Adorable Cinder. Sweet Cinder. Sharp-toothed Cinder.

Sweet little Cinder came by again last night. Here she is, posing prettily for a picture for her dad.

She and Riley chased each other all over the yard and wore each other out; he went back in the house and went to bed at about 9 p.m. and she toppled over in the grass underneath one of those plastic footstools about a half-hour later.

I'd forgotten what a sweet warm feeling it is to have a little furry trusting bundle in your lap.

I'd forgotten how needle-sharp those little teeth are, and how puppies want to chew everything, including, um, one's ears.