Writing, for me, is trying new things, and learning what works‚ again and again. I’m on my umpteenth iteration of figuring out how to produce new words for this latest effort. For the last few weeks, I’ve been claiming a quiet hour midday. That worked fine for revising, but when I put on my writingContinue reading “Progressing”
Category Archives: dogs, dog adoption, pets
The Unexpected
Sophie and Wayne took their usual evening walk on Monday. She walked normally until she reached our doorstep, but came into the house with her right rear leg held high, panting, and madly licking at her paw. I felt her paw, thinking she’d stepped on a goathead—our most wicked, thorny seed that comes with threeContinue reading “The Unexpected”
Dog Fight
Sophie had a hard day last Friday. And when Sophie has a hard day, so do we. In the morning she and I took our walk to the park, where a woman with a big blue-eyed husky approached us. She did admit she was never sure how her dog would react, but as usual, SophieContinue reading “Dog Fight”
Sophie
Sophie is very much alive, just not exactly kicking. From the beginning, veterinarians warned us that she would be prone to arthritis, due to her bowed legs and the way her body is constructed. She’s been taking daily doggie doses of glucosamine chondroitin for years. This past year, she’s found it difficult to get herselfContinue reading “Sophie”
In Praise of Play
One time when in the middle of writing a novel, I got stuck. I didn’t know how I was going to proceed. And with a full-time job, I had only a half-hour in the mornings to write. My solution was to put a calligraphy class to use by filling a small notebook with italic handwriting.Continue reading “In Praise of Play”
Gotta Keep Learning
Sophie Dog Goes to School. My friend Jane, who keeps Sophie when we’re out of town, thinks Sophie should be a therapy dog. I totally agree. She’s the perfect temperament, friendly, gentle, and soft to the touch. We got home from our family reunion at the same time that Jane was attending the first doggieContinue reading “Gotta Keep Learning”
Attachments
I’ve always been attached to home—no matter where home is. Sophie has her own attachments. The rule at the park is: All dogs must be leashed. I got in trouble once when meeting a neighbor with his two dogs. In order to keep from tangling leashes while the three sniffed and swapped ends, I releasedContinue reading “Attachments”
Doggie Body-Language
A few months back, we attended an evening class on Dog Body Language. I wish I had taken notes. A dog goes through a whole sequence of actions warning off whoever (dog or person) has intruded in their space. Afterwards, they shake off their tension, returning to relaxed muscles clearly visible in facial and bodyContinue reading “Doggie Body-Language”
Ghost Dog
Taz was our first experience with a Llasa Apso. He left this world three years before Sophie came to our house to stay. Very similar in appearance, both dogs displayed friendly Llasa personalities. But beyond that, Taz was Sophie’s opposite. Where Sophie is hesitant, Taz was bold, unrestrained, and impulsive, prone to dashing into theContinue reading “Ghost Dog”
Sophie’s House–training
I’m Sophie. At first, I felt lost at Wayne and Kate’s house. The food they gave me smelled just like that glass-room-place. I stuck up my nose and refused to eat—until they made it taste like chicken. Their yard didn’t smell right, either. I couldn’t find any place to leave a message so I heldContinue reading “Sophie’s House–training”
Kate Harrington 