As the year winds down and the lights go up, I’m trading in trail boots for twinkle lights (just for a little while!). This month’s newsletter is packed with holiday cheer — from a road trip through some of the West’s most stunning landscapes, to Christmas chaos involving collapsing gingerbread houses and flocked trees gone rogue.
Whether you’re cozied up at home or planning your next adventure, I hope these stories bring a smile to your face and a little sparkle to your season.
Happy Holidays from my trail-loving heart to yours!
– Rose
On the Road with RangerRose: A Holiday Highway Adventure
This month, we’re hitting the road down the stunning Highway 395 — from Carson City, Nevada all the way to Lone Pine, California.
Join me for a journey through vintage towns, steamy outdoor hot springs, wild western film history, the rugged beauty of the Alabama Hills, and other unforgettable stops like Mono Lake’s tufa towers and the vibrant Red Rock Canyon State Park.
It’s part road trip, part time machine, and totally worth the ride.
Perfect for a cozy armchair adventure this holiday season!
Rose … now available in surround sound!
Big news, friends: both of my books— Tales from a Rogue Ranger and Trip Tales: From Family Camping to Life as a Ranger — are now available as audiobooks!
That means you can listen to my wild ranger tales and camping misadventures while road tripping, walking the dog, or pretending to clean out the garage.
And get this—Trip Tales clocks in at exactly 6 hours and 11 minutes, and Rogue Ranger is 6 hours and 2 minutes.
Clearly, I have a very specific amount of story to tell. 😄
So if you’ve ever thought, “I’d love to listen to six-ish hours of Rose telling stories about bears, blunders, and the great outdoors”… now’s your chance!
The Christmas Chronicles: Flocked Trees & Gingerbread Fails
Because what’s the holiday season without a little chaos?
Between collapsing gingerbread houses and snow-flocking explosions in the garage, these stories are proof that sometimes the best memories come from the messiest moments. Grab a cup of cocoa and enjoy two of my favorite festive misadventures — complete with grandkids and a whole lot of laughter.
Part 1: When Flocking Goes Wrong
Long before I was a park ranger or an author, I was just a kid watching my dad chase Christmas tree perfection—with a snow-flocking gun in one hand and a dream in his heart.
This holiday tale has it all:
✅ DIY snow disasters
✅ Rotating color wheel chaos
✅ A mother with saint-level patience
✅ Flocked garage walls that lasted 20 years
If you’ve ever had a holiday project turn into a full-blown production, you’ll appreciate this one.
Part 2: The Little Gingerbread House of Horrors
Sure, it looks like a beautiful Gingerbread house next to my adorable grandson George. But let me tell you the story.
When George was 4, he was at that magical age where everything about Christmas was amazing — twinkling lights, the tiny Christmas village, the tree, all of it. Naturally, I wanted to do something extra special with him. Enter: the gingerbread house kit.
They were everywhere that year. Stores were practically throwing them at me. And they looked so easy! No baking, just a little assembly and some gumdrops — how hard could it be?
(If you’re laughing already, you know where this is going.)
The first house collapsed right in front of George’s sweet, hopeful face.
“Why, Nonna? Why is it falling apart?”
“Gravity, George,” I sighed.
He was very sweet about it — especially since, apparently, he’d built a flawless gingerbread train the day before with his babysitter. (Oof. Grandma pride, slightly dented.)
So I set out for round two. Bought a sturdier-looking kit. Drove home. Realized I left it in the shopping cart. Drove back to the store. Found it. Drove home again. Cemented that house together like I was building the Colosseum. Even went back out for more icing.
And finally — George, his mother, and I decorated our masterpiece in under 20 minutes. It was glorious.
Two days. Four store trips. Ten gray hairs. Twenty minutes of decorating.
Worth it.
Happy holidays from our perfectly-imperfect family to yours!
A Little Holiday Cheer … a Chance to Win!
This season, Ranger Rose wants to give YOU a gift!
We’re giving away a special Tote Bag, — and my little side kick is absolutely thrilled about it.
Here’s how to enter:
Take a moment to send me a quick email and share something you’ve appreciated or loved about the stories in my books.
Your note = 1 entry into the drawing!
Winner will be drawn at the end of the month—so don’t wait too long. And thank you, as always, for being part of this wonderful adventure with me.
Your Words Matter (more than you know)
One of the kindest things you can do for an author (besides reading the book!) is to leave a quick review. Just a sentence or two about what you loved can help other readers discover Tales from a Rogue Ranger and Trip Tales: From Family Camping to Life as a Ranger.
Your reviews don’t just help others find the books — they also keep me encouraged and inspired to keep writing the next adventure. 🥰
👉 If you’ve read one (or both!) of my books, I’d be so grateful if you’d take a minute to share your thoughts!