Reading of A Christmas Carol
at Cottonwood Mansion left most of us inquiring, "What is Smoking Bishop??" (Read by Rt. Rev. D. Ralph Bishop Spence ~ the casting by Catherine Stidsen.)
The drink is hot, spiced wine similar to wassail ~ something like a hot sangria, scented with oranges and infused with port.

Thank you Bishop Spence, Anglican Bishop of Niagara, retired, for your enlivened rendition of The Christmas Carol script. With thanks to Catherine Stidsen for photo.

At the very end of the beloved Charles Dickens holiday classic A Christmas Carol, a reformed Ebenezer Scrooge and his long-suffering employee Bob Cratchit share an oddly named libation:

"A Merry Christmas, Bob!" said Scrooge with an earnestness that could not be mistaken, as he clapped him on the back. "A merrier Christmas, Bob, my good fellow, than I have given you for many a year! I'll raise your salary, and endeavor to assist your struggling family, and we will discuss your affairs this very afternoon over a bowl of Smoking Bishop, Bob!" Source: CBC

Photo: Deanna and Jill Serving Guests

"Shortly after its publication 150 years ago, The Night Before Christmas spawned dozens of copiously illustrated hand- and paper-bound versions of its charming tale. And Santa lovers collected as many versions as possible. And the Jolly Old Elf, initially depicted by Thomas Nast, soon took on a more expansive life, which was merrily featured in companion volumes. Santa, in other words, was no longer fettered to his December 24th ride through the sky, but was illustrated at work with his elves, relaxing by the fire with Mrs. Claus, and even taking vacations in the South."
~ Country Living COUNTRY CHRISTMAS, Hearst Books, 1990. (Note: that would make it over 170 years ago.)
Santa artist: Florence Sarah Winship ~ only a few surviving pages of The Night Before Christmas. Circa: 40's (?)

Though miles separate us . . . (1928 Post Cards) Post Cards From The Past

John Passfield, retired drama teacher ~ He may have taught more than drama but certainly seems to have been his most famous role since retirement ~ as well as writing books! John is reading Christmas stories today at The Neat Little Bookshop. You don't want to miss it! 1:00 p.m. Cookies, tea & coffee. Free admission. Please join us.Photo: John Passfield Reading Charles Dickens A Christmas Carol at Cottonwood Mansion

Join us on Thursday, December 8 at 1:00 p.m. in The Neat Little Bookshop ~

Author, John Passfield will be reading ballads, stories, poems, songs and hymns lyrics new and old.Photo credit: Thank you to Catherine Stidsen. l-r John Passfield, Neil Paul. b. Lorna Walker. St. Nicolas Day at Cottonwood Mansion. http://www.cottonwoodmansion.ca/

Charles Dickens The Christmas Carol ~ Marley's Ghost meets the Second of Three Spirits on the Stairway at Cottonwood Mansion

In the kitchen, Deanna Schaus & Jill Walters

Celebrating St. Nicholas Day at Cottonwood Mansion ~

l- r, John Passfield, Catherine Stidsen, Neil Paul, Cheryl MacDonald and Bishop Spence after reading Dicken's The Christmas Carol

For many of us, the Christmas tree becomes the center of our December activities. Tasha Tutor, American author and illustrator describes her childhood tree.
"When I was about seven, that was the first Christmas tree that I really remember. It seemed to go up and up and up, straight to heaven! Of course, I was quite small at the time, but it seemed immense, tremendously tall, like a skyscraper."
Crowning the top of Tutor's tree for decades was a large, black velvet raven that she made by hand in homage to the legend that the raven was the herald of Christ's birth. According to the story, a raven was flying over Bethlehem when he encountered a sky filled with angels. He was given the honor of announcing the birth of Christ to all the other birds.

~ Forever Christmas, by Harry Davis. Little, Brown and Company, 2000. Illustrated by Tasha Tutor (1915 - 2008)

Photo: The music room at Cottonwood Mansion. Decorations by Deanna Schaus.