LITTLE CHRISTMAS

January 6 is known as "Little Christmas" ~ the Twelfth Night, and the Feast of the Epiphany, the night when the three wise men ended their long journey and reached Bethlehem.  For many is is the traditional ending of the Christmas season. 

Over the past twelve days, we received many more beautiful and thoughtful greetings from friends.  By mail and through email.  As others had been shared throughout the month, it would have been neglectful not to recognize these as well, all for which we were very thankful ~ sharing friendship is good on any day!

One thing we did neglect to do during this past season ~ many shared with us by way of animated and musical cards!  I am sorry to admit I did not keep a list of those who chose to send these cards and to "name names now", I would surely forget some, so better not to name any ... but each and every one was lovely and so much enjoyed.  And I must say, especially by JUNE who seems so enthusiastic by music and movement on the screen ... she meows her thanks!   

Now, doing a complete 360-degree turn on what I just said, I have to point out that our friend, Little Miss Titch ~ The Gossip Bunny took a whole new approach to the holidays this year, sending a card-a-day to so many of us.  And what a treat that was to open the email box every day to her sweet greetings.   

So ... thank you one and all ... and Happy Little Christmas!

With love and meows, Ann and June

  

A CONVERSATION with JUNE on the the DAY after CHRISTMAS

Mommy, mine stocking is empty! Is Christmas all over?
Awww ~ yes it is, dear.
When does it come back again?
Awww, in like 365 days or so.
I can't count that many much high.

Well, the Christmas school break will be over soon, then you'll be back 

to your lessons, so you'll learn to count higher and higher.

O.K., meow, but I don't think I will like waiting a long time.

Purr-ably not, my dear.  And speaking of waiting, I should tell you that

you and me are going to take a few days off from your bloggie here,

so I can play catch-up with some stuff and prepare for the New Year.

A new year, what's a new year?

Well, you'll learn about that in school, too.  For now though, come have some

nice soft brushies, maybe we can practice a little counting, or I'll read

you a story, or maybe we can just nap together.

But I have another question .... Yes, what?

Where are all the pretty cards that were up top on our header,

I really liked looking at them each day!

Well, you will get to see more of them, on Little Christmas!

Little Christmas?  Meow, I get more purrsents?

Oh no, Little Christmas is January 6 ~ also known as Twelfth Night, 

and the Feast of the Epiphany.  

It is celebrated around the world in many different ways.

How are we celebrating Little Christmas?

It is only in a small way, but you might like it June ~ we were saying

'thank you' to our friends with sharing their lovely cards on our header.  

But then a big storm came all over the U.S. and the post 

persons didn't get some into the mailboxes on time cause they 

couldn't drive their trucks!  Oh dear!  And in far away places the post

people weren't working for other reasons, so ... we still want to say

'thank you' for those received since!  OK, I want to purr my thanks, too!

Well, then, how about you help me, put them all together

for a Little Christmas ~ Thank You on January 6.

I will, I will ... oh yes, I will.

Oh, Mommy ... yes? ... you can put my stocking away now,

for like that many days I can't count ~ I don't need any more purrsents,

I had a very good Christmas.

Awww, you're so sweet.

MERRY and MEOWY CHRISTMAS

 I'm hiding, just a little bit, behind the door, peeking out.
Santa has left, I'm sure it was Santa, as I saw his sleigh 

and lots of reindeer flying over the church domes during the night.

The bells on the reindeer and one who had a bright red nose 

woke me from a very good sleep.

  
But what was I telling you ... oh, Santa has left a few things by my rounder, 
and I'm all ready to go and get them!  

But mine Mommy says "wait, purr-please, I'm still stuffing your stocking!"

I will wait, I'm a good girl kitty.  But mine Mommy should know that

when you're not even 3-years-old yet and just a little-kit you can get

very anxious on Christmas morning ...

So, I expect to have a very merry meowy Christmas today

a few new play toys and some extra treats

and my favorites for breakfast (any minute now!) and my favorites

for lunch and supper, too.  Can't get better than that.

Mine Mommy will have a big Christmas dinner with her neighbors

which makes her happy cause they are wonderful, special people.

Together, me and mine Mommy hope you and your families or those

you spend your day with ~ human or pets ~ is everything you want it to be.

Keep the good feelings of this time in your heart in all the days to come.

Mine Mommy always has the same wish, saying

"may you receive all that you need, and some of what you want".

Happy Christmas, with love, from JUNE and Ann

T'WAS THE DAY and THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS

 

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 23, 2022

Thank you for coming by, comments are off today.

THANKFUL for CHRISTMAS BEAUTY

 

Mount Vernon Place in downtown Baltimore is my home.  

