The neighborhood sleeps under quilts of snow, each house a lantern glowing soft,
while colored lights blink their patient vigil against the dark.
Santa moves through the silence like a rumor made of velvet and chimney smoke,
his sleigh a shadow against the moon we all stopped believing in but never quite forgot.
I remember being small enough to hear hoofbeats on the roof, to taste the magic in the air—
now I'm just watching from the window, holding what's left of wonder like a photograph that's starting to fade.
~Stacy Stephens
**Anytime I use images offered in tutorials, I like to give a copyright disclaimer of 'fair use rights.' I do not claim to own copyright to any of the images used inside this artwork. They were downloaded and used with 'fair use rights' copyright law intact. Any images downloaded in tutorials are for informative and educational purposes in learning to use PSP and Photoshop.