UPDATE: The winner is…Anna Marie!
*~*~*

All my Advent calendar doors have been opened now! Aren’t they adorable? My daughter bought me a calendar when she bought the kids theirs because she knows I’m just as thrilled (well, probably more so) than they are, opening my daily windows to see what I got. Now I have all these little figurines and I’m trying to figure out what to do with them. I can’t display them because I already have soooooo many Marvel and DC figurines scattered all over my office.

I’m thinking, I might treat them like I would a daily tarot card draw. I could put them into a decorative bowl on my desktop, then close my eyes and draw one to see whose superpowers I’d assume that day. What do you think?

As well, I posted the last Advent giveaway on Facebook. The day after Christmas, we’ll have to head to the post office to get the last of the items shipped to winners. It’s been fun, and my bookshelf was denuded of a few books and my stock of bookmarks needs replenishing just in time for 2025’s #100daychallenge. Any excuse to pull out the paints and play.

Tonight is Adult’s Christmas, and the kids get to open one gift. Then we’ll be up in the wee hours of the morning to watch the kids open their Christmas gifts. It’s always fun.

But for now, I have a puzzle. Do you remember our Halloween black kitten, Binx, that I posted about after my daughter rescued her from school traffic? Well, she’s gotten a little bit bigger and is always in trouble. The 20-year-old keeps her in her garage apartment. The puzzle picture is of her getting into a bit of trouble. She nearly toppled her tree.

Solve the puzzle, then for a chance to win a $5 Amazon gift card, just pop in and share a holiday message. Spread the cheer!

UPDATE: The winner is…Beckie!
*~*~*

Believe it or not, I was searching for a Night Before Christmas kind of image and came across an illustration that took me down a rabbit hole. There is another Night Before Christmas story, written in the second volume of an 1832 collection of stories, Evenings on a Farm Near Dikanka by Nikolai Gogol. It’s much darker than the lovely poem we read to our kids. It’s set in the Ukraine and begins with a witch flying across the sky and the devil stealing the moon and hiding it in his pocket. He wants the sky dark because he has a beef with a blacksmith of a small village and wants to be able to sneak up on him. When he comes down to the town to search for the blacksmith, he finds the witch, who hides him when townsfolk come searching for him. It’s a tale with twists. The blacksmith is in love with the village beauty, who sends him on a quest to steal the Tsarina’s slippers before she agrees to marry him. The witch ends up capturing the mayor and another man and hiding them in coal sacks. The blacksmith, after pretending to be dead, overpowers the devil, and forces him to fly him to see the tsarina (the future Catherine the Great), and she gives him the slippers. All ends well of course, and there is an opera dedicated to the story by Tchaikovsky…but Google it if you want to learn more.

In the meantime, I (and you) have learned there is another Night Before Christmas tale out there!

Solve the puzzle to see Solokha and the Devil! Then, for a chance to win a $5 Amazon gift card, tell me whether you’d love to see the other Night Before Christmas story given a bit of sunlight so more people know about it! Would you prefer to see it in a film? Or rewritten as a children’s fairytale?

Many people may not know the name, Clement C. Moore, but I’m willing to bet most know his famous poem, A Visit from St. Nicholas. Or perhaps, many do not know the poem by that name. How about The Night Before Christmas? Did that ring a (sleigh) bell? (See what I did there?) And who doesn’t recall these verses?

“But a miniature sleigh and eight tiny rein-deer, With a little old driver so lively and quick, I knew in a moment he must be St. Nick. Now, Dasher! now, Dancer! now Prancer and Vixen! On, Comet! on, Cupid! on, Donder and Blitzen! To the top of the porch! to the top of the wall! Now dash away! dash away! dash away all!”

Saint Nick. Saint Nicholas. Kris Kringle. Santa Claus. Santa. Father Christmas. Are we sure this guy isn’t in the Witness Protection Program? That’s a lot of aliases for one man. Of course, he has been breaking and entering across the globe for centuries and is on plenty of news forecasters’ watchlists. But that’s not the point. Have you ever heard of Papa Noël?

