Snow - Magic or Havoc? by Darlene DeLuca

Snow. Snow is a four-letter word. And I’m not a fan. To me, snow means cold and gray days. It means the hassle of wearing hats and gloves and coats and scarves. It means difficult driving conditions, car accidents and shoveling injuries that can wreak havoc in lives.

But snow is often considered a magical part of Christmas—a white Christmas conjures images of old-fashioned sleigh rides, frosty snowmen, and beautifully dusted pine trees.

Okay, I grant you that snow can be pretty. A snow-covered winter wonderland with ice crystals on the windows is a lovely sight when I’m curled up inside with a book and a warm beverage. Here in the Midwest, there’s no avoiding snow, so of course, I’ve made snowmen (and other assorted snow-figures) with my kids. I’ve done sledding and snow angels. I’ve gone snow skiing. And I know a lot of people love those things.

I know a lot of people, kids in particular, long to wake up on Christmas morning to at least a dusting of the white stuff. Playing in the snow gives kids something to do on Christmas Day after the stockings are investigated, the packages are ripped open, and the grownups are watching football or chatting in the kitchen. And I get it, kids seem to be immune to the cold. But as an adult, I know too well that snow adds stress and difficulty for those who have to work on the holiday—doctors and nurses, police and fire personnel, airport staff, etc.

I love Christmas. In fact, it’s my favorite holiday. Gifting is my love language. I enjoy finding the perfect gifts and wrapping them. I love decorating our Christmas tree and holiday-themed sugar cookies. There’s nothing better than lounging in the living room with my husband and the kids after the frenzy of gift-opening. But as soon as the holiday is over, I’m ready for spring—ready to toss the winter boots and sweaters, ready for longer days and warmer temps.

That said, I’m perfectly fine with a fictional snowstorm!  Believe it or not, a mountain ski resort is the setting for my holiday romance Christmas at Tall Pines. Turns out there’s a lot an author can do with a snowstorm—two people forced into close proximity, trapped inside a lodge. Power outages and the need to find warmth some other way, candlelight, a roaring fire…sounds romantic, right? Add all the Christmas festivities like holiday movies, beautiful decorations, hot mugs of cider, and gingerbread houses, then combine them with two former high school “friends” and watch for the flame to ignite!

What about you? If you live in an area with snow, are you delighted to see it on Christmas? If you live where snow doesn’t happen, do you wish it did?

Either way, enjoy the holiday season, and happy reading to all!

Darlene

 I have two holiday stories—Christmas at Tall Pines is a full-length novel, and Cookie Collision is a novella. Both are perfect for settling into that holiday vibe.

Christmas at Tall Pines

-- Melanie Beck is searching for an idyllic Christmas like the ones her small family used to have. Traveling solo and still grieving the loss of her parents, she’s counting on cozy Tall Pines Lodge tucked into the mountains of Utah to provide the elusive holiday feels with merry music, stunning decorations and traditional Christmas feast in a beautiful frosty setting.

But a blizzard turns the winter wonderland into a hazard, and a chance encounter with a now-famous high school crush has her reeling with emotions she’s never quite gotten over.

Tyler Shaw, a Hollywood heartthrob and silver screen star, is so over a grueling film schedule and persistent paparazzi. In disguise and using a fake name, he comes to Tall Pines to escape the spotlight and get some much-needed rest. He’s hoping the adrenaline rush of downhill skiing at the nearby slopes will give him the reboot he’s looking for.

Instead, he’s stuck at the lodge and is shocked to run into an old high school friend that he left behind more than a decade ago. He’s even more surprised to discover how much he’s missed her.

As their past and present collide, can an old flame ignite some Christmas magic?—

Cookie Collision

Before she can let up and enjoy some holiday cheer, real estate agent Alana Drake has work to do. With Christmas moving in fast, she has clients to meet with, houses to show, and cookies to bake. Every open house deserves her special touch—homemade and hand-decorated sugar cookies for a warm welcome. And she needs several dozen for upcoming holiday events and open houses.

But a poorly timed stop at the grocery store could upend more than her bag of groceries. Running into Doctor Justin Teague—literally—shakes up Alana's tidy world. The chance encounter leaves her with a bum ankle, forces her to reconsider some dating ideals, and reveals new information about a longtime nemesis.

