Who We Are

Sunday, November 29, 2015

Still Decorating, Still Iced In

Greetings to all!  It's me, Maggie!  Day 87,452 of being iced in here at Ao4 Headquarters.  Or at least Day Three of no walks.  Mom says it might be safe to go this afternoon.  I hope so - Cam and I are going stir crazy!

We spent yesterday doing more Christmas decorating. Here I am, ready to get busy!

IMG_4950MagsLivingRoom
"Let's get decking the halls, Mom!"

We were going to start with the tree behind me. I couldn't wait to get started! I am learning more and more about all the Ao4 traditions - and am making new ones! For instance .. see this little brass bell?

IMG_4958MagsBell
"How did you know I was by the tree?"

It used to be called a Zim Detection Device!  It's been renamed this year, and for some reason is now referred to as a Maggie Motion Monitor.  Odd, don't you think?  It seems to give Mom and Dad special powers that let them know when I'm admiring the ornaments on that tree.  There's also a famous saying that goes with it -- it goes something like this:  "Every time a bell rings, a Siberian is too close to the Christmas tree."  Hmm.  I'll be sure to learn more about that in the days to come and promise to keep you posted!

We have all kinds of special ornaments on the tree:  ones Mom made, ones friends have made or sent us, ones from Germany and Belgium - it's full of special things!  Here's one we haven't shown on the blog before:

IMG_4965TinySnowmanOrnament
Teeny-tiny snowman!

A friend of Mom's made him about 15 years ago. He is only about 1/4 of an inch in diameter! He's the smallest snowman I've ever seen!

We even have a Kansas State University Wildcats ornament:

IMG_4963MagsKSUOrnament
"Go Cats!"

Someone who works at the university gave it to Mom and Dad years ago!  It looks a bit too much like that Maggie Motion Monitor for me to relax around it.

We also started decorating our favorite tree yesterday - a tree in nothing but patriotic ornaments! Every year, we put a small tree up in the living room to honor all those who served and who are currently serving in our nation's military. I made a contribution of my own - look!

IMG_4961SibeFluffOnTree
Who needs tinsel when you have Sibe fluff?

Festive, don't you think? Mom said it didn't quite fit the theme of the tree, though.

Long-time readers of the Ao4 Digest may remember this tradition, but since we have lots of new friends, we thought we'd share this will you; it's a great military family tradition from the frontier days! Mom ties some of our dad's brass Army uniform buttons and even some of her dad's buttons to our tree! She takes spare brass buttons from their uniforms, loops ribbon through the shank, and ties them to our tree! Here is a button from Mom's dad's days at West Point:

IMG_4969DadsUSMAButton

And here is one of our dad's uniform buttons:

IMG_4971MikesUSAButton

They help us remember all of our troops all over the world.  We'll show you more of the ornaments on that tree - and the others - in the days to come!

Just this morning, I noticed this little vignette by the house phone:

IMG_4999Reindeer
"I'll get it!"
"Wait - it's for me!"

I didn't even see Mom put those out! Oh, how I wanted to   eat  meet those reindeers! They seem to not be there any more; I have no idea where they are now.  All I heard was Mom mutter something about "Uh-oh, she spotted them", "Need to find somewhere else", and something about "up high".  Hmm.  I didn't know reindeers could be so elusive. Fear not - I'll find them! Trust me.  They have a history of tormenting Siberians!  (Please click here and then here to read the story of what they did one year!)

Oh. But in case that Santa guy is reading the blog:

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Me and Cam.  The picture of innocence!

See? We're perfect angels. Honest.

Meanwhile, since it looks like this outside today ...

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Ao4 Headquarters

... we'll be inside doing a lot more decorating.

I hope all of you are having as much fun with this decorating thing as I am! And to our fellow Midwesterners in this ice storm: we pray that you'll stay safe, stay warm, and that your power stays on!

Yours sincerely,
Margaret Thatcher

20 comments:

  1. wow - it looks nasty over there....stay safe, warm and away from the tree :)

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  2. Your decorations look great. We sure hope the weather clears up soon. Our pawrents told us about a terrible ice storm they lived through many moons ago when much of our area was without power for up to 2 weeks. You are so lucky to have your power still.

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  3. We are really enjoying seeing all your Christmas decorations. They seem to be multiplying here too. We think your Mom will be surprised at how good you two angels can be!!! Just like us:)

    Warmer enough here today that the trees have shed their ice, but it is sooooooooo incredibly wet, rain, rain, go away!!!!

    Woos - Ciara and Lightning

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  4. Wow - the ice on the tree outside is just beautiful but we know just how damaging and treacherous it is! We just love the perfect angel picture☺

    Love ya lots♥
    Mitch and Molly

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  5. Omgosh we have those reindeers! Burger King years and YEARS ago right? Lol.

