Th3 Core

We still have a reading of this every Christmas eve.  Last night from Aunty Jane by Zoom....  I am sure you all know it, but hope it brings a smile and a memory.

'Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house
Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse;
The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,
In hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there;

The children were nestled all snug in their beds,
While visions of sugar-plums danced in their heads;
And mamma in her 'kerchief, and I in my cap,
Had just settled down for a long winter's nap,

When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,
I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter.
Away to the window I flew like a flash,
Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash.

The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow
Gave the lustre of mid-day to objects below,
When, what to my wondering eyes should appear,
But a miniature sleigh, and eight tiny reindeer,

With a little old driver, so lively and quick,
I knew in a moment it must be St. Nick.
More rapid than eagles his coursers they came,
And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name;

"Now, DASHER! now, DANCER! now, PRANCER and VIXEN!
On, COMET! on CUPID! on, DONNER and BLITZEN!
To the top of the porch! to the top of the wall!
Now dash away! dash away! dash away all!"

As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly,
When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky,
So up to the house-top the coursers they flew,
With the sleigh full of toys, and St. Nicholas too.

And then, in a twinkling, I heard on the roof
The prancing and pawing of each little hoof.
As I drew in my hand, and was turning around,
Down the chimney St. Nicholas came with a bound.

He was dressed all in fur, from his head to his foot,
And his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot;
A bundle of toys he had flung on his back,
And he looked like a peddler just opening his pack.

His eyes -- how they twinkled! his dimples how merry!
His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry!
His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow,
And the beard of his chin was as white as the snow;

The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth,
And the smoke it encircled his head like a wreath;
He had a broad face and a little round belly,
That shook, when he laughed like a bowlful of jelly.

He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf,
And I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself;
A wink of his eye and a twist of his head,
Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread;

He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work,
And filled all the stockings; then turned with a jerk,
And laying his finger aside of his nose,
And giving a nod, up the chimney he rose;

He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle,
And away they all flew like the down of a thistle.
But I heard him exclaim, ere he drove out of sight,
HAPPY CHRISTMAS TO ALL, AND TO ALL A GOOD-NIGHT!


By Clement Clarke Moore

Merry Christmas all!

I too have fond memories of my dad reading us that poem on Christmas Eve. I still have the little book he read from.

We attended our church's Christmas Eve service; I played viola for all the hymns.

We're having one guest for our Christmas meal, a fellow from church who would otherwise be alone. The turkey supper will be followed by some vicious Scrabble!

Merry Christmas, All!

We've just returned home from the trip. Quick visits went well.

Happy Christmas to everyone 

Sunny, hot weather here in Cape Town - lots of home/pool time between our home, my sister in laws family and my in-laws 

>>Driving a snow plough. Sounds like a lot  of fun!

Well... you're dealing with people and people do stupid things (see attached photo - this is how this person parked for the whole night. The photo is from 5am. And yes, there is an additional half mile of road and dozens of houses past this point).

And the visibility can be challenging
https://photos.app.goo.gl/4QhG6DvXTj7JxhGp7

If I could write a check for $1000 each November and just have someone handle this for me, I would do it in a heartbeat. Of course, if all 175 homeowners would write ME a check for $1000 every November, that would be a fairly lucrative contract.