tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-45049378927368255632024-03-05T09:25:01.969-08:00Michelle's ZooMichelle's Zoohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09364463242718416590noreply@blogger.comBlogger15125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4504937892736825563.post-11238084621268863092011-08-04T09:48:00.000-07:002011-08-12T14:08:01.258-07:00The Jellicle Ball and Naming of the Catz<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">To celebrate the month of August and the zodiac sign of Leo, Michelle’s Zoo Presents:</div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">The Jellicle Ball and Naming of the Catz </div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">The Naming of Cats</div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">By T. S. Eliot</div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: black;"><br />
</span></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: black;">The Naming of Cats is a difficult matter,</span></span><span style="color: black;"><br />
<span class="apple-style-span">It isn't just one of your holiday games;</span><br />
<span class="apple-style-span">You may think at first I'm as mad as a hatter</span><br />
<span class="apple-style-span">When I tell you, a cat must have THREE DIFFERENT NAMES.</span><br />
<span class="apple-style-span">First of all, there's the name that the family use daily,</span><br />
<span class="apple-style-span">Such as Peter, Augustus, Alonzo or James,</span><br />
<span class="apple-style-span">Such as Victor or Jonathan, George or Bill Bailey--</span><br />
<span class="apple-style-span">All of them sensible everyday names.</span><br />
<span class="apple-style-span">There are fancier names if you think they sound sweeter,</span><br />
<span class="apple-style-span">Some for the gentlemen, some for the dames:</span><br />
<span class="apple-style-span">Such as Plato, Admetus, Electra, Demeter--</span><br />
<span class="apple-style-span">But all of them sensible everyday names.</span><br />
<span class="apple-style-span">But I tell you, a cat needs a name that's particular,</span><br />
<span class="apple-style-span">A name that's peculiar, and more dignified,</span><br />
<span class="apple-style-span">Else how can he keep up his tail perpendicular,</span><br />
<span class="apple-style-span">Or spread out his whiskers, or cherish his pride?</span><br />
<span class="apple-style-span">Of names of this kind, I can give you a quorum,</span><br />
<span class="apple-style-span">Such as Munkustrap, Quaxo, or Coricopat,</span><br />
<span class="apple-style-span">Such as Bombalurina, or else Jellylorum-</span><br />
<span class="apple-style-span">Names that never belong to more than one cat.</span><br />
<span class="apple-style-span">But above and beyond there's still one name left over,</span><br />
<span class="apple-style-span">And that is the name that you never will guess;</span><br />
<span class="apple-style-span">The name that no human research can discover--</span><br />
<span class="apple-style-span">But THE CAT HIMSELF KNOWS, and will never confess.</span><br />
<span class="apple-style-span">When you notice a cat in profound meditation,</span><br />
<span class="apple-style-span">The reason, I tell you, is always the same:</span><br />
<span class="apple-style-span">His mind is engaged in a rapt contemplation</span><br />
<span class="apple-style-span">Of the thought, of the thought, of the thought of his name:</span><br />
<span class="apple-style-span">His ineffable effable</span><br />
<span class="apple-style-span">Effanineffable</span><br />
<span class="apple-style-span">Deep and inscrutable singular Name.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"> </div><div class="MsoNormal">One night each year, the cats get together for the Jellicle Ball. The night of the ball is fast approaching, and this year the cats at Michelle’s Zoo are planning to attend. All cats must have a Singular Name (the name only known to cats) to enter. The cats need you to help them come up with a Singular Name.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: center;">So join in on the fun and help name the Catz. Just leave a comment below giving any or all of these 12 Catz their Singular Name. Let's have some fun with this!</div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0jPiFq8vncasGM11BrxIFteGsey2-DOEEBJvNJjS-Dpb05AG5VJNoB-QiToRKluJF2txVijzqnwLK7Cd404JuQmKdcqIHLGxEgmtG4x9LMPgzeAPdxCZSOypFDDidKlkDtzdPDEP-6kcj/s1600/Bandit+001crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0jPiFq8vncasGM11BrxIFteGsey2-DOEEBJvNJjS-Dpb05AG5VJNoB-QiToRKluJF2txVijzqnwLK7Cd404JuQmKdcqIHLGxEgmtG4x9LMPgzeAPdxCZSOypFDDidKlkDtzdPDEP-6kcj/s200/Bandit+001crop.jpg" width="164" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bandit </td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF16YbqNT1spKTXIpMUQX-xGNXq-f032hQ2_XACl2D6U8DW1uvp_5GLG6JmbqKxt6eWlCvTcTUpyUq02hE_kOSNyv97O2mCZhmaxxUo5ukOpLbcU1-8_zIkTVR6uyjre2NMMv1Jn9jdwpL/s1600/leo+001crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="184" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF16YbqNT1spKTXIpMUQX-xGNXq-f032hQ2_XACl2D6U8DW1uvp_5GLG6JmbqKxt6eWlCvTcTUpyUq02hE_kOSNyv97O2mCZhmaxxUo5ukOpLbcU1-8_zIkTVR6uyjre2NMMv1Jn9jdwpL/s200/leo+001crop.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Leo</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKc1riZuS81aS13-pCgE-z1zgRf9ARUItRqxgIWkbda9PBXKiOlnj3H9AQB2t65RECelIgp2dwg5QwKvXJVhEw3NubVgDUZZt7wKbZuCkRkNPaSQfYxOz6Bsg69G0Ru3IYllU74QZYulcb/s1600/snapdragon%252C+gallant+and+neopolitan+012.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKc1riZuS81aS13-pCgE-z1zgRf9ARUItRqxgIWkbda9PBXKiOlnj3H9AQB2t65RECelIgp2dwg5QwKvXJVhEw3NubVgDUZZt7wKbZuCkRkNPaSQfYxOz6Bsg69G0Ru3IYllU74QZYulcb/s200/snapdragon%252C+gallant+and+neopolitan+012.JPG" width="193" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Prince Gallant </td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijHn0uAOTzWcp2szHVQrl-ehCHDTMZhCnj5U_Yk3geNC40GOvFum7YDaNEC6O__eI6w1VZhLn94Os4t2BBiriHnSWpBdXOVTfAql8mbogy37GS_i8zRLvjj2k83mDdYHQ6EExqpGkepQ4U/s1600/Targus+001crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijHn0uAOTzWcp2szHVQrl-ehCHDTMZhCnj5U_Yk3geNC40GOvFum7YDaNEC6O__eI6w1VZhLn94Os4t2BBiriHnSWpBdXOVTfAql8mbogy37GS_i8zRLvjj2k83mDdYHQ6EExqpGkepQ4U/s200/Targus+001crop.jpg" width="179" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Prince Targus</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmRuVfeJN5NxFHqRfo1rTW_Uzp9_AjXeVhshVw69fz1MOGNxc5J_o7p5SXC3cHlE0MUehhrQ3IrTVEy7oV4RLLrghQscKM7nRO-guWUPSNLsJDgx8NvwWkuOdk2jspLbzSdI_Z_1RetoIJ/s1600/thunder+002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmRuVfeJN5NxFHqRfo1rTW_Uzp9_AjXeVhshVw69fz1MOGNxc5J_o7p5SXC3cHlE0MUehhrQ3IrTVEy7oV4RLLrghQscKM7nRO-guWUPSNLsJDgx8NvwWkuOdk2jspLbzSdI_Z_1RetoIJ/s200/thunder+002.JPG" width="195" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">King Thunder</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhIHtLEttWT33m74F0pgbhoGstlWcSsmjATRu2xOmPNg4bLeGOHxe2N63oaOgN5DFzlyQuVqlxW9UdRl-RaMvIATMWW9Pu9BeqxiSJF5a1JErKzDQ22wtw1rWo2IZlxAseLXWbC7EeevcS/s1600/tybalt+opal+lustre+005.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="172" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhIHtLEttWT33m74F0pgbhoGstlWcSsmjATRu2xOmPNg4bLeGOHxe2N63oaOgN5DFzlyQuVqlxW9UdRl-RaMvIATMWW9Pu9BeqxiSJF5a1JErKzDQ22wtw1rWo2IZlxAseLXWbC7EeevcS/s200/tybalt+opal+lustre+005.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tybalt the Tiger</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaTDty3jc3r6yVjV-sQjDxGKwSMNnFcAmmdoqZ902glre7L4fVcS0Q01glgUm2W1_TRWGaJPuFVj2k-Ap1bVpLFOBkXqUw5QTtbs6FVtNO1rOW8Zp4c9UFVRIIarRDXmT3AhTvxjIkp1Fg/s1600/tybalt+opal+lustre+006.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaTDty3jc3r6yVjV-sQjDxGKwSMNnFcAmmdoqZ902glre7L4fVcS0Q01glgUm2W1_TRWGaJPuFVj2k-Ap1bVpLFOBkXqUw5QTtbs6FVtNO1rOW8Zp4c9UFVRIIarRDXmT3AhTvxjIkp1Fg/s200/tybalt+opal+lustre+006.JPG" width="173" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sweet Opal</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbOAgouJ7yhgi4SP3u6ub0g58SMRzNVetp4sO8aa8S_5Or_Hy2EXwqBmuATcthshD7oXBOxMwvfeSMJFYF0UYgFSPxx7sp_u9PP34CieuPXEOBsZk9mH3lvdHbDy1bbHA0BvFfQkej6k_n/s1600/tybalt+opal+lustre+013.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="190" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbOAgouJ7yhgi4SP3u6ub0g58SMRzNVetp4sO8aa8S_5Or_Hy2EXwqBmuATcthshD7oXBOxMwvfeSMJFYF0UYgFSPxx7sp_u9PP34CieuPXEOBsZk9mH3lvdHbDy1bbHA0BvFfQkej6k_n/s200/tybalt+opal+lustre+013.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">King Lustre</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRI_QBN2-n7P9y8hRB5FAvgmLw182qNDRz4Oec4Rv1uRF4mvSywfcs5BoL3NwpLl3FzaxRd1vqtRCdg5rLx0F4qUUPsLL8bfDjPSJbM0SY0K72Qj140pw3bzDV3H63RZBsNRURJDs1OyI8/s1600/wrangler+Lionheart+sundance+008.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRI_QBN2-n7P9y8hRB5FAvgmLw182qNDRz4Oec4Rv1uRF4mvSywfcs5BoL3NwpLl3FzaxRd1vqtRCdg5rLx0F4qUUPsLL8bfDjPSJbM0SY0K72Qj140pw3bzDV3H63RZBsNRURJDs1OyI8/s200/wrangler+Lionheart+sundance+008.JPG" width="194" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">King Lionheart</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQAAlGqcQmdYm2D1kSrPGZuuflvSE7q3WHT3lUhQc29nsdPsSBOEa77LbH3sXgEyRe8Wm03t42Lme3A7bzNqObEJhuo4pIHmAQeheazZEH-pdSc5OLFOe1B3SMf-vL_CvUNt2sIMhBNdxk/s1600/146crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="181" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQAAlGqcQmdYm2D1kSrPGZuuflvSE7q3WHT3lUhQc29nsdPsSBOEa77LbH3sXgEyRe8Wm03t42Lme3A7bzNqObEJhuo4pIHmAQeheazZEH-pdSc5OLFOe1B3SMf-vL_CvUNt2sIMhBNdxk/s200/146crop.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Leonardo the Leopard</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeHiG7mj3155RsLzmcKN3SdssjeuwYWyjXigVz1WsGHnq_4pWLmbV2qSK7uvefNZb2nIrBFyM_lGkOg6oKGndku1quFLgq-bbX12MXWobI9M4DWdDcdl2TgLjal7GQzhfH06WXwT-bI-Ou/s1600/152crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeHiG7mj3155RsLzmcKN3SdssjeuwYWyjXigVz1WsGHnq_4pWLmbV2qSK7uvefNZb2nIrBFyM_lGkOg6oKGndku1quFLgq-bbX12MXWobI9M4DWdDcdl2TgLjal7GQzhfH06WXwT-bI-Ou/s200/152crop.jpg" width="178" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">King Borealis</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3na5wPcC9s3GgZjeAMuEGMNwJ3aRIrwHfe8ubGCa2uyUkVhxe4Rr_y2te4A7jG76TgJAXeHFP0g3jCDIcBun8A429by_Fd-UeMvhuD_Q2vGfA-Tivb7qSukxx6-IJsF38I5CSBx5ci7_I/s1600/makeover+022crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3na5wPcC9s3GgZjeAMuEGMNwJ3aRIrwHfe8ubGCa2uyUkVhxe4Rr_y2te4A7jG76TgJAXeHFP0g3jCDIcBun8A429by_Fd-UeMvhuD_Q2vGfA-Tivb7qSukxx6-IJsF38I5CSBx5ci7_I/s200/makeover+022crop.jpg" width="199" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pria the Panther</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal"><o:p><br />
