A Visit from St. Nicholas

My pattern, St. Nicholas, by Fitz & Floyd,

Retired many years, breaking I hope to avoid~

The plates show St. Nick decorating the tree~

His fondness for musical sounds, you can see.

Drums, horns, as well as bells too,

 Are placed on the tree all in plain view~

Beaded garland is swagged & placed just so,

Candles lit on the tree cast a warm glow~

A candy cane here, a star placed there,

A Reindeer helper is doing his share.

The mice are not stirring, they’re sleeping instead~

The shaker set holder, a shoe for their bed~

The crackers are placed along side each plate~

When pulling apart, a snap they create~

 Crab apples, cranberries & nuts fill my vases~

 Once again on my table, keeping their places.

 

Several weeks they will last, a bit of nature they add~

A glimpse of last week’s table here can be had.

Coffee is brewed & ready to pour,

 Help yourself to a cup, there is plenty more~

A stocking is hung on the sideboard with care,

 My hope that St. Nick will look for it there~

The placemats are beaded, they sparkle & shine~

I saw them at Home Goods & said to myself, “Mine!”

 They leapt from the aisle, right into my cart~

For the economy, I am doing my part :-)

Reindeer hold candles, which ones I don’t know,

Maybe Dasher? or Dancer?  providing a glow~

Prancer?  or Vixen? I don’t know their names,

I’m ashamed to admit, they all look the same~

The stump of Nick’s pipe is lit you can see,

By evidence of smoke rising next to the tree~

A sweet Chocolate is placed at each setting too,

 Images many & dear, look here to view~

The glass how it twinkles, reflections how merry,

Venetian Goblets, a shade between roses & cherry~

Only for moments I turned from the table,

Hearing prancing & pawing, I came as quickly as able~

When, what to my wondering eyes should appear,

But my own treasured book, complete with reindeer~

Plucked from my shelf, placed directly in view,

Comet? or Cupid? wish me to share pages with you~

The Night Before Christmas

by Clement C. Moore, illustrated by Christian Birmingham

In 1822, a New York clergyman named Clement Clarke Moore spun together Christmas memories for his children. The poem he wrote featured a red-suited Santa in a reindeer-drawn sleigh, a never-empty sack of toys, and stockings hung expectantly above the fireplace. He called it “A Visit from St. Nicholas,” and it was then published anonymously in a newspaper in Troy, New York. It captured the public’s imagination. The poem’s opening line—“ ‘Twas the night before Christmas” soon replaced the original title.

A joy to read aloud, Moore’s poem has endured. Beginning in hushed suspense, the poem builds to a dramatic crescendo as the rollicking verses usher in the mysterious midnight visitor.

A tale of anticipation and wonder, “The Night Before Christmas” has become a holiday tradition in itself for many families.

Up to my sideboard, the coursers they flew~

St. Nick’s Milk & Cookies, help yourself to some too :-)

If I don’t see you again before Christmas Day,

May your wishes & dreams be delivered by sleigh!

Thank you for your visit & thanks to my hostesses:

•  Susan at Between Naps on the Porch for providing disaholics everywhere a place to play ~

•  Jain at Food for Thought, a delicious blog for readers with an appetite for the written word~

• The Tablescaper for Seasonal Sundays~

• A Stroll Thru Life for Table Top Tuesday~

Enjoy the reading of this classic holiday tale

 by Dick Van Dyke~