God Bless Us, Everyone

Kitty sees Santa!!!

From ICHC, my fav hangout!

I LOVE Sloths

I just wanna squeeze 'em to def!

I am 7 Gypsys...that makes more sense than you know!

Which Scrapbooking Paper Collection Are You?

You are 7 GYPSIES paper!Oh la la...you are sophisticated and enjoy fine wine and a candlelight dinner. You envision travelling the world someday. Your scrapbook pages are elegant and well thought out.
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I Love a Parade

Bea, the Bouncing Baby Lamb!!!

From FHV, the most adorable baby lamb.
This makes me laugh every time I watch!

Forget Google. Bunnies rule the Internet - Netiquette - MSNBC.com

Yea for the bunnies. I have always loved bunnies and always had one. I have a super bun right now. He disapproves of me daily.

Forget Google. Bunnies rule the Internet

While you were checking out Lolcats, the rabbits were taking over...

Forget Google. Bunnies rule the Internet - Netiquette - MSNBC.com

Visual DNA, or who I think I am!

Read my VisualDNA™ Get your own VisualDNA™

A Card from Me to YOU!

Send this eCard !

He's there when I need him

Meet My Financial Advisor

Clumber Spaniel

Although there are not many Clumber Spaniels in the United States, as compared to Cocker Spaniels or Laborador Retrievers, the Clumber was one of the original ten breeds included when the American Kennel Club was formed in 1884. There are several theories about the origin of the Clumber, one being that the Clumber is a result of a Basset X Alpine Spaniels breeding and another, that they are decendants of the original Blenheim Spaniel. The first mention of Clumbers at all, in 1387 indicates that the Clumber was already an established breed, having been bred for primarilty for retrieving.

Clumbers were bred with devotion by several members of British aristocracy, including the Duke of Newcastle ( in the late 1700's) who lived in Clumber Park, thus providing the name Clumber Spaniel. The Royal Family of England had a hand in breeding and hunting Clumbers, starting with Prince Albert, the consort of Queen Victoria. Prince Albert passed his love of the Clumber Spaniel on to his son, Edward VII, who built Sandringham Kennels. Edward's son, who became King George V, was also a Clumber devotee, spending many years in the breeding of and hunting with sound and sturdy Clumber Spaniels.

Unfortunately, for the Clumber Spaniel as a breed, George's son, Edward the VIII did not share his father's love of these dogs. Bitter and angry at his father's refusal to allow him to marry American divorcee Wallis Simpson, and hating the Clumber Spaniel for personal reasons (they drooled on his shoes), Edward, upon hearing of his father's death, ordered the Clumbers at Sandringham all shot. Except for a few puppies that were smuggled out that night, the Clumbers at Sandringham, almost 100 animals in total, were killed, including pregnant bitches and puppies. ( Eve Marar, DOG WORLD, Nov., 1994) Undoubtedly, this accounts for the limited gene pool of Clumbers that is problematic for breeders even now.

Although the exact figures are not known, some breeders estimate there are around 1,500 registered Clumber Spaniels in this country at any given time. Most breeders are wary and cautious, breeding only the best specimens to produce the best puppies. Unfortunately, although fanciers of the breed were thrilled with the win at the 1996 Westminister Kennel Club Dog Show of Clumber Spaniel Brady (Ch. Clussexx Country Sunrise), we are fearful the resulting publicity will open the door for unscrupulous breeders to cash in on the current popular interest in Clumbers. This has recently been the subject of much debate on a Clumber mailing list. Puppy millers have discovered the Clumber, with the expected disastrous results.The puppies born could have a multitude of problems if careful and sound breeding practices are not followed.

In the case of puppy millers, dollars, not sound puppies are the primary goal.

My personal advice to potential buyers of a Clumber puppy is this: Be aware that the Clumber is a large dog that requires a significant amount of grooming. Poorly bred dogs are prone to hip dysplasia, among other things, which can lead to large vet bills, heartache for you and shortened life for the dog. See the parents of the puppy you are interested in. Ask to see OFA certification records, pedigrees and health records of the puppies and the parents. If buyers refuse to purchase sub-standard puppies, the lacking market will eventually stop, or at least slow down the production of such pups.

