I made this wreath as a thank you gift to my local vetinerian, and as a result of an activity I volunteered to do that has been the highlight of this holiday season, for me. 

I’m a pet lover, as you can see by some of the photos displayed here.  And, I confirmed what I already knew; there are many people who own pets that are absolutely crazy about them.  Fact is, according to several websites I searched, about 63% of all U.S. households own pets.  That’s about 69 million households.  And, many own more than one pet.  Wow!  That is a lot of dogs and cats . . . plus fish, birds, Iguana’s, etc.

Fact is, according to www.huffingtonpost.com more than half of pet owners will purchase a Christmas gift for Fido or Fluffy, and some spend an average between $29 to $46.  Let’s see  . . . that’s more than a billion dollars (if my math is correct).  That’s a lot of dog and cat treats, comfy bedding, new duds, etc.

Let’s face it, pets are simply part of our family, and why not.  They are entertaining, loving, comforting, great companions and can even be life savers. 

So from me and our rescued dog Annie, we wish you a woof woof, meow meow holiday season!

To learn more about pet Christmas presents statistics log on here: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/11/08/pet-presents-holiday-season_n_1081502.html

En el duodécimo día de Navidad soñé

On the twelfth day of Christmas I dreamt of

Doce medias de la Navidad – 12 Christmas stockings

Once galletas de Navidad – 11 Christmas cookies

Diez plantas de poinsettia – 10 Poinsettia plants

Nueve cactus de Navidad – 9 Christmas Cactus

Ocho tazas de chocolate caliente mexicano - 8 cups Mexican hot chocolate

Siete sopapillas dulce – 7 sweet sopapillas

Seis tamales deliciosos - 6 yummy tamales

Cinco piñatas de Navidad – 5 Christmas piñatas

Cuatro ovejas y sus pastores – 4 sheep and their shepherds

Tres hombres sabios siguientes allá estrella – 3 wise men and a star

Dos ángeles cantando - 2 angels singing 

Un Niño Jesús nos trae la alegría - 1 Baby Jesus bringing us joy

Soon we will celebrate the reason for the season,

one of joy, on Christmas eve and morn . . .

and hear the angels heralding

Jesus, the new born Baby Boy . . .

 This video and song recognizes the importance of Christmas and raises a question for us all . . .

http://www.youtube.com/watch_popup?v=OExXItDyWEY&vq=medium

Atop their camels they sat

following yonder star

hearing the new born King

lay in a manager beyond fields afar.

They traversed over moor and mountain

bringing gifts to honor His birth

bearing gold, frankincense, and myrrh.

As their Sherherds watched near by

The night was still and the stars shined brightly

On a clear night so many years ago.

Suddenly one star lit up the sky

All within its sight turned their heads up high

Soon they followed, the shepherds and their sheep

to the little town of Bethlehem where Baby Jesus lay asleep.

Angels floating way up high

among the billowy clouds in the sky

heavenly voices in the air

sing joyful songs

the Christ Child is near

More on Christmas – http://crespineezcorner.wordpress.com/

Like a whisper floating through the air

Crystal-like – transparent

Twinkling – falling softly to the earth

Blanketing the ground snowy white

Their beauty fragile

See me now for I’ll soon be gone

Like an angel they flutter as they fly

A gentle kiss on the tip of my nose 

And, soon we, you and I, will fall to the ground and surround ourselves with fallen snowflakes making angel wings; our laughter like a tinkling bell – ahhh the beauty of the season

¡Feliz Navidad

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I wish for peace for all nations, that we may live in harmony

I wish for the sounds of a small child’s laughter,

genuine and gay, to be heard by all

I wish for all to have a love of animals, as they bring joy to so many

I wish for a world free of pestilence in all seasons

I wish for no one to ever go hungry, in a world of plenty

I wish for the homeless, to at least 

have a warm and sunny sky overhead

I wish for the joy of the Christmas season to fill all our hearts with love

More stuff from scoop at http://scoop110642.wordpress.com/ or

http://crespineezcorner.wordpress.com/

One filled with hope, that things will get better for all

One filled with joy, that our lives will be more enriched

One filled with happiness, that our frowns will become smiles

One filled with peace, so that we can sleep better at night

One filled with humility, and give thanks for all things, large and small

One filled with love, for love is the greatest gift of all

Brilliant red Poinsettia’s brighten the day

and, candles on the

Menorah or Kinara

light our way.

All remind us tis the season(s) of joy

Merry Christmas

Happy Hanukkah

Joyful Kwanzaa