Twas the Night Before Christmas...

Here are Dory and Mac's new stockings I sewed for them this year...
As you can see the mantel it too high and wide to hang from - but we make sure that our stockings are close by.

Today's post is a parody of Clement Clarke Moore's "The Night Before Christmas" - This is dedicated to all our friends, family members, Dogs With Blogs Community, Labs4Rescue group and every friend of animals near and far have a very happy holiday and a joyous New Year.

With love and best wishes, Dory, Liza and Santa Paws!

'Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the town,

Not a puppy was barking, not even Mac our clown;

The doggie stockings were hung from the mantle with care,

In hopes that Santa Paws soon would be there;

The puppies were snuggled all warm in their beds,

With visions of rawhide treats dancing in their heads;

And Gramma in her nightie and I in my wrap,

We had all settled in for a long winter's nap.

When out on the front yard there arose such a clatter,

I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter.

Away to the window I flew like a bird,

To opened the window to see what I had heard.

The moon on the edges of the new-fallen snow

Gave the luster and shine of mid-day to objects below.

When, I spied something to out there – I was agog,

A sleigh, and eight furry bloggers all of them some kind of dog.

With a little old driver, so lively and attentive to dog claws,

I knew in a moment it must be Santa Paws.

More rapid than eagles his doggies they came,

And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name;

"Now, Peanut! now, Sparky! now, Lenny and Sophie!

On, Mitch! on Lorenza! on, Tanner, and Gussie!

To the top of the porch! to the top of the house!

Now dash away! dash away! And be as quiet as a mouse!"

So up to the house-top the dog bloggers they flew,

With the sleigh full of chew toys, and Santa Paws too.

And then, in a twinkling, I heard on the roof

Some jingling and pawing and a definite doggie woof.

As I drew in my head, and was turning around,

Down the chimney Santa Paws came with a bound.

He was dressed all in fur, from his head to his foot,

It was PETA approve fake fur covered in soot;

A bundle of toys and bully sticks he had stuffed in his sack,

And he looked PetsMart salesman 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;

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 puppy 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 doggies gave a whistle,

And away they all flew like the down of a thistle.

But I heard him exclaim, as he drove out of sight,

"Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good-night."