My present to you!

So OK, now it's my turn. Here's my Christmas present to you ... it's MOI!


Yep, that's right. I'm the best thing anyone could ask for. Especially my girl. Love you Alli!

It's Present Time!

So just in case you were unaware of this fact ... I am very excited about my Christmas presents. Yep. Mom is helping open this one (which was, er, a water bowl)


But never fear, here is my next Christmas present ... a special boney


And check out this one ... wait a minute ... that's not even my present -- it's some thing Alli got. Alli, will you share? After all, I am well over 4 years old ;-)

Getting sleepy

It's great having company staying at our house (now Alli and Melissa are both here).

There's lots more activity going on, and it usually runs later into the night than with just Mom and Alpha.

Which is a lot of fun, as long as I can stay awake. And as you can see -- I get sleepy sometimes.

But that's OK -- I'd rather be where the action is!

Paws getting cold

As much as I like getting out for a walk, sometimes it really is cold.

Here, Mom had to pick me up at the end of walk because there was snow and ice on the ground, and one of my paws just got too cold and frozen.

Nothing a little huggin' (and vigorous rubbin') can't fix,

Bad Wimpfen is not bad ;-)

Here we are at yet another Xmas market. Bad Wimpfen is a really neat old town, with lots of half-timbered houses.


Everyone adores me, especially in my Stadtwerker (state worker) orange safety vest.


Check out this cool walkway on part of the old walled city. It was literally "cool" -- in fact, it was freezing ;-)


With all the old houses so close together, you can find these cool alleyways. I'm always game to check them out.

The real thing

Speaking of presents, check out what I got.

These are not "pressed rawhide" bones, these are "the real thing".

I'll save you a more detailed description -- after all, we have vegetarians in the audience (hee, hee).

But all I can say is ... YUMMMMMM!

Merry Christmas everybody!

So check this out -- we actually have a tree and presents.

Pretty impressive given where we were just a few days ago.

But just goes to shows we have a Super Mom in the house, donchaknow.

Not *my* ear, please

Hmmm, looks like someone shot Alli with a nail gun (hee, hee).

Just kidding Alli. You look pretty cool.

But if it's all the same to you, let's not get any Frito piercing idea, 'K?

OK, Mom, whadya doin?

Do you really think this is necessary?

I mean, I know it is getting cold, but come on ...

Well, will you look who arrived?

After 36 hours in transit! Fortunately, she made it out of Atlanta before the nor'easter hit.

And let me tell you, am I the best welcoming party or what?


Yeah, I had to tell Alli a secret when we got home. I had to tell her how much I missed her.

After all, she's my girl!

So huggable

Yeah, that's me. Everyone wants to pet me, and my parents just love to pick me up and give me lots of hugs.

Someone else has just arrived in Germany, and she loves to hug me too. I can't wait for all of the attention!

My buddies

Awww, here are some of my buddies: Christian (the dad), Levi, and Niklas.

I really like to visit with them when they are outside playing.

Just don't ask me who's who ;-)

Needed some color

This was a pretty cool statue we found in Herrenberg. But I certainly think I make it better, donchathink?

If nothing else, I'm adding some color. And a little whimsey (I like whimsey ;-)

Ummm ... eyes are lower

Here I am with Alpha, taking a little respite after walking up to a Burg (Castle). We're looking pretty good too, I'd say.

Except -- Alpha -- those sunglasses aren't really doing any good up there, are they?

Yeah, we're beautiful

We were coming back up the hill from Esslingen, and had the sun at our backs.

So Alpha grabbed the camera (big surprise) and caught this beautiful couple.

We won't quibble over who's #1. But you have to admit, we've got the top spots covered ;-)

And another ...

Here we are heading down to another Xmas market -- this one in Esslingen. It's a really cool town.


But wow was it crowded (and this wasn't even a weekend, OMG). There were people everywhere, and sometimes, Mom had to pick me up to make sure I could make it through the crowd. But as soon as there was space again, I wanted to be back on the ground, trying to scarf up some bits of food. (Hee, hee)

Another Xmas market

Here we are at the Ludwigsburg Xmas market. I've been seeing quite a few of these lately.

I like them because here in Germany, they are largely about food. And wherever there is lots of street food, there is lots of food fallout!

So my nosie never leaves the ground -- my sniffer is on a mission!