Try to buy with your head, not your heart. (Hard advice to follow when you are looking into those soulful amber eyes!) Clumbers are well worth the effort of ownership, becoming devoted companions. To obtain information on the Clumber Spaniel, contact:

Susan King
CSCA Breeder Referral
44 Echo Lane
South Glastonbury, CT 06073-2500
findabreeder@clumbers.org
She also has a list of active breeders, so if you are actively searching for a puppy, please contact her directly!

Interested in a Clumber Rescue Dog? If so, that's great! For information concerning the Clumber Spaniel Club of America's Rescue efforts, please contact:
Sue Carr
41 Compton Court
Basking Ridge,NJ 07920

One of the world's greatest beauties

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If only I'd known her

Just Thinking

to look life in the face … always to look life in the face, and to know it for what it is. At last, to know it, to love it for what it is, and then … to put it away... always the years between us, always the years … always … the love … always … the hours.

Yep, this happens every morning at my house!!!!

I GOTTA have it!

Make your own slide shows and scrapbooks

Did I Mention the Red Sox?? LOVE THEM!

On the first day of school a first grade teacher explains to her class that she is a Yankees fan.

She asks her students to raise their hands if they, too, are Yankees
fans.

Wanting to impress their teacher, everyone in the class raises their
hand except one little girl.

The teacher looks at the girl with surprise,

"Janie, why didn't you raise your hand?" "Because I'm not a Yankees
fan," she replied.

The teacher, still shocked, asked, "Well, if you are not a Yankees fan,
then who are you a fan of?"

"I am a Red Sox fan, and proud of it," Janie replied.

The teacher could not believe her ears. "Janie, why are you a Red Sox
fan?"



"Because my mom is a Red Sox fan, and my dad is Red Sox fan, so I'm a
Red Sox fan too!"

"Well, " said the teacher in a obviously annoyed tone, "that is no reason
for you to be a Red Sox fan. You don't have to be just like your parents
all of the time. What if your mom were an idiot and your dad were a
moron, what would you be then?"

"Then," Janie smiled, "I'd be a Yankees fan."
-----------------------------------------------------

A family of New York Yankee fans headed out one Saturday to shop for the
youngest boy's birthday.

While in the sports shop the son picks up a Red Sox jersey and says to
his older sister, "I've decided to become a Red Sox fan and I would like
this Boston Red Sox jersey for my birthday."

His big sister is outraged by this and promptly whacks him upside his
head and says, "Go talk to mother."

Off goes the little lad with the jersey in hand and finds his mother.
"Mom?"

"Yes, son?"

"I've decided I'm go ing to be a Red Sox fan and I would like this
jersey for my birthday."

The mother is outraged at this, promptly whacks him around the head and says, "Go talk to your father!"

O f he goes with the Red Sox jersey in hand and finds his father. "Dad?"

"Yes, son?"

"I've decided I'm going to be a Red Sox fan and I would like this jersey
for my birthday."

The father is outraged and promptly whacks his son in the back of his
head and says, "No son of mine is ever going to be seen in THAT!"

About half an hour later they're all back in the car and heading towards
home. The father turns to his son and says "Son, I hope you've learned
something today?"

The son says, "Yes, Dad, I have."

"Good! And what is it you learned?"

The son replies, "I've only been a Red Sox fan for an hour and I already
hate you Yankee bastards!"

--------------------------------------------------------------------

Four baseball fans - a Cubs fan , a Cardinals fan, a Red Sox fan, and a
Yankees fan - are climbing a mountain and arguing about who loves his
team more.

The Cubs fan insists he is the most oyal. "This is for the Cubs!" he
yells, and jumps off the side of the mountain.

Not to be outdone, the Cardinals fan shouts, "This is for the
Cardinals!" and throws himself off the mountain.

The Red Sox fan is next to profess his love for his team.

He yells, "This is for everyone!" and pushes the Yankees fan off the
mountain.

---------------------------------------------------------------------

A Red Sox fan liked to amuse himself by scaring every Yankees fan he saw
strutting down the street in an obnoxious NY pinstripe shirt. He would
swerve his van as if to hit them, then swerve back just missing them.

