Day Four Hundred and Fifty Four

Miss Pancake   

My Friend Emmet went back to Ireland today. Oh dear. Too bad for us.

But before everybody was all awake Zita and I went right to our farm to practice our nice walking.

When we got home Emmet was all dressed and had finished packing all his lovely Merry Christmas presents.

I helped Craig get all his clothes on this morning. 

I am a very good helper, especially with his shoes. Ha. Good for me.

Then Niamh came home to give her big brother lots of hugs before he found his aeroplane. Then she went to her work. 

Last night Niamh and Tyler and Tara and Taylor and Tarryn had a tasty dinner at the Mahoney cottage. 

After they had their outside baths. 

And they stayed up very late, so everybody stayed there until this morning. 

When Emmet was all dressed in his new jacket and socks he was already to go. 

So everybody said goodbye to Emmet. Me too. 

Then the fast car took Zita and Emmet to the aeroport. 

When Zita came back Emmet was still at the aeroport and not here. Too bad for me.

After Zita read her new book for a while she went out to do some shopping with Susan.

I went outside into my side yard to sniff everything everywhere. Ha.

But Craig just watched a not so interesting football game. Oh well.

Then Craig and I looked out my watching window until Zita got home. 

Professor Jill’s cleaning your clothes machine is all broken so she had to come here so she would have clean clothes. 

If you do not clean your clothes you will be smelly like a skunk. Zita told me. 

We had the very tasty ham tonight before we watched the very very good new detective program.

And it is all about horses who cannot run so very fast. Not so fast as me.

Then we went to fast fast asleep. 

Day Four Hundred and Fifty Three

Miss Pancake   

We are still on our holidays, so the fast car took Zita and Niamh and me to our farm. 

But that was after we had our breakfasts. 

We had a very good time at the farm.

I ran up and down my wood hill. 

And when we got home Craig was all awake and he got me my first lunchtime.

And then it was time for our altogether lunch with all of us. 

This morning when I was having my good morning nap Zita made an oatmeal crumbly with peaches inside. 

My goodness that was a tasty lunch. And we put cream all over the oatmeal too. Ha. 

Today Emmet is going shopping for a present for Miss Alice.

Because tomorrow the do not get lost aeroplanes are taking Emmet to back to Ireland. 

And he has to get ready to teach his brand new classes at his university in Cork. My goodness me. 

Niamh drove them to some nice stores, then she went to have treats with Miss Rowan. 

Before Miss Rowan goes back to her university. 

Then it was the cleaning the house day. I guarded Zita from that noisy floor machine. 

Craig just hid in the den. 

He is not so brave as I am. Ha. 

I did not go into my side yard because it was still an all the time rainy day. Oh well. 

So I just had a nice chair nap until it was time for my second lunch. 

Craig had a very special cake, from far away Italy, for his lunch. 

Mister Saint Santa put it in his Merry Christmas sock. Ha.

It is a very tasty cake. 

I know that because Craig gave me some too.

Craig and Zita and Emmet had Mister Tony’s pizza for dinner.

Because they do not have such very tasty pizzzas in Cork. Oh dear. 

Then Miss Doctor Andrea and her friend Mister David came to have some tea and chocolate biscuits.

Craig and Zita went into the den to watch the detective program.

I went outside for a nap, because I was a bit too hot inside. 

Niamh was not here for our dinner.

Because she and Tara and Taylor and Tarryn went to a place with outside swimming pools. In the winter. That is silly. I did not go. 

I stayed right her to mind everybody else. Ha. 

Then it was time for us to go to bed. 

Day Four Hundred and Fifty Two

Miss Pancake  

I had another nice day.

But last night when everybody was fast fast asleep, even me, I heard something outside my house.

So I was a very fierce guarding dog, and I barked it all away. Maybe it was a bear. Maybe.

Then we went back to our beds. Ha,

This morning was just all the time rain.

It was still raining when we went to our farm.  

But Zita said we were still waterproof. That was true.

When we were there we met Zita’s friends Dana and Peter. 

Their dog Alice was with them, but she did not want to run with me. 

Because she is a bit too old for fast running anymore. Oh well.

So I stayed right beside Zita and was a good listener. 

But after a while I found my favourite fast running stick again. 

So I could run fast all by myself. Ha.

Then we came home and we both had to have baths. 

Then we were toasty warm again. Ha.

The fast car took Zita and Emmet to find some stuff for his dragons game computer.

And then they took that computer to Mister Mike’s house so that everybody can play a brand new game.

Even when Emmet is back in Ireland. My goodness me. 

After our lunchtime Zita and Niamh went to Kathy’s house for some coffee. 

