It wouldn't be a heatwave without the air conditioning and a good dose of Hallmark Christmas in July. This annual Hallmark event mixes new holiday programming with prior and vintage Hallmark holiday movies.
Four New Movies
July 4:Christmas Under Construction
July 11:O Little Christmas Market
July 18:Snowbound for the Holidays
July 25:Love Under the Mistletoe
Christmas Under Construction stars Daniel Lissing and Jessica Lowndes as they duel via the backdrop of Renovation Romance as renovator and cabin owner.
O Little Christmas Market is the save our town fair (market) entry from the developer with Katherine Berrell and Stephen Huszar.
Snowbound For The Holidays pits the owner of the cute n cozy ski lodge vs the hotel manager and future "plans" starring Hallmark favorite Marcus Rosner and Vanessa Lengies.
Love Under The MistleToe It's the former high school crushes finding themselves years later trying to save the charity fundraiser .... starring Hallmark vet Jen Lilley and Nick Bateman.
Schedule
Christmas In July movies begin at 10 a.m. daily. Of note catch all of the Three Wisest men movies throughout the month. The trilogy stars the favorite Hallmark stars Paul Campbell, Tyler Hynes and Andrew Walker and are a take off of the Three Men And A Baby movie.
Hallmark.com has the full schedule for its' July Extravaganza of holiday fun.
Note: The author may receive a commission from purchases made using links found in this article. “As an Amazon Associate, Ebay (EPN), Esty (Awin), and/or Zazzle Affiliate, I (we) earn from qualifying purchases.”
It is a profound truth that what we believe to be possible shapes the very limits of our reality.
The words "it's impossible" caught my attention while I was watching television and immediately struck a deep chord. I felt an urgent, quiet compulsion to save that phrase in my collection of lyric ideas, knowing intuitively that if you truly believe in a vision, that conviction possesses the transformative power to manifest it into reality.
It was this seed of thought, planted in the stillness of the moment, that led me to write and produce this latest song on July 10th and 11th, 2026.
My creative journey has always been guided by this principle of belief. When I encounter a concept that feels too large or too daunting, I do not see a wall; I see an invitation to expand my own boundaries. This song reflects that perspective, and I hope it invites you to view your own challenges as opportunities waiting to be unlocked.
A Lifelong Connection to the Impossible
The concept of the impossible has resonated with my spirit since I was just a young child, long before I understood the world's complexities. I still vividly remember being ten or eleven years old, standing on the ice, choosing "The Impossible Dream" as the musical accompaniment for my solo in an ice skating show.
That early, crystalline memory established a lifelong and unbreakable connection to the theme of transcending human limitations. It was not just about the music; it was about the feeling of gliding over ice, testing the boundaries of what I could achieve with my own body and will. The best part of this story is that my father was in the audience, and my Mom informed me that, while he watched me skate to "The Impossible Dream", he cried (tears of happiness, that is!). That memory will stay with me forever. I'm grateful to have that memory.
Naturally, as I sat down to create these lyrics, I wanted to weave that thread into the fabric of the song. I wanted to express my personal philosophy regarding the fluid, often invisible boundary between what the world deems "impossible" and what the human heart deems "achievable."
We are often told that certain things are beyond our reach, yet every great human accomplishment was once labeled impossible by those who lacked the vision to see it come to life. By drawing on that childhood memory, I wanted to bridge the gap between the young girl on the ice and the woman I am today, still chasing dreams that others might question but that I know are valid.
Transcending Doubt Through Internal Fire
My intent with these lyrics is to explore the major human milestones that were once dismissed as impossible, such as the breakthroughs in science, the arts, and personal growth, which were ultimately realized through sheer, stubborn persistence. I wanted to focus on the individual who quietly pursues a dream that others may doubt, but which they know, with absolute and unshakable certainty, is within their power to accomplish. These lyrics are a testament to that internal fire and the immense strength that comes from a conviction so deep that external skepticism holds no weight whatsoever. When you carry that kind of fire, the noise of the outside world simply fades away.
Ultimately, these lyrics reflect the power of true, unwavering belief. When your drive is rooted deep within your soul, it does not matter if the world around you calls your vision impossible; your faith can absolutely make it so.
History is not just a record of events; it is a catalog of evidence showing what humans have achieved when they refused to accept "no" as an answer. I truly believe that it only takes one person, one vision, and one moment of radical belief to change the world.
That concept serves as the foundation for the final message of this piece, one I hope resonates with you, reminding you that your dreams are not just fantasies but possibilities waiting for you to claim.
Reclaiming Your Own Vision
As you listen to this track and read these words, I invite you to look at the "impossible" things in your own life and ask yourself what would happen if you simply decided to believe.
