The weather has been beautiful this fall, with Christmas fast approaching one couldn't ask for bluer skies, more perfect temperatures. I feel for all our friends back east, they're dealing with wind and lots of snow and the attendant grey skies. That kind of weather is what made Dave crabby at this time of year. He's a happy camper now that he doesn't have to deal with it anymore. He's loving the fireplace on these coolish mornings and evenings, and loving being able to wear a t shirt and no socks in the afternoons.
We had a lovely Thanksgiving dinner with Steve and MonaLiza this year - Honey Baked Ham! Before dinner we sat outside and enjoyed happy hour until the sun went down and it got chilly.
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| Steve made sure Taos had plenty of his favorite ice cubes.... |
We're continuing with Taos training and exposures as he nears his first-year birthday at the end of December. It's hard to believe that sweet little chubby puppy is almost a year old.
He was a good boy at our annual doctor's appointment. She is a big dog lover, so we spent more time than normal in her office. He found it difficult to pay attention after 45 minutes or so, and finally just rolled over onto his back and went to sleep. He was the hit of the office!
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| practicing "leave it" |
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| he helps vacuum and even allows us to vacuum him! |
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| practicing "stay" while Dave works |
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| he's a grocery shopping pro |
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| safety inspector - hard hat passes muster |
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| no barking at the other dog..... |
Taos had a welcome and exciting surprise a few weeks ago! Jerry send a big box of Benebones for us to share with our Guide Dog group and Taos got first choice! He made several selections and proceeded to race around the house with each of them. FUN!
Dave has been helping Steve reroute Tam's garage door opener. A-1 Garage Specialists came, looked at the job and said it couldn't be done. Don't say that to Dave!
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| the team |
All done, the opener works like a dream, Steve is happy. They do love to figure out "interesting" projects together.
We're getting ready for Christmas, as you all are. The Palm Springs Christmas tree came out of storage and Dave put up Flat Stanley.
This year we decided to forgo putting up the fresh cut tree, donating it to someone who needs it, and do something a little different. Stay tuned.
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| Happy Holidays from our big sweetie |
And.....here's Annie!
Your furry reindeer is adorable, and so is the little movie star with the cool shades and pacifier, lol. It sounds like you had a fun Thanksgiving celebration with Steve and MonaLiza...thanks for sharing photos of all of you! Everyone looks great. ❤️ Can you really and truly vacuum Taos? I'm always wishing I could vacuum Magnolia (AKA fur ball extraordinaire). Happy Holidays!
ReplyDeleteTaos struck a pose for that reindeer shot, just like he was a model! Annie is a real hoot with all her disguises! We vacuum Taos with the hose of the vacuum, turned down to the "lowest suck" setting and it works well, otherwise it sucks up his copious skin folds and he scoots away. It's all in the technique! Happy Holidays to you and Eric
DeleteAnnie is stylin in those sunglasses. Taos is a very large dog now. It he through growing?
ReplyDeletejust wait til she gets her Christmas package.....more funny glasses coming her way! I think Taos is finished growing tall at least. He may bulk up a bit in the next few months.
DeleteHappy Christmas to you and Jim!
Taos has to be a seriously good sport, allowing himself to be vacuumed and tolerating the reindeer antlers, what a guy! Settling in here in Tucson, furniture store finally delivered two new dressers today, yay! Good thing this house has a walk-in closet with shelves, we'd have been piling our clothes on the floor if it didn't. Happy Christmas to you all.
ReplyDeleteYou nailed it Jim - Taos is a real good sport. Glad you're getting settled down there, the house looks great. We hope to see you two at some point! We're in the Spokane area in the summer and you pass right by us on your way back and forth! Happy Christmas to you and Allison.
DeleteTaos has come a long way in the past year. A testament to your patience and training.
ReplyDeleteAnd....a testament to what a good guy he is.
DeleteGreat blog Susan! Taos is an amazing dog--and you guys are amazing trainers! Loved the photos of Taos and of little Annie, styling in her shades! Mike is working on getting all the outside watering systems working to his satisfaction--always a project with our guys!
ReplyDeleteUgh, those watering systems are never working properly, never. They fool you into thinking that all is well, but then you discover somethings plugged up and not watering when it's supposed to! Merry Christmas to you and Michael (and little Jayce too of course! Does she have antlers?)
ReplyDeleteNo Kayce doesn't have antlers--maybe devil horns?? I sure hope we see you before Christmas!
DeleteSteve and Dave could start a side business doing a great job dong what is 'impossible'.
ReplyDeleteTaos must be full grown by now, and Annie is adorable.
Impossible isn't in Dave's vocabulary! Taos is and Annie is! Happy Christmas to you and Fran!
DeleteI can't decide who I love more? Annie and her adorable glasses or the Fabulous Taos. I see such wonderful things for each of their futures -- makes me tear up a little even! Sweet blog. I love reading these excerpts of your life, Suzie! CindyP
ReplyDeleteThey both deserve a bright future! Thanks Cindy, I miss you but am looking so forward to your visit! Happy Holidays to your cozy house.
DeleteI just love your posts from home! I love the travels, but these are definitely my favorite! Steve and ML look great…so wonderful to see their big smiles! I LOVE Flat Stanley and the reflection! The antlers are perfect and I so love Taos’ expression…he has so many of them! What a sweetheart he is. Is there a trick to him not barking at himself? We deal with Lucy doing that every evening in the patio door…😩! And then there is Annie…first off, her parents are awesome. It’s wonderful they let her just be herself! I love the lack and sunglasses…such an adorable little person she is!
ReplyDeleteAgain!
DeleteI knew it was you, Gay! It was fun being with ML and Steve at the holiday designed to give thanks. We're thankful for the friends we've made through Beluga over the years, you and Joe are included! Annie is definitely herownself!
DeleteOn the job my BFF and I were often called in to "make trash cans fly" and we always enjoyed getting those impossible jobs done! Had we only known part of the secret was having three ladders..... Kudos to the mystery photographer at your TG get together - great pics! From lap dog to good shopper, Taos is such a good, good boy. OMG the reindeer pic is too cute. Love that Annie has fun with different looks, it's so great to see them find their own special things :-)) Flat Stanley always makes me smile - 'tis the season!
ReplyDeleteHappy Holiday to you and Bill....I hope we can get together this new year - maybe to watch Arabians? I didn't know about the three ladder rule - see, you learn something new every day. I love to watch Annie experiment with her environment. Looking forward to her Christmas photos! Flat Stanley makes us smile too, it's one of Dave's favorite Christmas decorations (he always dragged his feet when I asked him to put up our real trees, and then string their lights.....he's a happy man with this kind of decorating!)
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