"Life isn't long enough to do all you could accomplish. And what a privilege even to be alive. In spite of all the pollutions and horrors, how beautiful this world is.
Supposing you only saw the stars once every year. Think what you would think. The wonder of it!"--Tasha Tudor



Sunday, March 28, 2010

Love Love Love

Here is another of Stella's babies who has a lovely new home. This is Mary Rose and her new puppy, Jasper. After playing hard while we filled out all of the paperwork and went over his daily routines, he just fell asleep right in her arms.


When he woke up, he was greeted by his new friend, Izzy, the Queen of Mary Rose's house. She let Jasper play with her favorite toy. Here's a photo of Izzy and Jasper sharing dinner the next day.

Mary Rose owns a completely awesome Zumba studio in Connecticut. I hear Zumba is lots of fun and great exercise. Izzy regularly visits the studio and something tells me that Jasper is going to be learning some cool Zumba moves before long as well. Have a happy life, Jasper! Happy Sunday, my lovelies! xo xo Cat ^..^

Wednesday, March 17, 2010

Lucky


Top of the morning to you! It is a fine day for the wearing of the green. I thought I'd share a few photos this morning of some very special people who will be part of our Reinwood Corgis family. "Lucky" is how I would describe these little Corgis for having such wonderful people to love them. Blessed is how I would describe how I feel when one of these wee beasties that we have raised and loved finds that perfect home. It is always a bittersweet day when they leave (yes, I always cry) but knowing they are loved makes it OK. Here is Winter with her puppy "Hodgins" and Julie with her puppy "Hope." Winter made the trip to pick up Hodgins with her future Father In Law. Julie came down with her husband David, and may I add that we were all freezing that day! It was soooo cold. Both lived pretty far so when it was time for the puppies to go home with them, we met each of them half way so they wouldn't have to make another trip to us.




Such lucky little Corgis!


I'm so happy that the sun is shining in all of her glory today. We have had such wicked weather these past few days, rain and wind knocked out power and knocked down trees everywhere. And I think everyone has had about enough of the snow around here, too.


After the last snow storm, I went out to run a few errands. The plow had come by and scooped up most of our gravel driveway with the snow. It happens every time. Such a pain. When I returned home and pulled back into the driveway to park my car, the driveway was barricaded by a dirty snow alien monster. My parking space (see behind snowman) was blocked. My daughter and I were sitting in the car laughing and wondering, 'what the heck???' when suddenly out from behind the minivan, came my son (my 26 year old son) with an armload of snowballs with which he began pelting at us, one right after another and then when the armload was empty, reached down behind the minivan for the rest of his stash. We never knew what hit us. This was his revenge for me thinking I was so clever in wacking him with a snowball on my way out the door when he was shoveling the ramp in the front of the house. While we were out, he found bits and bobs of things to make this trojan horse of a snowman. A broken Christmas ornament, a tennis ball, an old garden trowel, drumsticks, etc. Desperate times call for desperate measures, I guess. So while we were pondering his snowman distraction, we were massacred by snowballs. His evil plan worked.


Of course Bailey had to get in the photo. She thinks every time the camera comes out there will be a cookie for her. (Yes, she got a cookie....)

Have a Happy St. Patrick's Day, my dear reader! Remember to wear a bit o' green so you don't get pinched! xo xo -CS ^..^

Sunday, February 28, 2010

Bed Hogs

I'm cracking up at this photo Mary Elizabeth just sent to me. When we go to dog shows, we always go back and forth about the temperature in the hotel room. She is usually dressed like Nanook of the North, and freezing. I usually want the temperature turned down low. Would you like to see some of her adorable little bed warmers? Let's see....left to right, Brazen, Grant, Kaizey, Emma, Hannah Banana, Feisty and Halo.


Happy Weekend, everyone! -CS ^..^

Tuesday, February 16, 2010

Drumroll please....

Wowie! The One World One Heart blog event was really fun. I wish I had started visiting everyone's blogs earlier, and had signed up earlier. But there's always next year, eh? Anyway, thanks to everyone who visited me and for all of the nifty comments. The winner of a little Christmas Corgi original ornament is Gini Owen over at A Little Bit Of Shiny blog. I don't think she has a Corgi, but I smiled after I saw that the random number generator had chosen her as she called him a 'gorgeous fox in sox.' Congratulations, Gini! I plan on visiting everyone in the days ahead. Is there anything better than morning coffee or tea and visiting your favorite blogs? It is snowing here again. Fire in the woodstove. Milk. Cookies. Bed.
Nighty night, my lovelies! xo xo -CS ^..^

