How has your week been, friend? Are you enjoying the season or feeling overwhelmed by tasks and going here and there and everywhere? I think I’m somewhere in between.
This week has been so fun with guest posts from Angela Ruth Strong, Carrie Turansky, and Melissa Tagg. Today the Authors’ Open House: Christmas Edition continues with author Sarah Monzon. Sarah and I met through a mutual writer friend at the Word Sower’s Conference in Omaha earlier this year. You might know her from her books, such as The Isaac Project and Finders Keepers. She’s been a pleasure to get to know and I think you’ll like her just as much.
*Note: I’m having trouble with line spacing in WordPress…bear with me if paragraph spacing looks off below!
Take it away, Sarah!
Do You Want to Build a Snowman?
Snuggling up on the couch with a fuzzy blanket, hot cocoa in hand, fire crackling in the hearth, glittering snow weighting evergreen boughs outside…it’s an image we conjure when we think about Christmas *insert the “I’m dreaming of a white Christmas” song*. This was not the Christmases of my growing up years. No, those Christmases looked like tank tops and flip flops and air conditioning. I grew up in Florida folks! More palm trees than fir there!
But don’t let the tropical weather melt your holiday spirit. We may not have had the traditional ingredients for snowmen, but that never stopped us.
In my Christmas novella, 12 Days of Snowmen (which, by the way, you can download for FREE when you subscribe to my newsletter here), Lucy Nel is determined to make her foster daughter’s Christmas special by creating for her a 12-day snowman extravaganza in the heart of Florida. Her good plans end up in a messy puddle, however, and she finds herself grudgingly accepting the help of a complete–although quite handsome!–stranger.While writing this sweet story, it was fun discovering all the different ways you can make snowmen without any actual snow, although I admit I may have used one or two of my own family traditions. Here’s one for you, in case you find yourself in the South in December. The Mossman. That’s right. A snowman made of Spanish moss. My grandfather started this tradition and my mother, who still lives in FL, makes one every year.
Step 1. Gather a massive amount of moss. Either from the ground or the branches. Careful with those ladders!
Step 2. Take some boards and make a small X. Hammer that into a 4×4. That’s your stand.
Step 3. Get a roll of chicken wire and and make three cylinder shapes of varying widths.
Step 4. Place the largest chicken wire cylinder around the base and stack the other two on top to get a basic snowman shape.
Step 5. Stuff the moss through the chicken wire holes.
Step 6. Accessorize Frosty.
Step 7. Grab a glass of ice water because even though it’s December, you’re sweating buckets.
It may not be traditional, but it is funky and you wouldn’t believe the number of people who stop by my moms house just to take pictures of her Florida snowman.
How about you? Any fun and unusual Christmas traditions or decorations?
About Sarah Monzon
Sarah Monzon is a Navy chaplain’s wife and a stay at home mom to the two cutest littles in the world. Playing pretend all day with them isn’t enough, she spends the evenings after their heads hit the pillow to create her own imaginary characters. When she isn’t in the world of make believe, she can be found in a small desert town in central Washington taking care of her family, fostering friendships, and enjoying all the adventures each day brings. Follow Sarah on her website, Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest. 12 Days of Snowmen is also available for sale HERE.
Teresa Tysinger, Author 
I loved this one! Maybe because it was set in Florida or that Sarah writes just like she is talking to you!!!
Sorry, I am just getting to read it!!
Love you!
Teresa Tysinger wrote: > a:hover { color: red; } a { text-decoration: none; color: #0088cc; } a.primaryactionlink:link, a.primaryactionlink:visited { background-color: #2585B2; color: #fff; } a.primaryactionlink:hover, a.primaryactionlink:active { background-color: #11729E !important; color: #fff !important; } /* @media only screen and (max-device-width: 480px) { .post { min-width: 700px !important; } } */ WordPress.com Teresa Tysinger posted: ” How has your week been, friend? Are you enjoying the season or feeling overwhelmed by tasks and going here and there and everywhere? I think I’m somewhere in between. This week has been so fun with guest posts from Angela Ruth Strong, Carrie Turansky, “
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