winnie

Our grey Darcy squats really low to pee. When there is snow, she'll pop right back up without peeing once her fanny touches the snow. It's a real PITA because she'll simply hold it the entire walk rather than get her fanny cold/wet. She will at least poo since she doesn't squat down as low to perform that function. Fortunately, we have a fenced yard. When Darcy doesn't go on walks, we just turn her out in the yard. The area under our deck is high enough for greys (and people) to fit under. It also stays pretty much snow free. So, Darcy will go under the deck to go potty. Our other grey, Celeste, doesn't have any problem peeing or pooping in snow. Go figure!

The USPS doesn't open your packages and unwrap gifts. I put my all of SS gifts into one box, wrapped it, and then wrapped in brown shipping paper. One of the SS gifts I received was in an unwrapped box, all gifts were individually wrapped inside.

You're very welcome Miss Foley! Darcy and Celeste give a big to the snake toy. It's one of their favorites. Darcy has already made mommy replace the squeakers too - good thing it comes with lots of extras. Have a Happy Holiday!

So sorry for your loss.

One of my SS's acknowledged receipt, but the other hasn't yet... USPS tracking SAYS it arrived, but I'll feel better once they confirm in GT.

This is my first SS. I figured that unless the package was marked "Don't Open Until Christmas!" that it was fair game. It turns out that Darcy's SS was glad we opened the gift upon arrival.

I had a suspicion it was you based on the clues... Long Island, 80s music and two cats. We do indeed sound very similar! I grew up in Blue Point - directly south Port Jefferson. I also went to college at SUNY-Geneseo... not all that far from where you live now. We love the collar too - black girlies look greyt in pink! Here is one more picture of Darcy - she loves her sting ray and octopus... Darcy says it's now time to go walking... thanks again!!!

Dear Lisa and Dylan, Thank you soooo much for making my first Secret Santa extra special. Mommy wanted to wait to open my gifts, but I told her dogs don't understand wating. So, she helped me open them tonight while my daddy took pictures. I must have been an extra good girl because Santa gave me a very pretty new collar, treats and TOYS! I toys. I'm a good stuffy killer, but some of these toys might just survive. I also treats. I never tried those Wizzlers before, but if they are anything like Merrick bully sticks, then I just know I'm going to love them. Mommy said we have to take the plastic off first. She might also make me share one with my sister Celeste. Just one though... the rest are for ME! Darcy PS - My mommy said that she'd love to hang out with you at a Duran Duran concert sometime! She saw them a couple of years ago at the Patriot Center here in VA. C'mon mom... don't make me wait. I know this is for me. Oooh... give me those, they smell YUMMY! More treats! WOW... look at all the stuff my Secret Santa sent me! I'm still trying to get one of those Wizzlers! Hummm... which toy should I play with first?

Must be the day for mailing Secret Santa gifts... mine went out today too. I was going to wait until December 1, but didn't want to have to deal with going to the Post Office on a Saturday.

I don't know... I always thought Royal Mail rocked. I lived in London for a semester of college back in 1993. I was very impressed at how fast my items would be delivered to the US. I also loved getting mail delivery twice per day. I thought Royal Mail was much better than the US Postal Service.

Well... Darcy's "cousins" - our 2.5 y/o and 5 month old neices are due to arrive any minute now. I'll be sure to report back to Santa on how Darcy handles the weekend.

Darcy wants Santa to know just how good a girl she's been in case you missed this... clicky.

I have both of my Secret Santa gifts ready to go, but will wait until December 1 to mail them. I think it would be tough to get a package now and expect to wait a month before opening it.

We have two greys and three cats. Before adopting our first grey, Celeste, in April 2006 we never had dogs before. So, none of our three cats (ages 11, 9 and 7) had ever lived with a dog before. I highly recommend that you establish a "safe zone" for your cats. We have a finished basement, so moved their food and water there (litter pans were already downstairs). We blocked the area with a baby gate that only allowed the cats access. This is gate we have: Easy Step High Guard Gate When the cats did venture upstairs, we had a muzzle and leash on Celeste. Luckily, our Maine Coon showed little fear and quickly established boundaries for Celeste. When she tried to sniff him, she smacked him in the muzzle. It took a few months for our three cats to adjust and vice versa, but all is well now. Our two greys are kept seperated from the cats during the day with a baby gate, but both dogs and cats co-exist peacfully now when we're home. We still have the cat "safe zone" too in the finished basement.

