Bailey
About the dog jumping in the header - that’s Bailey. Bailey is both a real dog, and a fictional dog. In the book, my character, Daisy, has just adopted him and is finding her hands pretty full. But we’ll get to that - oh, trust me, we will get to that - so let’s talk about the real Bailey for a bit. I fostered him for a short while before finding him a home with my good friend, Lynne. I don’t have a dog now - one of my daughters is allergic, we’re hoping she grows out of it soon - but the experience of living with Bailey is so fresh in my mind that I live in pure joy whenever I get to write him - especially now that I’ve placed him with poor Daisy, who’s just trying to keep things under control, which is impossible with a Jack Russell Terrier. Trust me on that.
Bailey lives in Alaska. Here is the picture from which Bailey has been culled for the icon and the header image for the site. There’s something about the way Bailey jumps - and he does this, a lot, not just when there’s moose to explore - that makes me happy inside. I’m not sure why. Well, partially, it’s because he’s cute. Partially, it’s because it’s funny. But mostly I think it’s because, even when it seems like he has no hope of getting what he’s jumping for, he jumps anyway, just for the pure love of it. This is why it’s important to have a Bailey in your life. This is what I hope to get across to Daisy through the course of the book.
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ok, Bailey is adorable, but my attention is on the moose. i’m from LA and i live part-time in Santa Cruz. i get deer (in Santa Cruz; in LA i get smog), not moose.
another reason to leave the lower 48.
OH, the moose are very cool, and I highly recommend visiting Alaska. I’m going up for a week in July to hang with the in-laws (who I totally adore) and I can’t wait. It’s been three years since we moved from Anchorage, and I do miss it a lot. But yeah, if you want to see moose, AK is the place to go. They were in our yard all the time. Very docile (unless it’s a cow with her baby nearby, then watch out) and just amazing to watch from your front window while drinking your coffee.
Oh dear. Boy is my face red because I thought that was a cow in the banner. And I was wondering why ya’ll were going on about the dogs and not mentioning the cow walking on its hind legs.
Look on the bright side, if I was willing to accept a cow in the story, talking dogs and godesses will be a cake walk.
Apologies to Bailey.
It is probably just me, but I could not tell that the pic of Bailey in the header was a dog. At first glance, even with the hint of the dachsund and setter also in the header, I thought I was looking at a penguin creature with a duck beak. Maybe if you made it a little larger? Or, probably wiser, chalk this off to an bizarre insight into my brain, and nothing which requires tweaking.
Oh, poop. You know, it’s not just you. One of Fish’s friends at work thought it was a cow, and I said, “Oh, well, those guys. Whatever.” But you know, I’m so in love with that picture and it makes me so happy that I’m going to leave it for now. Expect changing headers as we go! But yes, it’s Bailey and yes, he’s a dog. I was hoping the “dogs” in “dogs and goddesses” would make it clear, but I guess that’s not the case. Oh, well. I still love my leaping Bailey.
I am sure you could find another JRT leaping pic on Flickr, either with a CC Attribution Only license, or writing the photographer for permission to use the photo in exchance for attribution and a copy of the book (and don’t tell me it might not come out when I am already half in love.)
Another thought — you could put a small link under the header that says “What’s with the cow on two legs?” and link to this post so folks can solve the mystery.
Now I will shut up on this. Promise.
Or it could just be the greatest in-joke EVER.
I’m easy. And I love Bailey.
I’m going with greatest in-joke ever. I have to use that pic - it’s my Bailey!! So, if people think it’s a cow, I’m just going to have to accept it. Although I do like the “What’s with the cow?” idea, though. Hmmm… lots to think about.
Terry Pratchett would appreciate the joke.
“Where’s my cow? Is that my cow? No, that it Bailey!”
Can’t type anything right today
Well, that is a Jack Russell for you–no fear, leaps into life with joyful abandonment–scrappy little dogs! As for the blog–gee, guys, I spend too much time on the internet NOW–and you have to go and give me a new place to play! But dogs and goddesses? Gotta be here!
You know there’s something about a cow hanging from the letter O that really goes well with this site anyway.
