birthday dog


Sophia’s 11th birthday yesterday. Walked a new neighborhood. Barked. Skillfully manipulated humans. With a cursory glance, people think she is a young dog. Closer study tells another story. She has lipomas all over, an issue shared by many old Labradors. She tires physically before her enthusiasm runs out. She has grey fur on her feet and muzzle. She has a measure of pain.

post prandial


Last year, Thanksgiving, I tried to sit my cousins and their children in this chair, snap portraits (4×5″ film). This year I am settling for one digital photo of Lois, made possible through the dog wrangling skills of Peyton Fitzhugh and Lana Sachs.

Lois was queen for the day. Sophie stayed home, did deep cleaning on the broccoli casserole pot, realizing the Cinderella benefits.
Cousin Ned and family in the UK this year. Missed them like sin. Always missing someone on Thanksgiving.