Thoughtful Gifts and Holiday Mishaps

When asked what I wanted for Christmas, I jokingly said “new wiper blades” and seriously said, “new running shoes”.  I almost always ask for running shoes since I wear them out quickly and am always in need.  My family knows me well and Christmas morning came with a bounty of thoughtful gifts that left me feeling loved.

Thoughtful Gifts and Holiday Mishaps

There were Disney gifts, of course.  Megan and Grant gave me adorable holiday Mickey and Minnie.  Raymond surprised me with a precious Pinocchio teapot.  My coworkers gave me the perfect welcome mat for our front door.

There were chicken-related gifts as well.  My sister and brother-in-law gave me this very cool bracelet that I love (and wearing it makes me feel badass) and some paper place mats with chickens on them that are way to beautiful to spill food on.  From Joseph I got a handy book about caring for chickens and Raymond found me awesome gloves to wear for chicken chores.  I love my family and their thoughtful gift-giving ways!  (I even received those wiper-blades and running shoes, too!)

After Christmas, I had a few leftover vacation days to burn before the end of the year and since Raymond’s always off the week between Christmas and New Year, it was great to have time off together to do…well…nothing.  The weather has been super rainy lately, so we found ourselves lazing around, eating, reading, and watching movies.

Now for the Mishap Part…

When I’m not outside with Junior, he’s always well-behaved out on his own.  He tends to make a backyard perimeter check, take care of business, and come right back.  He’s chased the chickens before, but only when I was outside with him.  So when we go for a walk, he wears a leash.  I let him out alone yesterday afternoon as usual, and I as I closed the door, saw him turn sharply right and quickly disappear from view.  After thinking about it for a minute, that struck me as odd, so I put on my rubber boots and went out to see what he was doing.  Junior was nowhere to be found.

As I walked around the backyard calling for him, I realized I could hear the chickens squawking like crazy and I took off running.  I spotted Junior way in the distance chasing chickens into the bayou that runs near our house.  Detouring to the back door, I leaned in and shouted my thoughts out loud to Raymond, “Junior’s killing the chickens!”

Still running, I managed to wade out into the water and grab Junior’s collar.  He was completely drenched and absolutely filthy.  I looked for the chickens he’d been chasing and didn’t see any.  Raymond had run outside during this time and started counting chickens so we’d know how many to look for.  He counted 10 which meant we were missing five.  I was sick and horrified!  Not sweet Junior!  Surely he wouldn’t have hurt anyone.

Eventually, I got Junior in the house and asked Raymond to keep him in the kitchen to minimize the mess he was making with his muddy feet and soaking fur.  While they waited inside, I kept searching along the bayou and finally found Bubbles, a sweet and beautiful gray hen, on a tiny island all crumpled up and scared, but still alive.  I waded out to her, gently picked her up and carried her back to the rest of the flock.  After another long look around, I went inside to deal with the offending canine marauder.  Raymond went back out to keep searching for the missing four chickens – all hens:  Opal, Pearl, Becky, and Moe.  (All but Moe are Sapphire Gems we bought as chicks in the fall and Moe is one of the five that hatched in May while we were away at Walt Disney World.)

First I tried shampooing Junior in the shower since he hates baths, but his long winter coat was packed with dirt, rotten leaves, pine needles, and small sticks.  Raymond came in to tell me that by his latest count, there was only one chicken unaccounted for.  I had him help me wrangle Junior into the tub.  Finally, after both shower and bath, Junior was at last reasonably clean.  I don’t know if dogs can feel contrite, but Junior seemed to know that he’d gotten carried away and was uncharacteristically well-behaved for the entire scrubbing ordeal.

Once I had Junior towel-dried and on a leash, I took him back out to help me search for Moe.  We searched until it was dark.  I counted everyone in the coop as I closed and secured the gate for the night.  Still no Moe, who’s always easy to spot because she’s bright white with black feathers around her neck.  I left the electric fence off so if she came back and tried to go in the coop, she wouldn’t get shocked.  I was heartbroken when I went to bed and thought about Moe a few times during the night.

This morning dawned clear and chilly.  I went out early to let the chickens out and give them some scratch as a treat and I could not believe my eyes!  There was Moe!  IN THE COOP!  I know this…she was not there the night before and yet here she was inside with the rest of the flock.  Raymond and Joseph both swear they didn’t let her in, so I can’t explain how this story has such a happy ending.  Junior is not a chicken-killer after all and everyone is happily enjoying a beautiful sunny day.  Tiny miracles happen all the time and today we’re thankful for this one.

Merry Christmas, Disney Friends!

“I don’t deserve to be so happy.  But I can’t help it.  I-I I just can’t help it”. – Ebenezer Scrooge (A Christmas Carol, 1951, Alastair Sim)

I don’t know when a year has flown by so quickly.  We just wished everyone Happy New Year and here we are; it’s already Christmas morning.  Maybe it’s just me, but I’m going to try my best starting right now, to slow time down so I can enjoy every second of this day.

Merry Christmas, Disney Friends!

Our family loves Christmas traditions.  For us that means a Christmas Eve bonfire and fireworks followed by Christmas morning Mimosas and leisurely gift opening with lots of laughter.  I’ve set myself up for enjoying each moment by planning to not spend all day in the kitchen! I made a giant pan of lasagna ahead of time.  I’ll just pop that baby in the oven and hang out with my favorite people in the world until it’s time to eat.  Whatever you’ve got planned, I hope it’s just as relaxing and fun.

