Wednesday, July 6, 2011

Dog Days of Summer

It's hot here...and humid. And I don't know about you, but I'd rather stay inside and play on days like this.
~Patches, an early cloth dog, found looking sad at a garage sale...($6)~
  
I've always been a dog person. When I was a small child I wanted a dog so badly that I traded our cat for one. The problem was, we didn't have a cat. It was a hot, sticky summer day (much like this one) and my brother and I were outside playing together...he was ten and I was about six years old. We spent the morning plotting ways we could become dog owners without any money. While walking around the neighborhood we came across a house with a sign that said "Free Cat". We figured having a cat was almost as good as having a dog, right?

"Bone Eater", found lonely and scared at an antique mall~

On the way home with "our" new cat, we happened upon a woman with a large dog. Being the friendly and adventurous types, we stopped to inquire about her dog. Was it friendly? Could we pet it? And more importantly...would she be interested in a trade?

~Puppy, found abandoned and unloved at an antique shop~

Our Mother looked up from scrubbing the kitchen floor to see Bone Eater's scruffy face peering in the back door. We stood beaming, one on each side of his massive Irish Wolfhound body, while Mother asked a perfectly silly question..."Who does this dog belong to?" With a look of absolute pride on our dirty little faces...we answered, "He's ours." I'm sure Mother's, "NOOOOOOOO, he most certainly is NOT ours!", could be heard three blocks away. Much to our dismay, we were not allowed to keep Bone Eater...or the cat.

Eventually our Mother relented and we found a sweet little dog at the pound. Wendy adored me and the feeling was mutual. She slept in a baby cradle in my room and allowed me to dress her in doll's clothes and push her in a stroller. Wendy was very corgi-esque and is most likely responsible for my infatuation with corgis today. She was twenty-two years old, and I was a married lady of four years, when she crossed the bridge.

 Wendy, found sleeping on a pile of rags.

 I'll always be a dog person. And I've always had a soft spot for strays and rescue pups.
~A few of my strays~

And a few more...
~Maggie~ (Over the Rainbow Bridge, Summer 2007)

~Edith and Walter 
(Walter, Over the Rainbow Bridge, Summer 2009)~

~Murray and Edith~
(At home, Spring 2011)

Until next time...
Rhonda

Looking for your new BFF? Petfinder.com

19 comments:

  1. awww Rhonda....so precious! I'm a dog lover too..

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  2. Rhonda, We are dog people too! SO love how you "tryed" to bring home a dog!!!! Love all your old stuff pets too! OLM
    I so believe in rescuing dogs when ever possible... I posted a while back on how Knuckles came to our home.....

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  3. That is the cutest dang post Rhonda - and I love your "trade" story!!! And your "stuffies" are wonderful!! Can't believe "Patches" was only $6...Holy puppies!! I love dogs too - although, I have to admit, I think I'm first and foremost a cat person. I could have never traded a cat for a dog...no way, no how....but my DH insists the Snow Dog is MY dog...and it's my legs he tries to crawl under every time....Enjoy your dog days!! Smiles & Hugs ~ Robin

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  4. Maggie and Walter were beautiful souls. It is awfully humid here (Western MA) and I feel like Patches and Bone Eater look! Gosh, I hope it cools off later tonight.
    Did you have a chance to go over to Brynwood Needleworks and look at her Corgis?
    Warm Regards,
    Susan B., Western MA
    Copy & paste www.glenoaksprimitives.blogspot.com in your browser to drop in.

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  5. Wonderful post Rhonda!
    I'm a dog lover too! We have 3 goldens.
    Have a great summer!
    Prim Blessings
    Robin

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  6. Rhonda loved this post !I too am a dog lover and enjoyed the story from your childhood.How cute you two must have been bringing home your"trade". Great stuffed puppies too.Beautiful Corgi pics ! Have a great evening,Jen

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  7. Hi Rhonda,
    Just love all the puppies, the stuffed ones, as well as the real ones!! Thanks for sharing the cute story too....how funny!! I too love both dogs AND cats, and it would be a tough one for me to trade a cat too, so I guess I would just have to look for a bird!!!
    Hope it cools off for you soon, but staying inside and playing is always a better alternative to humidity any time!
    Have fun with the puppies~~
    Julie

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  8. Oh sweetie~ Thanks for the early morning smile! Warm Blessings!~Amy

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  9. What a funny & sweet story! Love all your precious stuffed babies. I to have a love for dogs...love all animals but a dog gives you something you cannot find in any other pet. Thanks for sharing your story and the pictures of your fur babies that live with you now and those that live in your heart & memories ~Kriss~

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  10. Rhonda, will you write a book someday? I could read ANYTHING you write! Loved your childhood story and totally pictured everything happening in my head! Sweet puppies!

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  11. Hi Rhonda~

    I love how you tried to trade your free kitty for a dog. Wonderful story!!

    Your "strays" are adorable~both the stuffed & live ones.

    Have a wonderful day~Becky

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  12. hi, Rhonda
    Wonderful read!!! Loved it~ Adorable pups & the live one's are too!!
    smiles
    Teresa

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  13. Love your story Rhonda. Murray and Edith make such a cute Corgi couple. I too longed for a dog as a child but had to wait until I had my own home . . . well worth the wait.

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  14. Rhonda,
    Yes, Jasper does remind me of Murray!
    It was a wonderful post, and this is a wonderful blog.
    xx
    julie

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  15. Rhonda,
    I also have a collection of "orphan" dogs! I parted with a few of them a few years ago.....they found good homes of course, but I still have several that hang out in my hooking room.

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  16. Rhonda what a nice blog post about one of my very favorite things-dogs. I never knew your story of conning your way into getting a dog when you were a little girl, but it's truly precious. I love that Wendy lived so long to see you get married and all...I'm sure you were the reason she held on so long. thanks for sharing. Em

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  17. I LOVE this post, Rhonda - brought a smile to my face that will last me through slumber tonight! Hope all is well - coming off an extended vacation and another bout of bronchitis. Have a wonderful week - Tanya

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  18. Dear Rhonda,

    So nice to meet you!
    Thanks for finding my blog today which led me to your lovely blog.

    Your Corgis are precious ... they always remind me of sweet little foxes but even cuter.

    "Wendy" stole my heart. I have many of my childhood stuffed animals and easily get attached to them at antique malls and flea markets!

    Great post.
    Love your white ironstone collection I saw on your blog too....!

    xx

    Alison

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  19. Dear blog friends,
    I am trying to put together a bloggers board.
    This board would contain the name of the blog, the first name of the author ( last name, if you allow ) and birthday-- month and day only.
    Once I get this put together, I will email to all participants.
    If you know of others who would like to be listed, please give them my email address so I can add them.
    I just think it would be handy to know when our friends birthdays are so we can send them our best wishes.
    Those of you who have not yet sent me your address, please do. These will not be part of the blog board, but for my own personal address book. I like to send cards now and then.
    lindanuts@yahoo.com

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