Red-Sky Reunion

Monona, Wisconsin, September 16, 2016. Step out to the shore.

Sleeping-Puppies Reunion

Monona, Wisconsin, September 2003. Everyone—except Baci (known at the time as  "Big Red")—naps.

Thanks to our friend Tom for making this photo available to us.

Happy Birthday, Rex!

Monona, Wisconsin, June 2005. The little guy turns 11 today. He's the easiest dog we've ever had.

Rex's First Christmas

Monona, Wisconsin, December 2005. Rex briefly aspired to be a show dog. Nice paws!

Rexiversary

Rex came to live with us 10 years ago today. Here's the moment I met him:

Monona, Wisconsin, June 2005. The little fellow in the back is Rex's brother Carson.

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Monona, Wisconsin, June 2005. Rex was such a poised little fellow.

Appreciation

Monona, Wisconsin, December 2013. The traditional ornaments are lovely; even the ornaments made from drinking straws are nostalgic.

Dappled Reunion

Monona, Wisconsin, November 2009. Ghiddi enjoys the camera's attention.

Traditions

 
Monona, Wisconsin, December 2013. Lithuanians decorate Christmas trees with straw ornaments. After Displaced Persons settled in urban centers, they found it difficult to locate straw, so they started making the ornaments out of drinking straws. 
 
In the early 1990s, Wisconsin's governor invited the Madison folk dance group, Žaibas, to decorate a Lithuanian tree in the governor's mansion. The group secured real straw to make the traditional ornaments. I took part in the project, and we later used my ornaments to decorate our tree.

My friend Nijole made these ornaments for the Žaibas tree.

Take a closer look.

Monona, Wisconsin, November 2009. Ghiddi has stirred from her nap, and she's wondering what is causing everyone to focus on her.

Alice

Monona, Wisconsin, September 2005. Mom visits with "Alice," the gracious Standard Poodle who touched so many people.

Show Dog Reunion

Monona, Wisconsin, August 2005. Rex auditions for the show-dog circuit. Two factors eclipsed that career: (1) we did not want an intact dog in the house; and (2) he was unruly ... on a leash.

Take-a-Nap Reunion

Monona, Wisconsin, November 2009. If you ate too many starchy foods today, then take a nap.