Here I come to save the day!

Guess what?  It's been really, really cold here.  We all have to wrap ourselves up a lot to go outside.  And my Dad has been going into the city lately.  I don't know where that is, but it must be far because he is gone all day.  

Anyway, it was cold and already dark. Ugh. I don't like going out in the dark, either.  And Dad needed money for the city.  He was going to have to go out into the dark and cold to get it.  But, hey!!! I have money!  I do!  'Cause all year long when I sell my books, I get money for my buddies at Almost Home Dog Rescue of New Jersey!  SO, I gave him some money.  Well, I don't have fingers, so Mom had to get it out.  But I saved him from the cold!  I bet he knows how lucky he is to have me around!    And he paid me back the very next day!

Yes, indeed, Harry saved the day, or night!  Each year Almost Home gets their donation thanks to the sale of Harry's books.  They are both on Amazon.  In the U.S. you can contact me directly at junivolz@gmail.com.  Not only will you get discounted books, but bookmarks, magnets, signed copies and I am happy to ship for free.  They make great gifts for dog lovers and anyone who can read!! 

 

He's so hard to see....

Hey, folks!  You guys know I'm a real dog, right?  I just don't like having my picture taken.  Nope. I do not. I do not like it one little bit!  But I got distracted yesterday and Mom was sneaky!  So, here I am, on camera! 

Harry was "taking care of business" and didn't know I was taking his picture....once he caught on he tried to run back in the house, but I still managed to get a little footage of the boy!  The real, live Harry Spotter!

A wiggle in the walk....

Oh, boy!  I just love my second breakfast.  It's getting chilly outside and inside, so I go out to the big room and sit in the sunshine that comes in the window to warm up.  That's when Mom is making MY second breakfast.  She has it first, then I get my shnibbles.  Today it was WONDERFUL!  It was so wonderful I did wiggle worm in the big room!  I'm such a lucky dog!

Yes, anyone who has read Harry's second book knows that he wakes up happy and proceeds to do his wiggle worm across the bedroom floor.  Today I decided to make some eggs along with my English muffin, which was burned to absolute perfection! (If there isn't smoke coming from the toaster, it isn't done.)  Harry gets a small piece, about the size of my thumb and he gets to lick the plate when I'm done.  He was so delighted that he did another full tilt wiggle worm in the living after his little nibbles. It is one of the more hilarious things he does.  So cute!
 

It's a marvelous night for a moondance....

So, wow! What a big day we had!  I knew something special was going on right away because I missed my morning nap! Oh, boy, oh, boy!  We got in the car and it was one of those things where there's all kinds of hoomans and dogs and stuff going on.  

Lots of people came to pet me, lots and lots.  And there were gagillions of dogs, too!  There were little tiny ones......

And there were medium ones, like me!

And even a great, big, giant dog! 

I got really, really tired.  But I had my suppertime when I got home and Mom gave me ice cream!  Yay! My favorite!  I'm still a little tired today, but I had a really good time!

The Octoberfest could not have been held on a nicer day.  It was simply gorgeous, with a clear, blue sky, some fall color in the trees and perfect weather.

Many thanks to all of the people who bought Harry's books - especially because every purchase results in a donation to Almost Home Dog Rescue of New Jersey, the same folks who rescued our boy!  And thank you, too, to the people who made donations.

Harry was so distracted, I even got to take his picture (Harry HATES his picture taken) and so did someone else!

He was not his usual, bouncy self this morning - he is playing bed bug today.  But I'm sure he will be back to doing wiggle worm by morning.

 

 

I came to travel upon a road that was thorned and narrow....

Doot, doot, doo.  Dum diddy dum.  Walking with my pack.  It's really nice out.  I just had my suppertime, which was way yumbers.  I saw my buddy, Snow, this morning.  Nobody else is around right now.  Oh, hey!  Let's go by the creek.  There's always fun stuff to sniff over there....  Yipes!  What was that?  Ow, my foot hurts.  Let me see....I can walk. Sort of.  Ow! No, it really hurts!!!  

