Decorating the Christmas Tree - California

Second Rhamey Thanksgiving

The day after Thanksgiving, we took a trip to Dog Beach with all four Border Collies (and a dachshund) in tow.

Favorite Picture of the Day:

Dagny is biting Ladybird. No one is actually carrying the frisbee. Rocket is lagging behind.

Hank's Booties -
I honestly had no idea that Hanks booties would be such a big deal at Dog Beach (it is California after all), but he was the talk of the beach. Everyone kept asking us, "why is that dog wearing shoes?!"



















Katy & Kate














Look at that tail go!

Dagny's New Crazy Thing

Yesterday we discovered that if we say "Ready? One, Two, Three!" then Dagny goes CRAZY! We're not sure why, but it is her new favorite game.

Booties

This is what Hank's beach booties look like (although they don't come up as high on him).

I don't know if this is because we bought a different style than is pictured here or if Hank is simply "thicker" than this puppy.

Hank's Foot Drama

This week Hank finally got our attention. On Sunday morning he was limping around and holding his foot up to us.

He had a nasty thorn in his pad. Poor baby! We tried to get it out, but it was in his pad really deep. He trashed around too much for us to get a hold of it with our tweezers.

We even tried soaking his foot in water to possibly loosen it up. THAT was the most traumatic part for some reason!

He was obviously in even more pain Monday, so Patrick took him to our new vet. Hank was a very sweet boy, but they had to sedate him in order to get the thorn out and clean the wound. While they worked on him, they discovered two more holes in his foot! When he got home, Hank was very groggy.

Hank's Club Foot

Hank got to hang out on our bed and recover, away from his jealous sister.

Dagny was quite anxious about what was going on.

Hank & Mommy

If he chewed at his bandage, we would have to get a cone for him to wear. Someone chewed at it . . .

. . . but it was not Hank, so a cone would not have helped.



















We put a sock on it to keep it from unraveling anymore.



















And then taped the sock on.



















Feelin' a little better . . .
























HP and I went back Thursday for a follow up, and the vet said Hank was healing nicely. He got his bandages removed but has to be careful about what kind of surfaces he runs around on (no hot concrete/asphalt). The vet also said "no" to California's Dog Beach unless Hank only walks (yeah right!) or wears some kind of protection on his footsie. So, today Patrick and I will go shopping for some fashionable booties for Mr. Hank. I think he will be very excited.

P.S. You wouldn't think that having a giant thorn pulled out of one's foot while drugged would be fun, but Hank was soooooo excited to be back at the vet Thursday that he could not keep him booty on the floor because his tail was wagging so hard. I couldn't even get him to stop ra-ra-rooing, barking, & howling with excitement while we were in the waiting room. It was kinda embarrassing, but Hank was like a celebrity! Even though he had only been there once before, everyone knew him and came into our room to say hello. What a sweet boy we have . . .

Overwhelming Results . . .

What should "grown up" Katie go by?

Katie 14 (82%)
Kate 1 (5%)
Katharine 1 (5%)
Cynthia McKinney 1 (5%)

Puppies Hate Studying

William H. Rehnquist Center Lecture: Michael Chertoff

Michael Chertoff, Secretary of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, delivered the second William H. Rehnquist Center Lecture today at the University of Arizona James E. Rogers College of Law.

Here is the link: Michael Chertoff Video.

Justice Sandra Day O'Connor's remarks on the inauguration of the Center: Sandra Day O'Connor Video

The Sky Tonight

"Katie, remember what I said about hiking boots for Christmas? Forget it." - Patrick

To sum up: THIS IS NOT OUR CHRISTMAS CARD PICTURE . . .

Summit of Mt. Lemmon to Lemmon Rock Lookout Trail to Wilderness of Rocks to Mt. Lemmon Trail to Wilderness of Rocks Trail to Sutherland Trail to Meadow Trail to summit of Mt. Lemmon - http://arizona.sierraclub.org/trail_guide/HIKE1.HTM

Play Time! Hank and his "Outward Hound" pack (he carried the water)

Dagny was so cute!

She would run ahead with the other dogs

but would come back every 5 minutes or so to "check in." Almost There "Comic Relief"
Patrick (in the Wilderness of Rocks?)