These are the chronicles of two Shetland Sheepdogs and their adventures in rally-o, obedience, flyball, agility, tracking and therapy dog work.
Also including information on raw feeding, canine epilepsy, positive training, and lots and lots of Sheltie hair!




Monday, November 23, 2009

'Tis The Season

Normally, I hold off until early December before pulling out the Christmas decorations. But this year, with my own house to decorate, I just couldn't wait any longer!

The holiday lights went up last week, and yesterday evening I pulled out the Christmas tree and adornments.

Now, I don't really do the religious Christmas thing. No baby Jesus, or anything like that. I'm just not a religious person. But I LOVE this time of year! The holiday season tends to bring out the best in people, and it's the one time of year that I tend to defrost a little, too. Don't get me wrong, I still hate crowds and society in general, but my Scrooge-ish ways tend to melt away a little and I find myself enjoying interaction with Joe Public a bit more. The feeling in the air around the holiday season is fabulous, so it is THAT that I partake in. Sincere well-wishing, sharing time with friends and family, and spreading some festive joy.

Decorating for the season is always so much fun! The brighter the better! I tend to go more for the garish, finding individual items that scream with glaring festive colors, sparkle and glitz. Then pairing it all together to form one big mess of crazy holiday clash!

The boys helped, of course.

Romeo gave his expert opinion on my color choices.
"Neon green? REALLY!?"

While Gio just wanted to get busy building the tree.
"Put down the camera and get to work, you slacker!"

Romeo helped match the letters on the branches to the ones on the center support.

"Yup, room for another F branch down here."

But that was as far as he would go. Decided it was safer to stay out of the way of "the crazy lady with the tinsel".
"Much safer back here. Much."

Gio was significantly more help, ensuring that the lights were evenly distributed around the tree.

"More lights needed!"

I was able to wrangle both dogs into helping hang the beaded garland, though!

"To whom it may concern, we HATE that you taught us how to 'hold' stuff. Signed, the dogs"

I never know how to take pictures of a Christmas tree with lights. If the flash is "on", then the tree looks crappy (ie. plastic ... which it is) and you can't see the lights. But if the flash is "off", then the picture turns out blurred. Despite the blurriness, I thought these pictures were kind of cute! Of course, I could be biased because of my most beautifulest boys.

"So festively blurry!"

Then I shattered my ankle.

Okay, so maybe "shattered" is a bit of a harsh word for the situation. I'm possibly being a little dramatic. But it hurt like a sonofa! And, FYI, apparently I turn into a trucker with Tourette's when I am injured. I am surprised the neighbours didn't call the police with the profanity being screamed in my driveway last night.

I rolled my ankle off of a concrete paving stone, heard/felt a "pop", then went down like a ton of bricks. Spent a couple of cozzy minutes in the driveway willing myself not to vomit, then crawled my way back inside.

This morning, mom took me to minor emerg to check things out. An x-ray verifies that there is no fracture, just the mother of all ankle sprains. So I am home today, the reluctant invalid that I am, practicing what the walk-in clinic doc called the "RICE" protocol: Relaxation Ice Compression Elevation. What does that spell? FUN!!

Gio is such a great helper, always right there to lend a hand.

"What do ya need ma? Advil? Ice? Alcoholic beverage? All of the above?"

While Romeo maintains his "stay away from the crazy hobbling lady" position.

"Much safer over here. Much."

10 comments:

Natasha said...

LOL! Gio and Romeo are such good little helpers! Hope your ankle feels better :)

~Nat

Rohan Shelties said...

LOL, I wonder what you neighbors WERE thinking when they saw you using all those HBO words! I did the same thing (although much MUCH less severe) last week on a walk with the girls...they unfortunately gave me not a look of pity, but of utmost disgust like "youre not really going to shorten our walk, are you??" I think I need sensative males the next time around! ;0)
Hope you start feeling better soon!Sheltie-Mom Jenn, Heidi and Shelby

Chris and Ricky said...

Oh no, sorry about your ankle! Sprains can be terribly difficult to recover from - hopefully you will bounce back since you were smart and went to the dr. and got ice on it, etc. Take care!

Love the festive photos!

Anonymous said...

Sorry about your ankle!! Josh and Jessie are sending you some super quick healing vibes :) With that much help you'll have your tree up in no time. We can't blame you that you couldn't wait!! :)

Love, Josh and Jessie

Mollie Jo and Bobo said...

Romeo & Gio,

Your mom sounds alot like our mom this time of year. With all the crowd hating, ankle twisting (she does that alot), trying to take pictures of the tree with out them blurring! Anyhoo we loved the decorating pictures....all were wonderful!


Wags and Licks,
Mollie Jo & Bobo

Fred said...

Great pictures! But so sorry you hurt your ankle.

Dawn said...

Great pictures and I was lulled along by the Christmas story so was sadly surprised by the interjection of the ankle! I think your therapy dog is trying to practice his trade on you! They are great dogs. Hope they help you feel better soon! At least you have a nice Christmas tree to look at while you recuperate!

Cool Design Shelties said...

Sorry about your ankle! Thank goodness you have your dogs to help you over your severe pain as you obviously will have with a sprained ankle ;o))

//Bente

KEY WEST COLLIES said...

Excellent Christmas pictures of Gio and Romeo. Dog Dad has never put up an Essexmas tree at home, only a small one at work. Plus it gets hard to get in the mood in humid Florida. Dad can relate to the ankle thing. He has done his in a number of times.

Essex & Deacon

Morgan in Pittsburgh said...

Oh, NO!!! That's exactly the kind of stuff our mom does. I have picked her up dozens of times. She just falls over, which is exactly why I will never allow that "stepping over the dog" exercise everybody wants you to learn. one time she actually broke a bone in her foot. Your pictures are very pretty. We hope you feel better soon.
Your pal, Morgan, & Maisie too!

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