Cozy Coats, by Climutt

Dear Everett,

Finally, here are the photos of the Crew, in all their coats, outside, and at the same time.

Alright, Eve, I do have my favorites. I am partial to Marshal's, probably because he wears his the most (often all day in the house, to make sure he stays warm on his healed leg), and I really like the horse blanket style. I am partial to Paisle's, because it is so cute on her, girly without being sappy. And I am partial to Ansel's, because it's ice blue border shifts with him, and of all the dogs I really think he will benefit the most from wearing it in the coming months. I love how Sydney Holcomb, the artist of the company, Climutt, made the coats in matching material, while still expressing each dog's individual style. Or maybe I am just projecting their style, onto each coat? And I know I've already said this once, but Marshal (on the right above) and Paisle (in the middle), had almost identical measurements. Granted their coats are two different styles, but the little runt, Beannie, is definitely not drowning in hers, yet she's noticeably smaller than Big Boy! Isn't she cute in this solo photo!And here she is, squished between her boys:
Ansel really shows his age induced barrel, here:
I do not mean any disloyalty, Eve! Ansel is aging, and aging well. As evidenced in yesterday's photos, he at least holds his own when the pups get going (well perhaps even that is not completely fair, because M is forced to quit early, by yours truly). He looks well, and plays well, and sleeps well, for being 11 yrs. old. I heard on MPR, when their semi-annual vet visit happened on the Midday show, that pit bulls life expectancy is 9.5 yrs. At the time, Ansel was just 10.5, and has now tipped his hat at 11, and look at him!

This is a chase scene from today, though it really does look very similar to yesterday's play. Ansel, who has been active in his entire 11 years with me, still rollerblades with me whenever given the chance. It is Ansel, not the puppies, who demands to go for a walk every day. Ansel is the one who decides we've slept enough, and must get out of bed, no matter what time we actually got INTO bed. And Ansel is the one who reliably goes into his crate, depending on what set of shoes I don (work shoes are heels, work from home shoes are slippers, weekend shoes could be boots or sneakers, but BEWARE bringing out the sneakers because they ALWAYS mean a walk!). Maybe, Everett, if we should write our memoirs many years from now, we'll realize that having a fenced in yard was the worst thing that happened to us as a family, because it allowed me to become lazy. It is no longer a requirement to get the dogs out for a walk to take care of business, as well as work off some energy--I can just let them out in the yard. So...the pups do not have the ingrained schedule that Ansel does, born from years of routine.

I feel a new year's resolution coming, which does not have to be based on the calendar year. After all, Ansel DID just have a birthday, and that's a new year, right?