In the beginning, Cocoa did not know who was coming or how they would get here. She just knew lots of people were about to descend on her house. And whatever happened next was going to be really big! So big that she’s already gotten the lecture: “If you can’t behave, you’ll have to wear your gentle leader.”

Pretty soon Grand Daddy arrived for Thanksgiving dinner.

Grand Bettie (Grandmother) and her sister and husband (Uncle Dixon and Aunt Eloise) enjoyed talking in the living room. Lots of other people came but no one wanted to have their photos made. The “old” folks couldn’t run too fast so they were easy targets for the camera.

Pat and Jay and best friends Bertrhude and Ashley were not camera shy.

Matt and Megan hung out in the living room and talked after lunch.

And after all was said and done, Cocoa was pooped and ready for a long nap. She had a good day. And she only sent everyone into a frenzy one time—when she got caught eating a corner of the Thanksgiving ham, which had been left waaaaay too close to the edge of the kitchen counter. Seems like life always has some rough moments for a puppy dog.

It’s official! Cocoa Joy received her Delta Society badge in the mail yesterday. Now, she can really visit those who are hurting and lonely. Her first official visitation is scheduled for December 12. We’ll meet up with one of her trainers from Dog School 101 and a few of her other friends. Then we go to a nursing home facility where she will get to say hello and Merry Christmas to the residents. Right now, I’m a little afraid that she will try to give kisses, too. (smile)

In this photo, Johanna, a friend’s daughter, considers taking a train to her Grandmother’s for Thanksgiving.  But since she lives so close, she probably can just pack up the goodies and simply walk! Have a Happy Thanksgiving Johanna . . . and family.

I have to honestly admit that I no longer wonder why I have a dog. Even when I enter the den and all the dog toys are scattered around the room. I know exactly why she is in my life. It wasn’t long ago when I tried to convince myself that I did not need an animal. Buffy, my dog of 15 years, had died with cancer, and I told myself that I did not need to be saddled with new vet bills and afternoon walks that led me beside every tree and mail box for two miles. Was I ever wrong! The house may have been filled with people—laughing and talking, but it also was vacant because it was dogless. Having to deal with that void, changed me. In the past, I would have ranted over the endless stream of toys tossed here and there. “What a mess,” I would have lamented and quickly picked up each one. Now, I gladly wade through the puppy pile of stuff without one word of discord. Or I just pick up a few and put them back in the toy bin.

One of my absolute favorite things is this: at night before I turn off the lights, I love to look down the hallway to see if some stray toy has made its way halfway back to the bedroom. Usually, poor P Bear—the one with the slightly chewed ears and the licked-clean head—is face down in the rug. It is a sight that never fails to make me smile. I don’t pick him up. I just leave him there because he reminds me that the house is full now because a dog lives here.

I snapped the top photo and before I could walk away, Cocoa ran in and grabbed the sock that Janice sent home to her. It was time to play!

It was also time to think about playing a game of “keep away”  . . . from me.

Several years ago, Opal my beloved neighbor gave me a Japanese Maple tree. I accepted it on one condition—that she would help me plant it. She did; and so far, it has grown to be about eight feet tall. I could not resist taking photos in front of it this year.