01/05/2026
When Cupid Crashes the Party. 🐾🤠
Well, howdy folks, and a Happy New Year to ya! Seems like the calendar ain’t the only thing that’s flipped around here. It’s the first Monday of this shiny new 2026, and things are already shapin’ up to be… different.
I moseyed out this mornin’ with my coffee, expectin’ to see our usual backyard circus. But nope. That old camel, bless his heart, decided he’d had enough of the limelight and gone back into hidin’ somewhere out in the back forty. And those two fancy owls who were hootin’ up a storm? Packed their bags and flew off to greener pastures, I reckon. Can’t blame ‘em; the armadillo band was gettin’ a little loud.
Speaking of which, the Armadillo All-Stars are officially packin’ up their tiny guitars and drums. Heard ‘em squawkin’ about a “New Year’s World Tour.” Bless their musical little hearts. I wish ‘em luck, but I ain’t buyin’ tickets.
So, it was just me and Shady out there, takin’ in the quiet. She was sniffin’ around a patch of bluebonnets that were tryin’ to sprout early, her little bobbed tail (or lack thereof) wiggling with every new scent. She's got that look about her, like she knows somethin's comin'.
And she was right.
’Cause then I saw it. Floatin’ there, clear as day, right over the pecan tree… a brand new bubble. Not one of our usual nativity bubbles, no sir. This one was shinin’ with a different kind of light—all pinks and reds. And inside it? Well, I’ll be hornswoggled. It was a little fella with tiny wings, carryin’ a bow and arrow.
A little Cupid. Right there, in my backyard.
Shady looked up at him, then at me, then back at the Cupid, like, "Dad, what in tarnation is that? And is he gonna try to make us fall in love with the turkey?" (Don't worry, sweetheart, the turkey's on tour.)
I just scratched my head and chuckled. Looks like January’s just gettin’ warmed up, and February’s already sendin’ out its advance team. Guess that means we’re headin’ straight for Valentine’s Day, whether my old heart’s ready for it or not.
“Well, Shady-girl,” I said, “looks like our New Year’s adventure just took a turn for the… romantic.”
She just barked once, like, "Bring it on, Dad. As long as there are treats, I'm in."
So, here we go. New Year, fewer critters, and a tiny, winged cherub floatin’ over the pecan tree. Never a dull moment, I tell ya.