I love these poems... just wish I was able to construct one in response! I'll have to read Darcy her latest rhyme... Did I mention that December 9 will be Darcy's 1st gotcha day? She's such a special little girl. She had a long race career (154 races!) as D's Zipperfoot. She then waited for over a year in the adoption kennel. Darcy was two months shy of her 6th birthday when we adopted her. She was so timid, skinny and had a lot of space issues. The grey we adopted a year ago is not the same grey we have today. Darcy is such a sweetheart who loves getting belly rubs, playing and hanging out with her sister Celeste. She's not perfect - will bark and growl at non-greys, will sometimes chase our cats thinking they want to play and will occassionally steal or chew something - but we love her warts and all. I'm sure she'll love and appreciate everything from her very special SS. Here's Darcy sending roaches your way...

OK then... Darcy hopes her SS got her at least one toy... a girl can never have too many. Or maybe if she's a very good girl, her SS will give her something yummy to chew on...

What... you mean you can deny these sad brown eyes?

Don't get me wrong... I LOVE surprises and am more than happy to wait to find out who Darcy's SS is. Any hints I can pass along to Darcy about what she might be expecting?

OK... I started thinking this through and *think* I know who this might be, but I don't want to post and get it wrong. Anyway... I told Darcy that her SS sounds like a cool person, so I'm sure she'll get something good for Christmas. Darcy is very excited by the way. She is looking forward to getting her gift and I'm looking forward to the "big reveal."

Oh WOW... I love the rhyme! I can't wait to find out who Darcy's SS is... a fellow Long Island person who loves 80s tunes and prefers dogs/cats to kids. We really do need to hang out!!!

touristy stuff is good too! I personally would love to get stuff from DC -- pen, snowglobe, ornament, heck -- even a postcard depicting national monuments or other items from our nation's history would be great! Also, you could see if there are stores that are popular in your area that are not in your recipient's area. For instance, we don't have Tim Horton's coffee here. I've never tried it. It would be great to get a sample.... OK then... I guess it's time to hit up the touristy crap shop. I can't think of any "unique" food item sold only in Washington DC. We have the same chains that everyone else has.

Seeing all these posts about wanting something "local" got me thinking about what local thing I could add to my SS gifts... I asked DH and he suggested one of those cheap Washington Monument or White House metal or plastic things sold by at all of the tourist shops. I really doubt anyone wants one of those. Honestly, other than the touristy crap I can't think of anything "local" that someone would really want from Washington, DC.

This is my 1st year participating. I signed up Celeste and Darcy separately. I'm hoping that their Secret Santa's will focus on them and not me. I really want this to be about the dogs. I enjoy surprises, so I tried to leave things pretty open ended. I'm sure we'll enjoy whatever their Secret Santa's get us. I'm getting our matches some of our grey girls favorite items. I know how much my girls like these things, so I hope the greys they are going to enjoy them too.

We're signed-up for Secret Santa too... Celeste (ICU Celeste) is a 4.5 y/o dark brindle girl. She weighs approximately 60 lbs. Due to a neck injury, Celeste no longer wears martingale collars. However, she still likes to dress up in colorful tag collars. Celeste loves all kinds of treats (Greenies, bully sticks, pigs ears, cookies, etc.). She likes stuffies too, but mostly plays with them in an effort to lure her "sister" Darcy away from something. Darcy (D's Zipperfoot) is a 6.5 y/o black girl. She also weighs approximately 60 lbs. Darcy wears martingale collars - just about anything looks pretty on a black grey. Darcy LOVES stuffies above anything else. Unfortunately, she also has a tendancy to destroy them quickly. As for me... well, I really don't need anything. I don't have many interest beyond animals. My free time is spent riding my 10 y/o Paint mare, Gracie. DH and I have 1 horse, 2 greys and 3 cats.

Just a couple of quick questions... 1. When do folks normally ship packages? I know the deadlines. I just wanted to know how early people begin to ship out their gifts. 2. Do you "reveal" yourself by including a card in the package? Any other newbies have questions they want to ask?