Sunday, February 7, 2010

One World One Heart Blog Event


Photo

This is my first time participating in this lovely blog event. It is hosted by Lisa over at A Whimsical Bohemian. I love the whole idea of this event! Do stop by her blog and read all about it. I thought since my blog and art business is called The Christmas Corgi that I would offer one of my signature wool felt hand stitched and needle felted Christmas Corgi ornaments, similar to the one in this nifty photo. I know that there were a few people who wanted one of these at Christmas and didn't get one. I had wacked my finger really well and tore the tendon in my right hand, taking a little piece of the bone with it. It still is a bit wonky, but it is getting better. We'll see what the orthopedist says at this week's appointment. Anyway, enough of my phalange woes. If you like my little Corgi and want one for your very own, all you need to do is leave a comment here on this post. That's it! For those of you who may not know what a Corgi is (horrors!) think Queen Elizabeth's little sidekicks. Big ears, no tails, small dogs the color of foxes. Think Tasha Tudor. They are truly enchanted magical wee beasties. Legend tells us that they are faerie steeds found by children in Wales. I can't imagine not having a Corgi, and now you can too :) Here's what the backs of my Corgi ornaments look like:


His little furry 'pants' as we call them, are needle felted from wonderful wool from a friend's sheep. The wool felt used for the entire piece is wonderful. There are embroidered touches on the ornament as well. This little Corgi is made with love from my own original pattern. On February 15th as soon as I get my act together (ie: menagerie fed, errands done, blah blah blah...) the old random number generator will choose a winner from the comments below. Comments made up through the announcement of the winner will be included in the drawing. Good luck and thanks for stopping by! xo xo Cathy ^..^

Tuesday, February 2, 2010

Happy Groundhog Day!

While my Corgi prognosticators have determined that there will be six more weeks of Winter, to find out more about the prognosticator of prognosticators, Punxutawney Phil (who has seen his shadow this morning) visit his website where you can make little e-cards like this one. CS ^..^

Thursday, January 28, 2010

Corgi puppies in the snow

We had a little bit of snow today so I snapped a few photos of the
wee beasties frolicking in the frosty wonderland before the sun went down.

Fluffy and Fabulous

Did someone say "cookie?"

Can we come inside now?



Three little fluffies....


Have a happy day my lovelies! xo xo CS ^..^

Saturday, January 16, 2010

Help for Haiti




Watching the devastation in Haiti just saturates my heart with grief and a feeling of helplessness. When disasters happen I want to help and sometimes I just don't know the best way to help from my little corner of the world. I hear about so many scams when a disaster strikes and I wonder if money I send will actually get to the people I intend it for. I'm sharing with you a link that I believe in my heart to be a good place to send help. All my life I have attended and been a part of Corpus Christi Church and School. The Salesian Sisters are good women and I know many of them personally. From their website: "The Salesian Sisters are mobilizing to assist the earthquake victims in Haiti. Our Sisters have six (6) works (schools, boarding schools, orphanages, welcome centers for street children, literacy centers, oratories and youth centers) in Port Au Prince and their houses and schools have suffered major damage. Thank God, all are alive and only one Sister is in the hospital.
The neighboring Salesian Sisters communities in the Dominican Republic are also sending groups of volunteers to Port Au Prince to assist the Haitian Sisters in the relief efforts." I have seen these Sisters stretch a dollar like you would not believe. I am confident that any money sent to them will be put to good use to help in this disaster. Bad things happen in this world. They just do. One thing I've learned through these Sisters is that God uses us all to help put back the pieces and bring His comfort and peace to those in need. I invite you to visit our dear sisters at http://www.salesiansisters.org and help them bring relief to our brothers and sisters in Haiti. Warmly, Cathy

Tuesday, January 12, 2010

Happy New Year!

Everybody and every-doggie and wee beastie at my house and Mary Elizabeth's at The Christmas Corgi and Reinwood Corgis, wish you all the Happiest New Year!

We woke up this little guy, "Seeley" to show you one of our
new babies who has been keeping us very busy around here.

Yes, I will kiss him on the nose for you.
xo xo

-Cat

Wednesday, December 30, 2009

A New Horse For Mary Elizabeth

Say Hello to "Toby." Toby is an 8 year old QH/Draft/paint cross. Height 15 hands approximately. A premarin foal rescued by Frank Weller eight years ago in Canada. He arrived USA soil moments before the World Trade Center was hit. As a result of this rescue Frank went on to rescue more foals over the years thus starting up an organization called Equine Angels Rescue Sanctuary (E.A.R.S).
Here is a photo of Toby when Mary Elizabeth first saw him.

I think it was love at first sight.


Here he is meeting his new friends, Deejay and Willie.

I wonder what they are telling him? Probably about all the treats

Santa was going to bring for Christmas.

What a happy life Toby is going to have!


