The Big Christmas Day 'Pull' Report!

My Christmas Cracker event was 'cracking' success.

Master Mitch, always game, was first to show up...

I won!

Wowee!!!

Err - Sorry, got a touch carried away there!

My prize, a small notebook for my private mussings; a gold paper hat - see following pulls photo and this joke:-

"How does Good King Wenceslas like his pizzas?"

Of, course Mitch, champion pizza eater guessed the answer straight away.
"Deep pan, crisp & even!".

Next willing victim - Opps, willing participant was Willie, standing in proxy, for 'Aunt' BJ...

I lost this tug!

He got a giant paper clip for his efforts & another GREEN paper hat!

And his joke went like this:-

"What is BLACK & WHITE and RED all over?"

"A newspaper!!!"

Then, dear 'Aunt' Misses Peach >(^;^)< dropped into admire her two look-a-likes on Mother's tree...Being the gentleman Bear that I am, I allowed her to win her cracker pull - was actually thankful I did - the prize was a small vanity mirrow, a PINK hat and this joke, oh so meant for her:-

"What are BROWN & creep around the house?"
"Mince spies!"

And finally, Master Marlowe took time out from his own Hug celebrations to arrive in his Santa suit...This cracker was a 'Damp Squid' as pull as we might, we got no-where.

So, we called it a dead heat.

But joke was definitely designed for us bears:-

"How do you start a teddy bear race?"

"Ready, Teddy, Go!"

Well, hope everyone has had as much fun as me today.

Will report on the Hugs and my stockings fillers later.

Am, now off to share an after dinner Benidictine liqueur with Mother.

It was a Xmas gift to her.

Made by Monks from Herbs and Honey - she finds it excessively sweet.

So, is more than willing to share with me

Yesssssssssssssss!

Hugs,
x

Time to Celebrate!

Happy Bear-day to me,

Happy Birthday to Sir Winston,

Happy Bear-day dear ME,

Happy Birthday dear Sir Winston,

Happy B-day to US!

There is no prize for guessing what to day it is here?

My Hug is fancy pawty hat ready as my invitations specified...

Yes, it is my very first ever my Bear-day celebration!

Mother, hiding behind her Venetian mask, wanted to make it special...But I fear she now regrets it's technicalities!!!

[Blue here, without the help of friends below re images all gratefully received, I would have done a 'Woodstock Regrets' post re this 'madness' on my part, as I have felt so unwell this weekend it has been a real struggle to get my act together!]

Back to me, the bear-day boy!

Not every bear can celebrate his day in such fine company!

My Hero, Sir Winston Churchill was born today in 1874 @ the Big House there in Woodstock!

And a 'wheelie' friend joining us is named after him too!

It fell to this wartime prime-minister, to cement my country's alliance with the US, where I now have many good friends!

The son of an American mother & an English father, his eloquence - yes, he was a fine speaker, with a way with words, just like me - endeared him nearly as much to Americans as to the British!

This oil portrait of him is by Douglas Granville Chandor 1946...

And this me, a digital photograph by Mother 2009...

Now, the pawty really can start, the caters have delivered!

My cake has arrived, not from the Shop but it is chocolate...And, my presents marched in...Followed by my many friends.

Master Buttons, smartly attired in business suit was first @ the door... The Rocky Creek Scotties were next...Followed by, Maggie & Mitch plus Miss Autumn and Kipper & Hazel...WFT's Miss Fergi, Jake & 'Wheelie' Winston...

Bob T Bear, esq came over without his famous pants on head...

Charlie Bear, Sally Ann, Mack & Taddy teleported across from the USA...And, Diva Asta as usual dressed to impress & took centre stage...Then played the piano beautifully for our dances and my Bear-day chorus...Before setting up a Las Vegas style gaming table to showing off her card tricks... Ginger Jasper in very fetching green, hoped the luck of the Irish was with him when he sat down to play poker against her...

And, we must send Greeting to his Dad, who has the honour to share his Birthday with little old me!

My personal guest of honour was of course, my lady bear friend dear Miss Rosie - we shared a private moment over a paw-martini, after I had reclaimed her from Master Buttons company - I think she admires a gent in a suit...She arrived with apologies from Aunt Misses Peach, who is still away on her honeymoon with Mickey.

