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The Party Continues!
Next the pipers begin and John Masterson's daughter Joanna performs her
sword dance (didn't touch a one, I'm told).
Then the Seznec clan (my sister's family) kicks in with Cory taking up
my uncle's Martin (thanks Neil, for having it restored).
Jean-François Seznec watches on from the side.
Below-right, Yann Seznec, Neil Harpe, and Cory Seznec carry forth... |
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Meanwhile, Damian Kennedy and father Seamus get serious with
a ballad, followed by a digerery-doo rendition by Damian...from down
under.
Below, Neil Harpe gives us some blues to really work with. This
is where I start to have some real fun on the new bass (below-right).
Following this musical interlude, the time came for my father,
Capt. Dodds, to deliver his annual gift to us all. |
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'Twas
the Night Before Christmas
or
Account of a Visit from St. Nicholas
by Clement Clarke Moore (1779-1863)
Presented
by Capt. Charles R. Dodds in his traditional Christmas rendition
'Twas
the night before Christmas, when all through the house
Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse;
The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,
In hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there;
The children were nestled all snug in their beds,
While visions of sugar-plums danced in their heads;
And mamma in her 'kerchief, and I in my cap,
Had just settled down for a long winter's nap,
When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,
I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter.
Away to the window I flew like a flash,
Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash.
The
moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow
Gave the lustre of mid-day to objects below,
When, what to my wondering eyes should appear,
But a miniature sleigh, and eight tiny reindeer, |
For many, many years, my father has
delivered his unique version of "''Twas the Night before
Christmas." This tradition was carried down to the next
generation and hopefully will continue.
Father suffers from a form of dementia that causes
him to not remember anything over a few seconds (he's 88!) -- yet he is
able to, and once again did -- deliver from deep memory this wonderful
Christmas poem, with only a few minor prompts from me. Below, from
left to right, Jean-François Seznec, Thackray Seznec, Capt. Charles R.
Dodds, Philip Dodds, Nathaniel Dodds (out of view here, but in later shots
below), and Roy Hewitt (my nephew; Sue's sister's son).
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"Now,
DASHER! now, DANCER! now, PRANCER and VIXEN!
On, COMET! on CUPID! on, DONDER and BLITZEN!
To the top of the porch! to the top of the wall!
Now dash away! dash away! dash away all!"
As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly,
When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky,
So up to the house-top the coursers they flew,
With the sleigh full of toys, and St. Nicholas too.
And then, in a twinkling, I heard on the roof
The prancing and pawing of each little hoof.
As I drew in my hand, and was turning around,
Down the chimney St. Nicholas came with a bound.
He was dressed all in fur, from his head to his foot,
And his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot;
A bundle of toys he had flung on his back,
And he looked like a peddler just opening his pack.
His
eyes -- how they twinkled! his dimples how merry!
His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry!
His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow,
And the beard of his chin was as white as the snow; |
 
 
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The
stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth,
And the smoke it encircled his head like a wreath;
He had a broad face and a little round belly,
That shook, when he laughed like a bowlful of jelly.
He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf,
And I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself;
A wink of his eye and a twist of his head,
Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread;
He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work,
And filled all the stockings; then turned with a jerk,
And laying his finger aside of his nose,
And giving a nod, up the chimney he rose;
He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle,
And away they all flew like the down of a thistle.
But I heard him exclaim, ere he drove out of sight,
"HAPPY CHRISTMAS TO ALL, AND TO ALL A GOOD-NIGHT!" |
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Christmas Day!
After the crowds have departed, and quiet once again sets upon the
farm, we eventually arise to Christmas Day!
Our children are now grown up, but we still have the fun of it.
Above Elisabeth, Alison, and Sue open packages. Above right,
Elisabeth "enjoys" her new creature slippers from her sister (an
annual thing); to the right, Alison plays with her new chess set (she's a
take-no-prisoner player); below, the Hewitts come to visit and exchange
presents; and finally, Homer (Alison's dog) gets his present -- a honking
facsimile of a Canadian goose. He's happy, and so are we! |
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| What a great Christmas... |
Send us your pictures please! |
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