Very Dali.
I thought it was a penguin.
The cow I see, but the penguin? On Casual Fridays, maybe.
I was thinking cow too. But then I thought, well, maybe one of the goddesses is Hindi and maybe there is going to be a tie-in to chik-fil-a. You just never know.
I must say, this is really cruel of you all to create another fun place to play on the internet. My productivity is already at an all time low. I have no willpower.
Love the idea of this book, though. Love it.
OK, I got it. The Chick Fil A cow –in drag.
it’s a cow!
it’s a penguin!
no, it’s Bailey!
You know, not to be picky, but the letters up there say “Dogs and Goddesses,” not “Dogs and Goddesses and a Cow.”
Because that’s the sequel.
Nonono. “Dogs and Goddesses and The Sacred Cow.”
Sheesh. Have you no imagination?
“Dogs and Goddesses and the Hybrid Cow.”
LOL! This picture makes the header a whole lot clearer — I think a link would be nice.
Soooo, who are the other dogs? I suppose that’s another post for another day.
We put a blog that has six posts on it and that’s not enough?
The other dogs will be appearing shortly.
I thought Wolfie and Miranda the Irish Setter were already on the header. Bailey (the borrowed dog) who looks like a penguin/cow nailed to a fence is the only “dog” in question.
Micki asked who the other dogs were. That’s Matilda and Wolfie, and they’ll get their own posts. Although it is not easy competing with Bailey and the moose.
Great picture. Love the idea of talking dogs. I swear mine talks to me all the time. Can’t think of three better people to write this book.
Sorry, I thought it was a penguin too. And I rememeber thinking this morning, as I was on the site trying to look quickly as I pretended I was getting ready to take the kids to school, what the? Whats the stroy behind the penguin? And thats when I planned to go back and have a close look. Of course now I’ve seen jumping Bailey, well of course it’s a jumping dog - doh!
But I did giggle over the cow comment too.
Well, I see they helped with any potential misunderstandings by adding “no cows” to the header. LOL! This is great, love the site. It’s official, I will now never get any work done. (not that I got much done before…)
Not Matilda, Jenny. I went with Miranda. And now I’m having a brainstorm. More to come.
Obviously my grasp on this book is a strong one. Right, Miranda. (I swear, it was Matilda first. Then she changed it. These collaborators.)
Okay, maybe it’s just my mind in the gutter. I got that Bailey was a dog, but I thought he was writing his name in the sand, not jumping.
A few years ago, I took my dog MacIntosh to a birthday party for a horse. It was at our favorite dog trainer’s house, and the horse was being trained for assistance work. It was Mac’s first close encounter with a horse, but his real fascination that day was two fellow party guests, a pair of Jack Russells. He focused on them as only a Border Collie can. They were everywhere, causing all kinds of chaos, including grazing the length of the buffet table when the humans weren’t looking. And when they were, to be truthful. Absolutely brazen little beasts. Mac’s been hoping to find a couple under the Christmas tree ever since.
I was owned by a Jack Russell for 15-1/2 years. I laughed every day at her antics and tore my hair out every day because of the mischief she created and the trouble she got into. She could also jump like Bailey. I loved her very much.
This book looks like so much fun!!
(-: I am a voracious reader and a voracious fan. It’s important to set boundaries with people like me.
But I’m also very patient — I look forward to Miranda’s and Wolfie’s posts (will they be done from the dog POV? Don’t answer that — I like surprises), but I’m also really looking forward to this book. I hope the buzz gets you guys a contract — maybe not right this minute, but at the perfect moment!
Forgot to say, LOVED the moose. We lived in AK late 50’s through early 60’s. I remember having air raid drills instead of fire drills, walking to school in the dark, and having to detour if you found a moose in your path. And eating home-smoked hooligan. We used to net them in Cook Inlet. I think they’re some kind of smelt.
bookgirl: LMAO.
Ooo, Ooo, I love Bailey, too. He’s at my house right now, visiting with his owner Lynne. You can see pictures of him right here. Definately not a jumping cow. Good luck with your book. I love your website.
Theresa in Fairbanks