“Happiness is a Warm Puppy”

We had this book by Charles Schulz when I was a kid

At the beginning of February I set a personal goal to make and post a daily piece of art featuring an obscure holiday. The month started out well but I fell off the wagon midway through the month. Here’s why. . .

For one thing, I got pretty sick, but I doubt anyone wants to read about those details. :) The other, more interesting, reason is that we brought this little guy home!

Cap & his favorite toy

Since we moved to the farm, we have been keeping an eye on local animal shelter websites and news about puppy litters. Then, a couple weeks ago I saw an ad on facebook from Flat Creek Bernedoodles (https://www.facebook.com/flatcreekbernedoodles/). We video chatted with Ashley, who raises the puppies, and had our first look at our puppy. Several days later Chris took the day off work and we made the 4 hour trek, one way, to pick up our new puppy (By the way, last I heard, one puppy is still available)!

Cap slept and cuddled the whole 4 hour drive home

Moses named him Captain Cyrus Harding Allen Farmer, but we call him Cap for short.

Captain Cyrus Harding is a character in one of our favorite books, The Mysterious Island by Jules Verne

Puppies are a study in contrasts! When Cap is awake, he is the wriggliest, orneriest, stinkiest, chewiest puppy ever. When he’s asleep he is the sweetest, cutest, cuddliest puppy ever. I’m sure any one who’s had a puppy can relate.

In 2004 I wrote/illustrated a picture book about Bagheera titled, “I Have a New Puppy (and He Sure is Messy)!

Some of you may remember that before I met Chris, I had a German Shepherd named Bagheera. He was a great dog and I loved him very much. But when I began traveling a lot for work, it wasn’t good for him. He needed a stable setting, schedule, and people. So he went to live with someone who could better provide that for him. I decided to not get another dog until my circumstances had the kind of stability that was healthy for a dog. Now the time seems right.

Bagheera and me. Photo taken by Karen (Roberts) Beers, a friend who helped me train Bagheera.

I’m sure I’ll be posting more about Cap in the future, so stay tuned. I never submitted my puppy book so maybe it’s time to dust it off, clean it up, and see about getting it published. What do you think?

As I type this, Cap has been mauling his other duck toy on the floor at my feet