T is Mr. Christmas.
You’ve heard about his smart remarks and wry sense of humour in previous posts, but I think we shall reveal a little more of his character, since he is always the silent partner in our escapades around the world.
Did you ever in your life hear of someone having 30, yes thirty, Mr. and Mrs. Santa Clause dolls, most of them 2-3 feet tall?!
One set is even a Vintage Animated Mr. and Mrs. Claus. Aren’t they the cutest?
But that’s not all – no, no, no, not by a long shot.
He has 3 Christmas Trees. Three: one in the living room (that’s standard), but also one in the hallway, and one upstairs. The giant tree in the living room is loaded with twinkling lights, colourful garlands and traditional Christmas balls.
Elliot, the cat is very intrigued with this activity, especially the storage boxes, which he dives in and out of, hiding in among his favourite decorations.
Commonly heard…
“Elliot, get out of there… c’mon… jeez, I can’t get anything done with you into everything… And don’t scratch me… and quit that hissing!”
T spends hours decorating the entire house – correction – days, no, actually – weeks. There are huge red bows everywhere and sparkling red and gold and green garlands winding along the banister and around doorways and windowsills.
There are wreaths and candles, mistletoe and of course, several live poinsettia.
There is even a full miniature train running around the bottom of the Christmas Tree with tiny hand-built miniature railway train stations, hotels, barber shops, houses and people set along the track, meticulously hand-built models by T, and all twinkling with lights inside each little building.
Elliot saying… “I’m not touching anything…!”
Of course, stockings are hung by the chimney with care, and there is even a stocking for Elliot, whether naughty or nice, hoping St. Nicholas soon will be there.
So you thought I was done, but wait – then there’s the outside of the big old Victorian mansion.
He decorates that too, maybe not quite so elaborately as inside, but wistfully all the same. Imagine the big white posts on the porch decorated with gigantic red bows, and garland gracefully curving between each bow.
It looks quite like a tradition Victorian Christmas house in the early 1900’s. People walk by and pause, smiling, to admire it. A horse and sleigh driving by is all that is missing.
It’s the Christmas we all wanted, the stuff dreams are made of… and T loves doing it, absolutely loves doing it!
Merry Christmas to all from Shirley & Mr. Christmas!
