Catherine Nicolai

To pups from one to ninety-two, though it's been said many times, many ways, meowy Christmas to you. I heard a chuckle from the other room. and wondered if my appreciation for bad puns had come as a surprise, like my electrical handyman skills had. I heard him bustling around in the kitchen, a drawer opening, and wondered if he was starting dinner.

To pups from one to ninety-two, though it's been said many times, many ways, meowy Christmas to you. I heard a chuckle from the other room. and wondered if my appreciation for bad puns had come as a surprise, like my electrical handyman skills had. I heard him bustling around in the kitchen, a drawer opening, and wondered if he was starting dinner.

I set the snow globe down in front of Crumb, who got down on his belly and pressed his nose to the glass, still watching the snow fall. Bluebird stood and stretched beside the couch, and I called him over. He sat down beside me, and I put my arm around him, and we looked up at our beautiful tree. I thought it might be a little chilly for him, and I reached for one of his sweaters in a box.

I set the snow globe down in front of Crumb, who got down on his belly and pressed his nose to the glass, still watching the snow fall. Bluebird stood and stretched beside the couch, and I called him over. He sat down beside me, and I put my arm around him, and we looked up at our beautiful tree. I thought it might be a little chilly for him, and I reached for one of his sweaters in a box.

I set the snow globe down in front of Crumb, who got down on his belly and pressed his nose to the glass, still watching the snow fall. Bluebird stood and stretched beside the couch, and I called him over. He sat down beside me, and I put my arm around him, and we looked up at our beautiful tree. I thought it might be a little chilly for him, and I reached for one of his sweaters in a box.

It was an ugly Christmas sweater with reindeer and baubles and candy canes stitched on. I laughed as I pulled it over his head. He looked at me with consternation and despair, but I told him, At least I wasn't making him wear his antlers. Yet. Come see Bertie in his sweater, I called. He peeked out from the kitchen, with something in his hand. He came closer and presented it to me.

It was an ugly Christmas sweater with reindeer and baubles and candy canes stitched on. I laughed as I pulled it over his head. He looked at me with consternation and despair, but I told him, At least I wasn't making him wear his antlers. Yet. Come see Bertie in his sweater, I called. He peeked out from the kitchen, with something in his hand. He came closer and presented it to me.

It was an ugly Christmas sweater with reindeer and baubles and candy canes stitched on. I laughed as I pulled it over his head. He looked at me with consternation and despair, but I told him, At least I wasn't making him wear his antlers. Yet. Come see Bertie in his sweater, I called. He peeked out from the kitchen, with something in his hand. He came closer and presented it to me.

Some leaves and red berries, tied together with the striped twine we saved from the bakery boxes. He squatted down beside me and whispered, It's mistletoe. I'm pretty sure these are bay leaves from the spice drawer. Hmm. They may still work, though. Oh, they probably do. Model trains and make-believe.

Some leaves and red berries, tied together with the striped twine we saved from the bakery boxes. He squatted down beside me and whispered, It's mistletoe. I'm pretty sure these are bay leaves from the spice drawer. Hmm. They may still work, though. Oh, they probably do. Model trains and make-believe.

Some leaves and red berries, tied together with the striped twine we saved from the bakery boxes. He squatted down beside me and whispered, It's mistletoe. I'm pretty sure these are bay leaves from the spice drawer. Hmm. They may still work, though. Oh, they probably do. Model trains and make-believe.

There is something about this season, and the month of December in particular, in which becoming a kid again, slipping into that easily delighted state, is more effortless and welcome than at any other time of year. Even the bah humbugliest among us will at some point look up at a streetlight and watch the halo of snowflakes circling around it or see a lit tree through a frosted window.

There is something about this season, and the month of December in particular, in which becoming a kid again, slipping into that easily delighted state, is more effortless and welcome than at any other time of year. Even the bah humbugliest among us will at some point look up at a streetlight and watch the halo of snowflakes circling around it or see a lit tree through a frosted window.

There is something about this season, and the month of December in particular, in which becoming a kid again, slipping into that easily delighted state, is more effortless and welcome than at any other time of year. Even the bah humbugliest among us will at some point look up at a streetlight and watch the halo of snowflakes circling around it or see a lit tree through a frosted window.

or hear a carol plunked out on a piano in someone's front room, and feel a shiver of excitement and warmth, just like they felt when they were young. My own bah humbug quotient being naturally quite low to begin with,

or hear a carol plunked out on a piano in someone's front room, and feel a shiver of excitement and warmth, just like they felt when they were young. My own bah humbug quotient being naturally quite low to begin with,

or hear a carol plunked out on a piano in someone's front room, and feel a shiver of excitement and warmth, just like they felt when they were young. My own bah humbug quotient being naturally quite low to begin with,

I found myself grinning at every shop window display, savoring each gingerbread cookie bought from the bakery, and taking deep breaths as I passed the Christmas tree lot to drink up the scents of fresh sap and pine.

I found myself grinning at every shop window display, savoring each gingerbread cookie bought from the bakery, and taking deep breaths as I passed the Christmas tree lot to drink up the scents of fresh sap and pine.

I found myself grinning at every shop window display, savoring each gingerbread cookie bought from the bakery, and taking deep breaths as I passed the Christmas tree lot to drink up the scents of fresh sap and pine.