Well hello there!

Yes, this is Mrs. Claus writing to you on this cozy, wintry, snowy day. I thought it was time I took advantage of this "blog" technology that my beloved husband has been talking so much about. So I'm settling down here at Mr. Claus's computer, with a hot cup of tea, and a very happy cat in my lap. Oh! And look ... now Hexagon has also come upstairs to join us. (After all, Hexagon and Snowflake get along quite well together.)

Mr. Claus has told me so much about each and every one of you. And yes, I keep track of you, too, in my own special way, just as I lovingly kept track of your parents when they were children. Mr. Claus and I love you all so dearly.

Oh yes, ... and I wanted to respond especially to the beautiful young girl who's posted a Christmas video asking Santa what his favorite cookie is: it's gingerbread! Mr. Claus loves gingerbread men.

I know you're all counting the days until Christmas as closely as we are here in Santa's Village! And we have only a few days to go until the big night! It is always so very exciting. We never tire of the hustle and bustle this time of year. Each year it's a delight. The elves are practically bouncing with joy, the Factory is overflowing with goodies, and everyone's bustling around making sure that all's ready for Christmas Eve.

Today has been a lovely day indeed! I spent most of the day baking many, many batches of cookies: double chocolate-chip, oatmeal toffee, snickerdoodles, butter rocks, shortbread -- all the elves' favorites. I do this every year as a hearty "thank you" to the elves, from both Santa and myself. The elves work so hard for us, and we appreciate them greatly. Which is why, on December 23rd every year, Santa and I personally deliver to the Factory platters upon platters of home-baked cookies.

I also spent a good deal of time with my knitting today. I'm finishing up a very special project indeed.

I believe Mr. Claus has told you about our heroine Cupid, and her solving of the mystery of Rudolph's missing nose-cozy? Actually, I think Cupid herself may have blogged about it. (She very well may have saved Christmas single-handedly this year.) Well, it appears we have another hero here at the Pole: one Mr. Mipps the House Mouse. And it also appears that the poor dear is without a beanie in this icy winter weather.

So I've been knitting a small hat for our mysterious, small friend -- and I'm just about finished. I'm using my size-zero circular needles -- almost the smallest I own; and I'm using a delightfully fluffy, soft yarn known as alpaca. Alpaca wool is a special fiber that comes from llama-type animals (Alpacas) who live in the Andes mountains. Alpaca wool is incredibly soft, light weight, and incredibly warm: perfect for our tiny little friend! I've chosen a very fine-gauge skein (that's a ball of delicate, thin yarn) that has been dyed a rich shade of garnet. (Garnet is a deep red-burgundy, the color of pomegranate juice, which I also love fondly.)

It is indeed the season of gift-giving. And nothing could make us happier! Giving gifts to those we love, as gestures of affection and gratitude -- no matter what the gift -- is one of the many ways to spread joy and happiness in the world. It is a practice we can adopt any time of the year, whether it's Christmas time or summer time.

Well it has been lovely to speak with you like this! I've finished my tea, Snowflake is purring, and Hexagon has fallen asleep at my feet. Tonight, I'll finish Mr. Mipps's hat, and then I'll have to ask Cupid how to deliver it to him as soon as she and the rest of the Team arrive home from Finland. (Mr. Claus tells me that Coach Bryan reports things are going quite well indeed! We couldn't be happier.)

Have a merry evening! And perhaps I'll post again sometime soon.

Love and Kisses,

Mrs. Claus