Reflections on a Terrific Year

As 2006 draws to a close, I've been reflecting on what a great year it was.

I earned my Junior Hunter title, had show successes at the Garden Specialty Show, in North Carolina, at the Conestoga Vizsla Club Supported Entry Show, in Sommerset Hills, and in Westchester!

Mom and I participated in the My Dog Wuffs Central Park Country Fair obedince events, and I cuddled on the couch with Glenn.

The Nelsons had an addition to the family, I celebrated my first birthday with my Riverside Social Club, and I, um, became a "woman".

All in all it was an amazing and eventful year; I can't wait for 2007 to be even better!

Last Morning

For the last morning run of the year mom, Glenn and I hung out in Riverside Park. There were so many dogs to play with and I just ran and ran.

World Domination

I've truly come into my powers as a Vizsla. And so I have begun my campaign with a single mantra: Resistance is Futile!

Well, actually, what really happened is that in my search for the ultimate holiday gifts, I came across a website that pricked my attention. The site, called Cafe Press, sells Vizsla (and other pure breed) paraphernalia that has a decidedly superior bent.

I, of course, just had to get something for mom, Glenn and Ms. Stern. For each of them I got T-shirts, all with the same world domination theme, but done in different executions. Amazing! I also got the Resistance is Futile Poster (above), so that mom can proudly display for all to see who the boss REALLY is in the apartment!

Those Cafe Press guys are so funny and smart! Nice job!

The Christmas Marathon

This year we had more stops throughout the weekend than last year.

First, we went to Staten Island to visit with Glenn's family. We arrived late Friday night and decorated the tree.

Once we woke up in the morning we went for a long walk and then opened some presents.

I was so surpised when Ms. Susan gave me mine.



My very own hand-crocheted sweater!

Wow. It fit so well and I know that Ms. Susan spent a long time making it of rme. I wuff it very much! Thank you Ms. Susan! It will keep me warm all winter.








After we opened our gifts we had some visitors.



It was the rest of the McAnanama clan! What fun! We had a turkey dinner and AGAIN opened presents.





I wasn't the only one who got a hand-made treat.

On to Bethlehem

After Staten Island, we made our way to Bethlehem to celebrate with Mutti and Poppa-Dino. I was excited to see that they had a Christmas tree in the family room again, and I thought that I might be able to much on later, but I kept it to myself.

on Christmas Eve mom Glenn and the rest of the gang went to church, and they told me that Caroline was allowed to hold her first lit candle. I guess when you are five and a half you can finally play with fire -- I can't wait until I'm old enough!





After the service, everyone came back, picked me up and we made our way to the Nelsons' for the Annual Christmas Eve dinner with the Benders. Caroline's other grandparents were also here for the holidays so we had 14 people! Ms. Laura and Mr. Kevin did an excellent job making everyone feel welcome. Mr. Todd's steak bruschetta was terrific too. I wuff steak, did you know that??

Once we got home, mom hustled me to bed so that Santa wouldn't miss our house. I was so excited about his arrival, that I could barely fall asleep!

___

The next morning, Mutti made it downstairs first and called up to us: Santa did stop at our house! I quickly ran down stairs, went outside to do my business, and came in ready to find my gifts. Great Grandma Spinney sent me a snow goose, and I knew it was from her right away. I actually dove and and pulled it out to show mom! I wuff the snow goose -- thanks Great Grandma Spinney!

Santa gave me a new purple collar and leash, as a couple toys. Mutti and Poppa-dino gave me an all-weather coat, and Glenn gave me my favorite treats: a Pig ear and Bully sticks! Yummy.

What more can a pup want?

Last Stop: Lancaster

The last stop on our Christmas tour was to visit Aunt Ruth, Uncle Jim and the rest of the Devenney clan in Lancaster. That's where Mutti grew up!

Sadie, the Devenney's pup, was a great hostess and we got along really well. She was rescued from the pound and has certainly landed in a terrific family.

Aunt Linda was also there. I wuff her! She knows just how to scratch behind my ears and gives me the best treats.

Here she is acting wild as she and Uncle bob cheer on their favorite college football team: Tennessee. They are so funny!

The Sincerest Form of Flattery

Is an Imitation Blog.

Mom just told me my half-brother Rudy and his brother Polo now have a blog of their own. It's called Enviropups and is written by their proud mom and dad. I have reviewed it and I think it's quite good! Just started in October it already is well on its way to being a classic.

Check it out!

Final Touches

Since we're in the final count down to S-Day, Mom has been working on the final touches. Our stockings! There's one for Glenn, Mom and of course ME!

In this shot, mom is figuring out the hammer.


















And here she is trying out the "stuffing" part.












A close-up!

Celebrating the Solstice

Today is famous.

Not for being the shortest day of the year, but rather the day that Riverside Park holds it's Annual Solstice Celebration.











A few stalwart dogs and their people gather together for coffee and donuts to tell Mother Nature that we will not be kept indoors just because the sun won't rise for another hour and half!

Oh no!

We still go out and have just as much fun in the Park, whether we can see each other or not.

Here are the photos commemorating this year's celebration.

Cookie Crew

As the holidays have rapidly approached, mom and I have been getting ready.

I made my wish list for Santa:

Bones,
Balls,
and a Winter coat.

Mom has done all of her shopping (and let me surf the net so that I could do some of my own ---MS. DEB, DO NOT OPEN THAT PRESENT) and wrapping. Glenn has, well, we hope he has started his shopping... so that means only one thing is left: COOKIES!

