What I woke up to in the night!

[Cassandra]

His name is Paddy, he's a boisterous 2 year old Irish Wolf Hound, who belongs to my relatives from Texas whom I'd never met before Wednesday. They flew up in their Cessna 340 all the way from South Lake, stopping overnight in St Louis, about 1,000 miles in all. Paddy took up two of the six seats.

He'd decided to swap beds, selecting mine around 3am, Albert departed to his basket and the little one burrowed right down beside me. Doris selected the window seat. They all snored and not in unison and I was killing myself with laughter at the cacophony. Les my cousin apologised and bought in a cup of coffee and we had an enjoyable hour swapping Dog stories in the middle of the night. She departed back to her bed and 'Paddy' decided he was staying with me though!. He's a great big daft, lumpy loveable fellow! When Tillie first saw him, she nearly passed out and he looked dreadfully sad and slunk off to the library. Feeling bad about it my wonderful housekeeper and friend cooked him some liver. He's become one of us completely now, a wonderful chap who really likes my bed and goes up to sleep in it about 9pm where I have to later 're-arrange' his huge paws so I can get in too!

He's the first of his kind I've known and as I love all Dogs, I can't resist him - and he knows it.

We flew across the lake to Milwaukee for lunch yesterday, gorgeous day for such a trip about an hour, but much quicker back with a tail wind and we took my next door neighbours with us. My cousin Ron flew the legendary 'Groundhog' Fairchild Republic A10 in the 122nd Fighter wing and is a wonderful pilot of course. They have a 'small' ranch (a mere 600 acres!).

We left all the dogs behind with Bobo and Tillie though, who once they saw 'Spam Fritters' they never looked our way again!

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[Michael Rolls]

MARVELLOUS tale - and Paddy is gorgeous!
Mike

[Jacqueline]

Oh what a lovely dog, such a face! with looks like that you can get away with anything!

What a perfect life you are living Cass, away from all the cares of the world, it sounds like paradise. 

Your story of the beds reminds me of many years ago when my son had Glandular Fever and was very ill.  He had the basement flat in our house of the time, I slept in his room for a couple of nights as he was so poorly, he had his bed in the corner and a sofa.  Our big lurcher Flynn was quite young and used to sleep on said sofa, I settled down to sleep on it, only to be joined by Flynn who nudged and nudged me until I was the one who slept on the floor, he wasn't going to give up his bed for me.

[Raven]

I love Irish Wolfies, my friend Jean has had several over the years. Every one a wonderful big clumsy lump. Loyal, loving and total pillocks.

[Michael Rolls]

every time I look at that picture of Paddy I just can't help bursting out laughing - what an expression!

[GrannyMac]

He looks very wise! 

[Scrumpy]

Paddy can share my bed anytime he wishes.. I would just love to wake up to see his face looking at mine.. I don't care that he snores.. 

[Dayjo]

What a lovely story!
 Made me smile. Made my day.
Thank you Sir!

[1955vintage]

My basset has made friends with a wolfie on the beach where we walk. Dopey lump who is too laid back to care. Lovely dog.

[klondike]

What a face. 

Great to hear that you are still really enjoying your retirement and making more furry friends as well as meeting up with your relatives over there. 

[Cassandra]

Last night I took a bath and was amazed as the big daft brush just stepped over the foot of the tub to have a paddle and lick my feet! The look on his face had me crying out with laughter, so after a serious sideways look he decided to start howling - wow, what a huge sound as the more he howled, the more I laughed. Very soon my 3 little uns. led by Albert arrived as the chorus. My relatives were soon the other side of the en-suite's door in startled enquiry. When they heard my chortled description they joined in too. Isn't it strange that with all our accoutrements to modern life, how still the simplest things provoke the highest enjoyment. I don't know when they plan to leave and care less. I'm so enjoying their company, the Southern accent is wonderful and to see 'Holly' at 8 lbs getting a huge lick from Paddy, is a real joy to behold. Mine have accepted this gigantic visitor without a second thought. Currently his head is resting on the arm of my desk chair here as I type, he seems to shadow me everywhere (could be the mini treats I carry though)!

Yes, happy days!

[Alex]

Paddy ! what a wonderful face he has, I think I'm in love.....
It's good to hear you're enjoying life so much in your adopted country Cass, long may it continue  .

[Cassandra]

Paddy ! what a wonderful face he has, I think I'm in love.....
It's good to hear you're enjoying life so much in your adopted country Cass, long may it continue  .

Do you know Alex I'm really going to miss him. He favours standing looking at me when I'm in the recliner and we're watching TV or just chatting. Quite what he finds so consuming none of us can quite fathom, perhaps my accent, which is so completely different from the Mid Texan area he raises from? I was listening to 'Mario Lanza' singing the Donkey Serenade last night. Paddy broke looking at me to regard the system speaker with intent sideways gaze. Suddenly he threw back his head and joined Mario in a long held note, with a deep howl  - and boy can they howl. My relatives are off to Europe for a month in September and he's already booked in to stay with us. 'Boris' our barn owl tenant seems to think we've all gone mad allowing a horse into his kitchen by the way!

[Raven]

I think a certain someone will be on the lookout for a puppy Wolfhound to buy after his guests leave. 

[Michael Rolls]

hilarious!