My poor Black Dog, she is a mess without Bailey. She is bored and so she gets in trouble. That is my mom's brand new bamboo blind in the background, chewed to pieces. It hadn't been installed yet, she chewed the package open. She used to stay outside most of the day, and she was ok, she and Bailey ran and played, and chased kids along the fence. They had their own inside paito room with a dog door, and came all the way in occasionally to visit. She came inside more often with Jake (my sister and brother-in-law's dog) when he was down visiting, and though he helped her to calm down and be a good inside dog when people are here, she can't be alone inside because she gets into the garbage and chews everything. That still would be ok, but now she is not satisfied to ever be outside, ever! She is in at night now but needs to go out when my mom is at work and Richard is not hanging out over there.
Jake also taught her to knock down the dog-door cover, so she comes into the patio room and bangs on the inside door, she even knocked it off of the track. I tried to take her to my house for a while, but she chases the kittens (they just love to run fast, it is too tempting!) and she tears down my screen and patio doors trying to come in.
I know what the dog whisperer would say, she needs an hour long walk every day! She would probably be ok with a friend, but with the unexpected litter of kittens I am not sure I can do that yet! Hopefully when the kittens get a little older she can be with them. She is 13 or so, I would love to have her inside all of the time where it is warm during her last few years, but we can't have someone at mom's house with her all of the time.
A friend may have to be the answer, we will see....
The first ornament in the tree, that is Roo hiding in the branches. She had a perfect little niche for herself between a few of the branches about half-way up. 
Stimpy, hanging out under the tree. All of the cats loved the tree skirt, very soft spot for a nap! They also loved the homemade beaded ornaments around the bottom. Last Christmas the kittens were only a few months old, and they just destroyed the tree. They climbed all over it and most of the lights and ornaments ended up on the floor. This year they are much calmer, still climbing the tree, but not being quite as chaotic.
My very favorite present of the season. When I bought the house, it had gas log installed into the fireplace. The previous owners told me that it worked, but of course, like with many other things that they told me, that was less than completely true. So, for winter this year, my mom had the gas logs removed for me and now I can use it as a real live wood-burning fireplace! Yay! 
