church

We Desperately Need Donations (But Not From You)

Over the summer, I tried to keep busy by crocheting blankets to donate to the church when they collect baby gifts in the fall. Unfortunately crocheting and knitting really mess with my Bell’s Palsy, but I pushed through finishing as many blankets as I could to welcome new life.

On Saturday I took my donations to the church to place in the collection cradle. As I set them down, a lady walked over to me and suggested that I might want to put my name and number with the blankets because she didn’t know if they would be accepted, you know, because of covid. Try as I might, I couldn’t figure out how a malt in a yarn covered sweater had anything to do with baby blankets. I looked down at the very, very few donations in the cradle and wondered if the family dropping off the bag of diapers got a similar warning. Somehow I doubt it.

As I picked my blankets up to take with me, the lady tried to herd me back to the cradle, saying that I could put them back in. (Mind you, everyone at this church is scared witless by covid yet the woman stood mere inches from me.) I told her no thank you: I knew of other groups that would welcome my gift and walked out.

Within hours, a different church gladly accepted my donation. They are experiencing a lock down baby boom and need lots of gifts to help welcome new members. Thank heavens the Protestants ’round here aren’t too scared to live.

Cairn terrier stalking prey

I told you you should have spent that time doting on me and not messing with that stupid yarn!

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Handmade afghan with roses and bows.

This time of year, the nights become chilly. Make sure you or someone you care about is wrapped in both beauty and love with this hand stitched Rose Afghan.

For more details, click here. Rose Afghan is available from my shop.

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Halloween Memories

Two children trapped in the back of a station wagon on their way to church on Halloween night.

This was my Halloween memory, year after year. I felt cheated that I didn’t get to go Trick or Treating with the other kids. After this year, a lot of young people are going to be having similar memories of not getting to get dressed up or pester neighbors for candy. It will be interesting to read blog posts years from now after children have developed some perspective on current events. Will they have happy memories of an evening with their families, or will they go all out making sure their own kids and pets have a spectacular, spooky celebrations?

I obviously went the second route.

(This evil bitey monster was Geordie. He was willing to model pretty much anything for me. Not sot he Tobester…)

Whether reliving your own Halloween memories or spending an evening at the opera, this black cape with red satin lining is sure to make a dramatic statement. Sized to fit size S-M. Add a dash of the unconventional to your wardrobe today!

Available from my shop.

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Don’t Read This (Paving My Road to Hell)

Jesus rejects supplicants because they are not wearing masks.

Ew!  get away!  You’re not wearing masks!

I told you not to read this.

Church is not for me. My mom loves it, though, and I love my mom, so I sit beside her to keep her company.  In this state, the rule is that if you are outside and more than 6′ away from another person, you don’t have to wear a mask.  Due to logistical issues, churches hold services outside instead of in their buildings.  Parishioners scatter themselves across the grounds and the parking lot.

Some people have decided that even outdoors and 6’+ away from other humans, they still feel at risk.  Rather than moving even further away from their neighbors, they decided to write to the priest who initiated a campaign of mask shaming.  I guess around here we have that super virus that is self-propelled.

This past week, the sermon was about being quiet and listening to hear God.  Of course the “bad guys” in the contemporary examples were young children wearing ear buds.  Somehow the priest failed to notice that there wasn’t a single moment of silence in that service for prayer or meditation.  It was filled entirely with organ music and singing.

Young cairn terrier looking over his shoulder.

I’m a terrier.  I am never quiet!

Before everyone left, the priest told listeners that they should be grateful to the volunteers who gave their time to sanitize, sanitize, sanitize the church.*  Then we were told to go forth in confidence and conquer our fears.  From the dirty looks I got when I laughed out loud, I presumed that wasn’t intended to be funny.

Thanks to the many hours I spend each day in the kitchen, I have plenty of quiet time to try to get in touch with a Higher Power.  Instead of amazing revelations, I find such idle questions as, “What happens to the left-overs after pressing olives for olive oil?” in my head.  (If you are curious,  they are dried in the sun and them compressed into briquettes to be used as heating fuel.)

I may not know God’s plans for me, but I know a teeny bit more about olives.

Actually, we puppies are born perfect. We don't need religion to find God like humans do.

*Not sure why all the sanitizing since the people are on the outside.

Oil painting of Westie puppy.

Oil painting of Westie puppy.

If you would like a pet portrait, order now before I am sent directly to hell!  Details about sizes and pricing – as well as other examples of my work – can be found at my website L Bowman Studios.

 

 

 

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The Blessing of the Pets

 

Look at me! I'm getting blessed!

Look at me!  I’m meeting the Pope (as far as I know)!

Here's my butt!

Here is my good side.  Go ahead ladies, sniff away.

Several pets at the Blessing of the Pets

Who are these other dogs trying to steal my thunder?

A few weeks ago my folks took Toby to the church for the Blessing of the Pets.  So far it hasn’t worked; he’s still Toby.

Priest with baskets of donations for local shelter.

At the ceremony, they took a collection to help a local domestic abuse shelter.  It is one of the few in the country that allows victims to bring their pets with them.  My family made a large donation of food and supplies (that aren’t shown here) in Geordie’s name.  (Geordie is still with us, but he couldn’t make it to the ceremony.)

Handmade baby gifts for a collection at church.

In addition to the pet donation, I made a blanket/hat/bootie set to donate to help young moms with new families.  (I’m not sure why I keep making baby gifts.  I mean, the babies never write, and they hardly ever remember my birthday.)

