Have a Happy One!

Here is a Pictorial Summary of the festivities tonight.

Merry Christmas

It was another wonderful Christmas with mutti, pappa-dino, mom and dad. Santa was very good to me -- a new stuffed pheasant, a gingerbread man, and of course tons of treats... oh, and mom and dad got me this really warm blanket. I wuff it!

Catching Up.

So I do have some catching up to do.

All is well. Mom has successfully had my food delivered and the kibble is flowing. Not that it ever stopped mind you but one can never be too complacent. We are settling into the apartment quite nicely having received our first overnight guests (the Reaps of course!) as well as our first encounters with trying to receive packages without a doorman... so sad! My new walker Corey and I get along well, though I do miss my Celso. HE and I had been together for over a year and half and I really thought he was great. I am sure Corey and I will bond too, but Let's pause for a moment to reflect...






[pause]







And now back to the fun stuff.

Mom, Dad and I went out to get our tree -- only a block away -- and we came back with a great big blue spruce. He must be 7 feet tall! It was strictly a family affair decorating this year - with holiday tunes and candles lit as we all helped decorate the tree. I of course promptly destroyed one of mom's favorite snowman ornaments but I thought that is what my job was???

What Was Lost, Now Is Found

You guessed it.... My lack of tale telling wasn't due to lack of stories, but rather lack of illustrations.

It seemed that in the movin' and grovin' of the apartment the camera was sucked into the black hole of the "linen closet" (and I use that term lightly) which is also considered by most to be the dining room table. Fortunately Dad came to the rescue. While he was clearing said linen closet, to convert it back into it's normal functioning state, the camera was found.

WOO HOOOOOOOOOOO!

Back in action and mom was so relieved!

Turkey Day '08

Mom, Dad, Auntie Maureen, and I ventured out to State College PA this past Thursday to visit the Moss's. Mr. George and Ms. Susan was there, too, so we all had a great time talking and eating, and drinking and eating, and walking and eating. It was a LOT of fun.




And a lot of eating.

My Parents Are Talented

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And you thought I was the only one who won gold at the Olympics this year!!!!

Silly Song

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The Photos

I am not sure if you are going to think it was worth the wait but FINALLY mom has prepped and uploaded the photos of the apartment.

Here you go -- enjoy! (click on the images to see them larger!)

We're In!

We have finally moved into the new apartment and I am busy looking out the windows and barking at strange hall sounds. Mom was supposed to give me some photos but is again falling down on the job. I might need a new photo journalist. Any takers?

Packing Supplies And Project Management

With only two days before the Big Move, I have been very busy managing the sorting, organizing and packing of all of our worldly belongings. Mom has been only mildly helpful I am afraid to say - Mainly going to work with Dad really putting in some extra time at the new apartment.

As for me, I am the general project manager and overseer of all things Vizsla.

A Presidential Promise

Last night dad was all giggly and full of himself because he said there is a new sheriff in town and that this is a good thing.

All I know is that when I heard President-Elect Obama's acceptance speech one issue had me concerned:

"Sasha and Malia, I love you both so much, and you have earned the new puppy that's coming with us to the White House"

Woah, woah, woah. Let's think this one through. This is a very tough and important choice Sasha and Malia, don't be hasty in your selection! I would just like to point out there are some very lovely breeds you might consider....or a rescue? Perhaps we should let the people vote on it?

So what kind of puppy should move into the white house everyone??

It's a Soup Day

Brrr... Today is the kind of day that makes you want to get under the covers and sup some soup. Luckily mom spent all afternoon on Sunday making a special kind of soup:

Butternut Squash

It's thick and hearty, and very tasty if I do say so myself.

Ms. Sue first made it for us a while back when mom and dad were first dating. Luckily she was willing to give mom the recipe. And now I am going to give it to YOU!