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  6. Mom is talking about decorating so maybe it is coming. Your tree must be very meaningful!! BTW, if Santa Paws is looking that picture did make you look innocent.


    Your Pals,

    Murphy & Stanley

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  7. omc! that teeny tiny snowman looks fun! is he filled with catnip by chance? too funny about the MMM. Wonder if we could get a SSS (Sharpie Sensing System)?
    Your trees look great! we really like the patriotic tree. if you shed some red furs and white furs and put it on the tree like snow, it would sorta fit. No? well, we tried. You pups only have about 26 squillion more days of being good. hang in there! hope you can get back to walking soon!

    pip, smidgen, minnie, hollie

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  8. Oh yes, I remember the Zim Detection Device! How wonderful that you are carrying on his fine tradition.

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  9. What a wonderful bunch of hall decking!! We especially like the Zim/Maggie detection device....we do remember that from days past, along with your very special Armed Forces tree!!
    Smileys!
    Dory, Jakey, Arty & Bilbo

    PeeEss....We know that Santa saw that picture and realized what very good girls you have been this year!

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  10. We love your decorations and have matching reindeer. We have had such cold days, ice and snow that we haven't been out either. Yesterday while shoveling snow, I slipped on the ice-ouch, it hurt but I didn't get hurt. So stay in and stay warm!
    Wags, Noreen

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  11. Oh my......I think your mom is way ahead of you, Maggie. We moms have this 6th sense about what Labs, Sibes, Kitties and human kids are about to discover. I'm sure you girls are getting cabin fever. Maybe they could move the cars outside for a little while and you could play rough, tough puppy dogs in the garage.

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  12. Maggie and Cammie,
    OOH MY STARS,STRIPES,CATS, DOGS, ELEPHANTS AND WHO KNOWS WHAT ELSE. YOU ALL HAVE DECKED THOSE HALLS BIG TIME AND THEY ARE BEAUTIMOUS.
    YOUR KANSAS STATE UNIVERSITY HAS (wild) Cats for mascot and OUR N. C. State University is called the WolfPack yep we have Mr. and Ms. Wolf for mascots. We are die hard NCSU wolfpuppies here. Your special ornaments are very unique. We love the itty bitty snow man. THAT IS SOME IMPRESSIVE ICE YOU HAVE.

    I don't know when we will deck our halls. We have more renovation work starting tomorrow(weather permitting) 95% of it is outside but we cannot decorate until the inside windows are painted.
    HUGS MADI YOUR BFFFFFFFFFF


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  13. OF COURSE YOU CAN COME HERE BUT MY SUN IS DISAPPEARING FOR A FEW DAYS TOO. I HOPE NO ICE THOUGH JUST RAIN
    HUGS MADI

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  14. Your ice is beautiful! Stay safe and warm ~

    -Otto and Ruby

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  15. I hope you can go out for walks pretty soon. I love your trees and the traditions. Mommy especially likes the bell idea. I don't know why, but she says it is something she is going to do on our tree. Whatever Mom, I don't get why.

    Ziggy Out!!

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  16. Oh No, you are still stuck in with all that ice - I do hope that you have a really nice walk outside soon! I do enjoy all the festive cheer, all the decorating is wonderful at this most wonderful time of the year, I had to laugh at the "Every time a bell rings, a Siberian is too close to the Christmas tree." that was funny, its the same in my home, as soon as the bells ring Mum knows that I am trying to steal baubles from my tree! BOL! I really love all of your photos and the decorations, especially your beautiful furs! Love and licks from your furiend Frank xxxxxxxx

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  17. Holy smokes! That is a lot of ice! You all are doing some great decorating over there and we love the idea of the military uniform buttons as ornaments! That is brilliant and a great way to remember all who serve.
    Oz

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  18. Yowza! Three whole DAYS without walkies?!?!? That's unthinkable!! I hope it starts melting soon. Yeesh. We loves your trees, though, especially the military one. Why doesn't your beeYOUtiful fur fit the theme of the tree, though? It's a red white & blue tree, and your fur is white! DUH, Momma!

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  19. Yowza! Three whole DAYS without walkies?!?!? That's unthinkable!! I hope it starts melting soon. Yeesh. We loves your trees, though, especially the military one. Why doesn't your beeYOUtiful fur fit the theme of the tree, though? It's a red white & blue tree, and your fur is white! DUH, Momma!

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  20. Wow, that ice storm is crazy! Eh, how do you both do your "business"????? Anyway, good for your mom putting that time to good use and making the house look amazing for the holidays!

    Kiki and Nala

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