"It was imprudent of us, in the first place, to become authors. We could have become something regular, but we managed not to.
We were lucky, but we were also determined." Roy Blount Jr

"I don’t change the facts to enhance the drama. I think of it the other way round, the drama has got to fit the facts,
and it’s your job as a writer to find the shape in real life."
Hilary Mantel

Friday, August 24, 2007

Return to Dog Mountain

Our previous trip to Dog Mountain occurred a few weeks before I began this blog. On the edge of St. Johnsbury, Vermont, artist Stephen Huneck has his gallery and gift shop (recently expanded) and the Dog Chapel.

As soon as we arrived, we noticed the large addition to the gallery. As with most other buildings in the complex, there was a gilded labrador weathervane.



Inside the gallery, we found some dog-on-dog action.



How much do you suppose they pay that black lab to do that? Her name is Sally. In Huneck world, black labs are iconic, and always called Sally!

One happy customer. Her name was Mica.



It's more a shop for people who love dogs than for dogs, although there are doggie items available.

Among the many whimsical carvings was this rottweiler "trophy":



As a member of our legislature's Fish & Game Committee, I was particularly enamoured of this table and chair set.



I went to the washroom...just to play with the water faucet. When you tweak the lab's tail, the water comes out of his mouth!



Exiting the gallery/shop, we came upon this scene. How many dogs can you see in this photo?



And how much money does the real dog earn for sitting there, posed so perfectly?

Of course we visited the Dog Chapel, with its welcoming sign.



Atop the steeple, a gilded labrador angel.



Inside the chapel, tributes to dogs loved and lost.



On our last visit, only the vestibule walls were covered with cards, photos, and letters. Now they paper almost the entire interior.

I reflected on our happy years with Daisy and Killian, and especially Shadow, whom we've lost since our last visit there. And I thought about the joys we've known with Lola, Ruth, and Jewel.

On my way to the car, I pause to shoot the faux marble columns with dog busts.



If you're in the area, I definitely recommend a visit. It's a special place. Even if you're not a dog owner or dog lover, the setting is spectacularly picturesque.

There are additional photos (some similar) posted on my website. If you want to explore a bit more, go here.


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