Past Contests

pril showers bring May flowers. Members had to figure out how many Charming Tails have raindrops and dewdrops.

Congratulations to Luvtaisgus@aol.com for winning the contest. She wins either Our Love Has Blossomed or a $20 gift certificate (winner's choice) from Precious Plates 'n Things.

Some thought San Francisco Music Boxes should count and some didn't. So Cathy took the top lists with and top lists without and drew a winner from there.

89/757 In Every Life a Little Rain Must Fall
97/722 We'll Weather the Storm Together
89/307 Spring Time Flowers (yellow)
89/563 Spring Time Showers
(1) Binkey
(2) Reginald
(3)Mackenzie
98/197 I Picked This for You
98/198 Life Is a Bed of Roses
4147023100 Spring Time Flowers (yellow) SFMB

Others found A Gift of Love, the new piece which counted only for a good job point since not everyone had the pictures yet.

Cathy hid a few Easter eggs on a couple of the sponsors' web sites. "dsaley1" was the lucky winner. 17 members who found them had their names put in a drawing for a $25 gift certificate from Big Grizz. The eggs were on www.biggrizz.com and www.msdatabase.com. Here's what it looked like:

How about an Easter egg hunt? Members searched for how many Charming Tails they could find that had COLORED EASTER EGGS on them. Plain white eggs didn't count!!

Several people found nine eggs, and there was some question about Party Animals (one of the new pieces Dave has posted). Someone said it is sitting on a mushroom. Cathy took the names of those who found nine Easter eggs and put them into a drawing. "Martin4413" was the winner. The prize was three Easter/spring pieces from Elaine's Mouse Trap.

No one got all of the answers right. Some got 14 right, so Cathy drew a name from them. "Melaby" was the winner of a $25 gift certificate from Sparkling Rose Collectibles.

The answer was "Nothing." camrae@webtv.net was the winner, drawn from all entrants who had the right answer. The prize was a signed Life's a Picnic with You from the The Bronze Lady of Orlando.

Sidney, it was fun seeing you today. Maxine and I had so much fun hangin' with you and Lydia. I still have chlorophyll stains on my paws from swinging on the leaves. Hope you will join us around again someday soon.

The answer was Hangin' Around. Nancy (Skunky) was the lucky winner. All those with the correct answer had their names put into a drawing.

How many pieces contain Chauncey? Entrants named all they could think of. A lot of people had 19, but a few found 21. Here's the list:

The winner, drawn out of those with 21 pieces, was Fleaflicke. The prize was Even the Ups and Downs Are Fun from Collecto-Mania.

This contest had entrants send in a list of all 12 of the first pieces that Dean Griff did for Silvestri, that were the beginnings of Charming Tails. Here's the list Cathy came up with:

There was some question about the 12th piece since the catalogs (and this web site) say Rocking Mouse Musical came out in 1993 instead of 1992. Cathy says she has an e-mail from Dean that confirms this is the 12th piece.

Vickie had all 12 right, and the prize was a copy of the Charming Tails database from MSDatabase. Because most collectors couldn't know this, Cathy drew a name from those that got 11 right. "Gagrigar" was the winner.

Club members searched for the groundhog and his shadow for this contest. He was hidden on Sparkling Rose's pages. jfradett@cgo.wave.ca won Garden Naptime from Precious Plates 'n Things.

Let it snow! Since snow is pretty much everywhere right now, how many pieces contain snow, but do not contain Mackenzie or Maxine?

Julie Back was the winner and has her choice of a new Valentine Charming Tails piece. Big Grizz generously donated the prize. There were a few people who came up with 52, and their names were put in a hat for a drawing.

We wish we were watching the little birds soaring through the air, but since winter has found us anyway, how about we dream of birds? Contestants counted how many birds were in Charming Tails pieces.

