Holiday Update

Merry Christmas and Best Wishes for a Wonderful 2011.

Where has the time gone? Can it really be only a matter of days until Christmas 2010? And, finally, "Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus."


I'm almost done with Christmas shopping, though I have a few more gifts to go. Typical behavior on my part, however.


Been quilting up a storm. The most important top is a Christmas gift for DH that memorializes the dogs we've had in our married life - Samoyeds and Collies. I absolutely love this quilt and cannot wait until he opens this gift. I believe he will really be touched by it. As I was working on it, I thought of Winston, our first magnificent Sammie, then Henry - our "once-in-a-lifetime-dog" as our vet called him, DeeDee, our beautiful Collie girl with the most fabulous looks ever, and then our dear, sweet older gentleman, Merlin, who touches our hearts every day when we look into those sad, wise eyes and wonder how anyone could not have wanted him. These four-legged creatures teach us every day the meaning of this season - love so pure and unconditional that there are few words that describe its beautiful and profound meaning in our lives. 


Amid the holiday rush is our annual cookie exchange and exhibition this Friday, 12/17. I will be skating my Free Dance 5 program with Coach Chris. I have come to enjoy this skating discipline so much; I wish I had discovered it long ago. The program is set to music from "Legends of the Fall" thanks to my best skating buddy and amazing friend, Janet. 


Janet gave me "Legends" for a solo program. At the time, I never imagined I would be skating to it in the arms of a 27 year old, Hollywood good-looks, extraordinarily talented ice dance coach. Were it not for Coaches Chris and Jayne this would never have come to pass. Can't wait to get back on the ice and skate this program, maybe for the last time. I'm working on Free Dance 6 to "Does Your Mother Know?" from Mama Mia. Quite a change from beautiful and lilting to near hysteria in a musical beat. Coach Chris is really excited about working on this program; I'm really nervous!


Merlin has been ill for quite some time with an e-coli urinary tract infection. His stupid human parents didn't "get" the concept that dogs just don't bark in a high-pitched, shrill sound and awake at 3:00 and 4:00 am without a reason. It took peeing on the Persian carpet and general mayhem for us (and the vet, I must add) to finally realize that something was seriously wrong (besides just being an elderly dog) with our sweet boy. Two days after being on antibiotics, he was an new dog! But, two days after his last dose, he was nearly back to his previous condition, so he is back on another round. We are hopeful this will knock out the infection once-and-for-all. 


Today is a quiet stay at home day, spent quilting and being with the doggies. I bought an adorable green velvet color with reindeer bells on it for Merlin. He looks so precious with it on. We went out yesterday and he proudly wore it, jingling away letting the world know that he is our "official" Christmas doggie. We didn't see anyone on our walk, so I'm hoping today we will. I know he wants to show off his new collar. 

As the poem goes, "Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night!"