Sock Monkey 2018

Greetings to all!  It's me, Maggie.  As many of you may recall, there is a certain ornament around Ao4 Headquarters known as Sock Monkey.  Since the first time I saw him, I have wanted him -- and have wanted him BAD!  A few of you have asked if I've seen him yet this year, and the answer is "no".  Sadly, I have no idea where he is.  Yet.

In totally unrelated news, here's a photo of Cam and me posing by one of our Christmas trees:

Cam and me.  Two very good girls.

Yep. Just two very good puppies, posing nicely. We were so good, Mom even shot video. Here you go:

To view on YouTube, please click here.

What?

I'll keep you posted about Sock Monkey.

Yours sincerely,
Margaret Thatcher

Serene Scenes On Sunday

Greetings to all!  It's me, Mags.  This week, I have a collection of miscellaneous serene pix for you.  Ready to take a look?

Mom wanted to see if Cam and I would pose on the porch when it was semi-dark outside, so she could get the lights. That resulted in:

"Do we look like colorful Dalmatians?  I feel Dalmatian-y."
"Sort of.  I mean, except for the lack of floppy ears."

At least we didn't have to wear the Santa hats -- that's a heaping dose of serenity right there!

"I'm starting to like the Santa hats!"

There's one in every crowd.  And I'd be perfectly happy to turn my hat over to her!

Anyway, one of the most serene things we do is WALK!

Pretty much no caption needed - right?  💕

After walks is the best time to get photos of us; we were more than happy to pose for this one:

"Many, many thanks to Staci!"
"We 💜 Shady Dog Soap!!!"

The kindness of friends truly warms the heart, doesn't it?

And I'll leave you with one last photo for today:

"How's this for a dose of serenity?"

We know it's a busy time for everyone!  Please take time to find the serenity around you!

Yours sincerely,

Margaret Thatcher

Into My Own Paws

Hello, everyone!  It's me, Cammie.  Sometimes, a girl reaches a point where she has to take matters into her own paws.  I reached that point just the other day.

There I was, spending some supervised time with Sneaky Snake ...

"This is fun, isn't it, Sneaky Snake?"
"_____"

Then it happened. Once again, it happened! Sneaky Snake SQUEAKED at me! You'd think he'd have learned his lesson by now!  I thought about handing him over to Dr. Mags for yet another Squeak-ectomy, but she was having such fun with The Toy Formerly Known As Three-Rings that I didn't want to disturb her. I took matters into my own paws.

"That's two down and one to go, Sneaky.  If you know what's good for you, you won't squeak at me any more!"
"🤐"

Mom and I were both a bit surprised that I performed a Squeak-ectomy.  I've never done one before, at least not since Mom has known me.  It was rather enjoyable, I must say!  Maggie was impressed, too - and I liked learning something from her!

We're hoping for more "Under Supervision Only" toy time this afternoon.  I'll let you know if Sneaky has finally learned his lesson!

Cammie!

Ho Ho Ha Woo!

Hello, everyone!  It's me, Cammie!  One of the many ... lovely traditions here at Ao4 HQs is Snooter Hanging, as some of you know.  And at Christmas time, that comes in several forms -- to include the "Ho Ho Ho/Bah Humbug" pillow.  I decided to go first, just to  see what kind of treats Mom had for us  get things started!

"How's this, Mom?  A crunchy Zuke's?  Yes, please!"

Then Maggie gave it a go:

"The tiny ones???"

Mom said Maggie didn't have to have one if she didn't want one.

"I didn't say THAT!"

And then, because I have a reputation for being "highly cooperative", Mom said I should go again.  I didn't really feel like it, so ...

What can I say?  I've been going through the Ao4 archives and spent some time reading our great-sister Stormy's Cooperating For Photos course.  I think she'd be proud of me for that one!  (Please click here.)

Just keeping it Siberian!

Cammie!

New Tree!

