My Visit With Author, Tom Ryan, and His Dogs, Samwise and Emily

On Wednesday night I treated myself to a trip to Exeter Public Library in Exeter, New Hampshire, to see Tom Ryan, author of Following Atticus and his newest work,

Will's Red Coat because I'd been a fan for many years!

It was as inspiring to hear him speak and interact with the audience and his newly adopted dogs, Samwise

and Emily, as it was six years ago when I saw him at Water Street Bookstore when Atticus was still with him. Although it was sad to not see Atticus on the table or in Tom's arms watching the crowd it was heartwarming to hear him talk about his bond with his dear schnauzer.

 I am so glad I rearranged my day to be at the library (this was his last author talk until he publishes his next book) when I found out at the last minute that he, Samwise, and Emily would be in town and it was well worth the trip! 

When I went up to the table to get my book signed I was pleasantly surprised that he remembered me from so many years ago! I continue to be inspired by his writing and bond with his dogs by reading his books, his Facebook page, and blog! Please consider getting to know him and his dogs on these sites! I promise that you will not be disappointed!

My Visit With Local Author Suzi Higley and Her Pup Finnegan Was Doggone Cute!

I was delighted to join in on the fun of meeting New Hampshire author Suzi Higley and her friend Finnegan at the Dover Public Library on Monday, December 7th, at 7 pm because I can't resist a feel-good story about dogs who find their forever home nor can I resist meeting a dog who "wrote" about his quest to become the mayor of Portsmouth entitled Finnegan for Mayor!

Suzi's companion picture book, The Adventures of Finnegan Begin!, describes her chance meeting with Finnegan while she was volunteering as a dog walker at a shelter. As with most adoption stories, Suzi wasn't sure if she had the room for one more dog because she had two at home so she offered to foster him instead but he bonded with her and the pack so quickly that she couldn't part with him.

If you would like to learn more about the adventures of Suzi and Finnegan these delightful books can be found at Barnes and Noble , Amazon, and Piscataqua Press!

Following Atticus: Fourty-Eight High Peaks, One Little Dog, And An Extraordinary Friendship

 

Last night I had the privilege of meeting Atticus M. Finch, the famous miniature schnauzer who has won the hearts of millions and the heart of his companion, Tom Ryan, author of  Following Atticus at Water Street Bookstore in Exeter, New Hampshire.

Luckily, I arrived thirty minutes early for the event because if I hadn't I would have been standing in the back of the store unable to catch a good glimpse of 

Atticus as he dutifully watched his best friend tell the crowd about their hikes on all forty-eight of the four thousand peaks, not once but twice, during the winter.

While I enjoyed listening to Tom discuss details about his book I enjoyed watching him express his love for Atticus even more. Atticus was clearly on Tom's mind throughout the evening by offering him water, pets, and a frequent lift into his arms to help him get a better view of his admiring fans.

Before leaving the store I could not resist the opportunity to be photographed with adorable Atticus

or the chance to get my book autographed and pawtographed!

If you haven't had the pleasure of meeting Tom Ryan and Atticus or to read Following Atticus I hope you get your chance very soon!

And I Shall Find Some Peace There

While I was lying in bed two nights ago without my mom (who is still as sick as a *ahem* dog, by the way) I waited with my pal, Piglet, for her to come home from her visit with a lady by the name of

 Margaret Roach who wrote a book called And I Shall Find Some Peace There. I don't understand why my mom drove all the way to Gibson's 
Bookstore to have some stranger tell her how to find peace when I could have given her the same advice for FREE! But instead,

my mom spent her hard earned money on this book and she

 also got her new writer friend to sign the front page!

Okay, I admit that I don't have the opposable thumbs to sign a book but I do know how to find some peace with my mom, in bed, where she belonged (with her new book beside her)for the rest of the night.

My Cat Henry & My Dog Tulip: A Bond To Last A Lifetime

I've always felt a connection with dogs and cats throughout my life but I never owned a pet until I adopted my  tabby cat, Henry, 11 years ago and he became my whole world from that moment on. When I first laid eyes on Henry as he wandered across my boss's desk at Pensacola Junior College I had no idea that I needed him more than he needed me and I found out very quickly that he was the best therapist I'd ever known. 

See, at the time of his adoption I had been living in Pensacola for nearly a year and I was not happy with my surroundings because I never thought I would be separated from my New Hampshire soon-to-be ex-husband after only two years of marriage. Obviously, I was going through a series of emotions because of the impending divorce and the only friend who stuck by me through it all was Henry. Since I didn't have a roommate, Henry heard me voice my concerns on a daily basis and he was always patient and attentive during every one-sided conversation - bless his little heart!

