It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas...
...but not much. Isn't there supposed to be snow in December?
My PR mom says she shops for Christmas all year long, but this time of year she usually shops online. However, she took me to find a present for my PR dad.
We looked at Bronco items... but maybe this isn't a good year to be excited about Denver's football team.
I walked past some toys and they barked at me! No joke! How do they do that?
Oh well. I think I'll give my dad some socks because I, um, like to hide them.
Here's what I want for Christmas. I didn't know until last week that they came in Harriet-sized packages!
My PRs were invited by a kind friend to spend a few days in Branson, Missouri. When they started pulling out suitcases, I started getting worried. What was going on? I'd just come back from being at doggy camp for three weeks. Were they going to send me away again? My attitude wasn't the best.
We drove up to the Denver airport parking lot and said goodbye to the mountains.
Then we waited for the bus to take us to the terminal.
We had a bumpy ride, and once we were there I took a walk with my dad. When we came back, my mom looked at me and said, "Harriet! Your nose is turning pink!" Well, I didn't do it on purpose!
Then we waited for our boarding passes. If I don't look happy it's because I don't like bumpy bus rides or waiting in line. But that was nothing compared to going through security! It took forever! Not that I mind being patted down... or scratched on the tummy, either.
Finally my mom went through the Magic Security Doorway; then my dad took my collar off and sent me through. I wasn't sure if I liked it or not.
Then when we got on the plane, the floor started tilting up. Yikes! Daddy, let's go home!
But I took a nap (good for all ills) and then it was time to get off the plane. And what did I find? In Colorado it was dry, but in Missouri there was some SNOW! Yippee! I know what to do with snow without needing to be taught!
My PR dad rented a car. It had a slippery back seat, so my mom put old sheets on it. Even so, I only wanted to stand. My attitude still wasn't very good.
But the hotel was terrific. They like dogs! They provided dog dishes, a mat to put them on, and a nice cushy dog bed (I put it inside my travel crate). And I was welcomed with smiles in the restaurant, and didn't have to keep my cape on every minute to prove I was a service dog! Four-footies, if you ever go to Branson, this is the place where you want your people to stay.
We went walking. Right outside the hotel door (and right outside our room window) was this. Wow!
We looked in shop windows. I practiced my ups...
...and back in the room I practiced my jumps. (Um, jumps take lots of energy.)
We drove around town. Standing (!) in the car, I saw lots of Christmas lights.
I did lots of walking, too. Missouri smells different from Colorado. I needed to sniff every inch. I didn't know if I wanted to Hurry on strange-smelling grass.
We went to some shows, and I had the best time of anyone; I slept through them all.
Then we went to a place called Silver Dollar City. My people were freezing, but I had my nice fur coat on.
And I got lots of attention.
Can you see my tail wagging?
There were lots of Christmas lights there, too, and loud music. But I don't mind loud things. I find them interesting.
One day my dad said, "Let's go to another show." In the afternoon? Me? That's when I take a nap! Oh, I went along, of course. They can't do things without me.
Before the trip was over, I was cool! And not just because of the temperatures. I didn't have to worry about my Hurrying. I didn't worry so much about the car. I was an expert on elevators.
I'd made lots of friends. Here are two of my buddies from the restaurant where we had breakfast every morning. They made sure I had peanut butter. GOOD people!
I have to admit something. I enjoy making a fuss about doing some commands with my cape on. Sometimes I won't do a Down, or I do it stiffly, as if I were mad (because I am). And I won't roll. Well, when we were at the airport, I did my "mad" Down.
After a while my PR mom reached down and began to scratch my tummy very gently. It felt so good that I ended up rolling right on my back. Sneaky Mom! When she stood up to take a picture, I realized that I'd given myself away, of course, so I stood up. Don't tell anybody!
And the flight home was a cinch. I'm a seasoned traveler now! Airplanes don't worry me at all!
I'm back home, and wearing my best Christmas bandana. I'm excited about Christmas. I hope you are, too. I hope that you thank your Creator for Christmas, and that you get lots and lots of bones and peanut butter from Sandy Paws!
