I Will Write The Story

Rick and I headed to the grocery store this morning – before the storm and I had to stop at the Village Store, my favorite thrift store.  It’s been over 2 weeks since I’ve been there – just think of the treasures I’ve missed out on!  I came across this picture.


The picture is a very bad photo – extremely blurry – of a small terrier dog with a harness on sitting there looking up adorably at the camera.  It has been enlarged – thus the blurriness-and professionally framed by a frame shop in Decorah, IA called The Perfect Edge.  I paid $2.00 for it and I imagine the story goes something like this.  The little dog was a beloved pet of an older couple who are now also gone and their household goods were brought to the Village Store.  The little dog meant the world to the couple – was loved and cherished and this was the only photo they had of their beloved terrier.

I fell in love with this little dog and will honor his or her memory by hanging the photo in my home with my other dog photos.  I hope the owners will somehow know that someone else is cherishing the little dog’s  photo.  If there is anyone out there reading this who might recognize this dog, please use the comment section to tell me the circumstances of the photo.

Here is another dog picture I bought at a thrift store years ago – it was original artwork and I tracked down the artist.  Long story but very fun!


And here’s our precious Telly on the couch with her head on the pillow, watching TV with Rick —ha!

29 thoughts on “I Will Write The Story

  1. Kelley

    I think it is wonderful that you are honoring this little terrier. I love terriers and I am sure he/she was very much loved. I hope you find out the story of this picture.

  2. Barb Gambucci

    I love all your posts. I love animals and my heart always aches when I see a sign along the road that someone’s pet is lost. You are such a wonderful caretaker. Special joys to you this holiday season.

  3. Kathy

    You make my heart sing with gratitude that people like you give so much love to all the animals in this world. Such a happy story that you will see each time you look at the terrier picture. I agree it was a beloved pet to someone. Stay warm and safe and hope Santa brings you lots of pet food to feed all the strays and friends you keep safe in your barn too.

  4. Diana Weirich

    You are such a blessing to the animal world, Mary. Soft hearted people who love animals, even animals you don’t know, are such a rarity. God bless you

  5. Sue

    I have always been a dog lover. I love them and they usually love me back, even dogs I don’t know. Your story and photos show you are a dog lover too.

  6. Jean Elliott

    Ooohh, love your story….and I love that thrift store! It’s my first stop when I come to visit Elaine!

  7. Paula S.

    I love this picture of the terrier! It reminds me of my cairn terrier, Riley, and he is very much loved.

  8. Bobbie

    That is so sweet. I love dogs and take photos of mine. I love to look back and see there sweet faces. It’s like loosing your child as they look to you for there well being. That is a real sweet picture. Thank you for buying it. He or she is still loved.

  9. bernadette

    Nice, Mary. I love shopping at resale shops, too. Our home has never looked better than since I have added these unique touches. I have about 13 rabbit pictures, books, wooden carvings, metal, and ceramics. I found an Ethan Allen pottery lamp for $20 most recently that sold new for $350.

    I am making the split block quilt but have been slowed down a bit by bronchitis. Will send photo of finished product.

    I love Telly’s photo — our little poodle/terrier mix has her own pillow on our love seat!!!

    We are experiencing temps in the 60’s here in Tucson. Feeling guilty since many of my friends and family in colder regions are dealing with heavy snowfall.

  10. sandy

    what a sweet story…..I agree with so many of the above comments. People who love animals like you do, are very special……….have a wonderful holiday!

  11. Patty McDonald

    Love the pictures and Telly is adorable. I’m interested in hearing the story about the second picture. That dog has such a fun loving face. You are probably ‘animal prepared’ for the storm like we are ‘animal prepared’ for an earthquake. We make sure we have enough dog and chicken food for a couple of months…….just in case. Also, we are on a well and have a hand pump attached to the casing ‘just in case’. Patty Mc

  12. Jane b.

    I have photos of our dogs who have passed away. I sometimes wonder what will happen to them after we are dead. Someone will probably buy them for a quarter for the frame at the estate sale. Your Telly is well loved.

    1. CountryThreads Post author

      Jane B – maybe a dog lover like me will come along and see those dog pictures and just know they were someone’s beloved pets and do them the honor of hanging the photos in their home. That’s what I’m going to do!

  13. Cynthia

    Love this! I have a friend who loves her dog as much as I love mine, so I forward her your blog whenever you mention any of your animals. This one will be forwarded as well. I just lost my beloved Miniature Pinscher two weeks ago (he was two mos. shy of 16). I get his cremains on Monday, and have instructed my kids that when the time comes for me, I want all of my animals (cremains) to be placed in the casket with me.

    1. CountryThreads Post author

      Cynthia – our first dog, Carly who was a black lab mix, died of a heart attack in the front seat of Rick’s car and her ashes are waiting to go with Rick in his casket so I understand.

  14. Dot

    I once found, in a local thrift shop, a small sepia photo of a young man proudly holding a baby. It looked like it was from the 1920s. I couldn’t leave them there, and wondered why no one had saved the photo. So I took them home. I suppose someday my descendants will be trying to figure out how they fit into my family! Should I put a note with the photo, or leave it as a mystery?

  15. Kathy

    Your story of the dog picture motivates me to check out the local thrift shop for something that would create a mystery. I’d like to try my hand at writing a story of the family who owned it. Not knowing the back story of the photo makes it all the more important to try to discover its past. You’ve created a seed for a story that I must write! Your blog is very interesting and I enjoy your quilting projects as well as all the menagerie at your home. God bless you for caring so much for God’s creatures.

  16. Donna

    Loved the post. Please tell us the story of the artist and the dog. It’s got to be interesting. It’s lovely and you got quite a bargain! What you thought about the little terrier is probably true. It was loved very much. Our little fox terrier had to wear a harness, too. He was such a go-getter on his walks so it was the only way to control him.

  17. Miriam

    I love the story! I once had a little terrier mutt that looked so much like your photo… I always enjoy your posts… even the sad ones, as I can relate… dogs, cats, goats, chickens and cows down here.. we love them freely for the time they are with us and keep fond memories tucked in our hearts. Have a lovely Christmas!

  18. Fiona at Ice Bear Quilts

    Hi Mary,
    I loved this story too. The images of our pets can mean so much. Last time my Mother was visiting, she proudly showed me her new bank card: she could choose a photo to be the whole front surface of the card. She and my Father had each chosen a photo of our beloved dog from when I was a child. Flapjack (that was his name) died 25 years ago, but my folks still carry his image in their wallets every day.
    It made me smile.

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