And because I've experienced a bond like no other, I can fully identify with the bond that is shared between cats and humans but also between dogs and humans and I can think of no other touching memoir that J.R. Ackerley's My Dog Tulip.  This 1956 memoir is based on the old bachelor’s real-life 15-year relationship with his German shepherd, Tulip (named Queenie in the book). The book  begins with a witty quote from the author — “Unable to love each other, the English turn naturally to dogs” — and manages to maintain this clever wit all the way through. 

Luckily, My Dog Tulip has been adapted into a delightful film which came out in September 2010 and I cannot wait to get my hands on it because I love to see a great memoir in action, don't you?

How Do You Know If A Movie Is Right For You?

I know this blog is supposed to center around my life with pets but sometimes a gal's got to spend some time in the world of humans and that's exactly what I did this weekend! 

Since this week is going to filled with visiting pets at all hours of the day and night I thought I'd start the weekend off with a trip to the movies and I chose the highly anticipated "How Do You Know?" as my jumping off point but I found the movie to be terribly disappointing.

                                                                           BUT

I have a feeling Roger Ebert will give rave reviews for another Reese Witherspoon film, Water For Elephants, a movie adaptation of Sara Gruen's novel of the same name. I cannot wait to see this novel come to life on April 15, 2011, can you? 

Feast your eyes on the newly released Water For Elephants movie trailer below and you'll understand what the buzz is all about!

 

What are your thoughts about "How Do You Know?" and what are your thoughts about the upcoming film "Water For Elephants"?

I've Been As Snug As A Bug In A Rug

Hello Friends,

Would you believe that my body is still sore after a full week of recovery from my horrible car accident? And would you believe that my chest hurts much worse than my wrists do at this point? I've also been consumed with searching for a car, handling phone calls from insurance companies, somehow managing to walk dogs without good wrists to rely on, and to top it all off, I started my new afternoon tutoring job on Monday sooooo needless to say, there's been a lot going on this week! Believe me, I'm used to being busy but today the bed and

 and a very handsome Iranian rug merchant named Ushman talked me into taking a well needed break. I finished reading this terrific novel, The Rug  Merchant, a few hours ago and I was sad to say goodbye to the main characters: Ushman Khan; his ex-wife, Farak; his wealthy customer, Mrs. Roberts; and his love interest, Stella, because they seemed so real to me. I highly recommend this novel to anyone who wants snuggle up to a good book for hours!  

Here's what Penguin.com had to say about Meg Mullin's debut novel:

"At the heart of Meg Mullins’s debut novel is one of the most touchingly believable characters in recent fiction, a gentle soul in the body of an Iranian exile in New York. Ushman Khan sells exquisite hand-woven rugs to a wealthy clientele that he treats with perfect rectitude. He is lonely, and his loneliness becomes unbearable when he learns that his wife in Iran is leaving him. But when a young woman named Stella comes into his store, what ensues is a love story that is all the more moving because its protagonists understand tragedy. The Rug Merchant will sweep readers away with its inspiring, character-rich tale about shaking free from disappointment and finding connection and acceptance in whatever form they appear."

I'm curious, dear friends, what book has held your attention recently? What book would you recommend I read next?

Confessions Of A Book Addict

Dear blogger friends,

Even though we've barely met I feel a certain kinship with everyone and for that reason I am going to tell you something that only a handful of people know about me... I am a book addict! My hands simply cannot stop picking up books at bookstores, libraries, and yard sales.

  

Even when I am cat sitting my eyes scan the owner's book shelves and if I see a book that looks interesting I will jot the title down and then order it on Amazon.com!

 

But it doesn't  make sense to order more books especially when my shelves are so full that I have to start stacking the rest on top of my beside table, does it? Well, the only excuse I have for my addiction is that I can share my favorites with you and one of my current favorites is on the top of the stack. Let me give you a closer look of.....

one of the best dog friendly novels I've ever had the pleasure to read, Free To A Good Home, and what a page turner it is too!

Free to a Good Home by Eve Marie Mont is a lovely book that appealed to me because the main character, Noelle, is someone I would love to meet because she is a vet tech in a New England town who lives with a Great Dane and I feel I could talk to her for hours about her seemingly perfect life. However, I found out that her life is not so perfect: her marriage falls to pieces after her husband reveals that he is gay, she can't seem to find Mr. Right, and her ex-husband keeps asking her for favors that are quite unconventional.