</o:p></div>Michelle's Zoohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09364463242718416590noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4504937892736825563.post-17694438722863938032011-07-19T08:54:00.000-07:002011-07-19T09:13:21.526-07:00The Northern Princess Marries Her Prince<div "text-align:="" center;"=""><div style="text-align: center;">The Northern Princess Marries Her Prince</div></div><div center;"="" text-align:=""><div style="text-align: center;">By Karen Penry</div></div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq51sjcRDXSh7veEGU6DpVGloGqC2rN6XrMRAJfq3sN_Nj1qLj5QW2hA4CxuCz9KRjQJcLmzvkfvZO-XRqZ4VTxdQQ3V1oV_7F9X7cPlHjPrxZq8PA_c36prS0K81oTyJj1cEbqcg4ihQP/s1600/151.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="100" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq51sjcRDXSh7veEGU6DpVGloGqC2rN6XrMRAJfq3sN_Nj1qLj5QW2hA4CxuCz9KRjQJcLmzvkfvZO-XRqZ4VTxdQQ3V1oV_7F9X7cPlHjPrxZq8PA_c36prS0K81oTyJj1cEbqcg4ihQP/s200/151.JPG" width="96" /></a>Far to the north, there lives a beautiful and noble king. King Borealis is purveyor of the northern kingdom. He rules the land along with the other great kings, King Thunder to the east, King Lustre in the south, and King Lionheart in the west. Together, these kings maintain peace and justice for all of their loyal subjects. But this is not the story of a king; this is the story of King Borealis’s fair daughter and how she fell in love. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPl1eL6vFMv465t8ukujAan04gBMw6i_vq8DFeCOZLxyJkSoUZ-nfUrT6lN1ZgOwQ91llUnqd95St-lQDkRY4iEbes1xjvvVd0oDWgyG4tyltuEck07RHzao1280PCd9-m9_T0KTpwX6Ce/s1600/wedding+couple+005.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="82" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPl1eL6vFMv465t8ukujAan04gBMw6i_vq8DFeCOZLxyJkSoUZ-nfUrT6lN1ZgOwQ91llUnqd95St-lQDkRY4iEbes1xjvvVd0oDWgyG4tyltuEck07RHzao1280PCd9-m9_T0KTpwX6Ce/s200/wedding+couple+005.JPG" width="100" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTaQ4zZOMwVsMLhbnniWIqgNrqYGjYoa5S4TZwRmhyeZ_rrJlskopyyEUknHebLbpAvlFn2TTnh1Jbfsqr75SQesJIWvFMzzbDYMbSAxqc-HqGHkwgWsh00yaszadoo1Y9_ooFH54Tvx8v/s1600/wedding+couple+006.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="100" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTaQ4zZOMwVsMLhbnniWIqgNrqYGjYoa5S4TZwRmhyeZ_rrJlskopyyEUknHebLbpAvlFn2TTnh1Jbfsqr75SQesJIWvFMzzbDYMbSAxqc-HqGHkwgWsh00yaszadoo1Y9_ooFH54Tvx8v/s200/wedding+couple+006.JPG" width="89" /></a>Once upon a time, there was a fair princess named Princess Diamond. She was the cherished daughter and only heir of the noble King Borealis and Queen Freyja. As is common practice in the land, Diamond’s hand in marriage was promised to Onyx, son of King Lustre when the colts were very young.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOy9FGmHujYFAjAjPRuqjLf5Gd52FaTU7lOkaRcvah3jwZNe7NSI-fQcrpuU95BPhOI75jtq0msAbYfSzxKWCOg_hmc7eBQPzW6pIqUfkRFVhihadvrDcB1uosjwPb5Cx3p-oYscKlC1Zy/s1600/wedding+couple+001crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; color: black;">Every summer, the two young royals came together to learn, play, and grow. They were automatically the best of friends. As royal heirs, they didn’t have much opportunity to play with other young people, so they loved having time with each other. The adults also liked to socialize with each other. As often as they could, the kings held court together and during the winter holidays, they would throw lavish holiday feasts—first in one kingdom, and then in the other.</span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOy9FGmHujYFAjAjPRuqjLf5Gd52FaTU7lOkaRcvah3jwZNe7NSI-fQcrpuU95BPhOI75jtq0msAbYfSzxKWCOg_hmc7eBQPzW6pIqUfkRFVhihadvrDcB1uosjwPb5Cx3p-oYscKlC1Zy/s1600/wedding+couple+001crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="145" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOy9FGmHujYFAjAjPRuqjLf5Gd52FaTU7lOkaRcvah3jwZNe7NSI-fQcrpuU95BPhOI75jtq0msAbYfSzxKWCOg_hmc7eBQPzW6pIqUfkRFVhihadvrDcB1uosjwPb5Cx3p-oYscKlC1Zy/s200/wedding+couple+001crop.jpg" width="200" /></a><br />
The years passed, and soon the young colts were no longer children. They were not quite old enough to marry, but they were getting close. It was time that they start their official royal training.<br />
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Princess Diamond spent her days studying calculus, astronomy, history, literature, and philosophy. Everyone knows that a future queen needs to be very knowledgeable and educated. In addition, she had princess lessons like holding afternoon tea, receiving royal subjects, embroidery, and ballroom dancing, as well as many others.<br />
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Likewise, Onyx spent his days studying anatomy and physiology, geology and geography, and other academic subjects. He also had lessons in fencing and jousting, receiving royal subjects, negotiation, and ballroom dancing, as well as many others.<br />
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While Princess Diamond grew regal and beautiful, however, Onyx became reckless and wild. He began to take unnecessary risks in training and began sneaking out of the castle at night. Rumors of his behavior traveled far north to King Borealis and he was not happy!<br />
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Still, the two young royals spent the following summer together again. They still loved spending time together and Onyx was slightly less impetuous when he was with Diamond. Borealis watched Diamond and Onyx closely.<br />
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Although his habits were curbed, Onyx was still reckless. When having a day out in the countryside, he would often ride ahead of Diamond, circle back, and sneak up on the riding party and scare them all. Onyx would also spend his evenings in the village and stay out far past midnight. His behavior was not that of a king in training. Borealis was displeased.<br />
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At the end of the summer, after Onyx had returned to the south, Borealis asked Diamond to walk with him in the rose garden. He told Diamond that he was calling the wedding off. Diamond tried to talk to her father, but he told her, “He is not worthy of you, Diamond. He is careless, has no regard for others, and does not behave in an appropriate manner for a prince!” Diamond protested, but King Borealis would not budge. He just continued to shake his head and adamantly exclaim, “No!”<br />
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Finally Diamond mad a plea in desperation. “Daddy,” Diamond cried, “You see the boy that he is, but I see the king he will become. Please! Trust me. Trust my judgment and my heart.” Then, Diamond turned and left Borealis in the garden by himself.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZHwIQUkA3UKt8tO2c_kk-usWhFMz72rG0rCctj_aRnPjTw2y63t7GyFREezxJ39hB9Pg0GMQzJqTV8ZmKYS9Xw-CNj0IWwVbesnXxrPiL8Q0wPU41CB5OzUuvgp1Iskk8v4Duk-Dpx77G/s1600/tybalt+opal+lustre+015.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZHwIQUkA3UKt8tO2c_kk-usWhFMz72rG0rCctj_aRnPjTw2y63t7GyFREezxJ39hB9Pg0GMQzJqTV8ZmKYS9Xw-CNj0IWwVbesnXxrPiL8Q0wPU41CB5OzUuvgp1Iskk8v4Duk-Dpx77G/s200/tybalt+opal+lustre+015.JPG" width="173" /></a>Borealis continued to walk among the roses. Diamond’s words kept echoing in his ears. Something she said reminded him of another time a long time ago. When Borealis was a young lion, before he was king, he knew a dark young boy who was much like Onyx. This boy also had a tendency to be reckless. This boy made rash decisions and put others unnecessarily at risk. Over time, this young boy found himself in a tight spot now and then. However, the boy eventually grew out of his reckless stage, and his experiences made him wise. This young boy grew to be King Borealis’s best friend the radiant and passionate King Lustre.<br />
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Borealis knew that he had to trust his daughter and the parenting skill of his best friend King Lustre. He also knew that he did not have to make marrying his daughter easy for Onyx. Borealis had a plan. He summoned Onyx back to the kingdom. The two men sat down for a serious talk. Borealis told Onyx how he felt about all he had observed. He told Onyx of his displeasure. Then he said, “Onyx, if you want to marry my daughter, you must prove your worth to me. She is my only child and I love her more than life itself. Before you may marry my daughter, you must complete a sacred quest.”<br />
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Onyx loved Diamond. He was sure he loved Diamond as much as her father loved her. He agreed to the quest.<br />
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Because of the sacredness of the quest (and that this is actually Diamond’s story), we cannot tell of Onyx’s quest other than to say that he had to travel to each of the four kingdoms to learn a lesson of honor, courage, loyalty, and love. His quest took him away for more than a year and Diamond spent the following summer alone instead of with Onyx.<br />
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Finally, as the next summer approached, word reached the northern kingdom that Onyx would arrive within a few days. Princess Diamond spent her days searching the skyline until one day his silhouette appeared on the horizon. Diamond ran to him as he approached the castle doors. Onyx bent to hug Diamond and swung her through the air. Then he gently set her down and said, “I have business with your father.”<br />
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King Borealis and Onyx spent all of that evening and all of the next day behind closed doors. When they finally emerged, they were both smiling. King Borealis pronounced, “In the morning, I shall dub this young man Sir Onyx, Knight of the Northern Kingdom and in the evening he shall marry my daughter!”<br />
