My Dad went for his daily one-mile walk on Christmas day, and asked if I wanted to come along.

Sure, the heelers are going stir crazy in the basement (they are not allowed upstairs, as they would a) shed red and white hairs all over the place b) chase and kill the Boston terrier and c) chase and kill the black cat). He agreed to walk the heeler mom, while I took the sisters.

It's a long downhill trek to the park, and then along the paved pathway that follows the large drainage ditch. The sisters were tugging hard all the way. Usually the path is full of walkers and bikers, but today being Christmas, and cold, we had it to ourselves.

So the heelers got off leash. And the two sisters drag raced down the trail.

Their first race in two months and two days.

The little maskless heeler won. She seemed as surprised as her sister.

But otherwise it was a great time to be out, and to be free. Masked heeler was definitely enjoying her present.

Except, of course when the three of them discovered the patch of sand burs. I hated those plants when I was a kid chasing horny toads in this place, and the heelers now feel the same way. At least cactus you can see.