Most Recent Story: Ponderosa Yuletide Wit – posted 12/24/2025 see summary below
A Stray Named Muffin – by wx4rmk
Summary: A simple trip into town turns into something that will change the Cartwright’s lives forever.
Rating: K+ / Word Count: 1821
A Waterlily From Inger – by wx4rmk
Summary: When a possession of Inger’s finally gets returned, it spurs some new feelings and long-forgotten memories for Adam.
Rating: K / Word Count: 2015
Summary: The cross country race for the Virginia City fall festival brings some unexpected challenges for Little Joe and his new horse, Penny. Prequel. Written for May 2019 Chaps & Spurs. Rating: K+ / Word Count: 3244
Summary: Adam finds an old miner’s lamp and shares the history with his family.
Rating: G 265 words
Written for the 2024 Bonanza Brand Advent Calendar
Summary: Just when Adam thought the first Christmas without his wife couldn’t be bleaker, something magical happens.
Written for day 19 of the 2021 Advent Calendar.
Rating: G Word Count: 1155
Christmas Tree Surprise (The) – by wx4rmk
Summary: Ben sets out to surprise his sons at Christmas. However, when things take a turn for the worst, Ben does something he has failed to do in a long time.
Written for the 2019 Advent Calendar
Rating: G Word Count: 1,000
Cold Isn’t All Bad (The) – by wx4rmk
Summary: Cold temperatures on the Ponderosa can be downright miserable especially when it lasts for weeks. With everyone becoming restless, Adam comes up with a creative and fun activity to combat cabin fever.
Rating: K / Word Count: 1343
Summary: The Cartwrights have to work to devise a plan to outsmart some crafty beavers who are causing mayhem on the Ponderosa.
Rating: K / Word Count: 1843
Enigma on the Ponderosa – by wx4rmk
Summary: Mysterious things are happening on the Ponderosa and Little Joe is on a mission to figure them out by any means possible. Written for the 2022 Camp In The Pines.
Rating: K / Word Count: 4897
Summary: After the death of a close friend, Adam and his family find a peculiar object that appears to have a long and fascinating history among the Cartwrights.
Rating: K / Word count: 2,684
Summary: Jamie Hunter struggled with having a home and people who cared about him. To sort out his feelings he turns to his journal.
Rating: G, Word Count: 1323
Summary: Tensions are high as a powerful snowstorm blankets the Ponderosa. However, Adam’s quick thinking brings about more than one positive result.
Rated: K+ Word Count: 2005
Hop Sing’s Fortune Cookies – by wx4rmk
Summary: Just some short drabbles/snippets (each 100 words) inspired by a posted fortune. Completed the first 5 or 6 fortunes that were missed during the original challenge in the forums and then combined them all to be posted here. Written for the 2020 Better Late Than Never Challenge.
Rating: K+ / Word Count: 1668
Summary: Mrs. Jones is at a loss for a gift for her daughter, Abigail. However, a memory from Adam sparks her imagination.
Rating: G 1,215 words
Note: This story was written for the Bonanza Brand 2020 Advent Calendar, originated in the Forums.
Mother Nature’s Blessing – by wx4rmk
Summary: Prequel. Written for March 2019 Chaps & Spurs.
Rated: K+ WC 1700
Mysterious Crystal Cup (The) – by wx4rmk
Summary: Strange and spooky events begin to happen to the Cartwrights after Ben receives an unexpected gift. Written for October 2019 Chaps & Spurs and Spooktacular Challenge.
Rating: K+ / Word Count: 3911
Summary: Though many people choose to write a story for the Advent Calendar, members are free to choose how they wish to respond to their prompt.
Drawn for the Bonanza Brand 2023 Advent Calendar
Summary: No one signed up for the fourth, so this day was opened to all members in the Forums to try their hand at writing poetry for the season.
Rating: G 35 words
Written for the 2024 Bonanza Brand Advent Calendar
Ponderosa Felines – wx4rmk
Summary: When Ben’s youngest two come up with a new animal scheme, Ben reflects on some of the craziest schemes from the past. Will Ben fall for their latest venture or will he have learned something from the past?
Rating: K / Word Count: 1474
Ponderosa Yuletide Wit – by wx4rmk
Summary: A poem about Adam’s clever wit bringing joy and cheer during the holidays.
Rating: G (210 words)
Recipe for Disaster – by wx4rmk
Summary: A series of abnormal weather events one winter culminates in an unfortunate disaster that blindsides the Cartwrights.
Rating: K / Word Count: 1611
True Meaning of Christmas – by wx4rmx
Summary: The first Christmas with Inger brings some unexpected challenges to five-year-old Adam helping him learn the most important part of the Christmas season.
Rating: G Words 1,620
Written for the 2022 Bonanza Brand Advent Calendar
When Winners Become Losers by wx4rmk
Summary: A simple, late summer day quickly turns more complicated than any of the Cartwrights could have imagined potentially changing one Cartwright’s life forever.
Rating: PG Word Count: 3466