Then what ever it is goes away, but it comes back.  I have to keep lifting my leg up.  But I made it home.  Mom is washing my foot and I don't know what Dad is doing.  He isn't taking a picture of my foot, but he is holding something up to it.....hmmmm.  

All that fuss, but it still burns!  It's making me crazy!  I WANT TO PULL MY CLAWS OUT! Agggghhhhhh!

It was a perfectly gorgeous autumn afternoon and Harry was enjoying the evening walk.  Then I saw him look up at me.....wha???  He started lifting his back foot and trying to bop around on three legs.  Uh oh.  We tried our best to check his paw, between the pads, on the pads.  I couldn't see anything.

He managed to get home but was clearly uncomfortable.  So, I soaked a paper towel in warm water and wiped down his foot.  He was still miserable.  We turned all the lights up and got a magnifying glass and inspected his paw.  Nothing.  I was worried there was a sliver of glass embedded that we couldn't see.

With that, my husband walked back to the place where I told him Harry looked at me with alarm.  It was barberry.  Barberry is a thorny bush and someone had just trimmed one but didn't clean up very well.  I've been pricked by barberry, so I know that it can sting and burn for quite some time.  But at least we knew what it was and that the discomfort would be temporary.

Yes, indeed!  Our boy was his happy self again in the morning.  He even did wiggle worm across the bedroom floor!

Be careful out there!

( blog title lyrics from "Play Me"  Diamond, N. 1972)

As long as I'm with you, it's a lovely day.

My happy meter was going strong this morning.  I did wiggle worm before we went outside.  It was MY kind of day!  No snow, no rain, not too hot, not too cold.  JUST RIGHT!!!  I got to chase a couple of chipmunks, too! Haha.

And besides the great weather, something special was going on.  I got presents!  I got fancy biscuits with frosting on them!  Yumbers!  And a new toy!  Mom had to show me what to do.  It has treats hidden inside and I have to get at them!  Like my other toy, but different.  Hmmmm.  I'm a pretty smart guy.  I will figure it out.

Wow! This was a fun day!

Today was Harry's "official" birthday! Of course, we don't really know which day is his REAL birthday, but we had to decide on one for the Dogtor to keep records.  And, we decided on September 21 because we thought Harry was about two years old at that time.  Except he is younger.  :)   In time, we realized that although they said he was about one and half years when he came to us, he was really about a year.  So, Harry is now four and a half, but celebrating his fifth birthday!  Izz ok. No big deal.

He was a happy boy today - raring to go on his morning walk.  We got him a travel water bottle for when we go to the park or on trips or have events.  He won't know how much he likes that until we use it.

And he has a bunch of gourmet doggie biscuits with yogurt frosting!

Best of all, he has another interactive toy.  So now he has two things that he has to think about to play with, but he gets rewarded with tiny treats.

Happy Birthday, Mr. Spotter!

Don't worry, baby......

Oooooohhhh. My tummy doesn't feel so good.  Bleh.  It isn't time for me to go out, but I have to go....now!  Mom?  Mom?   I have to go out!  Please!  Oh, boy....oh, boy.  She understands me!  She speaks Spotter!! Yay!  Here comes my leash.......Phew!  Just in time!  

My suppertime is different today.  Mom is cooking, just for me.  Even though I don't feel so good, I know I'm a lucky boy!  Chicken and rice, just for me.   Mmmmmmmm.  Thanks, Mom.
 

Harry had the runs for two entire days.  I think it's because he chews on grass and the sad fact is that the management here puts too many chemicals on the ground.  I always keep some quick cooking rice on hand for situations such as this.  Poor boy, he was wimpering a bit and made me feel terrible.  If he hadn't improved, we would have gone to the dogtor.  But he bounced back pretty fast once he had a couple of "chicken soup for dogs" meals. 

I watched him closely, particularly to see if he needed to run outside.  He has gotten much better at communicating that to us - and now he runs for the door and puts his nose up to the doorknob!  Yes, Harry, I get the message, loud and clear!

