HNT...40 cards!

Twas the night before Thanksgiving and all the through the house,
The critters were restless

'Twas the night before Thanksgiving, when all through the house

All the creatures was stirring, even a fly;

The stuffing ingredients were all tucked in the fridge,

Awaiting a warm oven to be tucked in;

The kittens were nestled all snug in their beds,

While visions of wish bones danced in their heads;

And mamma in her jammies, and slippers too,

Had just settled down for a long winter's night,

When out on the craft room there arose such a clatter,

That she sprang from the bed to see what was the matter.

Away to the paper cutter she flew like a flash,

Tore open the package and threw up the stash.

The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow

Gave the lustre of mid-day to cardstock below,

When, what to her wondering eyes should appear,

But a miniature glue dot, and eight tiny scissors,

With a little ole ribbon, so shiny and bright,

She knew in a moment it must be time.

More rapid than eagles her fingers they flew,

And she cut, and trimmed, and tied bows two by two;

"Now, Cardstock! now, Designer Series Paper! now, Glue dots and Trimmers!

Now, Textured paper! Now Stickers! Now, envelopes to match!

To the inside of mailboxes to the top of the mantel!

Now send away! send away! send away all!"

With the tote full of cards, and envelopes too.

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

The swishing and clipping leading to scraps in a shamble.

As she drew in her 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;

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 she laughed when she saw him, in spite of herself;

A wink of his eye and a twist of his head,

Soon gave her to know nothing to dread;

He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work,

And filled stamped all the cards; 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 oh' what sight, not even Thanksgiving and cards done up tight!"

Yup, that's right. Christmas cards in process the night before Thanksgiving but only because of a Dec. 5th workshop on the horizon! Happy Thanksgiving and Happy HNT!