One day while driving along, he saw a priest. He thought he would do a
good deed, so he pulled over and asked the priest, "Where are you going,
Father?"

"I'm going to g iv e Mass at St. Francis church, about two miles down
the road," replied the priest.
"Climb in, Father. I'll give you a lift!" The priest climbed into the
passenger seat, and they continued down the road.

Suddenly, the driver saw a Yankees fan walking down the road, and he
instinctively swerved as if to hit him. But, as usual, he swerved back
onto the road just in time.

Even though he was certain that he had missed the guy, he still heard a
loud THUD. Not knowing where the noise came from, he glanced in his
mirrors but still didn't see anything.

He then remembered the priest, and he turned to the priest and said,
"Sorry Father, I almost hit that Yankees fan."

"That's OK," replied the priest "I got him with the door."

Popular Enoshima aquarium seal dies after 10 1/2-year run | The Japan Times Online

I really loved this seal and the lolrus saga he inspired. He was so huge I guess someone thought he was a walrus. Rest in peace, Big Guy. I'll take care of your buhket.

 

Popular Enoshima aquarium seal dies after 10 1/2-year run

YOKOHAMA (Kyodo) Minazo, Japan's largest seal, died this week having charmed visitors for 10 1/2 years at Enoshima Aquarium in Fujisawa, Kanagawa Prefecture, aquarium officials said.

Minazo, Japan's largest seal, performs at Enoshima Aquarium in Fujisawa, Kanagawa Prefecture, in this undated file photo. The seal died Tuesday of unknown causes. PHOTO COURTESY OF ENOSHIMA AQUARIUM

The 11-year-old male, 4.5-meters long and weighing about 2 tons, was the largest seal ever raised by a Japanese aquarium. The animal died Tuesday after its appetite began to rapidly weaken the day before, officials said. The cause of death was not immediately known.

Minazo was brought to Japan from Uruguay in 1995. The seal soon mastered a variety of comical feats, including a popular stunt in which he held a bucket with one flipper while sticking out his tongue.

Minazo quickly rose to stardom at the aquarium, where his three shows a day proved a hit with visitors.

The aquarium has set up a space in front of Minazo's water tank to allow visitors to leave flowers in Minazo's memory, the officials said.

Popular Enoshima aquarium seal dies after 10 1/2-year run | The Japan Times Online

I love Bees!

Yes, bees, those little flying things that could sting you, but usually don't want to really. Honestly, if you hold still and don't flap your arms around they normally lose interest in you and fly off. I just read and article at Discovery about bees and bumblebees and I am a little concerned. I can't imagine life without them.

I love Disapproving Rabbits. They don't love me!

This is Benny, my Flemish Giant. This was a couple of years ago. He now lives in my office, craft, and dollhouse room, eating, sleeping and pretty much disapproving of everything I do in there. Benny has a new favorite site he told me about. When I went there, I found out how much Benny and all other rabbits really disapprove of me!! Visit Disapproving Rabbits! And in a few days, a book is coming out starring Cinnamon, the resident bunny of the site!

I'm in Heaven

I love ebay (since 1996) and I am quite the CSI fan. Here is a melding of two of my favorite things.

the childhood beliefs site - I Used To Believe

My new favorite daily visited site! This is a place where anyone can post beliefs they had as a child, the reason they thought it...whatever. It is quite hilarious, and it's astounding how many of us have the same beliefs for whatever reason.

"When I was quite young, I saw an Alfred Hitchcock tv show that had these two brothers killing their aunt to get her money by grinding up glass and putting it in her food. After that, whenever my mom made soft boiled eggs for me and I found a small piece of shell in it, I thought it was glass and that she was trying to kill me."

Meggie (from the law : criminals)

This is my own latest entry. Check it out, if for no other reason than to feel a bit more normal...or at least not alone in your personal craziness!

the childhood beliefs site - I Used To Believe

Blogger Bar :: Firefox Add-ons

Blogger Bar :: Firefox Add-ons

I am a true Firefox aficionado. All these add-ons! So much to see and do!! How did I survive without the internet?? I have been online since 1983, when the only thing I knew about was Compuserve. I ran up a heck of a phone bill in those days!!! Also met my ex-husband back then. Don't really recommend that, but I do have a lovely 22 year old daughter from the experience, so it worked out!

