{"id":46029,"date":"2021-11-27T14:23:02","date_gmt":"2021-11-27T22:23:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.politicsplus.org\/blog\/?p=46029"},"modified":"2021-11-26T17:29:13","modified_gmt":"2021-11-27T01:29:13","slug":"holiday-happiness-the-muttcracker-sweet","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.politicsplus.org\/blog\/2021\/11\/27\/holiday-happiness-the-muttcracker-sweet\/","title":{"rendered":"Holiday Happiness &#8211; The &#8220;Mutt&#8221;cracker &#8211; Sweet!"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Let me make clear that I am not attempting to stand in for SoINeedAName &#8211; even if that were not impossible given his talents (yes, I have some of my own, but they are not in competition with his), the added responsibility is not something i am ready to take on.<\/p>\n<p>However, I could not resist this headline:<\/p>\n<h1 class=\"gnt_ar_hl\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.coloradoan.com\/story\/life\/2021\/11\/22\/christmas-fort-collins-rescue-pets-ballet-meet-muttcracker-nutcracker\/8719372002\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Dancers meet rescue pets in Fort Collins ballet company&#8217;s annual &#8216;Muttcracker&#8217; shoot<\/a><\/h1>\n<p>And when I read on, and saw the photos, I could resist even less.<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">Yes, Virginia. There is a Santa Claus, and he&#8217;s officially brought back the &#8220;Muttcracker&#8221; photo shoot as a new Fort Collins holiday tradition.<\/p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">For the second year in a row, Fort Collins&#8217; Canyon Concert Ballet partnered\u00a0with Animal Friends Alliance\u00a0to\u00a0showcase nine of the\u00a0local rescue&#8217;s adoptable dogs and cats ahead of the ballet company&#8217;s annual production of &#8220;The Nutcracker.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">Like last year, Nutcracker dancers posed with the animals for photos celebrating both their upcoming shows and Animal Friends Alliance&#8217;s adoptable pets. Of the pets featured in the Nov. 20 photo shoot, all of the puppies have since been adopted. Gladys, a senior beagle involved in the shoot, is available for fostering and adoption this week, while the kittens featured will likely be available at an adoption event from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday at PetSmart, 4432 S. College Ave, according to Animal Friends Alliance.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>Here are the pictures &#8211; I wasn&#8217;t there, so I&#8217;m not sure of all the costume ID&#8217;s, but I am of most of them.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-46037\" src=\"https:\/\/www.7thstep.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/1-Rat-King-200x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"200\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.politicsplus.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/1-Rat-King-200x300.jpg 200w, https:\/\/www.politicsplus.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/1-Rat-King-100x150.jpg 100w, https:\/\/www.politicsplus.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/1-Rat-King.jpg 413w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 200px) 100vw, 200px\" \/>If I were that Rat King, I&#8217;d be <strong>terrified<\/strong> of that <strong>ferocious<\/strong> cat!<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignright size-medium wp-image-46038\" src=\"https:\/\/www.7thstep.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/2-Russian-300x199.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"199\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.politicsplus.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/2-Russian-300x199.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.politicsplus.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/2-Russian-150x99.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.politicsplus.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/2-Russian-768x508.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.politicsplus.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/2-Russian.jpg 825w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Sorry, sweetie, I gotta go dance the Trepak.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-46046\" src=\"https:\/\/www.7thstep.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/Corps-de-B-3-300x212.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"212\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.politicsplus.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/Corps-de-B-3-300x212.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.politicsplus.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/Corps-de-B-3-150x106.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.politicsplus.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/Corps-de-B-3-768x544.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.politicsplus.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/Corps-de-B-3.jpg 825w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/>Looks like the dancers could just ear them all up&#8230;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>I think this is one of the snowflakes &#8230; but the little sweeitie<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignright size-medium wp-image-46050\" src=\"https:\/\/www.7thstep.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/Snowflake-4-300x172.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"172\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.politicsplus.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/Snowflake-4-300x172.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.politicsplus.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/Snowflake-4-150x86.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.politicsplus.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/Snowflake-4-768x441.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.politicsplus.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/Snowflake-4.jpg 825w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/> in her arms doesn&#8217;t appear to be chilled.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-46040\" src=\"https:\/\/www.7thstep.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/Calra-7-300x200.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"200\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.politicsplus.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/Calra-7-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.politicsplus.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/Calra-7-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.politicsplus.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/Calra-7-768x513.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.politicsplus.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/Calra-7.jpg 825w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/>By the hair, and also the sleeves, I&#8217;m thinking this must be Clara.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>The dances we usually think of as the Arabian Dance, Chinese<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-46041 alignright\" src=\"https:\/\/www.7thstep.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/Chocolate-8-200x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"200\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.politicsplus.