Celebrations

This time of the year is special for everyone. Chanukah, Christmas., Kwanza, New Year's... But for me it's extra special because tomorrow, New Year's Day, is my Barkday. Yep, tomorrow I'll be nine years old. Nine! And I've lived all of that time -- except for the first two and a half months -- right here with my Mom and Dogdad.


It's an extra special time for them too though. A few days ago -- on December 28 -- they celebrated their tenth wedding anniversary. Yep. Ten. (I was going to ask why they spent more than a whole year without me -- but then I realized that was pretty silly, because I wasn't even born yet when they were married. Hehehehe. I guess even a smarty-pants like me can be dorkish from time to time. Or maybe I caught it from my doofus brother.)


So how did they celebrate? They went back to the place where Dogdad had proposed on July 28 of that year (2000).They toasted with Prosecco. They made their way down the narrow sea-grape-tree lined path. They walked on the beach, which was pretty much deserted because it was still a bit nippy (55F is nippy here in South Land). But they saw a bird. And some bird tracks. And heard the strains of bagpipes -- which turned out to be brothers practicing for a parental (second, we guess) wedding.



Unlike the past few years, we weren't with the folks over Christmas this year -- but our pal H.C. Bird, our intrepid heron-cam (NO relation to the evil heron who likes to eat kois chez les Lambs), flew with them, despite the cold (temperatures dropping to 17F or so) and caught lots of the action.

Like this snowfall which covered everything.




And this strange-looking person on her way to Christmas Eve service as the snow continued to fall.


And Dogdad's brother's house for the traditional Christmas Eve family get together...

The "fourth" generation cousins waiting patiently for Santa Claws.


The annual Christmas Story marathon.



The Christmas tree "before"

"During"...

And "after."
The next day, H.C. Bird accompanied the folks on a trip to Schlafly's Bottleworks for lunch with human brother and his wife and human sister and her fiancee (more celebrations this coming June!).

And finally, home to me and Just Harry.

So, now that they're home, having gone from this --

to this --

I'm looking forward to tomorrow.

Who knows what the New Year will bring!!! So I wish everybody -- the furry ones and their asssistants/ servants/ parental units/ companions/ peeps/ pinkies/ muzzers/ momsters (and popsters)/ mumsies/ mommis and daddis/ secretaries -- all the best in this New Year -- always promising, always unknown, always interesting!!!

Your pal,

Jake