TALES FROM THE BAYOU: Man’s Best Friend

 

TROPHY

The way I love cats as an adult, you would think I was around them all my life.

You would be wrong.

Growing up in the swamps of Louisiana, I guess it just made more sense to have dogs around….to alert us to strangers coming around the house as well as helping to fight off any strange animals that might come out of the bayous surrounding my little hometown.

 

JACKIE

 

The first dog I can remember was a beagle named Jackie. I don’t remember much about her other than I know she was a part of the family. I was around 2-3 years old, but I can still remember playing with her. She was my first companion because my siblings were much older than myself and it would be a couple more years before I was old enough to run around with them.

 

CHI CHI

 

Next came Chi Chi. She was a full blooded chihuahua and there are only two things I remember about her. One, she had a sharp, yippy-yappy kind of bark and used it when she didn’t want me to play with her. Two, she loved eating acorns she would find in our front yard. I never met another dog who ate acorns like Chi Chi did

 

PENNY

 

At the same time I had Chi Chi, we had a mixed chihuahua-mutt named Penny. Oh, how I loved that dog.  For most of her life, my mother kept her tied up outside. It broke my heart to see her captive like that, but there was nothing I could do to change things. Penny would patiently let me dress her up or try to teach her tricks, but you know what they say about old dogs…

Animals have always been a large part of my childhood. I was always bringing in some stray critters home or my sister would have a few strange ones of her own. They brought comfort, companionship, warm snuggles, and could soak tears from a heavy heart quicker than a sponge. At one time I even thought I would grow up to be an animal doctor, but instead, now I just write about critters…

 

***************

 

Donna's Books

 

Looking for a way to spend that Christmas cash? Gift cards burning a hole in your pocket? Books always make a great gift! There’s everything from inspirational essay journals to picture books…young adult fantasy novels to historical fiction chapter books. Something for everyone on sale now through Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Books A Million, and other retailers. HISTORY’S MYSTERIES: Ship of Dreams can also be found at the Titanic Museums in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee and Branson, Missouri.

 

************

 

donna - Copy

 

Best selling, award-winning author, Donna L Martin, has been writing since she was eight years old. She is a 4th Degree Black Belt in TaeKwonDo by day and a ‘ninja’ writer of children’s picture books, chapter books, young adult novels and inspirational essays by night. Donna is a BOOK NOOK REVIEWS host providing the latest book reviews on all genres of children’s books, and the host of WRITERLY WISDOM, a resource series for writers. Donna is a member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers & Illustrators and Children’s Book Insider. She is a lover of dark chocolate, going to the beach and adding to her growing book collection. Donna’s latest chapter book series is called HISTORY’S MYSTERIES. Book One, Ship of Dreams, is available in eBook and print form from Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Books A Million, and other online retailers. Also, coming to the Titanic Museums in Branson, Missouri, and Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. Book Two, A Chocolate Train Wreck, was released in November.