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/Chocolate-8-200x300.jpg 200w, https:\/\/www.politicsplus.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/Chocolate-8-100x150.jpg 100w, https:\/\/www.politicsplus.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/Chocolate-8.jpg 413w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 200px) 100vw, 200px\" \/> Dance, and Spanish Dance are actually called &#8220;Coffee,&#8221; &#8220;Tea,&#8221; and &#8220;Chocolate,&#8221; in that order.\u00a0 This looks like Chocolate to me.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-46044\" src=\"https:\/\/www.7thstep.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/coffee-11-300x221.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"221\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.politicsplus.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/coffee-11-300x221.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.politicsplus.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/coffee-11-150x111.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.politicsplus.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/coffee-11-768x566.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.politicsplus.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/coffee-11.jpg 825w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/>Coffee being full of caffeine, it&#8217;s not surprising the dancers have the energy for four photos.\u00a0 But I&#8217;ll only show two.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Here&#8217;s the second.<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignright size-medium wp-image-46045\" src=\"https:\/\/www.7thstep.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/Coffee-12-220x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"220\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.politicsplus.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/Coffee-12-220x300.jpg 220w, https:\/\/www.politicsplus.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/Coffee-12-110x150.jpg 110w, https:\/\/www.politicsplus.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/Coffee-12.jpg 453w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 220px) 100vw, 220px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-46052\" src=\"https:\/\/www.7thstep.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/Tea-15-202x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"202\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.politicsplus.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/Tea-15-202x300.jpg 202w, https:\/\/www.politicsplus.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/Tea-15-101x150.jpg 101w, https:\/\/www.politicsplus.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/Tea-15.jpg 417w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 202px) 100vw, 202px\" \/>And I think this one is Tea.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignright size-medium wp-image-46048\" src=\"https:\/\/www.7thstep.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/Flower-14-200x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"200\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.politicsplus.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/Flower-14-200x300.jpg 200w, https:\/\/www.politicsplus.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/Flower-14-100x150.jpg 100w, https:\/\/www.politicsplus.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/Flower-14.jpg 413w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 200px) 100vw, 200px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Of course there has to be the Sugar Plum Fairy<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-46047\" src=\"https:\/\/www.7thstep.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/Flower-13-300x200.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"200\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.politicsplus.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/Flower-13-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.politicsplus.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/Flower-13-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.politicsplus.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/Flower-13-768x513.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.politicsplus.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/Flower-13.jpg 825w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/> Twice.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>You can see all of the pictures (there are 17) if you click through on the headline &#8211; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.coloradoan.com\/story\/life\/2021\/11\/22\/christmas-fort-collins-rescue-pets-ballet-meet-muttcracker-nutcracker\/8719372002\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">or here<\/a>.\u00a0 They&#8217;re shown as a &#8220;gallery&#8221; &#8211; see one, then click to the next and so on.\u00a0 Virgil will be so proud of the town he grew up in for doing this.\u00a0 They couldn&#8217;t have when he lived there &#8211; it was much smaller, although the university was already there.<\/p>\n<p>I hope you enjoyed seeing this as much as I did.\u00a0 A Happy Holiday season to all!<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Let me make clear that I am not attempting to stand in for SoINeedAName &#8211; even if that were not impossible given his talents (yes, I have some of my own, but they are not in competition with his), the added responsibility is not something i am ready to take on. However, I could not <a href='https:\/\/www.politicsplus.org\/blog\/2021\/11\/27\/holiday-happiness-the-muttcracker-sweet\/' class='excerpt-more'>[&#8230;]<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":8,"featured_media":46039,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[145,141,5],"tags":[4758,4355,4459,3718],"class_list":["post-46029","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-holiday","category-plus","category-politics","tag-adoption","tag-animals","tag-dance","tag-music","category-145-id","category-141-id","category-5-id","post-seq-1","post-parity-odd","meta-position-corners","fix"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.politicsplus.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/46029","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.politicsplus.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.politicsplus.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.politicsplus.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/8"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.politicsplus.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=46029"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.politicsplus.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/46029\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.politicsplus.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/46039"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.politicsplus.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=46029"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.politicsplus.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=46029"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.politicsplus.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=46029"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}