Running.....

Late....

I Hope you will Not be Surprised, Dear Readers, to learn that I am running Late.... with the Christmas Card.... with reading and commenting on blogs... with The Mini Castle New Year's Eve Party... with Everything, it seems! But I have at least One Small excuse... the weather over here has been challenging, with snow, sleet, freezing rain and even Thunder, Lightning and hail last night! Nobody at the Lovely Old Dollhouse was sure they could even make it to the Castle Party! But at the Last possible minute, they decided to try.... Helen was not entirely convinced the trip was worth it once they got to the Castle! "Are you sure it is done snowing...?" she asked Charles once they were safely inside. "What if it keeps snowing... should we leave early...?" she worried.

"Well, we have Arthur and Victor to help push us out of any snowbank..." said Charles,

 realizing at the last minute that he could have said something more reassuring.

Joanna and Victor were checking out the refreshments...

Joanna didn't want to admit she just might be

 getting tired of Gingerbread and Christmas cakes!

Victor was planning on trying the steaming punch...

Meanwhile the Band was tuning up in the Minstrels Gallery....

Tonight they are calling themselves 

"The Last Fearless Adventurers".....

(though you will probably recognize them as "The Deadly Nightshades")

in part because it was such an Adventure

 even getting to The Castle in last night's weather!

But it does appear that most of the locals have come out for the Party....

The children are all excited to be at a "Grown up" party

 where they will be allowed to stay up late!

Chip and Sally May and Annabelle are here too,

 although they left Chip's parents 

Ernie and Blanche back at the house...

 they did not want to go anywhere in the bad weather.

(Sally May is a little relieved to be out...

 Chip's parents have stayed since Christmas!)

Even Great Aunt Agatha is here.....

Well, to tell the truth, she has been here for months,

 along with Lady Athena and Lady Cassandra... 

who, at the Last Minute, have graciously

 opened the Castle for the Party!

Fleur is asking her husband Daniel if he has seen Gabrielle...

"If I spot her, I'll let you know..." he replies. 

"But we did give her the week off..." he reminds his wife.

"She's probably over at Will's...." he adds.

Well, Dear Readers, I must confess, it looks as though

 the Party is going to happen after all!

The "Last Fearless Adventurers" are striking up the music....

Arthur turns to Pollyanna...

 "Shall we dance..."? he asks.

And I, Dear Readers, will return now

 to painting the Christmas Card....

I know... I am running Late....!

 

I Hope you all have a Wonderful New Year!

(And don't forget to come to the Party!)

The Nativity.....

Oh! The Nativities....!

I Hope you will Understand, Dear Readers, when I tell you that I almost forgot to set up the Nativities in the mini houses! It has been that sort of Year... Season.... Month....Week....Not enough time for everything on the list! But I hurried around and Found the little pieces and reminded Pollyanna, because she really likes to set up the creche in the Lovely Old Dollhouse. She thinks the pieces are all where they belong...and as usual, she can't remember if the Camel goes on this side or that..., but no matter which it looks lovely and always inspires that deep feeling of Reverence. There is the Baby in his manger..... (I know he seems to have arrived a day too early!)... but there he is! And the Angel is singing Gloria! And the shepherd is looking on...

Oh, and Arthur has come to look too....!

"Isn't it lovely...?" asks Pollyanna.

"Very lovely," he says, not even looking at the Creche...

(Because he thinks his Wife is lovely...)

"Oh, you mean the creche...?" he adds with a smile.

"I think the sheep is too far back... " he adds

 as he pulled the sheep forward.

"There. Like that!"

 

"That does look better" agrees Pollyanna, smiling back.

Meanwhile, over at The Folly, 

Will has set up the tiny Nativity in the window.

It is getting dark and is really hard to see...

The lights are not on in The Folly....

But there.... the light is shining on the baby in his manger...!

And the Angel is singing Allelulia!

I am afraid Will and Gabrielle are not paying attention.... 

to anything but each other.

(They might be a match made in Heaven...!)

 

Back at The Lovely Old Dollhouse

Victor and Joanna are getting out the cookies...

And the Gingerbread too!

"Do we have to share the Gingerbread....?" asks Victor.

(His Wife is thinking the same thing...!)

Helen and Charles have been enjoying the Setting up of the Nativity....

Every year it is different... but the same...

 which gives them Great comfort.

"It looks perfect from here..." says Helen.

"I lost track of Time...." explains Pollyanna.

"I almost forgot to set them up in time!"

"But now we're ready!" she declared.

Well, Dear Readers, I hope you are ready....

 it is almost Time!

May you all have a Wonderful Holiday.... 

and may you Not forget the Nativity!