Then Zita and Niamh and Kathy and Tara went to some special stores to look at beautiful just for wedding dresses.

Because in the summertime Tara is going to a wedding, with Mister Taylor. And it is their very own wedding. Ha.

Then all the ladies went back to Kathy’s to have tasty treats together.

Just after my first dinner Zita came home and I was very glad to see her. 

Because we did not have to have peanut butter sandwiches for dinner. Ha.

Niamh did not come home because she went out with Tarryn. To talk even more. 

I went into my side yard a lot of times this afternoon because it was not cold at all. 

So I had a bit of a nice nap there. 

We had a very tasty dinner then we watched our detective program. 

And there is more snow where the lady detective is visiting than in my own park. My goodness.

It is silly weather. It is known. 

Day Four Hundred and Fifty One

Miss Pancake    

We had our another Merry Christmas time last night. With everybody.

And there was lots and lots of cheeses. And lots of wines too. Ha.

And we had our very delicious ham for dinner. 

I got some of that ham. And some of the squishy buns too. 

And even some used Mahoneys turkey too. My goodness.

That was a good party. 

And when we all finished dinner everybody sat in the living room and got even more secret presents. My goodness, that was a good idea.

And Zita got all the boys brand new white T-shirts. 

And lovely soft socks from Niamh’s lovely shop. 

Then everybody talked for a very long time and I minded them.

Until I fell fast asleep. 

And this morning we had a sleep in. 

I got up on the bed to get Zita awake but I went to sleep too. My goodness.

Emmet was up early so they could go to our lovely shoes shop. 

To get his Merry Christmas brand new shoes present. 

Because his old one had holes right in the bottom. My goodness me. That is not alright.

This morning I helped Craig get all dressed because of his still too sore arm. 

So I am his best helper dog. Ha.

Then we drove Niamh to Mister Tylers’s little apartment, because he only had to work in the morning today.

Zita gave her off with some of our extra food. Even some of very tasty squishy buns, for their dinner tonight.

Then the fast car took us to our farm. 

It was so warm today that there was nearly not any snow everywhere, just lots and lots of mud.

And lots and lots of flying back and forth birds. 

We watched them for a long time but they did not do anything very interesting. Oh well. 

And I could not find a very good running stick today.

And I looked all around my best stick tree. 

But I found all the very best mud puddles all by myself. Ha. 

I did not need any help at all.

So when I got home I went right to the bathtub to get clean feet. Ha. 

Because my feet were all full of stinky mud. Oh well.

Then it was time for my second lunch. 

And for Craig and Zita to have their afternoon coffees. 

So I had my afternoon nap. Ha.

We do not have any parties today. 

That is good because I am a bit tired.

I stayed up past my bedtime three times. 

So I think we will have a nice early used food dinner. 

Maybe very tasty ham sandwiches, and some cheese too. Maybe. 

We still have lots of extra brand new food. And lots of used ham too.

So before our detective program we had ham, me too.

Then we went to sleep. 

Day Four Hundred and Fifty

Miss Pancake   

We went to bed early last night because we were all too tired and full up with tasty treats.

So we had a very nice sleep and after our breakfast the fast car took Zita and I to our farm.

And there was nearly nobody there. Just us.

So I practiced my very fast running. 

That is my favourite thing to practice. 

When we got home Emmet and Niamh was all awake too.

But they were very busy.

Because we are having another party tonight. 

With all the Mahoneys and even Mister Tyler too. Oh my goodness. 

So this morning we wrapped all their secret present and put them under our Merry Christmas tree. 

So we can have another Christmas. Ha. That is a good idea. 

And we are going to have our giant very delicious ham for the special dinner. 

So Zita and I got it already before Craig was all awake. Ha.

Then our kitchen was all full of lovely smells. 

I think it will be a cheese party because Mister Tyler likes cheese and so does our friend Richard. Ha. 

After lunchtime Craig had his coffee and he had to get a book. 

But he could not reach it because of his too sore shoulder. 

So he called Zita, but she did not hear him. 

Then he called again, so I ran right into the den to see him. And make sure he was alright. 

Then I ran to the stairs and barked loudly so Zita would hear me. 

Then she came up stairs right away to help Craig get the book. 

Craig said I was the very best helper. 

And Zita said I was very smart. Ha. 

So then Craig had two doughnuts and I got some little bits because he said I was such a very excellent helper. That is true. 

Then I had my afternoon nap. 

On my own comfy chair.

When we have parties sometimes people sit in my own chair. 

But I do not bark at them, because I am a very polite party dog. Everybody says so. Ha.