And then he kissed me...

Oh, boy! Afternoon walk! The best thing about the afternoon walk is my treat. I always get a treat when we get back home.  It's really hot today, so I hope I get my special ice cream!  Yumbers! 

Oh, hey! There's Joey's Mom.  I have to say "hello."  Joey isn't outside, but I'll say hello to his Mom anyway.  Joey is one of the little dogs who doesn't go crazy when he sees me.  He is friendly and nice even though he's as small as a cat!  

Oh, Mom, why do you have to talk so long?  I want to get inside where it's cool and comfy.  

But there's Simba again!  Oh, boy!  Hi, Simba!  I'm just going to say "hi" and have Dad walk me home because Mom is taking too long!  So long, Simba.   Turning the corner now to get home....I'll just turn around to see if Mom is coming yet.  Hey, wait!  What?  Simba is kissing my Mom!  Hmmmmmm.   

Well, here she comes at last.  About time, Mom!  Gee.

We are in the middle of a heat wave and generally cutting our walks a bit short because of it.  But polite Harry has to say "hello" to the people he knows.  We were chatting with little Joey's Mom (he's a Yorkie) when Simba came along.  He was being walked by the "dog walking lady" in our neighborhood - it's what she does for a living.  She already knew that Simba and Harry had met before.  The boys sniffed and wagged their happy meters, but Harry was in a hurry to get inside, so off he went with Dad.

I gave Simba a pat on his head.  As I did, I bent down a little.  The next thing I knew, I got slurped from chin to nose!  The dog walker said, "WOW!  You really rate!"  Simba even tried to follow me home!  He's improving each day.  Sweet Simba.

 

There's a new kid in town...

Dum dee dumm  dummm, we were taking our morning walk.  I have lots of buddies here, but I hardly ever see them in the morning. Haha, that's cause I wake up my pack just as the sun comes up!  So, it is usually really, really quiet.

But one day, there was a man and a dog up ahead.  This dog was a little bigger than I am!  He's new here.  He looked a little sad.  :(  But, I'm a friendly guy (and polite, too!) so I knew that I should be quiet and gentle.

We s-l-o-w-l-y came up to each other and sniffed noses.  Yay!  His happy meter started!  Mine was already going.

I've seen him a couple of times now, so when he sees me his happy meter starts right away!  I guess I have a new friend!

His name is Simba.  He is a pit bull.  He is a lovely caramel color with white paws and some on his chest and face.  The first time we saw him, his owner, from a distance, explained that he had been abused and was afraid of men and other dogs.  But, he agreed to give an approach a try.

Harry has an innate sense about people and other dogs.  He approached cautiously and gave Simba a little room so that they both reached their noses out to one another.  With that, the tails started wagging on both ends!  Simba even allowed me to pet him gently on his head.  He has such a sad expression, it breaks my heart.

Since that first successful meeting there have been a few more, each one slightly more relaxed than the last.  Poor, sweet Simba.  He has a loving home now and a doggie buddy!  Welcome to the neighborbood, Simba!
 

It's all in the game.

Haha, I do this thing with my hoomans.  It's fun!  When I get a special treat, like a bone or a dental stick, I run to the bedroom with it.  But I don't eat it right away.  I yell a little.  That way someone comes in to check on me!  I did this enough times that I have Mom and Dad trained now.  So then what happens is they take the treat away from me.  Yeah!  But it's ok because it's just a game. My happy meter starts going and I have to find out where my treat went!  Sometimes Mom throws it so I have to chase after it.  I'm so glad I was able to train them to play with me!

Harry has a bunch of toys that he doesn't play with.  It seems that he was never taught how to play as a puppy.  We've tried.  If I throw a ball or a frisbee for him, he just looks at me like I landed from Mars. 

But Harry has also developed a sense of play and humor.  It started when he didn't really want to go outside for his walks, so I had to coax and cajole him. But he can no longer deny that he knows the words "out" and "up." So, while he still tries to pretend that he is incapable of walking, he gets up and out much more quickly now.

