Dear Abby - Books and Treats (a/k/a Fun Stuff!)

Happy Friday, friends!  I hope you've had a great week.  It has been rainy here, so Momma has been carrying me in and out to do business.  I have her trained!  Plus, I sometimes choose not to walk in rain.  I go out on the back porch and then stop.

My friends Buttercup, Mojo, Bruiser, and Reina asked - We are wondering what your favorite book and treat are?

That is a fun question!  My favorite book is Part-Time Dog by Jane Thayer (also known as Catherine Woolley).  This was Momma's favorite picture book as a little girl.  It is about a little longhair Dachshund named Brownie who is looking for a home, and it is a sweet story about dog rescue.  I like the pictures!  Momma has a small shelf of Dachshund books and sometimes I have to pull one down to enjoy for a while.

As to treats - I like lots of them!  Some of my favorites are Bark Bars, Fruitables, Old Mother Hubbard, and Zuke's.  We shop for treats that are all natural and made in the USA.   Bark Bars are my favorite.  They are crunchy, peanut butter flavored, and shaped like cats and mail men.  (Please note that I like cats, and mean no offense.  Sorry, kitties!)

I also like fresh fruit and veggies.  I get 2 tsp. of "No Salt" green beans on my food every morning and night.  Eating green beans with my food is supposed to keep me full, and help me keep my girlish figure.  The important thing is this:  I love green beans!  I also like carrots, apples, bananas, oranges, blueberries, and watermelon.  I just discovered watermelon, and it is one of my favorites.  When Momma eats any of these foods, she shares with me.  I like that.

Just a reminder, though, that not all fruits and veggies are good for dogs.  Some, like grapes, raisins, tomatoes, and avocados are actually dangerous for fur-friends - more info here.

I would love to hear from you and learn about books and treats YOUR dogs enjoy!  I hope you'll send a note in the Comments, below.

As always, questions for future Dear Abby posts are also appreciated.

Love and a Happy Weekend to all,

xoxo  Abby

 

Throwback Thursday: 100 Little Dolls for $1.00

100 Little Dolls for $1.00 was my first lesson about truth in advertising.  These ads appeared in the back of comic books.  They promised:

Baby Dolls
Nurse Dolls
Dancing Dolls
Costume Dolls
Ballerina Dolls
Mexican Dolls
Indian Dolls
Clown Dolls
Cowboy Dolls
Bride Dolls
Groom Dolls

Of course I wanted these dolls!  I pictured opening a box that contained dolls that looked like Barbie and Ken, or better yet, my beloved Liddle Kiddles.

What the box actually contained looked more like this:

They were teeny, tiny plastic figures that looked more like little cake decorations.  Sigh.  A lesson learned!

Do you remember the ads for 100 dolls in comic books?  Did you ever order anything else advertised in the comic book ads?  I'd love to hear from you in the comments section, below.
 

Wordless Wednesday - He Stopped Rowing (Vintage Postcard)

Found at Birdhouse Books - vintage row boat postcard

Did You Know Tuesday: Ziegfeld Girls and Pogo Sticks

Here's a fun retro trivia tidbit for you.  Remember pogo sticks?  They were a fun and popular toy in the 1950's - 1970's, and they are still around.

Here's a peek at a 1969 Sears catalog page featuring pogo sticks.

This toy was invented in 1919.  It was promoted by the Ziegfeld girls in their stage show in 1920.  They performed a theatrical wedding ceremony on pogo sticks.  I tried and tried to find pictures of this, but could not!  But it is amazing to picture.

The Ziegfeld girls were theatrical glamour girls. They starred in Ziegfeld Follies, directed by Florenz Ziegfeld, on Broadway.  These shows were a mix of variety show, musical review, and vaudeville. Here is a photo of some Ziegfeld girls from this vintage:

So there you have it ... a little bit of pogo stick history!

I had a pogo stick as a child.  It was fun, and I could keep going for a few minutes.  Did you enjoy pogo sticks?  Were you good at using them?  I'd love to hear from you in the comments!

Music Monday - "God Only Knows" by the Beach Boys (1966)

I have always loved the Beach Boys.   They are second only to the Beatles in my list of musical favorites.  I change my mind from time to time about my favorite of their songs, but I keep coming back to "God Only Knows."  This is such a beautiful song, written by Brian Wilson and Tony Asher, and featured on the album Pet Sounds.  The lyrics and harmonies are beautiful.  The song begins:

"I may not always love you
But long as there are stars above you
You never need to doubt it
I'll make you so sure about it

God only knows what I'd be without you"

I also  love the instrumentation, which includes French horns, violins, cellos, and even accordions.

This song was featured in the Brian Wilson biopic Love & Mercy.  I saw the movie this weekend, and if you love retro music and the Beach Boys, it is a must see!  I think it may be my all-time favorite musical biopic (and this is a genre I love).  It is beautifully written, with strong performances from Paul Dano, John Cusack, and Elizabeth Banks.  The way that love brings Brian Wilson back to his life, and ultimately saves him after a breakdown, is both moving and uplifting.  I've included the trailer from the movie for you:

Do you love the Beach Boys? Have you seen Love & Mercy? I'd love to hear from you in the comments, below.