Back--and now with computer access!

OK, the dogs and I are home now...and I have a computer again, so I don't have to try to blog from an iPhone or iPad, both of which are pretty iFrustrating and iDifficult.

Trip up to Michigan went pretty much ok. About half way, in western Pennsylvania, my old Jeep, which is now relegated to being a dog hauler, began to make loud grinding noises from someplace below the vehicle in the area of the transfer case. This did not make me happy, and when I stopped to check it out, I could see nothing hanging that might be doing this. So I paid a visit to the Firestone garage in Cranberry, PA, and even though it was the height of holiday travel time, they got me in pretty quickly, got the Jeep up on the lift, and figured out and a heat shield from the exhaust had broken loose and gotten itself wrapped up around the drive shaft. In no time, I was back out on the road again and they only charged me $15.00 to lift the Jeep and cut the remains of the shield out of there. And it's amazing how fast a busy garage can get you in and done when you bring your travel companions into the waiting room.

My sister got her new handgun, a S&W Shield in 9mm. Aaron and I took her out to the range to teach her how to use it.

I took my nephew, The Spud, out for a day in the woods with the dogs at Proud Lake Recreation area.

We hiked the trails for a few hours and I brushed him up on his fire-building skills because he wants to go winter camping with his friends next month.

On Christmas Eve, we had an extended family dinner with Aaron and his family and Proud Hillbilly and hers over. Due to the number of people and close quarters at my mom's, the dogs were sequestered in a back bedroom together. But they had lots of company because PH's granddaughter seems to just know five words, and she used them every few minutes: "Let's go see the dogs!"

New friends.

We had our own dinner on Christmas Day. And Murphy was up to his old table-surfing tricks.

Afterwards, the dogs got presents just like everyone else.

Stuffed toys were unwrapped, cuddled, stolen, tussled over...they had a good day, and I thought they'd never wind down. But finally they did.

Pals forever.