He has invented a new game for us to play.  It's called, "Take My Treat, Please!"  Twice a day, he gets a special treat.  At noontime it is a dental stick and after his suppertime, it can be a variety of things, from a chewy "bone" to doggie ice cream.  He never jokes about his ice cream.  But all the others now require that we go through the usual ritual of having him sit and raise his paw before getting his treat.  Then he runs off with his prize, into the bedroom.  In a very short while, he starts barking.  That is our cue to go in and pretend to take his treat away.  I usually hide it in a pocket or the back waistband of my pants.  So, when I show him my hands, there is no treat to be seen!  His tail starts going and he enters "play" mode -- butt up in the air, head jostling from side to side. Where is it? Where did it go?  After we search around for a bit, I throw it across the room for him to fetch. At this point, he happily chows down.

I wonder what he will think of next? 

Living it up at the hotel......

This place is noisy!  I can see through the walls....I can see all the other dogs.  My own bed is here and my chewy bone.  But Mom and Dad aren't here.  I don't like this.  I'm a little scared, too.  

"Hey!  Hey, you!  Black and white!  Yeah, you!"

"Hello.  I'm Harry."

"I'm Spike.  You must be new here, huh?  First time? Ah, don't worry, kid.  Your pack will be back.  This a just a hotel.  It's a hotel just for us dogs!  If you give it a chance, you might even like it!  I've been here a couple of times already.  It's ok!  Makes going home even more fun!"

"If you say so.  I'm not too happy right now."

"Well, you'll get your regular food, you've got your bed from home and a toy.  These guys take you outside a lot, too.  You might even get a bath!"

"Really?  What's a bath?"

"Haha, you'll find out.  It's nice.  Makes you all fluffy and silky.  Don't worry, kid, you'll be fine!"

I did get a bath.  I got all wet and scrubbed up.  It WAS fun.  I didn't sleep, much.  I really, really wanted to be home.  But I did get to go out lots of times and I did have my own food from home.  I was a good boy the whole time!   

And then, the lady was taking me out of the noisy part into the big front and there was Mom!!  And Dad!  Oh, yay!  Yippee!  I'm going home with my pack!!!   I'm so happy I'm crying.  Aroooo!  

When we all got home, Dad was bringing my bed inside.  Hey, Dad!   Watch me, follow me!  I'll show you where it goes, just in case you forgot!!!  That's it, down this hall, and right in here.  Yep!  That's the spot!  

Mom gave me suppertime.  I guess she didn't know I already had it.  So, I nibbled a little.  Then we went on a big walk in my neighborhood!   Dora was in the car with her pack, but she called to me from the window!  "Roo, rooooooo!"  I missed you, too, Dora!  

Then the best thing, Mom gave me ice cream, my favorite, very best thing.   It's so good to be home!

 We had to drive out of town, just for three days.  Harry stayed at a dog "hotel and spa."  He had never been separated from us before.  I was nervous and concerned.  But this place came highly recommended and we had had a tour, which was especially nice because Harry was along for that and he remembered the place.

The staff told me he had been a very good boy - ate his meals and did his business.  They gave him a bath so even though his fur is short, it is now very soft and silky.

Harry was so excited to come home he was making sounds I've never heard before.  And it was clear that he was exhausted.  After leaping down the hall to show us where his bed belonged, he couldn't keep his eyes open anymore.

Good to be home, good to be together.  Home, sweet home.

I wanna go home, where I belong....

Oh, hey!  I remember this place!  Yeah, we came here before....but...what?  Mom?  Dad?  Where are you taking me?  Mom?  Dad?  No, no, no.  I do not like it. No!

Please don't wake me,

No, don't shake me
Leave me where I am
I'm only sleeping.
("I'm Only Sleeping" Lennon/McCartney, 1966)

There were loud thunder monsters the other night!  I was really, really scared.  I was up all night long!  I tried to curl up really smaltl next to Mom, but it sounded louder over there.  So then I would go back to my bed, but my insides would start shaking, so I would go back to the corner.  And the rain was hard!  It sounded like it was going to come inside!  

