When Do You Decorate for Christmas?

Vonnie Davis

Growing up on a farm in South-Central Pennsylvania, ten-days or a week before Christmas, Dad and I would walk through the rolling hills of dormant wheat and corn fields to the forest on the back few acres of our property. He hefted a long-handled ax. I carried the rope and much too much excitement for his liking. Dad enjoyed the quiet of nature; evidently I enjoyed the sound of my own voice.

After carrying the tree across our country road, we sat it in a bucket of water and leaned the pine against the side of the house for TWO days. An eternity for a kid eager to decorate. I knew better than to whine; my parents would never have tolerated it. 

When I had children of my own, we never put the tree up and decorated the house with my snowmen collection until the weekend after Thanksgiving. 

My youngest son and his wife buy their tree the day after Thanksgiving. Too soon im my opinion, but since I was there most of last week I was included in the tree farm experience this year.

Mike and Ryan

My grandson Ryan was home for the holiday, flying in from Boston a few hours after I arrived by car. Ryan is a junior at MIT. A creature of habit, he expects two things when visiting the tree farm about an hour away from their home in Frederick, MD. Number One: He carries the saw and does the physical work. Number Two: While he climbs over the Jeep roof to secure the tree, Tina has to set up a tailgating party of leftover pies, cupcakes and a couple thermoses of hot chocolate. Tina, who can't handle a lot of cold thanks to Reynard's disease, has expectations, too--a  propane heater. There's plenty of teasing and laughter. Yes, ladies, going for a Christmas tree with them is a fun experience.

But, wait, there's more. The tree decorating tradition. Since Ryan was nearing 3, there are a collection of pictures of Mike holding him up to place the angel on the treetop. This year was no different even with Mike's bad shoulder. Ryan claimed this would be the last year since he'll be 21 in May on my 71st birthday. Yes, he was my 50th birthday present. And we do share a special bond.

Mike in Santa shirt holds up Ryan to place the angel.

The day was fun. Still, decorating on the 23rd was just too early. But . . . those fun-loving kids had put me in the holiday spirit. I'm decorating today. Sigh. Don't judge.

So, when do you typically decorate?

***  Need a good Christmas read? I have 3 for your enjoyment. SANTA WORE LEATHERS https://tinyurl.com/yco2f47r  was an Amazon choice for November's book of the month. They've dubbed it "the sexiest Christmas fireman romance of 2018." I'm thinking it might be the only Christmas fireman romance, but I'll take their kind words just the same. 

***  Then there's UP THE CHIMNEY . https://tinyurl.com/yabu9d4e  

***  And for a bear-shifter Christmas romance, there's HIS MIDNIGHT STAR.  https://tinyurl.com/yaeqbyn6 

*** December 4th marks the release of my part in the Heart's Desired Mate Series. Seven paranormal authors each wrote a book about various shifters in a private community in the Sierra Nevadas who are affected by a love potion gone wrong. Goodness, the whole town is in a sexual frenzy for a night, leaving everyone shocked and rather embarrassed the next day. BEARY SASSY: THAT OLD BLACK MAGIC is a fun read. https://tinyurl.com/y8n6okoz

Also available in paperback by 12/06.

Ways Our Grandchildren Delight Us

~~ Vonnie Davis

I think most of us grandmas have little traditions we do with the grandkids, no matter their ages. When distance is involved, we have to be more creative. My one granddaughter and I watch the Miss America Pageant together. She lives in Ohio and I'm in southern Virginia. We text during the event, something we've been doing for years.

My two grown grandsons go to see the latest Bourne movie on the same day as Calvin and I. They're in Indiana. We text about the film afterward. As soon as the movie is available on Blue Ray, Amazon makes a delivery to each of their houses with a copy from Grandma. We do the same thing with James Bond, too. Whenever they come to visit, we do a Bond marathon complete with too many snacks as we repeat the cheezy lines we know by heart.

The Super Bowl has my other grandson (I have four) and me betting and texting and teasing. Whatever team he's for, I'm for the other side whether I truly am, or not. I mean, how else can I get him all riled up? He's in northern Maryland.

Books have been a large part of our tradition, too. When Josh was in Afghanistan, he asked for books of poetry about nature--something he could mentally sink into like Robert Frost and Walt Whitman.

My youngest granddaughter goes to the Maryland School for the Arts. She'll ask for books on music theory.

