Woodland Advent 2019, Day 23 - The Way Home

Woodland Nutcracker © Frances Tyrrell

Even the little Raccoon attendants at the Great Bear's palace wave "goodbye" to Clara!

Woodland Advent 2019, Day 22 - Homeward Bound

Woodland Nutcracker © Frances Tyrrell

"Time to go home now, Clara," said Prince Nutcracker.  "It is nearly Christmas morning."

Woodland Advent 2019, Day 21 - Applause

Woodland Nutcracker © Frances Tyrrell

Clara is surrounded by all the performers who have joined her in watching each successive display, and some of them are still up to merry hijinks!  The evening is drawing to a close and it is almost time for Clara to be home again.

Woodland Advent 2019, Day 20 - Stellar Trapeze Artists

Woodland Nutcracker © Frances Tyrrell

The final performance for Clara, the "Stellar Trapeze Artists" from Australia:  fearlessly they swung and somersaulted high above the ice thrones, and to great applause slid down their ropes of flowers to take a final bow.

Woodland Advent 2019, Day 16 - "the Lesser Panda"

Woodland Nutcracker © Frances Tyrrell

The little Lesser Panda of Nepal was the next performer to appear before the Great Bear, Prince Nutcracker and our Clara.

Woodland Advent 2019, Day 15 - "Le Cirque des Etoiles" begins

Woodland Nutcracker © Frances Tyrrell

A lively show of music and dancing by Bears of the World begins with Rosa and Paco, spectacled bears from South America.  All of this for Clara, for being Brave and Kind!

Woodland Advent 2019, Day 14 - "Ursa Major"

Woodland Nutcracker © Frances Tyrrell

The revels are about to begin at the ice palace of the Great Bear, Ursa Major.

Woodland Advent 2019, Day 13 - Up and Away

Woodland Nutcracker © Frances Tyrrell

"Up and away they floated, and Clara looked down at her island home growing smaller and farther away." 

Woodland Advent 2019, Day 12

Woodland Nutcracker © Frances Tyrrell

The Transformation scene:  Nutcracker the toy revealed as Prince Nutcracker, " a live fur-and claws bear". 

Woodland Advent 2019, Day 11, More Mice

Woodland Nutcracker © Frances Tyrrell

Of the Great Midnight Battle between the field mice and the tin soldiers we may happily record this - that a truce was declared and peace restored.

Woodland Nutcracker © Frances Tyrrell

Woodland Advent 2019, Day 10

Woodland Nutcracker © Frances Tyrrell

 "Late that night, everyone but Clara was asleep", so the story goes.  Things are about to Happen.

Woodland Nutcracker © Frances Tyrrell

When Sears Canada made Christmas store displays of our Woodland Nutcracker in 1999 they did a beautiful job.   If I could have brought home one of the display items it would have been Clara's little sleigh bed, which was the closest to human size!

Woodland Advent 2019, Day 5

Woodland Nutcracker © Frances Tyrrell

"Long ago, far away from highways and city lights, where bright stars touched the tree tops and forest roots touched the edges of frozen lakes, a woodland family welcomed relatives and friends to a Christmas Eve party in their cosy island home.|"  Woodland Nutcracker, written by Avril Tyrrell

A Woodland Advent - Day 16, Prince Nutcracker

Prince Nutcracker, Woodland Nutcracker

For day 16 of Advent, the transformation scene from Woodland Nutcracker, where the carved nutcracker toy becomes "a live fur-and-claws bear...tall, and so handsome".