Cruel trick dribble baby bottle

Perhaps this is why.  Look at this cruel “dribble” baby bottle!  Who would do such a thing?  Babies dribble enough as it is.  They don’t need to be pranked.

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Cover of the book Dream Our World

If you haven’t yet, you can still pick up copies of Dream Our World.   Dream Our World follows the boys as they visit the museum of their dreams.  They view art from a canine perspective and enjoy a day of unsupervised fun!

Dream Our World is available from Amazon.

 

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Lenten Diocesan Appeal

Today I am using Bitey’s blog to vent my own frustrations.  (The views here are the author’s alone.  Bitey Dog does not necessarily agree with the opinions expressed in this rant.)

The local parish decided to start their Lenten appeal by bringing in a speaker to address three reasons why everyone should give more money.  With the first reason, I could find no fault.  They discussed building repairs and maintenance.  Every building needs maintenance.  In the past several years I have seen no extravagant building expenses: no problem there.

The second point they addressed was the neighboring county where 75% of parishes closed due to parishoners “not giving enough money”, therefore we need to give more money.  What?!?  (I need a needle-on-record screeching sound.)  I am sure you are familiar with the diocese next to ours.  It has made the news many times in the past two years for sex abuse scandals.  The reason those churches closed was that parishoners’ money was used to pay lawsuits and legal fees for church leaders doing horrible, illegal things.  Don’t put the blame for closings on members for not giving enough money.

Lastly members are supposed to pay for an expensive private school in the area.  Reportedly attendance has declined by 50% over the last 30 years, yet costs are something like 4X what they used to be per student.  I know that there is a tech element that was not present 30 years ago, but surely school administrators can find a way to adjust education costs to keep them more reasonable rather than expect others to pay the bill.  Home schooling is very, very popular in this area.  It is done on a shoe string budget, but the kids come out with superior educations.  Why not learn from their example?

Cairn terrier sitting with marigolds.

I realize that this isn’t my problem and that I shouldn’t care.  I am not a member of the parish.  Whatever they choose to do with their funds and resources is their own business.  The boys and I support the church because we like to visit the outside.

So, little church, we trust that you will be well in other’s hands.  The boys and I will still pray for you.

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Things We Take for Granted

Cairn terrier sitting with marigolds.

Toby visiting the new statue and enjoying the marigolds.

At mass this weekend, the topic of parish closings came up.  It seems that with all of the scandal in the Catholic church, attendance is dangerously low (as is financial support), and there is a very real chance that we could lose our church.  For some reason I had never considered this as a possibility.

Our church isn’t one of the oldest, but it has been around for 50 years.  A lot of work has been done with building maintenance, improvements to the grounds and even adding a statue of the patron saint.  Not only is it a big part of the community, but it is where dog people in the area meet to talk and exercise their pups.  My boys grew up there and are known by everyone.

Since I have MCS, being in buildings with a lot of people wearing perfume and having cigarette smoke on their clothes is more than I can bear, so I haven’t attended mass in a good while.  I still participate in as many other aspects of the community as I can, however.

I didn’t realize until today just how much I would miss it if our church weren’t here.  I know a lot of other people are going through the same thing.  October is the month when then count attendance in order to determine which churches are closed and which kept open.  I am hoping to struggle through as many services as I can to do my part to keep this one open.  I hope that most churches are able to weather this storm and continue to provide good things for their communities for years to come.

Good luck with yours!

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Need to distract yourself from being sad over things that are not in your control?  Consider reading Poopiter! It is a fun little distraction with plenty of stories about these naughty pups.

Bitey Dog and Toby in POOPITER

 

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Theology of the Body with Father Man-Bun

Recently my Mom wanted to attend some lectures held by the parish, but she didn’t want to go alone.  I agreed to go with her to keep her company.

One particularly…odd?  bizarre?  frustrating?…lecture series was on The Theology of the Body – a collection of talks given by the late Pope John Paul II.  I could probably fill a month’s worth of posts about all of the “Huh?” moments I had, but this particular item stood out to several people who were there.

In the talks, Fr. Man-Bun told everyone that animals have no inner lives. That they don’t think.  That they can’t understand symbols or representations.  I couldn’t help but think, “Has this man never met an animal before?”  Shortly before this talk, I happened to read an article about what has been termed “Dog Sudoku” which resembles video games for dogs.  (Click here to read more about Dog Sudoku.)  Pups love these things!

I’ve watched my boys lost in thought or studying photos.  I’ve seen pups rat on a sibling who gets in trouble.  I’ve seen dogs move chairs around in order to climb up on to reach something the want.  I’ve even known dogs who loved to hide and then jump out and scare whoever was walking past.  In these I see planning and thinking and even tool use.

And what about crows?!?  Have you ever seen a documentary about how intelligent they are?  Researchers have identified a vocabulary of nearly 300 words in crow.  The birds can plan 5 steps ahead in solving a problem.  They can pass information to at least two generations of offspring.  Just because someone hasn’t thought to look for inner lives in other species doesn’t mean they don’t have them.

Sorry, Father Man-Bun.  I simply cannot agree.

Yes? Can we help you?

Seriously, is there any doubt about what these two are thinking?

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A Tired Mommy Is a Good Mommy is available from Amazon.  (Order now before anyone messes with Amazon’s convenience!)

Cover 8 (800x778)

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