Great pictures, all of them ... Here are some of my "kids": Sambina & Cosmo on a frosty November morning Lily (the dog) and her best buddy Bailey cuddling on a cold day: Dakota, the old man, with his bone: Cosmo, Sambina and their son Merlin: Merry Christmas and Happy holidays everyone! Pam

Now that the holidays are over I am continuing counseling. I am going to do some work on trying to repress memories and experiences. We have also made the decision to have Rhiannon go to counseling, with the family changes and brother stresses it is affecting her behavivor.I am not sure if there has been abuse but that will also be addressed. Since my brother is still drinking *Friday drunken fight* but now is no longer drinking. I don't feel that I can trust his decision making ability and take that chance with my kids or family. The sad thing is my family is blaming me for his drinking and bringing up all the issues, they would prefer to keep them dirty little secrets which isn't okay with me. So keep your thouhts on me and I will keep my knockers up:) Stacie

@gardengal I was floored to discover that the laser pointer I'd bought to entertain the cat with was much more interesting to Molly (dog) who loved to chase after that moving red dot - until I lost the pointer. If I found it again I'm sure that she'd be more than pleased. :P The cat passed on a few years ago, but there are multiple moments symbolic of my time with her that will never disappear from my memory (they're just too darn funny and shocking to forget)!

We have mostly hardwood floors and tile, and other than bathroom and kitchen mats, only one smallish area rug. Our dog has both a crate and a dog bed. The door to her crate is always left open, day and night, so she can rest wherever she likes. The crate has a memory foam pillow and the dog bed has a thick soft filling, so Sophie has a comfy place to lie, whichever she chooses. She hates the feeling of leather and does not come onto our leather furniture, which is fine with us, as she's rather large. I'd say she decides on crate or dog bed, depending on what we're doing. If our young grandsons are over, she'll sometimes wander into her crate, just to get a break from the extra noise and activity, I'd presume. But if anyone is eating, of course she prefers hanging around, or lying in her dog bed, so she's easily seen and at the ready, if someone decides to offer her a dog treat, lol. I feel sorry for dogs who are 'locked' in their crates, unless they are destructive outside the crate, when alone in the house, or for temporary periods that might be needed to keep them safe from harm.