Growing up, we had a husky mix as the family pet. My dad Pete rescued her from a drunk old farmer, who was shooting at the mama and her young pups. Babe ran across a field and onto the dirt road. He almost ran her over. She was shaking, scared. He brought her home that day.

We had just moved into a new house. After waiting all summer for it to be finished. New town, new school. Junior high. Nothing but dirt in the back yard, and beyond that a field and ditch. I learned to drive a stick shift on the road you can see in the distance. But that was several years later.

Pete found a dog house that had been tossed out. He fixed it up to look like our house. Little by little we got grass, then the fence. Soon she had her own dog run. She was a happy dog, and she loved us as much as we loved her.

That was the inspiration for my Spoonflower Design Challenge entry. Barkitecture. I had a request for a pink version. I thought red might be popular as well. Voting is open now, until November 1st. There are 627 entries.

My Dad Joke wall hanging placed at 147 out of 292, with 48 votes. That puts it at just over the 50% mark. 50.3. Woo Whoo! I’m so grateful, really. To everyone that takes the time to vote. Thank you. Many of you really liked this one. It even received an awesome comment from a designer I really admire. I was stoked. Thank you, Tina! I am going to turn this into a repeating pattern.

The poor dog, in life the firmest friend.
The first to welcome, foremost to defend.
Lord Byron, poet of Epitaph to a Dog

If a man aspires towards a righteous life,
his first act of abstinence is from injury to animals.
Albert Einstein

I have found that when you are deeply troubled,
there are things you get from the
silent devoted companionship of a dog
that you can get from no other source.
Doris Day