Holiday are for laying around...

 We normally spend the holidays traveling between both families, but this year Jason's family is moving to a smaller house..so we only visited my parents this year.  This is the first year that I haven't had to travel on Christmas day..ever.  So we took advantage!
Before Christmas Day..we did a lot of laying around...
Dana shows off her new toy..

Cali gets a little too comfortable

 Dante wants everyone to know..this present should be his...

 Shiloh just watches from afar..

 I take the time to take a photo with Shiloh..she is my heart dog and doesn't always get the attention she deserves due to those skinny dogs.. ;-)

 I gave Truflz his new toy early...I think he likes it...Ewok

 My mom learns what it is like to live with Cali....Dante, Truflz and Cali share the one cushion

 Then we went to my sister's house for an extended family party.  My sister has angora goats..which basically look like goats with perms.  They were kind of crazy looking..

And my nephew Boone has definitely grown this year!  He was busy taking it all in!

On Christmas Eve, we had some family.  We try to take family photos every year. 

The whole Stumpf pack

Henry and Cali enjoy a little time in the mini horse paddock

Inside..we make Henry be the Santa..he says 'Ho, Ho, Ho' in a old man voice..

 Lady..will you please take this stupid hat off my head???

 Thank you..

 On Christmas Day, my sister couldn't get there until dinner..so we had the day to 'stare at Christmas' and drink mulled wine!
Jason and my dad put a lot of Boone's gifts together..some required power tools!!

But once they arrived, the paper started to fly.  Boone got a cardboard 'space ship' that Henry decided he would 'guard' for Boone.

I think Boone liked the wooden firehouse Jason and I got him this year...

AND Jason seems to enjoy the 17 year Balvenie my mom got him this year....

Cali isn't happy that this day seems to be about everything EXCEPT her.

After the mayhem, we relaxed a bit with a glass of wine.  How many people/dogs can you fit on one couch.

Fear not..the day became about Cali quickly..

We had a great time but I am glad to have my fenced yard back..that makes a big difference with 3 leashed beasts.  now to New Year's Eve! 

Preparing for holiday cheer

 James River Greyhounds volunteers met at the Orvis store to wrap presents for donations on Saturday.  I am not known to enjoy malls and have managed to do all of my holiday shopping without entering a store.  But the Saturday before Christmas, Cali, Dana and I braved the traffic, crowds and bustle..for some donations.  It was worth it!!!
We arrived to give Doc and Dinah a break.  Doc was doing a great job at schmoozing the crowd.

But then my girls took over..they have their ways.  Dana became a little 'eeyore-ish' a few times, but she gave a few kisses when needed.  Some blamed her sullen ways on the hat..but we all know better

 The roo pants..

 

 Cali is a pro at schmoozing..all ages.

 

 Cali took a break on Dana's back for a bit..

 

 Dana needed a break for a bit..the old lady takes power naps.

 One of the employees gave Cali a treat..she is a smart one and watched where the cookies came from..a jar near the register.  It took a while before this stopped..and I won't deny that it got her a few more cookies.

After a while, Cali started looking for a lap.  She slinked under the wrapping table to see if Suzanne would fall for her tricks.  Suzanne was busy wrapping so was unable to comply..but Cali tried!

Hunter also stopped by with Linka.  We watched Linka a few years ago.  But Linka is going in for surgery on Monday to remove her front left leg due to osteo.  It was good to give her some snuggles on Saturday.  Good luck, Linka.

 Jason and i decided to have our holiday meal this weekend..we will be heading to the 'country' on Thursday for the holidays.  So we made butternut squash raviolis! From scratch..they were yummy.

 And a parting shot of the true house matriarch snoozing. 

 Have a great holiday! 

Friends and Family

We spend a lot of time with the Parks, so when they adopted Beth less than a year ago..we had a new family member.  And it made Henry seem like a spring chicken.  But we were deeply saddened with her progressive decline and wept for the Park's last week when they had to let her go.  Beth reminded us that greyhounds can live to a ripe old age.  We will miss you Beth and we are so glad we were able to meet you and spend time with you.  I snagged this photo from Gyeong as it was one of my favorites.  My mom gives Beth some love while my old man lays nearby.

This time of year is for family and friends..remembering how luck.
We spent Thanksgiving at Jason's parents' house where he made a great dinner

 Which of course, the fur kids had a taste of..just a little but they enjoyed it immensely.

I also had the pleasure of visiting a local farm to 'test drive' a horse for my sister.  Most of you might not know I was a 'horse person' until I became a 'greyhound person'. Riding and judging at all levels.  My mom and sister still have horses.  I haven't ridden in years.  I didn't actually ride during this visit either..just performed photography and size comparisons..since this is a smaller horse (technically a pony)..she needed to get perspective.

To be honest..I was easily distracted by the goats.

But she might visit (she lives 3 hours from me and the horse is about 30 minutes from me) to ride him herself.  then maybe I will be able to take more photos of the goats!
After visiting the farm, I took Dana and Cali to a dog event at a local Home depot..we had tons of greyhounds show up!

And since i started this post with sadness...i wanted to end it with happiness.  And what says happy more than a puppy..especially a fuzzy puppy that looks like a fox!  Our friend, Rob, has a 6 month old Shiba Inu.
She started the afternoon trying to play with the greyhounds.. Cali had absolutely nothing to do with her..

 But Dana and Henry obliged for a small time (ok..Dana hunted her..Henry played with her)

 She definitely learned to play by herself while the greyhounds snoozed

She is really pretty

Once night fell, I had time to get some photos of everyone.  I have always loves Dana's white eyelashes..

 A rare moment with the pink poodle

and this gave me time to get some photos of Sakura while she tried to 'will' the greyhounds to play with her. Dante had already told her under NO circumstances did he want to play...