Catherine Nicolai

I could hear one of our donkeys braying in the yard, excited by a visitor. And I called out, as they climbed down from the truck, mule-tied greetings. I got one of them to chuckle. The other just shook his head and said, That's it. I'm taking your present back. What present? What did you bring me? and they hauled the huge Christmas tree out of the open bed and stood it up.

It must have been twenty feet tall. I grinned at them, and they grinned back. Where should we put it? I laughed. Somewhere the goats won't knock it over, he said with a sigh. Mistletoe and Marmalade It was our first Christmas together. Well, we'd had Christmases as friends, plenty of them. and a Christmas in the early days of falling in love.

It must have been twenty feet tall. I grinned at them, and they grinned back. Where should we put it? I laughed. Somewhere the goats won't knock it over, he said with a sigh. Mistletoe and Marmalade It was our first Christmas together. Well, we'd had Christmases as friends, plenty of them. and a Christmas in the early days of falling in love.

It must have been twenty feet tall. I grinned at them, and they grinned back. Where should we put it? I laughed. Somewhere the goats won't knock it over, he said with a sigh. Mistletoe and Marmalade It was our first Christmas together. Well, we'd had Christmases as friends, plenty of them. and a Christmas in the early days of falling in love.

But this was our first Christmas as a married couple, as a blended family. There was me, my ginger cat Marmalade, my scruffy brown dog Crumb, and now my love, and his sleepy giant greyhound, Birdie. In some ways, it felt like we'd been together for ages, and in others, it all felt brand new. I'd known how he took his coffee. No milk, a spoonful of sugar.

But this was our first Christmas as a married couple, as a blended family. There was me, my ginger cat Marmalade, my scruffy brown dog Crumb, and now my love, and his sleepy giant greyhound, Birdie. In some ways, it felt like we'd been together for ages, and in others, it all felt brand new. I'd known how he took his coffee. No milk, a spoonful of sugar.

But this was our first Christmas as a married couple, as a blended family. There was me, my ginger cat Marmalade, my scruffy brown dog Crumb, and now my love, and his sleepy giant greyhound, Birdie. In some ways, it felt like we'd been together for ages, and in others, it all felt brand new. I'd known how he took his coffee. No milk, a spoonful of sugar.

And I knew his taste in music and the story behind the old green corduroy jacket he'd had since college. But I was completely surprised. by his passion for tabletop RPGs and near-encyclopedic knowledge of the history and flavor profiles of many, many varieties of chilies. I think I had surprised him, too.

And I knew his taste in music and the story behind the old green corduroy jacket he'd had since college. But I was completely surprised. by his passion for tabletop RPGs and near-encyclopedic knowledge of the history and flavor profiles of many, many varieties of chilies. I think I had surprised him, too.

And I knew his taste in music and the story behind the old green corduroy jacket he'd had since college. But I was completely surprised. by his passion for tabletop RPGs and near-encyclopedic knowledge of the history and flavor profiles of many, many varieties of chilies. I think I had surprised him, too.

When I'd replaced the sconces in the bedroom with some vintage ones I'd rebuilt and rewired, he joyfully flicked the switch off and on several times, admitting that this was well above his skill set and seemed like magic to him. I had a feeling that this was one of the joys of loving someone for a long time. Realizing there was always more to learn about them. The animals had also learned more.

When I'd replaced the sconces in the bedroom with some vintage ones I'd rebuilt and rewired, he joyfully flicked the switch off and on several times, admitting that this was well above his skill set and seemed like magic to him. I had a feeling that this was one of the joys of loving someone for a long time. Realizing there was always more to learn about them. The animals had also learned more.

When I'd replaced the sconces in the bedroom with some vintage ones I'd rebuilt and rewired, he joyfully flicked the switch off and on several times, admitting that this was well above his skill set and seemed like magic to him. I had a feeling that this was one of the joys of loving someone for a long time. Realizing there was always more to learn about them. The animals had also learned more.

For example, that Bertie liked to graze and didn't usually eat his breakfast all at once. Once Crumb realized there was a second breakfast available, just one bowl over, he'd scarf his own and then dive into Bertie's.

For example, that Bertie liked to graze and didn't usually eat his breakfast all at once. Once Crumb realized there was a second breakfast available, just one bowl over, he'd scarf his own and then dive into Bertie's.

For example, that Bertie liked to graze and didn't usually eat his breakfast all at once. Once Crumb realized there was a second breakfast available, just one bowl over, he'd scarf his own and then dive into Bertie's.

This had led to a somewhat complicated morning routine, involving shooing Crumb out into the yard as soon as he'd finished his last kibble, and convincing Bird to go on and clean his plate. But most days we managed it. Marmalade, as usual. took it all in stride. She had priorities. She needed to lay on her perch and watch the birds at the feeder.

This had led to a somewhat complicated morning routine, involving shooing Crumb out into the yard as soon as he'd finished his last kibble, and convincing Bird to go on and clean his plate. But most days we managed it. Marmalade, as usual. took it all in stride. She had priorities. She needed to lay on her perch and watch the birds at the feeder.

This had led to a somewhat complicated morning routine, involving shooing Crumb out into the yard as soon as he'd finished his last kibble, and convincing Bird to go on and clean his plate. But most days we managed it. Marmalade, as usual. took it all in stride. She had priorities. She needed to lay on her perch and watch the birds at the feeder.

She needed several naps to bathe her paws and face and have some uninterrupted one-on-one time with me. And whether there was one dog chasing his tail, or two while she did it, she didn't much care. I knew some of her disaffected nature was put on. She liked to appear a bit above her brothers. But I'd also seen her bathe both of their faces. when they'd come back from their chuck-ups at the vet.