’Twas 10 days before Christmas

I bet at least once you’ve gone down a flight of stairs that had one more, or less, step than you expected. It threw you off balance for a bit. That’s how I’m feeling every time I think we’ve finally got squared away for Christmas. This morning we nearly ran out of packing tape. Spare C cell batteries had been placed in service, so backups were needed. Another package of Christmas cookies needed a ride to the post office. (The union for Santa’s elves is starting to nag me to join.) And, since we burn candles more at this season, candle lighters are getting exhausted with spares needed. Maybe next week will be more quiet.

my preferred kind of snow flake

Photo by J. Harrington

The Better Half informs me that most, but not all, the Christmas cookie baking is attended to. I keep reminding myself that cloudy, rainy weather could be worse. It could be snow or ice (freezing rain). Anyhow, tomorrow morning we’ll visit the Granddaughter and I’ll attempt to read a solstice book to her. Several years ago we picked up a copy of The Shortest Day, and I’ve come to really enjoy it, even if I’m the closest we can come to pass for a young’un to read it to.

Many years Christmas has brought wonderful presents such as clothes, books or food, but no toys for me to play with. This year I’ve figured out a solution to that issue. I will have dug out of storage and have set up, ready to play with, several fly-tying kits I bought a year or two ago and never got around to assembling. Post-Christmas tying will keep my hands, eyes and mind busy and provide something to fantasize about when warmer weather comes. After all, a guy can only wear so many clothes, each so much food and read so many books at one time. If this seems strange in a Christmas posting, take a look at yesterday’s blog.

We’ve cut it close, but today is the best available time for today’s poem, just like the best time to plant a tree was twenty years ago and the second best time is today.

The Twelve Days of Christmas

By Anonymous

The first day of Christmas, 

My true love sent to me 

A partridge in a pear tree. 

The second day of Christmas, 

My true love sent to me 

Two turtle doves, and 

A partridge in a pear tree. 

The third day of Christmas, 

My true love sent to me 

Three French hens, 

Two turtle doves, and 

A partridge in a pear tree. 

The fourth day of Christmas, 

My true love sent to me 

Four colly birds, 

Three French hens, 

Two turtle doves, and 

A partridge in a pear tree. 

The fifth day of Christmas, 

My true love sent to me 

Five gold rings, 

Four colly birds, 

Three French hens, 

Two turtle doves, and 

A partridge in a pear tree. 

The sixth day of Christmas, 

My true love sent to me 

Six geese a-laying, 

Five gold rings, 

Four colly birds, 

Three French hens, 

Two turtle doves, and 

A partridge in a pear tree. 

The seventh day of Christmas, 

My true love sent to me 

Seven swans a-swimming, 

Six geese a-laying, 

Five gold rings, 

Four colly birds, 

Three French hens, 

Two turtle doves, and 

A partridge in a pear tree. 

The eighth day of Christmas, 

My true love sent to me 

Eight maids a-milking, 

Seven swans a-swimming, 

Six geese a-laying, 

Five gold rings, 

Four colly birds, 

Three French hens, 

Two turtle doves, and 

A partridge in a pear tree. 

The ninth day of Christmas, 

My true love sent to me 

Nine drummers drumming, 

Eight maids a-milking, 

Seven swans a-swimming, 

Six geese a-laying, 

Five gold rings, 

Four colly birds, 

Three French hens, 

Two turtle doves, and 

A partridge in a pear tree. 

The tenth day of Christmas, 

My true love sent to me 

Ten pipers piping, 

Nine drummers drumming, 

Eight maids a-milking, 

Seven swans a-swimming, 

Six geese a-laying, 

Five gold rings, 

Four colly birds, 

Three French hens, 

Two turtle doves, and 

A partridge in a pear tree. 

The eleventh day of Christmas 

My true love sent to me 

Eleven ladies dancing, 

Ten pipers piping, 

Nine drummers drumming, 

Eight maids a-milking, 

Seven swans a-swimming, 

Six geese a-laying, 

Five gold rings, 

Four colly birds, 

Three French hens, 

Two turtle doves, and 

A partridge in a pear tree. 

The twelfth day of Christmas 

My true love sent to me 

Twelve fiddlers fiddling, 

Eleven ladies dancing, 

Ten pipers piping, 

Nine drummers drumming, 

Eight maids a-milking, 

Seven swans a-swimming, 

Six geese a-laying, 

Five gold rings, 

Four colly birds, 

Three French hens, 

Two turtle doves, and 

A partridge in a pear tree.

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