Dogs of Our Lives: A Sleepover at Nashie's!

Bored, bored, bored, bored, BORED.

Wait, what's that, Mom? Do I want to invite Tammo over for a sleepover?? I sure do! Tammo, did you hear that??

::Wild and crazy barking and howling::

::Climbing into Lisa's car and heading to her home::

Wow, Nash! This is so much fun! Your mom put some tasty treats in my dinner bowl! And now we are going for a long walk!

Wow, Nash! Your mom lets me stay up much later than I get to at Grammy and Boompa's home. Let's play some more!

Boys? Bo-oys! ::pause:: BOYS! It's time to stop playing and go to bed. It is almost midnight and I can't keep my eyes open any longer. Go outside, do your business, and hop into bed. If you need a drink, now's the time. I'm not getting up to bring you one. Capice? 

::Flap, flap, flap, flap goes the doggie door. Sounds of romping and playing. A few moments of quiet. Flap, flap, flap, flap. Lap, lap, lap, lap. Some pushing, some shoving, and finally two leaps onto the bed.::

Okay, Tammo, This is my mom's bed. You have to share because you are kind of... er... um... Well, you're long.

::shuffle, shuffle, shuffle::

Goodnight, boys. Sleep tight and don't let the bedbugs bite.

Bedbugs? Nashie, what are those and why will they bite me??

It's just a saying, buddy. You don't need to worry about them. Go to sleep.

::sighs, yawns, light snoring::

::peace and quiet::

::whimpering::

What's that? You are cold? Here, take my blanket, Tammo.

::snuggling down, light snoring::

::peace and quiet::

::whimpering and a few yips::

What's that? You're scared? It's ok. I am big and strong and right here. I'll protect you. I'll put my head by your side so you can feel me close.

::peace and quiet::

:: some loud wailing and crying::

What's that? You're homesick? Aw, buddy. I'm here and will cuddle up closer to you. Don't be lonely. You know I'm your best buddy, and Lisa is coming to bed in just a minute. We'll all be together, safe and sound.

::heavy snoring::

Next day.

Morning.

Afternoon.

Evening.

Ahhhhh. My own bed. And Grammy and Boompa! Pepper! I sure love Nashie and Lisa, but it is good to be back in my own bed again.

Pepper? Peeppeer!! I'm cold. Can I have a blanket? And will you come cuddle up with me? I'm scared, too.

Ahhh. Thanks, Pep. I love you.

::happy sigh and then snoring::

Dogs of Our Lives: A Sleepover & a Story

Lynn, it's so quiet here. Nothing is happening. You just sit at your sewing machine and Craig just works on his computer. I miss Tammo.

It's okay, Pep. He'll be back in the morning. He is just having a sleepover with Nashie and Mama.

But why? Why did he go and not me?

Sweetie, it's an Arctic tundra out in our yard right now.

When you go outside (IF you go outside), you do the ol' squirt and scurry, and then run back inside and go back to snuggling in bed.

Tammo wants to run, and he can't do that here, at least not right now. So Lisa invited him to come over to her house. He can use her dog door to go in and out at will, plus he is helping Nash who is also a little bored with all "this indoor stuff." (Nash's words, Pep, not mine.)

How about I show you some pictures from the sleepover? Would that make you feel a little less lonely? I'll fix you a peanut butter Kong and we can sit together on the couch and look at them together, all right?

A peanut butter Kong? Will you stick a few dog treats inside, too? I love it when I find those!

::Hug:: You got it, sweetie.

::Lick::

Okay, we are both settled on the couch, you have your Kong, and I have a nice mug of hot chocolate. Let me get out my phone.

::Scrolling to the text chain with Lisa::

Oh! Well!! Oh, dear!

::Mouth full of peanut butter:: Whatsa mmphh matter ?

::Reading text aloud:: "Tammo has pooped twice, run around the back yard with Nash, covered up all of Nash's usual spots, and we just completed rough and tumble time featuring Mr. Fox."

