“Humankind is drawn to dogs because they are so like ourselves — bumbling, affectionate, confused, easily disappointed, eager to be amused, grateful for kindness and the least attention.” Pam Brown
Thank you all for making my Photo Caption Game fun this time. I loved reading all your caption suggestions. Riggs is looking like he might be wondering how so many of you knew exactly what he was saying in dog language. 🙂
You did know he is always ready for a treat or to go out for a walk. Actually, he loves to play fetch and bring back whatever stick or ball you might throw for him. And Lee was right when she said he was homesick for his humans when I kept him. He put up with me, but he wanted them. I liked Janice suggesting he was going to tell me a story and no doubt, Maryann, it was going to be about squirrels. Suzanne had him needing to find the outdoors for a necessary trip. Dogs do need that. Lynda and Linda both had him wondering if I was going to eat all of something that surely looked good to him. Amy had him messing with my papers off my writing desk. That might have been when Pamela’s caption worked with him saying “Who me? I didn’t do it.” I’m pretty sure he was ready to blame it on the cat. Marji had him sitting and smiling and hearing “Who’s a good boy?” His humans actually do say that to him.
And the Winners Are —
Thanks to all of you for playing my game. I hope you had fun. I really do wish all of you could be winners, but we’ll have another giveaway game soon here and I’ll be sending out a birthday newsletter in September unless I’m too old to think of what to say. Those birthdays add up. But here are my winners this time.
The three winners are Deborah D., Kim S., and Hope S. I’ve already heard from Kim who picked my book, These Healing Hills and the grab bag book, To Write a Wrong by Jen Turano. And from Hope who picked my first Shaker book, The Outsider, and the grab bag book, Sarah’s Choice by Pegg Thomas. I haven’t heard from Deborah yet. So if you see this, Deborah, check your emails.
And now since I have dogs on my mind, here are some dog thoughts as we approach the Dog Days of Summer.
Thoughts for Dog Days of Summer — 
In the 1950s Lassie’s salary was $5000 a week.
W C Fields’s advice: “Don’t ever try to follow a dog act.”
Richard Allan Palmer: “Puppies are nature’s remedy for feeling unloved.”
“A dog’s bark may be worse than his bite, but it’s never quite so personal.”
“If a dog were your teacher, you would learn that if what you want lies buried, then you should dig until you find it.”
Some Dog Tricks
When a loved one comes home, always run to greet them.
Allow the experience of fresh air and the wind in your face to be pure ecstacy.
Take naps and stretch before rising.
Avoid biting when a simple growl will do.
No matter how often you’re scolded, don’t buy into the guilt thing and pout. Run right back and make friends.
Be loyal.
When someone is having a bad day, be silent, sit close by and nuzzle them gently.
Which of those dog tricks do you think is the best advice for us?
Comments 16
My favorite “dog trick” is the last one (“When someone is having a bad day . . .”).
And BTW, I recently finished reading “Murder at the Courthouse” and I REALLY enjoyed it!! So your next two mysteries are on my reading wish list.
Author
I love reading mysteries. So, I had fun writing those. I’m actually finishing up the narration for an audio version of the second Hidden Springs mystery, Murder Comes by Mail. So, the stories are fresh in my mind again. That one is a little more suspenseful than most cozy mysteries, but I hope you’ll enjoy the story.
When someone is having a bad day, be silent, sit close by and nuzzle them gently. I think this would show their human support and they always have a friend.
Author
Looks like that’s the one that’s getting the most head nods, Connie. And is a reason we love our furry friends so much. They give that unconditional love and are always ready to stay close by. Well, if there isn’t a squirrel or chipmunk around. 🙂
When someone is having a bad day, be silent, sit close by and nuzzle them gently.
Author
Sometimes we just need a friendly presence when things are going bad, Dana, and not advice. Dogs are good at being that presence without reminding you of what you might have done better to keep it from being a bad day.
“Take naps and stretch before rising.” Couldn’t function without my naps. 🥴
Author
A good stretch always feels good, Lee. And naps too. I’m not much of a napper, but I can sometimes fall asleep over a book. My husband loves naps.
When someone is having a bad day, be silent, sit close by and nuzzle them gently
and
Be loyal.
Author
Dogs are especially good at both of those, Pamela. Marley might be better at the be silent part than Frankie. Frankie is always ready for the next adventure.
All of them!
Dogs are very wise and would give good advice. Tonight Ollie would say, “roll in the stinky stuff if you really need to, but expect a bath when mom sees you!”
I love all the doggie pictures….
If you haven’t framed the one of Frankie and Marley, I think you should. It’s beautiful!
Author
That is a good picture of the boys, Lavon. And Frankie took Ollie’s advice the other day when it was really hot when we walked. He smeared a frew cow pile all over his side. He’d never done anything like that before and I didn’t notice until he came back in the house. He got a bath. A couple of dog bed covers had to be washed. The floor too. Not our happiest day! So, I hope he doesn’t take Ollie’s advice again!!
When a loved one comes home, always run to meet them!❤️
Author
That is great advice, Bonnie. A great way to make your family members feel loved.
I think all of these are good advice but the fresh air one seems the best. Fresh air and nature are very healing, and we all need to just take some time to enjoy life and the outdoors with the abandon that dogs often do. Greeting loved ones with affection is a good idea too! 🙂
Author
I agree, Hope. I do think having the opportunity to enjoy nature can make a difference in a person’s life. That, indeed, was part of the inspiration for When the Meadow Blooms. But greeting loved ones as if they are the best thing ever is good too. I used to have a cockerspaniel that would get so excited every time I came home even if I’d only been gone a little while. He was a vocal greeter. My dogs now are more tail waggers, not vocal.