Pages & Paws

Writing, Reading, and Rural Life With a Border Collie

Category Archives: Seasonal & Special


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How to Survive a ‘Beach Read’ With Your Furry Bestie

The Beach!

Ah, summer! Sun. Sand. The beach! Mom’s fave iced tea. Big ‘ole fluffy towel. Dark glasses. Floppy hat. That Russian novel she’s been threatening to finish since shortly after the discovery of fire. And snacks. Don’t forget snacks! And, really. How was I supposed to know a mini cooler is for cooling, not burying in the sand after running it all over the beach at Mach 4?

Next stop: China!

Well. That was yesterday’s beach adventure. Live and learn, eh? There was also: 

The Tail of the Towel. Aka: a giant, plush bullseye perfectly calibrated to absorb water right before I launch a full-body shake and douse Mom with enough salt water to sink the Bismarck. Oh, and that soggy, salty belly-flop onto chapter 3? It was an accident. Promise.

The “Quicksand” Illusion. How come the beach doesn’t come with more grass? Why am I always sinking? And what’s up with all this sand?

The Great Chapter Bury. Okay, okay. So maybe I did get a little carried away with that beach excavation thing. Like, digging half-way to China. And chucking sand all over Tolstoy. But, hey. The guy needed a face lift anyway. Think of all the money I saved him!

Go!

The Bait and Switch. Mom said, “Wanna play fetch?” Well. What kinda question is that?! Soon as she tossed the stick, I was all in! Sprinting full-speed down the coastline to:

  • Outrun every shorebird in sight.
  • Roll in every piece of seaweed I could find.
  • Say “hello” to everyone in the same zip code.
  • Protect Mom from one very sketchy-looking plastic bag.

The Salty Sea Gulp. Kids, don’t try this at home! Yeech!

Oh yeah!

Well. We had fun. Mostly. One of us even learned a few things. So here, at no extra charge, are some tips for surviving a “beach read” with your canine. (Accessories not included. Batteries sold separately.)

  • Pack a Canine Command Center: Bring an Explorer Dog Travel Bag to organize all the toys, fresh water, and portable bowls to keep them distracted from your book.
  • Bring Shade: A pop-up sun shelter makes a good chill zone where your pup can stay cool, keeping the sand-kicking radius at a safe distance. Add a cooling mat.
  • Accept Defeat: Honestly, the best way to handle reading at the beach with Fido is to just accept that your book will end up as a glorified chew toy. Bring a waterproof e-reader, or just give up and enjoy watching your furry bestie live their absolute best life in the surf. And leave that Russian novel at home. Kimber: Works for me! Can we go again tomorrow? Can we? Can we? Huh? Huh?
Till next time!


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Kimber’s Ultimate Pup-riotic Book List for the 4th!

Happy Dog-pendence Day!

Kimber the Magnificent here. Being all brilliant and beautiful. (It’s a tough job. But someone’s gotta do it.)

Who’s ready for a swim?

While Mom is grilling outside, I’m inside chillin’ on my new dog cooling mat. It’s this cool blue thingy. It’s magic. I lay down on it and stop panting. It keeps me cool and comfy all day. Even in July.

Mom also closes the windows today. Leaves the fan on. Music, too. It helps mask the big booms outside. I don’t freak out over the big booms. But let’s just say they’re not my favorite. Waiting for Mom to drop something from the grill is!

Anyway, if you misplaced your cooling mat or want to celebrate this Pawesome America 250 thing with some Kimber-approved books, I gotcha covered.

Just grab your favorite chew toy and check out this cozy Independence Day reading list. Perfectly curated from Yours Truly ♥️.

🇺🇸 Kimber’s Ultimate Pup-riotic Book List 🇺🇸

1. My Fourth of July

The Vibe: Wholesome, nostalgic, and totally chew-free!

Why I picked it: Written by Jerry Spinelli, this book follows a little human getting ready for the ultimate picnic, listening to bands, and enjoying the day. It’s exactly how I like my holidays—lots of deviled eggs and zero loud bangs.

2. I Am Sammy, Trusted Guide

The Vibe: An inspiring hero’s journey (starring a Golden Retriever, obviously).

Why I picked it: See the world directly through the eyes of Sammy, a very good boy with a very important city job. It reminds everyone what loyal, hard-working heroes dogs are, which is a great reason to give me an extra treat.

