Friday, October 31, 2014

DACHSHUNDS FOREVER




Here I am holding a copy of DACHSHUNDS FOREVER, Book 3 of THE DACHSHUND ESCAPADES.  It was a lot of hard work, but a labor of love, nevertheless.  The cover looks great "in person"! 

Available in both e-book and paperback, check it out on Amazon:

http://www.amazon.com/Dachshunds-Forever-Dachshund-Escapades-Volume/dp/1502739429/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1414772015&sr=8-1&keywords=dachshunds+forever

Thursday, October 30, 2014

EDITING/FORMATTING: A DACHSHUND'S TRIBUTE

I will not be posting very often for the next few weeks as I work on getting Book 4, A DACHSHUND'S TRIBUTE of THE DACHSHUND ESCAPADES edited/formatted.  Since this book is a tad short, I'm adding several chapters as well.

I have a confession:  Book 3, DACHSHUNDS FOREVER, was supposed to be the final book of the series, but things kept coming to mind, and I kept writing and writing.  It grew too long, so I divided it.  Now, Book 4, what is left over from Book 3, is coming up short!  Oh, it's long enough to sell, but I'd like it to be a little longer so it seems like a book rather than a booklet.

I do plan to get the Kindle version out before Christmas, but no promises on the paperback version, since there is a whole different set of formatting issues for the paperback version.  We'll see.

Until I return, here are a few cute doxie photos to tide you over:

Odd sleeping position!


Their mission is to "kill" all toys

"I'm just cute--nothing more needs to be said."

The sweet sleep of an innocent puppy

Monday, October 27, 2014

HAVE YOU EVER BEEN THIS HAPPY?




If you ask me, that's pretty happy!  I know that our doxie Duke would LOVE to be the same height as the dining table, end tables, kitchen counters, etc.!

Dachshunds . . . you gotta love 'em.

Thursday, October 23, 2014

DOXIE HALLOWEEN COSTUMES!

I enjoy seeing doxies, or dogs in general, dressed up for Halloween.  I just think they are so cute! 

Our family is going to our town's fall festival this Saturday, and they are having a regular costume contest (the grandkids are entering) and a dog costume contest!  If Duke would stand for it, we'd dress him up as something--but he's just not the "type."

Here are more of my favorite doxie costumes; which is yours?

Pirate

Banana split

Batdawg

Superdawg

Pilgrims

Dracula


Monday, October 20, 2014

TRY BEFORE YOU BUY: DACHSHUNDS FOREVER EXCERPT


Are you a "try before you buy" reader?

The first chapters of DACHSHUNDS FOREVER are featured in Amazon's "Look Inside the Book" for the Kindle version!

 
Here is the link if you'd like to read the excerpt:
http://www.amazon.com/Dachsh...unds-Forever-Dachshund-Escapades-Book-ebook  /dp/B00NU5VQOQ/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&sr=8-1&qid=1413813864#reader_B00NU5VQOQ

Be sure the "Look Inside" is for the Kindle version (the paperback version only features a few pages), then click on the book cover to activate the "Look Inside" feature. 
Happy reading!

Sunday, October 19, 2014

LOOKING FOR CHRISTMAS GIFTS FOR DOG LOVERS?


CALLING ALL DOG LOVERS - WANNA READ BOOKS "WRITTEN BY" A DACHSHUND?

Introducing THE DACHSHUND ESCAPADES series of inspirational fiction!

==Great Christmas gifts for dog lovers of all ages==

DACHSHUNDS FOREVER, Book 3, is now available in paperback and e-book versions! Book 1, I AM SARGE, and Book 2, I AM DACHSHUND, are also on Amazon. Don't have a Kindle? A free Kindle app works on tablets, smartphones, or computers--visit the Kindle Store on www.amazon.com to download one.

In THE DACHSHUND ESCAPADES series, the golden thread of God's unconditional love is woven throughout these stories! Click on the BOOKS link above for more information on all three books or visit my website:  www.mavisdukehinton.com.


 

Saturday, October 18, 2014

TEN THINGS YOU BETTER GET USED TO






But their sweetness and cuteness really make up for the list above!  And, we never have a #7 at our house with Duke.  Once he figured out why we took him outside so much, he's been perfect ever since.  Truly a blessing. 

And in spite of the word "occasional" being misspelled in #7, I've posted the list, anyway!  (Did you even notice?)


"I'm so cute that you'll overlook the list above"
Dachshunds . . . you gotta love 'em.

Friday, October 17, 2014

THE SIGNIFICANCE OF OCTOBER 17

As a college senior
Today happens to be the anniversary of the first time Clark and I met!  Yep--October 17, 1968 is an important date in history--in our family, anyway :).

I was a senior in college that year, and Clark was a cadet police dispatcher in the Raleigh Police Department (NC) at the time.  Some of my college girlfriends and I headed to Raleigh for the annual State Fair, and on the way we stopped by (now follow closely, because this is intricate) "my girlfriend's boyfriend's house."  Whew.  Couldn't think of a better way to explain it.  Perhaps "the home of my girlfriend's boyfriend"?  That doesn't sound much better, does it?  But I digress . . .

My girlfriend (Sheila) and her boyfriend (Frank--who lived just outside Raleigh, in Garner) were going to the State Fair together, and we girls were gonna tag along.  While at Frank's house, his sister Carol and his brother Joe were also there.  Well, Joe (unbeknown to the rest of us), called his buddy Clark, who lived a few blocks away, to come over to see all those college girls at his house!