Moving on, Mother has lite my cakes candles - look @ them burning brightly - I am not saying how many...

Everyone please take a deep breath, think of a wish & help me blow them out - one, two, three woooooooooooooooooosh!

And, may I say 'Thank-You' to you for all coming to share my day and making it so memorable, now, lets pawty some more.

Hugs,

A Barkday Apple for Mitch!

For my Airedale friend...Happy Barkday Mitch!
Hugs,

True Colours Thursday - EMERALD!

I drew a complete blank on this weeks colour, even Merry shock her head.

We were @ a loss, until Mitch said he would share his EMERALD balls...He told me, Baoding Iron Balls, hail from China, are hollow and have a sounding plate inside that rings when you move them - one in a pair, sounds high, the other low.

Mitch likes to roll them between his paws to make them jingle jangle!

But, apparently, they are used in traditional Chinese medicine!

The idea is to hold both in ones palm and by crooking and stretching ones fingers cause the balls to rotate & revolve.

Mother has used them and demonstrated for us...

Returning to Mitch Bear, I should maybe point out he is actually called after Master Mitch Airedale!
Mother him found in the local British Heart Foundation charity shop's toy box and thought he had a cute bright-eyed appealing face that reminded her of his now name sake.

What do you think?

Is there a likeness around the yes...

Hugs,

B'Day Cheering for Maggie & her Mom!

Dear Merry was all misty eyed this morning!

It was nothing to do with her romance with Stormy either!

She was feeling a touch home-sick of all things.

The reason?

Although, English by birth, she did live contentedly for a while in the States.

Todays is her former Mother's Birthday along with her doggy sisters Barkday.

Now, as they are two of my dearest blog friends I instantly cheered...

Merry & I wish Aire Miss Maggie & Aunt Sue a wonderful day and shared celebration.

Love & Hugs from us both,

andxxx

A Surprise Parcel!

Am in an incredibly, good mood here!
Today, was an important landmark in my life history.
I received, my very, very first, ever parcel in the post, it was personally addressed to me, much to Mothers shock... It's contents, came as an even greater, surprise to both of us...Now, last Wheelie Wednesday, over @ Airedale friends Maggie & Mitch's, I made the acquaintance of another quality girl, Miss Autumn.
She was hosting a small competition to win one of her Mum's cleverly knitted 'miniature' socks - here she is modelling them...You had to answer two simple questions:-
1. What is Mitch's most favourite fruit?
2. What is Maggie's most disliked?
Now, I quickly conferred with Mother, who considers these two, amongst her closest & dearest old blog friends.
She showed me these snaps...I quickly, drew my own conclusions & entered via a Comment!
And, Low & Behold, I won!
There was great excitement here, as Mother, has never been that lucky, personally.

Getting back to my parcel - we, did think, it looked rather on the large size for just a sock!
However, neither of us were prepared for its contents
We are both delighted - tickled blue!
Meet Merry & her Christmas Tree designer sock... Dear Miss Autumn wrote on the accompanying card:-
"Hi Woodstock!
This little guy knocked on our front door and TOLD us he was lost.
We checked him over and DISCOVERED he was English.
We knew he'd find a GOOD home with you
Congrats on guessing that Mitch LOVES Apples.
And, Maggie HATES Lemons
Your friends,
Autumn, Maggie & Mitch"
I am quite overcome, can hardly say how much I appreciate this.
Merry, will be my closest Hug companion from now on... Many, many Thank-You's and extra hugs to her givers!

Postscript:
Mother has done some research, as she was curious about newcomer Merry's heritage.
Merry, according to her label is a Merrythought Bear from Ironbridge, Shropshire, UK.
She will have therefore been hand made, just like myself.
And, is also fully jointed & a collectible Mohair bear too.
Like me, she is un-datable @ mo but almost sure to be a limited edition.
Mother & I just wonder, what journey took her to North America & how she got lost there - the moths, on her travels have nibbled one of her paws!
Thank heavens, she was found by Autumn, Maggie & Mitch's Mum, and sent home to safety!