Titles Ben Would Win At Westminster

As you may know, Sunday marked the start of the famed Westminster Kennel Club dog show in the Big Apple. Westminster comes just before things begin swinging into action again after a bit of winter’s rest—there will be seeds to be sown and outbuildings to plan—and as a gal hailing from a very long line of dog lovers, it’s a fun two evenings during these cold, mixed-precipitation-y February evenings.

From my mom’s side of the family comes a love for herding dogs—specifically, rough collies. At least three generations of us have had them now, and since we are in fact part Irish and part Scottish, I’d be willing to bet a batch of cookies many, many generations of my ancestors have had a collie or three in the house or on the farm.

Collies are amazing dogs—a little weird, sometimes, but wonderful creatures, especially and famously around children. Of course our very own Benedict is truly the most faithful and wonderful of collies. Years ago, I thought about training him for agility—good, fun exercise for both of us, and herding dogs excel in agility—but my own health kept me from doing this. It’s okay. Ben is still a fine dog. In fact, we are about to celebrate the tenth anniversary of bringing him into our family within a couple of weeks. Talk about timing—Westminster and ten years of Benedict the Brave at the same time? This, my friends, is too much temptation to resist. Let’s talk about Westminster Kennel Club titles Ben would absolutely win!

 

Most Handsome

Let’s get the most obvious out of the way first, all right? Ben wins this one in a waltz. Further proof in other categories, too. 

The Sadness

Despite his striking good looks and life of being undeniably pampered—even when in the throes of serious, lost-ten-pounds-in-two-days illness, I’ve taken him out for his walks during heavy rainstorms—Ben can lay on the Sad. Big time.

He can’t help that collies are naturally grave and serious most of the time. Besides, with those good looks, he probably worries no one takes him seriously. The unbearable heaviness of being handsome: Ben knows it.

Friend To Kitties

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Merry Christmas

Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. And her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly. But as he considered these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.”

Really, this could be fun.

Via the always-amusing Babylon Bee:

Expanding its wide range of fantasy offerings like baseball, football, and basketball, popular website and sports news empire ESPN has finally added free fantasy preaching software to its website, sources confirmed Monday.

ESPN’s proprietary software will track stats like conversions, Greek words utilized per minute, arm movement, and Scripture references in real time.

…“If you like the idea of a fantasy league, but you’re more interested in John Piper’s exegesis than Le’Veon Bell’s rushing yards, this is the program for you,” ESPN.com’s head programmer John Charles told reporters.

Part of me wishes this weren’t parody. Alas, it will probably languish in the bin of Fine Ideas, alongside Star Trek-style transporters, that shoe-parade system (about 1:33) I’ve never forgotten from Home Improvement, and the revival of drive-in movie theatres (considering the caliber of Hollywood’s present offerings, that last one is presently crushed at the bottom of said bin, but that’s another post).

But my drea—!

Right now, my hometown pizza favourite, Little Caesar’s, is airing a terrifically funny commercial.

I actually do laugh out loud every time we see this. Also…Is anyone else wondering if the practical, thoughtful, and smart Mike Rowe was the inspiration for this ad?

Merry Christmas!

The Adoration of the Shepherds, Gerard van Honthorst [Public domain], 1622. via Wikimedia Commons

Yes, today is Christmas Eve, but we all know many people are already zipping from one Christmas gathering to another. Let us begin the joyful moments early! (Besides, I have people to cook for.)

And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear. And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying,

“Glory to God in the highest,
    and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!”

When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.” And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger. And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child. And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them. But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart. And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.

First of all, I have created a little gift-ette for you—a playlist of some of my favourite Christmas songs.

I hope you enjoy them!

And of course, everyone seems to love seeing Ben for Christmas…

Well, we need to get by his “secretary” first! Buckley doesn’t seem to keen on letting us disturb his buddy, but…

Poor Ben. The festivities have not even begun, yet he’s already tired! 

Monday Escape: Not giving up on autumn just yet

Surely your correspondent is hardly alone in being distressed by the way autumn and Thanksgiving are trampled in the Christmas creep/rush. Fall is the favourite season of many, yet it seems we’re expected to ignore it in the name of Christmas busy-ness.

Isn’t that a shame? And I’m a summer woman, through and through!

I know today is December first, and thus really and truly the start of winter, but let’s take a few final moments to enjoy autumn: the rich fragrances, the sight of falling leaves and the delightful crunch of them underfoot, copious amounts of sunshine combined with an awakening nip in the air, the last glorious riot of colour meant to tide us through the dark, grey stretch of winter now shouldering its way in. Shall we?

Autumn Fun at Westerville Mini-Golf: Two Amazing Shots On One Course

While running errands, my husband and I decided to take a spin around the Westerville Golf Center’s mini-golf (putt-putt) course prior to their closing up for the season. I’ve enjoyed putt-putt since I was little—Dad was always taking me—and of course, many a date has been spent at one mini-golf place or another (it really is the perfect date—putt-putt and a milkshake—don’t you think?).

This course has apparently and repeatedly been voted Central Ohio’s best, and we were not disappointed in the least; we had a great time, and the course was challenging and fun. I had my little purse camera along with me and being an abnormal weirdo, could not resist taking a few photos while we played.

Isn’t this small-scale train station cute as can be?

We chose to play the “difficult” course, and there were indeed a couple of tough holes. Hole Five, though it looks simple, nearly proved to be the end of both of us (and it was, coincidentally *ahem* here that we decided to stop keeping score).

Happily, the mini-golf course is ridiculously beautifully landscaped and waterscaped, particularly considering it’s full-blown fall around here. The gardens and streams are truly pretty, more than enough so to balm any mini-golf-inflicted wounds. How they’ve missed local landscaping and gardening awards is beyond me. Regardless, the abundant-for-a-golf-course beauty really did make it seem as if we were enjoying a little getaway, right up the street from the supermarket.