Gift that Lasts All Year

Thinking of enrolling in summer riding?  Storey's Guide to TRAINING HORSES ~

"Horses communicate their feelings and intentions, and you can tell what a horse is thinking by watching his body language.  Ears forward  means alert interest;  ears flat back signals a threat that could be followed by a bite or a kick; ears to the side means boredom  or sleepiness.  Tenseness of relaxation of the body can also be a clue to the horse's mood.  Tail swishing means irritation and sometimes anger -- a prelude to a kick."

~ Heather Smith Thomas, horsewoman, Storey Publishing, 2003.

Check out The Neat L'l Bookshop Nature/ Animals section.

"What the. . .!"
 

"What to make of this?"

Charlie visits the bookshop ~

"Maybe we can play. . ."

Come back again, Charlie.

Smile For Today ~

     "Jake has carefully categorized our guests.  Ordinary people, friends he sees frequently, get the bear when they show up at the door, the ragged, chewed-up teddy bear.
     New people? They get the pink Easter Bunny, right after he shakes the stuffing out of it and slams it on the floor a few times.
     But special people? People who might be bearing dog treats?  They get the "Bear in the Bag."  This is a mint-condition, black-and-white Panda bear Jake got for Christmas.  Since he's mangled most of his other toys, I forbid him to take this one out of its bright red gift bag.  The ribbon still holds the paper handles together at the top, so he can't actually get his teeth on the bear, just the bag.  So the "Bear In the Bag" has become the highest honor bestowed on guests, once.  No treat, and you can count on getting that stupid bunny the next time."

~The Dog Rules (Damn Near Everything!)  William J. Thomas

[When no one else can make you laugh, try reading William Thomas.  Available in The Neat L'l Bookshop. ~ lbw]

www.williamthomas.ca

"A dog is the only thing on earth that loves you more than he loves himself."
~ Josh Billings, Writer, humourist [Pen name for Henry Wheeler Shaw] 1818 - 1885.

"If a dog jumps in your lap, it is because he is fond of you; but if a cat does the same thing, it is because your lap is warmer." 
~ Alfred North Whitehead, Composer (1887 - 1974)

"A boy can learn a lot from a dog:  obedience, loyalty, and the importance of turning around three times before lying down."
~ Robert Benchley (1889 - 1945) writer Vanity Fair, New Yorker.

"The dog is the god of frolic."
~ Henry Ward Beecher, Clergyman (1813 - 1887)



Gizmo

Faye Farrance, volunteer and friend of the bookshop, is recovering well in West Haldimand Hospital, Hagersville.  Her wee dog, Gizmo, is missing her and wondering where her mother is.

 

Faye thanks everyone for their good wishes, kindnesses and support.  We are not sure when Faye will be getting home ~ Get well quickly, Faye.

 

Update:  Faye returned home in time for Christmas.  She welcomes visits, email, phone calls and can be contacted on Facebook:  Faye O'Handley Farrance.  Speedy recovery Faye.

 

 



 

 

 

 [I don't have a telephoto lens.  You can see that I was close to this little fox.  Among wind turbines and solar panels, he manages to survive. lbw]

 

"We are alone, absolutely alone, on this chance planet; and amid all the forms of life that surround us, not one, excepting the dog, has made an alliance with us."   ~ Maurice Maeterlinck (Aug. 29, 1862 - May 6, 1949) Belgium playwright, poet.

 

 "  In the beginning, God created man, but seeing him so feeble, He gave him the dog." ~ Toussenel (1803-1885) French writer, naturalist.

"God sat down for a moment when the dog was finished to observe what He had created.  He knew that it was good, that nothing was lacking and that He could not have done better."

 

~1000 Dogs, The Presence of the Dog,  Raymond Merritt & Miles Barth, TASCHEN [photo files lbw thanks and apologies friends ~ without permission]

 

  

 

 

 

"It is a strange thing, love. Nothing but love has made the dog lose his wild freedom, to become the servant of man."

~ D. H. Lawrence

 "I think we are drawn to dogs because they are the uninhibited creatures we might be if we weren't certain we knew better."  ~ George Bird Evans (American Outdoor Essayist)

Gizzo, dig out your red coat.  Friday is  Valentine's Day!

Eric & Freddie

A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words...

Mr. Noodles isn't sure why he is sitting in the Sidewalk Sale books ~ sitting on tables is not something he is allowed to do.  Mr. Noodles, we love you.  Thank you for posing!

Nicole LeVatte of Caledonia and Mr. Noodles ~ always bring a smile.

Paws for Autism ~

Whoopi poses outside the bookshop.

Of all the photographs in our Neat Little Bookshop Dog Gallery, this one taken by Jenny Tansley is a favourite.

Whoopi is an Autism Service Dog.  You can read more about her and her best friend Braydon at   www.pawsforautism.blogspot.com

Jenny Tansley is a Registered Massage Therapist at Grand River Chiropractice in Cayuga.

Treats?

M-m-m

Any more?

The Dog Gallery ~

Hector visits the bookshop.  Only four and a half months old, he is being carefully trained as a service dog.

To our good friends in Marshville Heritage Village ~

To the farriers and blacksmiths, Happy, Lucky Horseshoes! 

"Let me live in a house by the side of a road
Where the race of men go by;
The men who are good and the men who are bad
As good and as bad as I.

I would not sit in the scorner's seat
Or hurl the cynic's ban;
Let me live in a house by the side of a road
And be a friend to man."

~ Unknown Author
Photos:  lbwalker

Photos:  l.b.walker

Faithful Friend

Zeus visits the Bookstore
"Think I'll just kick-back here. . .Interesting gibberish."

Gizmo says, "Dress warmly, get lots of rest, eat and drink real food ~ nutritious fruits, vegetables, whole grains and proteins."

Let us add, "You might want to consider getting your flu shot."

Yours truly is at home with fever, body aches, extreme tiredness and cough. It could be worse but when the flu keeps one down for four days, one needs to examine what we could do better!

The store remains open. Story Hour is cancelled just for today, Wednesday, December, 29.

Photo: Courtesy of Faye Farrance.