HO HO HO Bah Humbug #OpenBook Blog Hop

October 12, 2026

It’s only October, but stores are filling with Christmas merchandise. Have you started to get ready for the holidays?

I work part-time in a small corporate general store.

Local employees groaned when Christmas merchandise started to roll in the small back warehouse in August. But the mini-sale the store had that month was to sell some of the Christmas wrapping, etc.. that was leftover from last year. (And who knows that some of it might be from the year before – wrapping paper doesn’t go out of style.)

I have plenty of decorations that I’ve collected over the years, and don’t have room for more. Shoot, I don’t have room for some of the ones I already own!

Besides, it isn’t even Halloween yet. Then there’s Thanksgiving. And several birthdays scattered among the holidays. I won’t even start thinking about Christmas this soon.

So, when do I start preparing for the holidays?

I’m trying to decide about Halloween now. We don’t get enough trick-or-treaters to make it worth the effort. And with the grandkids moved away, I don’t have a built-in audience.

Thanksgiving will also be trimmed down. No need to prepare a huge meal for the three of us. It’ll still include dishes that aren’t part of our daily diet, but I won’t spend days cooking.

I’ll start thinking about Christmas the day after Thanksgiving. I still send out cards, and that’ll be the first task. Maybe some outdoor lights will get set up, depending on the weather. I’ll probably work on decorations right up until Christmas Day.

How about our other authors? Are they getting ready for the holidays yet? Check out their posts by following the links below.

And, as always, please stay safe until next time.

October 12, 2026

It’s only October, but stores are filling with Christmas merchandise. Have you started to get ready for the holidays?

 

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Happy Holidays! #OpenBook Blog Hop

 

Nov 10, 2025

Which is your favorite holiday and why?

Happy Holidays!

I’m not sure I can pick a favorite holiday. What I can do is pick one favorite way to celebrate. 

Fireworks.

It doesn’t matter the time of year. They are traditional for the Fourth of July in the United States, but are common for other holidays as well. I love the multi-colored sparkles that light the sky and the booms and hisses that fill the air. Sure, they aren’t as common for the winter holidays, (except for New Year’s) but as long as it’s warm to stay outside, they can be enjoyed any time of year.

If I had to pick a holiday, it would be Christmas. Not so much for myself, but for the grandkids. But I love decorating my house and putting up as many lights as I can find a place for. The way they brighten the dark nights and create a fairyland is worth the effort. And if there happens to be a bit of snow to enhance the glow, even better. (We’re getting our first snowfall of the season as I write this.)

Find out what the other authors on this hop have picked as their favorite holiday by following the links below. And, as always, please stay safe until next time.

By the way, watch this space for information on the release of the anthology, Defending the Moonlight, I am part of. The participating authors are raising money for K9s for Vets.

 

Nov 10, 2025

Which is your favorite holiday and why?

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Click here to enter