Greetings to all!  It's me, Maggie!  So there we were yesterday, heading out to take care of some business, when we ran right into the FedEx Man!  He had a box for Mom and Dad and lots of ear scratchies for me and Cam.

We brought the box in, and lo and behold, it had a real mini tree inside!  There were also lights and some pretty ornaments for the tree.  Very cool!  It was from our Aunt Mary and Uncle Curt.  Mom put the decorations and lights on, then asked us to pose by the tree in our Santa hats:

"Thank you for the beautiful Christmas tree!"
"It's very festive!"

She zipped Aunt Mary a text with a photo, then told us we were "good girls" and "thanks" and ... like that's all there was.  Cam split, but me?  No.

"I read Aunt Mary's text; she said we should get cookies."

Seriously.  Does my mom think I didn't know?  And yes, of course we got the treats.  Who could refuse that face!??!

Many thanks to Aunt Mary and Uncle Curt!  We all just love our new tree!

Yours sincerely, 

Margaret Thatcher

Wordless Wednesday

Yours sincerely,
Margaret Thatcher

Busy Day

Hello, everyone!  It's me, Cammie.  Sorry we're late in getting a post up today.  We've had a rather busy day so far.

"Play bows, Cam-a-roo!"
"Hello, readers!  Sorry for the delay!"

I really have my paws full sometimes!

Cammie!

This One's For You, Santa!

Hello, everyone!  It's me, Cam.  As some of you may recall, we had some very special visitors this Summer - and one of them is close friends with Santa.  They are tight.  I mean tight!  Anyway, after our visit with him and his very kind wife, he sent us a surprise package containing (among other things) these lovely Christmas bandanas!

"We just love our pretty scarves, Mr. A!"
"Yeah, they rock!  And so do you!"

Can you see them? They have pretty little Holly leaves and berries all over them. Let's get in a little closer:

"Try to look a little more innocent, Maggie.  Mr. A might show this to Santa!"
"Oh.  Right.  Good point."

Aren't they lovely?!? And they can't be made into hats! We just love them.

Maggie asked Mom to do a closeup of her, showing Santa her truly sweet, innocent side. Check it out:

"I've been a VERY good girl this year, Santa!"

Wow.

"I mean WOW!  I didn't know she had it in her!"

So, Mr. A ... many, many thanks once again for the Christmas bandanas!  And maybe you could put a good word in with Santa for us?  We would certainly appreciate it!

Cammie!

Serene Scenery Sunday

Greetings to all! It's me, Maggie. Over here by the sabots.

That's right. Just hanging out by the fireplace being a very good girl. In case anyone should ask.

Yours sincerely,
Margaret Thatcher

"Safer Location"

Greetings to all!  It's me, Maggie.  If you've ever had your motives questioned, you'll know exactly where I'm coming from on this post.  There I was, helping Mom put up all the decorations last weekend, when I noticed some things I'd never seen before!

"Well, well, well.  What have we here?!?"

Apparently, Mom has had them for years, but I sure hadn't ever noticed them making the Christmas scene!  They were like stuffies, with fuzzy hats and long, interesting beards!  And they were LOOKING AT ME.  All I did was stare back.  THAT'S ALL I DID.  Oh, sure.  I may have been rocking back and forth a bit.  It was a struggle, folks.  The angel on my one shoulder kept saying, "Don't do it, Maggie!" and the devil on the other one seemed to be encouraging me to grab one and de-stuff it.  I didn't listen to it - honestly!  But it was a fight.

For some reason, they have been moved to a new location now.  Safer.  Higher.  I actually have no idea where they are.  They've entered my mom's "witness protection program" for interesting Christmas decorations.  (And no, I haven't seen Sock Monkey this year.  Yet.)

Mom asked Cam and me to pose by the tree that's right next to the table they were on:

"I think my hat is slipping."
"I wasn't going to take them, Mom.  Honest."

Note the wood resin statues of Saint Nicolas and Santa have replaced the stuffies.  I mean "other" decor items.

