Written by My favorite pet is actually my current one, and comes in the form of a little brindle basenji. His name is Phineas and with his constant furrowed brow, he always looks a bit concerned about something or other. Indeed, he always has a complete agenda of things he’d like you to do for him next, and if you fail to do so in a timely fashion you get “the look.” This particular look on other dogs might appear quite differently, but on Phineas it clearly says, “you idiot, you really mucked things up again didn’t you.” He simply stares at you with his wrinkled forehead, not so much mad at you, but just rather sad at your complete incompetence. Moments later, if his demands aren’t met, he’ll start pacing the floor and start into a round of cranky sneezes to let you know of his extreme displeasure. It’s all rather comical really, and gives him an overwhelming personality that’s rather infectious. Yet, after all all food has been served and treats have been administered, he becomes a gentle and loving little beast who also won’t turn down a good cuddle.
We took Phineas to the vet recently for his annual check up and his doctor referred to him as a mature dog. He still has all the energy of a puppy so we never stopped to think about the fact that he’s actually middle aged and in dog years, the oldest one in the house. I guess that’s why he thinks he demands a bit more respect than we apparently give him. There are still many years of being ordered around ahead, but for a moment, I was caught off guard. One day, I won’t hear those disapproving sneezes or see that concerned look ever again. Pets are the most wonderful thing in the world, and yet no matter what, they’ll ultimately break your heart. That evening after the vet appointment, I cuddled up next to Phineas and we just laid there together. I kissed his head and whispered, “I love you.” I’m not sure if dogs know what those words really mean, or sometimes, even if humans do, but I know he understood. He turned his head to me and looked me in the eyes, almost nodded his head, and then, sneezed in my face, as if to say, “I’m not dead yet, you sentimental fool.”
No matter how long we have together, I’ll never forget these moments. They’ll be the memories I’ll share for years to come. And that’s the beautiful thing about life. Moments never last forever, but the stories they create can last a lifetime.I’m thrilled to share my life with this little brindle basenji, and I envy him for always knowing exactly what he wants out of life. And today, for you, my lovely readers, I have another memory in the making. I’m giving away 5 Hahnemühle Cézanne, mould-made, 300gsm, 9.44″x12.59″, 10 sheet blocks! These will go to the first 5 of you who let me you want one by commenting below with “Let’s Paint Memories!” and telling me what type of paper you’d prefer to receive, Cold Pressed, Hot Pressed, or Rough (US/Canada only). As Phineas would tell you, it’s always good to ask for precisely what you want out of life. Sneezing about it is probably optional, but I have to admire the logic of the little guy. And I know in my heart, that’s precisely why he’s my favorite pet.
Join Us For The August Art Challenge & Paint Your Favorite Things
Click Here To Learn More!
About the DoodlewashDa Vinci Paint Co.: Yellow Ochre, Terra Cotta, Quinacridone Red, Burnt Umber, Ultramarine Blue, Leaf Green, and Payne’s Grey. Lamy Al-Star Safari Fountain Pen with sepia ink in an A5 Hahnemühle Watercolour Book. |
 |
|
You caught Phineas’ expression perfectly! It’s hard to imagine our pets growing old, isn’t it, since they are always our sweet babies!
Thanks so much, Lisa!! 😃💕 And yes! No matter how old they get they’ll always be sweet babies!!
Phineas is truly one of my absolute favorite dogs i have ever met. Such a sweet, mature, sassy dog and one of a kind. Love him!!
Hehe!! Yeah… heavy on the sass, but still manages to be sweet at the same time! No idea how he does that!! LOL 😊💕
“Let’s Paint Memories!” I would like cold pressed 🙂 I wish I had a pet, but that would be a huge responsibility
Great, Nikki! I’ll have some Hahnemühle paper sent your way! 😃 And pets are a huge responsibility, but soooo worth it! hehe 💕
“Let’s Paint Memories!” Hot pressed.
Great Sharon!! I’ll have so Hahnemühle hot press sent your way!! 😃💕
Let’s paint memories. I love Phineas and all your stories.
Thanks so much, Sandra!! 😃💕 And since I think already go this one in Cold Press, I’ll have some Hot Press sent for you to try! 😉
Ooooh thank you, that would be fun to try.
Let’s Paint Memories of our dear furry family members
Cold,pressed
Yes to that, Linda!! Our furry family members are the best! 😃💕 And yay to getting a sample!! Send me a note via my contact form here with your full name and address: https://doodlewash.com/contact/
Let’s Paint Memories! I got cold pressed in WWD, but would love hot pressed. 🙂
Phineas sounds so cute and unique 🙂
Aww thanks so much, Hania! Phineas is the best!! 😃💕 hehe – and my sponsor is only shipping to US and Canada for this one, but… if your previous prize hasn’t shipped, we’ll try to add a sample of Hot Press as well!