Since it wouldn’t be Christmas at our house without Disney gifts, I want to show you what I found for our granddaughter!  She’s still a bit young for this, but I couldn’t resist and she’s growing so fast.  It won’t be long before we’re having 3 o’clock parades together!  (I hope you got all the Disney gifts on your list!)

Disney friends, I appreciate you more every year.  On social media, I’ve enjoyed your Disney vacation pictures, Disney thoughts and opinions, trip reports, restaurant and food reviews, lively discussions and, most of all, sharing your joy and common love of family and Disney.  Your children are precious and I love your pride in their accomplishments.  Your pets are adorable and some of you are as crazy about your furry friends as I am about Junior and Ricky.  I am grateful for your friendship every single day…I don’t tell you as often as I should.

From our family to yours, we wish you the happiest of Christmases and hope the peace and joy of this most special holiday are with you today and always.

Merry Christmas…Lisa

 

Disney Hallmark Ornaments – Downhill Dashin’

If you haven’t started your holiday decorating yet, it will soon be time!  We may have tons of Disney decorations at our house, but we don’t have a fraction of what Nick and Barbie use to deck their halls.  Seriously, their Disney Christmas collection is amazing!  This week and next we get to see one of my favorite ornament sets from their holiday treasures.  Enjoy!

Disney Hallmark Ornaments – Downhill Dashin’

By Nick

These 2 Disney ornaments were released by Hallmark in 2012

They are part of a set of ornaments featuring the Fab Five, titled “Ready! Set! Snow!”,  that were released from their premiere weekend in July, through November 2nd.

First up we have Downhill-Dashin’ Mickey. I am not exactly sure what happened to the box, but it got crushed somehow!

This ornament has a notch to connect other ornaments in the set.

From the box:

Downhill-Dashin’ Mickey

Ready! Set! Snow!

Mickey loves to race the sled
through snow and ice and slush.
And when he wants more speed,
he simply hollers, “Pluto, mush!”

This ornament can be connected to others in the “Ready! Set! Snow!” collection. Collect them all to create a delightful holiday display!

Nello Williams
Cullen Brown
Hallmark Keepsake Artist

 .
Next up, we have Sled-Pullin’ Pluto.
A string, er, rope is attached, for Mickey to grab, while Pluto does the heavy lifting!

From the box:

Sled-Pullin’ Pluto

Ready! Set! Snow!

Sledding is always fun to do
with Pluto for a guide-
when Mickey and the gang climb on,
he’ll take them for a ride!

Next Saturday, we’ll take a look at the rest of the set.

You can follow Nick, his wife Barbie, and all their friends on their many Disney adventures:  Disney Musings Blog, on Twitter, on Facebook, On Instagram, On Pinterest.  You can listen to Nick, our friend Dave and me on The Disney Exchange Podcast where we talk about all things Disney.

Vintage Vinyl – Disney’s Christmas Surprises

This week’s installment of “Saturday’s With Nick” details a great Disney holiday album.  As a side note – he may claim he doesn’t know where the album came from, but I know it was a gift to Nick from his wife, Barbie.  (Nick ought to do a better job of remembering important details like that or Santa might just decide to bring him a lump of coal instead of Disney gifts!)

Vintage Vinyl:  Walt Disney’s Mickey Mouse Christmas Surprises LP Album

By: Nick

I’ve no idea where I picked up this Mickey Mouse Christmas Surprises record album, but it’s in pretty good shape. An “Official Mickey Mouse Club” Disneyland Record from 1958.

If the terrific illustration on the cover isn’t enough to grab your attention, I don’t know what is!
Who knew Bambi could fly?! That’s a surprise.

What are other surprises does this record hold?
Other surprises are how unusual the song selections are on this collection.

Side one:

1. From All Of Us to All of You Jiminy Cricket & Mickey Mouse

This is one of my favorite Christmas songs. Ever. So great start!

2. Hark! The Herald Angels Sing, O Little Town of Bethlehem, O Come All Ye FaithfulLudwig Mousensky & The All Mouse Choir

Then it gets weird. This is an odd one. Very Chipmunk, but not as charming or coherent.

3. T’was the Night Before Christmas Jiminy Cricket

Back on track, one of my favorite stories told by one of my favorite characters

4. Fantasyland, Story Book TreeCamarta Chorus & Orchestra

So sweet, your teeth may hurt after listening.

5. Winter Wonderland Instrumental by Ludwig Mousensky & The All Mouse Symphony

Tolerable instrumental

Side 2:

6. Jingle BellsLudwig Mousensky & The All Mouse Choir

Essentially, the Chipmunks singing Jingle Bells. I like it!

7. Adventureland, Jungle TreeCamarta Chorus & Orchestra

If you are familiar with the Enchanted Tiki Room, this seems to be the same group of singers singing about finding the Christmas tree for, or maybe in, Adventureland. Very unusual, and the lyrics are a bit difficult to follow, so I always lose the thread of the story midway through.

8. Jingle BonesWitches 3 and Friends

I’m a fan of Hallowthanksmas, but this Halloween/Christmas mash-up is too much for even me. Just straight up trippy.

9. Kris Kringle Jimmy Cricket

I really enjoy this one. It makes me wish they’d just released a full album of Jiminy Cricket doing Christmas Carols

10. Tomorrowland, Futuristic Christmas TreeCamarta Chorus & Orchestra

A standard that takes a weird and incomprehensible turn in the middle.

This album is a surprisingly bipolar collection of songs, but worth a listen if you come across it for a reasonable price. And if you have a turntable, of course!