Thankfully, Back in Action.

After all this talk of Thanksgiving in the US, it somewhat made me ponder what I have in my life to be thankful for. There's the usual - mashed potato and cheese, Sex And The City, a super comfy bed and the best mum in the world.

...and my dogs.
So here's a little Thanksgiving tribute to some of my favorite things, even if it's a little overdue.

- S a H a R a -

All the first memories of Sahara - our huge walks each night in the stifling heat, with her collar and leash matching my iPod and discovering all the people and places in the neighbourhood I never knew about. The first time her ears stood up. The way she sneaks her way into bed every morning immediately after D vacates, and crawls her way up under the covers, kneading and prodding the bed like she's a kitten. And the way she eventually steals all my pillow, whilst snuffling in my ear because she knows it makes me giggle and move over. I love the way she reads me, and knows when to be silly and cute, and simply when to give me a cuddle. I adore how she places her toys in her water bowl, then snorkels for them. How she acts dumb and flirts like crazy around new people, and sluttishly jumps and kisses them smack on the gob. I love how she barks when she senses I'm scared, and how her lips flap in the wind when she sticks her head out the car window.
And mostly, since our fight, how she's known to stay away from me, until she right moment, when she climbed on my chair, sat her tush on my lap and placed a paw around each shoulder, and simply sat for minutes on end like she was giving me a hug.


- P H O E N I X -

And where to being with my big man. From the moment I saw him online, I wanted to bring him home. It's taken a while to know I've done the right thing. But since he's come home, he's changed daily. From his terror of being touched on the head and tummy, to the sookiest, cuddliest belly rub loving pooch. His shock at vacuums, windows, TV, Christmas decorations and being fed from a bowl have all been overcome, and it's been amazing watching him in the process of learning a little more how to be a dog. He occasionally picks up a tennis ball. He's learned to chew a bone. And I love that he smacks me with his paw when he's not getting enough attention. I adore that he bites my hands and feet when I won't wake up and cuddle him. I love his big dopey eyes and floppy mouth with too much skin. All the silly little things about him make me smile, because I know he's come such a long way. It's taken months for him to smile, but now there's a light in his eyes and a thudding on undergrowth when he's his happiest - running like a lunatic through blackberries.
But my favorite time with him was the day he overcame his fear of water, and joined me in the surf. I spent hours grabbing his fluffy neck fur and swimming back to shore with him, time after time.

*
I wouldn't change either of them for the world, and I am truly thankful to be able to have two gorgeous who make me smile the way they do.