When Ryan was a toddler, he spent many weekends with me. I began to collect Disney videos. The first was "Bambi." He scrambled off my lap and ran to his drawer in the kitchen where his toys and books were kept, returning with his "Bambi" Golden Book. He followed along with the video on his little book. He was only 14 months old then. It didn't take me long to realize with every video I bought for his enjoyment, I'd have to buy a matching book.

Ryan's a freshman at MIT now. He was chosen to work on an internship with the Bossman Group, doing research on the Mars 2020 Land Rover. He explained what he'd be doing, but I don't speak math or Greek or chemical chit-chat. I just nod with all the grandmotherly wisdom I can fake. He's majoring in Solid Material Engineering with a double minor in Energy Storage and Environmental Science. Ryan's favorite book? I think I've mentioned before it's "The Universe and Dr. Einstein."

He relaxes from a heavy school load by wrestling, a sport he loves. MIT's wrestling squad is flying to Lynchburg this weekend, where we live, to wrestle in an Eastern Collegiate Tournament with 20 other colleges. We'll get to see him and I can't wait. Here's a short video of him at his last match. He's the one with no socks and writing on his singlet, or uniform. And what is that squibbling? Hey, it's MIT...they're math equations.

What traditions do you have with your grandchildren or children?

For more information about me, the writer and not the grandma, visit my website at www.vonniedavis.com.

"There's No Place Like Home..." by Suzanne Rossi

Hi everyone.

Wow, what a wonderful Christmas! My oldest son and his family came down to Memphis from Rockford, Illinois, to join us and my youngest son with his family for the holiday. It was the first time since 2000 that the boys had been together to celebrate.

We all got together on Christmas Eve to open gifts. The squeals of delight from our seven grandchildren as they opened presents was music to my ears. And listening to my sons trade good-natured insults took me back more years than I can remember. My youngest, Brendan, is a certified chef. He split his time between his in-laws and us to make Christmas dinner--Shepherd's Pie. It was fabulous. Also upon request from my Rockford daughter-in-law was Creme Brulee for dessert. It was killer. I think I'm still on a sugar high.

I'm not usually big on nostalgia, but I couldn't help tearing up when son, Kevin, showed off the ornaments he'd made in school through the years to his sons. Each and every one brought back memories of when my boys so proudly gave me their works of art to hang on the tree. Since Brendan had helped us set up the tree, he'd already had his moment of fun when seeing the tree totally decorated with memories special to him.

The grandchildren saw the gifts under the tree and the chorus of, "Can we open them now?" chimed in seven different voices. The answer was "No." We tortured them with anticipation for a few more hours. My youngest granddaughter, Sarah, was particularly aggrieved. The biggest one was for her. And my youngest grandson, Ryan, (2-1/2 years old) found out how to turn on the musical centerpiece on my coffee table. To save all of us our sanity, his mother eventually put it up on shelf in the hall closet. That didn't deter Ryan,  however. He also figured out that a music-making ornament would sing "We Wish You A Merry Christmas" when he touched it. It found it's way to the top portion of the tree. Kid's too smart for that age. LOL.

It's all quiet here now. Kevin and his family left for home this morning. The silence is deafening, although I won't miss having to listen to Sponge Bob for hours on end. I do, however, miss them already. This is what Christmas is all about--family, friends, and good times. I believe that is as much as part of the holiday as the birth of Christ. After all, it is a celebration.

I hope all of you had as wonderful a Christmas as I did. May the looming new year of 2017 bring all of you joy, happiness, lively spirits, and good health.

Until next month.

Suzanne

The Calm Before Life's Storm by Vonnie Davis

I feel like I've been biding my time, as my mother used to say. I'm working on two books and a novella right now, but I'm also sitting back...waiting for a series of events to begin. Tomorrow, I turn 68 and I have no clue how that can be happening. I was just 39 a couple of months ago.

June 1st, we travel to Maryland for my grandson's high school graduation. He's graduating top of his class and going to MIT in the fall. He has two nicknames: Shooby-Doobie-Do and Nerd. He wears both proudly. I'll also get to see both of my sons and my 2 other grandchildren.

June 8th, we're flying to Columbus, Ohio to attend my granddaughter's wedding. She just graduated from college with a double major. I'll get to see the remaining 3 of my 6 grandchildren. What a huge "Grandma-fix" that will be. They're all grown, busy, and so often out of touch.

