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Welcome to Get Sleepy, where we listen, we relax, and we get sleepy.
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I am delighted to be reading to you tonight, and I'd like to thank Alicia Stefan for writing another wonderful wintry tale.
I'd say it's become somewhat of a speciality of hers and I know all of you always adore her festive stories.
The 19th century poet William Blake once wrote In seed time learn in harvest, teach in winter, enjoy.
In the depths of the coldest season, that sentiment can sometimes be hard to live by.
But one of the best ways to embrace the icy chill is to make it a celebration.
Tonight, we'll fall asleep after enjoying the many enticing scenes of a dreamlike winter carnival.
You won't even need to brave the weather in order to join the fun.
From the comfort of your bed, you'll wander through an ice castle and watch ice skaters.
You'll enjoy the sights and sounds of a sleigh ride in the moonlight.
Then, returning your mind to the comfort of your bed, you'll drift off into a restful sleep while watching the snow falling outside the window.
This will be a trip through a sparkling fantasy world that you won't soon forget.
First though, let's take a moment to get settled.
After all, you're about to visit a very happy place.
Focus on clearing your mind of any stressful thoughts that might hinder your progress.
While you're wandering through this perfect evening, you will go at your own speed.
In this winter wonderland, you have no scheduled events, no reservations and no obligations.
As you slowly drift towards a restful night of sleep, the only focus will be relaxation.
Notice any regular sounds in your room.
They will simply become normal.
Those little clicks and hums are just there, and they can just blend into the moment.
In fact, The carnival you'll be visiting will have a backdrop of conversation and other sounds.
Just like the appliances and air vents in your house, they will not disturb you.
Turn your focus inward.
Consciously slow and deepen your breaths Inhale very slowly.
Let the air back out, taking twice as long.
Repeat this breathing cycle again, noticing how the stress leaves your body.
As you do, welcome the relaxation, sensing how it spreads from your head to your toes.
And now, imagine yourself stepping out of a warm car into the cold evening air.
This is where our story begins.
You close your eyes at the entrance to the lavish winter carnival.
All your senses are alive.
You feel the chill on your skin.
You breathe in that uniquely fresh scent of precipitation and hear the sounds of happy people, cheerful music and the crunch of snow.
Evening has fallen and the air is crisp.
You take a deep breath, feeling invigorated after your drive in the heated car.
You were drowsy when you arrived, but now you feel ready to see everything the carnival has to offer.
The temperature is quite cold, but you are bundled up in a soft, warm jacket.
After all, there are people who say there's no such thing as bad weather, just bad clothing.
You subscribe to that theory.
Your head and ears are warm underneath your cozy hat, and a fleecy scarf protects your neck and chin.
Feeling well prepared and ready for all the carnival has to offer, you scan the scene before you.
There are many beautiful things to see here.
People stroll to and fro laughing and talking.
Their breath makes little clouds that vanish almost instantly.
You think about how even their words are ephemeral.
This place and this moment are fleeting and perfect.
You resolve to take it all in.
You begin to wander forward into the heart of the festival grounds.
The snow-covered path crunches quietly under your feet, leaving broken marks behind you.
Ahead, you see that the centerpiece of the event is an ethereal ice castle.
You watch people strolling into its glowing central hallway.
On either side, other fairgoers are filing out.
Their eyes are bright with happiness.
One of those exits has a child-size ice slide.
You find yourself hoping there's an adult-sized slide somewhere else.
You're really tempted to try one.
Off to the right, an entire section of the fairgrounds has been set up for an ice sculpture contest.
Like a crystalline outdoor museum, It features an unbelievable display of life-sized frozen art.
Visitors wander among the sculptures, exclaiming with admiration.
Judges walk from one creation to another, smiling and making notes on clipboards.
You wonder what the criteria are.
Every sculpture looks amazing to you.
You hear the musical jingling of bells and turn in another direction to find the source.
A sleigh has just arrived in the distance.
It is pulled by a strong white horse.
Passengers climb out of the sleigh, and new ones are welcomed aboard.
You watch as they settle themselves and greet the driver.
Then, with a light clicking noise, the man asks the horse to move forward.
The horse gladly continues with an energetic prancing gait.
It seems to be enjoying the evening air.
The sleigh vanishes into nearby woods, and you promise yourself that you will take a ride later.
Not far from the ice castle, a small hut has been set up.
It looks like a classic log cabin.
People wearing matching hats are serving hot chocolate and sweet treats to customers.
Everyone appears to be in a friendly mood, smiling and chatting as they receive their cups.
You close your eyes and imagine the warm steam that is bathing their faces as they take their first sip.
Yes, you think, you will need to get a hot chocolate as well.
But that's for later.
Your attention is drawn to another corner of the carnival, where you hear children laughing.
You see that a toboggan shoot has been created there, and people are sliding down it in pairs.
The descent is speedy, and most riders seem to be doing it more than once.
No sooner have a parent and child reached the bottom than the little one is tugging the adult's hand, asking to go back to the top.
The grown-ups seem happy to go again and again.
Riding with the kids is a wonderful excuse to relive the fun of their own youth.
They jog back up the stairs to start once more.
