Dogs are Better Than Humans Because ....

June 23, 2016

There's a reason dogs are labeled Man's Best Friend.

Dogs are better than human beings because they know 

but they do not tell.

~ Emily Dickinson.  

There's a tremendous difference between being alone and lonely.

You could be lonely in a group of people.  

I like being alone.  

I like eating by myself.

I go home at night and just watch a movie or hang out with my dog.

I have to exert myself and say 

Oh God, I've got to see my friends 

'cause I'm too content being by myself.

~ Drew Barrymore.

"Dogs are not our whole life but they make our lives whole".

~ Roger Caras (photographer and writer).

I believe that a calm dog is a happy, obedient dog 

that won't get into trouble.

~ Cesar Milan.

Why does watching a dog be a dog fill one with happiness?

~ Jonathan Safrah Foer (Author).

When an eighty five pound mammal licks your tears away, 

then tries to sit in your lap, it's hard to feel sad. 

 ~ Kristan Higgins (Author, "In Your Dreams").

The dog is a reflection of your energy, your behavior.  

You have to ask, "What am I doing?"  

That's the right question to ask.

~ Cesar Milan.

Scratch a dog and you'll find a permanent job.

~ Franklin P. Jones.

Once you have had a wonderful dog, 

a life without one is a life diminished.

~ Dean Koontz (author).

Until one has loved an animal,

a part of one's soul remains unawakened. 

Let sleeping dogs lie.

~ Robert Walpole (first Prime Minister of Great Britain)

I've seen a look in dog's eyes, 

a quickly vanishing look of amazed contempt, and I am convinced that basically dogs think humans are nuts.  

~ John Steinbeck, author.  

I think dogs are the most amazing creatures;

they give unconditional love.

For me, they are the role model for being alive.

~ Gilda Radnor, comedienne.  

There are times when even the best manager is like the little boy with the big dog - waiting to see where the dog wants to go so he can take him there.  ~ Lee Iacocca 

Dogs never bite me, just humans.

~ Marilyn Monroe.

My little dog .... a heartbeat at my feet.

~ Edith Wharton.

Outside of a dog, a book is man's best friend.

Inside of a dog, it's too dark to read.

~ Groucho Marx.

 A dog teaches a boy fidelity, perseverance, 

and to turn around three times before lying down.

~ Robert Benchley

                     

Take only photos, leave only footprints.

Treasure the memories.

Glassblowers, Great Gals and Gladness.

June 21, 2016

Over the past weekend we spent some time in Asheville, checking out places we've heard we cannot miss.  Our first stop was Lexington Glassworks, a glassblowing studio not far from downtown.  

Ooooh, not a place for Zuma with her four foot tail swath we thought.  Oh noooo!  Oh yes, bring her in, the sweet young lady beckoned!  (Er, how much do we have in savings, Doug?).  We tiptoed inside and we were relieved the gorgeous glass pieces were all elevated above her tail wagging level (step away from the dawg, just don't talk nicely to her and everything will be okay, LOL)! Asheville people sometimes bring tears to my eyes that so many businesses allow and WELCOME this big ole dawg inside.

Zuma was on her best behavior and enjoyed lots of pets and praise from visitors and staff and we escaped without writing a two thousand dollar check and sweeping up several buckets of shrapnel (potential Christmas gifts, pass the epoxy).

Zuma just plunked herself on the cool cement floor 

as if she'd been there every day for years.

We were extremely fortunate to watch two master glassblowers at work forming two bowls from start to completion.  It was fascinating. Absolutely fascinating.  

True artists at work, doing what they love.

It was hot outside but their studio is open to the air and they were totally chill about Zuma loafing there.  She acted like she was meant to be a 130 lb (dog) bull in a (glass) china shop. 

The two glassblowers were one with the glass.

It was a beautiful thing to watch.

The two men worked as a team to form a glob into a masterpiece, and, while they created, they explained every step to the audience.

The sunlit building is filled with creations of every color shape and form, the windows are also filled with an eye-boggling display of unique glass art pieces.

It was a special way to begin a sunny Sunday.

Feeling a tad peckish, we strolled into the city center 

for a bite of lunch.  

We turned to the app. bringfido.com ( an app. that suggests dog-friendly hotels, restaurants and events) and found a great sushi place, along with a European coffee and pastry shop next door.

We met a lot of people, with and without dogs.  But there were two great gals who were especially fun and had a super positive aura about them, Kim and Ester; we visited with them and their adorable dog for a while on the sunny sidewalk.    

I was having a bit of a personal struggle that day, grappling with the decision: should Zuma and I head "home" to Maine now or later?  I love it here, I love it there.  They helped me to decide.  Whether they realized it or not.    

Sometimes, you meet good people and "you just KNOW".  I think we'll keep in touch via the blog.  So, if you Great Gals are reading, THANK YOU!

After a nibble of lunch, we stopped at New Belgium Brewery, a brand new brewery that is totally southern-friendly and fun for families, couples, singles, dogs, whomever.  

It is an impressive operation.  Doug tells me these silos are filled with beer.  Whoa!  Seriously?  Yup.

Iiiii know, I never drank beer, but once a week a cold beer at a place like this is a lot of fun.

Like I said, it's a fun place!

There's a huge grassy area with chairs to lounge in and soak up the hot sun (and a cold beer).  Dogs are welcomed and treated like royalty.  They're pretty darned nice to the people, too!

We met great people and their canine companions, large and not so large.  Our new friend Sarah (above) and her sweet, confident Great Dane puppy Garbanzo (with feet the size of a camel):

 He and Zuma had a good romp in the grass.

 

And our future new dentist and his wife and their magnificent Newfoundland:

Medium-sized dogs.... 

And even smaller canines (Indie, who joined in 

with Garbanzo and Zuma, when he wan't receiving out of space telepathic transmissions):  

Every dog we met participated in the fun and frolic and Zuma was delighted to have a really nice doggie play day.

This brewery on the banks of The French Broad River has only been open for two months and already it is extremely popular. Employee-owned, laid back and fun, from the outdoor deck you can watch people tubing down the river (avec accompanying duck patrol). The water may appear murky but it rained the day before, stirring up the red clay ....

It was a very busy, dog-sociable day and Zuma is zonked!

We're retiring with gladness for being a part of Asheville.

Goodnight, ya'll!