Cachemas 2013 is here. There will be 13 caches placed starting on Dec 14th with a cache being place everyday until Cachemas Dec 25th. If you are able to FTF one of the caches there will be an FTF Cachemas ornament in the cache for you. PLEASE, if you get an FTF on one of the caches do not go for another FTF in the series. Let someone else have some fun.
There will be a thirteenth cachemas puzzle cache that can only be found using the numbers you find in all twelve Cachemas caches.
I baited my trap with milk and cookies on the fireplace mantel and settled into the recliner to wait. I must have fallen asleep, for I awoke with a start. I looked around and saw the jolly old elf, with his little belly that shook like a bowl of jelly when he laughed, standing on his head in the corner. I could not understand a thing he said. I thought at first it was the stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth, but I still could not understand him after I ripped the pipe out of his mouth. So, I decided to stand on my head too and his words became clear. "If you wish to find my bundle of toys, you must observe carefully," he said as his eyes twinkled. Out on the lawn there arose such a clatter. He looked at me and said, “Those are just my reindeer. You can ignore them. They are of no consequence.”
I returned to my feet and looked around, the stockings hung by the chimney with care had the unfamiliar names of "Ghost of Christmas Past," "Ghost of Christmas Present," and "Ghost of Christmas Future" on them. How strange I thought as I heard a noise from behind. I turned and saw Prancer and Blitzen, two reindeer, eating the cookies and drinking the milk. Next to the now empty plate and glass I spied a jewelry box. Opening it up I found a set of gold rings. Unfortunately, my attention was drawn away by a pair of turtle dove ornaments on the Christmas tree discussing how sad it was when Frosty the Snowman melted after being locking in the greenhouse. Two of the elf’s other reindeer, Comet and Clarice, wandered into the room and joined in the discussion expressing the opinion that it was Karen’s fault for basically running away from home in the dead of winter. Some music came out of nowhere and a funny looking guy with orange hair started singing and dancing. “Heat Miser”, I heard someone whisper. After the song, the turtle doves started arguing over who was the better singer – Heat Miser or Snow Miser. A mooing sound grabbed my attention and sent me on a search. On the mantle I found a snow globe that contained many maids milking cows which seemed none too pleased, and thus the racket they were making. Someone must have grabbed the remote control, because the television came to life. A partridge, in a small pear tree atop the device, started hopping from branch to branch. I expected to see the Grinch, but instead I was watching the upper house of the British parliament where a bunch of lords were leaping up and down and screaming at each other. The holiday spirit I said to myself. Blitzen, Cupid, and Dancer lay on the floor to watch the television. “Change the channel, change the channel,” they chanted. A little girl with antennae named Cindy Lou Who had the remote control and started flipping through channels. In quick succession I saw a lamp shaped like a leg, a blond kid with hands on his cheeks, the inside of a Macy’s store, and a pathetic looking tree with a single red ornament before the channel flipping stopped on a performance of The Nutcracker and ladies dancing.
Hearing some banging on the windows, I threw up the sash and some colly birds flew in. They dove towards the mantel and grabbed the gold rings. Rudolf and Clarice took off, chasing the colly birds around the room. The Bumble made an appearance, but only managed to step on the remote control. In quick succession I saw Clarence getting his wings, rattling chains in 19th century England, a snowed in Vermont lodge, and Linus playing his piano before returning the television to the leaping lords. Dasher and Blitzen started to chant, “Change the channel, change the channel.” Yukon Cornelius dashed into the room and threw his pick axe. The box containing the gold rings fell through the air into my hands. I replaced it to its spot on the mantle next to to snow globe with the maids milking the cows. Donner, Vixen, and Dasher found the eggnog in the fridge and let out a cheer from the kitchen. Max rushed in, with that silly antler tied to his head, and waved to everyone before leaving the room again. A Charlie-in-a-Box popped up and sang "Jingle Bell Rock," backed up by a chorus of French hens. I sat down in my recliner and tried to block out the mayhem that was happening around me.
I opened my eyes to peace and quiet in my darkened living room. I looked around. It must have been a dream, I said to myself. I got up to go to bed and then noticed that the plate and glass were empty. I thought back. A bundle of toys, he said, was mine to find if only I had observed. I considered all that I had seen, and could not figure it out. Then I went the corner of the room where he had been and stood on my head. It all became clear. I grabbed my coat, hat and mittens. Out the door I went to find the bundle of toys.