::Swallow:: Doesn't sound too bad, although isn't Mr. Fox Nashie's favorite toy?

Yes, he is. And if he looks anything like what OUR Mr. Fox looks like, he's soon not going to be long for this world.

::More licking:: That's what I was thinking. Keep going. Um, I mean, PLEASE keep scrolling. (Sorry, Lynn. Sometimes I just can't turn off the guide dog part of me.)

They had dinner, although Lisa reports she "just doesn't zhuhzh it up" like Craig does.

It is hard to compete with Craig's zhuhzhing! Man, the other night, he sliced up a little meat, added a sprinkle of grated cheese, and topped it with a spoon of cottage cheese! The man can cook! Um, by the way, can I have a peanut butter refill?

Maybe later, Pep. Let's keep scrolling.

::Scroll, scroll, scroll::

Okay, Lisa says she spent some time folding laundry while the dogs watched her.

Yeah, and I'll bet she watched one of those Great British Baking Shows she's so fond of at the same time!

::Laughing:: I am sure you are right! 

Wait, oh boy. Here they go again. Listen to this, Pepper.

::Reading aloud:: "These boys just crack me up! Nash just got off the chair to get a drink, and Tammo immediately stole his spot!"

Not a surprise. That's a very common Tammo-move around here.

Nash looks like he wants his spot back, doesn't he? ::Laughing:: Wait until you see this next picture, sweetie! But you'll have to wait until I go get some more hot chocolate and refill your Kong, though.

No, no! That's okay. I can wait. I'm kinda full of peanut butter anyway. Show me the picture. Er, I mean, PLEASE show me the picture, Lynn!

Looks like Nashie somehow ended up with the entire loveseat, doesn't it?

Those boys! I love 'em both but I have to admit, it's nice being snuggled on the couch, just you and me, and enjoying the peace and quiet of a winter's evening.

I like it, too, Pep. I'm going sit here and read for a while now.

And I'm gonna stay right here at your side. But first, will you tell me a story?

What story do you want to hear, sweet girl?

::Snuggling closer:: Tell me about the day you and Dad brought me home. It's my favorite.

::Hug/Lick:: 

That's my favorite, too, Peppy. Once upon a time, there was a a hard working Seeing Eye Dog named Pepper...

A Thicc Pony & Holiday Activities

 Today's Yuletide Challenge is, "Eggnog: Thicc ponies."

I had look that word up. "Thicc" is a slang term. It generally is a postive, complimentary word that is used to describe someone who is curvaceous or voluptuous. ("Full figured" is an older term for the same thing.)

In my collection is one of the cutest thicc ponies in the world.

This little guy is Joyful Jake, a Cheval from South Africa.

He has been in my collection for 25 years or so, and his happiness, sauciness, and pudgy thicc belly always bring a smile.

That tummy!! See what I mean? 

Moving on the holiday happenings around here, we have been busy with some holiday activities the past few days. Here are a few.

Ian's Holiday Band Concert

Wednesday evening was Ian's first band concert.

He plays the trumpet but has had some training on the piano so he can already read music.

It's a long walk across a full gym of family and friends to get to your seat in the band!

Ready to be seated and begin.

The gym was packed and there was standing room only. Lukas, Mila, Lisa, Craig, Curt, and Vanessa all had seats including one for me, but there was no way I could get up to them with my walker.

And, there was no set-aside place for wheelchairs and walkers, so I finally rolled over to a line of parents and parked myself there. 

The kids played impressively well - it was hard to believe they'd only been playing since August!

Afterward we took some family pictures together.

That kid is getting so tall.

So is this girl. (I am seated, but still.)

Pizza & A Sleepover at Aunt Lisa's

Lisa excels at being an aunt. (And a lot of other things, too!) She invited us all over for cheese pizza and to watch Home Alone, and then a sleepover for Ian, Mila, and Lukas. Dogs were invited, too.

Nash and Tammo cuddled up with Mila on the floor.

Lukas and me with Mila on the ottoman before she moved to the floor.