June 21st, my publisher is putting my first paranormal book on sale for .99 for a limited time, hoping to generate interest in my name for release of book one of my new contemporary series. So, I'll need to push both the sale and my upcoming release--HER SURVIVOR, Black Eagle Ops, Book One. Promo is such a chore for me. I'd sooner have a root canal.

July 11th, I have cataract surgery. Good-bye foggy vision!!!

July 19th, HER SURVIVOR releases and I'll be hosting a book release party on Facebook. Let's hope I can see what I'm posting.

In the days between all these happenings--joyful though most of them may be--I'll be kissing the computer keys with my fingertips, trying to meet deadlines. Oh, and edits. Let's not forget the rounds of edits that will roll in from time to time. I love the writing process, my soul yearns for it. Meeting those deadlines? I can't say I have a whole lot of affection for those. In fact, I'm usually 4 or 5 days late. Thank goodness my editor at Random House is so good to me.

If you enjoy a bit of whimsy, a touch of paranormal, and an aging pink-haired hippie who does a wee bit of comical meddling, you might enjoy my Highlander Beloved Series. Book one will be on sale from June 21st until July 2nd.

To my great surprise, book two of the series, A HIGHLANDER'S PASSION, was a finalist in the HOLT Medallion contest this spring.

Buy link for Book One--A HIGHLANDER'S OBSESSION  https://amzn.com/B00ILX9WC0

Buy link for Book Two--A HIGHLANDER'S PASSION https://amzn.com/B00N6PD78S

TO LEARN MORE ABOUT MY BOOKS, VISIT WWW.VONNIEDAVIS.COM

My Grandson Called Me The Other Day...

Vonnie Davis

I've been blessed with many things in my lifetime. No, not with riches. Nor with grace of movements. And, heavens, not with good looks either! But with friends and family, my cup runneth over, as they say. My sweetest blessing has been my six grandchildren. All are young adults or teenagers, now, which makes me older than dirt, but we don't need to go there. And as long as Madame Clairol and I are on intimate terms, I can pretend some of those years don't exist.

My grandchildren are scattered, as so often happens. Three live in Indiana and three in northern Maryland. Calvin and I live in southern Virginia. My jewels and I keep in touch via facebook chat, twitter, texting and phone calls.

Ryan after winning his match at 160 lbs.

Ryan, who was born on my fiftieth birthday, is especially good at keeping me involved in his busy life. He's fifteen now and an all-A student, taking honors courses, and a busy athlete with wrestling and track and field. He called me the other day. "Grandma, I saw your name in USA Today online! They wrote about your Christmas novella. What's a novella?" After I explained, I asked him what he was doing reading a newspaper online. It struck me as a little odd for a teenager. "I was eating a snack of rice cakes smothered in honey and chocolate chips and perusing some of the scientific articles." (a math geek, he wants to go into engineering) "I saw the page for books and popped over to see if there might be one I'd like to read. Never expected to see my Grandma's name." The kid sounded both shocked and impressed.

"So what are you reading right now, hon?"

"I'm reading this cool book by Einstein on his theory of relativity. I'd read it over the summer, but wanted to read it again since I'm taking advanced physics this semester. The book's won several awards. Have yours ever won awards?" I laughed and told him they had, but not on the caliber of Einstein's. Ryan gave a typically male grunt. "Writing fiction is different than writing non-fiction, isn't it, Grandma? Don't you have stuff like tropes you have to worry about? And point of view? We talked about that in Honors English." My eyebrows shot up. And I grinned so hard while the two of us discussed writing and literature that my cheeks hurt for several minutes after his call ended.

I asked if there were any books he wanted. My grandkids all know I'll send them most any book they request. Calvin and I work hard to foster their love of reading. Ryan told me about a couple books on quantum physics, and I jotted down the titles so I'd remember them when I slipped over to Amazon to place an order.

When Ryan went to say good-bye, he said, "It was good talking to you, Grandma. Sometimes I just need to hear your voice."

Yep, the kid's a smartie, alright. He knows how to get to grandma's heart. I am so, so blessed.

You can visit Vonnie Davis at her blog ~ www.vintagevonnie.blogspot.com or her website ~ www.vonniedavis.com Her website is currently undergoing construction and is rather messy, but you're more than welcome to stop by and wade through the mess.