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You are here: Home / All Posts / The Christmas Ornament-#WinterWordsFlashFiction

The Christmas Ornament-#WinterWordsFlashFiction

December 6, 2019 by Sheri

“And it wasn’t here last night?”

Iggy leaned closer, her breath fogging the glass orb. “No. The Christmas lantern ran out of batteries, so I took it off the hook. When I brought it out this morning…” She gestured to the ornament swaying gently from a length of white ribbon.

“Those are the tiniest plants I’ve ever seen.” Oliver’s cheeks had turned red the moment he stepped out the front door and crunched into the snow.

Iggy stopped the swaying orb with one fingernail, studying the clump of miniscule ferns that framed the one blue-blooming plant in the center. “Is that forget-me-not?”

“Don’t ask me. They can’t be real, anyway.”

She dropped her hand. “Why not?”

“Because it’s sealed, obviously.”

Iggy peered all around the orb. “Huh.” Still, the green life soothed her eyes.

“Did Jim bring it for you?” Oliver craned his neck to try to see the neighbor’s house through the trees.

Iggy rolled her eyes. “As if he’d get off the couch this time of year. Should we take it inside?”

<<<

“Stop messing with it.” Iggy set the platter of cookies on the table and moved to hover protectively by the ornament.

Oliver nestled it back into the centerpiece. “Aren’t you gonna hang it on the tree?”

Iggy eyed the overloaded tree. “It’s too special for that.”

“I found just the spot. Come on.”

“I don’t know…”

Oliver picked it up, ignoring her. “It shouldn’t be left all alone out here.”

A buzz of anticipation swept over her as he reached up to an empty branch. Why? It was just a—

A slow burning flash swept over the tree, swelling to fill the room. “Oliver!” Iggy grabbed his arm. The tree began to morph into something…alive. Ferns arose all around the room, blue forget-me-nots exploding underfoot until the carpet was no more. In moments, Iggy’s living room was a garden full of intoxicating scents.

She closed her eyes and pinched her arm. When she looked up, Oliver was grinning at her.

“Merry Christmas, sis.”

 

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About Sheri

Here Goes Something New!

Hi, I'm Sheri Yutzy. I love forests under the night sky, trying new foods, and drinking Irish tea. I've been to 17 countries, and once spent the night in a hotel lobby in Florence, Italy, because the entire city was fully booked for a festival.
I'm married to a musician who looks good in black, mama to three curious kids, and happy resident of a Cape Cod cottage in Ohio.
I write YA fantasy and am acquisitions editor at sparkflashfiction.com.
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I’m still here… Still living life, writing and I’m still here…
Still living life, writing and editing, loving every falling leaf and crisp breeze. I started listening to Christmas music yesterday while baking pumpkin muffins because I just couldn’t resist.😅 This year I’m planning to focus on Advent and the weeks leading up to Christmas, since we’re always traveling out of state over the 25th, and it seems to slip by in the busyness.
I have a lot going on right now, and social media is taking a back seat for the moment. Or the month. But I’ll be back, when I have the focus to spare. Until then, I wish you all a happy, mindful fall.
Love you 😘

#sheriyutzy #livingslow
Lovely things await! My contributor’s copy of CO Lovely things await!
My contributor’s copy of COMMONPLACE from @daughtersofpromise has arrived.
I gasped when I saw the artwork with my article on Forest bathing. So rich and beautiful!
As always, they’re a joy to write for. 

#magicineveryday #daughtersofpromisemagazine #magiceveryday #ordinarylife #mennonites #mennonitestyle #mennonite #mywritinglife #writingsforlife #writingaboutlife #writingismylife #lifewritings #writinglifestyle #freelancewritinglife #bookwritinglifestyle #lifewriting #writingislife #writingforlife #thewritinglife #owningmyself #owningmylife #owningit #owningmytime #startyourlife #honestliving #honestlivingbeing #livinghonestly #honestlivings #alwaysbelearning #sheriyutzy
🌚 COVER REVEAL🌚 We finally get to see the b 🌚 COVER REVEAL🌚

We finally get to see the beautiful cover for THREAD OF DREAMS, @embarnettauthor’s upcoming debut from @owlsnestpublishers! 
I can’t wait to get my hands on this dreamy book.

Here is the blurb:

Nova’s sunless planet is sustained by the magic of human dreams. Born as a moon mage, Nova’s job is to harvest dream threads from unaware humans to be used against a dark parasite eating away their land. 

Then, Nova meets Arlo, a boy who not only sees her but whose aching heart permeates his dreams. Desiring deep connection, Nova ignores the warnings of her people in order to visit the beauty of his subconscious.

But nightmares not only seep into minds and hearts, they also stalk the bioluminescent forests of Nova's world. Danger lurks in waking and sleeping, and to fail means succumbing to the parasite while cut off from Arlo forever. But if Nova can find a way to fight back, she and her people could be free to dream again.

#threadofdreams #emilybarnettauthor #bookworm_insta #booksoutside #fantasylit #yalove #amwritingyafantasy #yafantasywriter #yafantasyauthor #novelfantasy #loveagoodbook #readtogether #iamreading #indiebook #newbooksmell #loveofreading #imreading #booksmell #booklovergift #bookloversoftheworld #constantreader #books4life
I’ve been reading a lot of books, but not taking I’ve been reading a lot of books, but not taking many pictures of them.🥸 
Mostly because this weather is as anti-inspirational as it gets for me.😭 this happens every year—the last few hot and muggy days of September make me want to hide inside 24/7. But it’s supposed to get cooler by the weekend, thank God.

I saw DREAMS LIE BENEATH at the bookstore and was captivated by the cover. It’s so different from A RIVER ENCHANTED that I didn’t realize it was the same Rebecca Ross. I actually thought, one of them needs to change their name.😅

This one is my next read, I think. Have you read it? What did you think?
@beccajross #rebeccaross 
#sheriyutzy #bookworm_insta #summerreads #fantasylit #yalove #amwritingyafantasy #yafantasywriter #yafantasyauthor #novelfantasy #loveagoodbook #readtogether #iamreading #indiebook #newbooksmell #loveofreading #imreading #booksmell #booklovergift #bookloversoftheworld #constantreader #books4life
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