Beautiful in any season, it takes on a special glow at the holiday season.  

Ferns and berries hang from old lamp posts.  

To the left ~ the Walters Art Museum and on the right, not shown, 

the Peabody Conservatory and Library.  

The park centered with the now lighted Washington Monument.  

Two parks reaching out on each side, places to sit, rest,

to enjoy the magnificence of historic architecture of buildings 

and homes from centuries past.  Thankful for this ...

MOUNT VERNON PLACE

CELEBRATING . . .

 12.21 WINTER SOLSTICE

Photos remembering the winter of 1987, when we had just moved to St. Joseph, Michigan during

the week of Thanksgiving  and our new home was within walking distance of Lake Michigan.

My "poppy Vic's" reaction to all of this snow and ice was "bah humbug" (also celebrated today!)

 as he, having been Florida born and raised and was initially not

too happy with the weather here, "what, shovel snow?"

On the other hand, this is also "look on the bright side day", which I did having

grown up in snowy northern Indiana and happy to be back to my roots, 

near to family again and loving the snow and cold!

As for it being "short girl appreciation day", well, I'm kind of in-between, so can't

celebrate that ~ but to any and all short enough to do so ~ go for it, girls!

And remember, now the days will be lighter and brighter,

minute by minute by minute!

But to all (just about everyone) in the midst of the winter storm blanketing the US, 

stay warm, indoors and safe now and in the days ahead.

.

HAPPY and MORE HAPPY

As we keep adding beautiful and creative Christmas Cards to our header above ... it seems it may soon fill the entire main page of our blog ~ and we'll just not be able to post for a while, having run out of space!  Just joking of course, as every one received makes us happy and more happy.   

Most days the post person delivers some by mail as well.  Just as beautiful, often designed to show family pets in all their beauty.  What fun they are to receive ... more happy!  And so we share these others with you ~ some decorate our wall, some fill our little Merry Basket.  And there are the E-cards, animated and musical, to save and watch again.  JUNE especially enjoys these, her little kitty head going back and forth as she watches, ears perked up to the music.  No, she doesn't tap her toes, but sometimes we both sing along.

~ to one and all, each day you make us happy, we thank you ~

CHRISTMAS WITH GRAND-PUPS

 

SUNDAY SELFIE and the ORNAMENTS

Look what I found.  It's very pretty, and fun to play with. 
Oh, I do not think you found it.  You took it off the book shelf, didn't you?
No, it had fallen on the floor. 

Look, you have your polka dot ornaments, I have my stripey ones ... to each her own. 

I understand, you can put it back where it belongs now.

CATURDAY ART in the COURTYARD

The peoples who take care of our building always do lots of decorating for all the holidays.  These are the same ones from last year, but that doesn't matter 'cause they're really pretty.  Mine Mommy took me downstairs to the courtyard so I could see them.  Last year she took pictures when there was lots of snow all over them, but this year, no snow yet.  I said "hi" to Mr Snowman but he said not one thing to me, and the bear and reindeer were quiet, too.  In the lobby we looked at a very pretty tree and it was kind of strange 'cause music came from inside of it and I never knew Christmas trees were musical, but I guess we learn new things all the time.  Happy Caturday Art Day ~ hope you see pretty decorations where you are.

FELINE & FRIDAY HOLIDAY FLASHBACK

Will the real Santa Claws please step forward ~

Angel Zoey 2017

ALL ROUND MY ROUNDER

I spend a lot of time in my rounder ~ it sits by the window, I can watch my world ~ birdies in the sky, flags flying high, people going by.  It's comfy, it's cozy, sometimes there is sunshine on my shoulders, sometimes a soft breeze blows over me.  No matter what, it's the place to be ~ for me!  And now I have it all purr-tied up for Christmas time, so let me share it with you.

1.  Told you I'd get one of those polka dot ornaments from our windows ~ and I did.

2.  The rounder is the purr-fect place to hide mine Mommy's Christmas gift.

3.  This is just one of my stockings.  I have four of them.  One for each paw!

4.  Mine Mommy says I should take my Santa hat off at night time, but I said

cause the windows are open it keeps my head-furs warm, besides in

The Night Before Christmas story Mommy read to me the papa wore a "cap" ...

5.  "Scrooge" won't let me plug my lights in!!! However, that is real, really real

mistletoe so if'n you want to nose-tap or kiss-kiss me, I'm ready!

MEOW!

I hope you enjoyed the trip 'round my rounder,

thank you, oh, and don't forget about the nose-taps and kiss-kisses!