"Should I tell her Sock Monkey is on the tree right behind her?"
"Let's keep that to ourselves, Cam.  Maggie, could you try to look happy?"
"I'm still on the 'Nice List', right?!?"

So ... other than having my motives questioned, I think everything is fine.  No one did anything they shouldn't have, and Mom got some nice snaps of us by the tree.  Even if I did look a bit put out.  I mean - does she REALLY think I'd have taken them? 

Why do bipeds put out so many tempting things right when you're trying your hardest to stay on the "Nice List"?!?  Have you had your motives questioned lately?  

Yours sincerely,

Margaret Thatcher

Patriotic Tree Poses

Hello, everyone!  It's me, Cammie.  Today, Maggie and I thought we'd share some of the awesome poses we did in front of our Patriotic Tree.  (Mom decorates a few different trees each year, and we always have one to honor our country and our veterans.). For some odd reason, Mom thought that posing in our Santa hats would be a good idea.

"How's this, Mom?  A jaunty head tilt."
"Do I look goofy?  'Cause I feel goofy."

Oh, sure. We ROCKED it! But was that enough for her? No. She asked us to "stay" while she took a couple quick snaps of some of the ornaments ... like this one:

A button from one of our dad's old uniforms

In the days of America's frontier Army, the women used to decorate Christmas trees with the brass uniform buttons worn by their husbands. Mom loves continuing this tradition!

But back to our poses ...

"How about this?"
"Uh ... Houston, we have a problem ..."

Maggie was having some slippage issues.  Mom snapped another quick photo:

A button from one of Mom's dad's (our grandfather) old uniforms from the United States Military Academy

Mom let Maggie switch into "bandana mode", but then ... it's like Maggie's slippage problem was contagious, and ...

"Mom?  A little help here!"
"Good, Mom.  Much less goofy."

Yeah.  Mom decided to let us both go bandana style and to quit trying to get ornament shots:

"So much better!  Big finish, Mags!"
"Wouldn't it have been easier to do bandanas from the get-go?"

I think Maggie was right.  "Bandana mode" is the way to go -- don't you?

Cammie!

Saint Nicolas Day 2018

Hello, everyone!  It's me, Cammie!  Before we headed out on our walk this morning, Mom and I tried to do a quick photo shoot so I could wish all of you a Happy Saint Nicolas Day!

"As Mom taught me to say ... Bonne fête de Saint Nicolas!"

In parts of Europe, children put their shoes or small baskets at the hearth with treats for the saint's horse and maybe even a glass of wine for the saint. Do you see our wooden Sabots?  Mom bought those when she and Dad and our great sisters lived in Belgium.  On St. Nicolas' Eve, St. Nicolas rides on horseback over the rooftops, dropping his gifts down the chimneys. In the morning, shoes have been filled treats!

I posed quite nicely, and then ...

"What are you doing?  I thought we were going on a walk?  Hey ... do I smell cookies?"
"We are going.  I just ... um ... well ..."

What can I say?

"Seriously, Maggie?"
"OH.  Hey, everyone.  Happy Saint Nicolas Day!  Say, Mom.  Are those the treats St. Nick brought us?"

Like she didn't know.  But then I remembered - treats are meant to be shared - especially on Saint Nicolas Day!

"Thank you, Saint Nicolas!"
"Yeah, thanks, St. Nick. I hope your horse liked the treats we left him last night!"

Do you celebrate Saint Nicolas Day?  We hope he brought you treats!

Cammie!

Wordless Wednesday

Yours sincerely,
Margaret Thatcher

Deck The Halls With Boughs Of Holly!

Hello, everyone!  It's me, Cam.  I'm not sure about "boughs" of holly, but we do have a couple shoes full!

♫ "Fa la la la la, la la la la!" ♫

I supervised Mom as she put holly and evergreens in her wooden sabots.  We always put them by the fireplace before St. Nicolas Day.  We'll need to add some treats for his horse the night before - in hopes that he'll leave treats for us!

