Thanksgiving Reflections It's certainly been a busy season with lots of catching up to do. Seems this time of year always presents with a lot activities, but I'm not complaining, I love it! We've had a lot of travel around New England competing in obedience trials for starters. No doubt my Mom will share the endless photos, or maybe even a movie or two of our recent performances in a future sub-category. Little ol' me? I just take it all in stride, though I do confess to hamming it up just a tiny bit when I know I have an audience. During a trial, I live to hear things like, "look at that Airedale in the ring, did you see that move!" Besides my training fun and obedience competitions, I also love the nature that surrounds me, especially during this time of year. Right in my own backyard, I have wild turkeys, a family of deer, including two fawn who graze on the lawn while I peer out of the windows, howling coyote at night, as well as endless chipmunks and squirrels who tease me, sitting on my sunny front step during the colorful days of Autumn. Imagine the nerve of them! Not to be overlooked are the occasional snakes I pull from beneath rocks, scaring my Mom when they dangle from my mouth as I proudly show my prey, awaiting praise, or the countless songbirds that instinctually become "mine". It's impossible to not embrace the drive and natural ability I was gifted with at birth. With half of my pedigree representing strong hunting and working talents, I just use the other half of my pedigree, demonstrating how my long, conformation neck stretches to new lengths, allowing me to reach into a shrub or bush to claim my newest, feathery victim. When I get in "the zone", it doesn't matter where I am, I just go for it. This includes a recent trip to Town Hall to pay our real estate taxes where I couldn't resist the scent of a Cardinal innocently sitting deep within a shrub. Oh, how my Mom turned pink. <grin> Thanksgiving and the first snowfall of this season so soon? Yes. A time to give thanks for all that we have and all that we aspire to achieve? Yes. Wishing everyone a gentle season of warmth and joy to share among family and friends. Let the Aire-celebrations begin!