We gathered in Orinda at the home of Yvette, Vivek, and Kush—on a perfectly glorious day, on a deck looking toward the East Bay hills, with a pack of 12 dogs, nine of them beagles, and three two-legged puppies. Wayne brought Halsey and also Jack, adopted the day before, who looks so much like Halsey it's uncanny. He also brought two girlfriends, past (Jeni, with Roey) and present (Jensine, as yet unbeagled). Elizabeth and Joe were there with Sidney and Polly, as usual, and Eric and Mark, attending their first Beagle Fest. Karen from next door was there with Timmy, an honorary beagle, going on 18, and a neighbor stopped by with Jake, a golden retriever. And Mimi and Dick were there with their two oldest beagles, Casey, 15½, and Meg, 12½.

Food: Pizza, meatless meat pies, something (salad? dip? we never figured it out) made from beets and yogurt and stuff, nibbles, drinks, chocolate chip cookies, two kinds of cake.... Northern California beaglers are heavily into food.

And it was a totally lovely afternoon, by the end of which Dick and the beagles were all dozing in the kitchen.