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For the next twenty-four hours, the kingdom was abuzz with preparations for the wedding. King Lustre and Queen Monet had already been at court for several days, so everything was in order.<br />
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The day of the wedding was beautiful. The sun shimmered and sparkled as it never had before. The world was perfect and ready to receive the future king and queen. Princess Diamond and Sir Onyx married in a beautiful, sunset garden ceremony. They kissed as the sun just began to dip below the horizon and of course they lived happily ever after.<br />
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<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheXgLUlFxr0ku_16oGnpLZtvXGDPLZdpAfI8CciC1gRMkuUCOJaruw0sCf84EWNhzFGcLThjQvGrWEV1WcbjWz1JtyTtsA7cwQQ5PF5o-ZFeA7vRTV65njMadTdg1tOQAKakg4G_nXB2an/s1600/July+2011+057.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; color: black;">(We may never know what Sir Onyx said to King Borealis in that thirty-six hour interview, but we do know that Sir Onyx grew to be a great king in his own right, that he proved himself to King Borealis, and that Diamond knew her true love all along.)</span></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7De4I-dSiqRn8fqt2tZeJMFznLOD5TAYQECiaT8qk9ZCNzPMyPeRwXggO5-RR9Aby0lVccncLKpWWFHMHJUpL4OBTh_tU_RIufNdMrvczirSZHYCIdyWTrpVgXa4f4iU-Tdd7uLSYu2Lr/s1600/July+2011+057.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7De4I-dSiqRn8fqt2tZeJMFznLOD5TAYQECiaT8qk9ZCNzPMyPeRwXggO5-RR9Aby0lVccncLKpWWFHMHJUpL4OBTh_tU_RIufNdMrvczirSZHYCIdyWTrpVgXa4f4iU-Tdd7uLSYu2Lr/s320/July+2011+057.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>Michelle's Zoohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09364463242718416590noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4504937892736825563.post-69587027269048873592011-06-29T14:19:00.000-07:002011-06-29T14:19:44.326-07:00The Adventures of Graham and Grady and Their Rock-n-Roll Band:<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 19px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">The Adventures of Graham and Grady and Their Rock-n-Roll Band:</div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 19px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">The Making of a Band</div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 19px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-cxvcznOp-jsmDf2RlFFeeRPPvzqSiu6hgxn393Jdj6OR1fRMTdpdqOHJJHtEE-jhTXTluva3me_wu9LSW7Wyq5tnI_-RLOWEC_JJJyV8g_2EzSGnbjVmRsQrSVVi07NOlxayLTO_ZJ3u/s1600/graham+and+grady+001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="318" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-cxvcznOp-jsmDf2RlFFeeRPPvzqSiu6hgxn393Jdj6OR1fRMTdpdqOHJJHtEE-jhTXTluva3me_wu9LSW7Wyq5tnI_-RLOWEC_JJJyV8g_2EzSGnbjVmRsQrSVVi07NOlxayLTO_ZJ3u/s320/graham+and+grady+001.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 19px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 19px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">With his psychedelic coloring and natural Mohawk, Graham was born to be a rockstar. From his early days as a young calf, Graham practiced drumming on tree trunks and bark and strumming on tree leaves. He even discovered he could make the tall Savannah grasses whistle like a flute or a horn. Everywhere he went, Graham practiced his musicianship. He strummed and thumped and bee-bopped. Eventually, Graham took up playing the bass guitar, and he knew his dreams of being a rockstar were close at hand.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 19px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 19px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXlCxCnpJoGLKu6Z7OX_IpAbWBCHUHFeqRlQzEq_uElSAeQWrOPrk-gP0F6MktMVJOkPd4abV7UBsTKcFoCUyE_PxDkh3SYvGlEhsPEd-auMJPj9VK-LlxoN9_dUBOOoJdPtpS9vpX0j7h/s1600/graham+and+grady+004.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXlCxCnpJoGLKu6Z7OX_IpAbWBCHUHFeqRlQzEq_uElSAeQWrOPrk-gP0F6MktMVJOkPd4abV7UBsTKcFoCUyE_PxDkh3SYvGlEhsPEd-auMJPj9VK-LlxoN9_dUBOOoJdPtpS9vpX0j7h/s320/graham+and+grady+004.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 19px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">But there was one musical thing Graham could not do. Graham could not sing. He tried everything. He tried singing with the radio. He tried singing with the birds. He even tried gargling with salt water. No matter what, when he tried to sing, his voice just wobbled and warbled like a dented trumpet!</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 19px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 19px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">When nothing worked, he thought he might just lip sync. Then he remembered Milli Vanilli—everybody knows what happened to their career. What was he going to do? He knew all the way to his horns that he was supposed to be in a band. He felt defeated.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 19px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 19px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">That night, Graham went to bed feeling sad. He really, really wanted to be a rockstar. He fell asleep with visions of rainbow colored concerts swimming in his head.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 19px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
<span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 19px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span></span>Graham slept all night. He woke the next morning to the most beautiful sound. He bounced out of bed and followed the sound down the hall. It was coming from the bathroom. He stopped at the closed door and listened intently. His brother, Grady, was singing in the shower and it was glorious.<span> </span><span> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 19px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 19px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirHAigy3R6-c4bbAbQELOTaZXYbc9J-9UyxFQTqS3FxCTyVnm_laCnnjyjCRcK1cI_YFR73FhzZuGISiJMhH9qIuJB7xM3ipfFzpbGhMai2EmZtYgNacEPo4IWuFkBVtyPvva5o8cXByzP/s1600/graham+and+grady+010.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="269" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirHAigy3R6-c4bbAbQELOTaZXYbc9J-9UyxFQTqS3FxCTyVnm_laCnnjyjCRcK1cI_YFR73FhzZuGISiJMhH9qIuJB7xM3ipfFzpbGhMai2EmZtYgNacEPo4IWuFkBVtyPvva5o8cXByzP/s320/graham+and+grady+010.JPG" width="320" /></a>Graham paced in front of the bathroom door, impatiently waiting for Grady to emerge. When Grady opened the door, Graham grabbed him by the shoulders, shaking him. “You can sing!” he exclaimed jubilantly. “You can really sing!”</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 19px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 19px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Grady, a very shy giraffe, could see the wheels turning in his brother’s head. “N-n-no I can’t.” he declared. “But you can, Grady.” Graham coaxed “You know that I want to form a band. Help me out.”</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 19px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 19px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">But Grady adamantly refused. He was too shy to perform in front of his family and friends. He was too shy to ask a girl out on a date. In fact, he was too shy to raise his hand in class. There was no way he would ever be able to sing—on<span> </span>stage—under bright lights—with tons of people watching. He felt woozy just thinking about it.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 19px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 19px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Graham, however, would not be dissuaded easily. For the next week, Graham begged and pleaded with Grady. He tried to bribe and wheedle and threaten Grady. Nothing worked. Then Graham had an idea—if he couldn’t take Grady’s singing out of the shower, then he would bring Grady’s shower on stage.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 19px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 19px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgowXRThHQJzR9zQCBN9FBLxNsmI-xl2xr0Yy8fI99fFTOfpSIIEwtyAHxgWRggRAOB9_-qfeJVldR6S3r3D9OhwLnSOBUP1xIAuos59ufaG2jE58yFLlNb2F_Tu5Ru5ibFkfJ6BBxrPfxq/s1600/graham+and+grady+002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgowXRThHQJzR9zQCBN9FBLxNsmI-xl2xr0Yy8fI99fFTOfpSIIEwtyAHxgWRggRAOB9_-qfeJVldR6S3r3D9OhwLnSOBUP1xIAuos59ufaG2jE58yFLlNb2F_Tu5Ru5ibFkfJ6BBxrPfxq/s320/graham+and+grady+002.JPG" width="277" /></a>For the next two days, Graham locked himself in the garage. The whole family could hear Graham knocking and pounding and scraping and sawing. They tried to peek, but Graham wouldn’t let anybody in, and he only left for a very, very short break now and then.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 19px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 19px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Finally, Graham emerged from the garage. He was dusty and dirty and beaming from ear to ear. “Ta-da” he exclaimed and ushered his family in to see the portable shower.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 19px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 19px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Grady was still unsure. No, he was quite sure—he could not sing! But he didn’t want to break his brother’s heart. So he quietly agreed to try singing in the portable shower.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 19px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7rzHVyEzyxQ3B84kJlgYrUM2L24hic8WcwG5r4Lbba9tZp-pI2B5qhsyfMO9dFGXH00MM3OjeB0nm7tlFTvwWGSQ7tno0f-jALHblFfvj0neJAjk3cWfXjH1m4cxJ6F9A4_NR3IU3O-qO/s1600/graham+and+grady+007.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7rzHVyEzyxQ3B84kJlgYrUM2L24hic8WcwG5r4Lbba9tZp-pI2B5qhsyfMO9dFGXH00MM3OjeB0nm7tlFTvwWGSQ7tno0f-jALHblFfvj0neJAjk3cWfXjH1m4cxJ6F9A4_NR3IU3O-qO/s320/graham+and+grady+007.JPG" width="265" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 19px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Grady’s first attempt at singing in his new shower was pitiful. He could barely muster a whisper. Nevertheless, Grady kept trying. He knew that if he practiced, he would eventually sing as well in the new shower as he had in the old shower.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 19px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 19px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Practiced and practiced. That’s what the two giraffes did. First they practiced alone, but eventually, they were good enough to practice together. Then they practiced some more.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 19px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
