Kindness and Caring on The First Snow Day of 2025 in Shady Pines
Let It Snow
Oh my goodness dear readers. Will you look at that! Powdery snow swirls in a light wind and drifts down on Main Street in Shady Pines.
This is kinda exciting.
Looks like we’re going to get three inches or more.
It’s the first snow of the year. Actually it’s the first snow in nearly ten years.
Here in the South snow is not a regular thing like it is up North.
Around here most of the town shuts down on a day like this. We’re not sure how to walk or drive in the slick stuff.
Time To Play
The kids love it though ’cause they get out of school. 
Most of them run outside, plop on down and make snow angels. Some find any little slope so they can go sledding.
The children dress warmly in coats, hats, gloves and boots because it’s really cold out there.
Ray Robinson isn’t sure what to do with his snow day. 
Maybe he should find out what Boomer and Halley are doing. The four legged children of Harold and Edna Sanders are two of his favorite playmates.
As he makes his way to the Sanders’ home on Dogwood drive, Ray sees other pets out for a walk.
They look cozy. He wonders if his favorite Australian Shepherd dog, Boomerang, has a sweater like that?
Would Halley’s Comet wear one? Ray laughs to himself.
“Probably not unless it was really fashionable.” He tries to imagine what that would look like. Ray shakes his head. “Naw, she wouldn’t.”
Visiting Friends
Edna hears the doorbell ring and opens the door. “Hi ya Ray. It’s good to see you. C’mon in.”
“Hi Mrs. Sanders,” says Ray. “Are Boomer and…”
Ray doesn’t even finish his question before a multi color dog comes bounding into the entry way.
“Boomer, sit,” says Edna. Boomer does as he’s told.
“Good boy, she says. “Manners are important.”
Ray drops to his knees and hugs his friend.
Ting. Ting. Ting. The sound of the little bell on her collar means a prancing cat is arriving. Halley goes straight up to Ray and presses against him.
Edna smiles. “I guess your welcome committee is glad to see you!”
Staying Warm
Before Ray can ask if Boomer and Halley have winter gear, Edna has an idea.
“Why don’t you come into the kitchen, Ray? I was just making some chicken noodle soup. And I’ve got my favorite chocolate chip cookies in the oven.”
Ray stands up. “I don’t want to interrupt.”
Edna looks surprised. ” You aren’t at all. You’re doing me a favor by keeping these two busy.”
Ray brushes Boomer’s thick coat with one hand. With his other hand, he throws Halley’s favorite noisy toy for her to chase.
“Harold will be back soon,” says Edna. 
“He ran out to deliver some food to Clarice Anderson for me. She’s older and lives alone. I want to make sure she has enough to eat until it’s safe for her to get out and about.”
Looking Out For One Another
Ray looks up. “That’s very nice of you.”
Edna wipes her hands on her apron and sits down at the kitchen table next to Ray. “It’s just being a good neightbor and paying attention to the needs of others,” says Edna.
Ray nods and shows Edna a note on a small piece of paper. “This is what Jimmy wrote to me after the army had my dad deploy again last week.”
As Edna reads the words from Ray’s friend, tears well up in her eyes. “This is exactly what I mean. Very kind. Now, why don’t you wash your hands before lunch.”
Ray goes over to the kitchen sink. Boomer follows him. Halley slaps her noisy toy.
The back door opens. It’s Harold. “Honey, I’m home!”
And that’s a glimpse into what the first snow of 2025 was like in the small Southern town of Shady Pines.
Doesn’t it seem strange? The last hours of 2024 are coming to an end. 
Before you know it crowds will pack into New York’s Time Square.
calendar page flips over and it’s 2025. 
When we go inside the Sanders’ home on Dogwood Drive across from Copy Cat Lane, we see Edna Sanders kinda wandering about. She shuffles from room to room.
tosses his car keys into the little basket near the kitchen sink.
“Hey!” says an anooyed Halley. “What’s the big deal about Carol? And why is her moving making mom so sad?”