We are the architects of our own reality, and the blueprints are written in the ink of our convictions. I hope this song serves as a reminder that the power you are looking for has been within you all along, waiting for the moment you decide to break through the ceiling of your own limitations.
Whether it is a professional goal, a personal transformation, or a creative endeavor, your belief is the key that opens the door. There is no limit to what you can achieve once you decide your vision is worth more than others' doubts.
********
"Drageda Lyrics" on all Platforms, including Streaming Platforms**
Note: The author may receive a commission from purchases made using links found in this article. “As an Amazon Associate, Ebay (EPN), Esty (Awin), and/or Zazzle Affiliate, I (we) earn from qualifying purchases.”
Author Iris Johansen is a prolific writer of over 100 books. She began with
romance novels in the early 1980s and eventually moved to suspense/thriller
novels. Many of her books are standalone thrillers and historical
romance novels, which include quite a few short series (two or three
books).
Johansen is best known for her Eve Duncan forensic thriller series which,
to date, includes 31 books. The series began in 1998 with
The Face of Deception. Her main character, forensic sculptor Eve Duncan, reconstructs faces to
solve crimes, especially those involving missing children. The book,
Shattered Mirror, is Book #23 in the 31-book series, and was
published in 2018.
Genre: Murder/Thriller: Includes romantic suspense with a
touch of the paranormal.
Place Setting: The action primarily takes place near Atlanta,
Georgia, with side scenes in New York City and New Orleans.
Main Character: Eve Duncan, Forensic Sculptor
Secondary Characters: All of her family (husband, son, adopted
daughter, their Scottish friend who has been featured in several earlier Eve
Duncan novels), plus several additional characters, some likable, some
not.
As the story begins, Eve Duncan receives a beautifully-wrapped package
which contains a skull and a two-sided mirror with one side broken. Eve
feels compelled to reconstruct this skull and uncover the person’s identity
in hopes of learning why the skull was given to her with no explanation, and
what purpose the scattered mirror holds.
As she finishes, she discovers the skull is that of a beautiful woman, but
her identity remains unknown. Shortly thereafter, her adopted daughter
arrives from college for a visit, bringing her roommate home with her.
Shockingly, the visiting roommate is an exact match to the newly
reconstructed skull and it turns out that the roommate is her identical
twin.
Searching for answers, Eve and her family have to work quickly to
discover who is behind the murder of the twin, particularly because more of
Eve’s family is now threatened by the killer who is willing to destroy
anyone who gets in the way of him reaching a goal that involves avenging the
death of his own twin.
The lethal chase involves several locations, beginning at their home near
Atlanta, Georgia and ending in New Orleans.
Summary
This explosive and high-stakes thriller will keep you on the edge of your
seat as Eve, her Atlanta police detective husband, Joe, their Scottish
friend, their adopted daughter and the daughter’s roommate, and even Eve
& Joe’s 6-year-old son, all have roles to play to prevent the deadly
danger the family faces.
Note: The author may receive a commission from purchases made using links found in this article. “As an Amazon Associate, Ebay (EPN), Esty (Awin), and/or Zazzle Affiliate, I (we) earn from qualifying purchases.”
For decades I have set my cakes on pretty embossed decorative glass cake
plates. Those lovely glass plates fit under my wide base domed cake
plate and allow me to move the cake around easily. However, they do
not fit under my tall domed cake plate. Previously, I have had to set
my cakes directly on the cake stand base of the tall domed cake plate.
I don't really like doing that because they are harder and messier to ice
and decorate on the stand.
When my daughter gave me a beautiful ruffled edge cake stand for my
birthday, I found the embossed glass does not look good with the ruffled
edge. Therefore, I started searching for simple, flat acrylic cake
discs for decorating my cakes, as well as moving them on and off of the cake
stands.
Because I bake both 8" and 9" cakes, I wanted two different sizes. I
have been extremely pleased with the acrylic cake discs. I even use
one for displaying fudge on my ruffled edge cake stand. It keeps the
cake stand clean.
The cake discs come with a protective film on both sides
that needs to be removed for them to be transparent. The protective
film had not been removed on the larger cake disc shown above under the cake, but
was removed on the disc under the fudge.
Acrylic Round Cake Discs
Tuelaly 2Pcs Cake PlatesCheck PriceMy daughter gave me the smaller 8" (21 cm) acrylic cake discs for my
ruffled edge cake plate. I was so pleased with them that I purchased
the larger size (26 cm - 10" size) for 9" cakes.
Note: The author may receive a commission from purchases made using links found in this article. “As an Amazon Associate, Ebay (EPN), Esty (Awin), and/or Zazzle Affiliate, I (we) earn from qualifying purchases.”