<span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 19px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span></span>At last, Graham felt like they were ready. The Fourth of July was just around the corner and Graham had signed them up to play at “Michelle’s Zoo Presents: Music in the Moonlight.”</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 19px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhjc7Wea3XN7qThT8HNANb7t22pmeXPNMgasxzUbPvtLzCmFV-DScQQ6TpoFbJzboxX2rUr2VSGILotALOjf_3mM5S9wp9-DSNGhnyKnei4WC6TcvXy9Bs5a8SapzlwCed3h4TffkV31F-/s1600/tootsie+001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhjc7Wea3XN7qThT8HNANb7t22pmeXPNMgasxzUbPvtLzCmFV-DScQQ6TpoFbJzboxX2rUr2VSGILotALOjf_3mM5S9wp9-DSNGhnyKnei4WC6TcvXy9Bs5a8SapzlwCed3h4TffkV31F-/s320/tootsie+001.JPG" width="266" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 19px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">They were so nervous! They spent the day pacing in the park. They paced so much that they were surrounded by a big dust cloud. They kept telling each other that they had practiced. They could do this. They had nothing to be worried about!</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 19px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 19px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">The sun began to set. The Groovin’ Giraffes were the first act. They took one more quick turn around the park, wiped their faces, took a big drink of water, and climbed up on stage. The stage lights dimmed and the spotlights came on.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 19px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5GU0InBocPZEHDVc92IO51c8FyCwSLc7o6CHCQUGVDRUnfGeLqSJ9djyusKzlyn3S4gFNgndMOPGX9lPwCfeJRVzJVVyWhtTBljLiCJZceqC8weGMck6DjGLay_L3_Nq6QIz40rETF8so/s1600/leo+005.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5GU0InBocPZEHDVc92IO51c8FyCwSLc7o6CHCQUGVDRUnfGeLqSJ9djyusKzlyn3S4gFNgndMOPGX9lPwCfeJRVzJVVyWhtTBljLiCJZceqC8weGMck6DjGLay_L3_Nq6QIz40rETF8so/s320/leo+005.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 19px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Suddenly, a huge platform descended from above. Leo the Lion, the giraffes’ best friend was poised on the platform behind a set of drums and with his sticks in hand. “I’ve been practicing” he said with a wink.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 19px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 19px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">The band began their first number. It was a lively, upbeat tune. Leo didn’t miss a beat. In fact, they all sounded AWESOME! Leo knew they had nailed it. Graham knew they had nailed it. Grady knew they had nailed it.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 19px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 19px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 19px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">At the end of the song, Grady burst from his shower with a grin and gave a big bow. He confidently abandoned the shower for the rest of the concert. Not to worry, though. The Groovin’ Giraffes always start their first song with Grady IN the shower.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #646464; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: italic; line-height: 19px;">By Karen Penry<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: xx-small; font-style: normal;"> May not be duplicated without express consent from the author</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #646464; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: italic; line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: xx-small; font-style: normal;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #646464; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-style: italic; line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-style: normal;">Find Graham the Giraffe on Etsy <a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/75503801/graham-the-giraffe">here</a></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #646464;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">Find Grady the Giraffe on Etsy<a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/75487854/grady-the-giraffe"> here</a></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #646464; line-height: 19px;">Find Leo the Lion on Etsy<a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/60610668/leo-the-lion"> here</a></span></div>Michelle's Zoohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09364463242718416590noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4504937892736825563.post-58156047252572622182011-06-23T07:48:00.000-07:002011-06-23T07:51:59.841-07:00Ellie the Elephant Goes to Dance Class<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: italic; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">A sweet new story for Ellie the Pink Elephant. </div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: italic; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">Today is the last day to enter a chance to win the sweet girl. </div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: italic; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">For a chance to win go to <a href="http://justalittlecreativity.blogspot.com/2011/06/new-giveaway-ellie-plushy-pink-elephant.html">Just A Little Creativity</a> by the end of the day today 06/23/2011</div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: italic; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">I hope you enjoy her story!</div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: italic; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvrX6JxpFpOc7LSBU8wa-NWeSAZJrq9O-eZwvxaYQfgGmKroL0b_a6sQP5GaMXq8ANgftGnfk4_qp5po3JH85hyZdatui7ToF7ji3gsyi0S2HlTwT6NBHRJJD6tkqOU5ZBPaikezgUrinG/s1600/targus+013crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvrX6JxpFpOc7LSBU8wa-NWeSAZJrq9O-eZwvxaYQfgGmKroL0b_a6sQP5GaMXq8ANgftGnfk4_qp5po3JH85hyZdatui7ToF7ji3gsyi0S2HlTwT6NBHRJJD6tkqOU5ZBPaikezgUrinG/s320/targus+013crop.jpg" width="314" /></a></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: italic; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: italic; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">Ellie the Elephant Goes to Dance Class</div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: italic; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">(for Bricen)</div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: italic; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: italic; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Ellie the pink elephant was a very happy young lady. She loved her very pink bedroom. She loved her mommy and daddy. She even loved her brother, Eli. When Ellie thought about her life, she felt lucky and, well…happy. She really didn’t think her life could be any happier. Then Ellie’s mommy told her that she would be joining dance class! Ellie was happier than she had ever been, which she didn’t think was possible.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: italic; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: italic; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">The next day was Saturday. Ellie and Mommy were going to the mall. Ellie needed a leotard, tights, dancing shoes, and hair bows. At the dance store, Ellie saw lots of fun colors to choose from. There were black leotards and white leotards and yellow, purple, and blue leotards, even red. Ellie thought and thought. She wasn’t sure about any of the colors. Then she saw exactly the leotard she wanted. It was pink! And of course she chose pink tights and shoes to match.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: italic; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: italic; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Now Ellie had to wait a whole week until dance class. Dance class did not start until the following Saturday. But Ellie was okay. She didn’t let waiting make her sad. To help the time go by, Ellie came home from school every day and put on her dance clothes. She practiced dancing in front of the mirror. She practiced posing in front of the mirror. Then, she practiced bowing in front of the mirror.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: italic; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: italic; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">“No, no, no” she thought, shaking her head. She started over. She practiced dancing in front of the mirror. She practiced posing in front of the mirror. She practiced…curtseying in front of the mirror. Finally, she practiced throwing kisses and waving to the audience in front of the mirror.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: italic; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: italic; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Every day was the same. Ellie came home from school, put on her dance clothes, and practiced. Soon it was Saturday morning. Ellie happily put on her dance clothes, grabbed her favorite pink water bottle and a pink hand towel, and climbed in the car. As Mommy drove, Ellie watched out the window with a big smile on her face. Ellie was so happy!</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: italic; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: italic; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">After Mommy parked the car at the dance studio, Mommy and Ellie walked inside—hand in hand. Well…Mommy walked. Ellie skipped.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: italic; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: italic; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">All of the other little girls were already lined up at the bar. There was a place for Ellie near the end of the bar. Ellie took her place, and the teacher began with a warm up. For the next twenty minutes, everything went well. The girls practiced their positions. Then they practiced their pax de deux and their arabesque.