Nellyo

That look. It was that look that made it unnecessary for Basenjis to bark. They looked one in the eye, furrowed their fuzzy little brows, and everything followed from there. They had been manipulating humans for several millennia, and we were just the latest batch to fall under their spell. It was almost Christmas, a season children loved but a season that made some adults feel old. It was a good year to remember how good we had it, eat well, take a nap, and move forward.

Nellyo

Two camouflaged Basenjis.

Nellyo

Milla's always mom.

Nellyo

Kiko practiced his creep.

Nellyo

Kitchen Kiko.

Nellyo

Bringing groceries home.

Nellyo

Groceries attract Basenjis.

Nellyo

Bosco kept hunting.

Nellyo

Minus ten fahrenheit outside.

Nellyo

Kiko's manly toes.

Nellyo

Bosco peeking.

Nellyo

Dawn's latest.

Nellyo

Dawn's needlepoint.

Nellyo

Dawn's needlepoint.

Nellyo

Dawn's thread boxes.

Nellyo

Kissing always helps.

Nellyo

Basenji self-help.

Nellyo

Chicken fillet sandwich to go.

Snow

It had begun to take two people to get the Basenjis outside, one to hold the door open, and one to herd them out. They were pretty low-maintenance otherwise, so they figured it was no more than they deserved. Otherwise, they dawdled about ten feet back from the door and acted clueless. "Outside? We've never been outside before." It took a certain amount of finesse to deal with Basenjis since they adamantly refused to be trained. Trick them? Okay. Train them? Never.

Snow

Oh yeah, Gary said it was okay.

Snow

Everybody slept a lot.

Snow

Milla liked to watch.

Snow

Kiko's idea of a good time.

Snow

Kiko's honest little dog face.

Snow

An open refrigerator door, hmmm.

Snow

Is Dawn home yet?!

Snow

You gotta let us in!

Snow

Let me in, I said let me in!

Snow

Waiting to come inside.

Snow

Waiting to come inside.

Snow

A neighbor blew snow from deck.

Snow

Milla under the kitchen table.

Snow

Hot on the trail.

Snow

Peeking.

Snow

Watching for Dawn to get home.

Longjohns.

Kiko liked Dawn's lap (her chest, and legs) across which he sprawled like it was the most natural thing a fellow like himself might do. Gary found that if he was able to ignore the newspaper and the TV set, things seemed very much as always. Of course the sky was falling, but the dogs still liked him tolerably well, and Dawn managed to humor him most of the time, when it suited her. Christmas seemed very close, yet very far away, all at once. Do what you can and laugh when you can.

Longjohns

His hand!

Longjohns

Boscoe creeping on Milla.

Longjohns

Little Milla lap wad.

Longjohns

Cave dog.

Longjohns

Love that soapy water.

Longjohns

It was always something.

Longjohns

Dawn watched the desktop.

Longjohns

Cactus bud.

Longjohns

Dog lips.

Longjohns

Gary in 1944.

Longjohns

Gary, your host.

Longjohns

Snow on the roof.

Longjohns

Gary's phone.

Longjohns

Under table heat vent.