http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h5jGAERp0Yg
Does he look like he's purring or what?
Carol
WV

[b the neighbourhood has plainly let this person down.  Apparently hasn't included him, has left him on the outside...  Or this would never have happened.
<snip> Therefore, I'm going to take this episode as the failure of the community

Anne in Toronto    * It could just as easily been a she as a he!! [/color]

I suppose that's a more charitable way of looking at it than simply thinking that somebody is a *JERK*, sigh...
What if "someone" wrote to the local newspaper, saying how much they'd enjoyed the appearances of the ornaments, and sadness that someone apparently didn't like them?
Carol

From those "on the ground" in NJ...
http://blog.nj.com/njv_mark_diionno/2010/12/the_other_side_of_nj_bear_hunt.html
 
Carol

[I'm not happy with any of this!]

At a press conference Tuesday, Gov. Chris Christie said he would consider cutting short the state's bear hunt if state wildlife officials recommend it.

I'm not happy with any of this!

The unfortunate fact is that New Jersey's bear population has blossomed out of control.  That, combined with urban encroachment on the bears' habitat, has led to a frightening increase in bear attacks on humans.  The bear hunt, it is hoped, will reduce the number of such attacks 
Carol

[Let’s see... In the end there will be about 18 decorations! How amazing that this tiny display can cheer a large group of people, when City Hall spends millions of dollars for their display and ours is free...loved...and, well, priceless!!]

 
Let’s see... In the end there will be about 18 decorations!  How amazing that this tiny display can cheer a large group of people, when City Hall spends millions of dollars for their display and ours is free...loved...and, well, priceless!! 

Anne in Toronto 

See what fun you've started 
Carol

MAK, I love your question about the wooden shoes and Carla gave a good answer. I don't know anybody who walks on wooden shoes. When I was a kid I had one pair for fun, but it was very hard to walk on them.
greetings Aafke[/size][/font]

I still have the child-sized pair I bought in Marken in March 1968 
Carol

Here's one from Carol F. I love it!

I shared this one with my wireless staff!  Thanks Carol and Donna!

The back story...
An Australian Cat Lady shared it, and I tried to post it here myself, without success.  So I sent it to Janet, to see if SHE could post it.  I guess she must have asked Donna to, so thanks, both of you 
Carol

AW Anne this is a GREAT story to follow!  I can't wait to read more!  Hopefully someone passing by will finally comment on how cool it is!  I am sure it is giving LOTS of people a smile!   

It will also be interesting to see if other ornaments start to appear 
Carol
WV

Well, Number 1, the Santa, is still on the tree, survived an short spell of huge snowflakes and a ferocious wind and has been joined by Number 2, the lumpy snowflake!  I cheated and put it up as I passed by, walking home from downtown.  Didn't figure I'd have enough energy to go out again.  And there wasn't anyone in the immediate vicinity, so I moved quickly and did the deed!  Tomorrow -- another niece's contribution, a large dough star, beautifully painted by this then 3 year old!!  It is soooo hard, that I don't think any precipitation will hurt it.  And, if it does, well, it's good for returning to the earth, no harm done!  So far so good!! 

Anne in Toronto

Not only are YOU having a great time doing this, you are sharing the fun with us!  I think I speak for the rest, that we are enjoying your stealth project 
Carol
WV

To anyone who owns a Shakymon calendar, is it on glossy paper or standard paper stock?

It's a very smooth, semi-gloss card stock.  Almost feels like a synthetic.
Hope this helps
Carol
WV

They do make solar powered lights and battery!

Yep, but at this point, the expense for enough to sho would be prohibitive, to say nothing of how I'd get  them strung up there...
Still hoping to see it happen though 
Carol
WV

Roadside Secret Santa at it again along NJ highway

By WAYNE PARRY

(AP) LITTLE EGG HARBOR TOWNSHIP, N.J. - An annual Christmas mystery is playing itself out again along a busy New Jersey highway.

A Secret Santa is once again surreptitiously hanging ornaments from a large pine tree by the side of the Garden State Parkway in the dead of night.

There is a mid-sized fir tree in the median on Route 7 west of Leesburg, VA, that gets mysteriously decorated each year as well.  If I had more time and money, I'd love to chain a small generator to it and hang lights.  Maybe in a few years, someone will do solar powered ones :-)
Carol
WV

Feral Stat helped me with my Little Momma who had way too many litters. Unfortunately, she died this past Summer. Can you get some now Carol? I know you had problems last year finding it.

I plan to get some after the first of the year, before the Mums start calling.
Meanwhile, here's something we can ALL do, to REALLY help animals:
http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/watchdog-group-promotes-first-annual-shelter-supply-saturday-to-benefit-pet-shelters-111141884.html

Carol
WV

Now and then, the Darwin effect kicks in, and overzealous copper thieves, who aren't always the best prepared intellectually, get fried in the attempt.  This happens many times when some guy looks up at the miles of copper wire along the Railroad tracks, and thinks it would be easy picking
Carol
WV

I am looking into Feral Stat http://www.feralstat.com/ for my outside guys.  The senior mom seems to have retired, as she had no kittens this year, but her daughter has picked up the cause...  I can't afford to catch and neuter them either, but I think the Feral Stat will help.  They are friendly, and the littles I've caught have been VERY sweet.
Carol
WV