More fun in the snow

The people finally got out and played in the white stuff Monday. Wes, Cheryl and Alison went sledding at the School for the Deaf and then Wes and Cheryl went trekking through the woods near Nana and Pawpaw's. Duchess hasn't been out in it much. She's white. The snow's white. We are afraid we might lose her. "Just keep your eyes open and your nose up," we tell her. The snow is slowly melting and I still can't get anyone to help me build a snowman. Maybe next time.

Our white Christmas (and the day after)

I dreamt of a white Christmas and my dreams came true. It started coming down at breakfast time Saturday and didn't stop until this morning. Lexie and I were up early this morning hunting for food as we weren't sure the people had enough bread, milk and eggs. Of course as long as there's enough dog food for us and toilet paper for the folks, we'd be OK with being snowed in for the winter. The top photo is the old courthouse in downtown Morganton that Cheryl snapped on her way into work today and the bottom photo was taken last night on the way home from Nana and Pawpaw's. It's the church Wes and Cheryl got hitched at.

What we got for Christmas

Pawpaw got a gun

Wes got a white Christmas

Grier got a baby doll

Gramps got a funny hat

And the gifts kept coming

Bradean and Kira got Moon Dough

Alison got a guitar

Duchess got a santy claus

Lexie and I got bones

Ho Ho Ho

Happy Christmas and Merry New Year from my pack to yours.

Cone head

Our little white fluffy Duchess has been in the doggie hospital since last Monday. She has had a relapse and has been fighting for her little life. Wes and Cheryl have visited her everyday and hope to bring her home today. Duchess has been hooked up to an IV so they can get some of her electrolytes leveled out. So far it’s working. We are all prepared to do our part to nurse her back to health when she gets home. We can’t wait to hear all of the stories our Drama Queen has to tell. Because of the IV, she’s had to wear a cone on her head. The people at the V.E.T. call it a party hat, but I doubt Duchess has done much partying in it. She looks good in the photos Cheryl took on Sunday but does seem a bit frazzled. I guess being in the hospital does that to you. Get well soon, Duchess.

Abominable Grouch

We received a green, warm, cozy early Christmas gift from our Grams. We aren’t sure what sacrificed its life to make it, (think Abominable Snowman meets Oscar the Grouch), but we like it because it keeps us toastier at night. Thanks Grams. Just so the rest of you know, we are always open to other early Christmas gifts.

R.I.P. Zip

Our cousin Zip went to doggie heaven over the weekend. He will be missed.

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas

The decorations are up. A little snow fall helps set the mood. There are some presents under the tree. All we are waiting for now is the big old jolly man himself.

We ate snow for breakfast this morning

We woke up to a winter wonderland this morning. About 3 inches of snow fell in our backyard. It's quickly melting, but there could be more on the way. Keep dreaming of a white Christmas. We might get on this year. Happy snow.

On thin ice

Us golden retrievers sure know how to get ourselves in a pickle. Don’t worry, this story has a happy ending. This is why I don’t go swimming even when it’s 100 degrees outside.
http://www.fox59.com/news/wxin-dog-rescued-from-icy-pond-120710,0,2196133.story

Baby it’s cold outside

10 ways to know it’s cold outside

1 You need an extra blanket on top of the extra blanket on the bed.
2 You want to sleep in the same bed as your sister to conserve body heat.
3 Your water in your water bowl freezes over.
4 You have to dig through a layer of frost before you can dig for a mole.
5 You hear Wes squeal like a pig when Cheryl puts her feet on him.
6 You spread out your potty breaks or even hold everything in because it might freeze when it comes out.
7 You can’t get the song “Baby It’s Cold Outside” out of your head.
8 When the weatherman tells you to protect your pets, plants and pipes.
9 You can’t feel your toes after watching Freedom High School’s Marching Band in the Morganton Christmas parade.
10 Your lip sticks to the flagpole after a triple dog dare like in that movie.

A millennium dog is born

You know those cards you get for your birthday that tells you what all happened the year you were born. I got one this morning. The year was 2000, the dawn of a new century. Baby, I've come a long way in 10 years from my humble beginnings. Born in a plastic swimming pool in a trailer in Catawba County, look at me now. In 10 years (70 dog years) I have gone from writing the family Christmas letter to writing a column for The News Herald to writing this blog. I've been the big brother to Lexie and Duchess. I've caught a kazillion tennis balls, collected half a kazillion sticks and lost count of the number of varmints I've chased out of the yard, run up a tree or taken out of the population. (My current quest is a mouse that's been living in our shed.) I may be a little white around the eyes but I have managed to keep my boyish figure. And I've decided to age gracefully, no Touch of Gray or Hairclub for Dogs for me. I could go on and on, but enough about me. Here are some other newsworthy events from the great year 2000.
We survived Y2K.
There was a mini baby boom because folks wanted millennium babies.
Elian Gonzalez got to go back to Cuba.
The 2000 Summer Olympics were in Sydney, Australia.
The USS Cole was attacked in Yemen and 17 US Navy people died.
There was a presidential election and Al Gore, no George Bush, no Al Gore, no George Bush won.
Charles M. Schulz, the "Peanuts" guy who coined my hero Snoopy's favorite intro "It was a dark and stormy night" died.Cara and Madelyn were born to the couple formally known as Jon and Kate plus 8.

The diagnosis

We’ve been waiting by the phone with bated breath (except Lexie has had something else on her breath, maybe from that mole we killed) for a week now for the V.E.T. to call with news on Duchess. Cheryl finally got the call the other day. Diagnosis: Lymphangiectasia. Don’t worry, we can’t say it either. We are still waiting on a treatment plan. It will either include medicine, an even more specialized diet or a combination of both. The way we understand lymphangiectasia is Duchess not only has trouble processing proteins, but also fats. It’s times like these when Google is another of man’s best friends. Our Google search on lymphangiectasia revealed a support group for people with Malteses with this disease. These days you can find anything online, even a golden retriever blogging.