INGREDIENTS

* 2 butternut squash (about 4 3/4 pounds total), halved lengthwise, seeded


* 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
* 2 cups thinly sliced onion
* 1 tablespoon golden brown sugar
* 2 teaspoons minced fresh ginger
* 2 garlic cloves, coarsely chopped
* 1/2 cinnamon stick
* 5 cups (or more) canned low-salt chicken broth


* Chopped fresh parsley

INSTRUCTIONS

Preheat oven to 375°F. Oil baking sheet. Place squash, cut side down, on baking sheet. Bake until squash is very soft, about 50 minutes. Using paring knife, remove peel from squash; discard peel. Cut squash into 2-inch pieces. Heat oil in heavy large pot over medium-low heat. Mix in onion, brown sugar, ginger, garlic and cinnamon. Cover pot and cook until onion is tender, about 15 minutes. Add squash and 5 cups chicken broth. Bring to boil. Reduce heat to medium-low. Cover and simmer 10 minutes. Discard cinnamon.

Working in batches, purée soup in blender. (Can be prepared 1 day ahead. Cool slightly. Cover and refrigerate.) Return soup to pot. Season soup with salt and pepper. Bring to simmer, thinning soup with more broth if necessary. Ladle into bowls. Sprinkle with parsley and serve.

What the Hell!

I mean... just look at the debate raging in the south.
Of COURSE we go the heaven --
WE'RE ANGELS!



I think these Presbyterians need to take a chill pill.

Renovation: Phase 1

Tonight mom, dad and I went over to the new digs to see how the floor refinishing looks...









I think mom picked out the perfect shade because it matches ME! Now I'll be able to go into stealth mode so I can sneak out and go to work with her. Nice!

















I also met my next door neighbor, Richard. He is also 3 years old and is a "Katrina Dog."

Mom says a few years ago a big storm happened far away and some of the dogs, cats and other pets were trapped. Then the rescuers couldn't find their moms and dads... So that must be what happened to him.

I hope a big storm doesn't happen in the Big Apple!. Mom said even if it did she won't leave without me. Whew.

Recipes?

Yesterday I had just the BEST time with the Bronx Bombers hunting pheasant....

And now we have some meat to eat -- does anyone have a recipe? Mom is a bit nervous to try to cook it, so any suggestions would be helpful.

I would wuff to show you photos from the day, however the tiny digital camera that mom bought for $20 at Rite aid is a PC-only camera and we have a Mac.....

...sigh...

The camera drama doesn't seem to end.

What happened to the new one we got from the Reaps?? Well mom has lost the battery charger and so she was unable to use it.

What am I going to do with her?

Big Bird Weekend

So this coming weekend two really big things are going to happen.

First, I am going to finally be able to step foot into the new apartment.
Second, and MOST important, I am going hunting with the Bronx Bombers!

I am utterly intimidated and really am not sure how my performance will stack up against Momo and Jozsi. So, I have dedicated the last few nights to pointing.

Ok, so maybe I was only tracking flash lights and laser pointers, sure... but... man, I rocked those points!!

Steady. Muscles taut. Tail twirling.

The picture perfect pointer.

Let's all cross paws that I do the same on Sunday!

Photo Snapshots

Mom showed me some of her photos from her and dad's trip through Europe...

So I thought I would share them with you!

The Deal is Done

So mom and Dad finally closed on the new apartment. After about 5 months of contract negotiations and back and forth with lawyers and banks and sellers and buyers...

The view is MINE!!

Lots to Do.

I have been keeping busy here in the country.

In addition to lounging in the sun I have successfully defended Mutti and Pappa-Dino from a bug in the family room, and managed to point my soccer ball in the back yard for 2 continuous minutes.

Whew. This is hard work being on vacation.

Countrified

I am out in the country for the next two weeks.

Mutti and Pappa-dino picked me up from the city yesterday and here I am in the middle of no-where-PA.

But I really wuff it.

Mutti loves to garden and that means she needs a buddy like me outside keeping her company. I wuff to lie in the sun and lounge while she tends to all the work.

Ahhh. I like life of a noblewoman.