Three people counted at least 26 that had birds in them, and Rona's name was drawn from these three. The prize was Riding on the Wings of Friendship, donated by a club member, Mouses. Here's the list:

Animals in Eggs/Chick
Animals in Eggs/Duck
Bundle of Joy
Can I Keep Him?
Catching ZZZ's
Chickadees on Ball
Chickie Back Ride
Chicks with Bead Garland
Duckling in Egg with Mouse
Duckling Votive
Everybody Sing
Feeding Time
Fresh Fruit/Belle
Friends in Flight

Ghost Stories
A Little Bird Told Me
Me Next Waterglobe
Mouse on Rubber Duck
Mice in Leaf Sleigh
Nestled In for the Holidays
Shhh, Don't Make a Peep
Slumber Party
Snowbird 1999 Annual
Snowman Float
Turkey with Dressing
Underwater Explorer Waterglobe
What's Hatching
and just for fun, Turkey Traveler

Jan was the winner of the back-to-school contest. She wins a $25 gift certificate from Sparkling Rose Collectibles.

The Squashville gang has gone back to school after a very extended holiday, due to snow, we're sure. The club contest was to say the alphabet in Charming Tails. Those who had at least 13 had their names put in a hat for the drawing.

Mackenzie and the group have decided to make some New Year's resolutions, and are a little confused about the concept. Here are some resolutions our entrants came up with. "Nancyy" and Beth York won gift certificates to The Bronze Lady of Orlando for $17.

Nancyy: To remember to be more considerate and understanding of others in the everyday things in life.

Karen Laufer: I think they all have the same resolution: To keep getting cuter throughout the year!

S.J.L. Back: A resolution for the Squashville gang--I think they should resolve to stay away from the sweets this year!

Scooter: Stewart's resolution is to find a way to sneak past the Canadian border patrol so he can finally visit Skunky in Ontario.

awatkins:
Mackenzie - I want to make Maxine the happiest "mousewife" on the earth.
Maxine - I will be thankful every day for Mackenzie's love.
Binkey - I want to stay Bunnie's "love bunny."
Bunnie - I will take care of my little "pumpkin."
Sabrina- I will catch Sebastian's heart.
Sebastian - I won't be caught too soon!
Chauncey - I will take more allergy medicine. Ah-choo!!
Reginald - I will give out the most accurate up-to-date news to Squashville.
Stuart - I will not get a sunburn the next day I spend in the sun.
Lydia - I will keep popping up in the most surprising places.
Sydney - I want to make more friends in Squashville.

Smittens1: To pose for more figurines for Dean!! The more the better! For Mackenzie and Maxine to try to have another baby, maybe twins!

Autumn: In light of the new family on the way (The Honeymoon's Over), Maxine and Mackenzie resolve to be the best parents possible to their "New Arrivals."

Beth York: Mackenzie's resolution is to continue to bring smiles to all the new Charming Tails collectors.

meezer: Chauncey resolves to try to overcome his shyness a little by becoming more involved in Squashville activities (or perhaps finding a way to improve life in SV), so that we might see more of him in future release

charmingtail@hotmail: Mackenzie has a few New Year's resolutions:
1) Say bedtime prayers every night.
2) Don't finish the last cookie in the cookie jar.
3) Always make sure Maxine is happy.

Skunky: Stewart's resolution is to bring all his online friends even closer this new year! The resolution of all the inhabitants of Squashville is to teach their young ones all about the love they know and share with each other.

Michelle W.: I didn't enter the contest, but here's what I think their resolution is--to make us all broke by being so darn cute!!!

"cccef.amartins" is the winner of the Christmas carol contest. The winner receives a Charming Tails piece from Everything Christmas.

Do you know your Christmas carols? Apparently someone in Squashville is a little too politically correct. How about helping out so the Christmas Trio will know what to sing?

"Audsbeanbskts" was the winner of the Christmas contest. Quite a few people had the right answer, so Cathy took all the winners and put them in a hat. The winner will receive a copy of MSDatabase's Charming Tails database.

All the club sponsors added a picture to their web sites. But one of them was different. Here's the "different" one participants were looking for:

This one was a word scramble. Since Cathy accidentally put in a few wrong letters, she put the names of everyone who entered into a hat and picked one name. Sheri is the contest winner! The prize is from Collecto-Mania.

Mackenzie was counting his blessings, and you know mice can't write very well. Here's his thanksgiving list.

Things to be thankful for
1. Maxine
2. Dean Griff
3. Squashville
4. cattails
5. lazy days
6. Binkey
7. spring flowers
8. Santa
9. romance
10. parades
11. snow
12. Rosemont
13. collectors
14. Sebastian
15. love

Three people had the right answers, and lmju65a won the draw. The prize was Hang In There from Collecto-Mania.

