Holiday

[2sisters]

Your decorations are beautiful!  Thank you for sharing. 

[Marsha2003]

I'm not decorating this year as my house is in complete upheaval as we remodel the kitchen and a bathroom, so I'm especially appreciative of anyone who takes the time to share pictures of their decorations.  Thank you so much!

[homedecor1]

@juanitalinda 

love the houses and banister🎄

you're ahead of the game -- I procrastinate and then I come here, see everyone's beautiful decorations and get motivated!

Enjoy your beautiful decor🎄

[juanitalinda]

@Alsace Gal 

Flat coats are the most wonderful dogs  ... perennial puppies.  

Our Bandit thought he was a life guard.  Whenever we were near water, he insisted upon bringing all the swimmers safely to shore, whether they needed saving or not.  

Some of us thought that was more adorable than others.  

I hope you have great memories of your Brandy.  

[juanitalinda]

@LizzieInSRQ 

My husband's grandfather made this creche also.  It is the first decoration we put out each year.  

I had no idea how difficult things would be when you can't stand up long enough to even fix a meal.  Like you said, even the simplist things require a plan to accomplish.   But then again, I have plenty of time on my hands since I can't really go anywhere.  

I'm glad it's done ... and now I can enjoy the lights and the memories. 

[Patriot3]

@juanitalinda  Your decorations are beautiful!!  I hope you have a Blessed Christmas!

[Alsace Gal]

@juanitalinda 

Indeed they are wonderful and playful, Brandy was my treasure, she's been gone since 2001. Brandy eventually found it very difficult to go on much longer. She had dementia.

I used to live in the Santa Cruz mountains beside a river a few miles from town.

Every 0 morning I walked to town 4 miles round trip, just for exercise.

One  morning as I was walking a car slowed down and threw out a large paper bag. 
I heard a small whimper and I opened the bag and there was this wee puppy. She still had puppy breath and a fat tummy.
I took her home and there she stayed until it was time to leave me.

I could tell by looking  at her paws she was going to be a large pup when grown and grow she did!

We once were almost hit by traffic because she didn't want to be on a lead, it happened twice, she was strong even at 6 months and pulled us into traffic.

We attended obedience class one time. Classes were outside even during extreme heat.

For a solid year I trained her basics and then my own version of hand and finger motions.

When I felt confident she was ready, we would drive to an abandoned air field and my dear Brandy showed me what she could do.

She never missed a beat. She was brilliant. We would go through our commands and she enjoyed every one of them.

I would point and she would follow the motion of my hand until I stoped and she would stop. If I held my palm up and moved my fingers towards me she would come and stop when I held my palm up facing her.

'All and all I taught  her 30 commands she remembered each one. I only had to show her a command once.

'One morning she was in front of my entrance and I was in the kitchen, I heard her barking, which was unusual, I opened the door and she moved closer to me as if she was covering me. I looked past her and a man was climbing over my 7 ft fence and was frightened. He had jackknifed his body over the fence. Brandy looked at me waiting for direction. I held up my hand and said go!

Brandy ran and was within seconds under this man's face. She stayed that way growling at him until I told her come.

'She scared the he... out of him!

He didn't know she wasn't viscous and wouldn't have bitten him.

Brandy loved water, river, pond, lake and the ocean!

She would often try to jump out of the car when she smelled water.

She would jump from cliffs into a pond or lake. She loved children, and when at the ocean if she saw children playing and pulling in sea weed she  would join in and grab on to the sea weed and  pull along with them.

She would wear herself out and often my husband would need to carry her to the car.

After our adventure we would stop at Gayle's Bakery in Capitola and the three of us would be rewarded with an almond croissant. Brandy would sleep for hours.

-

I would take her shopping and on the way home we would get a Mac burger. When we arrived home I would take a burger out of the bag and leave only the wrapping on it. I would give it to her and tell her to take it to daddy, we lived below street level and she would run down the very long stone staircase, push open the door and give it to daddy. He in return would take the cover off and give her the burger.

She was very protective of my dear sister, dear mom and of course me.

This is the first time I shared with anyone about my beloved Brandy, all those who knew and loved her are gone.

Brandy loved yellow rubber ducks!

[Alsace Gal]

Brandy again.

[Alsace Gal]

Last one of Brandy.

[GinaV24]

@Alsace Gal Your photos are wonderful and your story of Brandy and your life together is even lovelier.

Thanks for sharing both with us. I'm sorry about your loss of your well loved pet. There are not enough years to spend together.