A new Picasso?

Knowing Nick is to appreciate his genius on so many levels. But even Nellie and I had no idea he was an aspiring artist. While he has certainly demonstrated his awesome spelling and writing skills in the past, painting was unexpected. Nellie and Rascal both feel he has such talent as to warrant a trip to Big Sur to study plein-air painting overlooking the beautiful vistas that area supplies. The way we discovered this new accomplishment was the Christmas card he made and which his Mom mailed to us. Please enjoy the new, upcoming artist for the new year and bask in the glow of his genius.

The best cards come from dogs

This holiday has brought out the Bah Humbug in me as always, but then two dogs had to go and spoil it by making me smile and laugh out loud. The first is my hunka hunk of burning love, Elvis, who lives next door and who allows me to look after him while Mom and Pop are at work. He curated a gift of cookies and this wonderful portrait of himself. You cannot look at that face and not think what a handsome boy he is. 

The next card is from Nellie's best buddy Nick who not only walks with us three nights a week, but we also visit to make him more comfortable when his Mom has to go into the office to work. Being the extremely pampered baby he is, he takes umbrage at her having to leave him alone two days a week. Nellie and I feel privileged we can enjoy his company and just chill for a bit. He has been working hard on his penmanship and spelling, as is evident from the card.

And just in case you need another cuteness overload, Nellie and Nick:

Does it get any better than that? (The answer is NO).