A Warm Return, A Fresh Season, and a Snow-Dusted Hello from the Writing Pages

Hello, Friends — I’m back.

It feels good to say that again. And it feels even better to step back onto the porch here on the Writing Pages, pull up a chair, and visit with you once more.

I’ve been away for a while — partly because the past year handed me more than the usual share of medical miles to walk. One thing after another kept showing up on the calendar, and I found myself spending far more time in surgeries and waiting rooms than at my writing desk. It took a good long while to heal and regain my footing, but I’m grateful to say the energy has been returning, piece by piece. And that is a good feeling, isn’t it?

We had our first big snowfall here over the past weekend. The first snowfall always brings back a memory from when I was very small, walking between my father and uncle on a winter’s day. The ground ahead looked perfectly flat — or so I thought — until I stepped confidently forward and disappeared straight down into a hidden ditch, neck-deep in snow. One moment I was strolling along, the next I was swallowed by winter. My father and uncle, each on the high side of the drift, reached down, grabbed an arm apiece, and popped me back up like a cork.

Life still does that now and then — letting you tumble into a drift when you least expect it, doesn’t it? And then, just when you need it most, it seems to offer a couple of steady hands to lift you back out again. This little return of mine feels something like that — a gentle rescue from life’s snowbank and a renewed chance to step forward once more.

To those who have checked in, left kind notes, or simply stayed subscribed and waiting — thank you. Your quiet encouragement means more than you know. And to new readers just finding your way here, welcome. There’s always room for one more at the table. It feels nice to gather again, doesn’t it?

I’ve always loved this time of year. How about you? Something about early December brings a gentle hush to things — a peaceful feeling that settles in like the first snow on the evergreens. Lights go up in windows. Neighbors wave more often. Even the shortest days seem to glow with their own kind of soft magic. It feels like the right moment to return.

And return we will, with a full month of stories, poems, reflections, seasonal pieces, and cozy visits from Honey Hill Country. And for those new to our pages here, Honey Hill is where my lead story character (and friend in my head) Little Red Bear lives. Red and his friends have plenty to share, and I’m delighted to be writing again with a clearer head and a more grateful heart.

We’ll also be building toward something special — the upcoming “Hearth & Holler Gazette,” arriving a little later in January. It’s been a joy to create, along with no small bit of work, and I look forward to offering you a few small peeks as we move closer to launch. Exciting to think about, isn’t it?

Before we dive into all of that, I hope you’ll stop back by this Saturday — I’ll be sharing a warm basketful of Free Christmas and Holiday Season Features from the archives, gathered together for easy holiday reading and revisiting old favorites. A nice way to start the season, don’t you think?

For now, I simply wanted to open the door again, turn on the porch light, and say how glad I am to be back. I’ve missed this place — and more importantly, I’ve missed you.

Here’s to December, to new stories ahead, and to finding comfort, hope, and good company as the year winds down. I’m looking forward to walking through the season with you.

Thank you for being here — it means the world.

— Jim (and Red!)

If you haven’t visited Little Red Bear’s world yet, this might be a nice time to wander in for a spell — you’ll find his books filled with warmth, kindness, and a little old-time charm. Sounds inviting, doesn’t it?

Pen-and-ink illustrations created with the assistance of AI and lovingly styled for Little Red Bear Land.