3. Liberty (The Puppy Place #32)

The Vibe: Action, adventure, and a happy ending.

Why I picked it: In this one, Liberty gets spooked by fireworks on the beach and goes on a grand adventure before finding her family. It’s a great reminder to double-check your tags and microchip before the festivities begin!

4. Newfie to the Rescue! A Lifeguard Dog Story

The Vibe: Bravery and water-front heroism.

Why I picked it: While other humans are completely distracted by the bright sky, a big brave Newfoundland dog saves the day at the beach. We dogs are always looking out for the pack!

5. Your Dog’s Guide to a Safe and Happy Fourth of July

The Vibe: Relatable, snarky, and very demanding.

Why I picked it: For a laugh, give this one a read! It’s our official manifesto on why hot dogs belong on the patio and how a good belly rub is basically the real meaning of Independence Day.

You gonna eat that?

Happy Independence Day, friends!

And Happy Birthday America!


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10 Totally Pawsome Tips for No-Guilt Summer Reading

Happy First Day of Summer!

Kimber the Magnificent here. Jumping into summer and summer reading. Cuz summer is the lazy, daisy season. (Kimber: Not sure what that means. Methinks Mom just made that up. I prefer to think of summer as The Season of Endless Barbecues...)

“You’re gonna eat that?”

Wait. Where were we?

Oh yeah. Summer and summer reading. We talked about conquering your summer reading list the other day. One of us thought we oughtta clarify that the last thing Mom and I want on our summer plate is a reading list that feels like homework. So if your “summer reading” includes Russian literature that’s as dense as a pea soup fog or has books with plots so thick you could pave roads with ’em, you’re doing it wrong.

Not to fret, Cookie. We’re here to help.

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How to Conquer Your Summer Reading List

So there I was. Minding my own beeswax. Snoozing in the sun. With visions of Porterhouse steaks dancing in my head… What?

Well. Then She Who Must Be Obeyed asks me about summer reading plans. What do I look like, an oracle?

“C’mon, Kimmi. Time’s a-wastin’. We gotta get goin’ on our plan to conquer our summer reading list.”

Wait. We have a plan? Really? 

Cuz, hey. Mom and I? We’re pros at summer reading. Cramming our book bag with enough library books to choke a camel. Adding to our TBR pile till it resembles the leaning Tower of Pizza. (Mom: “That’s Pisa, Kimmi.” Kimber: “You eat what you want and I’ll eat what I want, okay?”

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10 Fictional Places We’d Love to Visit This Summer

TSA lines moving at glacial speed? Travel package rivaling the national debt? Accommodations that make the Bates Motel look like an upgrade?

Let’s go!

Summer vacay is just around the corner. So pack your bags and set sail on the U.S.S. Mom and Kimster for some favorite fictional summer vacay locations. We’re talkin good food, good scenery, and good times. Based on books. (Accessories not included. Batteries sold separately.)

ALL ABOARD!

  • Willy Wonka’s Chocolate Factory (Charlie and the Chocolate Factory – Roald Dahl). What could be more fun than all the free chocolate Mom could possibly chow down? ‘Sides. It’ll be a brand new year by the time she comes down from that sugar high.
  • The Emerald City (The Wonderful Wizard of Oz – L. Frank Baum). The sentries! The horse-drawn carriages! The green glasses! A yellow-brick road and a hot air balloon! Oh yeah!
  • Cair Paravel (The Chronicles of Narnia – C.S. Lewis). Seeking magical, scenic, and epic adventure with talking animals and a Really Big Lion? All you have to do is walk through a wardrobe.
  • Neverland (Peter Pan – J.M. Barrie). Mom: Okay, Kimmi. Where’d ya stash my pixie dust?
  • Number 17 Cherry Tree Lane (Mary Poppins – P.L. Travers). What IS inside that carpet bag, anyway?
  • Rivendell (Lord of the Rings – J.R.R. Tolkien): The ultimate “Calgon, take me away” retreat. Plush accommodations. Breathtaking natural beauty. Excellent elven wine and endless plates of food. Miles of hiking with a sweet furry face we all know and love. And no one will ask to see Mom’s passport.
  • The Shire (The Lord of the Rings again- J.R.R. Tolkien): If we’re not busy rescuing hunanity and saving the world, we’ll park here for a while. Chow down on six meals a day (but who’s counting?). Snooze and cruise while waiting for Gandalf to show up with the latest fireworks extravaganza.
  • Camelot (The Once and Future King – T.H. White). A king. A queen. A knight. A round table. And Morgan le Fey. What could possibly go wrong?
  • The Hundred Acre Wood (Winnie-the-Pooh – A A. Milne). Terminal cuteness with the world’s most loveable bear ‘of very little brain’ and his sweet forest friends. Who wouldn’t want to join Pooh for a friendly pot of honey?
  • Chew and Swallow (Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs – Judi Barrett). A town where food falls out of the sky. All day. Every day. Kimber: Sign me up!

