Another Halloween Based on a Fictional Character

 Can you guess the book series? 

Promises to Keep

 “To the world you may be just one person, but to your dog you are the world." (my apologies to Dr. Seuss)

Charlotte wasn't friends with our first dog, Maggie. Mags was over two years old when Char was born. For a toddler, our dog was an ever present nuisance with a wet nose and a habit of getting in the way. "Maggie! Go!" was about all Char would say to her.

Maggie was protective of our daughter, but after years of being pushed away, Mags had given up on seeking attention from her. When Char was old enough to want to play with Maggie, Mags was too old to roughhouse or be chased around the backyard. They had to settle on playing with costumes. Mags politely tolerated this.

Neither Char or Maggie were at fault. They may have lived in the same house, but their paths never really met. 

Char regretted that relationship when Maggie passed away. So, Charlotte made us all kinds of promises about what she would do with her next dog. She would help with the bathing, grooming, feeding, and walking. She would buy dog toys and dog treats. They would play dress-up upstairs and wrestle downstairs. She made promise after promise after promise.

You know what? Char has kept every one. We've had Ellie for over five months, and Charlotte has played with her puppy every day. She and "El Pup" run all over the house and roll all over the carpet. 

Ellie smiles and stretches when either Daphne or I open the door to her kennel. When Charlotte opens that same door, you can hear the rapid THUMP THUMP THUMP of Ellie's tail beating a rhythm on the kennel's walls. Ellie loves her girl.

On weekdays, I spend the morning slowly getting Charlotte awake while Daphne takes Ellie for a walk. When they get home, Ellie charges up the stairs to jump on Char's bed.

Enamored with our stories of Maggie seeing snow for the first time, Char couldn't wait for her dog to see it, too. On Sunday morning they both got their chance. Our bedroom door exploded open, and Char cried out, "Guys! Guess what? IT SNOWED!" Daphne and I peeked out of our respective windows and blinked in disbelief. The backyard was covered by a thin, white blanket.

Charlotte bounced down the stairs, "C'MON Guys! Let's get Ellie!" 

Taken unprepared, Daphne needed a few minutes to locate Char's snow pants and winter coat from last year. But the two girls were out there soon enough. Ellie was hesitant for about 30 seconds, and then she flew around the yard. 

Char's goal is to get Ellie to sled down the hill with her. That hasn't happened, yet.

Char's first snow angel of the year was quickly trampled. 

As was her first snowman.

But Ellie was quickly forgiven.

I don't think Char will have any regrets this time around.

A Maize Maze

Although Halloween will look different this year, there are family traditions we can continue in 2020. For instance, we were able to navigate our way around the Pumpkinville Big Corn Maze for our fifth year.

We wore our masks to buy tickets and treats, but it was easy to keep our distance from others inside the maze.

The Mystery Van maze design was pretty complicated, and it took us three hours to walk it all.

I was dressed for the event.

A hole punch is usually used to mark your card at each station, but they made the maze touch-free this year by having you fill in letters as you find them. 

Here's 10-E.

If you haven't been in a corn maze, it looks like this:

We enjoyed another autumn tradition when we got home. I made chili for dinner, and it had been simmering in the crockpot since noon. Chili can be made anytime during the year, but the meal doesn't work for me in the spring or summer. I won't dust off our family recipe until October arrives. The comforting aroma greeted us like an old friend when we opened the door. 

"Oh, it smells so good in here," Daphne commented as she laid her coat on the kitchen counter. I just smiled at her. 

I love the fall.