Even a miracle needs a hand…

Now that Thanksgiving has come and gone, it’s okay to start posting about Christmas, right? I’m not going to lie – it’s one of my favorite times of the year.

Today, I was thinking about challenges and how sometimes wonderful things don’t just happen – that sometimes you have to help them along. (I think Bella and Tavish take this approach to meals – why wait for me to prepare dinner when you can speed things along by doing a food dance? Lucky me – dinner and a show!)

Anyway, it seems like the perfect day to share a song from one of my favorite Christmas specials. Such wise cartoons we had back in the day…

Talk about a lesson I wish I could remember all year long – whether it’s a change in my own life or something I could do to help someone else’s miracle along, it’s all about action. Just watching the world go by isn’t enough. After all, as a famous man once said, “If you wanna make the world a better place, take a look at yourself and make a change.”  I’m trying, tiny mice, I’m trying…

Also, it’s time to talk about holiday specials again – what are your favorites? You know I love any reason to stroll down Memory Lane. I should really just buy a house there.

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What’s your favorite holiday special?

I know everyone loves It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown (and if I drew you a Venn diagram right now, a tiny circle labeled “me” would appear within that larger circle labeled “everyone”). However, I have to admit that there’s a Halloween special that beats it for me. Any guesses? Hint: it stars a big fat Halloween cat

Revisiting this one made me wonder – what’s your favorite holiday special? I tend to think that Halloween kind of kicks off the holiday season, so feel free to talk Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, or any other holiday that floats your boat.

Here’s a few (non-exhaustive) lists to get you started: Halloween specials, Thanksgiving specials, and Christmas specials. (Disclaimer: in my book, any list that doesn’t include the Garfield special for the holiday in question is not complete.)

I do love holiday TV (as my viewing habits during the next two months will reflect), so my list could go on and on. Feel free to discuss your favorites in the comments and perhaps I’ll share some of them during the holiday season! I’ll also tell you more about my favorite Thanksgiving and Christmas specials too as the dates get closer. Time to get into the holiday spirit!

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I have a crush on the Travelers Insurance dog

I don’t know how I missed this ad during the holiday season (after all, I am mildly obsessed with the life and times of the Travelers Insurance dog).  I realize it’s a bit late to be sharing a Christmas ad… however, it made me smile, so I’m posting it anyway. You know you don’t mind…

There are even more ads online that I just discovered – one with a soapbox car and another involving a cat burglar. How am I not seeing these when I watch TV – have they been aired in your area?

Anyway, I was a bit curious about these ads and the canine thespian therein.  The dog who stars in these commercials is named Chopper.  This former shelter dog makes my day every time I see one of the ads.

His trainer, Sue Chipperton, even has her own blog, called Check the Gate.  (You may have seen one of her videos recently over at Life With Dogs, in fact.)  A few fun facts I learned from her blog:

My crush continues… Chopper is just too cute for words.  That’s all for today… see you tomorrow for the Pet Blogger Challenge!
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I saw puppies kissing Santa Claws

More caroldies from the requests file… credit goes to houndstooth from Tales and Tails for today’s inspiration.

I Saw Puppies Kissing Santa Claws

I saw puppies kissing Santa Claws,
over by the scratching post last night.
They didn’t see me sneak
with my camera to have a peek,
they thought that cat would let them play
while he was trying to sleep.
Then I saw puppies start licking Santa Claws,
underneath his chin furry and white.
Oh, how embarrassed he would have been,
if the cat had known I’d seen
all the puppies kissing Santa Claws last night.

 

On a related note, Santa Claws looks kind of grouchy…

I hope that Santa Claws visits your house tonight!
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I just like to smile. Smiling’s my favorite.

It’s time for another holiday edition of No Frown Friday.  I’ve got an overload of awesome linkage for you today… consider it my Festivus gift to you.

  1. Your punny pet name: Yukong Cornelius.
  2. Self-promotion alert!  I updated the baking blog this week.  Check out these candy cane cupcakes. Bella and I were also interviewed at Coffee with a Canine – swing by and say hi!
  3. Hey, girl… this video contains the cutest sleigh full of reindeer ever (although these guys are giving them a run for their money).  It also contains Ryan Gosling.
  4. Two words: puppy Christmas.  (A reminder, however – a pet shouldn’t be an impulse buy or a last-minute gift idea.)
  5. The title of this post is “Light the Meownorah” – that’s just awesome. (While I’m at it, here’s some more Ryan Gosling.)
  6. Speaking of brilliant names… Ham Skillet may be my new favorite dog name.
  7. An easy way to help shelter dogs this Christmas – toss a virtual Angry Bird at your friends.
  8. Still have gifts to wrap?  Maybe your dog can help.  (Be sure to wrap the gifts… not the cat.)
  9. If not, perhaps they can help you with the caroling instead.  (Feel free to go traditional or mix it up a bit.)
  10. Finally, just for fun… here are a few of my favorite pop culture things, including holiday TV, Christmas movies, and the best Christmas special ever.
Maybe next year I should videotape Bella’s Christmas card shoot…
That’s all I have for you today… although I do encourage you to answer the phone all weekend by saying, “Buddy the Elf, what’s your favorite color?