By morning, when it was time for my walk, it was all over.  The ground was still wet - I was licking wet grass and puddles!  After my breakfast, Mom and I went back to bed for a nap.  I was sooooo tired!  

I guess I was too tired, 'cause everytime Mom moved just a little bit, I got startled.  And I wanted to sleep!  Why can't she stay still?! Grrrrrrrrr.  Ooops.   That annoyed Mom and she ordered me to get down!  I'm sorry, Mom, I'm just tired, really, really tired.

Harry wasn't the only one who was tired.  The storm had everyone up most of the night.  The creek was running higher than I had ever seen it.  The raindrops sounded like they were as big as baseballs!  Splat! 

When all was said and done, and Harry and I were ready to nap, I moved.  I moved my foot.  Just a little.  What's that I hear?  Was that a growl?  Oh, no, no, no.  That is unacceptable.  Down you go!  He must have gotten the message, because later, when we were refreshed and awake, Harry tried to snuggle in my lap.  At almost 60 pounds, he is NOT a lap dog!  I think it was his way of telling me he was sorry for being grouchy.
 

Lazy day....

Boy, oh boy!  It got really hot outside!  I mostly stay in when it's like this.  Being too hot isn't good for pups like me.  I'm nice and comfy on the big bed in the bedroom!  It's a good spot, 'cause I can see out the windows and keep an eye on the neighborhood!

But, guess what?  We all sat outside today!  That was fun....  there is a big tree out back and it has lots of shade.  So, Mom and Dad were sitting out there and I wanted to be out there, too.  And now I can because I have a long, long, long leash!  It attaches to the tree, so I can be out there with my pack, but I can roam around if I want to.  I sat in the sunshine for a little while, but my spots got  hot, so then I went to lie down in the shade.  There were birds and squirrels and chipmunks to watch, too!  I tried to catch the chipmunk, but he was too fast for me.  And there was a nice, smelly breeze, too.  I kept my nose working hard!  Oh, boy!  I hope we do that again soon!

We are lucky to have a mature maple in the back of our house.  It keeps us shady through the hottest weather and sunny in the winter.  Here is what it looks like in the fall.

The weather changed drastically from a chilly start to May to a scorching end.  We put a couple of outdoor lawn chairs under the tree to have morning coffee and tea - the temperature had not yet gotten unbearable and there was a pleasant, light breeze. 

I recently got a "tie out" for Harry - a long weather proof lead that we can wrap around the tree.  That way he has some freedom to move around - which he did, quite a bit.  He looked as though he was surveying his kingdom.  "And all of this.....is mine!"  His nose was working overtime, held to the air and wiggling around like it had a mind of its' own. 

We stayed out for over an hour - until the heat started really kicking in.  The forecast is for it to cool down a bit next week, so hopefully, we can spend more time outdoors in the  comfortable shade.

 

Saturday in the park...

Oh, boy, I am soooo tired!  We had such a big day yesterday.  I missed all my naps.  We were in a BIG park ALL day long and I couldn't close my eyes!  I was just too excited and didn't want to miss anything!  

It was nice and warm and sunny, too!  Lot's of people came up to see me.  There was a little girl, too.  She reminded me of my hooman friend who visits her grandparents around the corner from my house.  Some of the people knew me already!  They met me last year!  

I jumped in and out of the car a million times!  I had ice cubes and biscuits.  I only got a little irritated when a big puppy thought that he could take my water bowl.  It's MY bowl.  The rest of the time I just watched a whole bunch of dogs go by - big ones, little ones, noisy ones.....

I'm glad that people took my books because when they do that, they help my buddies at Almost Home Dog Rescue of NJ.  Thanks!!!

We spent the majority of the day at Allaire State Park.  We got there at 6:30 a.m. and it was already packed.  Luckily, it was a gorgeous day.

Harry, as usual, would not allow himself to nap, so he was as exhausted as we were by the time we headed home.

