THE BOOK OF BARKLEY: September 2023

Friday, September 29, 2023

Great Gifts - Real Irish

When Christmas here before you know it I've started my gift shopping early. In looking for a wallet for my husband I found a wonderful store in Ann Arbor Michigan that sells clothing, jewelry, and gifts from Ireland (as well as some lovely finds from Scotland and Wales). I found the wallet, but in doing so ALSO found some Harris Tweed items. I'd been wanting one of the purses for the longest time but didn't want to wait weeks to get one from overseas.

Real Irish

The bag arrived just days after I ordered it online - and I was so pleased with it, after using it I bought a second one! They're top quality, with a detachable shoulder strap if you prefer and several regular pockets and zippered pockets inside for your essentials.

The best part was the customer service. The hand woven Harris Tweed fabric I selected on one bag was out of stock and Stuart the owner of Real Irish called me directly to see if there was another I'd like substituted. Not too many online stores go to that extra effort (though he got one in a couple days later so I got my first choice).

The order also included some wonderful samples of Irish Fragrance. The unisex fragrance Inis has always been a favorite since my last trip on business to Dublin.

For quick and online shopping for gifts - the experience could not be beat (now back to the sweater selection. . . . :-)

Their travel website has all our tour information for tours.
https://www.realirishtravel.com

Their next tour is a 12 day southern Ireland tour, May 16-29, 2024.

Tuesday, September 26, 2023

Sheepish

The photo above is from a trip for a speaking engagement in Dublin that resulted in a weekend side trip to Northern Ireland to play tourist for two days on my own dime before flying back stateside. After a LONG time between villages and way too much coffee there in middle of nowhere nature called so I found a very isolated spot (which was pretty much a description of my whole "direct to Portrush" route) and got out of the vehicle to well, you know . . .

I suddenly had an audience. A minute later, as I got my pants up, a farmer appeared off in the distance, chuckling merrily, with feed for the sheep. Apparently, I showed up right when they were normally fed, and he was gracious when he spotted the rental car and redhead sprinting for the tall grass and gave me some privacy while I finished up.

Watcha doing?

Cheers!

Thursday, September 21, 2023

On Memories

Barkley lies on my dresser so I can say goodbye to him when I leave the house. I put his all-time favorite toy on top of the box. Mr. Squeaky was an infuriatingly loud toy but Barkley carried it everywhere. His doggie day camp had a purple one and they had a cam in the yard so we could see the dogs at play on their website and he ALWAYS had that toy so I found him one after searching about 87 different pet stores in Indiana.

So when I found this photo of him, I just had to place it here so he can keep an eye on Mr. Squeaky.

FIVE STARS

No one who has ever had a dog as a companion will be able to read The Book of Barkley: Love and Life through the Eyes of a Labrador Retriever by L. B. Johnson with dry eyes.

Johnson tells the story of her life, from childhood to adulthood, from the perspective of her relationship with Barkley, a Lab that she got when he was just a stubborn ball of fur who ‘selected’ her when she viewed the litter of which he was a part. Her descriptions of adjusting to Barkley’s presence in her life, and how this helped her come to terms with and understand her past and learn to take life a day at a time on her own terms will resonate profoundly with anyone who has fallen in love with a dog and had to learn to live with its loss.

This is a story of unconditional love and acceptance, the kind that asks nothing but love in return. As Johnson and Barkley forge bonds of trust and understanding, she also strengthens her human relationships.

This is much more than a mere memoir – it is a story of life and how to live it, and how we humans can learn to live our lives better if we’d only learn to live it like a dog does. The author uses language well, with descriptions of animals, people, and places so vivid you feel that you can feel the textures, smell the odors (pleasant and otherwise) and hear the whining of a puppy needing to go out to do its business. Life can be sad or happy, and the author takes us through it all – a trip that you won’t regret taking. A five-star book that definitely merits the Awesome Indies Seal of Excellence

About Barkley and His Mom

My Mom started this blog due to requests from friends who wanted a place to go for stories of her furry friend Barkley that weren't in the book and stories of my rescue and new life in my furever home. She donates all of the proceeds from her writing to animal rescue and groups that train search and rescue and service dogs but that's OK, as she still gives me lots of dog treats and toys.

The Book of Barkley is Mom's first memoir. She used to be a jet pilot for somebody's Uncle but now has a Ph.D. in something involving science and forensics which is like TV but without expensive suits or cleavage. Additional mayhem is provided by my Dad and our 100-year-old "fixer upper" Mission Bungalow.

Her second memoir "Saving Grace - A Story of Adoption" was published in April of 2015". Her Third Book - "Small Town Roads", her first Fiction Novel was published October of 2016 and was an NPR selected "2017 must read" and 2017 Readers Favorite International Book Award GOLD for "Fiction - Religious Theme". Her 4th book, "Calexit, The Anthology", a Novella with other authors, was published in October of 2017 and was on the Amazon Best Seller's list two days later. Her fifth book "True Course - Lessons from Life Aloft" was a #1 best seller at Amazon 24 hours after publishing so I think she has been bribing you all with treats.

Abby - Mom's Lab Assistant