My husband and I really enjoyed the Murder She Wrote TV series, both when it originally ran in the 80's and 90's and today in reruns. The original series consisted of 264 episodes all starring Angela Lansbury as Jessica Fletcher. What we didn't realize until recently is that there is a whole series of books (currently 63) that are written based on the characters from the TV Series. So now we are enjoying our favorite characters from the TV series in some delightful mystery books.
About the Books
The Murder She Wrote book series began in 1989 and are still being written. At this writing there are 63 books in the series.
Jessica Fletcher in the TV series as well as the books, is a retired- teacher who writes mystery books. She lives in the made up town of Cabot Cove, Maine. Jessica seems to often find herself in places where a murder occurs and she "helps" the local law enforcement.
When we started the book series it was like going back to a familiar small town and greeting familiar people. Along with Jessica we greet Dr. Seth Hazlitt, the town physician, Sheriff Mort Metzger, and a host of other town residents.
We have found the books can be read in any order, but I would suggest reading book 1 "Gin and Daggers" first. In this book Jessica is off to London to deliver the keynote address at a mystery writer convention. She is looking forward to visiting with her mentor, Marjorie Ainsworth. While at the convention, Marjorie is found stabbed to death in her bedroom. Jessica is at first a suspect but then goes on to help work with local law enforcement to solve the murder of her good friend. While there she meets a charming man from Scotland Yard and they develop a friendship. He comes up in later books.
I really enjoy these cozy mysteries and always look forward to the next one.
The Books on Amazon
The books can be purchased on Amazon. We enjoy them on Kindle but I know they are also available on Audible and Paperback. Here is a link to the books on Amazon.
I enjoy reading a lot of different genres of books. I think Historical Fiction is probably my favorite, but when I need something lighter a cozy mystery seems to always fit the bill. Here are a few other cozy mysteries that have been reviewed on Review This.
Note: The author may receive a commission from purchases made using links found in this article. “As an Amazon Associate, Ebay (EPN), Esty (Awin), and/or Zazzle Affiliate, I (we) earn from qualifying purchases.”
Nothing says summer more than a nice afternoon tea with friends in the shadow of a lovely tree! Okay, maybe I'm behind the times but it's nice to have a nostalgic visit to bygone days. If you are lucky enough to live in a city or village that still has a nice tea house, why not make that date for a Summer Tea with some good friends.
Hubby and I have gone back to making a lot of baked goods. Breads, rolls, and of course crumpets and English Muffins.
We are not into the cakes so much, even though they can be part of an afternoon tea. Somehow with our age, the sweets just aren't as appetizing as they once were. I guess we are concerned for our aging figures, NOT! But the truth is that we prefer the savory things over the sweets. I know, we are weird, but that is how it is for us. If you enjoy the sweets go right ahead and enjoy.
I'm sharing with you our recipe for some lovely crumpets that are light airy and can be used in many ways. So Here you go:
CRUMPETS FOR HIGH TEA AND MORE (yield for recipe 6 crumpets)
INGREDIENTS:
150 g (1 cup) white flour, plain all purpose flour works
200 ml (3/4 cup + 1 TBSP) warm water (warm and not cold)
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp white sugar
1 tsp baking powder
YEAST MIXTURE
1 tsp yeast (instant or rapid rise works)
1 TBSP warm water
DURING COOKING
2 TBSP unsalted or sweet butter
Now the the how to!
Place flour, water and salt in a bowl and whisk for 2minutes
Dissolve the yeast into 1 TBSP warm water in a small bowl
add yeast mixture sugar and baking powder into a bowl and whisk it all for 30 seconds
cover with cling wrap or a plate and place in a very warm place for 15 to 30 minutes until the surface becomes nice and foamy. This will not double like bread does, but it will increase in volume a little bit.
Now if you've been reading these reviews, you know that a while ago I posted a review on baking rings. These are perfect for making crumpets! Baking rings review right here.
Now let's continue making crumpets!
Grease 2 or 3 rings, or better yet, spray them with non-stick spray.
In a non-stick skillet coat with some melted butter and then add the rings to the skillet as well.
On medium high heat warm the skillet and rings.
Pour 1/4 cup batter into the rings. Do not over fill, they will rise in the rings.
Cook on medium heat for 1 and 1/2 minutes and then on low heat for another 2 to 4 minutes. Bubbles should stop showing up on the surface of your crumpets.
When this is happening, it's time to flip the crumpet over and cook for just 30 seconds on the other side,without the rings.
Transfer to a cooling rack for a few minutes and enjoy! Some people say they are better on day 2. But I can't help myself, they are usually gone very quickly.
Now this might seem like a lot of work, but if you have nice cool day, you can make these up and any number and freeze them for a later date.
