Mick Wright.net

We’ve had an interesting Christmas day so far. With Alison working, I spent the morning at the Youth Villages Bartlett campus watching kids open their presents with one of our biggest donors, an amazing man. Then I was scheduled to have lunch with the teen I mentor (as of last week), but evidently plans at his group home were lost in the shuffle, so I went to eat solo at Fajitas, which I used as an excuse to wish somebody Felice Navidad. After that, since it was nice outside, I showered a little Christmas spirit on Eden and Freckles by taking them to Shelby Farms and letting them run around the dog park unleashed for the first time. They did good — didn’t stray too far, and minimal barking and mayhem. It was still pleasant outside when we got home, so I decided to clean the gutters. Then I got to sweep the leaves off the walkways. If we owned a rake, I probably would have went for the hat trick. Instead, a brief nap, then make plans for the evening.

She haz skillz.

Good friends.

Many blessings.

Eden was uncharacteristically chilled, but Freckles was very concerned about the new washer and dryer. She didn’t want to walk anywhere near them, though she had to pass by them to get to her crate. So she would race by quickly, as tight against the far wall as possible.

Anna and Abby recreate this photo.

The secret to temporary peace is exhaustion; the wall-to-wall water bowls plan isn’t feasible.

Eden and Freckles dressed as insects.

My first, lame attempt at carving a pumpkin. With apologies to President Lincoln.

Eden got muddy this morning.

Freckles did, too.

A Freckles close-up.

Eden resting under the coffee table. Note chew marks on furniture.

Freckles, master of her domain.

A rare moment of cease-fire.

Eden sulking with a “gentle leader” harness on (not a Hannibal Lecter mask — this one stops them from pulling on the leash). She won’t move with that thing on, she’ll just roll over and let you drag her through the yard.

Freckles tells Eden it’s going to be ok. Freckles does great when she has it on, btw.

The puppies tackle me.

I mentioned earlier that Eden and Freckles were graduating from puppy school. Here is Eden wearing her mortarboard.

Here’s Freckles with our excellent instructor, Nick. He taught them to “roll over” on their last day.

UPDATE: Chris Davis takes issue with this photograph, saying I “toss[ed] the star spangled banner to [my] hound.” It’s actually a little decorative flag that was planted by the sidewalk, cut down the landscaping service hired by our apartment complex, and picked up yesterday morning by one of my Cocker Spaniel puppies. I thought it was endearing that she rescued the little flag on the anniversary of 9/11, so I took a photo. That aside, I welcome Davis’ newfound respect for Old Glory, particularly given the way he commemorated the anniversary of 9/11 with a sick photo that mocks the WTC victims. I think I need to start referring to his blog as Mos Eisley; it’s easily the most wretched hive of scum and villainy I’ve ever encountered.