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Bella the Snowdog

I told you I take requests… so, today I present with “Bella the Snowdog.”  (Hat tip to Pamela from Something Wagging for the suggestion.)

But first… a bonus video from 2010.  (We don’t have snow yet this year, and that’s fine by me!)

Bella the Snowdog

Bella the Snowdog, is a silly, happy pup.
With gigantic ears and a big black nose,
and a tail that’s always up.
Bella the Snowdog is a lazy dog they say,
Sometimes she runs around, but it’s pretty clear
that she likes to snooze all day.
There must be cozy blankets in that doggie bed she found.
For when she goes to take a nap, she doesn’t move around.
O, Bella the Snowdog,
dreams of chasing squirrels up trees.
When she dreams, she runs and barks and plays,
Happy to snooze the day away.


Before I go, I wanted to let you know that there’s still time to enter the Social Media for Social Good giveaway… today, the chance to earn entries through Google+ goes live.  I’ve included the Rafflecopter after the jump if you’re interested.  
(If you haven’t entered via Twitter or Facebook yet, you can still do so.  For Facebook, click here.  For Twitter, click here.)  Good luck!


a Rafflecopter giveaway

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It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas…

It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas,
Everywhere you go.
Take a look at the tree in the den, a dog under it once again,
With twinkling lights and a puppy all aglow.
It’s beginning to sound a lot like Christmas,
Soon I’ll hear the puppy snore.
But the prettiest sight I’ll see, is the puppy that will be, 
Relaxing on the floor.

I’m all about the caroldies this week, apparently… any requests?

P.S. Guess who’s featured over at Coffee with a Canine today?
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Christmas carols for dogs & dog lovers



The title of this post was almost “Christmas carols, doggie style,” but then I thought better of it.

Anyway, I’ve been promising you some caroldies (a.k.a. carol parodies) for a few days now. It’s finally time to deliver.

There are already some great “12 Dogs of Christmas” songs out there, so I’m not tackling that one today.  I do have a few others for you, however.

Grab a cup of cheer and prepare to learn a few new songs…


Barkin’ Around the Christmas Tree

Barkin’ around the Christmas tree,
because the cat has climbed on top.
She is dropping ornaments on me,
if I bark, perhaps she’ll stop.
Barkin’ around the Christmas tree,
I wish I had some springs.
If I did, I’d jump so high
that the cat would have to flee.
You will learn a fundamental lesson, when you hear
Doggies barking at your folly, as the cat climbs up the holly.
Barkin’ around the Christmas tree,
it’s an eventful holiday.
As the tree comes crashing down,
you’ll wish you had kept the cat away.

Sleigh Ride Revisited

Just hear those dog tags jingling, ring ting tingling too,
Come on it’s lovely weather for a long walk together with you.
Outside the smells are calling and dogs are sniffing them too,
Come on it’s lovely weather for a long walk together with you.
Bark and yap, bark and yap, bark and yap, let’s go,
I want to play in the snow.
Why won’t you just grab the leash so we can go?
Bark and yap, bark and yap, bark and yap, it’s grand,
When the leash is in hand.
I’m ready to bark at the park,
it’s a puppy dog fairyland.
Other dogs may get quite nosy, but comfy cozy are we.
We’re playing fetch together, keep throwing that stick for me.
Let’s take the path before us, and howl a chorus or two.
Come on it’s lovely weather for a long walk together with you.
There’s a dog park near the home of Mr. Gray,
It’ll be the perfect ending to a perfect day.
We’ll be playing the games we love to play, without a single stop,
At the dog park while we watch the puppies hop… hop, hop hop!
There’s a happy feeling nothing in the world can buy,
when your favorite puppy looks you right in the eye.
It’ll really be such a perfect day, of wags and jumps and dives,

This wonderful day will be one we’ll remember all through our lives!If that’s not enough for you today, I suggest you swing by Something Wagging and start humming along with “Walking in a Neutered Wonderland.” However, you might want to use caution when singing that around your husband or other male friends.

Anyway, more caroldies to come later this week… stay tuned.

P.S.  I take requests.

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Jingle Goats is the new Jingle Bells

I haven’t had a chance to post those promised Christmas carol parodies (caroldies?), but the following video should tide you over until then…



(via Cute Overload)

Dashing ’round the farm,
Hoping to eat some hay, 
O’er the stumps they go,
Bleating all the way.
These goats they hop and spring,
Jumping very high,
What fun it is to laugh and watch
The flying goats go by.
Jingle goats, jingle goats, 
Jingle in the hay,
Oh, how these goats make me smile,
Even though it is Monday.
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