When all she wanted was to bake some cookies…

Darlene Deluca writes contemporary romance and women’s fiction, and likes to explore relationships – what brings people together or keeps them apart.

Her intent is to bring to life interesting characters that readers can relate to in real-life situations that combine a little fun, plenty of drama (with perhaps a tear or two), and big helpings of friendship, love and self-discovery, and will leave you either cheering or sighing with a satisfied smile as you turn the final page. She enjoys reading, a little dark chocolate, a glass of fresh-brewed tropical tea and a warm, sunny day!

 Visit her website for more information!

www.darlenedeluca.com

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BK1TP381/

https://books.apple.com/us/book/christmas-at-tall-pines/id6443949366

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/christmas-at-tall-pines-darlene-deluca/1142549099?ean=2940165952432

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B09FXHKZDH?ref_=dbs_m_mng_rwt_calw_tkin_9&storeType=ebooks&qid=1635974281&sr=1-2

https://books.apple.com/us/book/cookie-collision/id1585465393

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/cookie-collision-darlene-deluca/1140147032?ean=2940162321422

 

Life's Illusions by Liz Flaherty

From Canva - mine was fuzzy...

I'm angry this week.

Usually I try to be at least semi-diplomatic on this blog. I do object (over and over, I know) to name-calling, misinformation, and downright lying, but quite honestly I don't think those are things that should be protected by diplomacy. 

I'm starting this column pre-dawn Wednesday as I wait for 2022's snowmageddon to sweep in. This morning I read about two school shootings. One at a college in Virginia where two officers died and one in Minnesota where one student died and another (as of this writing) is in critical condition. 

This week on the piece of mail we received from our state representative, he assured us he supported the second amendment. Also this week, he threw public education and its teachers under the bus. I don't believe he mentioned shootings.

This morning on Facebook, a writer was immensely cheered that people in her state are spending tons of time and money making sure kids aren't threatened by being made to wear masks. She didn't complain about the shootings, but masks--apparently those are the real danger. 

People chuckled when Neil Young and Joni Mitchell removed their music from Spotify. They termed the singers "irrelevant." And yet those same people speak adoringly about Joe Rogan, who blithely spreads misinformation on his highly-rated podcast.

I don't understand how people whose music has entertained and enriched for decades are inconsequential and yet blatant falsification is relevant. Why are purposeful misstatements revered and spread like toxic waste all over the messy tapestry the country has become?

On Thursday morning, we have a driveway full of snow. As country driveways go, it's not all that long, but when it's full of snow, it is--and its length has increased exponentially with the 40-some years we've lived here. Even with the snow, a piece of mail from yet another politician is delivered. She doesn't mention shootings, either, or, for that matter, public education. Different things, I should realize by now, matter to different people, and we do recycle unwanted mail, so all is not lost.

"I've looked at life from both sides now

From win and lose and still somehow

It's life's illusions I recall

I really don't know life at all" - Joni Mitchell

And now it's Friday. Do you feel like you're reading a diary here? 

Yesterday, Duane beat me soundly at Farkle for the second time this week. I suggested he cheated, totally ignoring the fact that I'm the scorekeeper and that my math skills...aren't. We laughed and ate supper from whatever was in bowls in the refrigerator and watched episodes of Call the Midwife. Our house was warm. We were in the same place. When we walked past each other, our hands touched. During the day, when I walked to the office or back to the house, he stood at the door and watched. Clumsiness is one of my finer features, and snow makes me even better at it. 

Yesterday, I got a text that promised I'm headed your way w snowplow. Within minutes, John's red truck was clearing the lane. Had he not done so, Lee would have done it later in the day. 

Yesterday, I had an email from someone who didn't especially agree with my stance in last week's column. She was polite, erudite, and curious--an irresistible triad. 

Saturday morning. John made another pass through the lane. The path to my office is clear enough I can walk out there without my boots filling up with snow. I fell in the yard last night, but the snow was soft and deep and the only problem with getting up was that I couldn't stop laughing. Gratitude does that to you; I could easily have fallen on ice-covered cement instead. 