I think everyone who has a dog (or is thinking of adopting one) will enjoy this heartfelt tale so please pick up a copy today! You won't be disappointed!

Dog Food For Humans!

On Saturday mornings I am especially thankful to be a professional pet sitter. Normally, I am not what you would call a "morning person" but since I am responsible for our 4-legged client's comfort I have to consider their needs instead of my own. Of course, I don't mind spending the wee hours of the morning with a dog or two but it is always a bonus if we hit a really good yard sale while walking through the neighborhood. This morning, in particular, was an incredible day for yard sales because the sun was shining, the humidity was low, and there was not a cloud in the sky!

After grabbing a few t-shirts, novels, and a pair of sweatpants (all of which I do not need, of course) I picked up this Dog Food book by Saxton Freymann and Joost Elffers for 50 cents. Now that's what I call a bargain!

I cannot believe I never noticed this delightfully silly book until now but then again I have not been a kindergarten teacher for over 10 years so I should forgive myself for being out of the loop. But if I ever find myself teaching 5 year olds again I would certainly have fun talking about...

.

strawberry puppy love

and broccoli poodles

                                                   

                                                     and pearfectly rainy days

                                                                

                                                and potato and strawberry romance!

And to think Saxton Freymann got his fruit and vegetable carving experience with a paring knife and a pumpkin at the mere age of 8! We can credit him for giving us permission to play with food in other favorites such as Food Play, Dr. Pompo's Nose, Gus and Button, Baby Food, Fast Food, and Food for Thought.

One Dog At A Time

ONE DOG AT A TIME is the remarkable true story of one man’s fight to save the stray dogs of Afghanistan. Appalled by the horrors of local dog fighting, Pen Farthing in the remote outpost of Nowzad, has no choice but to intervene. Then one of the dogs he frees finds his way into the Marine compound—and into Pen’s heart. Soon other strays are drawn into the sanctuary provided by the makeshift pound, including one young mother who crawls under the compound fence carrying her newborn pups to safety. As his tour of duty draws to an end, Pen cannot leave the dogs of Nowzad to their fates. He begins hatching plans to help them escape to a better life. This is the gripping account of one man’s courage and humanity, and his fight to make a difference in the most hostile and dangerous environments, one dog at a time.

To learn more about the book: http://us.macmillan.com/onedogatatime


Want to win a copy of Pen Farthing's newest book? Leave a comment here and  don't forget to add your blog to Pets Blogroll today!

For more information about Pen Farthing and his charity (http://www.nowzad.com/) please enjoy the following video:

Why We Love Dogs, Eat Pigs, and Wear Cows

In my case, the only radio station that captures my attention is National Public Radio because I love listening to book reviews most of all. 

One morning I heard Dr. Melanie Joy, a professor, author, and psychologist discuss "carnism" in her newest book, Why We Love Dogs, Eat Pigs, and Wear Cows. The author defined carnism as a belief that it is ethical to eat certain animals such as cows and pigs while it is considered inappropriate to eat other animals such as our own cats or dogs. She examines how and why individuals can love their pets and value kindness to all animals but continue to purchase meat from corporations where cows and chickens endure enormous suffering and violence for our benefit.

Honestly, I consider myself an "almost vegetarian" which means that I eat more fruits, vegetables, and grains than meat but I've never been able to give up meat entirely but now that I've watched Dr. Melanie Joy's promotional video I am considering going meat-free and I have a feeling my conscience will thank me for it.

If this video influenced you to give up meat entirely, become an "almost vegetarian", or continue eating meat I'd love to read your comments!

What is Carnism?

While listening to National Public Radio one morning I listened to Dr. Melanie Joy, a professor, author, and psychologist discuss "carnism" in her newest book, Why We Love Dogs, Eat Pigs, and Wear Cows, http://melaniejoy.org/. 

The author defined carnism as a belief that it is ethical to eat certain animals such as cows and pigs while it is considered inappropriate to eat other animals such as our own cats or dogs. She examines how and why individuals can love their pets and value kindness to all animals but continue to purchase meat from corporations where cows and chickens endure enormous suffering and violence for our benefit. 

While listening to the interview, I began to think about eliminating meat from my diet but I know it will be a slow process to switch from carnm I have a stack of books on my bedside table but that won’t stop me from ordering this groundbreaking book by the end of this month and I will be sure to blog about it soon.