Oh yeah, and I make everyone smile or laugh, so it's good for them too ;-)

Bigger than it looks

This may not look so steep in the photo, but this hill was quite daunting near the end of a walk with Mom and Alpha.


So I'm waiting for them to catch up (hee, hee). Come on guys, that's enough resting -- let's go!

Puttin' on the brakes

This is what it looks like when I have to stop running -- eerrrrrkkkkkk.

Ya see, Alpha called me back for lunch. A pup's gotta do what a pup's gotta do, ya know.

Didn't eat it (this time)

Here I am in a field, with a butterfly on a flower.

Lucky for Alpha I didn't go ahead and eat it! He really does need to be more careful.

Nice tush!

Some might even call it my best side ;-)

But hey, when you look good all over, every side is your good side.

I'm gonna drop it ...

... and you are going to pick it up!

I like having this kind of power over you. Admit it. You will pick it up. Everytime.

Hee-hee.

That's Mr. Tongue to you

Quite a licker, donchathink?

People often say I'm a pooch of many talents.

Just get some food on your hands and try to pet me -- I'll show you what I mean ;-)

A little windy

Looks like Mom's hairdo is getting blown around a bit.

But she's still a cutie, donchathink?

Ya know Mom, if we give you a #1 or #2 buzz cut (like me) you won't have this problem (hee, hee)

Someone special's coming!

Well, I mean another special person, in addition to Santa.

My girl Alli enters her last week of the semester, and I sure hope she survives finals ;-)

And then within a couple of weeks, Alli will be here in Germany! Woo-hoo!

Good luck Alli!!! Distant slobbers from me to you!

Escargot anyone?

Check out these tasty looking morsels. Some people pay big bucks for these in French restaurants.

But Alpha's gone all vegetarian on me, and he won't let me eat them -- just sniff them, which is kinda fun.

Actually, they do quite a bit of damage in the garden, so our neighbors enlisted the young twins, and they moved all the snails out to the woods.

That's a kinder, gentler approach, donchathink?

Up close and Personable

Here's your reward for the week.

A close-up of moi. I know you couldn't want anything more.

Simply adorable I know, I know.

Saying Hi!

Speaking of Gina and Christian, this is one of their twin sons -- either Niklas or Levi.

I can never tell which one, but I run and say hi no matter who it is.

I love the whole family.

In the garden #4

So now I've moved into the front yard.

And to think, these marigolds only started as little seeds this year. Pretty!

Our neighbors Gina and Christian take care of this garden, and they do a beautiful job.

In the garden #3

Herre I am peering over the ivy on our garden walls.

Once I found a big yellow and black lizard in the ivy, so I must always check it out carefully.

Don't worry, Alpha saved him from me. Such a Buddhist ;-)

In the garden #2

OK, so it's sort of a theme week. Alpha's not being too creative.

But at least I look good against many plants, donchathink?

In the garden

Going back in time a little -- before I got my haircut.

Hanging out in the garden was lots of fun, especially after Mom and Alpha reinvigorated it with new plants.

I don't know what they all are, but they sure look pretty (especially with moi in the picture ;-)

Cammo training

You just never know when you need to blend in to your surroundings.

Here I am practicing on our new king bed quilt. Now you see me, no you don't.

Pretty impressive, donchaknow.

Taking a boat ride

These boats are really quiet -- all electric, and have been for 100 years -- that's right, since 1909. Can you believe that? Amazing.


And they are electric because they happen to run on one of Germany's cleanest and deepest lakes -- Königsee -- in Bavaria (Southern Germany). No power boats are allowed.

In the sun

Check out the sun streaming through our Pension window. Makes me look all glisteny. And feels nice and warm.

With Mom and flowers

Walking around the towns in Southern Germany is really picturesque. Don't you think Mom and the flowers both so beautiful? Oh yeah, me too ;-)

OK - happier on the log bench

This is much better. Sitting mostly on terra firma, and being protected by my Alpha. Nice day up here though, I must say.


You can see that Mom and I are really on the top of the world up here. And that house in the background is the Eagle's Nest -- Hitler's 50th B-day gift and little-used retreat. This is cool.

And if you are really up for an outing, you can *walk* up from the bottom. We were not that craz, er, adventuresome. But we did walk down. And that was tough enough on the humans (sore quads ;-)

What is with all the cliffs?

Here I am (with that crazy Alpha again) out on some man-made outcropping, overlooking a vast, steep drop.


This gives you a little more perspective. OK, Alpha, that was fun -- can we go now?