Many, many thanks to all the kind people who bought books and donated to Almost Home Dog Rescue of NJ!  Harry and I hope you enjoy the books!  Although specifically aimed at a young audience, I have been told that adults enjoy them, too.

While the books are available via the internet at Barnes & Noble and Amazon, I can offer discounted pricing. Just contact me via junivolz@gmail.com.  Free shipping, too!

If it takes forever, I will wait for you

Oh, hey, I just LOVE food!  I look forward to each one of my meals and treats every single day!  But, sometimes I save them.  Yep, I do.  Want to know why?  Because I love them so much!  

See, my Mom goes out after my middle of the day walk.  She does this almost every day.  But just before she goes, she gives me my dental bone.  Oh, boy!  I love my dental bone.  But, I'm sad when my pack isn't all together.  So I wait.  I wait on the bed where I can see out the window.  I wait with my dental bone.  I smell it.  I lick it a little bit.  Sometimes Dad comes in and gives me tummy rubs, but I make sure he doesn't take my bone away! 

I can see out the window so I know when Mom gets home!  And then, when she is, I'm happy again!  And that is the best time to relax and enjoy my bone! 

Harry lives for his treats.  However, he has taken up the habit of saving his dental bone until I get home from the gym.  Once I am safely back indoors, give him a "hello" and a tummy rub, THEN he will happily chow down.

My previous beloved was a very smart boy. (Steve)  He figured out strategies, had a sixth sense with wild animals and he even made a joke one day.  Really, he did.  But I have never seen a dog that understands the concept of delayed gratification.  Why, Mr. Spotter, you are quite an intelligent boy!
 

Mustang Harry

I love car trips!  I hop right in, no problem!  Just our car, though.  I don't like anyone else's.  Me and my pack!  Oh, boy!  And guess what?  Our car has its' own room!  And Mom and Dad were doing stuff in there yesterday.......they had all kinds of plants and pots and dirt and stuff.  

They had the door open to the car's room, but I just peeked out.  I've never been in that room before, so I was a little scared.  

But then a neighbor lady came by and she walked right up!  I usually walk right up to her at her house, but this was the other way around.  Well, I had to say "hello!" It's the polite thing to do.  So I went into the car room!  I walked right through!  And that made her happy, too!  Then I wasn't afraid anymore.  There's lots of smelly stuff to sniff in there!  It was fun!

Now that spring has officially sprung (a bit earlier than usual) we decided it was time to do the annual garden supply outing....for pretty pots full of flowers throughout the summer.  We set up a table and pots and a big bag of potting soil in the garage.  We left the door into the house open because if he can't see us, Harry barks up a storm.  So, there he was, peeking around the corner, but too timid to come in. 

One of our neighbors happened by.  It is someone Harry is familiar with, we see her all the time when on our walks because she is also an avid gardener.  That did it - Harry HAD to say "hello" to her, he couldn't resist!  So he conquered his fear of the garage and marched up to his human friend!  Then he stayed out there with us until we were too tired to do anymore.  Such a silly boy.
 

Happy Adoptaversary, Baby!

Oh, I know what you are up to.  I'm a pretty smart pup!  Yes, I am!  I want to go inside and I do NOT like my picture taken.  So, don't even try.  Don't.  I don't like it and I won't look.

 Harry has never, ever liked to have his picture taken.  We have to be stealthy...or I have to hold him with all my might - which isn't much!  I hoped that after our walk he would be a little subdued, and my husband has a new gadget - it doesn't flash like the stupid phone does.  But Harry still knew we were trying to take his picture.  Three years ago, he came to our home, his forever home.  We love you, Pootie.

What's ailing me?

I went to the dogtor the other day.  I didn't get to see the kitty that stays there this time.  I got poked and squeezed.  But I got lots and lots and LOTS of treats!  So, even when my nails were clipped, I only complained a little, tiny bit.  

I didn't feel too good for the rest of the day.  I was kind of sleepy.  But I was a good boy and ate my supper and went for a big walk.  

