The trees of Pretty Hill and the only blue sky still around at sunset. (Notice the approaching gray clouds to the right.)

Here we are—moments before Robyn (Robyn’s Curbside Clippers) drops by to sweep Cocoa away into her heated van where she will work magic on her hair. I’m still lamenting about the curls that will go away.

Okay, I admit I’m into blue skies right now. This photo was taken one evening last Spring while I was in London. I think it was around 8 pm, and yes, we were at the London Eye. Cocoa didn’t get to go to England, but she did have quite an adventure of her own. She stayed with Sandy (her trainer) and from what I heard she had fun. She helped to teach classes at Dog School and took long walks with Bronson—her German Shepherd friend! One morning the telephone at our B&B rang around 4 am. It was Sandy telling me that she and Cocoa Joy were home and all was well. She had forgotten that London is five hours ahead of east coast time. And somehow I missed the fact that it was 11 pm in Georgia, and my dog was just settling down for the night!

Believe it or not, Cocoa is watching an airplane fly over. Kennesaw is located near Dobbins Airforce base, and the weekends are busy with air traffic—jumbo jets and fighter planes. I don’t know the exact names, and probably think I will “date” myself if I write: F-16s, though that is what I always think they are. When she was a puppy, we saw the Blue Angels together, and she loved every minute! She hates fireworks but can stand 200 feet away from the reverse burn of a baby jet without flinching. It must be a pretty terrific memory.

One of the commands Cocoa loves is “come.” I have no idea how Sandy and Xalina (Dog School 101) taught her this so quickly, but from day one she fell in love with this command. I’m really careful how and where I practice it. Sunday was a perfect day and the battlefields at Kennesaw Mountain provided the perfect location. She ran from person to person on command, “Cocoa come!” I took this picture and you can see why I named this blog Cocoa Smiles. She is actually running and smiling to the person, who had just called her to come. What fun!