Christmas Poem 2022

A Quiet Christmas

Many people told me they were having a quiet Christmas and meant that as they were staying home. For several years now I've done all my Christmas Day's at home with my husband and dogs. With dogs, there is never a quiet Christmas. The morning always starts off with the dogs tearing into their own stockings and goes on from there.

This year Boomer got fascinated with one of my gifts that gurgles, coos, and moves. He wasn't sure what to make of it, though he has finally accepted Baby Yoda (Grogu).

Happy Almost New Year!

Boomer wondering what that thing is

Boomer and Baby Yoda  meet on Christmas morning

Snow!

My area finally got a little snow this February. We had a day of the white cool fluff, then it melted. We then had another day of powder, and it melted. Finally we got three solid days of snow, and the dogs had fun playing in it. From the looks of the blue sky out my office window this first day of March, I think that small amount of snow is it for my area for this year and that Spring is near.

Fern out playing in the snow.

Just so you don't worry about Fern and Boomer, they have a dog door and can come in from the snow at any time they want to.

Boomer enjoying the snow.

The Snow Pumpkins

And yes, alas, the Halloween pumpkins were still on the deck when it snowed.

Christmas Poem 2018

Christmas 2018
by Heather Hobson Lewis

As 2018 closes, my pen writes this holiday poem   
to bring you joy and good cheer.
   
Two small trips marked this year.        
One bore us via Southwest wings
to Dad’s 75th birthday bash
for a jovial time,
while the other sent us to Alturas in search
of our missing friend, Konrad Reichenberger.

Books two and three of The Conrad Chronicles,
Realizations and Rejection,
have found book form,
while Stubby and Tale of Butts
are now alive as audio books on Audible, i-Tunes, and Amazon.

Fern and Boomer enjoy play and happiness every day,
from professional photo shoots to
participating in the Walk-n-Wag to
Fern’s first visit to the beach.
   

Merry Christmas and a magical winter to all!

Fern and Boomer playing on the beach in 2018

Boomer and Fern Go to the Beach

When  the forecasters announced that this Sunday would be an exceptionally hot day in our area, we decided the best course of action was to head to the beach. The drive would only be an hour, so eagerly we packed the car. Boomer has enjoyed the beach many times, but as far as we know, Fern has never gone to the beach before. She is six years old now, so we felt it was time for her to learn to play in sand and surf.

Fern on the way to the beach

Boomer on the way to the beach

The drive took a lot longer than we anticipated, as many other people had decided to head the same direction. The hour drive took close to two hours, and then it took us almost another hour to find a beach that wasn't crowded where we could let the dogs off the leash to play. Luckily we found such a beach.

The beach area we enjoyed for nearly two hours provided ample opportunity to walk, play in the water, and for Boomer and Fern to make new dog friends.

Boomer and Fern make new friends

The sand was comfortable as well as the weather. The beach we found was so free of debris and rocks that I enjoyed a nice long walk in my bare feet. Meanwhile Boomer and Fern played around me, often trying to use me as the base.

Boomer and Fern playing

Boomer and Fern playing

Boomer and Fern playing in the surf

After two hours Fern and Boomer were so tired they headed back to the car without me. Though I was enjoying my time, I was forced to follow them. We all were smiling.

Fern blissfully tired from playing on the beach

Boomer finally wearing down.

Remember, if you do take your dogs to the beach bring them fresh drinking water and pick up after them.

Dogs on Christmas Morning

Now that the holidays are behind us, I have uploaded my photos, though I must confess I still haven't taken down the tree.

For that fact matter, I haven't taken down any of the decorations. I had considered doing so this weekend, but I'm thinking I'll just wait until next weekend. I really enjoy looking at these special treasures I only free from their boxes once a year.

Glowing Bears and Dog (They actually ended up out all year round this last year)

Holiday Mantel

Reindeer formerly owned by my Great Grandmother

Though the best part of Christmas for me is seeing the dogs go crazy for all their new toys. They had a wonderful time playing with their new treasures, and still are enjoying themselves daily with their goodies. Some of the squeakers have even made it into the New Year!

Fern-Christmas 2017

Boomer-Christmas 2017

Boomer and Fern-Christmas 2017

Boomer and Fern-Christmas 2017

Christmas 2017 Poem

Christmas 2017
by Heather Hobson Lewis


This year’s beautiful autumn in Salem has now
transformed to glorious winter,
yielding to a warm and cozy
holiday season.

Unplanned life changes unfolded when
Tom lost one job on Good Friday,
only to land a prizewinning position on Labor Day.

Revolt found rebirth as a freshly printed book,
and evolved into a new form as an e-book.
The long overdue sequel, Realizations,
shall appear by spring.




