I have seen a lot of daffodils, but these are new to me. While visiting the Atlanta Botantical Gardens last Friday, I saw these guys and thought they were really sweet. . . . or something like that.

In a kingdom far, far away from here, there was a little dog named Chipley, who was awestruck by a beautful chocolate Cocker Spaniel named Cocoa Joy. No matter how hard he tried, Chip, the baby puppy could not win the heart of the fair Princess. However, he had a plan . . . a big one and over the next few days and weeks that plan would unfold right before his very eyes. He just knew it! But first things first, he needed a quick nap and then the tale could begin.

Well, here is Chip’s first silly photo. He had been playing with his new bear that is helping him make the adjustment from being with his large family to being with Cocoa’s small one. All of sudden, he just dropped on the floor and looked up at me with great, huge loving eyes—just like a man. He’s trying to win my weak heart.

We only had a few minutes before we drove home with Chip (the breeder had asked me to make sure Cocoa was with me on Saturday). After Chip was safely tucked away in the SUV, I took a few minutes to drive up to Roosevelt State Park. It’s located near Callaway Gardens, the town of Warm Springs, and Pine Mountain. The park is intimately tied to four-time President Franklin D. Roosevelt. After he was stricken with polio in 1921, Roosevelt searched for a place for treatment and where he could get away from the Washington grind. He fell in love with Warm Springs, Georgia, and ended up building his Little White House mainly because of the nearby warm springs which provided some physical relief from his polio. Several structures within the State park, including the stone swimming pool and some cottages were built by Roosevelt’s Civilian Conservation Corps during the Great Depression. The president loved to drive the length of the park and find a place where he could pull off the road and have a picnic. Locals often told how he would pull up in his car and take time to talk about world affairs with them. It is truly a place of extreme rest and peace.

Last night reality set in around 9′o clock as Cocoa realized Chip had come to stay. Chip on the other paw enjoyed rolling around on the sofa beside his new big sister. Update: Got a telephone call from Xalina Cocoa’s trainer at Dog School 101, and she said the title of this photo needed to be “Oh, brother” literally. She’s right, of course, so much so that I made the change!