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: italic; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: italic; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">At the end of class, the teacher, Miss Sasha, let the girls have free dance. Ellie waited her turn, then she tried a giant leap with three turns at the end. Ellie was not ready for such a big move. After she leapt and turned twice, she fell right in front of everybody.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: italic; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: italic; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">The other girls laughed. Ellie’s pink cheeks turned much pinker. She thought about crying, but something way down inside her whispered, “Shrug it off! You’re okay. Just stand up and smile!” So she did just that. She stood up, gave her head a little shake, stretched out her arm and regally waltzed off stage. Everybody clapped. Ellie’s happy spirit had saved the day and made her a star amongst her friends.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: italic; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: italic; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">And the very next week, when the new little girl fell in front of everybody, Ellie leaned down and whispered, “Shrug it off! You’re okay. Just stand up and smile.” </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: italic; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: italic; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">By Karen Penry<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: x-small; font-style: normal;"> May not be duplicated without express consent from the author</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: x-small; font-style: normal;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiApNKclhtSxf1rl6rZAovKEP67xMS6tX3R254OgZH5PfhYbICwFAUOWo1T3yL1LttDJR9K7XTqCyTzxE5IZrI204ePi4uf1g8aQUx3Ye8xiPLgzyI3Lq0HDzUEf5LqZGsEvaXpSt8LAv-v/s1600/targus+015.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="282" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiApNKclhtSxf1rl6rZAovKEP67xMS6tX3R254OgZH5PfhYbICwFAUOWo1T3yL1LttDJR9K7XTqCyTzxE5IZrI204ePi4uf1g8aQUx3Ye8xiPLgzyI3Lq0HDzUEf5LqZGsEvaXpSt8LAv-v/s320/targus+015.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWHk1NYcaqdDoWO552Ef4HbL6qGUB5G1v_XmDOpVKOUNz8a16Fo7pYraRdeIG6WwIan05G9EwscBHUIGolDifXlIZ4uH0YNsn2zky5UiyxCzvC-8pLUmuOZPR5j-dsnbBgAtukNtINxgu0/s1600/targus+016.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWHk1NYcaqdDoWO552Ef4HbL6qGUB5G1v_XmDOpVKOUNz8a16Fo7pYraRdeIG6WwIan05G9EwscBHUIGolDifXlIZ4uH0YNsn2zky5UiyxCzvC-8pLUmuOZPR5j-dsnbBgAtukNtINxgu0/s320/targus+016.JPG" width="286" /></a><br />
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</div>Michelle's Zoohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09364463242718416590noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4504937892736825563.post-16897990185337537952011-06-10T09:01:00.000-07:002011-06-10T09:16:50.630-07:00Leonardo the Fierce Leopard<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeQzHnwP0223XCJPlJSeNREJFzSJdG2lfJYPPm-qeFYOA35wrSppiFbCrvF8hRZr_d7IShsxSWtXwKK7tgq-Zv1EfhXBGc1T3hBaBRD_U2-teDqu6XI8cxjalF3hLAtPolo7G7-_lEhvi1/s1600/146crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="291" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeQzHnwP0223XCJPlJSeNREJFzSJdG2lfJYPPm-qeFYOA35wrSppiFbCrvF8hRZr_d7IShsxSWtXwKK7tgq-Zv1EfhXBGc1T3hBaBRD_U2-teDqu6XI8cxjalF3hLAtPolo7G7-_lEhvi1/s320/146crop.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><br />
</b></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Leonardo the Fierce Leopard<o:p></o:p></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">The only thing Leonardo wanted in the whole world was to roar.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Every day, after breakfast and his morning bath, Leonardo would wander through the jungle looking for smaller animals to scare with (what he hoped would be) a fierce roar.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">This morning was no different. Leonardo left home hoping this would be the day he finally found his roar.</div><div class="MsoNormal">As Leonardo slinked through the trees, he came upon a tree sloth. He stealthily backed himself into a crouch—ready to leap and scare the sloth with a tremendous tree shaking roar. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Way down deep in his chest, Leonardo mustered a growl. He shimmied on his haunches, leapt through the air and opened his mouth to let out his loudest roar. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Instead of a fierce roar, however, Leonardo simply said, “rawr!” The sloth didn’t budge.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
Determined, Leonardo snuck back to his perch, crouched, shimmied, and leapt again. This time, when he opened his mouth, out came a slightly louder, slightly fiercer, “<span style="font-variant: small-caps;">rawr!” </span>The sloth only yawned, stretched, and readjusted himself on the branch.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYzDpQqVxIjYUkttAkr5VYq7NuldalEXlny02PrLZ8kK98NvRH5lpzoFI5OLKMrwW7w_3YaiQWVDAkWlIoPJnPRWhKW12FJA-FS0LYKBeNDJucUpb6b79EoFTVonstYaC8yXtpCtQ5zcao/s1600/095.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYzDpQqVxIjYUkttAkr5VYq7NuldalEXlny02PrLZ8kK98NvRH5lpzoFI5OLKMrwW7w_3YaiQWVDAkWlIoPJnPRWhKW12FJA-FS0LYKBeNDJucUpb6b79EoFTVonstYaC8yXtpCtQ5zcao/s320/095.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
In frustration, Leonardo stomped his foot. He didn’t want to give up, but he felt discouraged. Staring in consternation at the sloth, Leonardo decided that perhaps the sloth was not the best candidate for practicing his roar. Shaking his head and once again, finding his fierce courage, Leonardo moved on to find a better victim.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Soon, Leonardo came upon a bright green tree snake. As with the sloth, Leonardo crouched down, peeking between the jungle leaves. He watched the snake. He practiced his shimmy. He exercised his jaw for the perfect roar. Then, he waited. The snake turned and slithered a few inches closer to Leonardo. Leonardo felt that this was the moment to pounce. He charged from his hiding spot, leapt through the air and landed right in front of the snake. He swiveled his head and opened his mouth for the mightiest roar ever! And out came a teeny, tiny, “meow!”</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Leonardo covered his mouth with his paws. If he could blush, his cheeks would be bright red. In fact, his little nose seemed to have a tinge of pink at the corners. The snake glanced sideways at little Leonardo and slithered off through the branches.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Leonardo hung his head. He was never going to have a fierce roar. He might as well give up. He turned around and headed back the way he had come. Suddenly, he came face to face with a jungle tree mouse. Leonardo froze. Java, the tree mouse, froze.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"> Java begged, “Please, fierce leopard, don’t eat me!” </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Leonardo, caught a little off guard, stuttered, “A-are you afraid of me?” </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Java said, “Of course. You are a fierce jungle leopard.”</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Leonardo hung his head again. He whispered, “Not really. I can’t even roar” and proceeded to tell the mouse about his morning. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">The mouse said, “Really? Try out your roar on me.” </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEijGFupdhXZsXcAwZC8f7U00LqJzHGbypn86_frFfIojOyMzcNOQSmB5iN67b2a92NF0NITuhyeIhk8SnKPdhtLxe7pZr6aMgG4P8KTFTn3RU9iHWZDyuuzFGCJZjdlV8hm4hUdenkFP7/s1600/stuffed+animals+106.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="273" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEijGFupdhXZsXcAwZC8f7U00LqJzHGbypn86_frFfIojOyMzcNOQSmB5iN67b2a92NF0NITuhyeIhk8SnKPdhtLxe7pZr6aMgG4P8KTFTn3RU9iHWZDyuuzFGCJZjdlV8hm4hUdenkFP7/s320/stuffed+animals+106.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal">Leonardo lifted his head. He started his rumbly growl way down in his chest, opened his mouth, and let out a mighty, “me-rawr!” </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Leonardo was so discouraged, he started to cry. Java moved closer to Leonardo and touched his paw. “All you need,” Java said, “is a little confidence. Why not practice your stalking, leaping, and roaring on me?”</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">“Really?” Leonardo said brightly. “Of course,” Java replied. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">So, they spent the rest of the morning playing and practicing. Leonardo chased Java up into the trees. Leonardo crouched in the jungle leaves and leapt at Java. Leonardo snuck up on Java from behind. Each and every time, Leonardo tried a mighty roar. But, the best Leonardo could do was a medium-sized “<span style="font-variant: small-caps;">rawr!” <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
Leonardo should have felt discouraged, but he didn’t. Java jumped and squeeked every time Leonardo pounced. Java scrambled away from Leonardo and trembled at all the right times. Java made Leonardo feel fierce. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Eventually, Leonardo and Java felt very tired and collapsed in the bushes. Leonardo curled up and Java snuggled down in the nest Leonardo’s body made. Soon, Leonardo began to purr. It was the most delightful and comforting sound Java had ever heard—or felt. Java snuggled up closer to Leonardo and quietly asked, “Why do you want to roar anyway? The sound you’re making now is much nicer.” Leonardo curled himself around the little mouse a little tighter, adjusted his head so it was right next to Java’s, smiled, and drifted off to sleep—purring all the while. <br />
