"WOULD YOU BELIEVE?"
PARAPHRASED BY KAREN REYNOLDS (C) 1979


Twas the night before Christmas when all through the coop,
Not a creature was stirring 'cause they were all in a group.

The stockings were hung by the nest box with care
In hopes that Saint Chickolas soon would be there.

The chicks were nesteled all snug in their straw,
while visions of sugar-corn danced in their craw,
And Ma Hen in her kerchief and I in my cap
Had just settled down for a long winter's nap.

When out in the run there arose such a clatter,
I sprang from my roost to see what was the matter.
Away to the door I flew like a flash,
Tore open the hatch and fell with a crash.
The moon on the crest of the new fallen snow
Gave a luster of eggs whites to objects below.

When what to my wondering eyes should appear
But a teeny sleigh and eight Banty Brabanteer.
With a little old driver so lively and quick,
I knew in a moult it must be St. Chick!

More rapid than chicken hawks his coursers they came
And he whistled and shouted and called them by name:
Now Scratcher! Now Cackler! Now Crower and Gritzen!
On Crummet! On Coopid! On Duster and Pipzin!
To the top of the perch, to the top of the wall!
Now dash away, dash away, dash away all!

As dry straw before the wild hurricane fly,
When it meets with an obstacle, mount to the sky,
So up to the coop top the coursers they flew.
With a sleigh full of toys and St. Chickolas, too.

And then in a twinkling I heard on the peak
The clucking and crowing of each little beak
As I drew in my head and was turning around,
Down the hole in the roof St. Chick came with a bound.

He was dressed all in fur from his beak to his spur
His clothes were all tarnished, very dirty they were.
A bag of toys he had slung on his back,
And he looked like a feed man just opening his sack.

His eyes how they twinkled! His wattles how merry!
His ear lobes like roses, his comb like a cherry!
His droll little beak was drawn up like a bow,
And the feathers on his chin were as white as the snow.

The stump of a pipe he held tight in his beak
And the smoke it encircled his head like a leek.
He had a broad face and a round little belly
That shook when he hopped, that Silky was silly!
He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf
And I laughed when I saw him in spite of myself.

A wink of his eye and a flap of his wing
Soon gave me to know I had nothing to sing.

He clucked not a word but went straight to his work,
And filled all the chicks socks; and then turned with a jerk,
And laying a feather aside of his beak
And giving a nod up he went like a streak.

He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a click
And away they all flew like the down of a chick.
But I heard him crow as they drove into the sky,
"If you believe this you'll believe any old lie!"


~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~


By-the-way ...
you can purchase the cute chick ornament in the photo above @ Minibytes on Etsy !  


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date Friday, December 23, 2011

 

For those of you wondering ... "what happened?", "why no response to emails and/or voice-mails?", "why no witty blog posts, or fun tweets?", "why are there only *cricket sounds* on Facebook for the past two weeks?", "where are you?!" ... well ... we had a medical emergency here at AGC.


Sure, it was very unexpected and scary, but "all is well that ends well", right? We will not bore y'all with all of the long 24-letter word medical details, we just wanted to let you know what happened, and that all is (almost) back to *normal* now.

We would also like to apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused our clients, and appreciated so very much your patience and understanding during this time.

Lastly, words can not express our gratitude for all of your kind words, concerns, and prayers. Thank you so much ... they meant a lot and helped in a speedy recovery. ♥

*Hugs*
~Pamela~

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Operation K-9 Care Package has taken the big leap, and now has a Facebook page!

Everyone please go check them out, and "like" their page!

date Monday, December 5, 2011

 




Tips for pet owners to help prep pets for the cold, winter weather.


The change of seasons doesn’t just affect people -it also affects pets. And the harsh conditions that winter brings can quickly threaten your pet’s health and well being.

Before Jack Frost starts nipping at your dog or cat’s nose, All God's Creatures Pet Services encourages you to make these preparations to keep pets healthy, comfortable and safe when the temperature dips:

  • Plan to keep all young, old and short-haired pets inside. These types of pets are more vulnerable to cold weather and should not be left outside for long and without supervision.


  • Provide shelter for any pets that are left outside. Add straw for additional insulation from the cold and provide a snug, warm bed that does not sit directly on the ground.


  • Be sure to leave extra food and water in plastic bowls for any pets that are left outside.


  • Learn the signs and symptoms of frostbite and hypothermia. Contact your veterinarian immediately if you suspect your pet is suffering from either of these conditions.


  • Clip the long hair on the bottom of your dog’s feet before the snow and ice fall. This will prevent the build up of ice balls which can be painful and difficult to remove.


  • Plan to trim your pet’s nails regularly during the winter. Pets may have a difficult time trying to maintain solid footing in icy conditions with long nails.


  • Find a warm place for your pets to sleep. All pets, including small caged pets, need to be kept warm and away from drafts.


  • Place pet-safe wipes by the door. Ice-melting chemicals and salt can irritate and burn the pads of your pet’s paws. Thoroughly wipe off your pet’s paws when they come inside.


  • Use antifreeze and other household chemicals that contain propylene glycol rather than ethylene glycol, which is extremely poisonous to pets. Avoid/Beware of all products with ethylene glycol.


  • Get in the habit of banging on the hood of your car before starting the engine. Cats and wildlife seek warmth and may climb into the engine during the cold, winter months.


  • Should winter travel plans keep you away from home and your pets, make sure to book the services of a professional pet sitter, like All God's Creatures Pet Services, in advance to ensure your pets are safe and happy while you’re away. ♥


* All God's Creatures Pet Services is a proud member of Pet Sitters International, 
and shares this list compliments of PSI, and with their permission. 

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date Friday, December 2, 2011

 
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