bustle, from the work grind and stress. Reconnecting. Spending time together. Going for Sunday afternoon drives thru the countryside. Looking forward all day to Sunday dinner. Sundays were for staying in touch, returning to our center and to what is truly important — Family.

This is the first in a series of weekly Sunday posts dedicated to returning Sundays to Family Days. Spending quality time with loved ones. Each of us only gets so much time in our life and no one knows how much. We can choose to invest the time given to us wisely, into what is most important to us and to the future of our children, or to fritter it away in frivolous pursuits which yield nothing but empty minutes passed and a longing for something more substantial and connecting in our lives. So many feel disconnected today. Be and stay connected — with your family.

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It is easier to withstand the storms of life, not being blown over by the random winds of misfortune, when we are grounded, anchored and held secure by family and loving roots. Sundays are made for grounding and staying connected. Our society, with so many challenges confronting families today, ranging from rampant drug use to negative social media influences and divisiveness, perhaps now more than ever, needs to rekindle that spirit of family togetherness and bonding.

The autumn season, with its refreshing and crisp air, is a perfect time to get the family together for a picnic. Take a trip to the park and kick around a soccer ball. Launch a Frisbee thru the air. Play hide and seek. Or even spread a blanket on the ground in the backyard and just have a fun time together tossing leaves about and grilling up some hot dogs or marshmallows. If inclement weather, take that same blanket and make a tent in the family room. Spend the time together, and have Fun! Experience, share and enjoy the Peace, Joy, and Love. They aren’t just words on a page. Give them true life in your family, making lasting loving memories while forming the connections which strengthen and hold us together.

(Image Credit: Tori Watson Photography, The Haggards Family, blog.tori-watson.com)

Family time. Together time. Fun time. Quality time. The best time! To be in our children’s memories tomorrow, we must be in their lives today.

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Thank You for stopping by to visit! I hope you enjoy this new Sunday feature, and follow along each week as we work together to bring Family back into Sundays. Spread the word to family, friends and neighbors. What does your family do to stay connected? Please feel free to share in the comments! We are all in this together, after all.

Happy Sunday! Happy Family Day! Wishing everyone a beautiful autumn and family Sunday — together! – – – Jim (and Red!)