Just got a message from Corine Welsch on behalf of Dominica Smit-Provost that Santa has been seen in Pincher Creek, Alberta Canada...



Jake

HE WAS HERE!!!!!!Santa was here, and you should have SEEN him!! I quickly took his picture for you guys because I know you would never believe me!! His beard was flipping in the wind coming from the mountains near my house. I live right beside the Rocky Mountains in Canada as you can see. And I saw Rudolph...and bbbbbbbbbbooooooooyyy did his nose glow...he IS ready to travel!!!!! And the sleigh, well the sleigh was bursting with packages...Pass the news Santa is on his way to Toronto, to Boston, to New York, to Illinois, to all over the United States and Europe, Australia, and even all the way to Bonaire...he told me so HIMSELF.
Merry Christmas every one...please let me know when you see Santa!

Oh Dom, how wonderful! If Santa was there,it won't be long before he's everywhere! I'm stuffing the Christmas goose,and getting a special dessert ready.but I'm keeping my eyes open for Santa. I can hardly wait!

Hi, there everyone...checking in from Virginia---it is a little early, I think, for Santa to be making his way through here still, but we are starting to keep our eyes open. We've got the binoculars out, and Jessica has been out on the back deck a couple of times trying to see if she can spot anything. I explained to her that he goes by so fast---at least that is the way it seems to us mere mortals---that we may miss getting a good view, but we will be trying. We will be reporting back later...

Robert you can tell Jessica that I was very fortunate that he needed to take a break. After all he had come ALLLLLL the way from the North Pole, brought all those children between the North Pole and Fort Macleod/Pincher Creek Alberta, Canada, their gifts. As you can see from my picture there is lots of room in my back yard to land as well, and no people around!
Tell Jessica to keep looking as he will ZZZZOOOOOOOOMMMM by. Sometimes that red nose is hard to see!
Good luck Jessica..I know he is coming your way...he told me so

Santa has been seen in the northern suburbs of the Twin Cities with a sleigh full of gifts! At first we only heard the sleighbells and we rushed to the window, but we could see no sign of the Jolly Big Guy...Then on the horizon a faint red glow, becoming brighter by the minute until at last it flashed like a comet across the sky trailing a stream of sparkling fairy dust that fell to the ground like a milllion diamonds from the sky. And all of a sudden he appeared with a flash on my neighbor's rooftop, a sachel of gifts tossed over his shoulder, and then he was gone...there wasn't a sound on my rooftop at all, but in the twinkling of an eye there appeared gifts in our stockings and the lights on our tree began to twinkle like stars! As I looked back out the window I could see Santa looking back over his shoulder as his sleigh flew away...and with a smile he said "may you have joy in your heart and peace in your world, Merry Christmas to you the whole year thru"......and then he was gone.

Hello, this is Santa Scout, Kerri, in Toronto, Canada. Today is Sunday, December 24 .... Christmas Eve. I know you're wondering if I've seen Santa Claus, and I hope you won't mind if I tell you what happened in my own way …

I really wanted to see Santa tonight, because I haven't seen him … actually SEEN him… on Christmas Eve, since he came to my house, a long time ago.

I was a very little girl, sound asleep in my bed, when I heard my Mummy and Daddy whispering loudly, outside my bedroom door.

"SSShhhhh" … that was Mummy shushing Daddy ... "You'll wake Kerri up."

"Oh, no," said Daddy," We can't wake Kerri." He sounded suspiciously like he was going to sneeze. Or giggle.

Of course, I woke up, wouldn't you? I jumped out of bed, forgetting even my slippers, and as quietly as I could, followed them down the hall ... down the staircase … and stood stock still, staring at Santa. He was sitting at my kitchen table, drinking a big glass of milk, and eating the cookies my mother helped me bake. I didn't move ’til Daddy picked me up and plopped me right on Santa's lap. Santa told me stories about the reindeer, and of his travels … and I must have fallen asleep because the next thing I remember, I woke in my bed (Daddy must have carried me up the stairs) and Mummy and Daddy were bringing in presents that Santa left.

It was a lovely Christmas...but it was long ago. And I was far away from my old home. Would Santa even find me? Would he know where to look?

I've had lots of lovely Christmases, and even tonight, the wonderful smell of the Christmas goose roasting golden brown, filled my kitchen. I was getting the English Trifle ready for our dessert...You know English Trifle? You fill a h-u-u-uge glass bowl with layers of cake, and streams of rum-and-vanilla flavoured sauce, more layers of blueberries, and top them off with mountains of whipped cream and curls of chocolate!

I'm telling you this so you'll recognize immediately the strangeness of what happened next: the last blueberry of the last layer rolled out of my fingers, across the Trifle, and began to ring! And as it rang, it was joined by the sweet silvery sound of jingling bells and the singing of the evening stars.

"Merry Christmas, Kerri Eileen", said a soft and smiling voice. He remembered!!

There stood Santa ... his smile merry, his eyes twinkly ... “Did you still save some of the oranges Black Peter left you, for the reindeer ... just as you always did"?

"Yes, Santa. And I've made you rum/raisin cookies, too."

"Just like when you were a little girl," said Santa, filling his pockets.

"That's how I always know where you are, Kerri Eileen. And ALL my boys and girls...I always look for the little boy or girl inside ... even if on the outside, they look big and grownup, and work in tall buildings, or they're soldiers, or they work in the Post Office … even if they're Mummies and Daddies. If they still believe in Santa, and all the things that are good and true, and if their hearts are still kind, Santa will always find them."

And quick as a wink, he smiled a Good Bye, and disappeared. He said he didn't want to be late, and he won't be. … So if your name is Jessica and you live in Virginia, or if you live on Bonaire, and your name is Baz, and you have a little sister, Santa told me to tell you he's on his way!!