You realize that this is the adult side you were wishing for, and you chuckle to yourself.
Gazing around, you see that there is also a large temporary ice rink here.
A small trailer is renting skates to customers, and some visitors appear to have brought their own.
People of all ages are sitting on nearby benches as they put their blades on or take them off.
Inside the glistening ice rink, skaters of all ability levels are displaying their skills or lack thereof.
A girl who seems to be about 13 is spinning right in the center.
She is very talented.
You watch, transfixed, as tiny fragments of ice shower around her.
She turns again and again, sparkling in the floodlights.
As the girl gains speed, her hands reach high into the air, almost like she is casting a spell.
Nearby less accomplished skaters clap in appreciation, letting go of the guardrails just long enough to express their approval.
Here and there, couples slowly circle the ice, feeling the brisk air as it flows across their cheeks.
There is one last exhibition area you hadn't noticed yet.
It features a snowman making contest.
You observe that it's exclusively for children, although adults are nearby to assist.
The sight of the lopsided snow people is rather heartwarming.
Some have traditional carrot noses and button eyes.
Others are dressed in more unusual props.
One pair of snow people is a bridal couple.
The groom has an artificial rose where his boutonniere would be.
Black buttons are arranged down his chest in a straight line, including a tuxedo.
The bride is wearing a white veil of fake eyelashes.
One of the snow people has two little snow dogs on a bright red lead.
In this charming contest, the judges serve only to hand out compliments.
No child will lose this event.
Having surveyed every activity at the carnival, you feel ready to join in.
You want to start by exploring the Ice Castle.
You have the silly feeling that you must do this first, just in case it melts away.
Feeling delightful anticipation, you begin walking towards the front.
As you approach the entrance of the castle, you can see a rainbow of lights illuminating different rooms inside.
A woman's voice calls out a greeting.
You look up to see a princess waving at you from a small balcony that faces the front.
She is dressed in a silver gown and a warm faux fur cape.
There is a delicate crown on her head that catches the light.
You send back a friendly wave in return and then duck into the interior hallway.
Inside, the ice and snow seem to muffle the sound.
Even though you know there are other visitors there, you also have a delicious sense of privacy.
As you begin walking down the main tunnel, you feel the profound quietness of so much snow.
There is a cold, fresh dampness that pervades the castle.
As you progress, small hallways fork away from the main path.
You follow one of them and find yourself in a small room with irregularly spaced ice pillars.
Although you know the castle is made by people, it has a natural feeling to it.
You reach out to touch the smooth column nearby.
It is freezing on your fingertips.
You observe that, at some point, water dripped down it and was preserved in fluid rivulets.
They seem to have pooled at the bottom, creating nature's decorations.
An LED light in the corner makes the room glow pink, then blue, then green.
You feel as if you're inside a crystal prism as the rainbow showers around you.
Leaving the small room, you return to the main hallway and continue exploring.
Up ahead, children move from one space to another. crossing your path with single-minded purpose.
They are completely enthralled by their game and don't even seem to notice you.
But you notice them, of course.
You feel like an arctic cave explorer who has encountered fellow adventurers.
You're almost as immersed in this fantasy as they are, which is a wonderful feeling.
Instead of stairs, a twisting path leads you to a snowy ramp.
You can tell that you are inside a turret, peeking out of a window.
You have an elevated view of the revelers below.
There are people posing for a photo in front of the little castle.
Further away, judges continue to wander among the ice sculptures, making notes and appreciating the art.
You have the delightful feeling that you are experiencing magic inside the castle as the world goes on outside, oblivious to your adventure.
You watch surreptitiously as people stroll by just enjoying a treat or sipping on a.
In the distance, the toboggan chute is busy with activity.
But you are ready to move on.
You carefully retrace your steps, descending the spiral ramp.
At the bottom, you exit the castle in the back of the main level.
Turning to take another look, you see all the coloured lights in the different rooms, as if they'd each been frozen inside their own ice cubes.
That was good fun, you think.
Your fingers are tingling, prompting you to think of how much you'd love a warm cup of hot chocolate to hold.
Having become fully immersed in the chill during your castle tour, you now feel like you have properly earned your drink.
Pulling your hat more snugly over your ears, you wander towards the refreshment stand.
There is no queue at the moment.
The attendants greet you with a cheerful hello.
You order a hot cocoa and gladly accept it when it's handed over the counter.
Walking a short distance from the drink stand, you pull off the lid of your cup and inhale deeply, enjoying the warmth on your nose.
The tantalizing aroma of rich chocolate surrounds you.
Replacing the lid, you take a small sip and enjoy the flavor.
The drink warms you from head to toe.
When you've finished your hot chocolate, you decide that it's time for a sleigh ride.
As you stroll in that direction, you look around.
You have the sense that you are part of a wintry tapestry.
This icy escape couldn't be more whimsical and perfect.
Everything you love about the season is happening around you, and your evening is far from over, just yet.
When you reach the area where the rides are boarding, you find a sleigh waiting.
It is a cheerful red colour and the driver is bundled up in warm outerwear.
This horse is brown.
He stands at the ready as the driver feeds him an apple.
He looks happy and well cared for.