I felt just fine again this morning and did my wiggle worm.  That made Mom happy.  She put some stuff in my ear, though.  I was afraid.  But it didn't hurt, so I won't mind if she has to do it again.  

Wow, I never got so many treats from the dogtor's office!

Yes, Harry had his check up.  He doesn't mind seeing his doctor - everyone is very helpful and friendly.  And instead of putting him on a cold and slippery metal table, the doctor and his assistants get right down on the floor with Harry!

He needs to lose 2 pounds.  That means longer walks and less treats, although he was lavished with treats at the doctor's office!  And, being a floppy eared dog, he has a slight ear infection in one ear.  Since Harry can be a little "dramatic," I was afraid the first time I had to clean out his ear and put medicine in it.  But he did just fine, without a single whimper!

Harry was a little out of sorts for the afternoon, but he had several vaccinations he needed.  This morning he was back to normal, making me laugh with his wiggle worm antics.

Hopefully all is well with our Mr. Spotter!

How's the weather?

Wow!  Things have been funny here lately!  One day it's nice and warm and all the flowers look happy. Then the next day it's freezing and I'm back in my heavy winter coat!  And one night everything happened!  It was cold.  It was really, really windy.  I got scared and my insides were shaking.  There were those monster boomers outside.  Then stuff started hitting the windows!  It was like someone was throwing rocks at the windows!  I tried to make myself as small as possible.  Mom kept petting me because I was shaking.  I think I was awake all night long!

When it was time for my morning walk, I didn't want to go outside.  But I did, 'cause I'm a good boy!  A lot of the flowers had their heads down on the ground.  I guess they got scared, too!  But the sun came out and the flowers picked up their faces again.  Those little flowers are brave!

Harry wasn't the only one afraid of the weather.  The wind was howling, making it sound like the whole house would just fly off its foundation.  And we were concerned about large tree limbs.  Besides wind and rain, there was lightning and thunder.  Sometime in the middle of the night, there was hail.  Poor Harry was huddled in a ball next to the bed where I pet him until I fell asleep.  I'm not sure if he did.

In the morning, there were some tree limbs down, but less than expected.  There were still bits of hail on the ground, too.  The spring flowers were drooped and I would have bet that they were goners.  But, by noon, with the sun shining, they managed to stand up again.  The temperature has been fluctuating wildly - one day warm and sunny, the next day winter returns.  It's difficult to know how to dress properly.   Today is blustery, more like March than April. 

Guess we will just have to wait for one of those magical May days......warm breeze, birds singing, sun shining.  Sure wish it would hurry up.
 

Everyday it's a getting closer....

Wow!  It's done!  Now I have another book!  This was so much fun!  Take a look!

"The Amazing Canine Adventures of Harry Spotter" now has a sequel..."The Everyday Adventures of Harry Spotter."  They are both available on Amazon.  Or, contact June Volz via email (junivolz@gmail.com) for discount pricing, free shipping, a bookmark and a magnet!  I can offer both books together for $18.  Each sale helps to support Harry's rescue alma mater, Almost Home Dog Rescue of N.J.  

Missing you......

Mmmmmppphhh.  Aroooooo!  My Mom isn't feeling good.  She has to go into a hospital!  She says "Izzz ok."  She says everything will be alright and she will be back home soon.  Dad will be here with me, but I don't like it when the pack is not all together!!  I miss her already and she's right here!

But, she says she will help me with my blog as soon as she gets home, so we won't be gone for long.  AND she's going to help me work on my next book, too!  Oh, boy, that gets my happy  meter going!!!

http://www.bn.com

We will have to take a small break from the blog and from our Facebook page.  Not to worry, we won't be long - should be back within a couple of weeks.  The good news is that there will be time to devote to the sequel for "The Amazing Canine Adventures of Harry Spotter."  Expect release in late spring.  Meanwhile, the original book is always available at Barnes & Noble (www.bn.com) in paperback and Nook versions, as well as at Amazon, in paperback and Kindle.

I will miss my boy terribly and look forward to coming home and getting to work with him!