Fern’s leg completely healed,
freeing her to play rough and tumble with Boomer,
thus leading to the pairs first Youtube video,
Love and Paws.

With all this now past,
we look forward to a blessed 2018
and a world of peace and joy for all,
especially you.

Fern and Boomer's Halloween

Fern and Boomer enjoyed a fun Halloween full of dog cookies, a visit to the dog park, and dressing up in sweater costumes. For a brief time they each donned some head pieces, but it isn't something either likes, so those didn't stay on beyond photo time.

Fern really does enjoy wearing clothes and actually snuggled up in Boomer's Boo (has a ghost of the back that says Boo) sweater for two days. Boomer just prefers to hide under blankets for warmth, so as soon as the tricker-or-treaters were done for the night, he was back to just fur.

Fern as Princess Leia with buns.

Boomer wanting another Halloween treat

Boomer with two sets of ears. Those are Yoda ears growing out of his neck.

Love and Paws video starring Boomer and Fern

For a while now I've been video taping my two dogs while at play. Finally you can now see the first of a series of videos called Love and Paws starring Boomer and Fern on youtube.  I hope you enjoy it.

Love and Paws 1

Boomer 2017

Fern 2017

Happy Dog Christmas!

Boomer and Fern enjoyed a wonderful Christmas. Their stockings were filled with many new toys that they have happily shared with each other.

Enjoy these Christmas morning photos.

Fern, Christmas morning 2016

Boomer and Fern, Christmas morning 2016

Fern, Christmas morning 2016

Boomer, Christmas morning 2016

Happy New Year!

All throughout my childhood I never really envisioned any year between 2000 and 2050, let alone a random year like 2016. Yet, here we are, another Star Wars movie out, a Star Trek movie in the works, and another Christmas laid to rest.

May this year be one of health, wealth, and love for everyone. 

On a very, happy note,our new dog, Fern, has been a wonderful addition to our family.  She has proven to be the easiest going and quickest adjusting dog I have ever had the privilege of adopting.  Boomer and she are the best playmates, all that I dreamed of for two dogs to have.

Here are some more photos of them to enjoy.

Boomer and Fern with toys on Christmas morning 2015.

Boomer and Fern with Tom on Christmas morning 2015.

One happy Fern on Christmas morning 2015.

Our Christmas Dog Arrived Early

For the past couple of weeks I had been seeking a wonderful new playmate for Boomer. The task was not easy. I had applications into four dog rescues.  We meet several dogs. Two dogs tried to attack him, one was indifferent, and another was just too bossy for his liking.  At that point, I wrote my own add and placed it on Craigslist. It read as follows:

Hello, my name is Boomer. I am 2 years old and weigh 62lbs. I have a fair amount of energy and still love to puppy play.
Unfortunately, three weeks ago my best friend since I was 4 months old died. I miss her very much, but she was 14 and had cancer for the third time, so we had to say good bye to her.
My family consists of a human mom and dad, who love me dearly and take care of my own needs. Frequently I get to go run around the dog park. Yet, something is missing. I need a new dog sibling.
My mom has been looking all around, and we have applications in at 4 rescues, but we have not found the right friend for me. I have had introductions, but though I am active and playful, I am a passive dog. Two of the dogs tried to attack me, and the other tried to bully me. This made me feel scared.
My human parents are also not into paying a fortune in rehoming fees. I myself came out of a rescue and cost only $35. My sister Maggie was free, but that doesn't mean she was loved any less than me. In fact when she got sick with cancer the first time my family spent $5000 on her medical bills, and that gave her another wonderful year and half to play with me.
What I would really like would be a friend between 25 and 65 lbs. Since I don't like to be dominated, we are thinking a dog between 1 and 3 years would be best, but we aren't stuck on that limited bracket. Breed, color, sex don't matter, because we aren't a prejudice family. What matters is that you can be my best friend. You should be the kind of dog I meet at the dog park, and as soon as we greet each other, we are off and running and playing together.
My human parents would prefer that you have had your rabies shot and that you are fixed.
If you want to meet me and see if we could be best friends, please e-mail my human mom.
Thanks,
Boomer.
PS. I am the white dog with patches over my eyes in the photo. Maggie was my black lab/corgi sister. 

As a result, we met two wonderful matches.  The choice was hard, but one of the dogs was more desperate for a new home, so she arrived yesterday.  Right now she and Boomer are wrestling around and bumping into my office chair.  Since she is getting a fresh start, we have renamed her. She now goes by Fern.

Fern and Boomer, December 24, 2015

Merry Christmas all!  May your wishes come true just as Boomer's has for a new playmate.

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas, everyone!  I wish you all a great holiday season and a wonderful New Year.  I especially wish much health to all, as most people I know need that more than anything after this past year.