Twas the night before Christmas....

Twas the night before Christmas and  in every house not a creature was stirring....
"But wait," bellowed Santa, with a shout of surprise,
"I cannot believe my eyes"
 I see lights all over the place."

"Felix, come here, get me Google Earth and take that silly grin off your face"!

I must explain here, Felix is Santa's apprentice, a cute little elf
Santa is really tired of working, all by himself.
In a flash, Felix had Google up and whirring away,
He smiled at Santa,  " It's the TUIC group and they're still at play"

"We have plenty of time, so let's go and look"
Besides your publisher's been asking for a new book.
Santa looked thoughtful, just for a minute,
"Come on then lad, we'd better get to it".

The reindeer had barely gotten into their stride when down into Kamloops in Canada they glided.

And there was "Simply said Karen" still working away.
Her project had to be finished for the next day!

Santa didn't say a word, he just shook his head.
And took off again in his wonderful sled.

Through a heavy snowstorm  they made their way
And there in Colorado, Jenn was at play

Finishing a frog box for her lovely son, Bean
While being as quiet, as quiet as can be.

"You know, Felix" Santa mused
"I still am feeling a little confused.
These artists you say, belong to TUIC and they blog.?
They are certainly doing a very fine job."

Then way over Texas they spied another light
And peeking in a window they saw a fine sight.

Lynn was there crafting into the night,
With such a look of joy, a sight to delight!

Rudolph's nose started to glow, giving Santa a warning,
His team wanted to move, they wanted to fly, they wanted to see the snow clouds rush by.

Santa turned his team and sleigh around as he called out to Felix
"Well, what have you found?"
Santa could tell, without looking down
That Felix was having a ball,
Reading and smiling at, what he was reading.
"Santa" he said " This TUIC group truly love making and then giving their all."

"Whoa," called Santa somewhere in the middle,
I am now, intrigued, by this little riddle."
Peeking in a window, surrounded by snow he saw Dawn there with her face all aglow.

Felix quickly piped up, " It says she's been to the Carribean and now she's baking cookies, as fast as she can go!"

And Kelly, in Illinois from "Southpaw Paper Arts" is busy,
Still making journals, to give to her aunts.

Two more lights he did spy and now Rudolph knew the drill,
He slowed the team down for Santa to see,
 Paige and Heather working  and singing their way through the night.
"You know Felix" he sighed " I think you are right,
To see all this love it sure gives me a thrill."

Santa looked up with his far distant sight and there in Ohio he saw, yet more lights.

It was Rose, also known as Pink Lemonade.
She looked up quickly and Santa thought he'd been made.
Felix, by now, was laughing, shaking with glee.
"Don't worry Santa, she was looking at me!

 Santa, soon slowed the team to a trot.
"I've never travelled like this boys and I'm afraid we are lost."
It was a big moment when Felix announced,
"It's Ok Santa, we've got GPS!

I'll take over now, just rest your eyes
We'll go down to the coast
There's sure to be more surprises.
Two lights were shining out from North Carolina

Miss Molly was wrapping the last of her gift sets
and Lisa still hadn't quite finished hers off yet!

"Oh Santa" sighed Felix " I'm beginning to get it.
These ladies will stay up,
Far into the night.
Creating their treasures to share and to give."

A soft click of the tongue and again on their way.
And there over Maryland they saw Monica, still toiling away.
Her Gardner's Basket,
Was certainly going to be full today!

Then up again ....
but  before they could gather speed
They spied Rebekka in Rhode Island with her house all alight.
She too, was working making her cards look just right!

Felix then looked across to Pennsylvania
Where Tammy sat colouring an image he'd seen before
He thought for a moment and then he was sure,

It was his Cousin Marty,
Captain of the Nose Polishing Crew.

To New Hampshire, they then travelled as fast as they could
And there was Christy from Lone Pine Designs
Doing what she does best

 Creating designs, with a hint of her homeland, so far away.
"Oh no, come on hurry, we cannot delay"cried Santa
"We are needing to run, to gallop from DAY."

The boosters were fired,
The reindeer gave a big cheer as they cleared the Atlantic
Santa gave them their head
And he sighed, 'cause now he wasn't so frantic!

They almost missed another TUIC artist at work.
Somewhere down there in the United Kingdom

Miss Mary Kate of Emkay Designs still had a few hours of crafting to do.

With the wind blowing strongly, across the Pacific, the adventurers still needed to pick up the speed.

"Perhaps a little magic is just what we need"
Thought Santa as they cruised right over Australia.
Over the desert, over the ranges,
They were nearly there...
When Felix exclaimed,  "Look down, Boss, there in Casino,
D- Dazzled Dani is still working away
And there's so little time till it is,
Christmas Day!"

"Dear ladies", Santa boomed out, really loud,
"You all have made me very, very proud.
Your generosity, truly matches mine,
But now I really must heed to Time."
So Sleep he sent out
With Stealth and So Gently,

To close those tired eyes.
It really,
Is true,
That Time certainly flies,
When it needs to!


"But don't worry", he whispered as all went to sleep,
"I will see you  next year.
That's a promise I'll keep,
To visit with you,
Because Mrs Claus
Will be with me too,
Because we both love,
What you all do!

Have a wonder filled and loving Christmas everyone!
Julie

PS Apologies if my geography is shonky,
And my rhyming is kinda wonky.
I really have tried to do my best
And soon it will be my time, to rest!