Harold sits beside his wife and holds her hands in his. “I know. She and Kevin have been a big part of our memories for eight years. And their cat and dog love Boomer and Halley so much.”
“I have to admit,” says Halley. “You and that Cocker Spaniel are pretty funny together.”
Edna nods. “I know you’re right.”
The scary season approaches as the autumn glow of October dims.
The sun sets a little earlier each evening in Shady Pines Story Town and the shadows grow longer. 
Children jump in and play with the piles of fallen leaves.
Halloween is next Thursday, the 31st. This holiday is a really big deal around these parts. Neighbors in our small Southern town decorate the front and back of their houses. And you never know who you’ll see just drop by the local library. 
Edna looks up and sees both of her kids. “Oh, good. You’re here. I want to show you something. I’ve been looking up ideas for Halloween costumes for you, two. Here, let me show you.” Edna gets down on the floor.
Halley looks at the first photo and gasps. “Oh, no. I’m not wearing anything that froo-froo.”
“And look at these clever ideas for you, Boom,” says Edna.
“Oh, and here’s another one I found,” says Edna. “You’d be the takeout delivery boy.”
Edna walks over to the fireplace where a clock sits on the mantel. Edna takes it down. She sticks a note on the clock to remind her to change the time in a couple of weeks.
While Edna tries to round up Boomer and Halley, we leave you with a couple of cautionary notes. Halloween can be a fun time for kids of all ages. But make sure to watch out for the young tick or treaters who may be out at night.
Fall is such a wonderful time of year in Shady Pines Story Town. Everywhere you look there’s an explosion of color. And I really like the cooler weather, don’t you?
I’m Scoop the Cub Reporter for The Shady Pines Gazette. Of course, the upcoming U.S. Presidential election is dominating the news. Even our own Boomer and Halley are gearing up for Election Day. We’ll get to that story a bit later.
adventure. And why not?
I can already see for myself that this is one place where children can discover things for themselves. That’s really important. I know I like to find those unexpected, special, moments. 
Do you see the colors of that butterfly next to the pumpkin? Being out on the farm lets you be amazed at Mother Nature. I think this kind of stuff is really cool!
I talked to a dad who told me, “From the second we arrived, my children ran off with smiles, but then, they realized how much work it was to be in a field of pumpkins. Even running took work since the vines were everywhere, waiting to trip little, toddler-sized running feet.”
A lot of kids don’t realize it takes hard work to be a farmer. One young girl I met was getting a little taste of that. Just trying to push a wheelbarrow with a big ‘ole pumpkin was something she hadn’t done 
before.
time for me to take the title back! The other reason I need to pick up some pumpkins is to inspire my mom.
This hurricane season is proving that no one is safe from natural disasters.
First Helene battered homes and businesses, and now Hurricane Milton has left destruction in its wake.
Before she can answer, there’s a piercing cat scream followed by a loud bark coming from the other room.
“I think that’s a great idea,” says Harold. “In the meantime, why don’t we both go by the Community Center today and donate to The Lantern Project?“
Okay everyone. Let’s get real. I’m Zulah Talmadge with The Shady Pines Gazette news. 
We watch homeowners knee derp in mud picking up the pieces.
Whole communities have been wiped out.
We are calling this all- hands-on-deck effort: The Lantern Project. We aim to spread light and love through our efforts and donations to people in need. 
One thing we learned right away is that we need to work with The Red Cross and other big relief organizations.
rushing into these hard hit areas and then getting stuck because of washed out roads.
we’ve got neighbors worried about friends and loved ones who live in some of the affected areas.
Because of that, Mayor Beauregard Fibbs has set up a communications center at City Hall.
Making these connections is proving to be hard to do. Crews are working round the clock to restore power and cell phone service knocked out by the storm.
While all of this is going on, Scoop, the Cub Reporter, is working with teachers and parents whose children attend The Shady Pines Elementary School.
Their goal is to round up clothes, toys, books and educational materials to be donated to kids in the flood zones who are missing those things right now.
The Lantern Project is another way we express compassion as part of our ongoing Kindness and Caring Campaign.