A Surfeit of Santas

It started quietly, as it always does, with one St. Nicholas doll, sitting on his toymaker's bench, gifts in hand. I loved his soft red vest, and his plaid knickers. His boots sported some small gold buckles.

A few years later, he was joined by an outdoorsman, with a fish in his creel and snowshoes to brave the winter storms. Again, he wore plaid trousers, tucked into his furry boots.

Next came a rugged individualist, with brown buckskin pants and a fur-trimmed, long plaid coat. I love that coat, and if I could find the equivalent of it in my size, I would buy it immediately. He carries a rocking reindeer. How cute is that?

Finally, a Santa in full sartorial splendor -- he wears wine-red velvet trousers, a green waistcoat with absurdly large gold buttons, and a heavily- flocked, ermine-lined coat and hat. He carries a beautifully decorated wreath, and a toy jester.

Yes, we have a surfeit of Santas in this house, all dressed better than me!

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OK, what the heck happened to my header? It shrunk! I can't deal with that now -- I've got to get Katie to school and send out 22 emails to the spring soccer team!