Have a happy day, my lovelies! xo xo CS ^..^

Wednesday, December 23, 2009

Christmas Movies

There are so many Christmas movies and specials out there. I can never resist watching them when they are on TV. There are some that I just seem to turn to again and again. They are as familiar as the special ornaments that get unwrapped each year to place on the tree.
Here are a few of my favorites. Some are new, some not so new. While my list could go on and on, I'm posting those that I've watched in the past couple of weeks.

Christmas in Connecticut. The classic starring the stunning Barbara Stanwyck. It makes me smile every time I watch it. I love her outfits in this movie. What a movie star she was.




Take Peace, A Corgi Cottage Christmas with Tasha Tudor. OK, OK, yes, I do watch this one all year round. I admit it.

A Charlie Brown Christmas. I love that Linus recites the real Christmas story from the Bible in this and tells Charlie Brown what Christmas is really all about. And Snoopy. When he decorates his house? Come on...that is awesome.


Prancer. So sweet. I just want to hug Jessica and take her home with me.


All the Rankin Bass movies from the 60's...especially Rudolph and Santa Claus is Coming to town...as a little girl I was always enchanted by Kris and Jessica's wedding scene in the woods with the Winter Warlock. I still am.

You're a mean one, Mr. Grinch. Mmm....maybe not so mean after all, eh? Just a little misunderstood. Plus, my fellow artists and crafters, we must accept him as one of our own. After all, he did make his own Santa suit and reindeer, did he not? Crafting genius at the top of Mt. Crumpit.


While not technically a Christmas movie, "Little Women" with Winona Ryder is one of my favorites. Its got enough Christmas scenes to qualify for a spot on my Christmas movie shelf. Who wouldn't want to 'go a-wasailling' with the March girls?


"A Christmas They Never Forgot" Little House on the Prairie movie. It is a compilation of 'rememberings' by the characters as they are snowed in at the Ingalls one Christmas. It includes the part of the Little House pilot movie where Mr. Edwards crosses the creek to bring Mary and Laura their red mittens just like he got when he was 'just a sprig in Tennessee' and they each got a 'cookie made like a heart and sprinkled with white sugar.' (Insert blissful sigh here...)



The Muppets Christmas Carol. Michael Caine as Scrooge. Classically narrated by Gonzo. Fun musical numbers. Kermit and Miss Piggy. What more do you want?


Love "The Holiday" with Kate Winslet, Jack Black, Cameron Diaz and Jude Law. I especially love the relationship between Kate Winslet and Eli Wallach's characters in this film. Oh, yes, and Iris's cottage. I believe it was built for the film. Love love love....



Of course, Its A Wonderful Life. My Corgi, "Bailey" was named after George Bailey in this film. Does that tell you how much my husband and I love this one? He still cries at the end every time he sees it. (Which is one of the reasons I love him so...)

What are some of your favorites? Whether you can steal away a few minutes from your Christmas preparations or settle in after the big day with a big bowl of popcorn I hope you get the chance to enjoy a few of these or your own special favorite holiday movies. Let me know if you see a good one! xo xo CS ^..^

Monday, December 14, 2009

A Long Winter's Nap....

I know, I know! Can you stand the cuteness?
xo xo -CS ^..^

Sunday, December 13, 2009

Saturday, December 12, 2009

OK, NOW I can deck the halls...

It has been a bit of a whirlwind of worry around here since Thanksgiving. Even if Jacob Marley came to my door clanking every chain he's got, it couldn't have scared me more than what we've been through these past few days. My dear Daughter-In-Law to be, Renee, (Liam's mom) was rushed to the hospital with blood clots in her lung and leg. She is not completely out of the woods yet but doing well, so your good thoughts and prayers are most appreciated! My son John was just beside himself with worry about his true love. The house is a bit of a train wreck and I'm a little behind in my Christmas decorating which I normally start the day after Thanksgiving. Oh well, who cares. Renee is going to be OK and that is the most important thing, right? Right.

These past days I've lit some holiday scented candles (I like to light candles all the time, but especially when I have lots of praying to do...12 years of Catholic school, what can I tell you?) and have had Christmas music playing constantly. It is amazing how you can decorate your heart with Christmas even without a single decoration up. Having said that, I am SO ready to decorate now. I do rotate which ornaments I hang up each year because our place is rather tiny and I love to collect Christmas decorations and things and I'm always making or finding something new to add to my boxes of treasures. Well, they are treasures to me :) It is kind of fun to do that because it never looks the same.

Oh! And "How are the puppies?" you ask? They are two weeks old and doing great. Here's a few photos. I promise to take more. Their eyes are opening and they are really crawling more and more, exploring their whelping box. Most of the time they look like they are in a little Corgi mosh pit. Stella is doing great and is a brilliant mom.






Have a happy Saturday my dear Corgettes! xo xo -CS ^..^