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</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">By Karen Penry: May not be duplicated without express consent from the author</span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMomyuylbOaezEe790i_QIp80JYmjqHNKrO2q0QnWY7L-ujxIe9J7AxU0S-yoaWChNjb9ewHxB13gYaeQ2Hg0o5RToLWKWW963iytsrZ94Z7RQrUhk76KfwH9T2yTNeeQa5UTILzTvhtUj/s1600/099.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="301" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMomyuylbOaezEe790i_QIp80JYmjqHNKrO2q0QnWY7L-ujxIe9J7AxU0S-yoaWChNjb9ewHxB13gYaeQ2Hg0o5RToLWKWW963iytsrZ94Z7RQrUhk76KfwH9T2yTNeeQa5UTILzTvhtUj/s320/099.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"> Find <a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/65801784/leonardo-the-leopard">Leonardo the Leopard</a> Here<br />
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</span></div>Michelle's Zoohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09364463242718416590noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4504937892736825563.post-49344044594550861862011-06-01T11:55:00.000-07:002011-06-01T11:55:28.733-07:00I just created my first Treasury on Etsy. Made up of adorable items for children with a theme of ears or paws. I think it is kind of cute. I am hoping everyone enjoys it. Please take a minute to stop by and leave a comment or click on some of the links. All the shops featured are members of EtsyKids Team, which I am a new member of and totally excited to be a part of.<br />
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<a href="http://www.etsy.com/treasury/4de67d5454aa6d919e8def15/paws-and-ears">EtsyKids Team Treasury Paws and Ears</a>Michelle's Zoohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09364463242718416590noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4504937892736825563.post-54363912607745230272011-05-31T18:10:00.000-07:002011-05-31T18:10:59.365-07:00<center><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM9XZfyAhZrlMy09GAt1o-E1K9Qy2b9hh-owIi-WOYvUtJhVeNx4XUhjvADm_558AJGZxPUMyRm7TaVU5nNUuxem0I_-nBFr6-WFzZ9vWetPGP40tS_L9CQ1ZNvKu9H7JNVNYehjUOAKLT/s1600/Stuffed+Animals+011.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="271" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM9XZfyAhZrlMy09GAt1o-E1K9Qy2b9hh-owIi-WOYvUtJhVeNx4XUhjvADm_558AJGZxPUMyRm7TaVU5nNUuxem0I_-nBFr6-WFzZ9vWetPGP40tS_L9CQ1ZNvKu9H7JNVNYehjUOAKLT/s320/Stuffed+Animals+011.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><h5><span style="font-family: 'Arial Black';"><span><a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/75166017/ugly-ducky">Ugly Ducky at Michelle's Zoo</a></span></span></h5><h5><span style="font-family: 'Arial Black';"><span>The Ugly Duckling</span></span></h5></center><center><table cols="1"><tbody>
<tr><td><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica;"><span> Once upon a time down on an old farm, lived a duck family, and Mother Duck had been sitting on a clutch of new eggs. One nice morning, the eggs hatched and out popped six chirpy ducklings. But one egg was bigger than the rest, and it didn't hatch. Mother Duck couldn't recall laying that seventh egg. How did it get there? TOCK! TOCK! The little prisoner was pecking inside his shell.<br />
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"Did I count the eggs wrongly?" Mother Duck wondered. But before she had time to think about it, the last egg finally hatched. A strange looking duckling with brown feathers that should have been yellow gazed at a worried mother. The ducklings grew quickly, but Mother Duck had a secret worry.<br />
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"I can't understand how this ugly duckling can be one of mine!" she said to herself, shaking her head as she looked at her last born. Well, the brown duckling certainly wasn't pretty, and since he ate far more than his brothers, he was outgrowing them. As the days went by, the poor ugly duckling became more and more unhappy. His brothers didn't want to play with him, he was so<br />
clumsy, and all the farmyard folks simply laughed at him. He felt sad and lonely, while Mother Duck did her best to console him.<br />
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"Poor little ugly duckling!" she would say. "Why are you so different from the others?" And the ugly duckling felt worse than ever. He secretly wept at night. He felt nobody wanted him.<br />
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"Nobody loves me, they all tease me! Why am I different from my brothers?"<br />
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Then one day, at sunrise, he ran away from the farmyard. He stopped at a pond and began to question all the other birds. "Do you know of any ducklings with gray feathers like mine?" But everyone shook their heads in scorn.<br />
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"We don't know anyone as ugly as you." The ugly duckling did not lose heart, however, and kept on making inquiries. He went to another pond, where a pair of large geese gave him the same answer to his question. What's more, they warned him: "Don't stay here! Go away! It's dangerous. There are men with guns around here!" The duckling was sorry he had ever left the farmyard.<br />
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Then one day, his travels took him near an old countrywoman's cottage. Thinking he was a stray goose, she caught him.<br />
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"I'll put this in a hutch. I hope it's a female and lays plenty of eggs!" said the old woman, whose eyesight was poor. But the ugly duckling laid not a single egg. The hen kept frightening him.<br />
<br />
"Just wait! If you don't lay eggs, the old woman will wring your neck and pop you into the pot!" And the cat chipped in: "Hee! Hee! I hope the woman cooks you, then I can gnaw at your bones!" The poor ugly duckling was so scared that he lost his appetite, though the old woman kept stuffing him with food and grumbling: "If you won't lay eggs, at least hurry up and get plump!"<br />
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"Oh, dear me!" moaned the now terrified duckling. "I'll die of fright first! And I did so hope someone would love me!"<br />
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Then one night, finding the hutch door ajar, he escaped. Once again he was all alone. He fled as far away as he could, and at dawn, he found himself in a thick bed of reeds. "If nobody wants me, I'll hid here forever." There was plenty a food, and the duckling began to feel a little happier, though he was lonely. One day at sunrise, he saw a flight of beautiful birds wing overhead. White, with long slender necks, yellow beaks and large wings, they were migrating south.<br />
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"If only I could look like them, just for a day!" said the duckling, admiringly. Winter came and the water in the reed bed froze. The poor duckling left home to seek food in the snow. He dropped exhausted to the ground, but a farmer found him and put him in his big jacket pocket.<br />
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"I'll take him home to my children. They'll look after him. Poor thing, he's frozen!" The duckling was showered with kindly care at the farmer's house. In this way, the ugly duckling was able to survive the bitterly cold winter.<br />
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However, by springtime, he had grown so big that the farmer decided: "I'll set him free by the pond!" That was when the duckling saw himself mirrored in the water.<br />
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"Goodness! How I've changed! I hardly recognize myself!" The flight of swans winged north again and glided on to the pond. When the duckling saw them, he realized he was one of their kind, and soon made friends.<br />
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"We're swans like you!" they said, warmly. "Where have you been hiding?"<br />
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"It's a long story," replied the young swan, still astounded. Now, he swam majestically with his fellow swans. One day, he heard children on the river bank exclaim: "Look at that young swan! He's the finest of them all!"<br />
<br />
And he almost burst with happiness.</span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table></center><center><h5><span style="font-family: 'Arial Black';"><span>The End</span></span></h5></center><center><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br />
</span></center>Michelle's Zoohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09364463242718416590noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4504937892736825563.post-16597192783555059062011-05-20T13:59:00.001-07:002011-05-20T13:59:22.714-07:00Etsy Kids TeamSo happy to be a new member of Etsy Kids TeamMichelle's Zoohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09364463242718416590noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4504937892736825563.post-70666769109524349572011-03-29T09:23:00.000-07:002011-03-29T09:23:42.985-07:00New Easter Babies<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><i>Hey Everyone,</i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><i>The first set of Easter Babies are here and they are all looking for new homes this Easter!! Check them out at Michelle's Zoo on Etsy. Just follow the links below their pics.</i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><i>Get 10% off your order when you enter coupon code EASTER at checkout!</i></span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVN1JQ5Tvk8cGvPpCttAM1aE-YxtE2_tqOoqfyHFOwvtX1XHghhXx1RX8DFEVhbJQqYChyphenhyphenBEuInR8v5JdFhmkIzD7g87W6JtTQcHEq85-31BnvAoI26XIzqFMCrqEhvv2ypZmL1JERC4PA/s1600/Stuffed+Animals+012.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="316" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVN1JQ5Tvk8cGvPpCttAM1aE-YxtE2_tqOoqfyHFOwvtX1XHghhXx1RX8DFEVhbJQqYChyphenhyphenBEuInR8v5JdFhmkIzD7g87W6JtTQcHEq85-31BnvAoI26XIzqFMCrqEhvv2ypZmL1JERC4PA/s320/Stuffed+Animals+012.JPG" width="320" /></a></div> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><i><a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/71001333/woolley-easter-lambkins">Sweet Little Pink Woolley Lamb</a></i></span><br />
