On the Tree: The Night Before Christmas

Merry Christmas Eve!

I hope you’ve wrapped up all your Christmas preparations and are sitting back enjoying your favorite Christmas movies.

I’ve had a few of comments asking if I would share some close ups of our Christmas tree that’s twinkling in the background behind my Cardinal Christmas Table.

It’s not a theme tree, rather a tree with ornaments collected over 25+ years. Many of the ornaments are Radko, received as gifts from my hubby, family or friends through the years.

Santa travels by car rather than sleigh to our house! My how time speeds by. . . this car ornament has been hanging around on the tree since 1999 according to the date on the license plate.

There are other merry motoring ornaments on the tree (you can take a closer look at the ornaments at Merry Motoring Table, HERE. )

There are Santas on the tree. . .

Gardening theme ornaments. . .

“Flower Power” Nick is toting a shovel and holding a flower pot . .

A wheelbarrow. . .

And Snowmen.

This snowman with a Courtly Check owl is from MacKenzie-Childs, several years ago.

And there are some nautical-theme ornaments.

Other ornaments add a little whimsy. . .

This short, squat nutcracker is one of my favorite ornaments and always brings a smile to my face. . .

I’ve highlighted some ornaments to share along with a holiday tradition and poem, “A Visit from St. Nicholas“,  or more commonly known as “The Night Before Christmas” by Clement Clarke Moore.

From our home to yours, wishing you and your family a very Merry Christmas!

‘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 our brains for a long winter’s nap,

When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,

I sprang from my 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 a lustre of midday to objects below,

When what to my wondering eyes did appear,

But a miniature sleigh and eight tiny rein-deer,

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 leaves that before the wild hurricane fly,

When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky;

So up to the housetop 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 head, 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 pedler 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 on 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 bowl full 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!”

🎄🎄🎄

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 Between Naps on the Porch