Blessing of the Animals

Despite the bone-biting chill and the grey skies, this morning we drove to the village nearby, where our church offered a Blessing of the Animals service in conjunction with Oktoberfest. We arrived to find a music group playing polkas very enthusiastically in the bandstand.




Here we are, waiting to be blessed.




Lily the Nubian goat, who belongs to one of our parishioners. Her first time on a leash, but you'd never guess it.




Lola and Shadow keep an close eye on Lily's backside. They know pooping isn't allowed! Does she?




While the priest blesses the girls, I'm bowing my head devoutly. I'm not sure what they're doing.




Shadow is overwhelmed by the experience. I've got two tiny paw stickers on my forehead for having two dogs blessed today.




Here's Holy Lola, looking soulful.




Back at home, Shadow rests after all the activity and excitement. Yesterday, at the vet, she was given some antibiotics and pain meds for her toe injury. She also was given one of those big plastic megaphone-type dog collars to wear, to keep her from licking the affected area. Because it's such an affront to her dignity, I won't show a photo of her wearing it. She really hates it. During the day, we're letting her wear a blue sock instead. We tell her it looks very cute.




What the ultra-fashionable dog is wearing this autumn--a Louis Vuitton ribbon!