Niamh and the fast car went to find Mister Tyler so he would not get lost coming to my house.

Miss Sandra came and brought us own made strawberries jam for our toasts. Ha. That was a good present. 

Before the party time Emmet made the table all beautiful and I helped.

Being a big help is my favourite job. 

Mister Tyler brought us delicious cheese. That was a good idea. 

Tara and Mister Taylor came for the party too. My goodness. 

Then the party started and I was very very busy right until our bedtime. 

Day Four Hundred and Forty Nine (Part Two)

Miss Pancake

Niamh and I sat by our beautiful tree and gave everybody their secret presents.

Craig and Zita got beautiful presents, even beautiful socks and t-shirts with pockets, and lots of tasty treats too. 

And Emmet and Niamh got all their favourite books.  

There was even one all about pointy swords. My goodness.

And some had pictures. Those are my favourite books. 

Craig got two elephants. From very very far away. My goodness me. 

But they were not real elephants. That is good.

Craig got Zita a special do not drown jacket for her not very secret boat present. 

I am going to get one too. Zita told me. Then we can go in the boat together. Ha. 

And Mister Saint Santa got me a very very good lots of circles present. 

And Niamh painted boats from Zita’s favourite place in Ireland. 

And she painted it all by herself. 

And we put it on the dinning room wall right away. 

Then we had more croissants and Craig had even more coffees. 

And Niamh got a very very beautiful necklace from Miss Doctor Alice. 

Emmet talked to her this morning so she would not be too lonely. 

Then we talked to everybody in Dublin. And they got lovely presents too. That is good.

Our a bit far away friends Miss Joan and Mister Ross gave wonderful presents to Emmet and Niamh.

Emmet got a beautiful for a Professor bag. 

And Niamh got a very beautiful coat. 

And it is made of sheep fur, so it is as warm as could be. My goodness me. 

The camera made a picture of my family all by itself. My goodness. 

That is a good camera. 

Then Zita and I got our Merry Christmas together dinner all ready.

Especially the very delicious veals. With ham and cheese right inside them. My goodness. 

Sometimes I get a bit. If I am a very patient waiting dog.

And we made molasses cookies too. Those are Craig’s very favourite cookies. 

I knew it was a special dinner because we put a sheet on our table. 

All special dinners have those sheets on the table. It is the rule. 

They are beautiful table sheets. Ha.

And we found the beautiful glasses from Ireland for the wine. 

Except for Craig, because he only drinks ginger ale. I do not know why. Maybe it is another rule. Maybe.

When we were all finished everyone was tired so we went to bed and did not watch the detective program.

Maybe tomorrow. Maybe. 

Day Four Hundred and Forty Nine (Part One)

Miss Pancake     

We had a very nice sleep last night. 

Maybe because we were very tired after our lovely as could be Merry Christmas party.

We had lots and lots of people here and lots and lots of very delicious treats for everyone.

I found lots of tasty crumbs. Ha.

And I was the very best party dog.

I was so good my friend Craig gave me lots of tasty treats.

Even some of Miss Bruna’s especially delicious sausages from Italy. My goodness me. 

Before we went to bed Craig read Emmet and Niamh the special Christmas story.

Craig always does that, even when Emmet and Niamh were very very young. It is our rule. 

This morning when I went into the living room it was filled up to the top with secret presents. My goodness me.

Mister Saint Santa and all the flying reindeers came here last night and I did not even hear them. My goodness me.

Maybe it is magic. 

But before everyone was all awake Zita and I went to our own farm to wish all the cows a Merry Christmas time. Ha.

And I found the very best Merry Christmas stick. Ha.

So then I could run as fast as the fast car. My goodness me. 

But then we had to go home and I did not even see one of my friends the cows.

I did not want to get in the car, but Zita reminded me about the secret presents. My goodness. 

I nearly forgot.

When we got home Zita put the croissants in the oven to cook.

Because we always have croissants for Merry Christmas morning breakfast. It is our rule. 

Then everybody went into the living room to have their croissants.  

Craig always gives me the crunchy ends. Ha. 

And then my friend Niamh gave everybody their presents. 

Day Four Hundred and Forty Eight

Miss Pancake    

My goodness what a smellfull day we are having.

Because we are having our Merry Christmas party tonight.

After breakfast Zita and I went to our farm, but not right away because we had to make Zita’s famous dessert. 

So after we put it in the oven we went to the farm. 

You have to be very careful when you put it in the oven.

Because if you are not careful it might go all flat. 

We had a very very good time at our farm.

We found the farmer’s wagon. 

And it was right outside and not in a garage. Oh dear. 

Then I practiced my fast running. For a long time.