1. Who further disabled three mice? What happened to them?
Three blind mice. Farmer's wife cut off their tails.
Three blind mice, three blind mice, see how they run, see how they run, they all ran after the farmer's wife, she cut off their tails with a carving knife, did you ever see such a sight in your life as three blind mice.

2. What time was it when the mouse ran down the clock?
One o'clock
Hickory Dickory Dock, the mouse ran up the clock, the clock struck one and down he run. Hickory Dickory Dock.

3. Who was Charlotte's rodent friend?
Templeton
The rat in Charlotte's Web was Templeton. The voice of Templeton was Paul Lynd.

4. What is Steamboat Willie's alias?
Mickey Mouse
Mickey Mouse was first released as Steamboat Willie.

5. Who is Pinky's smart friend?
The Brain
Pinky and the Brain is a Fox cartoon. The Brain is always trying to rule the world.

6. What is Slow Poke's last name?
Rodrigez
The slowest mouse in all of Mexico, but he carries a beeg gun. Friend of Speedy Gonzalez.

7. Where was the Pied Piper from?
Hamlin
He led the rats (and children) out of town.

8. Who is the mouse, Jerry or Tom?
Jerry
Tom and Jerry is a cartoon with a little brown mouse.

9. Who is Maxine's object of affection?
Mackenzie
Shame on you if you missed this one. Who else would Maxine dream of?

I believe a leaf of grass is no less than the journey-work of the stars,
And the pismire is equally perfect, and a grain of sand, and the
egg of the wren,
And the tree-toad is a chef-d'oeuvre for the highest,
And the running blackberry would adorn the parlors of heaven,
And the narrowest hinge in my hand puts to scorn all machinery,
And the cow crunching with depress'd head surpasses any statue,
And a mouse is miracle enough to stagger sextillions of infidels.

The winner of Stewart's Word Contest is "awatkins." The winner made 1,054 words out of "STEWART'S WINTER FUN." That's a few too many to list here, so you'll have to take Cathy's word for it. :-) The winner will receive Hang In There from Collecto-Mania.

We have a winner for the new button contest for the Squashville Social Club. Congratulations to Larry and Kim for their outstanding creation! Many thanks to the others who sent in their submissions: Julie Back, Audra Brown, Jimmy Hestand, Mark Klym, Brenda Mize, me, Jan Walker, and Paula Gardner. We had a wonderful effort from our members.

Surprise! All entrants will receive a past button (Dean's design), a new button (Larry and Kim's design), and a button of their contest entry. Here are our other worthy entries:

Julie Back	Audra Brown	Jimmy Hestand

Mark Klym	Brenda Mize	Michelle Walker

Jan Walker	Paula Gardner	Paula Gardner

Paula Gardner	Paula Gardner	Paula Gardner

Mark (booboo216) was the winner of our latest contest. Congratulations! Mark wins a $25 gift certificate from Elaine's Mouse Trap Secondary Market.

Everyone who had the correct answers had his or her name put in a hat, with one name selected. Here are Cathy's answers to the contest quiz:

1. What are the streets in Squashville named?
Acorn Avenue and Berry Street. They are on the street sign.

2. What businesses are there in Squashville?
The Pumpkin Inn, the Mushroom Depot, the Great Oak Town Hall, the Butternut Squash Dairy, the Radish-ing Beauty Salon, the Old Cob Mill, the Newsstand, and the Cathedral and the Chapel (nonprofit of course).

3. Who is the mailman?
Mackenzie Mail Mouse. Stewart helped with the air mail, and Maxine must help with the e-mail.

8. Where does the Lil' Drummer Mouse go in the parade?
The Lil' Drummer Mouse actually goes in the nativity.

10. Are all of the characters of the same denomination?
Apparently not. There is both a cathedral and a chapel.

"Sandijac" is the winner of this contest. She wins a copy of the price guide and a copy of Collectors Bulletin magazine.

There were a few people with the right answer. Cathy's sister Penny picked a name out of the hat from those with the right answer.

At the signing in Galveston, I asked Dean if he would help us with our new contest. What a nice guy he is! Here's what he came up with: What is the significance of the license plate number on the Pear Taxi?