Mail carriers are still out there every day, a friend has declared herself a snow-widow because her highway department husband is working long days. If there have been power outages, they haven't lasted long because personnel have worked to repair problems. Every fire department in the area showed up for a structure fire last night. None of the police departments or ambulance crews have called in cold. 

Did I mention gratitude?

So, at the end of this long week, Joni Mitchell's lyrics still reign. I have to remember, when I'm angry or disappointed--which happens a lot in these painful days--to look at both sides. It doesn't mean giving up the moral or ethical ground I've chosen to stand on--it means remembering that we are all neighbors. 

I may not "know life at all," but looking at "both sides now" is still important. Have a good week. Stay safe and warm. Be nice to somebody.

 

When the Weather Outside is Frightful by Debby Myers

Today when I let my dog outside, there were light snowflakes falling. It was so

pretty and peaceful. I was still in my robe and slippers, but I had to step outside just to watch and take it in. When I was a little girl, snow was the greatest. All the neighbor kids would bundle up and trek through the snow. We’d go sledding at the park, have snowball fights, make snow angels, and build snowmen in each of our front yards. We’d be outside so long, we’d be freezing before giving in and going home.

Being in my 50’s, I’ve seen a lot of it in my lifetime. I am certain my mom purchased more winter garments in one winter than most kids today get in all their childhood years. They don’t own snow pants, a scarf, or a sock hat with a pom-pom on top. If they have mittens, one or both are lost. Many prefer a hoodie over a puffy down-filled coat and aren’t affected much by the frozen stuff. I’m not sure they know what a true “snow day” is since school closes at the mention of the word. SNOW.

Now, if you really know me, you know I have been outspoken that I haven’t been a fan of snow. I worked in Rochester for many years. Like the school administrators, I wanted to declare a “snow day” every time I had to make that drive on a blustery day. More often than not, I drove home after dark. I know all of you know what I mean when I used the words “space snow.” It would completely mesmerize me making it hard to concentrate on driving. 

The worst drive I ever made in the snow was when I had been asked to fill in at a store in Huntington. It started to snow on my way there. Then it continued to snow throughout the busy crowd of shoppers picking up essentials – you know those…milk, bread, eggs. It felt like the 10-hour shift flew by. But then I had to drive the 40 miles to get home with 6 inches of snowfall and counting.

When I pulled out on highway 24, cars and trucks were bumper to bumper creeping on the icy, snow covered road. As we inched along, it started getting dark, making it even harder to see through the heavy snow falling. After an hour I had travelled 20 miles. I had nearly hit other cars several times and almost been hit just as many from sliding. I had my hands clamped on the steering wheel so tight that my fingers were cramping, and I had a terrible headache, likely from the stress of it all. 

But then, as if it couldn’t get any worse, my driver’s side windshield wiper broke off. I completely panicked. I couldn’t see at all – I had to figure it out. I secured the glove on my left hand, rolled down the window, and started clearing the window manually as we creeped. Then my cell phone rang, and it was my husband checking on me. He wanted to come and get me, but with the traffic and the snow, it wasn’t even possible. I don’t think either of us remembers what I said, but I know I started to ramble and cry, then screamed I couldn’t drive and be a windshield wiper all at once. 

It took 2 hours and 10 minutes before I pulled into the Walgreens parking lot and started to sob. Hubby was waiting on me there. He brought me hot coffee, put me into his warm car, and drove me the rest of the way. I really hated snow.

Although we haven’t had much the past few years, I have to admit, I miss it…especially seeing the kids enjoy fun playful activities in the snow. My youngest two grandchildren haven’t even had the chance to experience that yet. I miss looking out and seeing everything so crisp and white, pretty and peaceful.

Of course, since I don’t have to drive to Rochester or Huntington or anywhere in it anymore, now I want it to snow…a lot. How about you?

***

Family-owned for 15 years, DeAngelo's Pizzeria of Denver, Indiana is on the same  street as the park and the baseball diamonds. Owners Hayley and Kevin Hostetler and their employees are friends and neighbors of the community, generously helping with fundraisers and keeping young ballplayers fed. The food and ice cream (ask me; I know ice cream - Liz) are wonderful. If you haven't tried them yet, I recommend the ham and cheese. And the pizza. And...

Heated outside dining is available. The menu is extensive and the phone number is (765) 985-3126.