Don't forget to invite you friends to join you for some fresh baked crumpets and honey, jam or fresh fruit compote. Yum!
Note: The author may receive a commission from purchases made using links found in this article. “As an Amazon Associate, Ebay (EPN), Esty (Awin), and/or Zazzle Affiliate, I (we) earn from qualifying purchases.”
The word journaling is an overall broad term, which I have gathered to mean, to basically free-write whatever you want to write about.
It can be about a memory, a feeling, a desired outcome, a plan for your day, and I'm sure you may come up with others.
The one that I want to talk about today, is a way that I recently used journaling. I wrote about an instance that I wasn't sure what I wanted to do to proceed. I initially wrote just to get my thoughts down so that I could more easily move forward, and stop giving so much of my thoughts to that instance.
However, once I achieved that, what I felt like was my next step, in order to more fully move on, was to make what I came to, into an affirmation.
I was so pleased with how that went, that I decided to repeat the process. I wrote about another instance that I had been trying to get beyond, with the single purpose of wanting to get to an affirmation about it.
It worked the second time too, even knowing I had an intention of turning what I would come to, into an affirmation.
I found this very helpful. If I had tried to write an affirmation first, it probably would have felt not as complete. There probably would have been some unfinished thoughts that just need to get dealt with.
So I am glad that I used this two step approach.
I used a plain lined notebook, in which I can freely write my thoughts and ultimately what I want to come from them; and a second book, in which I can write down my affirmation that I came too.
The second book is the one that I will keep, from which I can read my affirmations, for however long I want to use those pages.
The free flowing journaling that I did, still has blank lined pages in it for whenever I want to do this again, for whatever reason or purpose. The writings that I did, however, I removed. I tore them up, and threw them away. They had served their purpose. There was no reason to revisit them.
There are a variety of notebooks in my CherylsArt store on Zazzle, if you would like a unique and or personalized notebook.
You can browse all the notebook designs here. The larger notebooks no Zazzle seem to show a variety of inside paper styles to choose from. The smaller notebooks, however, do not show that option when I have been browsing. However, if you see a design that you like, click on it, and then check below the featured product that you clicked on, for options to transfer the design to, and select spiral notebook. That should give you the inside paper design options.
Might you give this two step journaling method a try?
Happy journaling and or affirmation writing.
Cheryl Paton
Note: The author may receive a commission from purchases made using links found in this article. “As an Amazon Associate, Ebay (EPN), Esty (Awin), and/or Zazzle Affiliate, I (we) earn from qualifying purchases.”
We spend so much of our lives talking about the milestones of youth, but we rarely give the same attention to the quiet, profound experience of growing older. I wrote this piece with seniors in mind, and as the words came together, it became deeply personal for me. I found myself becoming quite emotional while writing because I started reflecting on how it feels when the world begins to look past the person you once were.
Honoring My Mother's Perspective
I was thinking specifically of my mother. She once shared with me how it feels to be discounted, or to have your words and experiences treated as though they no longer hold value. That sense of invisibility is a challenge many in our generation face. While I do not personally feel invisible, I know that those moments of being overlooked are very real. I wanted to capture that experience, giving voice to the dignity that remains long after the world stops paying close attention.
A Reflection on My Younger Self
In the second verse, I had to be honest about my own younger self. When we are young, we often believe we have the world by the tail, with everything ahead of us. We do not always see the depth of character and the light that shines within an elderly person. I wrote about that because I wanted to acknowledge that it is a natural part of life. I don't judge anyone for that perspective, as I was just as blind to that wisdom when I was younger as anyone else. It is simply a part of our evolution to eventually realize what we were once unable to see.
Essence Beyond Memory
While this song celebrates the enduring spirit, these words also hold a special resonance for those navigating the complexities of dementia or Alzheimer's. It serves as a gentle reminder that even when the mind may struggle or memories begin to fade, a person's true essence remains deeply rooted within. That spirit still shines through in precious, fleeting moments of connection and love.
A Gentle Invitation
This song isn't a judgment or a negative critique. It is simply an observation about what it feels like to walk through these years and a gentle invitation to see the person behind the age. As a lyricist, I wanted to touch on this subject to give it time in the sun and perhaps foster a little more understanding.
I hope that when you listen, you feel the heart behind the lyrics and are reminded to cherish the wisdom and stories that surround us every day.
********
"Drageda Lyrics" on all Platforms, including Streaming Platforms**
Note: The author may receive a commission from purchases made using links found in this article. “As an Amazon Associate, Ebay (EPN), Esty (Awin), and/or Zazzle Affiliate, I (we) earn from qualifying purchases.”
![Eve Duncan Series by Iris Johansen Complete 24 Book Set [see title legend in description]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/81NAMGtWzQL._AC_UY218_.jpg)