You nod to the driver and he gives you a welcoming smile indicating that you should climb into his inviting sleigh.
Stepping carefully, you do just that.
The seats are smooth and a little cool, but they are piled high with warm, soft blankets.
You feel as if you're a character in a classic fairy tale.
You snuggle into a comfortable spot among the soft coverings and surround yourself with them.
There are no other guests waiting, and another sleigh has returned from its recent trip.
So, the driver takes you on a solo ride.
There's no need to wait for more passengers.
What luck, you think.
You are soon immersed in the experience of flying through the icy landscape.
A soft shushing noise begins as you glide away, with the breeze blowing just a little on your face.
The bells on the horse's harness jingle merrily.
The sleigh enters a wide path in the wooded park nearby.
You truly feel like you're on an adventure.
The clopping of hooves and the music of the harness lull you into a meditative state.
Evergreen branches frame the road ahead, heavily laden with powdery snow.
Up above, where the trees part, you can see the moon glowing with pearly luminescence.
The ride lasts about ten minutes.
It's the perfect length of time to wind down from your day.
When you return to the starting point, the driver turns around and asks if you had fun.
You nod and thank him for a wonderful ride while you step out of the sleigh.
He beams at your praise.
Up ahead of you, Another sleigh departs with an adult and child sitting in the back.
The ground feels pleasingly solid under your feet as you readjust to the stillness.
You are almost finished seeing the carnival, but you want to do one more thing.
Taking a well-trodden path to the sculpture garden, you prepare to wander through it.
The judges you were observing earlier have finished their work and there are ribbons pinned on some of the displays.
A stunningly beautiful dragon has won the grand prize.
It looks like it's about to take flight, and it captures both ferocity and elegance.
Second Prize has gone to a huge angel.
Its wings are intricately carved to show feathers.
The figure bows its head modestly, but it radiates dignity.
A swan has taken third prize.
You marvel at its long, graceful neck and imagine the challenge of carving such a delicate arc into ice.
There are other close competitors The subjects range from nature to architecture.
It is truly an artistic winter wonderland, and the mood here is magical.
You sigh to yourself, sensing how glad you feel that you came to the carnival tonight.
Having taken your time admiring each and every sculpture, you're now ready to head home.
It has been an entertaining and inspiring evening, and you are brimming with good feelings.
The air in your car is warm, and you feel snug and peaceful on your drive home.
By the time you arrive back at your own front door, the lights on your porch seem to welcome you.
The street is very quiet in the moonlight.
The world is readying itself for sleep.
As you slowly approach the house, something miraculous happens.
Heavy white flakes begin to drift down from the sky.
You slowly turn and gaze upward.
Indeed, it is snowing.
When you reach the door, you turn your key in the lock.
It makes a satisfying click.
The dry warmth of the house envelops you as you close the door and stamp the snow off your boots.
You slip out of them and set them neatly under the coat rack, hanging your outerwear on the hooks.
Then, you pause for a second and briefly inhale their refreshing, snowy scent.
You have brought the outside in for just a little while Now.
Everything goes in its place as you batten down the hatches of your cozy abode.
Smiling to yourself, you slowly ascend the stairs.
Quietly closing the door to the landing, you get ready to go to sleep.
Your soft, warm pyjamas are waiting for you, and nothing sounds better than getting into your bed.
Right now, you are so sleepy.
You just want to cuddle up under your downy covers and drift easily into sleep.
You pull back the covers and slide yourself into the crisp white sheets.
The softness of your mattress is like a hug.
Gently.
You reach your toes to the bottom and stretch luxuriously.
You can hear the gentle hum of the radiator warming your room.
It creates a pleasant white noise.
After the happy clamour of the carnival.
You are highly attuned to this silence, overlaid only by those household noises in the background.
It gives you a feeling of deep calm.
You sleepily reflect that you are glad you went out tonight because coming home feels so very cozy.
For a few moments, you watch the snow falling in the light of the street lamp.
Then, closing your eyes, you happily replay scenes from your evening.
You see a shimmering stretch of snow and ice.
You hear friendly voices. and savor warming hot chocolate.
Now you are snugly hidden away from the world in this wonderfully secure place and you are ready for sleep.
You exhale a sigh of happiness as you think about the snow outside.
You watch imaginary snowflakes fall in your mind.
Their dance makes you even drowsier.
This unexpected snowfall is such a gift that you can't believe your good luck.
Your mind turns over the options you'll have for enjoying the snow tomorrow.
Will you go sledding build a snowman, or will you stay inside and bake lovely things, reveling in the pretty view from the window?
You're vaguely aware of your thoughts becoming disjointed as you mull over these delightful possibilities.
Then, any remaining tension or excitement you were feeling gently dissipates.
As your mind drifts, you feel a deep sense of well-being in your space.
The pillow is so very soft on your cheek.
A profound relaxation spreads through your whole body.
Thoughts stop moving through your mind and you feel like you are floating.
Your breathing becomes slower and deeper, without any effort on your part.
And eventually, on your own time and in your own way, you fall into a deep and restful sleep, with the delights of the winter carnival Blending into your dreams.
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Thanks for watching!
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