Maria came back home to me today, and I was happy to see her. So were the animals, they had a sweet reunion, the world seems right again for me. I spent much of the weekend writing, taking some photos, walking with Red, reading, listening to Annie Lennox, Leonard Cohen, Kanye West. I went to bed early, got up early, hung out in the pasture cleaning, raking, hanging with donkeys. I got most of my meals at the Round House, where I could see my friend Scott, the Round House is filling up in the Spring, it is catching on, I think.

Also, rooting around for dogs and then, my sister helped me out.

News on the dog front, we are looking at a puppy – Pawsafe.org – recommended to me by my sister Jane, who loves Newfoundlands, breeds them, and adopts them. We are not thinking of a Newfoundland, not right for us, but she does know where to look for dogs that need homes.

I know the shelters have few adoptable dogs these says, especially in the Northeast.  Pawsafe adopts out many from the South and has some appealing choices. We are still hoping for an English Golden Retriever, but that might take awhile, the mom is not yet in heat – a false start.

In the meantime, we are needing another dog around here, Maria needs some good company in her studio and her many walks in the woods. We are talking to Diane at Pawsafe, I’ll keep you posted. This group is very experienced and they are well recommended. They seem to really know what they are doing, that is important to me.

People are always telling me and everybody else how to get a dog, but I will always do it my way, the way that is best for us and the dog. Sometimes that is a rescue, sometimes a good breeder. For the sake of the dog, we try to be thoughtful about it. I bristle when people say there is one way to get a dog, that seems selfish to me, and arrogant, there are many good ways.

One of the leading causes of death for dogs in America is return-to-shelters when people get the wrong dog in the wrong way, or because they think it is cute or that they must rescue something. I am committed to doing everything I can when I get a dog to making sure it does not go back. That is working for me. We are excited to be looking at possible dogs, thinking about them, talking about them. I have a very good feeling about Pawsafe and grateful to my sister for steering me to them. And it feels quite wonderful to adopt a dog that needs a home.

My sister and I have sometimes been separated from one another, sometimes very close. We have never walked away from each other, even through some very hard times, we never will. I love training dogs, if we can get her, and Diane decides it is the right match, she would be eight or nine weeks old. I’ll keep you posted.  More steps to follow, it is not settled yet. Like good breeders, rescue groups or shelters, Diane will want to make sure it is a good match. So will we.