No Dog is an Island

I know I'm not supposed to be up on the mattress when Mom washes the sheets on the little bed in the guest room--- but if I hide my head in the blanket, she can't see me!

And yes, Mom fixed my toy after I de-squeaked it. But first she put it in the trash saying it was too torn up for me to play with!  I was so lost without it---I gave her pitiful looks until she saved it as it's my nap noodle. But seriously Mom, Duct Tape? You get Dr. in front of your name and you fix stuff with DUCT TAPE?

Oh wait-- Mom said she's not that kind of doctor.  If she's not that kind of doctor - then she must be that kind of doctor we saw watching Gilligan's Island with the peeps. Which doctor?  That doctor. Other than the Vee-Eee-Tee, I don't know any other doctors.

Well - that does explain her hair in the morning.

Abby Lab

Sunday Barkley - Black and White

The Salmon Will Be By Here Any Minute!

Foody Friday - PORK.

Someone is stealing dog bloggers copyrighted photos and content.  Go ahead, take this, and try and pass it off as your own..

I present Crown Roast of SPAM

 Yes, those are Slim Jim's. My Mom is easily bored.


Abby the Lab

I "Heart" Happy Dog Barkery - A Blog Hop

The Blogville Heart 2 Heart Dance is coming up.  If you haven't signed up go on over and visit

• Murphy and Stanley

And then go to the bottom of this post to join the Blog Hop they're hosting as part of the Dance festivities.

If you can't attend and just want to have a celebration of your own, and you live around the Chicagoland area-- I have to tell you about a dog barkery that's just the BEST.

Happy Dog Barklery - In Downers Grove, IL

It's worth a drive from anywhere in Northern Illinois and Southern Wisconsin, Downers Grove being a unique little town with an assortment of delightful shops with artisan wares, and easy parking.  In the fall - there's also a scavenger hunt that the children just love.

I discovered them when my blog friend Piranha Banana the therapy chihuahua had a birthday pawty and Mom started drooling over the pictures of spinach pies that were served with the cake.

Happy Dog Barkery owners Cheryl and Beth Staley are sisters who left the corporate work in April of 2004 to fulfill their dreams of working with their dogs and being business owners.  Active in animal rescue and foster, Beth has been baking since she was a young girl and when she found her own Labrador had allergies, baking for her dog, and then for others, was destiny

Birthday cakes for dogs  (and cats!) wheat free, allergen friendly and big enough to share with your doggie friends.  You can get a cake that's peanut butter, liver, carob, grain free peanut butter or grain free coconut.  YUM! 

They also have a collection of all sorts of unique, allergen free, human food grade, treats for pets baked fresh on-site and the dogs just go crazy for the liver ones.  But the honey and barley dog cookies? - all I can say is woof!  woof!  woof

In addition to the baked goods they also have a collection of some of the best natural dog foods available, all in one location with a lot of knowledge on how to keep your pet happy and healthy with proper nutrition.

Check them out on Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/HappyDogBarkery

or their website:  http://www.happydogbarkery.com/

Find them at 5118 Main Street, Downers Grove, IL  630-512-0822

Or load up your best friend into your vehicle and drive on over and visit in person - pets are welcome!

Abby the Lab

Wordless Wednesday

Are you Ready for the LUCY BOWL?

• The best Bowl Commercial this year may just be on Hallmark's Kitten Bowl!

• This commercial will change the way America looks at cats and dogs forever.

• Lucy Pet Foundation's groundbreaking #DogsVsCats football game commercial airing on Super Bowl Sunday, will feature the most high-tech CGI ever done using animals, and is bound to be among the most discussed ads of the year.

• The Director of the commercial is Sam Nicholson, one of Hollywood's most acclaimed visual effects Wizards, known best for Heroes, 24, The Walking Dead and Star Trek I. The commercial will draw attention to the 80,000 pets euthanized each week in shelters across the US, due to overpopulation.
Take a look at the teaser Lucy Pet Foundation’s #DogsVsCats football game commercial--real dogs and real cats in a real football game.
https://vimeo.com/116935043

Pet's (including our favorite-- Gilligan at Wag's Ahoy) were entered in a contest to win $500 for their favorite animal rescue group with a  photo of their pet with a #TeamDog or #TeamCat sign (sort of like the "dog shaming' posts)  with winners getting not only prizes but a chance to be a CGI dog or cat on TV.