And I got up on top of my own hill. And I could see everything everywhere. 

Then I practiced my fast jumping off.

We had a very good day at our farm.

And we got home it was time to talk to Zita’s parents in Dublin. 

And Emmet was awake so he talked to them too.

But Craig was still in his bed listening to his another interesting book. 

Then he was all dressed and we had our lunch.

We took the dessert out of the oven and it was perfect. That was good.

Professor Jill brought us own made doughnuts so Craig and I had two of them for our lunch. Ha. 

When Niamh got back home I was very happy. 

Because then my own family was all in my own house with me to mind them. Ha. 

Our kitchen has the very best smells in the world. 

So I just got in my little house and had my nap with all the smells around me. 

Craig and Zita put our baby Jesus’s house on the round and round bookcase. 

And all our animals too. Even a moose and buffalo. So the baby has all his friends with him. That is good.

And a very nice Bouvier dog too. Maybe it is Miss Poppy. Ha.

Then I was very busy because I had to guard all the wine and even the full of bubbles champagne too.

That is a very important job at parties. To make sure that the visitors do not steal them. Ha.

Then all the guests started to arrive. 

Then I was even busier. My goodness me. 

‘

Day Four Hundred and Forty Seven

Miss Pancake    

My goodness we had a very busy morning. 

We did not go to the farm this morning because Niamh still had the fast car.

So we were very busy cooking instead. 

Because tomorrow we are having our Merry Christmas party so we made the insides of the tasty meat pies. Ha. 

We always make lots of these especially delicious pies for our Merry Christmas parties.

And Miss Bruna always brings very tasty Italian treats.

Because she was from Italy a long time ago. 

Then my friend Emmet was upstairs too. 

He is going to his old university friend’s house tonight to play their new game. 

Then Zita and I had a very lovely long practice slow walking all around my streets 

But when I got home I was a bit way too dirty, so I had a clean feet bath.

Craig had a big sleep in this morning.

So when he was all dressed he had clean socks. 

You have to have clean socks if you are going to parties. It is our rule.

Then when he was finished dressing it was time for my first lunch. Ha.

Zita walked over to Niamh’s shop to get the fast car so she could finish all the party time shopping. 

So I stayed here to mind the boys. Ha. Good for me.

Craig had a chocolate croissant for his lunch.

And I got a big bit that did not have any chocolate. Ha. 

Festis and Furrgus

Well we had only recovered from our sojourn in France when the realization of the imminent appearance of Christmas was staring us in the face. 

Fortunately we had done most of the family shopping completed, but we had not visited our favourite eateries to wish everyone a very happy holiday. 

So after a few bowls of porridge my brother and I set out loaded down with Christmas cards to be distributed hither and yon. 

After the complete excesses of our visit with Elseabeth, porridge was a welcome respite let me tell you. 

Though the smell of Mrs. T’s tourtière in the making certainly inspired the Christmas spirit in us. 

We dropped in to welcome young mister Emmet back for the holiday season. 

And we all agreed that Miss Pancake had grown markedly in our absence. 

My goodness, she is no longer skin and bones, and the Christmas droppings will even improve on her current condition, we have no doubt.

So without further ado we exited the house appetite in hand. 

We stopped by Cantina Gia for a quick pick me up, before our wonderings.

We were so grateful that they had not exhausted their supply of ganache. 

Miss Pancake   

Zita called us on some person’s phone. 

Because she lost her telephone so Craig looked for it. Right on his flat computer. My goodness.

And he found it. 

But Zita found it at the same time but she was right there so now her telephone is not even a bit lost. That is good.

Yesterday one of the doors in our kitchen broke when Emmet opened it. 

But Zita went to the famous hardware store and bought a new part so now we can fix it.

Zita will have to fix it all by herself.

I cannot be her best helper.

Because she has to stand on a chair to fix it, and there is not enough room for me too. Oh well. 

When she got home this afternoon we had even more Christmas food. 

Even the most delicious ham, from our very favourite delicious meats store. 

It is for our together Merry Christmas Day dinner. That is our favourite dinner. 

Tonight Niamh is going to Mister Tyler’s aunt’s house for a Christmas time dinner party. My goodness me. 

I do not know if they have lots of cheese at their party. 

Not everybody has cheese parties like us. Too bad for them.

And we always get my favourite different coloured cheese. Ha.

Then Zita and I drove Emmet to the old friends house to play the new game. 

After our diner Miss Ashley brought us a beautiful own made Merry Christmas cake. 

And it had Merry Christmas trees on it too. 

That is why Merry Christmas time is our favourite. 

Then it was just the best time to watch our new detective program.