Christmas wish, Christmas mud

On Christmas morning we go into Charlottesville to Clay's mother's place. His brother Hugh is in from New York. We took Maya along although I failed to get any pictures of her. She's very well behaved but it was clear that we were interrupting her morning nap time with all the gift opening. 

It's a long day for the dogs left at home, so I came back home early afternoon to let everyone out for a romp in the pasture. The other reason for coming back home yesterday was to meet the folks who were adopting Buzz. They drove down from Northern Virginia and took him home, fulfilling my Christmas wish while giving Buzz the greatest gift imaginable, a new home. 

They had already filled out the contract and paid the adoption fee online so it was a quick handoff. They headed home and I went back out to the pasture with Della, Serena, Theo, Arby, Winston, Malia, and Kismet. Pent up energy and the cold wind made for a lot of activity. That stupid rain from the day before was still sitting on the surface of the ground. Even out in the pasture it was muddy. 

I saw lots of Facebook posts yesterday of people giving their dogs gifts, posing nicely next to the tree, etc. Things were a little different around here at our dog orphanage. We don't wrap up gifts for the dogs, but I do ask for dog gifts for myself. This year it was several Jolly Balls, two with ropes and one without. I brought them back home and threw them out to the pasture for the dogs. The balls and the dogs were very quickly covered in mud, but they enjoyed them and worked off some energy. 

We took the puppy, Dasher, back to town for the rest of the afternoon. We tried to get cute pictures of him under the tree, but that didn't happen. He just wanted petting and attention and he got plenty of that although I put him back into the crate in the van while we ate dinner. We got home after dark although it was still early in the evening. No one got a second meal and after some quick outdoor time, we all went to bed early. Miraculously, Kismet was once again a white dog. The mud had dried and mostly fallen off. That's one advantage to having a short coat. Actually, she still has a grayish tinge. What I need is a stiff horse brush to clean her up again.

Although we had two adoptions in the past week, we are still at an 11 head count around here because Journey's empty spot was backfilled so quickly by Malia. If you are having trouble keeping track, that's six of our own: Maya, Max, Theo, Serena, Della, and Arby, plus five fosters: Chase, Winston, Kismet, Malia, and Dasher. There is no room at the inn. 

Buzz has some jowls!

Buzz had gotten wet and muddy the day before. He needed a good brushing at least, 

but his adopters were happy to welcome him into their home.

Tail up, ready to go!

Although there was lots of open space in the back of the vehicle, 

both dogs wanted to get up front.

Kismet, dipped in muddy water.

The new balls got lots of interest even from dogs who don't really play ball.

Theo was happy that there were enough balls to go around 

such that the other dogs weren't always vying for his.

Being low to the ground herself, when Malia carried a ball by the rope it was dragging on the ground.

Kismet in crouching position, ready to pounce into a run in front of Della, hoping for a chase sequence.

Kismet runs, while Serena hoards the new balls.

Berta and Dasher

Dasher offering a kiss.

Buzz settling into his new home with a new name, Percy.