Monday, October 04, 2010

Let's Celebrate Dogs!

October 4, the feast of St Francis of Assisi, is the ideal day to celebrate animals. Last Sunday in LA and around the world, many churches organized pet blessings and I found this poster, spotted in hip Silverlake, absolutely irresistible.
Of course, some pets don't wait for this special occasion to step into a shrine. I remember with delight the arguments that Colette recreates in one of her masterpieces, La Maison de Claudine, as her very own mother, who adored animals, and the local priest quarrel about whether or not her faithful dog should be allowed to attend mass with her. As the mother has trained the pet to get up and sit down together with the congregation, she cannot see what the grumpy priest could possibly object to. Like most of Colette's writings, it is exquisitely written and amusing while still conveying a fearless sense of love.

Above: a baby dachshund I met in Santa Monica, an animal rescue USPS stamp, a Japanese book from the magical Kinokuniya Bookstore in Little Tokyo (crochet dachshunds? kawaii!)
But how can we celebrate dogs without Benjy, ask you. You have a point. Rejoice, as Benjy will soon be back on AUREA in his Oracle capacity, to answer a question from a fan... Woof!

20 comments:

simon said...

dogs! love 'em... We have 2 a tenterfield terrier and a fox terrier.

Jim (the tenterfield) kills snakes, but the stupid boy got bitten and cost me $2000.00 US to save! ( long story) :o)

(ps word verification- dog erpe!!

Julie@beingRUBY said...

HI Mary-Laure
That dachshund is a cutie... but don't tell Benjy I said so...

I'm glad to be back in the land of blogging... had no internet this past week... have a good one.. xxx Julie

Giulia said...

GG & I are celebrating here today. (Of course, we are celebrating all animals, too:) We are sending best wishes to Benjy in Paris. xo

Denise | Chez Danisse said...

Those pups on the Japanese book cover are so sweet.

Mary-Laure said...

SIMON - that sounds like a really crazy story! I'd love to see pics of your dogs on your blog.

JULIE - no Internet for a week? My poor dear... I would have gone crazy.

GIULIA - oh, my carissima gattina! I hope I did not hurt your feelings when I wrote "Let's celebrate DOGS"! You know you are always meowing in my furry little heart, my precious kitty.
Ah, the guilt, the guilt!!!!

Giulia said...

Ah no, no. Pls no guilt, Mary-Laure. Giulia lurves dogs. Both of us do. I'm running a day behind (oof) but linked to the National Cathedral's blessing from Sunday (though I couldn't go). We finally have a new Cathedral Cat. (Catherine of Tarragon retired to the country.) See, I tell people, we can be whimsical here. :)

Looking forward to Benjy as Oracle.He is such an enlightened soul.

ciao-meow to all

Annie said...

Lovely, doggie post. Who does not love dogs?! Can't wait for Benjy to return!

simon said...

will blog about Jim- I think I did a post on him killing the poor snake some time back... He has now worked out how to climb the hedge (4 ft tall) and escape the back yard (grumble)

Robin said...

Lovely post....one of the many things I adore about you is your love of animals! We have the blessing of the animals here in SF too. (But then we would - after all, our city is named after Saint Francis!) I missed it this year as I was in MA visiting frinds....but, was in the company of three doggie houseguests...all adorable. Tess, the Golden Retriever, burst through my bedroom door every morning and "stole" my socks!

My Ex also drove up from NY - and brought our dog....Bofie... it was pretty emotional - I'd not seen either of them in 18 months...

Ah, I, like so many others await the return of "The Oracle"....he is greatly missed....

Sending you a big hug!

♥ Robin ♥

Mary-Laure said...

GIULIA - I just got a cat post idea... stay tuned...

ROBIN - I am sure Bofie went just crazy with bliss when he saw you; dogs never forget the ones who love them.
And Tess sounds fun. I adore golden retrievers.

Laura in Paris said...

Oh, I love the little Santa Monica Dacshund!!!!

Brian Miller said...

aw...these are great pics...we have a cat now but the boys are pushing for a dog...and i always wanted a hound as i did as a boy myself...

Mary-Laure said...

BRIAN - I have to admit I'm supporting your children... Having any pet is a very educational experience (you have to be responsible, respectful etc.) but a dog is such a good friend, too.
My sister has a cat and a dog and they get along great - they even nap together!

P R I M O E Z A said...

what a great event. i learn a lot from my animals- i often completely underestimate their intelligence.

Keith said...

I do love dogs. Puppies are so adorable. My cousin has a dog that I adore. Her name is Reba.

Sally Annie Magundy said...

Hi Mary-Laure,
You very sweetly left a comment on my blog, thank you so much for visiting!
I feel right at home here ... I think it's quite possible I prefer doggies to people. I've always wanted to go to the Blessing of the Animals on Olvera Street but my dogs have always been as ditsy as me, so I haven't done it. Guess I need the Dog Whisperer.
Loved reading about Collette, grabbed up some of the doggie stamps too (need to order some more!), love Kinokuniya. I will look forward to visiting again.
Happy almost weekend,
Sally

Hila said...

this is truly one of the nicest posts I have read today Mary-Laure :)

Mary-Laure said...

KEITH - I hope to see pics of Reba on your blog.

SALLY - it's wonderful, I feel like you're some kind of kindred spirit!

BonnyBadger said...

YAY dogs are my absolutely favourite thing

Brittany said...

yay for dogs!! they really are the best creatures in the world.