Five  little ducks went out one day

Over the hills and far away

Mommy  duck called quack quack quack

But only four little ducks came back.

Four little ducks went out one day

Over the hills and far away

Mommy  duck called quack quack quack

But only three little ducks came back.

Three little ducks went out one day

Over the hills and far away

Mommy  duck called quack quack quack

But only two little ducks came back.

Two little ducks went out one day

Over the hills and far away

Mommy  duck called quack quack quack

But only one little duck came back.

One little duck went out one day

Over the hills and far away

Mommy  duck called quack quack quack

But no little ducks came wandering back.

No little ducks went out one day

Over the hills and far away

Mommy  duck called quack quack quack

And five little ducks came wandering back.

The Night Before Christmas

Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house

Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse;
The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,

In hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there;

The children were nestled all snug in their beds,

While visions of sugar-plums danced in their heads;
And mamma in her ‘kerchief, and I in my cap,

Had just settled down for a long winter’s nap,

When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,

I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter.
Away to the window I flew like a flash,

Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash.

The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow

Gave the lustre of mid-day to objects below,
When, what to my wondering eyes should appear,

But a miniature sleigh, and eight tiny reindeer,

With a little old driver, so lively and quick,

I knew in a moment it must be St. Nick.
More rapid than eagles his coursers they came,

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

“Now, DASHER! now, DANCER! now, PRANCER and VIXEN!

On, COMET! on CUPID! on, DONNER and BLITZEN!
To the top of the porch! to the top of the wall!

Now dash away! dash away! dash away all!”

As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly,

When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky,
So up to the house-top the coursers they flew,

With the sleigh full of toys, and St. Nicholas too.

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

The prancing and pawing of each little hoof.

As I drew in my 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 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 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 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 TO ALL A GOOD-NIGHT!”

During the week, she went to Roscommon to read at the library there and she had a fantastic time.  Hello to all the great children who came to the library and listened to stories and sang great songs.

Then on Tuesday and Wednesday she was in Kilrush in County Clare with a group of brilliant singers.  Hello Kilrush!

After that, it was Ennis and Shannon and more wonderful children who drew lots of pictures.  I’m going to ask Patricia to put them up here so we can all see them.

Illustration by Sarah Preston from Cití Cearc by Patricia Forde.  Published by Futa Fata.

What Is Pink?

What is pink?

A rose is pink

By the fountain’s brink.

What is red?

A poppy’s red

In its barley bed.

What is blue?

The sky is blue

Where the clouds float thro’.

What is white?

A swan is white

Sailing in the light.

What is yellow

Pears are yellow,

Rich and ripe and mellow.

What is green?

The grass is green,

With small flowers between.

What is violet?

Clouds are violet

In the summer twilight.

What is orange?

Why, an orange,

Just an orange!

Christina Rossetti

Hickory Dickory Dock Sugar Mice!

You will need:

340g icing sugar

I egg white

A few drops of peppermint essence

Some chocolate buttons for the ears

Two drops of pink food colouring

Some raisins

Liquorice strings for the tails

What To Do:

1. Remember the rhyme and say it out loud.

Hickory, dickory dock

The mouse ran up the clock

The clock struck one

The mouse ran down

Hickory, dickory dock!

2. Get a reliable adult (R.A) to help you.

3. Sieve the icing sugar into a bowl and stir in the egg white, peppermint and the food colouring. If you need to you can add a drop of water as well. Now you have dough!  Just like play dough but it tastes a lot better.

4. Break into four even size pieces. Shape each piece into an oval. Pinch one end to make the nose.

5.  Now the fun part!  Decorate.  Break the buttons in half and stick on for ears.  Use the raisins to make eyes and the liquorice to make a tail.

6  Do all this before the clock strikes one.

7. Leave in the fridge to set. Don’t make the mice too big or they will take too long to set!

8. Eat!