Young married couple
Clark did indeed come over a few minutes later and we were all introduced.  If my memory is correct, we ended up not going to the State Fair because it was pouring rain, but we all stayed at the house and ate spaghetti and enjoyed goofing off.  Frank and Sheila went anyway, but came back drenched!  The next week Clark invited me out on a date.  The rest, as they say, is history!  We'll be celebrating our 44th wedding anniversary in December.

Through the years, we've had a wonderful life together, good times as well as heartaches, as everyone does.  We have two wonderful daughters, two fabulous sons-in-law, three perfect grandchildren, and a great extended family.  Above all, we both became Christians after we married, and I would not trade one instant of our lives for anything.  God has been faithful, so good to us, and has blessed us far beyond anything we deserve.

Holly
Bethany
                                                                                                   
Clark is a keeper, for certain.  He is one in a million, and I am so thankful to share my life with him.  We've lived through his one-year deployment to Vietnam during our engagement (we married when he returned), two miscarriages, as well as all the ups and downs of life, such as when he was in college nine years after  high school when the Lord called him to become a teacher.  That is funny, because Clark always hated school as a student!  He retired nearly two years ago from teaching, and is now subbing as much as he wants in our county schools.  Our oldest daughter Holly was born when Clark was in college--I had a miserable pregnancy and had to quit work, so he had a lot of pressure on him at that time.  Then, when she was born, she had terrible colic for three months, so neither of us got much sleep.  Life is always interesting, and its problems always work themselves out.  But prayer and trust in the Lord are the keys.

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY of our first meeting to my best friend, my fabulous husband, the world's best father and grandfather.  May we have many more decades together.


Selfie, Oct. 2014

Thursday, October 16, 2014

THIS "NAILS" IT!

For those of you who like to get fancy in your manicures, here's something for doxie lovers:


If I were inclined to decorate my nails, I would enjoy having doxies on them.  I do so many things during a day, however, I know my doxies would get damaged in some way.  So, in the interest of their welfare, I'll just pass.

But you go ahead and do it!  They're cute!

Dachshunds . . . you gotta love 'em.

Wednesday, October 15, 2014

IT'S DOXIE COSTUME TIME--FOR HALLOWEEN

Dragon Dawg
 It's time to dress up our pets for Halloween.  Which of these doxie
costumes is your favorite?  Feel free to leave a comment below.
We all remember "I Dream of Jeanie"

Lady Gaga

Minnie Mouse

Persian princess

Sunday, October 12, 2014

DO YOU LIVE IN GERMANY OR FRANCE?


  


To all my readers in Germany and France, I have now completed my author page on Amazon.com in those countries.  I had already done the author page for the UK recently.

Since I lived in both of those countries as a child, I feel a special kinship with the Germans and the French.  And, I happen to know that they love dachshunds just as much (or perhaps more) than we do here in the U.S.

The paperback version of DACHSHUNDS FOREVER is nearing its publication date; I am merely awaiting the final proof.  And, the Kindle version will be released on Oct. 17, but pre-orders are taken now.



                                  
 










Friday, October 10, 2014

DO YOU "KNOW" YOUR DOXIE?



I would make 100% if this had been a test on doxie behavior and appearance.  You probably would too, if you own and/or love dachshunds.

Duke, exhibit #1, can hear me open a cheese rapper from the other end of the house, for heaven's sake. 

He has a myriad of facial expressions, and I love 'em all.

He definitely knows how to tunnel under his blankie, my recliner throw, and of course, the bedsheets when he manages to get into anyone's bed!
"Don't wake me . . . this is heavenly."

Dachshunds . . . you gotta love 'em!


Wednesday, October 8, 2014

WHAT'S IN A NAME?



Seriously, I am sure that many dachshunds believe their names are other than those given to them by their owners.  Duke is pretty good about obeying, except . . . sometimes.  For the most part, however, he's a good and obedient dawg.

He will occasionally get into the small trash receptacles around the house--at least those he can reach.  We are careful not to throw food wrappers into those, but only into the large, covered one in the kitchen. 

Duke does not chew up anything important, either.  I know of doxies who do that, and it would make me angry if Duke chewed up a prized scarf, the corner of a blanket, or a piece of clothing!  He does tend to lick and chew his own blanket, but we make him stop.

He doesn't dig up the yard, either.  So, I suppose he knows his name is actually "Duke" rather than "NO NO" or "BAD DOG," because he comes when we call his name.

Dachshunds . . . you gotta love 'em.

Tuesday, October 7, 2014

WITH HALLOWEEN APPROACHING . . .



You'll be seeing more doxies dressed up for Halloween this month--I happen to think they are adorable in any kind of costume.  The "face" just gets me every time!  Look at the doxie in the photo:  he has a way of letting us know he isn't happy about his "getup," but is tolerating it.

Dachshunds . . . you gotta love 'em.

Thursday, October 2, 2014

NEXT TO FOOD, DACHSHUNDS LOVE THEIR TOYS


 


Duke especially loves squeak toys, and usually "kills" such toys in five minutes flat.  Fortunately, he has never chewed up anything
important . . . yet.

However, our granddawg Shadow has had a special hard vinyl squeak toy for many months, but he hasn't been able to chew it up yet--so Clark bought one for Duke.  He is overjoyed, and is very possessive of this particular toy.

Oh, he's tried his best to "unsqueak" it, to no avail (at least, not yet, anyway).  We'll see if it holds up.

Dachshunds . . . you gotta love 'em!