'Twas the Morning of Our First Rocky Mountain Christmas

'Twas the morning of Christmas, when all through the house

The cats were both chasing our little house mouse;


The stockings were slung over an arm of a chair,

In hopes that Papa would hang them somewhere;


My daughter was spying not at all in her bed,

With visions of gifts that danced in her head;


I'm wearin' a hoodie, and Papa a Steeler tossel cap,

We had just settled down for a short little nap,

When out in the yard there was so much noise,

I stumbled from bed to look out at our boys.


Away to the window I stumble and curse,

Still no drapes to move over there's been no money in my purse.


The moon on the barn all coved in snow,

Gave me thoughts of great grief for our ponies below,


When, what to my blood shot eyes should appear,

But some very large Elk, that caused our ponies much fear.

The Mountain Lion came, so sleek and real quick,

I knew in a moment, this was no funny trick.


More rapid than Boulder Creek, to the rescue I came,

I whistled, and hollered, and called the ponies by name;


"Now, Midnight! now, Shorty! and Twizzler too!

You have nothing to fear, it's just like a zoo.


Stop running around! get into the barn!

You'll be just fine, this is only a farm.

As wind whistles before a Rocky Mountain storm,

They ran to the barn, where they were all safe and warm.


I went back to the house, I was cold so I flew,

The house smelled of coffee, and potica too.


And then, disturbing my first moment of peace,

There was again, the thundering of some other beast.


I jammed down potica, and drank some hot joe,

I ran to the door and stubbed my big toe.

The mule deer were here, they came to visit,

They had winter coats, and they looked so exquisite.


I saw her again, the lion stalked new prey,

The ponies were fine, they were eating their hay.


The deer soon perked up, for they have such great senses,

They took off in flight, right over our fences.


The mountain lion chased, but the deer were too fast,

Thank God it's all over! I can celebrate Christmas at last!

Back to the house, for more potica and joe,

This day has been nothing but one very large woe.


With more joe, and potica I was soon very warm,

I looked out the window, it was starting to storm.


In God's country, this makes one so very glad,

We love our new home, we will never be sad.


To all those who read this, we wish you a great year,

Our friends, and our family, you are all so very dear.