Merry Merry 2024!

and happy happy 2025

Dear fellow Love Dogs,

We’re going through a rough patch right now, but nothing can stop us from creating and sharing holiday portraits with you all. These photos were made while we were staying at a hotel during our ongoing transmission saga. I’d seen someone do this wrapping paper backdrop on Instagram and decided to try it. Japhy and Hazel did great, and the resulting photos are pretty cute. I hope you enjoy them.

We’re in Missouri now, at my parents’ place, and I’m trying to rest and recuperate before deciding what to do next. The shop that had the van for the last 2.5 months for the transmission replacement caused damage along the bottom passenger side of the van from improper lifting (which the owner aggressively denied). And while the van did make it to Missouri for Christmas after finally picking it up on December 14 (with transmission number three), it is leaking transmission fluid. It’s a long, very stressful story, and I’m trying to step back, think calmly, and determine the best path forward.

For now, I hope you enjoy this year’s holiday portraits. We didn’t do printed cards this year, so this is our official greeting. We wish you all a wonderful Christmas and lovely things in the new year! Be well, dear friends.

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The First Take.

Patiently waiting to see what’s going on.

I made small cuts in the paper and held a treat on the other side to encourage them to push through in a particular place.

The first try didn’t last long, and both dogs pushed through the same place.

Hazel is confused. 😂

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The Second Take.

They kind of know what’s going on this time.

Japhy was totally into it.

He’s such a ham.

Yep. Ham.

Hazel is back there, a little uncertain of what’s happening…

The girl is getting a little braver….

“Is this what I’m supposed to do?!”

“What’s over here?”

“Mm, thanks for the treats, mom!”

“That was fun!”

“Can we do it again?!”

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Happy Holidays from the Love Dogs ♥️

P.S. Tonight, Christmas Eve, is Japhy’s 5th “Gotcha Day.” Five years ago I drove to Midlands Humane Society in Council Bluffs, Iowa, and promised to give this boy the best life possible. I hope we get many more years together, my goofy blue boy.

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