A Merry Christmas to you, Laurie, and to all of you, my hosta friends! Thank you for the lovely pictures. This is my contribution - it was a double Brandy ... just enough left to toast all of you. Regardless of your faith, may the special feeling that is predominant at this time linger in your heart.

Hi Alex, You should have been here on New Year's Eve. The crickets were having a party. ZM

Mara -- I love those elf shoes!!!! Yep, it is so warm in Texas on most Christmas days you have to turn on the AC if you want to use the fire place. Buttoni -- what a darling little dog! Button's toy in the picture looks bigger than her ... lol I agree with you that Alfie has some Rat Terrier or Toy fox terrier in his genealogy. He has the long legs and general conformation of a Toy fox terrier, but is much bigger at about 25 lbs.. I used to visit 'Plant Maven' Kathy and admire her little Toy fox terrier Mavie, who she said was the smartest dog she ever owned. I vowed to get one someday. Then lo and behold Alfie turned up on my front porch on Mother's Day this year. He was only about 10 or 12 weeks old, was so scared and was hiding behind some pots. I posted his picture on our neighborhood Facebook page, but no one claimed him. I guess someone thought Mother's Day would be a good day to dump unwanted puppies, It was my lucky day ... :-) This three minute Alfie video was put together by my son using some videos I took when Alfie was about 5/6 mo. old. He was a natural at fetching a ball. I knew he was smart when he'd never give up looking for it. The poodle, Sport, appointed himself as "The Sport Police'' to 'protect' our 17 old dog Max, and would chase Alfie away when he pulled on Max's legs in trying to get him to play. I feel all dogs are more intelligent than we give them credit for. They will pick up a lot of words on their own, but when given a little direction, as youngsters especially, they will transfer that learning into lots of other areas. My daughter Rhonda fosters for Tracy's Dogs and made this video I Rescued a Human Today. Let a dog adopt you and have a fulfilling and happy 2017.

Christmas future is far away Christmas past is past Christmas present is here today Bringing joy that will last Have yourself a Merry Little Christmas Let your heart be light From now on our troubles Will be out of sight Have yourself a Merry Little Christmas Make the yuletide gay From now on your troubles Will be miles away Here we are as in olden days Happy golden days of yore Faithful friends who are dear to us Gather near to us once more Through the years we all will be together If the fates allow Hang a shining star upon the highest bough And have yourself a Merry Little Christmas now Ralph Blane/Hugh Martin Merry Christmas to my RMG gardening buddies!