Tuesday is the last day to sign up for Cardi Claus!

Can you believe November is already halfway gone?!?! If you have not yet signed up for Cardi Claus, you only have one day left!

For the uninitiated, Cardi Claus is a virtual Christmas Party/Ornament Exchange for people who are linked to each other with a love of the Cardigan Welsh Corgi.  We have done this for a few years now, and it has been a hoot.  Wanna play?  Here's how:

1.     First, if you sign up to play, please don't disappoint us by not following through.

2.  Let me know by November 15 that you want to participate.  Email cardiclaus at gmail.com (a new address this year) with the following information:

Your name

Shipping address

Phone number

Information about your pack

Any other information about you that will help your Cardi Claus get to know you a little better (think about what you would like to learn about your intended recipient!)

And just to clear up something that sometimes confuses new participants.  I will send you the name of the person you will play Cardi Claus for.  A different person will be your Cardi Claus – this way, everyone gets to make a holiday connection with two other people – the one you gift, and the one who gifts you!

         3.  By November 17, I will send you information about your recipient.  You will have a couple of weeks to get your package together, and then . . .

        4.  YOU WILL SHIP YOUR PACKAGE ON OR BEFORE DECEMBER 1.  Did everyone see that??  This to make sure that everyone has the opportunity to get their packages in time to really enjoy them!

And finally . . .

       5.  You are only committing to participating in an Ornament Exchange.  Any other goodies that you choose to include with your ornament  is entirely up to you.  No one who participates is anticipating any more than the opportunity to share holiday fun with you!  

You think they looked proud back in February? You should see them today!

This picture is from the puppy party, the day that Lauri became Lowri and went home to live with Susan and be a herding dog.

Today she is CH Mockingbird Elyan Magic Moment PT, the first champion from my first litter, with letters on both ends of her name before she even turns 11 months old!  And of course does it all in grand style, picking up a major at the Western Reserve, another major at the Lexington specialty, a Best in Breed over specials yesterday, a Best of Opposite over specials today, and Puppy Herding Group One today as well.  Tomorrow she is going to solve the European debt crisis. Or roll in the mud.  Probably both.

Congratulations to Mama Susan, Mama Cheryl and Mama/Grandma Penni!  Thanks for giving my baby a wonderful home and lots to do!

Who wants a visit from Cardi Claus?

OK - Halloween has passed, so the retailers say we are officially now in the "holiday season."  So, it must be time to start preparing for a visit by the jolly little Cardi Claus!

For those who have not participated before, we started doing this a few years ago as a way to make new cardi friends across the miles and share a little holiday cheer.  The original intent was to do an ornament exchange.  Folks let me know that they wanted to play, and sent their delivery details and a little information about their pack.  Once I had everyone's information, Cardi Claus would study the information and try to match up folks with each other, share information, and let the fun commence.

It has always been fun to sit back and watch the fun.  Most who have participated have been bloggers in the past, and it has always been fun to check out each other's blogs and enjoy each others surprises that showed up in the mail.

For the most part, response has been enthusiastic - in fact in some cases, hugely so.  While just intended to an ornament exchange, some folks also tucked in a treat or two for the dogs.  Others went way over the top and  sent what can only be compared to a Harry and David's Super Colossal Tower of Treats for hooman and dog.  And, unfortunately, a very few said they wanted to participate, and then just faded away, leaving their intended recipient empty handed.

So, shall we do it again?  In my post yesterday, I have already heard that there is interest!  So, let's go - and here are the rules:

1.     First, if you sign up to play, please don't disappoint us by not following through.

2.  Let me know by November 15 that you want to participate.  Email cardiclaus at gmail.com (a new address this year) with the following information:

Your name

Shipping address

Phone number

Information about your pack

Any other information about you that will help your Cardi Claus get to know you a little better (think about what you would like to learn about your intended recipient!)

And just to clear up something that sometimes confuses new participants.  I will send you the name of the person you will play Cardi Claus for.  A different person will be your Cardi Claus – this way, everyone gets to make a holiday connection with two other people – the one you gift, and the one who gifts you!

         3.  By November 17, I will send you information about your recipient.  You will have a couple of weeks to get your package together, and then . . .

        4.  YOU WILL SHIP YOUR PACKAGE ON OR BEFORE DECEMBER 1.  Did everyone see that??  This to make sure that everyone has the opportunity to get their packages in time to really enjoy them!

And finally . . .

       5.  You are only committing to participating in an Ornament Exchange.  Any other goodies that you choose to include with your ornament  is entirely up to you.  No one who participates is anticipating any more than the opportunity to share holiday fun with you!  


So - let's play!  Please pass this along to other cardi folks who would like to join in!