Cookies With Santa

Twas a dark, gray morning, when all through Creekside Clubhouse, not a creature was stirring, not even the kitchen mouse. The Cookies With Santa committee arrived smiley and cheery despite the weather being rainy and dreary. As busy as elves on this well-planned day, we settled down waiting for Santa's short stay. Families arrived in the nick of time, just before Santa's bells chimed. Then, what to our wondering eyes did we see, Jolly Santa and sweet Mrs. Claus greeted with uproarous applause. 

Letters were written and cookies were dispersed by Santa's helpers who chose which family visited first. Onto Santa's lap children were placed without a single moment to waste. Even the six-month-old baby, youngest and small, seemed quite content and not fearful at all. 

When the clock struck four, families waved to Santa and walked happily out the door. 

Santa's elves and helpers, busy as bees, cleaned the Clubhouse with dutiful ease. Then, full of delight, Santa and Mrs. Claus bid all a merry good night

Santa

offers wisdom

to all children.

Be nice, not naughty.

Listen!

©CVarsalona, 2023

Thank you Clement C. Moore and Santa Claus for writing inspiration!

Santa came as promised bringing his message of goodness, love, and the act of being nice. His jolly, loving nature brought cheer to Creekside. May the families who visited and met Santa bring the Christmas spirit back home. Ho! Ho! Ho! Have a Merry Christmas filled with love, joy, and hope.

"Christmas waves a magic wand over this world, and behold, everything is softer and more beautiful." (Norman Vincent Peale)

It's Poetry Friday, so join me at Janice Scully's blog here. She is hosting the poetic festivities happening at her home in Syracuse and offering more poetic goodness from the community of poets, writers, and authors.

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A Three-Year-Old Surprise Birthday

Can we ever get enough of the magic of Christmas and Santa himself? I firmly believe in spreading Christmas joy during the holidays right up to the feast of Little Christmas on January 6th, the Epiphany. But now the family has extended the wonder of Christmas to our sweet little Aurora's third birthday with her Lil' Christmas party on January 9th. 

As elf helpers, we arrived early to decorate specifically for the party. My daughter's house was already beautifully decked in red and green from the holidays. The live balsam Christmas tree stood in the center of the room. We were told Santa would arrive earlier than we thought, so we needed to work fast. 

Santa was able to catch a reindeer ride to Reston, Virginia before the children arrived home from their daycare school. He appeared to be calm and even took a quick snooze while sitting up. When the birthday girl and her older sister arrived, Santa was ready to enjoy himself with the little ones for at least an hour until the reindeer came back for the return trip. To this day, if you ask Aurora who was at her party, she reports, "Santa". 

Santa surprise gift

children stare or jump for joy

reindeer transport waits

©CVarsalona, 2023

Can you imagine what this wonder-filled party meant to a three-year-old? Santa will never forget his good deed on Aurora's big day. 

Ho-ho-ho! 2023 is going to be a good year for all the little children!

I now join Two Writing Teachers, a global community of teacher-writers,

for Tuesday's Slice of Life.

The good news is that I am not racing against the clock to submit my slice.

Holiday Greetings

Christmas waves a magic wand over this world, and behold, everything is softer and more beautiful.    -Norman Vincent Peal                    

Holiday magic,

What does it mean?

Can wishes be wrapped

In dreams unseen? 

Can thoughts twinkle

Like Christmas stars

Or might they jingle

Jangle from afar?

Can December be filled

With fanciful thoughts

Of dreams fulfilled

And wintery spots?

Can holiday magic

Dust my abode

With abracadabra

To decorated-mode?

©CVarsalona, 2022 

Dear Santa,

If you can send some elves to my house to help me clear a path for holiday magic to happen, I would be grateful. Don't peek at the mess right now. There are only a few days left to turn my house into a holiday house worthy of the season. With luck and a few magical elves, I just might get the house fully decorated this weekend and the yards ready for your sleigh to visit. Thanks for listening to my plea. I do want to greet you with glee.

Yours Truly, A Frantic Grandma

🎄🎅🎄🎅

Join me at Michelle Kogan's blog here to read her tribute to Ukraine artists who remain brave amidst wartime situations. She offers a beautiful piece of art and poem, Morning Song Gift as well. Thanks to Michelle, the host of Poetry Friday this week, you will find more poetic goodness from a variety of writers. 

From my house to yours, may the magic of the holidays bring you good tidings!

Ho Ho Ho

Now that Christmas is officially drawing to a close, there is time for reflection. The man in the red suit must have been quite warm last night as he busied himself for all his runs. 

While we have no children in the house now, Santa still makes his debut in the neighborhood the Sunday before Christmas flanked by many fire engines. On Christmas Eve, he is seen brining good cheer. 

Happy Holidays from my house to yours!

You can see many presents under my Christmas tree but one is missing. Since I had some computer problems this week, the Autumn's Palette Gallery that was scheduled to be unveiled tonight is delayed. It will be launched this weekend with good cheer as a gift of the season.

At Live Your Poem, Irene Latham is hosting Poetry Friday and recapping her 12 Days of Kindness. Please visit Irene's site to hear her deliver a Christmas Eve poem. 

Santa's Ride

Santa visits our neighborhood each year the Sunday night before Christmas. It is his Christmas Eve pre-run debut in town. Children and adults eagerly await the yearly visit, announced by firetruck sirens. This year, the Santa showing was the best ever. A flank of shiny red firetrucks and the chief's car escorted Santa through the streets of my neighborhood. 

Tick, tock
beats the clock.
Holiday time is 
upon us.

Santa's ready.
Reindeers steady 
for final ride
of the year.

Santa has another plan:
become the neighborhood's leading man.

Dressed in red,
firetrucks led
a parade of sirens
bleeping.

Lights shone bright,
an awesome sight-
Firetruck parade
for Santa.

Neighborhood hopping
children bopping
to sounds of glee
and joy.

Santa's fun,
anticipated run, 
allowed his
holiday screening.

Santa became the neighborhood's leading man, riding with three children in a bright sleigh led by one of the fire department's vans. Although I could not capture a great picture of Santa's sleigh, I caught the beginning of the parade that announced Santa's coming.

It is the last hours of the Eve of Christmas Eve and I am still in the midst of preparing for the family get-together tomorrow while trying to put the finishing touches on the Finding Fall Gallery of Artistic Expressions that will be unwrapped for Christmas. 

Now stroll over to Two Writing Teachers for Slice of Life Tuesday where you can find a variety of writers sharing a slice of their lives even though the holiday season makes our lives busier than ever.