Hint #1:
The license plate says "D-178." The "9" was left out, so this IS indeed a year. But what's the significance of the year?

We have a winner! Kim guessed that the year 1978 was the year Dean graduated from high school. Thanks to everyone who played. The prize is a gift certificate from Big Grizz.

We have a winner for the Pick-the-Number Contest (pick a number between 1 and 200), better known as the No-Brainer! My perverse husband picked the number 4 because he said no one would pick it. The joke's on him! Lisa Wamhoff (Mystic) picked 4 and is the winner of a gift certificate from Elaine's Mouse Trap (thanks, Elaine!).

Carol at Big Grizz judged the entries, and the winner is Jan Walker! Go, Jan! A writer after my own heart. She wins a $20 gift certificate from Big Grizz/Timberlake Gift Shop.

Mackenzie and Maxine Mouse were splashing in the Waterslide. Maxine shrieked as Mackenzie propelled head first down the leaf slide into the pool. He came up laughing.

Maxine climbed up and came down feet first. She screeched in terror, then laughed when she bounced up in the water.

They laughed and yelled and splashed and made so much noise they didn't notice the strange rumbling and muffled chortling sounds that seemed to waft out of the deep forest. But Reginald did. He was walking down Acorn Avenue in Squashville. His ears perked up and his expression remained puzzled. His nickname was "Frequent Flyer" partly because he owns the local newsstand but also because he seems to be everywhere, always on the lookout for a new story. As a crafty raccoon, Reginald was always looking into things. He spotted Stewart the skunk delivering mail.

"Those rumblings and squeaky sounds coming from somewhere in the forest." Reginald replied.

"Nope, I've just been deliverin' the mail. Maybe you just imagined it," said Stewart. He knew Reginald was also the town trickster and he was always careful not to fall for one of his jokes.

"No thanks, you go. I've got this mail to get out. Maybe Mack and Maxine can help you. They're at the Waterslide." Stewart waved and walked away.

Reginald heard it again. Something wasn't right. He raced home to get his investigative reporter bag.

"I'll stop and get Mack," he thought as he started his trek into the forest. He heard their screams and giggles way before he saw them.

"Come on in," Mack answered. "The water is great. Watch Maxine! She's going down head first!"

"I hate to throw cold water on all your fun here," Reginald announced. "But stop your yammering for just a minute and listen."

Mackenzie and Maxine pulled themselves out of the pool. They saw a concerned look on Reginald's face. They concentrated on listening. And off from deep in the forest, they heard it too. The strange rumbling and squeaky chortling sounds.

"Right," Maxine said sarcastically. "You two boys go off and investigate. I'm going home, and I'm going online. I'll solve this mystery before you do." And she scampered off.

"OK, Mack. I figure if we split up we'll have a better chance." Reginald said taking charge of the situation. "Here, you take my magnifying glass and I'll take my binoculars and tape recorder. I'll meet you back here in a half an hour. No heroics--got that?"

"No heroics. Thanks, Reggie. See you in half an hour," Mackenzie declared as they split up.

Meanwhile, Maxine reached home and went online. She checked her e-mail and found three messages from Chauncey the chipmunk. She read them quickly. Her eyes went wide, and she jumped up without signing off and ran into the forest after Mack and Reggie.

Reginald had to run to keep up with her. They found Mackenzie using his magnifying glass looking through the tall grass just as the rumbling started, throwing Maxine and Reginald to the ground.

"I see things clearly now!" Mack exclaimed. "You won't believe this! Look!" He offered the glass to them.

"I know what it is," Maxine announced as she scrambled up from the grass. "It's Chauncey. And he..."

Before she had a chance to say more, a huge "Ahhh-Chooo!" rumbled through the grass and knocked them down again. They struggled back up and ran through the grass.

Chauncey put his tissue down and looked at them, his eyes watering and his nose running. "I hab a code and I can't stop sneezing," he coughed.

"Ahhh-Chooo!" Chauncey sneezed again. It was like no other sneeze they had ever heard before. It rumbled from deep in his throat, and it came out in screeches and squeaks so loud that Mackenzie, Maxine and Reginald had to hold their ears.

"Wait a minute," Mack said turning towards Maxine. "I saw him through the magnifying glass. How did you know?"