Anyway - after that, we started decking the rest of the halls.  I mean "house".  Maggie and I took a quick break to take a selfie with statues of St. Nicolas and Santa:

"I wasn't really just playing with my toy; I was working!"
"Everyone look at the phone!  St. Nic?  Santa?  Come on!"

Hmm.  Now I see what Mom is up against, trying to get us to look at the camera!  Keeping that in mind, I made a silent promise to be cooperative for the next shot or two.  As if reading my mind, Mom said it was time for a little snooter hanging!  Oh, boy!  Here we go!

"How's this, Mom?"
"Oh, Cammie!  That's perfect!!!"
"What's gotten into Cam?!?"

What can I say?  And for my efforts?!? A cookie AND ...

"TADA!!!  I'm the Queen!!!!"

A crown!  It's only fitting.  If Maggie is the Prime Minister, then I am certainly the Queen - right?!?

I hope you're having as much fun decorating as we are!

Cammie!

Prep Work

Greetings to all!  It's me, Maggie.  This weekend, Cam and I spent a lot of time helping Mom deck the halls here at Ao4 HQs.  There was a lot to do - but before the decorations go up, Mom always does a lot of cleaning.  Yep.  Prep work.  I was a great deal of help to her. Of course.

"Good job, Mom.  I've got the cord under control!"
"Umm ... Maggie?"

Mom seemed unsure of herself or something.  She repeated my name a few times ... I have no idea what she was doing.

"I wonder if I should move.  Nah ... probably not."

Do you help your bipeds with the prep work and the decorating?  It's such hard work!!!

Yours sincerely,

Margaret Thatcher

Sunday Funnies

Greetings to all!  It's me, Maggie!  I thought I'd take a handful of photos Mom took on our last trip to Quivira NWR of a very entertaining Red-Tailed Hawk and throw some captions on them for you.  Ready for the Sunday Funnies?!?  Let's go!

"So ... anyone around?  No?  OK ..."

"Lemme see if I can do this!"

"Walk down the beam ... and arabesque ..."

"... prepare for a pivot ..."

"... tiptoes now ..."

"Strike an Eagle pose!"

"... and arms up for the salute!"

"Hey, Russian judge!  I deserve more than a 7!"

For the record, the Siberian judges gave him a 10.  So did Mom and Dad.

Yours sincerely,

Margaret Thatcher

Serene Scenery Saturday

Hello, everyone!  It's me, Cammie!  Remember last week I told you about going to Quivira NWR and how when we stopped in Ellinwood all these people stopped their cars and said how pretty I am?  Apparently, that wasn't the only highlight of the trip.  I guess it depends on your perspective.  Anyway, I thought today I'd tell you about some of the other things!

At the refuge, we saw a lot of Snow Geese:

I mean a lot of Snow Geese:

I mean a lot of Snow Geese:

Actually ...

You get the picture. Tens of thousands of them. It was incredible!

We also saw Double-Crested Cormorants:

And way across the Big Salt Marsh, we could just make out a Bald Eagle sitting by his nest:

We saw lots of Northern Harriers flying around, hunting. This one appears to have caught something:

It was a real treat was to see three Tundra Swans:

And one of the coolest surprises wasn't a birdie at all, but this very handsome guy:

He was going through the marshes trying to snarf things. Sort of reminded me of someone I know and love. Hmm. Anyway, what a fun trip.

As I said before, we then hit Ellinwood for a little leg-stretching.

"Thank you, good people of Ellinwood!  You're all quite lovely, too!  We'll be back soon!"

After a short walk, some treats, and some water, we loaded up the HR-V and headed back to Ao4 HQs.

"All buckled in and set to go!  Let's hit it, Dad!"
"I really like Ellinwood.  Such nice people!"

Thanks for coming with us!  Tomorrow, we'll share a couple of the funnier photos from the trip!

Cammie!