Where are you heading this summer? Let us know which fictional paradise you’re hoping to wake up in!



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7 Captivating Children’s Books for the Ultimate Summer Break

So Mom is skipping merrily around the house. Opening every window in sight. Crowing about sunshine and summer.

Who loves ya, baby?

So embarrassing.

But that got one of us thinking. What are some great children’s books set during the sunshine season? The kind that’ll keep kiddos engaged, turning pages and avoiding endless choruses of “I’m boooorred”? Cuz summer is prime reading time! And not just for us dinosaurs (Don’t tell Mom I said that, okay?).

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Kimber’s Guide to June Reading

Brilliant AND Beautiful!

Happy June 1!

No idea what that means, spake I, Kimber the Magnificent. But Mom is crowing about “Hoo-ray for June!” So “June” must be a good thing, right? Especially if “June” comes in Filet Mignon, medium-well, wrapped in bacon and all juicy and yummy and…

Wait. Where was I?

Oh yeah. June. And reading.

Well. Today you’re in for a treat, Cupcake. Cuz today I’m gonna give you a rundown on how this June reading thing works in my house. Like this:

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Let’s Lose “Happy” Memorial Day

Yo!

Kimber the Magnificent here. Giving you a little heads up. Cuz The ‘Ole Curmudgeon is being an old curmudgeon today. Again. Still. It has to do with this holiday thingy today. I’ll let TOC fill ya in:

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Celebrate Easter With This Unputdownable Historical Fiction!

Okay folkses. Kimber here. Dancing a canine jig.

Yabba dabba do!

“Why are you dancing a canine jig,” you ask?

Glad you asked. The answer is cuz I’M SO EXCITED!!

Mom: Kimber, that’s not new. You’re always excited. Just likd you love everyone. (Except maybe the neighborhood powder puff. But let’s not get picky here, okay?)

Kimber: I know. But Im soooo happy and super excited! Cuz its a favorite time of year! As in, Spring! New life! Warmer weather! Trees budding! Mud drying! Burgers on the barbie… What?

Oh yeah. Spring. And Easter! Oh yes. Oh Yes. OH YES! Like this:

They thought it was over. Friday felt like a final defeat. But Sunday morning was just getting started.

Cuz Easter isn’t just a story. It’s the Most Momentous Event in Human History. The Ultimate Triumph. The Everlasting Hope. Easter changes everything.

And one of our favorite books celebrating Easter is pretty new. In fact, it was released just last year by indie author Caleb Backholm. It’s called Two Weeks Till Sunday.

You know it’s Pawsome cuz we say so. It also garnered a very rare 5.0.

This one’s a keeper!

So, why is Two Weeks Till Sunday a Pawsome read for Resurrection Sunday – or anytime? Find out at: Why ‘Two Weeks Till Sunday’ is Better Than Beef Bourgonion.

You’re welcome.

He Is Risen!


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Shamrocks, Shenanigans, and a Side of Murder: Jessica Fletcher’s Irish Whodunit

Murder, She Wrote: Death on the Emerald Isle

By Jessica Fletcher & Terrie Farley Moran (Thorndike Press, 2023)

Genre: Fiction – Murder Mystery

Via: library

Pages (Print) 382

Kimber here. Telling you we weren’t going to do a “St. Patrick’s Day post.” Were not. Were not. WERE NOT!! But then…

This here “murder mystery” thingy sorta jumped off the shelf at The Book Place and landed in Mom’s book bag. Funny how that happens sometimes. But a cozy mystery by Jessica “J.B.” Fletcher set in Ireland? Well. Who can resist that? Especially on St. Patrick’s Day.  So here we are.

Anyway, here are the basics:

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