Mom tried to make Gingersnap Butterscotch cookies, but those turned to stone shortly after they emerged form the oven. So she decided to go back to the basics. My great,great grandma's Molasses Cookie Recipe. Yum. I wuff cookies, and if they taste like meat, all the better.

We invited Ms. Cara over to, um, "help" (really she was just a taste tester), and the baking began. Mom, keeper of the recipes, assembled the ingredients, Glenn stirred and helped form the molasses balls. And I was on alert for falling cookies. To me, this is the perfect set-up.

Once the cookies came out of the oven, and we all got to sample at least 3 each (well I had a doggie biscuit), it was time to clean up and hit the hay.

A perfect night of family ad friends -- just what the holiday season is about.

'Coon, 9:00

Tonight mom and I were in Riverside minding our own business when I looked up and there he was.

A Racoon!

Mom! 'Coon at 9:00!
There! Up in that tree!

My hunting instincts went in to full effect. Boing! My point was rock solid as I showed mom exactly where the lil' bugger was hiding. Mom was a bit nervous, but we quickly made our way past him. Whew.

Again, just another example of how much mom needs me.

Ladies Night Out

Mom is finally home. She went out after work to a reunion of all of her co-workers from the past few years. She had fun drinking wine and eating cheese, while I was let under the care of Glenn.

And I couldn't be happier.

I'm normally walked 3 hours a day, but tonight Glenn walked me for an extra half hour! I was even allowed to play rough-house in the dog run. What a treat! Then after we got home, we played some more, he fed me and we snuggled on the couch. That is my kind of night!

I really wuff having Glenn around and I hope mom does, too! He gets my vote!

Since mom finally came home, Glenn fell asleep, so mom and I played "pull on the sheep" which just so happens to be my favorite game right now. It was during the bonus round of the tug-o-war match I found out that the legs pop off! Well, mom wasn't too happy that I discovered this but once I found that out I needed to see just what was inside my long-legged woolly buddy, because he kept right on squeaking.

Squeak-sqeeeeeeeeeekon baaaaiiia!

Squeak-sqeeeeeeeeeekon baaaaiiia!

I don't care if he only has three legs...that's what he sounds like and I wuff him too. Now, let me just get into his juicy middle.

View From a Room

When the sky gets like this... mom is coming HOME!

Holly Jolly Holiday Party

Today Mom, Glenn and I went out to Mr. Eddie's house out on Long Island for my first holiday party of 2006.






All of the VCLI members were invited and we had a great time.


I got to hang out with Dillon and Marley, Jake, Kiraly and Mudge. We ran in circles, jumped on top of each other, and got our toes wet in Mr. Eddie's pool.




The pool had some sort of green trampoline cover on it. That way we could walk on it but not fall in. I was told that an elephant or even a car could drive over it... Woah! At one point, a tennis ball was trapped in the very center of the pool and I had enough courage to go all the way out to rescue it!

Ms. Jackie was super nice to me, too, giving me one of my favorite treats -- a Bully Stick! Yum. I wuff Ms. Jackie.

The evening ended with a gift exchange and I took home a huge tub of toys and snacks. Woo-hoo! I wuff the holidays.






Click on the image to the left to see me and Jake rough-house!

Pupsicle

This morning when mom and I went out for our walk I was blasted away by the freezing wind. Brrrr... The temperature read 19° but with the wind chill it was definitely zero!

Mom, seeing that I was shivering, turned us back to home as soon as I was finished with my business. And that meant I was one wound-up pup.

For the rest of the morning, after we played indoor fetch, I snuggled under the blankets.

For the Dogs!

Breaking News:

NYC HEALTH BOARD UNANIMOUSLY PASSES AMENDMENTS TO "LEASH LAW" !

(Dec. 5th) The New York City Health Board today voted unanimously to approve amendments to Section 161.05 of the NYC Health Code (the "Leash Law") to formally recognize the NYC Parks commissioner's authority to designate off-leash areas in certain parks at certain times.

As I mentioned a while ago, our rights to off-leash time in the parks was in jeopardy of being lost because an organization in Queens, called the Juniper Park Civic Association, filed a lawsuit to end the courtesy hours. On November 30, the NY state supreme court judge decided to uphold Park Commissioner's legal authority to permit responsible off-leash recreation on a limited basis in New York City Parks.

ROO ROO!

Then, just yesterday, the NYC Heath Board unanimously approved amendments to the leash law in the City Health Code to further strengthen our rights for a little off-leash time.

ROO ROO! ROO ROO!

As quoted from the NYC Off-Leash Website:

Comment from Health Commissioner Thomas Frieden: "The overwhelming majority of comments received on this proposal were in favor [13,268 in favor vs 202 against]. We have devised a rule that balances our mandate to protect the public’s health and safety with the need for a formal off-leash policy for dogs in City parks."

This is just wonderful. I wuff everyone who helped me keep my rights!


Thank you.

Happy Holidays

Now that we're back in the city and mom and Glenn put up the tree, it's time for my annual "Happy Holidays" photo:

I'm going to go make my wish list for Santa!

Tree Hunting

As I mentioned yesterday, this weekend Mom, Glenn and I went with the rest of the Spinneys to find our Christmas Tree. Here are some highlights from the Great Tree Hunt of 2007.