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</i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimxgwkoCKQHLlRsQ3-pYQi2TbtwGAV5s1gq-v-bfBm7a1jlhQgqfsmULMCyIz3D0DzcLl0YMf1jznRVTWuZtGT2KbKWueJo0U_ijM8HxF0UefTp8TmtvCPDJPByALOdak5MUF8ifcvryas/s1600/Stuffed+Animals+001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimxgwkoCKQHLlRsQ3-pYQi2TbtwGAV5s1gq-v-bfBm7a1jlhQgqfsmULMCyIz3D0DzcLl0YMf1jznRVTWuZtGT2KbKWueJo0U_ijM8HxF0UefTp8TmtvCPDJPByALOdak5MUF8ifcvryas/s320/Stuffed+Animals+001.JPG" width="297" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><i> <a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/70996784/easter-ducky">Sweet Little Easter Ducky #1</a></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiATy2jEZLP-7uj5t5yhWzLc30Hrvq5i4W5oEUPYy49aNYpHJosyFICB5p1WTeS3ISGJXdcC28YfJJcOMcrMs4EafeaXhm8czCf0g1COYpiSWtXO7Nqo19DvImHnn7vlKKgUFpn5JP3I_rs/s1600/Stuffed+Animals+003.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiATy2jEZLP-7uj5t5yhWzLc30Hrvq5i4W5oEUPYy49aNYpHJosyFICB5p1WTeS3ISGJXdcC28YfJJcOMcrMs4EafeaXhm8czCf0g1COYpiSWtXO7Nqo19DvImHnn7vlKKgUFpn5JP3I_rs/s320/Stuffed+Animals+003.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR7WiqhtKVgNcJH6aQROXCoMcSXvC9Yruxik2rLnZwXvOTi_dsv0TOLhh-lAWw99Dwo8Ga2btzB3k4leqeeXwfhuIVFS4PV1Gy8zN_BVt3bAJEKrndBblnf6fYd5tXrQzkxmYKd_EELlwV/s1600/Stuffed+Animals+005.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR7WiqhtKVgNcJH6aQROXCoMcSXvC9Yruxik2rLnZwXvOTi_dsv0TOLhh-lAWw99Dwo8Ga2btzB3k4leqeeXwfhuIVFS4PV1Gy8zN_BVt3bAJEKrndBblnf6fYd5tXrQzkxmYKd_EELlwV/s320/Stuffed+Animals+005.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/70997546/easter-ducky"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Adorable Little Easter Ducky #2</span></i></a> </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWSMcmtnMDcEj0cIIB1Ckt5YW4Ba5xv47YACGZQOVwN903G-ZQvv00jEhS-RU45CG9tGIvqB3zyp_KXh67XVy3CEByj6VkHMKY2nYJ3lI7mdk8koFTK6pELzrBu_VYeIqXWZIenLod3NBP/s1600/Stuffed+Animals+007.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWSMcmtnMDcEj0cIIB1Ckt5YW4Ba5xv47YACGZQOVwN903G-ZQvv00jEhS-RU45CG9tGIvqB3zyp_KXh67XVy3CEByj6VkHMKY2nYJ3lI7mdk8koFTK6pELzrBu_VYeIqXWZIenLod3NBP/s320/Stuffed+Animals+007.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIsQhrj7TSSvn7k8ZOfwdbREX8644nWw8g5yoNPhh8PpHR4uOEsUwiQJCFKtXyLiWhhXpq68OnytQxBtPg176OTmAydt6V5OIGu_tD5It7ZxWZ8qfDtQccXRGtJRuX1gkv_RiY6gvRQ973/s1600/Stuffed+Animals+018.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIsQhrj7TSSvn7k8ZOfwdbREX8644nWw8g5yoNPhh8PpHR4uOEsUwiQJCFKtXyLiWhhXpq68OnytQxBtPg176OTmAydt6V5OIGu_tD5It7ZxWZ8qfDtQccXRGtJRuX1gkv_RiY6gvRQ973/s320/Stuffed+Animals+018.JPG" width="264" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><i><a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/71000086/white-baby-easter-bunny">White Baby Easter Bunny</a></i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik_E3ZQ9GfbghCVAnk4KvQz5CVDd7jk2IL3fdCgOK7SKUjD0sickQ_bOVWYT1XOuc8tPOcJOlrLcwSoI8aM82KQF_Qf9-8b00zbj6oRGML8QBfsxdyI-btu-WeUEqeXk0sj-BQR1aSIDtK/s1600/Stuffed+Animals+020.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="289" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik_E3ZQ9GfbghCVAnk4KvQz5CVDd7jk2IL3fdCgOK7SKUjD0sickQ_bOVWYT1XOuc8tPOcJOlrLcwSoI8aM82KQF_Qf9-8b00zbj6oRGML8QBfsxdyI-btu-WeUEqeXk0sj-BQR1aSIDtK/s320/Stuffed+Animals+020.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyZ5AePXZRveHxPL3s5De0s7skKw441Fa8yBM1HTMLDBi14edkJZJtalfwJf89FZVL_TQq_naNC4yJCZlDoqEhzrdP5-d1RQW3_I0iT7V08kvr63l2CwX_Rsnp7Xk91hj89hLOmBG024wB/s1600/Stuffed+Animals+024.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyZ5AePXZRveHxPL3s5De0s7skKw441Fa8yBM1HTMLDBi14edkJZJtalfwJf89FZVL_TQq_naNC4yJCZlDoqEhzrdP5-d1RQW3_I0iT7V08kvr63l2CwX_Rsnp7Xk91hj89hLOmBG024wB/s320/Stuffed+Animals+024.JPG" width="276" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><i> </i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><i><a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/70999558/snuggles-the-baby-easter-bunny">Snuggle the Baby Easter Bunny</a></i></span></div>Michelle's Zoohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09364463242718416590noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4504937892736825563.post-73171974746002418682011-03-22T15:47:00.000-07:002011-03-22T15:47:16.186-07:00Spring Break = New Easter BabiesHey everyone, sorry I have been MIA. Spring Break is coming up next week and I am hoping to have out a few Easter Duckies, Bunnies and Lambies. Look for them next week. Also been meaning to do a blog post: <br />
A year of presents, showing all the stuffed animals I made as presents from 02/10 to 02/11. Coming soon!Michelle's Zoohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09364463242718416590noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4504937892736825563.post-44473223180268751122011-02-04T16:34:00.000-08:002011-02-04T16:34:37.371-08:00Valentine's Day SpecialGet 10% off your order when you enter ZOOLOVE at checkout, now until Valentine's Day<br />
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<a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/michelleszoo">Michelle's Zoo</a><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkk5lPoinGhCVQiQDMt9Cc4DTpRerIeLKvP9Glka-yUkn5mYC4EqbS8m99-yzkGxePyqeubbzNrlyiNvJVQjBQn_PDnU3Uc9xPs3Q31q9gIf9dL0um62wFtMKDIcV5aUwp02D1WxoF1Kfe/s1600/stuffed+animals+115.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkk5lPoinGhCVQiQDMt9Cc4DTpRerIeLKvP9Glka-yUkn5mYC4EqbS8m99-yzkGxePyqeubbzNrlyiNvJVQjBQn_PDnU3Uc9xPs3Q31q9gIf9dL0um62wFtMKDIcV5aUwp02D1WxoF1Kfe/s320/stuffed+animals+115.JPG" width="280" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZB3dr5o8YQAZyqokmMl-cEoitrI3yS365sixX-9NlbxBLeR3luWaEqM8nxrg3Fo2zNtimPpHMzPalN8-MHKQycpXY7ZOV7-1JLsRPqZCo5IzdPqgV4V2RebeephroKfiVnLfNc2baeh-R/s1600/stuffed+animals+092.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="249" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZB3dr5o8YQAZyqokmMl-cEoitrI3yS365sixX-9NlbxBLeR3luWaEqM8nxrg3Fo2zNtimPpHMzPalN8-MHKQycpXY7ZOV7-1JLsRPqZCo5IzdPqgV4V2RebeephroKfiVnLfNc2baeh-R/s320/stuffed+animals+092.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7p-ryeGzk6Q3mgNfZMrreQGq_OnS4JmZBBAl1gB5QVrPKABqZXp6Q6_2mcE3rK4WdBcpDtNS_bCcBLOCi0UCQ4JzTCWjNJCYic837tKWuZMT5cIahPCQyK3avWMyNT4dPKf6Rxs2HvI_c/s1600/stuffed+animals+103.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="271" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7p-ryeGzk6Q3mgNfZMrreQGq_OnS4JmZBBAl1gB5QVrPKABqZXp6Q6_2mcE3rK4WdBcpDtNS_bCcBLOCi0UCQ4JzTCWjNJCYic837tKWuZMT5cIahPCQyK3avWMyNT4dPKf6Rxs2HvI_c/s320/stuffed+animals+103.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>Michelle's Zoohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09364463242718416590noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4504937892736825563.post-3387912667168507752010-12-16T11:02:00.000-08:002010-12-17T09:04:36.413-08:00Current ProjectsI am currently working on two more christmas presents, plus a reindeer and a woolly cream colored lamb. Look for the reindeer and the lamb early next week at <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/michelleszoo">Michelle's Zoo</a> .<br />
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Okay I lied, <a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/64489481/amy-the-woolley-lamb">Amy the Woolley Lamb</a> is now available for adoption at Michelle's Zoo for and an adoption fee of $29.95, just follow the link<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8Qeea3sJH4OFlFZmL5zGveQPaUl3Sqfwoifv-uMKlcpJMoNSLLG9d38aQbgpMfr2v92I9uPxR5lJgDBAOdC2z1y_-t9shEUtW8PKW7vgOwl4E6qbWDwnACFAiJREQjaPP2ubXuLvVsuOJ/s1600/stuffed+animals+001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8Qeea3sJH4OFlFZmL5zGveQPaUl3Sqfwoifv-uMKlcpJMoNSLLG9d38aQbgpMfr2v92I9uPxR5lJgDBAOdC2z1y_-t9shEUtW8PKW7vgOwl4E6qbWDwnACFAiJREQjaPP2ubXuLvVsuOJ/s320/stuffed+animals+001.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>Check out this picture of my zoo before I mailed all my christmas presents<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0kXGGDmwS4IGlgjL1xBITj6oNjF3Vd11GatzPQAseMGM44vMWJxcO6MKkM7s9yWyytr_wy62Rhez7CxUk_Evs2GjUgjUI3RkdPsgP9CF0lRf3xHBmffIFKBM5-ig2vWa7X6tYveorP5kQ/s1600/IMG_20101109_181655.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0kXGGDmwS4IGlgjL1xBITj6oNjF3Vd11GatzPQAseMGM44vMWJxcO6MKkM7s9yWyytr_wy62Rhez7CxUk_Evs2GjUgjUI3RkdPsgP9CF0lRf3xHBmffIFKBM5-ig2vWa7X6tYveorP5kQ/s320/IMG_20101109_181655.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Michelle's Zoohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09364463242718416590noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4504937892736825563.post-31370470940343383252010-12-15T20:15:00.000-08:002010-12-15T20:15:26.140-08:00Along Came A ZebraSo I now had a room full of giraffes, who I loved very much, but I decided I wanted more animals! I went back to the funky friends factory web site and picked three more patterns. Horsey, Larry the Lion and Mitch the Monkey (Watch for the stories of Mitch and Larry AKA Leo,Tigger, Patty and Warrior in future posts). <br />
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">I had picked up a brown and cream striped faux fur fabric and the fabric store, along with a brown remnant and decided the horsey pattern would make a cute zebra, albeit brown instead of black, and along came <a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/60620046/zach-the-zabra">Zach the Zebra</a> . Zach is currently available for adoption at Michelle's Zoo on Etsy for an adoption fee of $29.95, just follow the link.</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6joohwQFM-zIITzXua6yugxNrqOUDoh2PCDC9GQAjUq9e4hLpiVEr0uExrtXiT2kydKeVkilU5l63NXRsE4KtlR1b8VIh1282PZVUZaLLdqWgY5aNJsAyZhEDoVU4qLttl2ndt1j-B6tt/s1600/stuffed+animals+014.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="197" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6joohwQFM-zIITzXua6yugxNrqOUDoh2PCDC9GQAjUq9e4hLpiVEr0uExrtXiT2kydKeVkilU5l63NXRsE4KtlR1b8VIh1282PZVUZaLLdqWgY5aNJsAyZhEDoVU4qLttl2ndt1j-B6tt/s200/stuffed+animals+014.JPG" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">Isn't he just adorabe?! Everyone who saw his picture just loved him, and I certainly do! In my description of Zach on Etsy, I call him a young zebra, because he seems young to me. He has a little short brown fur mane, and just seems very young, especially compared to his gorgeous brother Zorro, who I will write about in a later post. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitqX9ceIvli-0THYbOumKkmUiQCRzf18fPCHLfrGJKHZdWEpeSxGCv-uif4ummktlP8-d-4iHFBqoWgrHFFhJynU-jVFi66H70OBH1G7qNkKg9CKhrAUpYAlMluPbB7IGCFtYeh5met-cM/s1600/stuffed+animals+020.