CHICKENWIRE; CATS AND DOGS; SAILING THE GIFT; LEMON DROP KID SONG

EDITION OF WEDNESDAY, DEC. 22, 2021[PetPowellPress] Ah, midweek and time to celebrate a favorite Christmas tree. That is the chickenwire Christmas tree Martha made about a decade ago.
That is Stevie Ray, celebrating his 3rd Christmas with us, but getting his first good look at the chickenwire tree as it is being tested for the 2021 season. After I shot the photo, Stevie Ray asked, "Hey, you, what the heck is chickenwire? And what is a 'chicken'?"
 I replied, "Go ask your mother. She made the tree." 
My original reply was, "They're kind of like reindeer only they can't fly as far, they have feathers and you can't can't find plant-based 'Reindeer Nuggets' in the frozen food aisle."
Ah, Christmas. The joy of yelling "tag" and passing the question to the next person in line! 
Later in the day I was writing on a laptop on our dining room table and caught the tree in its full glory...Not a single cat climbing on it -- unlike the other tree in our living room. The first couple of days it looked like we were hosting a Climbing Cat training session for the next Olympics. You've heard the question, of course, "Does a cat have a climbin' gear?"
AMONG THE ANIMALS WAITING
GOOD PEOPLE IN CARROLLTON
We have a "secret tipster" called "MBrown" who keeps an eye on Carrollton Animal Services and the adorable adoptables and "rescues" in that city shelter. 
MBrown wrote to us Tuesday about animals whose "faces are haunting me."
You may agree. And MBrown also tipped us to Bone, James Bone, a dog. Read on. And remember, the website for Carrollton's shelter is HERE.
This dog is, MBrown wrote, "an 8-year-old regal beauty." She's in isolation and it may be because of a skin condition. 
Brittany (#49019802) is a little over 8 and is listed this way "Setter, Irish Red and White/Poodle, Standard." You can see all that in her pictures.
 Her intake date was November 5 and her current stage is "available." And MBrown absolutely described her perfectly as "an 8-year-old-regal beauty."

MBrown's feline spotlight is on this no-name-known-yet cat #48982857, a beautiful Domestic Shorthair Mix who is a little over 3 years old and is "large." Gray and white and, surely, at some point had a name that he recognized. Now, he's waiting for a rescue, not a home just yet. He came in on October 30. Look for him in the Cat Room at Carrollton Animal Service. This cat is, however, available only to an approved 501c3 Rescue with experience in handling feral or semi-feral cats.
And MBrown also sited this guy named Bone, James Bone (#491179724). He's about 2 years and a month old, is in the large dog kennels at Carrollton and has been in the shelter since Nov. 20. The shelter says he weighs 59 pounds, is a Shepherd mix and came in as a stray. Plus, he's available for adoption right now. And because the shelter's Happy Straymas celebration is underway, you can adopt James Bone without paying a fee. Yep, free dog for Christmas.
MBrown wrote, "The shelter seem to be over run with cats lately." Indeed, if you go to the animal adoption page at the Carrollton shelter, you can see cats with holiday names -- i.e., there a Blitzen waiting for a home.
Remember, CLICK ON THIS LINK.
And MBrown closed her note with this situation. She wrote, "I saw a very tiny gray cat outside my house.  I fear for his life, as there are coyotes about.  He is very fearful.  May be feral, but I doubt it."
[LARRY VIEW: We know the challenges! May some "peace on Earth and goodwill toward that cat" help MBrown work things out. In the meantime, maybe someone can put up some "Spay & Neuter" signs in Carrollton!!! They work as effectively as a "yield" sign on Central Expressway.]
NOW, LET'S MOVE INTO THE AREA
OF SMALL SHELTERS & ANIMALS
And see if you can help an animal find a home for the holidays.

Now here's the contact info for the animals we're going to discuss.
 We got the info from veteran animal advocate Leighann Hayden. Call or text 214-906-7680 or email [email protected] to ask about these animals.
 These first three are in the Wilmer Shelter. And, transport is available if you contact those points above.
Sabrina is a German Shepherd mix -- has a great ability to pose for a picture, as you can tell.
Then there's Holly, a female Lab mix, who appreciates a snack, apparently.
And that brings us to Nicholas -- (not St.Nicholas, but if you're a good pal for this dog, he be saintly!). Nicholas is believed to be a purebred Labrador Retriever.
This final photo exhibition is of Robby, a "male Bulldog mix" currently in the care of a "private animal control" in Denton County. 
His bio reads, "Robby is just as sweet and as cute as can be. Already neutered & fully vaccinated. Only 10 months old and so HAPPY and adorable. LOVES to CUDDLE - cutest thing ever. Loves kids, and absolutely everyone!!!"

Once again, call or text 214-906-7680 or email [email protected] to ask about these animals.
CONTEMPLATIONS
SAILING PACKAGES; TV ADS; HOPE & BELLS
While reading a neighborhood bulletin board Tuesday I found this "sign of the times" -- haphazard work by a 'delivery professional.' And let me declare admiringly I never heard of Neiman-Marcus sailing a purchase toward somebody's front door! Stanley Marcus knew how to "mind the store" and respect the customer. The woman in Fort Worth wrote, "I been waiting on a package I ordered online. Well, today I was looking out the door and [DELIVERY] pulled up. I was fixing to go meet him when all I see is my package flying in the air. He stopped the truck, stood on the last step and instead of putting it on the porch, he just threw it in the yard. I just stood there in shock. I understand they're extra busy and long hours, but COME ON!"
WHERE ARE THE HORSES? I must not be watching enough sports this year. I have yet to see a Budweiser Clydesdale Christmas commercial. 
I did find this LINK, however, to a story about a number of Clydesdale Christmas commercials.
PERHAPS THIS SONG is your holiday favorite, too. May be tied for first place with several other holiday songs. It was first performed by Marilyn Maxwell and Bob Hope in the 1951 film The Lemon Drop Kid. Here's the LINK.  If it doesn't work, Google "Bob Hope Marilyn Maxwell Silver Bells. The song is part of the enjoyable Christmas film built around a Damon Runyon short story. As I type this, I know there are people reading who have heard of Bob Hope. Maybe some know of Marilyn Maxwell. I'm not sure how enduring writer Damon Runyon has been. But, maybe, for Christmas 2021, this will give those folks some well-served yuletide spotlight.
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