Papa Noël is Louisiana’s version of the man mentioned previously. And no, there wasn’t a mistake in using the term version because there are differences. Let’s start with his mode of transportation. Reindeer, right? Eight of them plus the most famous of them all, Rudolph? Yeah? Well, forget them. Papa Noël doesn’t fly in the sky in an extravagant sleigh with jingle bells and gold trim. Nope. Papa Noël travels down the Mississippi River and Louisiana bayous in style in a pirogue pulled by a team of alligators.

“Den out on de by-you, ‘Dey got such a clatter, ‘Make soun’ like old Boudreau, ‘Done fall off his ladder.’ Santa uses a long pole to steer his pirogue, a small, shallow boat, pulled by eight alligators through the bayou. He calls to the ‘gators: ‘Ha, Gaston! ‘Ha, Tiboy! ‘Ha, Pierre an’ Alcee! ‘Gee, Ninette! ‘Gee, Suzette! ‘Celeste an’ Renee! ‘To de top o’ de porch, ‘To de top o’ de wall, ‘‘Make crawl, alligator, ‘An’ be sho’ you don’t fall.’”

And since gators pulling a pirogue is more realistic than flying reindeer pulling an enchanted sled, it’s only logical that instead of an LED-nosed reindeer, there’s an illuminated neon snout gator. Just joking. Whoever heard of a gator with a glowing snout? That’s ridiculous… more so than a halogen-endowed stag. Actually, there is a discrepancy with Papa Noël’s gators. It’s always been said that he has eight pulling his pirogue. However, Nicollette, a gator with extremely glowing green eyes, is said to lead the team. So, either, one of the gators has a double identity/ fake ID or someone can’t count. Honestly, my money is on the ladder. However, I’m not going to be the one trying to figure it out because a gator is a gator, and they all have lots of teeth—extremely sharp teeth. Just leave my gifts by the tree please and thank you. Merci.

Glowing eyed-gator or no, Papa Noël’s way is lit by lighting bonfires along the river. Beginning early in the evening, around 700 PM, bonfires are lit. These bonfires are approximately twenty feet tall and burn all night. Tourists are invited to visit the bonfire celebrations along the levees. St. James Parish has some of the most popular ones. For more information on the bonfire celebrations, visit www.myNewOrleans.com.)

And there’s no need to leave Papa Noël milk and cookies. Instead, Papa Noël takes a cold, frothy draft with his boiled shrimp and crawfish. And if draft isn’t available, he’ll have anything that’s on tap or a tumbler of an adult beverage. (Hey, this is the bayou! What do you expect?)

Now, there is some grumbling about where exactly Papa Noël hangs his hat for the other 364 days of the year. The first theory is one that most would expect: the North Pole. But have you ever seen an alligator in the North Pole? Gators are more cost-efficient than reindeer, and who couldn’t use that in this economy? Reindeers do not hibernate and would need to be fed year-round. Alligators, on the other hand, stop feeding when the temperatures drop. Besides, couldn’t you just see them feasting on all those elves? How messy. And yet, another reason the kiddos shouldn’t wait up on Christmas Eve. Gators be hangry. That’s a tad more problematic than the Grinch wrecking the Who’s meal.

“He took the Who’s feast, he took the Who pudding, he took the roast beast. He cleaned out that ice box as quick as a flash. Why, the Grinch even took their last can of Who hash.”

The second theory which makes far more sense is that Papa Noël resides deep in the Louisiana bayous. And if it’s where I’m thinking, this girl won’t be trying to find it. Cos anyone who knows anything about the bayous already knows that if something moves you better be prepared to run. There are plenty of things (on the ground, in the trees, floating beneath the water) that snack on walking people-kabobs. What better place to avoid prying eyes than where the Swamp People dare not venture? Papa Noël definitely wouldn’t have an issue with solicitors or anyone peddling propaganda pamphlets. There would be no need for grocery shopping because supper would be fished straight out of the river. And he’d never have to worry about rezoning mandates or annexes that would increase the taxes on his toy factory. (As a bonus, the elves wouldn’t know about minimal wage increases. Just saying.)

