Merry Christmas Tea

 

(Please note: those of you who have read my blog a long time have seen this post before.  I have updated a few photos, but used many from years past.  This is the first time I have hosted this T Stands for Tuesday event at Christmas, though.  Since there are so many new faces and visitors, I thought I would post it one final year.  Perceptive individuals will see how I've decorated in years past.)  

I first wrote this post in 2011, then showed it again on December 23, 2013.  My trees are in different places this year than in the photos, as they are most years, but I hope you enjoy this T Tuesday three-peat.

Twas the night before Christmas

When all through the house,

Not a creature

was stirring,

Not even a mouse.

The stockings were hung on the sideboard with care,

In hopes that

  St Nicholas soon would be there.

Bleubeard was nestled all snug in his bed,

While visions of kitty toys danced in his head.

Then outside my door there arose such a clatter,
I sprang from my bed to see what was the matter.

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.

So up to the house-top the coursers they flew,
With the sleigh full of toys, and St Nicholas too.

He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work,
And filled all the stockings, then turned with a jerk. 

He'd spotted some eggnog all frothy with foam,

Then stayed for hot cocoa before heading home.

But I heard him exclaim, ‘ere he drove out of sight,
"Add your link this T Tuesday, and have a great night!"

As an aside per this site, 

“‘Twas the Night Before Christmas” was first published in 1823 in the Troy Sentinel newspaper with the name, “Account of a Visit From St. Nicholas.” It was subsequently republished numerous times, often with slight modernizing alterations to the original text.  

The idea of Christmas did not begin with Clement Clarke Moore, the author of “Twas the Night Before Christmas,” but in “a wink of an eye” his poem took young America by storm. His spirited tale of a late night visit by jolly St. Nick and his eight tiny reindeer captured the hope, happiness, and love expressed during the holiday season.  

With this hearty call, Santa urged on his reindeer team and changed the idea of Christmas forever. Moore could have never imagined that his words would have such a stunning effect on American culture, but over the next several generations, artists and illustrators inspired by his poem would create the Santa image the world would know and love!

Merry Christmas to those who celebrate it, dear friends, followers, lurkers, and T Tuesday participants.  If you want to stay on Santa's nice list, please add your drink related link below.  Then T Tuesday participants, Bleubeard, and I will be by to visit.

 

BTW, you can start digging up your Second on the 2nd post.  The only requirement is, it must have been published sometime in the past.