School had just gotten out for winter break that day, and apparently everyone was tired. Either that, or Lisa's beds are extra comfy - she reported that the kids and she slept twelve hours!

Nash loves lives to play, and Ian and Lukas were happy to accommodate him.

Always ready and waiting, that's our Nash.

I think Nash slept most of Saturday recovering!

Advent Celebration with an Elderly Friend

Back story: There is an elderly gentleman that Craig looks out for. (Today Craig's driving him to the hospital for some tests.) The man has no family and lives alone in a tiny apartment. 

Last night he invited us over for another holiday activity. He wanted to celebrate Advent but his family is gone. So he asked us join him last night.

I did not know what to expect but it certainly was not this!

We sat down and he shared stories as to how his German family had celebrated Advent over the years and then read the story from Luke in the Bible to us. It was a lovely evening.

More is happening around here, but I'm going to stop now. Tomorrow I will do another Yuletide picture and share more of the 12 Days of Breyer minis.

Stay 'tooned!

Doggie Doin's/Mish Mosh

Just look at this face. (Er, Tammo's, not Craig's.)

This is a happy boi who is getting to go on a sleepover at Nashie's house! Yeeha!

What a smile! (I love how his lips actually do curve up when he smiles.)

Lisa invites Tammo over occasionally because he and Nash like to rough and tumble for hours. It's too much for Mama who rarely plays with anyone, canine or human. As for Pepper, Tammo easily wears her out at home, so these two big boys are perfect play buddies. They play and play and PLAY!

Then they crash at the end of the day and sleep well. In Lisa's bed. Leaving her no room in her own bed. Good thing her couch is comfy!

The girls are older (ten and eight) and much more sedate.

Mama's arthritis can make it so that she sometimes has a hard time getting comfortable.

"Just checking to be sure that you are still sitting in your chair and reading. Where you go, I go, you know."

I think sometimes the firmness of the floor supports her body better than a doggy bed, although clearly she likes having a pillow. 

Almost settled and ready to head into a deep snooze.

And finally she's off to dreamland.

Pepper may not go on sleepovers, but she does go on school visits and plays with students. Twenty (TWENTY!!) of Lisa's students made their reading goals this quarter and earned a Pepper Pass, so Pepper was very busy doing her part to promote reading and education.

"Good job hitting your reading goals, ladies! You may rub my tummy to celebrate."

Two of the kiddos who had made their goals were absent so Lisa asked me to take a couple of pictures of her with Pep and this sign.

What a great idea! She'd asked me if either Pepper or I would  mind coming back when those two girls were healthy and back at school - no problem!

Although it will have to be after I've had a chance to recover from Kalamazoo.

Speaking of education, this former teacher got a terrific surprise the other day. I went to pick up my new glasses,

and my technician was a familiar face! (Well, actually, it wasn't at first - she was so grown up and is now taller than me!) 

Cayde, one of my former students! What a wonderful reunion! We took a little time to catch up while she checked the fit of my glasses and sunglasses. ("Your sunglasses are the same frame as my glasses! Good choice!" she said.)

Always, always happy to run into a former kiddo. And between that and taking Pepper to school, I am feeling more than a bit nostalgic. I loved teaching so very much and sometimes I miss it terribly.

Today is the last day I have to prepare for Kalamazoo as the event is this weekend.

I will finish up the hand stitching on these two Frances Rumps and then run some errands and pack my suitcase. Leslie and Rick (and my things) are already in Kalamazoo and today they work with the Expo crew in setting up the building. 

It's a huge place with 59,000 square feet. Can you imagine setting that all up with tables, chairs, booths, electricity for those who require it, and more? I was surprised when Leslie told me that this event has four times the number of vendors than The Feast of the Hunters' Moon has and there certainly is room in the Expo Center for that.

In the past, I've been in Expo North (in purple) where the red arrow is pointing and I am hoping to be there again this year. Leslie puts her business, Chien Noir, next to mine where we can help each other and chat.

Off to go stitch those rumps! (Something I never thought I'd say... LOL)

Tick! Tick! Tick!