Now, let’s talk about the Grimm twist. For this part, adults might want to turn the kiddies’ eyes away from this. The Brothers Grimm weren’t known for their…uh, should we say…sensitivity? Case in point:

• In the original Cinderella, the stepsisters chop off their toes and heels to fit into the boot.
• In Hansel and Gretel, their parents willingly abandon them in the forest.

Most people are familiar that if a person is on Santa’s Naughty List, Santa will leave that person a lump of coal in their stocking. Papa Noël doesn’t make that threat. “Why?” you ask. Because after Papa Noël finishes leaving presents for all the children on the Nice List, Papa Fouettard arrives to whip and beat the rotten out of the bad ones. Yes, you heard correctly. He shows up with a belt in hand. He doesn’t waste time with timeouts or grounding. It’s the strap… or a switch if you’re way out in the woods. Complain about a lump of coal now. I dare you. Call CPS if you want to, but he’ll spank them, too.

References:

• A Visit from St. Nicholas by Clement Clarke Moore
• Cajun Night Before Christmas by Trosclair and James Rice
• How the Grinch Stole Christmas by Dr. Seuss

That’s all I got. I hope you had a few giggles. Now, it’s your turn to sound off. Had you ever heard of Papa Noël or Papa Fouettard? Do you think Papa Fouettard is too politically incorrect for present day? Where do you think Papa Noël lives? Have you ever visited one of the Louisiana bonfire celebrations? If so, which ones. Let me know your thoughts below in the comment section. Your feedback allows me to know the content that you want to read. And if you like this post, consider clicking the like button and sharing.

Demon Rodeo

If Brokeback Mountain, 8 Seconds, Poltergeist, and Supernatural had an orgy, Demon Rodeo would be the lovechild.

Demon Rodeo is available now on Amazon. For video book trailers, visit my TikTok page. The full blurb is on my Instagram and Amazon.

Demon Rodeo is the first book in the Chasing the Buckle series but can be read as a standalone. It’s a friends-to-lovers romance set in the rodeo world. These are not your typical cowboys. It’s a widely diverse cast of characters and a mashup of genres that aren’t always seen together. If you’re looking for a palate cleanser, this may be a book for you.

Order

⇨ Amazon: https://readerlinks.com/l/4174852

⇨ All Stores: https://books2read.com/u/bP8RG7

*Note: All of my books can be purchased from brick-and-mortar bookstores (e.g., Barnes & Noble, Book-A-Million, etc.) as well if requested at the checkout counter.)

Until next time, happy reading and much romance. Laissez le bon temps rouler.

If you’re not following my blog, Creole Bayou, what are you waiting for? There’s always room at the bayou.

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Want to chat about writing, mental health, Cajun cuisine, Creole culture, or just spill some tea? If yes, let’s get connected. Follow me on one of my social links. There’s plenty to choose from.

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LOCKER ROOM LOVE

Locker Room Love Series

Are you searching for a sexy book boyfriend? You’ve come to the right place.

• Out of the Penalty Box (book #1) One minute in the box or a lifetime out.
• Defending the Net (book #2) Crossing the line could cost the game.
• Ice Gladiators (book #3) When the gloves come off, the games begin.
• Penalty Kill (book #4) Let the pucker begin.
• Future Goals (book #5) The future lies between a puck and a net.

About the Author

Hi, I’m Genevive, and I am a contemporary sports romance author. My home is in South Louisiana. If you like snark and giggles with a touch of steamy Cajun and Creole on the side, I may have your poison in my stash of books. Drop by the bayou and have a look around. The pirogues are always waiting for new visitors.

Report Card

Last week…

1. I worked on one author’s edits.
2. I had chemo on Monday, so the rest of the week passed in a haze of aches and fatigue. I’m feeling much better today, and yesterday I only took one pain pill so I could get to sleep but didn’t need a thing to get through the day!
3. My wound from my port removal is healing nicely. It no longer has to be packed—TG! That hurt like hell. Now, ripping off the tape is more painful than dealing with the incision. Progress!
4. I’m still doing the daily Advent giveaway on my Facebook friends page. If you’re not there, you don’t know what fun you’re missing! 
5. The family watched Elf last night! Still love it!