... and a big holiday hug to our friends whose purr-ty

cards we continue to receive and have added to our header for today ...

thank you

 

WORDLESS

 

HAPPY HIDE-n-SEEK

 Have to admit this is a "flashback" photo, but it always makes us both

happy to play hide-n-seek and we're also

happy to share this photo again!

HAPPY TUESDAY at COMEDY PLUS

DETERMINATION vs DETERMINATION

 

TWO SUNDAY SELFIES

Yesterday I shared with you my Merry-Basket (it belongs to mine Mommy) but it was filled with purrsents for me ~ and I just didn't want to wait to say THANK YOU to the very special kitty friend who sent them all to me!  So I wrote her a letter, the letter is to the one and only, my BFF from Ottawa, MISS DANI.  Of course, I know her wonderful Mommy, Miss Wendy helped her so I send a thank you to her, too ... and fur real, I wrote this letter all by myself.  I didn't want to mail it though, cause I hate to lick envelopes cause they taste yucky and besides mine Mommy said she used up all the funny foreign stamps mailing cards ... so ...

Then, later in the afternoon, when I finished my lunch, and after my nap, and some playtime with my new toys, I wanted to surprise mine Mommy.  She had gone out for a short walk and I thought I could decorate a little bit more.  But it was not to be cause I'd been washing my paws after all the toy playtime and they were wet and all of a sudden ... ooopsie doopsie ... and of course it would have not have been well advised to plug the lights in with wet paws, so ...

Sorry, Mommy.

THE STORY OF THE MERRY-BASKET

Last week I saw mine Mommy fill up this Merry-Basket full of fancy-dancy Christmas chocolates, it was filled almost to overflowing.  And then she put a whole-bunch more into a bowl in the high-up cupboard (where I couldn't taste it!)  Then she made this little Christmassy-sign that said (she had to tell me what it said, cause I can't read yet!) "Caring is sharing ~ take one, then be done ~ leave more so others have some!"  Then she left our studio with the Merry-Basket, but she wasn't gone long at all. When she got back, she told me that she does this each year, leaves a big candy basket at the front desk in the lobby, so all the peoples in the building can have a little holiday treat.  I asked her if we shouldn't put together a bowl for the kitties and woofies who live here, but she kind of mumbled something about that and didn't really answer me ... 
The very next day the nice front desk lady called her and said, "the candy is all gone!"  Oh dear, already? mine Mommy asked, "yes, I'm afraid the peoples took whole big handfuls, it was such good candy and it went fast."  So Mommy said she would come fill it up one more time, but that would be all ... Ms S. Claus had no more, but she was happy that one and all liked their holiday treat. It seems the old peoples here are a lot like us kitties, loving their treats! 

Anyway, that was last weeks story.  Guess what happened this morning?  When I woke up, I always hurry first to have my breakfast, and I pass by anything and everything else on my way to the kitchen - Priority Number One!  Once my tummy is full though ...

Oh My Cat ~ look over there ~ the Merry-Basket has returned, not with candy, but ~

Of course, I had peeked inside, but being a good kitty, and knowing
that Santa was keeping a watchful eye, I asked purr-mission to paw inside.

How wonderful!  Spring toys, in my fave color!  And I saw more in there.

Look at all these toys ~ sparkling springs, I've not seen those before.

And shiny, bouncy sticks to chew and chase, what fun.

And all this before Christmas day is even here.  I am one lucky girl.

Mine Mommy says this was from a special friend (a secret admirer ?)

Mmm, I shall have to write a thank-you note.  

No ~ not have to ~ I want to!  

She will help me, cause this was so very special!

P.S.  Mommy had unwrapped the box from the UPS man and put it all in our Memory-Basket.

THE ZOOLATRY 2022 CHRISTMAS CARD ~ FOR YOU

Today is Christmas Card day.

Today we share our 2022 Christmas Card with you ~ and you and you !

With this card comes our wish for you and yours to have a
holiday season full of an abundance of good things.

A season to receive all that you need ~ some of what you want.

A season when you may be able to share a little, to pay it forward a little.

A season when your heart and soul will be at peace.

A time of year for us to thank you for your friendship

and for being an important part of our lives each and every day,

you make us better and we thank you !

Please feel free to copy/download our 2022 Christmas Card.

NOT EVERY THURSDAY CAN BE A THANKFUL THURSDAY ~

C'mon over here, sit with me, June.

No.

Why not?  I'll give you brushies.

No.

What's wrong?

You're in my polka dot chair!  I wanted to sit there.

But I just wanted to watch a movie on TV.  There's room for both of us, and I'll brush you, too!

No. 

So, now you're not even going to look at me.

No, I am not.

Well, not every Thursday can be a Thankful Thursday ~