Dog Days

Living with Dogs: Collections and Traditions, At Home and Afield ***** by Laurence Sheehan

 

Since yesterday was National Dog Day and we are in the midst of the Dog Days of Summer, I thought it was timely to repost this edible book review~  inspired by Jain at Food for Thought~ a delicious blog for readers with an appetite for the written word.

This is a favorite book of mine, with a prominent place on my coffee table. I stumbled on it for several years ago (it was published in 1999). If you are a dog lover, this one is not to be missed~ full of beautiful photos of homes, dogs, collections, and quite simply, as one reviewer says:  “this book is a celebration of hardcore dog enthusiasm.”

 

In his endearing and hilarious introduction, the author, Larry Shehan, talks about his dogs, one of which, a tricolor Collie named Zorro, who he says was “as slow-witted as he was beautiful”. (I had a cat like that :-)   He and his wife add an Australian shepherd puppy, Addie, to their household who “at that early stage of growth looked more like a California sea otter than a dog.”  As his household adapts to the puppy, he confessed to turning into my own worst nightmare– “a guy who carries a picture of his dog around with him in his wallet.”

A few years later, he finds a two-year-old English Setter, Buster“His upper lip was hung up on one side of his freckled muzzle and  one ear was flopped, pink side out, giving him a slightly deranged, ready-for-anything aspect.”  He was hooked~ however, he describes his household as becoming dysfunctional with introduction of an exuberant, willful dog deaf to the command of “Come!”. He, his wife, his cat & Addie eventually settle in and adapt slowly:

“The secret of living with dogs is to take the wild with the sweet, and then sit back and wait for the laughs and the love.”

~ Amen :-)

 My canine kitsch~  a collection of vintage chalkware dogs with no special pedigree  :-)

  You can find another book review a dog lover will lap up here~

 A chapter on dog portraiture. . .

 A “portrait” that won’t break the bank~ a canvas from Photofiddle~

“Like children they leave their toys scattered around– a rubber squeaky here or a half-gnawed bone there. These objects, along with the leashes, collars, food bowls, dog beds, and all the other paraphernalia associated with keeping a dog, turn a house into a habitat– and, late at night when the lights are out, a minefield.”

“Dogs settle into a home pretty much the way people do, gravitating to a favorite corner, window, or chair.”

No food references in this book (other than kibble :-) so I thought I’d have some Pup Cake fun, courtesy Hello, Cupcake!

 This is a great cupcake book, with lots of ideas and inspiration for Corn Utopia, Reliable Seeds & Butterfly Wings~

 

 

 

 

“Dogs are not our whole life, but they make our lives whole.”  ~ Roger Caras

Chloe wishes you sunny skies and that everyone in the path of Hurricane Irene stays safe!

Thank you for your visit, I’m joining:

 

  20 comments for “Dog Days

  1. Happier Than A Pig in Mud
    August 27, 2011 at 8:30 am

    Really cute Mary! Love the cupcakes:@) Take care this weekend!

  2. August 27, 2011 at 9:38 am

    I hope that your Chloe had a wonderful National Dog Day! My Macy had a nice day with an extra treat to be sure. You have added several new books to my Amazon “wish list” with this post! Have a wonderful weekend!

  3. August 27, 2011 at 9:46 am

    Please tell me you did not make those cupcakes!!! I am intimidated enough as is.
    Where are you in relation to Irene? We’ve put the boat on the mooring and brought porch furniture in just in case.

    • August 27, 2011 at 11:31 am

      We’re in the middle of the state right at the SC border so we’re out of harm’s way with only a lake wind advisory today. The only time we had hurricane damage was during Hugo in 1989 when it came barreling thru via Charleston. I feel so badly for everyone on the coast of NC right now…it’s moving so slowly.