The dogs and cats who win the contest were announced this last week on the Home Family Show on the Hallmark Channel .  Let's all go share the news about the upcoming ad and remember why we are doing it.  For the rescues like me who would have been euthanized were it not for the efforts of people who care.
Abby the Lab (sorry, you're cute, but I'm #TeamDog) 

This post was brought to you in an effort to raise awareness about Lucy Pet Foundation's upcoming ethical pet population campaign. Lucy Pet Foundation provided all images and information about the commercial.  If you'd like information to share online-- contact bloggers@lucypetfoundation.org and request more information!

Sunday Black and White

Sunday memories of warmer days and sun gleamed steps on which to rest.

 Thank you Nola and Sugar for Hosting.

Barkley Down Under

Hi - Abby's Cousin here, the little white dog on the right.  I'm a rescued cattle dog that belongs to her family out West and I'm here with a quick message. That's not Mom in the picture but one of her family friends with her rescue dogs--but Mom asked that I tell readers down under that The Book of Barkley is now available at

• Amazon AU

I'm going to go see if I can round one up. How about you? Just click on the link above to order.

Watch Dogs

Mom went out with a girlfriend for lunch last Sunday while I guarded her crash pad.  She had just an afternoon off before going back on duty, and decided to get out of the house. She did leave the curtains open a bit so the sun would come in and left me lots of fresh water.

I have to tell you, by the time she got back, days and days later, I was just FRANTIC with worry.

It's Blogville Inaugration time!

Junior Officer Abby here.  I'm so excited - my first official full day as one of Blogville's Paw-lice department!

We are so ready for the Inauguration of Murphy and Stanley as co-mayors as Mayor Madi retires. It should go without a hitch.

 Officer Sully is in charge of field operations. SIDEBITE  is stationed at one side of the inaugural platform and everyone has walkies talkies (Walkies! Walkies! - oh sorry - I got excited there for a minute).

Ahem.

Sully is going to fly the department helicopter (Mom says to watch out for retreating blade stall!) over the parade route to spot any sign or trouble so he can land. I'm on ground duty scanning the crowds out front with Junior Officers Whitey and Riley. Officer Gussie has our dignitaries in the limo.

 Wait - what's this?

Just a moment ago - off to the side of the street- that was just a plastic container.  What's that climbing out of it?

 He's alone - maybe he's just interested in the garbage can put out to collect the inauguration trash.

 No - wait - he's spotted the crowds. He's signaling someone with his tail.

 This doesn't look good - he's climbing up to get a few of the platform there in the distance.

 Just a lone nut job - or something more disruptive?

He's spotted me.

I hear one of the other officers on my walkies talkie!  This one's just a scout, there's a bunch of squirrels trying to disrupt the proceedings!

Junior Officers - let's round them up!

Nothing to see here folks!  To see how this shakes out - I'd go visit these two blogs to start as the blog hop builds
Sully Texas Scottie

• Murphy and Stanley

BOL - Friday's Coming Up!

Officer Abby here getting read for the Mayor Doodz (Murphy and Stanley)  Inauguration Friday.  I've learned to handle the paw-lice car and my poopy pellet gun has fresh pellets (I wonder if you can fire kibble with this thing - like buckshot?)

Junior Officers Whitley and Riley are going to be helping me with the ground duty

Here's Junior Officer Whitley!  Looking all professional there

And the ever vigilent Junior Officer Riley.


Right now, we're making our rounds to help sarge and his crew who are doing the same, getting the lay of the area, looking for anything that might disrupt the festivities.  Let's see, the trash is picked up--thanks good citizens of Blogville - the lighting is good, the area big enough for the crowd.

Why?- because unless you've been  hanging out too long in your crate - Friday is Blogville's Inauguration Day  There's lots of our furends helping the new co-mayors get ready so make sure you check check the news release, and a big reveal, as well as the activities of our police force so go visit  BH&G,  Dory, Commish Sarge,Top Cop Sidebites and Officer Angus McConnell Long.

Then - on Saturday--a farewell paw-ty for  Mayoress Diva Madi 

But what's that, up in that tree? 

 He looks much too interested in the goings on.

 Go away squirrel--nothing to see here.

Maybe he's just drawn by the dogs with peanut butter Kong breath.  I hope that's all it is. I better call Junior Officer Riley - we'll have to keep an eye on that. Don't want anyone nutty trying to disrupt the planned activities.

I feel like the Barney Fife of Blogville

I've been assigned a Squad car for  patrol  for the inauguration of Murphy and Stanley.