I LOVE The Haunted Mansion!!

I absolutely love the Haunted Mansion, both at Florida and California. It was the very first Haunted House I was ever in that lived up to my expectations and it still does. I would go on repeatedly. My very favorite part is the Grim Grinning Ghosts. Even knowing the technology, I am fascinated by them and nuts about the song, too!! Here are the lyrics, courtesy of About.com.

Music by Buddy Baker and lyrics by F. Xavier Atencio

When the crypt goes creak,
And the tombstones quake.
Spooks come out for a swinging wake.
Happy haunts materialize,
And begin to vocalize.
Grim grinning ghosts come out to socialize.

Now don't close your eyes,
And don't try to hide.
Or a silly spook may sit by your side.
Shrouded in a daft disguise,
They pretend to terrorize.
Grim grinning ghosts come out to socialize.

As the moon climbs high o'er the dead oak tree,
Spooks arrive for the midnight spree.
Creepy creeps with eerie eyes,
Start to shriek and harmonize.
Grim grinning ghosts come out to socialize.

When you hear the knell of a requiem bell,
Weird glows gleam where spirits dwell.
Restless bones etherialize,
Rise as spooks of every size.

If you would like to join our jamboree,
There's a simple rule that's compulsory.
Mortals pay a token fee.
Rest in peace, the haunting's free.
So hurry back, we would like your company.

GRIM GRINNING GHOSTS lyrics Theme song for the Haunted Mansion attraction

More Haunted Mansion and Grim Grinning Ghosts stuff below in keeping with our upcoming Halloween celebration.

The Rainbow Connection

The Real Watership Down from Richard Adams' book.

Hurry to Watership Down

I have loved Watership Down, the book, the movie, all of it, for years. I have the entire collection of figurines, the plates, a film cel of Hazel and many versions of the book. This site is a pictorial journey through the area of Watership Down and is just as I had long expected it to be. I may never get there in real life, but I go there often via this site.

Thank you Chris Boyce for all your efforts.

Enjoy England - Storybook England - Home

Enjoy England - Storybook England - Home

I love books and have done, since I was a wee lassie. This wonderful site has a map of England, with stars showing the location of various children's books and links to all sort of information. Absolutely worth checking out! The whole thing is an interactive book with pages you turn. Nicely done!

 

An Affinity

I have a strange affinity for odd looking animals. Consider some of my favorites:
sloth, anteater, aardvark, manatee, horseshoe crabs, stingrays, seahorses and many more similar. I liked ugly dolls, too, when I was a kid, most notably Poor Pitiful Pearl, but she was not the ugliest by far. Is this an overactive mothering gene, feeling I must protect them from a world who will tease them or hurt them? I dunno. Maybe. Probably. I think they are all beautiful. This musing was prompted by the unexpected arrival of a baby anteater at the Smithsonian National Zoo. (How did THAT happen?!!?) I thought they were monitoring her closely, but they weren't expecting the baby yet. I guess it's the same thing, no matter who's pregnant.

I love it! From I can has cheezburger

Wait for it!

I luv lolcatz

Learn to speak lolcat at this site. Cuz u ned it. Cuz i sai so. kthxbai

Did I mention Hippos, yet? Luv 'em!

Oh, yea, this is my #1 Favorite Cat Video

I love Groundhogs. Or Woodchucks, as some call them. We have one that lives in the back yard under our teeny barn and I look for him/her everyday. I say that because one year he had a passel of babies, four, so he could be a her. Or a him and wife. We named him, guess what..........Phil!!

I love great Photographs!

This site has the grandest photos evah!

landscape photos

My Favorite Dogs Breeds

My favorite of all time is the Basset Hound. The personality of the Basset is unique and predictable. They love food, sleep and you, probably in that order. They like to let their views be known by an assortment of moans, whines, grumble and heavy sighs. They are consummate tail-waggers, back and forth, up and down, in circles or a combination of all.

