JAN. 18, 2026
My heart and my brain are filled with concern and anguish about the events occurring in neighboring Minnesota and other points in the country, so we are going to be more relaxed this week.
My husband and I are both very fond and spoil our 4-year-old dog, Bella. She is a Maremma, which means she looks very much like a white Pyrenees, but her ancestors long ago came from Italy. She was bred to help the goat and sheep herders protect their flocks and herds.
Our granddaughter helped name her Bella, which means beautiful in Italian. We purchased her from a neighbor living about 5 miles from our home. She is loyal but fiercely independent.
Titling this the Dog Days of Winter is a misnomer. The dog days of summer is correct, as it comes from the ancient Greeks and Romans who associated the hot days of summer with the rising of the star Sirius, but our family meaning became when the world goes crazy mad, and dogs froth at the mouth.
The other idiom that comes immediately to mind when we think about dogs is “Let sleeping dogs lie.” The timeless saying means it is better not to stir up trouble or revisit a situation that is currently peaceful.
This far into writing the document was starting to be fun, seeking other adages. “A barking dog never bites,” suggesting that those who make a lot of noise are harmless. And finally,
“Every dog has its bone,” suggesting that everyone will get what they deserve.
My grandpa used to say, “It’s raining cats and dogs.” I often wondered where that originated and Chat GPT came to the rescue with a theory. In the 1600’s, streets would sometimes flood and wash dead animals through the town. People joked it looked like cats and dogs were falling from the sky!
“Every dog has its day,” translates that everyone will have a moment of success or recognition. I just had my birthday; I am older and can use the expression of being “dog tired,” or extremely tired. I have never been the top dog, but I have been in the doghouse!!
Will end with, “BE THE PERSON YOUR DOG THINKS YOU ARE”!
Find a dog to pet this week.
~View from my window is shared by Mary Weaver of rural Rippey