Maxine smiled, looked and them, and remembered she forgot to log off her computer.

I think Mackenzie was trying to sort out his true feelings for Maxine, and when he decided that he did love her...wanted to marry her...the light came on and "He Could See Things Clearly"!

I think each night Mackenzie comes to life and sneaks into the workshop checking on each and every piece, making sure the details are *just* right. He comes across the Teeny Tiny Tails, picks up his magnifying glass, and was caught on film.

Oh you didn't know? Lydia ladybug just had babies!!! Lydia is rather on the small side herself so her children are ever so much smaller. Did you know that she also asked Maxine and Mackenzie to be the godparents? They are honored and so excited!

Mackenzie needs his magnifying glass to find a thorn that Sidney (the snail) picked up along the way. He's just trying to help his little friend out of his predicament.

Mackenzie has always been a very picky eater. He hardly ever eats his cheese until he studies it for quite sometime with his handy magnifying glass. Heaven help him if he discovers a little mold!! And when he does--he puts it in the cat's dish. >^..^<

Poor Mackenzie! He had made Maxine mad by running off with Binkey to play in A Day at the Lake. He learned Maxine had even gone (Goes)on-line to tell about his less than romantic escapade with the Squashville Social Club chat group. But Mackenzie, that ever-loving positive-thinking rascal, realized that Even the Ups and Down Are Fun and decided It's Your Move, Maxine. He spied Maxine in the meadow saying "You Love Me...You Love Me Not," and when the last petal was "you love me," he knew he still had a chance. Mackenzie scampered to the meadow and whispered sweet nothings in Maxine's ear: I'm Thinking (only) of You, I'm So Sorry, We'll Weather This Storm Together, but when he got to the big I Love You, Maxine Cattail Catapulted into his heart, and they enjoyed just Hangin' Around for several hours. Mackenzie knew he had to do something special To Keep Their (Our)Love Alive, so he went to the local jewelry store and asked to see the biggest and best Squashville could offer. After careful consideration, he said, "Ah, I See Things Clearly Now," and pointed to a very special perfect piece. Several hours later Mackenzie told himself Good Luck as he went off in search of Maxine. "I Have a Question for You, Maxine," he said before he popped the biggest engagement ring ever seen in Squashville in front of her delicate nose. Yes, we all know Maxine's answer because the two were happily married several weeks later in the biggest event of the year.

He is studying one of the new Teeny Tiny Tails pieces, trying to figure out if a red dot on a leaf is Lydia!

He's looking through the glass so he can get a better look at all the new friends he has made through the Squashville Social Club.

I think Mackenzie is looking at one of Dean's signatures, and trying to figure out "How in the world does this guy write so small"? I know that I am amazed at how he does it.

I think Mackenzie is taking a good look at his friend Lydia the ladybug. And since we see he's standing on some type of carpet, we know he's not aiming a sunbeam at her!!

It's widely known throughout Squashville that several times a year they are paid a visit by "The Great Griff." He is loved by all the Squashville residents for his kindness, patience and the great gifts he bestows on them. This gentle soul has been known to leave "Apple Computers," "Pumpkin Slides," "Whirlygigs" and "Leaf Sleighs" for his Squashville friends.

No one has ever seen him, but he is a legend. It is said that he labors day and night in his workshop located somewhere in the deep south. That he is inspired by his love for the residents of Squashville to make each gift with great attention to detail. And that with each gift he mixes equal parts of imagination, skill and Griff Gift Dust. When he completes his tasks, he bags them up for delivery.

After all the creatures in Squashville are deep in slumber, he sneaks into their tiny community and quietly deposits his gifts. One year a small chipmunk reported that he almost saw the "Great Griff," almost but not quite. But he did see a sprinkling of Griff Gift Dust in the shapes of paws and acorns just before it vaporized. He also heard a voice...a voice saying "Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse."

Identify this picture and then tell me what would you would use more to prevent the problem.

Answer: Stewart's Day in the Sun, and more After Glow Tanning Lotion would have prevented it. Cathy did some camera effects to get that weird shot.

Vickster 2 got the picture right. Quite a few had it right after the hint, but hers was the first one. Congrats! Vickster will get a prize from Big Grizz.