The Christmas Story

Christmas is coming and our house tells the story. The porch is decorated and most of the decorating is done inside. We cut way back this year and I find that the simple things are better. The stress level is lower.
I took the things over to Church yesterday and on the way home, I took my big turkey to the store...and had it cut in half. Now, it won't be such a struggle to fix it. I may have an idea or two about fixing these two halves. Joe is pretty much a traditionalist about turkey and doesn't take to new ideas. So, one half fixed his way and one half my way.
I thought that I may go back and repeat a story from my old blog several years ago. I hope you like it.
Balisha

It all began at Christmas time 2007. The cozy cottage in the woods was busy preparing for Christmas. The mixer was whirring, flour was stirring, and cinnamon was in the air. Laddie was doing the Laddie dance.The woman of the house was in a tizzy getting ready for Christmas guests. The man of the house said, "Take your time...we are old and can't do as much as we did in the past." He decided to entertain her with music for the season. The sweets were laid out on the lace covered table... in hopes that visitors would come to their door. It was a cold, icy and miserable winter and no one came to their door. On Christmas Eve the couple got into their vanilla colored sleigh and went over the river to the little Church in the nearby village. A manger was in the Church yard. The snow was colored with the reflection of the stained glass windows. Upon entering the couple saw that the Church was filled... but silent. They found their seats and knelt in the stillness. They were surrounded with the nativity, candles, the Christmas story and being a small Church, a choir of a few people. The choir sounded like a choir of angels singing "Oh, Holy Night" When the Mass was ended, they bid goodbye and Merry Christmas to their friends....got back in the vanilla colored sleigh and went over the river to their cozy cottage in the woods. After taking off their warm clothes at the door,they noticed the lace covered table out of the corner of their eyes. The cookies were gone. Had the visitors come while they were gone? Laddie was doing the Laddie dance. The couple figured that Laddie had helped himself...so being Christmas Eve, no scolding was done.

Their life went on throughout the rest of the winter and then spring, summer and fall. They did their chores, gardening, singing, painting, and shopping. It was soon the Christmas season again. The man of the house said, "Remember last year...don't wear yourself out with all the preparations." Soon the mixer was mixing, flour was stirring and cinnamon was in the air and Laddie was doing the Laddie dance. A delivery truck came down the drive. The man of the house went to answer the door. A beautiful package was handed to him. In Christmas paper and a huge red bow. The couple opened it with excitement...after removing crinkly tissue, they saw a wonderful gingerbread house at the bottom of the box. The package was sent by a daughter, who lived far away. There were tears in their eyes and Laddie did the Laddie dance. The gingerbread house was placed "waaaaay " back on the kitchen counter. Remember what happened to those cookies? It was night and time for bed. The couple got into their cozy, down filled, bed and leaving the blinds open (so they could watch the snowfall in the morning) settled in for a long winter's nap. They hadn't been in bed long, when they heard a tittering, scrambling, tiny clapping, and joyous sound coming from the far side of the house. They got into their fuzzy slippers and flannel robes and meandered carefully through the house. (the house was lit with nightlights, because they were old and didn't want to fall) When they reached the kitchen lo and behold a party was going on. Tiny, wee mice were scampering around in their flannel robes and fuzzy slippers. They were doing cartwheels, handstands, high fives,and a nibbling sound was coming from inside the tiny house. Laddie was doing the Laddie dance. The couple, very quietly, went back to their cozy bed. After a discussion it was decided that there would be no traps set this winter. The cozy cottage was big enough for all. After Christmas the gingerbread house was taken down to the cellar and placed in a corner, under a table, for the rest of the winter. Both families had a wonderful, peaceful Christmas season that year. Peace and good will to man and mice....and Laddie was found not guilty... and he danced.

Balisha