No sooner did my Clan Bears return than Rudy and Winter Bear said they needed to go to “The Great North” for the summer. They said there are places where it snows all year and the temperature barely gets above freezing. At first I thought they were going to Finland to visit Kosmo the cat. Then I learned that the snow is mostly gone in that part of the world and it is warming up. Then I thought about The Canadian Cats, but it’s the same story there. Without involving me, they had been planning what they wanted to do over the summer until it got cold here – well, as cold as it ever gets. Neither one has a port to pass, or could pass the port, or something like that, so they had to stay in the United States. I wanted to help, so I offered Rudy my special blankie to keep warm on his travels.
He tried it out and got so comfy he fell asleep for the rest of the day. The next day I offered Rudy my special Blue Bone. I thought he could chew on it if he got hungry, or use it as a pillow. When I took Rudy over to it, he licked it for a while, then laid his head down and fell asleep again.
When that silly reindeer finally woke up, he said he was always sleepy cause it’s already too hot here. Meanwhile, Winter Bear was snoozing in the toy basket. I guess it is too warm here for him, too. 
I got them both awake long enough to pack up some supplies and head out the door. That was a few days ago. Once in a while I get word from someone that they gave the two travelers a ride or fed them or just spotted them in the woods to the side of the highway. The last report was of them resting near McKinley Mountain in Alaska.
Hey, I should have sent a list with them to give to Santa! I sure am going to miss those two rascals, especially Rudy. His red nose is hard, and Mommy could always hear me dragging him all over the house. I didn’t want him to miss anything that was happening. I sure hope they can find their way back home before Christmas and bring me some pressies from Santa.
*yawn* I think it’s time for a nap. Maybe it’s too warm in here…
Xena Schnauzer Warrior Princess
I really tried to help them. I was able to get one of Jen-Jen’s legs in, but she yelled that it hurt, so I had to stop. 
Rudy, do you want me to try to help you get in the crate with me?
Uh, yep. Don’t worry, I’ll carry you around with me the rest of the evening after Mommy gets home. Monkey and Winter Bear are in here with me, so I’m just going to play with them for a while. Then we’ll all take a nap. You know I would come out there and help you but…
Here is Tiger, Rainbow Bear, Brownie Bear, and the almost dead alligator that used to be Riley’s. I thought it was all dead, then one day, when I was playing in my kennel, I found it laying across my back. I’m keeping it because the squeaker still works. Everyone is lined up nice and neat waiting to go outside to play. After I carried everyone out and laid them down in a neat line, I closed my kennel door so no one would run back inside.
Everyone ready? Tiger, turn around. OK, Mom, open the door so we can all go outside and play. Man, sometimes I feel like I am running my own daycare, just like they do at work.