I HOPE you see him, too...but if you don't, there's always next year. For now that you know the secret, you'll have lots of lovely Christmases to come!

Jake, a little surgery...can you mend us into one Santa Tracking thread???? I didn't realize we had two going; thought there was a new one just dedicated to today......wishing all you Santa Scouts a delightful Christmas Eve!

I'll second that!A friend(a very good friend)helped me post, but he was so excited seeing Santa, he rushed to Xmas dinner, and sent my message almost before Santa left--sorry D, and Thanks J.

Wow! Santa and his reindeer are really working hard tonight! They're going full speed to get to everyone's house. I hope someone is leaving something for the reindeer to eat! After all they do such a fabulous job of pulling Santa's sleigh every year. I just put out a bowl of water and some dried grass and Christmas cookies!

Big news to report! We have definitely had a close encounter here...this has been a really exciting evening! We were sitting down to our Christmas dinner when there was a flash of red light streaking past the windows. We can only imagine that this must have been Rudolph's red nose glowing incandescently...no doubt due to the high speed of travel. Quite frankly, I was surprised that Santa had made his way past us at this particular time, but Ramona had the explanation. She has long understood that Santa's flight---and let us all remember that this is occuring in a different space-time continuum from our own---is never in a direct line from place to place. She explained to Jessica and myself that it all depends on how the elves have packed the sleigh. Not only does Santa have to work his way from top to bottom on the supply of presents (and this may mean flying all over the place, sometimes) but also the weight of the presents, if they are not perfectly balanced, makes the sleigh want to travel more in one direction than another.
The important thing, however, is that old Santa is definitely out there, with all the reindeer going full-speed, working his way through the mainland of North America, and getting ready for the big jump-off that will be taking him down to Bonaire and beyond.
So, from all our family, we send this wish to everyone, for joy, health, peace, and love tonight, and all the days and nights of the coming year.
Happy Christmas to all, and to all a goodnight!

Bonaire is still awaiting the arrival of Santa. Homemade Christmas cookies have been hand selected by our in-house cookie experts, Bas & Yana, and our patio Christmas light homing beacons having been activated...

Jake

A message from Santa Scout Kerri, for Bas and Yana
Can you see the little boy inside your Daddy? Santa can. And that's how Daddies know you have to be in bed asleep, before Santa comes to your house. It's a HO..ho...HO thing. Remember, I was in bed asleep the first time Santa came to my house ..And I bet Mummy will tell you the same thing! If you think you can't sleep,...here's how...Take 10 slow deep breaths with your eyes closed...Then think of Santa's face, and look hard at his smile..and you'll be asleep. I know you can do it.When you wake up..it'll be Christmas.

It's a good thing Ramona passed on the explanation for Santa's unusual travels. I would have had a hard time believing my eyes when I checked the mountain pass camera on the road that connects my home to my sweetheart's, 135 miles away. But as far as I can tell, a reindeer sleigh just passed by, and I'm pretty sure that's Santa driving!

Just got an update from my mom in Pennsylvania and Santa Claus has been spotted there...

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 sliders with care,
In hopes that Santa Claus soon would be there.

The children were nestled all snug in their beds,
While visions of of God knows what blasted through their heads.

And Linda in her nightie, sitting in my lap,
Had just settled down for a precursor to a long winter's nap.

When out on the street there arose such a clatter,
I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter.

Away to the WebCam system I ran with a wild dash,
switched on the monitor, which came on in a flash.

The street light on the shoulder outside,
gave a glimpse of a red suited man oh so wide,
posing for the StreetCam much like a tourist.
I knew at once this was not a moment to be missed.

With a right-click and save, I grabbed the pic,
to share with our friends a view of St. Nick.



We knew our friends the world over would find relief,
to know that Santa Claus found their favorite reef.

So from Bonaire comes a yuletide greeting,
with hopes that some of you folk we be meeting.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from Bonaire!

Jake & Linda

Wow! Jake! It looks like Santa has taken TWO bags out of his sleigh to drop off at your house! Bas and Yanna must have been really good this year.

Santa has just been seen leaving Bonaire. His job is finished here for this year so I am going to sign off.

I wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and a wonderful New Year!

You too Miss M! Merry Christmas...Happy New Year...See you next year! Santa Claus, Mrs. Claus (and all the elves!)

Linda, Jake and all,

Happy Holidays, may the New Year bring everybody peace and happiness !!! (and me back to Bonaire)

Kelly

Happy Holidays to all.
Capt. Joe,Chris and Mom

On Christmas Day+one,a few Thank You notes:
To Corine Welsch, who helped Domenica 'catch' Santa. To Jake and Linda who got us back on track. To an elf named 'Silverstein' who literally opened his computer to me (and after one by one by one forwarding 43 messages back to me that spilled into his mail box)took my report,all my grammar corrections,and posted a clean,shiny copy that looked like I did it myself. To all the artists who proved again that pictures are worth a thousand words. To the wordsmiths (including Lorraine Meadows)who did their stuff (Lorraine had a lovely story, but was with the sister-in-law who doesn't get her head wet (see archives)and didn't want computers on on Christmas Eve. Thanks for making my Xmas fun. Take the time to take a good look at your handiwork.You guys are awesome!! Silverstein, (the other Jewish elf,) whose big boy job means spending a 50 min. hour with lots of people who see and hear things that aren't there,says we're just the reality-based antidote he rarely needs to anything about! P.S. Kelly,Thanks for NOLA link, good stuff!

Back at the office (SLOW day) after an extra day off, and I want to send our appreciation to you all for contributing to our excitement over Christmas Eve...It was a very special experience to track Santa's travel's, and it was a joy to be able to do this while the opportunity and interest (and wonder) still coincide.
Many thanks!