For all of my little Critters...

Story Draft  Copyright, Traci A. Brown, 2022 images used for story telling purposes only. 

The majesty of the winter season had sprinkled upon every creature in the Half Moon Forest. Stacks of firewood were piled neatly outside tiny cottages around the village. 

Firewood is a must in the cold frosty months of winter, but for this little town it was needed for much more than a fireplace to sit in front of after a cold day of outside play.

This was the time of year when the town was buzzing as everyone prepared for the annual holiday cookie exchange. Neighbors through out the woods took turns baking and delivering cookies to each other. 

It was their way of celebrating Christmas and the true meaning of the season - family, friends and of course... Cookies.

Ovens throughout the land were set at 350° day and night baking up delicious, delectable, mouth watering gifts to be shared with one another. 

The forest air was filled with the sugary sweet scents of vanilla, brown sugar and cinnamon.

Miss Delana’s primary class gathered weekly at the Coastside Farmer’s Market in the Town Square. It was there that the children created whimsical cookie Christmas cards while their parents strolled through the market gathering items for their culinary creations.

 A long rustic table made from a fallen tree was placed in the center of the market where the children proudly presented and sold their colorful, glittery greetings.

The Beaver family handcrafted cookie jars made from mud and clay for the annual event. They too proudly presented their works of art at the Farmer’s Market.

Each jar was just as special as the other and no two were ever the same. It seemed as though everyone in the little town had something the other needed for that special cookie recipe and it most likely could be found at the Farmer’s Market.

The Bunny family sold brightly colored yellow and orange carrots. The Mouse family ran the goat farm and sold milk and creamy white cheeses. The Squirrel family climbed trees daily gathering bright berries and crunchy nuts. The Bird family offered plump wiggly worms farmed from the rich coastal soil. Mr. & Mrs. Skunk presented sweet dried vanilla beans & purple lavender flowers harvested from their hillside fields earlier that spring. 

And the Bee family sold their extra ordinary, award winning, Winter Wildflower Honey.

Everyone that lived in the tiny little town, big and small enjoyed this special time of year. Everyone that is except for the Bear family. 

They were just plain mean and grouchy and never participated in the cookie exchange or holiday parties.  All they did was sleep, snore, and growl. 

Nevertheless, year after year, a jar of cookies was always placed at their doorstep with the traditional artful Christmas cookie card. But everyone in town knew that the Bear family would never, ever, eat the cookies. They would not try the carrot cinnamon cookies...

They would not try the goat cheese & vanilla bean sugar cookies...

They would not try the purple lavender tea cookies... 

They would not even try the brown sugar oatmeal & wiggly worm cookies.

to:The Bears from:The Squirrels