1
My father drove down from Klamath Falls, Oregon to spend the Thanksgiving Holiday with me. Here, I am holding my 14 year old Lhasa Apso, Odie and Daddy is holding my 8 month old Lhasa, Matty.
2
Matty was born April 16, 2004 and I brought him home from the breeder on
July 2nd. The first two months Matty was with me, my 84 year old father
drove over 750 miles (one way) three times to visit us.
Matty, is an incredible little heart stealer.
3
My dear friend & neighbor, Corey Kelly, has a Belgium Griffin
(remember the movie "As Good As It Gets" with Jack Nicholson?) Well,
her dog Cody, recently had puppies. This is Ziggy and he is the most
adorable little thing. His markings are just like the dog in the
movie.
4
The guy with the sunglasses is my love, Boyd Rollins, he
is holding Odie & Matty...The handsome guy in my lap is Casper.
Lady, Boyd's 15 year old Cocker Spaniel is the only member of
our extended canine family, not represented here. If you haven't already
surmised as much... we are dog people.
5
On December 4th, we gave a Christmas party to share our holiday joy with
a number of friends. This picture was taken by Dane Rhinehart, (Corey's
boyfriend) who has a very special talent for capturing the moment,
on digital. Dane, was gracious enough to take excellent photos of all
who cared to have them as a momento.
6
Our Christmas party table...lots of yummy treats!
7
Christmas Day, we had people coming & going all day long...and well
into the evening...when we enjoyed a gift exchange with our friends.
Our Christmas dinner table was set for twelve, however, ultimately
I believe 16 people...and 7 of our canine friends...enjoyed Christmas
dinner. We ate in shifts...Two of Boyd's three children, Matthew & Heather,
(along with her friend Crystal) were the first shift, as they had other
plans for the later part of their day.
7a
This is the 'sharing of
the gifts' part of our evening. Standing, is Santa's helper, Scott
Rhinehart (Dane's brother) and his wife Erleen. On the sofa, are Dane Rhinehart
(our photographer) & my dear friend, Corey Kelly.
7b
In this picture you see
Bob Loomis and my dear girl friend, Nahid Nouri. Bob & Nahid, also
met and fell in love in 2004.
8
Our canine family of four & some of their friends, enjoyed turkey, with
all the trimmings, from an individual crystal bowl, set on their own
'festive table'. Cory brought along Cody and her two puppies, Ziggy
& Elvis. We captured the event on video, (It's truly hysterical!)
however, this is the only single, digital picture I have, until I am able
to get the others from Dane. Needless to say, the entire event was
very entertaining. Yes, we are 'Dog
People'!
9
Boyd did the most incredible job decorating the outside of the house...it
looked like a winter wonderland...this is the backyard.
10
Most of our guests selected this as a backdrop for their personal
Christmas pictures, taken by Dane.
11
When Boyd told me he had a 'nine foot Polar Bear' he wanted to put up, and
asked me where I thought it should go, I assumed he was only joking and I
suggested he 'put it on the roof'. When I came home that night and saw all
of the decorations, along with the Polar Bear, I started laughing.
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I still smile...Whenever I look at this silly thing!
13
Since this picture was taken, we have added two, four foot tall, wooden soldiers
to the decor...one on each side of the front door. we have add
14
Our beautiful, nine foot Christmas tree took three days to trim. On
the 1st evening, my girlfriends, Corey & Nahid came by for an evening
of Christmas 'cheer'...while I added the lights. On evenings two & three,
I kept Boyd entertained & amused as I added the ornaments and other
tree trimmings.
15
Our mantel was resplendent with Angels & Christmas stockings.
Matty, our baby puppy, was particularly fond of the glittered,
pine cones I used in decor, at the base of the Angels and he would bring
them to us...on a very regular basis. I finally decided to add them to the
Christmas tree decor...I'm such a Grinch!..
16
Here the boys, Matty & Odie, are telling Santa what they
would like for Christmas.
17
Daddy took this picture of us, in the backyard.
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This is Casper, with Odie's nose in the upper right corner and it looks
like Cody's head in the lower right. Is this the face of a happy
dog?
19
Odie, surveying his domain, from what used to be my
chair.
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This is a nice picture of our Christmas tree.
21
No Christmas is complete until you have throughly humiliated all the animals,
by putting on their Christmas outfits. We couldn't get the reindeer
antlers to stay on any of them long enough to get a picture!
22
Boyd & I spent Christmas Eve with my cousin Eileen, her husband Jeff,
and various 2nd cousins at their home in Cypress. I love all of the
traditional Christmas things they do as a family, like taking homemade candy
& cookies to the neighbors and singing Christmas Carols on their door
step. One of my very favorite parts of the evening...is the playing
of the chimes in the great room, after dinner. What fun! My Uncle
Syd, (Daddy's younger brother) and his wonderful wife, my Aunt Elva, were
in from Utah, staying with my cousin Larry & his wife Kay,
in their new home in Glen Ivy. It was a true pleasure spending some
of our Holiday time with all of them. It was
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The most incredible present I received in the year 2004...was the gift of
love...from the man I have waited a long time, to come into my life. Boyd
and I would like to wish each & every one of you a joyfully...'Happy
New Year'... May 2005 be a year that is filled with good health and love
in abundance. God bless you...