But do I ride in it or do I chase it?

Perhaps Sarge can give me a briefing.

Abby the Lab

Blogville Inauguration Coming Up

The other day when Mom wasn't looking--I peeked in her bag.  She had DOG TREATS in here she didn't tell me about!.

I was always wondering what was in there.  I got to see her Secret Squirrel Badge but she won't tell me where Secret Squirrel Headquarters is - she said it's a secret.  Well DUH!

But I've got one up from Mom.  She's a second generation LEO family (her Mom was a Deputy Sheriff)  and now I am as well.  For I've been sworn in as a peace officer in this little community of pet bloggers known as "Blogville" and  get to help keep things under control for this Friday's inauguration of joint mayor's Murphy and Stanley.'

I have my own badge and it's cooler than Mom's.

And I've got a holster for my poopy pellet gun

I can put all kind of things on there.  Extra Treats!  Squirrel repellent!  Did I say Extra Treats!

Want to read more about it? Go on over to:

• Murphy and Stanley

and

• Sarge

for links to the upcoming event with extra details provided by host Sarge.

I need to go study the plans for the event so I make sure I'm in the right spot at the right time- to keep the new Mayor's inauguration on schedule without any disruptions.  I'll see you all in a couple of days

Officer Abby the Lab

Meet Abby - A Lab Mixed with Love

Abby the Lab came from the wonderful folks at Love of Labs Indiana as a "mix" (I work in Indianapolis and during the work week- Abby and I are at my little place down there).  We got her in late Spring of this year, about three months after Barkley went to the Rainbow Bridge--the little Chicagoland Bungalow I share with my new husband just too quiet and our hearts just too empty. Barkley was purebred, the offspring of a colleagues wonderful dog--but this time, we wanted to add a rescue. She is not very large-- 82 pounds--10  of which was gained after we got her.  She also has the softest hair of any lab that's been a part of my family. Her hair is also a bit longer and in the sun, as you can see by the photos, there's a decided red undertone.

Her tail is also slightly bushier.

"Mom - you invited me on the couch with you-- are you sure I can stay?"

You can stay Abby - there's a reason when this old beat up "free" Broyhill sofa from Chaigslist was rebuilt and refinished and all new cushions made, we got black, easy to clean "lab colored"  fabric.

What do you think-- flat coated retriever mixed in there?

In any case - she's the best dog, doesn't chew, and is extremely gentle and loving even as she patrols the neighborhood like any good Canine security officer - keeping the grass free from dangerous rabbits and squirrel flash mobs. She also walks really well on a leash (yes, that's a U of I color leash my husband made out of paracord. )

There were a number of purebred labs at the rescue and much younger dogs--all fostered well and a good choice for our home But I wanted Abby with her fluffy fur and grey muzzle.

I don't know her background, other than she'd been left at a shelter--heartworm positive, but she had been someone's indoor pet.  She reacts very emotionally to children - wanting nothing more than to go to their side and snuggle, it was almost heartbreaking to watch the first time--she was missing her old home so badly.  She obeys basic commands, and she's good on a leash.She wouldn't get on the couch either - until I let her know it was OK.  When I threw a treat for her last night and instead of catching it in her mouth. it landed on the floor between my husbands feet as he did the dishes after I cooked supper,  she didn't grab it. She sat quietly until I told her she could get it.  I didn't teach her to do that.

She's a great dog all the way around.

Though we still get the "look" especially on pancake morning

"Sure-- "pancakes with syrup aren't good for dog" - you also told me squirrels weren't tennis balls thrown by God"

But she gets her treats - even if it isn't a plate of Mom's famous eggnog pancakes.

And she has lots and lots of toys, soft fluffy ones that squeak, being her favorite.

I'm sad to think that this wonderful dog was left at a shelter for months, heartworm positive.  I do not know her story - but I'm glad she's part of this home now and she's so excited to be part of the Blogville community-- ready to assume her duties (no Abby that's Duties NOT doodys!)

This blog was started to share more of Barkey's stories as so many friends asked for that.  But it's just as much Miss Abby's blog now--continuing that legacy of love he started 11 years ago. Thank you everyone for stopping in to say hello to her and thank you for the people who volunteer their time to rescue and foster.

Abby's Mom LB

Woof! Woof! Woof! Woof! Woof!

Barkley's book was on the Front Cover of Kirkus Review Magazine yesterday morning as one of their "Featured Books of the Day!"  

Mom is SO excited (please don't puddle on the floor like I sometimes do Mom).

