It's Just One Big Party

We've got some dear friends in the KC area, and we get to eat & drink with 4 of our dearest tonight!  Ray & Becky cook up a storm when we go to their place.  After we moved to Nevada, we really missed getting together with them Saturday nights at their place or ours and cooking & eatingdrinking with a little drinkingeating.  The cooks usually end up snockered before the food is served, but what do you expect when it takes that long to fix a table full of unbelievably yummy food?

Also, Kevin & Suzie get to be there and Suzie had a big birthday yesterday!  WAHOO for birthday weekends!!!  I can't wait to hear how her birthday surprise happy hour went.  I wish we could have been there, and I hope she had the best birthday.  Can't wait to catch up with them all.

In other news, Shadow, also known as Chateau after a few cocktails, has blended nicely into the family.  Our goldies are not exactly sharing a plate-licking with her, but they tolerate her just fine.  She seems very thankful to be part of the fam.

We have kind of a fourth doggy-visitor.  Nyla is a very friendly boxer.  I have never known a boxer and am amazed at her wonderful personality and desire for affection.  She likes to kiss all over the face of every other dog.  Abby can't really stand it, but Keystone doesn't seem to mind.  I think it's her way of saying, "Hi, You're CUTE!" in a friendly and expressive way.  We let her into the house in the evenings to chill out for just a little while to hang with us.  So she's like a niece to our kids.

And then there's Bo.  He is a tall, dark, lanky and extremely cautious boxer.  He is often found sitting in the field just staring.  At what, who knows?  He must have had traumatic experiences with people as a baby, because he is extremely skittish.  But as he has become familiar with us, he is getting closer and closer.  He has a crush on Shadow.  I think because we are taking good care of Shadow, he sees how happy we make her, and that makes him start to trust us.

In the morning, everyone goes out to potty, and they all race back in for a treat.  Whoever happens to be hanging around gets one.  Since Todd bought gargantuan sized dog bones, they get to eat them outside.  One day last week Bo was there.  He looked very interested in the treats but I could tell he felt conflicted.  How close should he get?!?  I must have looked fairly evil.  He got to within 15 feet of me, so I tossed him one.  He took it and hopped off a little ways and ate his new found prize.  TODAY?  I got to hand him his bone.  For a split second, I was connected to Bo by his treat.  THAT's progress.  He was really just over to say good morning to his little girlfriend, Chateau, and he got to see me too.