Unlike Red and Fate, Gus has no great meet to go outside. It’s 11:15 and two degrees below zero. His new favorite spot is on Lenore’s couch, sandwiched between camera bags and light umbrellas, and right under a wallboard showing the great clown Lou Jacobs.

I  have a space heater on the floor near him (and me) and two wood stoves going full tilt. Maria is very chilly in her studio, but gamely plugging away.

Dog have always been a part of my writing life, I’ve almost never written a word without a dog nearby. Red is at my feet, Gus is just behind, in the spot Lenore loved so much More later.