I also love Clumber Spaniels. I have had two and they could not be more different. Meggie,shown here, laid back and calm; Trooper, hellion on paws. I have adored them both.

The Cocker Spaniel, while also in the spaniel family, is very different. A cocker was my first dog and led to a life long love of the breed. Sweet, funny and beautiful. Also, bedhogs. This is Jenny.

The Grand Basset Griffon Vendeen is the larger version of the PVGV, but not yet recognized by the AKC. I think the PVGV has more of a terrier personality, but the GBGV is a little more of a hound. This is Dutchess.

I also love the Shar Pei, the Bloodhound, the Saint Bernard and the English Bulldog. Hmm, do I notice a wrinkle theme here? I guess...

I have never had, but sincerely admire the Italiano Spinone and the Newfoundland.

I will Always Love Xena..and yes, they were!

I'm Completely Mad About Technology

I want this and I want it NOW!!!!

One of my Favorite Guys doing one of my Fav Songs

Maude Fealy

I love Maude. This is Maude Fealy, an Edwardian actress from the early 1900's. She appeared in various plays, movies and eventually became a well-respected acting coach-teacher. Her beauty is astounding.

I Truly Love TOYS

I collect all sorts of items that could be considered playthings. Most of the items I collect are from my childhood, some are not. I am captivated by playsets, like barns, farms, and ertl country sets.
I also have a rather large set of dollhouses, all kinds; metal and wooden, in different scales. Furniture, accessories and leetle teeny dollies. I am passionate about playing The Sims and have every single game, Sims 1 and Sims 2. I love building the houses, making the neighborhoods and making people, but playing? No so much. I am addicted to Google Earth (since it was Keyhole) and Google maps. The feeling of fascination I have with all of these things is the same. OMG, I must want to be a God! Not THE God, perhaps, but some god? Controlling the little things beneath me, having the final say...! Nahhh, that's not it, at least not completely. I do love the control, but I think it's more of controlling my immediate environment, the one before me at the moment, and not the entire universe. That would be too much work. I do this for pleasure. I was going to upload a couple of photos here, but I am shocked to find I don't have any. Geez.

I love manatees

I used to live in a similar setting in Florida. It was a great place to grow up. I saw manatees in our backyard canal all the time, mostly in the fall. It's funny how you take that kind of thing for granted. They are now, if not quite endangered, close to it. Boats are the enemy, and there are thousands of boats in Florida. They aren't going away. I only pray that people who enjoy boating will protect these precious creatures. They deserve it.

The way I feel when I look at this photo:

Happy
Grateful
Calm
Warm
Respectful
Envious

The Geek in me

Yep, I am a geek at heart. I didn't realize it, until someone called me that, and then I knew it was true. I love Google Earth and Google maps. I am smitten with the street view, especially. Some consider it the proverbial "invasion of privacy".I figure, if your curtains are open, someone will look in, whether a 360 camera is going by or not.

So, today, I see my fellow blogger's site Ogle Earth. I love his site! And, he has links to 360 Cities and Arounder, both based in Europe. Lovely views on both sites. I've never been out of the US. These sites are just perfect for me.

Sorry I missed you, sir!

I have been interested in Woolly Mammoths for years. I'm undecided as to whether I approve of genetic manipulation (the Libra thing), but still...if they crossed mammoth dna with elephant...wow.

2nd Favorite Cat Video

Mr. Lee Catcam

Here is a site where a cat has a camera attached to his collar. Follow him on four trips to see what he REALLY does when no one is around! I would really love to see where my cat Giles goes when he's out. Or maybe not.

I love Ebay

Man, do I love eBay. When I first started using the service, it wasn't even called eBay (in 1996)!!! It was auction watch, or something like that! I have retrieved many of my beloved childhood toys and fed my collecting habit. I've only been screwed once...and the seller is no longer on. Ah, well, lessons learned!

Stingrays

I think this is the greatest stingray shot ever!!! From Flickr. If you took this shot, let me know, I can't find you again!




This must be his bebeh!

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Yep, along with Leonard Maltin, I love Casablanca. I'm not sure it's my very favorite movie of all time, but it does give me a feeling like no other film.