It’s Christmas day, and as the kids grumble about the gifts they didn’t receive, you’re in the kitchen, surrounded by the sharp aroma of minced onions while completing the repetitive task of removing the thick, robust skin of the potatoes. The kitchen is filled with the pungent and sweet fragrance of herbs as the flavors ...

Louise tossed on her bed and turned onto her back. She twisted a blond curl splayed out on the pillow. The lights strung on the bushes outside her window took turns glowing red and green on her ceiling. In the predawn hours, Louise rose and pulled on a flannel shirt and jeans. She slid on ...

            Antlers cutting through                                                 Thick dark clouds                                                 Hooves dancing upon                                                 The aurora borealis                                                 Heavy puffs of mist                                                 Escape our nostrils                                                 The cold bitter world                                                 With sharp barbs of ice                                                 Attempt to break us                                                 We are mildly disturbed                                                 But still move ahead, for                                                 All along ...

“Are you sure all the presents are wrapped?” “Yes.” “Positive?” Paul laughed, placing a hand on his wife’s knee to prevent her from getting off the couch. “Dani. I’m sure. All the presents are wrapped and accounted for.” “I’m just checking! You know if Noah ends up with more presents than Penny, it’s going to ...

This week started a new year. I think everyone is ready for this particular cycle around the sun to be over. The thing is that this is our new normal for a little while longer at least. The only thing we can do right now is to make the best of a bad situation. This ...

I am a huge gift person. I love getting gifts for my friends to let them know that I was thinking about them. My favorite memories from my teenage years were the random trips to Borders and Barnes & Noble with my parents. I was one of those kids who had my Christmas list separated ...

It’s Thanksgiving week and Christmas is right on its heels. For my family, like many others, this season is about surprises, secrets, and seeing family. However, with increasing restrictions due to spiking COVID-19 numbers, some of our normal plans may have to be postponed. Perhaps you have experienced some of the same. It is disappointing ...

Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 Content Warning: Contains allusions to emotional and psychological abuse at the hands of a maternal figure. Recommended 18+ readers.

Glisten, glow, and shine. A winter white snowfall.  A warm silver-white glow of a high moon hangs in the ink-black sky.  You and I covered by the warmth of a plush warm blanket.  glisten, glow, and shine just outside the window.    Glisten, glow, and shine. A winter-white blanket of snow covers the world outside.  ...

The gingerbread cookie realized the sheet beneath his body had cooled to room temperature. He knew it was safe to sit up. His cooled, settled frame meant he was no longer in jeopardy of losing an appendage, or worse yet, his head. He lifted his flat, brown noggin, and looked left then right. His fellow ...