when i was a kid the only gift we ever got to open on christmas eve was one from our parents -- and it would always be new, handsewn, matching pajamas for megan and me. apparently this was the tradition in my mother's family, with her siblings, as well.
so.
ripley's sweater got finished first, since she was around to have the bottom strap fitted to her. flannery had gone back to her father's earlier in the day, quite worn out from her first 24 hours nonstop with her new baby sister.
notice the "go" buttons -- which make sense, of course, if you only put your sweater on when you have to go.
as tim commented on ripley in this sweater: "she looks like an elf shoe."
shortly after these pictures were taken, flannery and her daddy came around the corner on their own dinner time walk. flannery, being the most anthropomorphic dog ON the face of the earth, gave such an expression of "dear god, it's that little thing again, i thought i was THROUGH with this for the day," that i almost died. ripley edith, of course, was very HAPPY to see flannery.
on christmas eve morning, flan's sweater was ready as well, and we had a two-girl photo session. note the body language in flannery. who, as you might gather, is still a little standoffish about the MANIAC that has moved into her territory.
i got a puppy the week before christmas and managed to make both her and our existing dog matching sweaters. as arlo guthrie said: i'm not proud... or tired. without paxil, both dogs would have handknit lace wedding trousseaux by now.
merry christmas to you all!