  4. August 27, 2011 at 9:55 am

    Mary, I have this book too. It’s one of my favorites books to pick up and spend time with on a lazy afternoon. Your cupcakes are works of art! I don’t have he cupcake book, but am putting it on my list now. Looks like fun!
    Take care and be safe. Thanks for the note. ~ Sarah

  5. August 27, 2011 at 10:11 am

    Darling, darling post. This is one of my very favorite books and I have given it as a gift many times. Our English Spinger Spaniel is waiting for us up in heaven and I can’t help but worry about what she’s chewing on. That photo of the two springer puppies brought me to my knees with longing.
    Linda @ A Toile Tale

  6. August 27, 2011 at 12:55 pm

    HI M,ary, this is such an adorable post and YOU are amazing, making those PUPCAKES!!!!!!! How cute are they!!!!!! I will be giving this book as a gift at Christmas to my daughter and a cousin, who are both dog LOVERS!!!!!!!! Thanks for the review!
    Right now we have prepared for Irene, it is coming to us. Please say a little prayer that none of our trees come down, that is what worries me right now. It started raining here about an hour ago. XO, Pinky

  7. August 27, 2011 at 3:55 pm

    I’ve just ordered this book as I can see it is a must have for dog lovers. Your pupcakes are adorable! And your little Scottie figure looks a lot like my Scotties when they are ready to play.

    We are far enough inland that we will not be too affected by Irene. Some winds and rain. Sadly though, there has already been one death of a little child in Newport News, Virginia due to the storm.

    Praying that everyone will stay as safe as they possibly can.

  8. August 27, 2011 at 6:08 pm

    Mary, those cupcakes are adorable…my sister was laughing at me while doing my crysanthumum flower, marshmallow petal cupcakes this week…I was in therapy she said. And I know making those cupcakes would have taken some therapy time as well. All part of my relaxation time, how about you? They are adorable! and just gorgeous! A great review of a fabulous book for lovers of dogs, and hugs to chloe, a great portrait photo of your dogs nestled on the couch between cushions! Have a wonderful Sunday! x

  9. FABBY
    August 27, 2011 at 9:29 pm

    I LOVE DOGS!!, they’re all over my house, course, only in figurines, vintage and new! I love dogs, wer lost our 13 year old pug Benny last year, I miss him so!! The cupcakes are adorable, I just love cupcakes! OK, I had some wine, I love it, right now, but we’re having so much fun at our friend’s dinner party, after I had my mom’s luncheon with her friend from Sacred Heart School, she’s 81!! Hope you come by. Have a safe Sunday. FABBY

  10. August 28, 2011 at 12:26 pm

    Hi Mary,
    we love dogs so much here at the Presbytere, we’ve shared our lives with them almost from the moment we met 32 years ago.
    Why I don’t have these books is beyond me, so I’ll have to remedy that tout suite.
    Maggie

  11. August 28, 2011 at 5:12 pm

    My fluffy friends definately help make my house a home. I can’t imagine life without them (even if I was up letting them out before Irene hit full force, but all are safe). Thanks for being a part of Seasonal Sundays.

    – The Tablescaper

  12. Dee
    August 28, 2011 at 6:11 pm

    I love dogs! Love this post! :)

  13. August 29, 2011 at 9:54 am

    how darn cute is ths little recap… so many pics to howl about! your babes are just as cute as a cupcake, i could gobble them right up. ONCE AGAIN… my cheeks hurt from smiling. gosh i must be out of shape when it comes to smiling, becasue i truly ache in my face when i hang around here!

  14. August 29, 2011 at 7:11 pm

    What a beautiful site you have and I love your dog post! I also love “Hello, Cupcake!” I have made the sunflower cupcakes and snow globes so far. I love your dogs! Thanks so much for stopping by HomeSavvyAtoZ.com today. I am glad you did so I could discover your site!

    I would love for you to link your post up at my Savvy HomeMade Monday blog party at http://www.homesavvyatoz.com/blog-party-5/

  15. Clare
    August 31, 2011 at 5:28 pm

    You are just too much! These are THE CUTEST things ever! I don’t know which I like best. My Buddy thinks Chloe is really fab! He wants her to come over and play and bring some cuppy cakes, please! xxoo Clare and Buddy

  16. September 1, 2011 at 11:01 pm

    I love your cupcakes! I’d like to invite you to link up at my Friday Favorites party!

  17. Pondside
    September 2, 2011 at 2:24 am

    Our little Rory is the heir to the legacy of all the dogs we’ve loved over the years.
    The cupcakes are adorable!

  18. September 2, 2011 at 12:34 pm

    Oh, how cute are these!! Your pooches are sweet too.
    Sherry

  19. September 3, 2011 at 12:20 pm

    Those looked like fun to make!

    <i<~Rainey @ The Project table

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