Red is the Mansion therapy dog and Summer was a stray found, spayed (thanks Army Of Good) and given all of her shots. Summer spends her days roaming the grounds of the Mansion, her nights in various rooms with different residents – she choose  a different one every night.

She is much loved there and much fussed over. Red and Summer spotted one another, Summer always took off and hid. This week, she has been checking Red out and getting closer. She is no longer hiding from Red, she has sized him up accurately. He was sitting on the Mansion porch and she came over and the two of them communed.

Red has this odd way of dealing with new animals. He sits with them, he rarely, if ever looks at them. I think in a way this calms other animals down because when dogs look at other dogs, it’s often a challenge. Red just pretends they don’t exist, yet he is also signalling them that it’s okay.

I image them comparing notes – who loves animals, who doesn’t, who needs a visit, who doesn’t, and sharing gossip about the place. It was nice to see these two sweet animals connect.

This coming week, a big week at the Mansion. Monday is the beginning of Assisted Care Week, and we have commissioned 22 pizzas from the Round House Cafe for a pizza party starting at 11:20 a.m., staff and residents all invited, we ordered pizza for 45. Wednesday morning, a memorial service for Bruce, and the residents have asked for me and Red.

Thanks for all the decorations and gifts you have sent to honor this week.

Thursday, 16 of us (I’m going) are taking a two-hour lunch and boat ride around Lake George. Thanks also for that.  I got four extra tickets for another day for some of the staffers who couldn’t make it this trip because they had to work.

Writer and poet Jackie Thorne and I are conducting a two-part poetry workshop in September and October. I’ve purchased one lift reclining chair for Jane, and  am raising funds for a second for Art. Connie is recovering well, today she was carefully going through a large back log of letters waiting for her when she returned from the hospital.

Thanks to all of you good people for making all these good things come true for the residents of the Mansion. You have helped to transform live there, there was always plenty of love and good care but they sure love the attention.

I forget to mention that the Mansion book of short stories, “Tales Of The Mansion,” is in its third printing, it costs $10 and you buy it through Battenkill Books.  They take Paypal and major credit cards and ship anywhere.

I’m signing all of them.