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitqX9ceIvli-0THYbOumKkmUiQCRzf18fPCHLfrGJKHZdWEpeSxGCv-uif4ummktlP8-d-4iHFBqoWgrHFFhJynU-jVFi66H70OBH1G7qNkKg9CKhrAUpYAlMluPbB7IGCFtYeh5met-cM/s320/stuffed+animals+020.JPG" width="314" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div>Michelle's Zoohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09364463242718416590noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4504937892736825563.post-5375920190193217462010-12-01T12:11:00.000-08:002010-12-14T13:33:36.127-08:00Giraffes, Giraffes, Giraffes<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPHNFOydFU3Hiy1YuIA2E5zu4si-IrW6jhLCu96lalu_K71A0PdHdG0oLMYwtxwWuprtmm9-2wRH7wb4V5P_G1nEISSIvQgpKWhb0qOo5Rw0xFHW21phCychTVeWibaxRaI2tTwpd-yhmy/s1600/giraffes4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFkRUOlqSLlmraDE7ARIZokoybO8YWiG6082lchRlsUoaxrmjGkVvKnobTvkmNlhPuQ5jLQw-WcV9QbdsyyyqF9EjmHZ45YJiDNettCD0QVsNfYe6x6u2P781kiV0PFSEvNj8S9-EAk5Ii/s1600/stuffed+animals+010.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: right; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFkRUOlqSLlmraDE7ARIZokoybO8YWiG6082lchRlsUoaxrmjGkVvKnobTvkmNlhPuQ5jLQw-WcV9QbdsyyyqF9EjmHZ45YJiDNettCD0QVsNfYe6x6u2P781kiV0PFSEvNj8S9-EAk5Ii/s200/stuffed+animals+010.JPG" width="170" /></a>It all started back in February with a pink and purple giraffe for my niece's newborn baby girl. My niece wanted a giraffe for the nursery, and instead of buying one, I decided to find a pattern and make her one. I had really been wanting to get back to my sewing machine, and had always wanted to try my hand a making a stuffed animal. So off to google search I went looking for a pattern, where I happened upon Funky Friends Factory, and found in my opinion the cutest pattern available. I made the the giraffe now named Shelley the Giraffe (after myself), but as soon as I sent her off, I missed her (I have found after almost a year of making stuffed animals, that I have the unfortunate circumstance of falling absolutely in love with them as soon as they are made). Having enough leftover fleece, I decided the next day to make another exactly like her. I named her Ginger the Giraffe and she is currently on sale for $29.95 at my etsy shop. (Sorry guys she sold, but is can be custom ordered using the custom order button at my etsy shop).</div></div></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><strong>More Giraffes:</strong></span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkWgG__SbvilMQq4EH3X34hTRcHT-gFbDMYaCjqFSFGMHyCKlQNapujBuKckLzH-RQNn7AEaTnOTED0dtXBZ9L2MtUJWw8_pMZ1w46pnbT5PIERhW8nzTIniAA7iSReXkBLldP2vjLJTJp/s1600/2010-03-12+18.41.27.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkWgG__SbvilMQq4EH3X34hTRcHT-gFbDMYaCjqFSFGMHyCKlQNapujBuKckLzH-RQNn7AEaTnOTED0dtXBZ9L2MtUJWw8_pMZ1w46pnbT5PIERhW8nzTIniAA7iSReXkBLldP2vjLJTJp/s200/2010-03-12+18.41.27.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;">As I mentioned, I had sent Shelley the Giraffe to my niece, who lives in the same town as my sister and mother (and well most everyone on my mothers side of the family lives in the same town except me). Everyone loved Shelley the Giraffe! My mother told me 'I want one!', and as Mother's Day was a few months away, I asked if she would like one for Mother's Day. She said she would like a gold and green giraffe for Mother's Day. So off to the fabric store I went, where I picked up some gold, lime green and an off-white fleece. Soon I had made <a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/60616931/ginger-and-gerico-the-giraffes">Gerico the Giraffe</a> available for sale at my etsy shop, and Gerry the Giraffe, an off-white giraffe with green spots (not for sale, he belongs to my boyfriend Marc) pictured above with Ginger and Gerico. Next came <a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/60617828/gina-the-baby-giraffe">Ginger the baby Giraffe</a> also available for sale at my etsy shop.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0e4oMUKJwK1mptAjI0mcO1jBX2xFFtU9GlyG9ACYuMHq0GwDQCFyOM-jlBoSFH1xyZjuGMgSdsDCWDrYfvcGEXdsYLZfzsquoJ980QTKcuoK-D42OhFlkgMKJ9PMtQHWmMGgY7K6VQ1jG/s1600/stuffed+animals+009.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0e4oMUKJwK1mptAjI0mcO1jBX2xFFtU9GlyG9ACYuMHq0GwDQCFyOM-jlBoSFH1xyZjuGMgSdsDCWDrYfvcGEXdsYLZfzsquoJ980QTKcuoK-D42OhFlkgMKJ9PMtQHWmMGgY7K6VQ1jG/s200/stuffed+animals+009.JPG" width="188" /></a> </span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_4gd4FpTT9CHckHLuZGlME6tr-hnkUMDCFUXmoZSbTQwB8OzNKgNB43TqKF_tLhPXcfI7e0XSzASdAbFqD0haGbXFIAgVoF0Ls4B9dTtNWplFHm-E-EtjnssndO1qrnbddG1lv7acM2Ft/s1600/giraffes2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_4gd4FpTT9CHckHLuZGlME6tr-hnkUMDCFUXmoZSbTQwB8OzNKgNB43TqKF_tLhPXcfI7e0XSzASdAbFqD0haGbXFIAgVoF0Ls4B9dTtNWplFHm-E-EtjnssndO1qrnbddG1lv7acM2Ft/s200/giraffes2.jpg" width="134" /></a></span></div></div><br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">So Marc asked me to make his mother a blue and white giraffe as well for Mother's Day and I did. He is pictured below left to right are Gina the baby Giraffe, Marc's mother's giraffe, Ginger, Gerico, my mother's giraffe, and Gerry the Giraffe.... Giraffes, Giraffes, Giraffes</div></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguq7w5Wc-2BGxLvoWfezPzPHnX4Akyyz-mlZ1TXFCcghJjbxQOHdaZfp3coV55rwrhY5KMBOw-PL0JRSOYzXwF1Sr2qbAfNiEZtMR1Kcv_j0kmauOREFxMcsK3IDgO5dJtGP6nJSme9aYE/s1600/giraffes3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="149" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguq7w5Wc-2BGxLvoWfezPzPHnX4Akyyz-mlZ1TXFCcghJjbxQOHdaZfp3coV55rwrhY5KMBOw-PL0JRSOYzXwF1Sr2qbAfNiEZtMR1Kcv_j0kmauOREFxMcsK3IDgO5dJtGP6nJSme9aYE/s200/giraffes3.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPHNFOydFU3Hiy1YuIA2E5zu4si-IrW6jhLCu96lalu_K71A0PdHdG0oLMYwtxwWuprtmm9-2wRH7wb4V5P_G1nEISSIvQgpKWhb0qOo5Rw0xFHW21phCychTVeWibaxRaI2tTwpd-yhmy/s1600/giraffes4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="149" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPHNFOydFU3Hiy1YuIA2E5zu4si-IrW6jhLCu96lalu_K71A0PdHdG0oLMYwtxwWuprtmm9-2wRH7wb4V5P_G1nEISSIvQgpKWhb0qOo5Rw0xFHW21phCychTVeWibaxRaI2tTwpd-yhmy/s200/giraffes4.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><img border="0" height="149" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzTpy20YRjdmf5hjYxLpUFAIsMy8UbPn5PEpz_2Ofnx4vv0YD1OJnVZt20naGuRvUkBqPvnDzyTr-Cem0uODWFC8yLZ2wET3jewmItSojzmCxUjkIM9lgc_Xva4cb1PL7NJg4kiyGZCjMD/s200/giraffes5.jpg" width="200" /></div><br />
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</div>Michelle's Zoohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09364463242718416590noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4504937892736825563.post-92111177721240838632010-11-30T12:08:00.000-08:002010-11-30T12:08:03.875-08:00Welcome to Michelle's Zoo<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRtxsl7sEs6RHuxznziV-_pu9gbYa7zYjMVckW6MxF53Gn6o6ODDQCqHTlRC_eIaCpvy5WFJ7-0Gher7FIbbZMZ3APpERy6DOar5T6qQKxEuJYLOfcMj2tjF_V-UcRNnhzQUQ5Om4ug0DZ/s1600/stuffed+animals+006.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRtxsl7sEs6RHuxznziV-_pu9gbYa7zYjMVckW6MxF53Gn6o6ODDQCqHTlRC_eIaCpvy5WFJ7-0Gher7FIbbZMZ3APpERy6DOar5T6qQKxEuJYLOfcMj2tjF_V-UcRNnhzQUQ5Om4ug0DZ/s200/stuffed+animals+006.JPG" width="170" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8oZq60GgG8rKAx5GQeIPaKTT3TgRgcoifFQo0UgQaobAZ4Wqb5bzrJLEeqKWzWnKBffe7EPN9gTjY2K0LYZKUgjSDzTn-hqnOSCp1-OsPOSYWr6Gn37aP94_nZaGfaN_A9WPjm2nAICBM/s1600/stuffed+animals+019.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8oZq60GgG8rKAx5GQeIPaKTT3TgRgcoifFQo0UgQaobAZ4Wqb5bzrJLEeqKWzWnKBffe7EPN9gTjY2K0LYZKUgjSDzTn-hqnOSCp1-OsPOSYWr6Gn37aP94_nZaGfaN_A9WPjm2nAICBM/s200/stuffed+animals+019.JPG" width="190" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAP_kHXdmiwinqDofUG_t-087rPQx4hri4PjzfM0o0hZGlGBIbT9N47kdqDD35CA6bc5fq1wmLGGVmQfxF3ezKLQDadxqI0ejMA9BlUlATfWwuU0xnBmwvMGAgezthYGzNaxAe74fVRlhO/s1600/stuffed+animals+023.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="192" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAP_kHXdmiwinqDofUG_t-087rPQx4hri4PjzfM0o0hZGlGBIbT9N47kdqDD35CA6bc5fq1wmLGGVmQfxF3ezKLQDadxqI0ejMA9BlUlATfWwuU0xnBmwvMGAgezthYGzNaxAe74fVRlhO/s200/stuffed+animals+023.JPG" width="200" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikn-PrAdGXRKv2kj_Zg2cnAIgEEv5wPYcuqVaTz8FqMj_6QiI0Ef3EvsGqr0HnoHEg3JkFJbXzyKw3jg4aNSv3NTpbsxyj14ZBXUIMEl9UkBBdtYtGnHUDfcd4gXhli2139SpQi0BK_dXi/s1600/stuffed+animals+024.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="159" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikn-PrAdGXRKv2kj_Zg2cnAIgEEv5wPYcuqVaTz8FqMj_6QiI0Ef3EvsGqr0HnoHEg3JkFJbXzyKw3jg4aNSv3NTpbsxyj14ZBXUIMEl9UkBBdtYtGnHUDfcd4gXhli2139SpQi0BK_dXi/s200/stuffed+animals+024.JPG" width="200" /></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_RpAast5kiOA/TPVL70leVjI/AAAAAAAAABk/eziLSbexDZg/s1600/stuffed+animals+007.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" ox="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_RpAast5kiOA/TPVL70leVjI/AAAAAAAAABk/eziLSbexDZg/s200/stuffed+animals+007.JPG" width="170" /></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_RpAast5kiOA/TPVL8Z2dp-I/AAAAAAAAABo/wlaIXzX2MSQ/s1600/stuffed+animals+008.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" ox="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_RpAast5kiOA/TPVL8Z2dp-I/AAAAAAAAABo/wlaIXzX2MSQ/s200/stuffed+animals+008.JPG" width="155" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbLtMNKtAoA5KAAakfJz2vS78BUUmvkymCBxfAJ7xpepwUaxOu21YX2HVRb6DTpz03I-3kumeeUPXnI6ssC5edhrdEK1wf0IKlXGvWqV1EhjgIadJXbWoYPPW1Dq-0Cfg7P0Tyd-4YUsXQ/s1600/stuffed+animals+013.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbLtMNKtAoA5KAAakfJz2vS78BUUmvkymCBxfAJ7xpepwUaxOu21YX2HVRb6DTpz03I-3kumeeUPXnI6ssC5edhrdEK1wf0IKlXGvWqV1EhjgIadJXbWoYPPW1Dq-0Cfg7P0Tyd-4YUsXQ/s200/stuffed+animals+013.JPG" width="200" /></a><br />
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Hi Everyone. So I decided to start a blog in attempt to direct folks to <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/michelleszoo">my Etsy shop</a>, where I sell adorable, handmade quality stuffed animals. I will showcase a different stuffed animal which each blog post, and I hope you will enjoy reading about and seeing all the wonderfull little critters I make. Check out my shop! Maybe you will find the perfect gift for everyone on your list this holiday!Michelle's Zoohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09364463242718416590noreply@blogger.com0