Today I'm interviewing the canine companion of Mom's friend, Karen Wingate. Let's welcome Tuesday, the Welsh Corgi, on Wednesday Whimsy!
Tuesday on Wednesday. I like that. Bet you won't
ever forget my name!
Probably not. Unless I meet a dog named Thursday. Then I might get a little confused.
How
long have you owned Karen? Do you consider her your mom?
I decided to adopt Karen and her family eight years
ago. I'm a confirmation champion show dog, but I got tired of being on the road
so my peeps decided to find a good family for me. It took several tries, but
then I met the Wingates and it was love at first bark. My breeder family gave
me my everyday name, Tuesday. Judy, my breeder, said it was because I was born
on a Tuesday. Karen wonders what the other puppies in my liter were called. My show name is Lady Arwin. Karen says
she likes that name a lot better but she didn't want to confuse me when I came
home with them. But then she apologizes to people for my name. I don't mind. People
smile when they hear my name and I like it when people smile at me.
Tuesday, the clown |
I'm not sure who is the mom in this family! I have
to take care of Karen. Welsh Corgis
are a herding breed so we have to constantly make sure our people are right
where they need to be. You don't know what it's like to live with this family. I
have to teach them EVERYTHING - when to let me outside, when to feed me, when
to go to bed. And don't forget the doggie cookies!
Lady Arwin? Wow! Sounds like you're descended from
nobility, too. I've never known a royal dog before!
What’s
the best way to train your human/mom?
The first rule of training your human is to be cute.
Corgis are great at this. They're
known as little clowns. All I have to do is cock my head and I can get this
family to do anything. I'm an expert at moving them where I want them to be. I
just have to get behind them and keep pushing them like they were a big herd of
cattle and they'll move - toward my food dish, toward the closet where my toys
are, you get the idea. Then I stand sentry in the hallway so they don't sneak
past me. Welsh Corgis aren't called hall monitors for nothing.
Tuesday, the hall monitor. |
What does Karen write about?
Now she's starting to
write stories. Those are more interesting, but they are sooo long. She calls them novels. She loves to
tell stories about things that happened in the past, especially in Ohio where
we used to live. She wrote a book about the Ohio River Flood and another book
about this food service called a canteen at a train station during World War
Two. Now she is working on more historical fiction about Ohio, and I think she
is writing this contemporary romance book where a girl meets a boy, then they
get separated from each other and they spend the rest of the book trying to
find each other. She says it's more exciting than that but she won't tell me,
because she's afraid I'll spill the dog food.
How do you help her with her writing?
Ah, I thought you
would never ask. Remember, I'm a
Welsh Corgi with a strong herding instinct. I've got my humans' routine figured
out. After Karen wakes up, she reads her Bible, fixes breakfast for Daddy Jack,
then heads to her office to write. But sometimes she gets distracted, so I have
to make sure she gets to work. I will bark at her then sit in the hallway,
waiting for her. If she doesn't come, I'll go find her and walk circles around
her till she starts to move toward her office. Finally, she gets the idea.
Whew. When she turns on her computer, I settle down for my morning nap. I make
sure she stays at her desk by pretending to be asleep. She hates to disturb my
nap so she stays in her chair and gets more writing done. I know that's true
because I heard her tell that to Daddy Jack one time.
Any advice to other canine muses? How can we
best help our writing humans?
These writer types are
bad about forgetting we exist. They really get into their work. So you have to
help them take breaks once in awhile. What you do is get their attention every
hour or two. Bring your leash to them so they'll take you for a walk or go get
your ball so they'll toss it for you. The exercise is good for them. If they
don't get up and stretch once in awhile, they get cranky.
Tuesday with Daddy Jack and his daughter, Katherine. |
I heard Karen say I
help her the best when she gets something she calls a rejection. Those must not
be very nice because sometimes she cries or she just gets really sad. Then I
jump on the couch, give her Corgi kisses and snuggle up to her for a belly rub.
She says I make life better so I wriggle closer to her and she laughs. After a few
minutes, she'll get up and move back to her computer again and I know she's ok.
I know it's best not to follow her, just leave her alone for a few minutes so
she can talk to God and start writing again.
Do you ever get in trouble for helping “too
much”?
Oh yes! I've learned the hard way. Humans do NOT like to be told when they
need to go to bed. Sometimes I get tired of waiting for them and go jump on
their bed. Karen and Jack don't mind that too much, especially in the winter. Karen
says I'm better than an electric blanket.
Tuesday helps Karen teach VBS. |
Thanks again, Tuesday, for visiting with me on a . . . Wednesday.
Learn more about Karen on
her wonderful, inspiring blog, Grace on Parade, where she
shares what
the Lord is teaching her in a transparent, encouraging way.
Karen's blog always gives me (Kathy)
plenty to think about and truly spreads the wonder of
God's grace.
More about Tuesday's adopted mom, Karen Wingate:
When Tuesday the Welsh
Corgi, is looking the other way, Karen leaves her writing desk to work with her
husband in their Western Illinois church, leading a women's bible study,
organizing a women's fellowship group, and helping with an after school
children's program. Karen and Jack
miss their two adult daughters terribly so lavish all their love on Tuesday who
doesn't mind a bit. Karen has
hundreds of writing credits in such magazines at The Lookout, Decision,
Clubhouse, Guideposts, and Journey, and writes a bi-weekly blog at
www.graceonparade.com. She is
currently writing her third novel and leads seminars on Gifts Based Children's
Ministry and on prayer.
Please feel free to leave a comment or question for Tuesday . . . or Lily. They'd love to hear from you!
A fond hello, Lilybits--
ReplyDeleteI read this awesome interview at 3:30 AM while having breakfast & getting ready for work, but this is the first time I've had a chance to comment.
Tuesday, I love your name! You sound as if you might have been names after a glamorous actress… you certainly have the looks & charm. I love how you guard your lovely person, Karen. Believe me, as a person too, I know what it's like not wanting to budge because of one of you cute fuzz balls besides us.
Easter blessings. And, Lilybits, regards from Wild Cat.
Lilybits purrs and thanks you for your lovely comments, Elaine. She is waving a paw at Wild Cat.
DeleteOh how fun to see Karen this way!! LOVED this interview, Kathy and Karen, and LilyBits and Tuesday! Sounds like Tuesday is one smart cookie, as well as being wonderful company. =]
ReplyDeleteI agree, Patty! I'm so glad Tuesday and Karen agreed to an interview!
ReplyDelete