Go Look!

https://www.kirkusreviews.com/

https://www.kirkusreviews.com/boo…/l-b-johnson/book-barkley/

Grommett and Gromits - a Message From Abby - Mom's Lab Assistant

The house computer was not working well any more, so rather than go out and buy one, Mom and Dad built one. When an engineer and scientist marry, as Mom and Did did did last year, every day is an experiment.  My furever home is only 1200 square feet on the main floor, but it has a 1200 square foot walk out basement where there is a metal and wood shop and some big cupboards where Mom can store her canned veggies and jams (Mom - do you know dogs LIKE jam?)  But upstairs is the office where Mom writes.  It's really old as well, with an old school teachers desk that's been around a long, long time.

Our house is a hundred years old and full of antiques.  When the computer started failing, Mom and Dad went to the noisy, clunky place in the basement .  They've had me come up and down the stairs,, to make sure I can do so quickly if there is something called a "tornado" but I'm not allowed down there when they are working as they say it isn't safe for doggies. Mom makes sure I get an extra treats and have my toys and checks on me often, but then they go down there and there's all KINDS of interesting noises.

Mom says the new computer was made out of a vintage "analytical balance".  I'm not sure what that is but it looked kind of cool.  Here's what it looked like to start with the first night.

Then the plans were drawn up.  Mom finished the notes with her evil scientist laugh--"bwahahahahaha!"  Mom has red hair and freckles--she can't really pull off the evil scientist thing but it makes Dad grin.

After cutting out the vents for cooling - stickers were added so only "qualified peeps" can service this machine.  I guess that wouldn't include me as I can't dial PE6-5000.

They made some stickers for servicing information and then added all the computer parts.

There's some knobs and switches that would be fun to work if I had opposable thumbs. The trim was made out of bits  and pieces of model railroad car kits.  Once it was up and running she added the little stuffed Gromit dog which she said is her favorite dog after Barkley and me and put it on her desk.

The Compte-inator is done and working! Mom's going to go on the internet now so I can see who Gromit is!

Happy New Year Indeed - The Kirkus Review is In!

I know I've talked way too much about the book lately, but this just came in. You're all heard of Kirkus Book Reviews. They're well respected in the literary world, and are known as notoriously tough critics. It's one thing to get great reviews from long standing readers and the wonderful armchair Amazon reviewers but it's quite daunting to put one's first book out there to such a group. The book got 5 stars from The San Francisco Book Review Magazine and great feedback from Reader's Favorite and the Midwest Book Review Magazine, but when I mentioned to a well known writer that my publisher had also submitted it to Kirkus I got this look like the doctor gives you with "oh, this is going to hurt a little bit". Anyway--Kirkus just reviewed TBOB and I got the review late last night from my publisher. Let's just say it was the best New Years I could ask for.

"Debut author Johnson enters the literary scene with a beautifully penned eulogy to the Labrador retriever who taught her to appreciate life in the moment while helping open her fractured heart to the joys of love.

By the time Johnson was ready to bring a puppy into her life, she had shouldered a lion’s share of emotional baggage: She lost her mother to cancer at an early age, was abandoned by the father of her unplanned baby (given up for adoption) and had freed herself from an unhappy marriage. Along the way, she became a jet pilot. She had hung up her wings and taken a well-paying job (as an unspecified federal agent) and was about to purchase a new house. “It was time for a black lab.”

Even before Barkley was old enough to leave the litter, he picked Johnson out to be his mother. As the other puppies ran around frolicking over new people and smells, Barkley sat quietly and studied her. Then he made his decision, coming over to check out her shoelaces, never leaving her side.

This memoir is the story of the 10 years Johnson and Barkley shared. But it is much more. Johnson’s writing borders on the lyrical, her prose meandering gently to and fro through a lifetime of recollections and musings, always coming back to rest in the safe harbor of the love, trust and protectiveness she and Barkley had for one another. She’s a fan of lengthy, free-flowing sentences, and some readers may occasionally wait a bit impatiently for her to put aside the philosophizing and return to Barkley. He was always there—the inspiration for her thoughts, the validation that life is worth living. And there are plenty of Barkley tales to satisfy. Right up front, readers will know they need a box of tissues: The book opens just after Barkley has died. So buck up for this tender work full of humor and charming misbehavior.

An unusually full-bodied love story that will wrap itself around the heart of anyone who has been fortunate enough to experience life with a dog".--Kirkus Reviews