This next week…

1. The only medical appointment I have is one to get my white blood cell count booster shot tomorrow. The rest of the week is smooth sailing as I continue to recover from chemo. The second week after usually means more fatigue, but the aches die away.
2. I have two sets of authors’ edits to complete this week!
3. I need to upload Once Upon a Legend to sites other than Amazon since it’s no longer exclusive there.
4. I do plan to putter some more around my office to clear out some more clutter—mostly to just get in some movement. My In Box seems to grow every time I turn around…
5. I have Christmas presents to wrap this week. No more procrastinating!

Open Contests

Be sure to check out these posts and enter to win the prizes that are still up for grabs:

1. Flashback: Brotherhood Protectors — Tyson’s Mission (Contest) — Last day to enter! Win a FREE book!
2. Gabbi Grey: Trying Something Completely New (Contest) — Last day to enter! Win an Amazon gift card!
3. Tonight is Krampusnacht (Krampus Night)! (Contest) — This one ends soon! Win an Amazon gift card!
4. Happy St. Nicholas Day! (Contest) — This one ends soon! Win an Amazon gift card!
5. Saturday Puzzle-Contest: Christmas Shopping at the Mall — This one ends soon! Win an Amazon gift card!
6. Flashback: Lone Star Lovers — Reined In (Contest–3 Winners!) — Win a FREE book! THREE winners!
7. Word Search: Last Minute Stocking Stuffers (Contest) — Win an Amazon gift card!
8. Gabbi Powell: On Brand (Contest) — Win a SERIES of stories!
9. Saturday Puzzle-Contest: Raindrops — Win an Amazon gift card!

UPDATE: The winner is…Kristal Allen!
*~*~*

I have all my gifts, other than gift cards, purchased. One thing I don’t have to worry about is getting the stocking stuffers. That’s Mom’s job now. She’s assembling her bits. They include some of what I’ve listed below in the puzzle. With a bunch of girls, hair ties are always needed. Small, collectible figurines like Pikachu and Hello Kitty get squeals from the 11-year-old. She also likes those plastic insert decorations for her Crocs.

I remember the day when nuts, oranges, and candy canes were the filler.

If you were stuffing a stocking for someone, what might you include? Answer in the comments below for a chance to win a $5 Amazon gift card.

UPDATE: The winner is…Ani!
*~*~*

I used to be one of those shoppers who waited until the last dang minute to do all her shopping in one marathon of a day—even sometimes on Christmas Eve. I’d head to the mall with a list and hope there were still treasures to find. It was stressful as hell. My daughter broke me of that habit.

She begins in summertime, a few gifts at a time, with a more and more refined list until she pretty much has everything on her list purchased well before Thanksgiving. As soon as she starts talking about it, I follow her lead and begin purchasing gifts one at a time in a leisurely fashion until I’m done. I have all the gifts bought for folks in the house. The only things left to buy are gift cards to mail or email, and I’ll be done.

Another thing my daughter does very, very well is keeping track of when sales happen at her favorite stores. Like yesterday’s… She headed to the city to hit Bath & Bodyworks annual candle sale. She stocked up on candles for her house and a few to gift. She brought me one home that’s gorgeous—a Bridgerton-themed one with a pretty glass topper. Candles that usually go for over $25 apiece, she was able to purchase for $9. And we use those candles. I have one burning on my desk right now. She even wrangled her hubby into going with her. He was a good sport to pose for this picture…

He’ll kill me if he sees me posting this! LOL

Anyway, I thought about Christmas shopping and my old mall days. You wouldn’t catch me dead in the mall these days. I love to roam the online sites and like it even better when I can find gifts from local artists or crafters. For a chance to win a $5 Amazon gift card, solve the puzzle, then tell me whether you’re braving the mall this year, whether this was or is a thing you like to do…