Many of you remember my Smyrna neighbor Opal. She’s a legend, and she is the person who taught me how to keep my yard looking nice, along with planting maple trees and blowing leaves out of my gutters. Cocoa loved Opal from the first moment she saw her, and she still does.

Every Sunday evening Opal would drop by the house and watch television with us. Over the years, we have cried together,  laughed together, and battled ice storms together. We have eaten ice cream together, celebrated Christmas and Thanksgiving together, and rounded up stray cats together. When I changed jobs and moved to northeast Georgia, Opal was one of the  reasons that I did not want to go. Where could we possibly find another Opal—someone who totally loved dogs, walked two miles a day, and baked awesome banana bread? Best friends can’t be replaced.

Sometimes on summer afternoons, Cocoa and I would walk down to see Opal and we would end up sitting on her carport and talking. It wouldn’t be long before other friends would drop by and join us.

Cocoa and Chip in Opal’s backyard waiting for me to return.

Here is Opal with Cocoa when she was just a couple of months old. I called her my “baby bean” as in a Cocoa bean. She was so chocolate.

When Cocoa was young, she loved to sit at the end of the driveway and watch for Opal. If you look closely you can see her and Betty at the left. They were getting ready to cut a dead limb out of a dogwood tree.

When Cocoa was young, I would call her “Satchel’s baby.” That was her father’s name. I think I got that line from some movie staring Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall. Wasn’t she called “Bogie’s Baby”? Maybe it wasn’t a movie at all. It could have been just an idea I got in my head.

Recently, we found out that Satchel had passed away, and immediately I remembered the day I got Cocoa. He had followed us out to the car, and I recall thinking what a cool dog he was. The breeder had told me that Cocoa had pretty much stuck with him. “She’s a daddy’s girl” was what I was told. I think she has his eyes but there is no way for me to know for sure.

They are certainly eyes that tell a story. I love it when she drops her head and watches me. There’s something about it that makes me think, “This dog is the real deal. She’s ready to hunt, to go fetch, or read a chapter from Jack London’s White Fang” before turning the lights off at night. Sometimes, I can see my reflection in those eyes and it just makes me go “goo gaa” for her. She knows it of course. You cannot fool a dog. She knows I’m wrapped around her paw.

Other times, like today, she’s my constant companion. I’ve been home sick for the last two days, and she has followed my every step watching me make hot tea and even laying across my legs in an effort to help me get well. . . . I have to say that so far, it’s working!

Seeing this sign made me want to ask: Where?!! Let’s Go!!!!

Earlier today, Cocoa had an operation. A small fatty tumor needed to come out, and we found out that while it was attached to the chest muscle there is no need to worry. She will be fine and probably up by tomorrow and ready to make a day trip to North Carolina by Thursday or Friday. Her doctor even said she could go for a short hike by the end of the week. But right now, her eyes show just how exhausted she is.

It was a perfect afternoon to visit this warm and welcoming shop outside of Cleveland, Georgia. For a long time now, it has been a favorite destination on Sunday afternoons. Yesterday, a steady stream of shoppers looking for Christmas decorations and gifts came in and out of this place on a regular basis. But when there was a break in the action, I let Cocoa and Chip get out of the car long enough to say “Hi” to Mr. Goat and Mr. Pig—new additions to the front yard.

Though both know the difference between alive and fake “yard art,” it never hurts to be sure. As you can see in the photo below.

Checking out the sniffs!

What more can I say? I love this dog!!

Cocoa Joy is thankful for her family, food, long walks in the woods, and her trainers at Dog School 101. (Actually, I’m the one who is grateful for Sandy and Xalina!)

PJ is thankful for sleep.

And Chipley is thankful for . . .

COWS!!!!

Happy Thanksgiving!

I love the fact that I can tell Cocoa Joy to sit and stay, and she does it even when a bratty squirrel is playing nearby.