Thank you so much, and sorry I completely missed that restriction(it was 4:30am here :))!
Actually, not sure if it was in there at first… my bad… the worldwide shipping only happens during World Watercolor Month. 😊 But if we can sneak another in, we’ll try! 😉
Thanks so much! 🙂
Let’s paint memories. Hot press. I think you caught Phineas’s look just the way you described…great painting and should be framed. Love the story.
Aww thanks so much, June!! 😃💕 Glad you liked this one! He’s tough to capture… all that brindle fur is a bit like that plaid shirt I dealt with a few days ago! hehe… and yay! I’ll have a sample of Hot Press sent to you!
Thanks so much Charlie. I have never painted on hot press before so it will be fun to try.
Blessed is the person who knows the love of an old dog.
May you have many years of love to come.
What a lovely comment!! Thanks so much, Cynthia! 😃💕
You painted Phineas exactly as you described him. He has definitely got you wrapped around his little paw. So adorable. We do love out pets, don’t we? They ask so little of us and give so much.
Thanks so much, Sharon! 😃💕 Yeah, he’s quite a handful. And he actually demands quite a lot, but he doesn’t always get everything he wants. He’s a sweet dog though!
He is cute, so difficult to paint your own pet. Well done! 😁
Thanks so much, Pili! So happy you liked this! 😃💕
I’m sure I’m too late for the paper, but that doggy story just breaks my heart in such a good way. I miss having a pet. Living in an apartment the only pet allowed is a bird. I had a wonderful parrot named Berkley, she’s an african grey and will hopefully live at least 50 years, sadly with other people who I sure hope love her to death. I became horribly allergic to her and my health declined significantly so I had to adopt her out, one of the hardest things I ever did. I would love to have a dog again, I miss that loving look you get. Anyway, I’ll keep wishing, lovely story Charlie. Oh, if there’s any left, totally HOT PRESSED please, lol, Let’s Paint Memories, what a lovely thought. :o)
Oh, that would be so difficult to give up a pet like that, but I’m SURE they’ll love Berkley just as much as you did. She sounds lovely!! 😃💕 I’ve only ever had dogs and a hamster or two as a kid. 😊 And yep, I’m all out of paper for this post, but will be giving this away again next week!
actually Charlie, Carol contacted me and asked if I wanted to try their papers! She’ll be sending me a package with a bunch of stuff. YAY!
Yay!! That’s awesome!! Carol is the BEST!! 😃💕
Just wonderful Charlie. (K)
Thanks so much, Kerfe! 😃💕
Your dog is adorable! Let’s Paint Memories! I love ROUGH paper.
Thanks so much, Kyra! 😃💕 And I’m all out of paper for this post, but check back and I’ll be giving out more next week!
Sneezy Phineas sounds like a wonderful addition to life 🙂 Enjoy!! Great job on the painting.
Thanks, Tom!! 😃💕 Yeah, he’s definitely a fabulous addition! hehe
Touching story, Charlie, And a darling painting. Phineas looks like my late, great Igloo, the dog who made me love dogs. The dog of large ears. Some speculated that he was part basinji. The Humane society said American Eskimo and daschund – hence the name Igloo. Without our noticing, old age crept up on him and we mistook his deafness for his usual very quiet demeanor. He never was much of a talker, would make the sweetest, soft ‘bouf’ sounds if he needed to go outside. Nowadays my heart belongs to (don’t hate me, please) a tuxedo cat named @Rosie the Kitten Cat. She has her own facebook page 🙂
Awww… that’s so sweet! Igloo sounds like a perfectly wonderful doggie! And Rosie the Kitten sounds incredibly wonderful to have her own Facebook page!! hehe 😃💕
Haha! Sneezing on your face seems a bit rude, doesn’t it? Anyway, lovely story! Phineas does have a judgemental look on his face, reminds me of a librarian.
Hahahahaha. I was at my local library with a new Sweetie and we were sitting in an out of the way place, stealing , between perusing some magazines. We’re both in our 50’s (at the time) and got dressed down like a pair of teenagers. We just laughed it off
hehe…. I’m sure he means it with love! Lol So happy you liked this portrait, Agatha! 😃💕
Such a sweet thing, the dog that is! You have captured his personality in your painting and the text was enjoyable to read as well. Our pets are part of our family and you have a lovely memento of your furry friend with both the text you have written and your painting.
Aww that’s such a sweet thing to say!! Thank you so much!! 😃💕 He’s such a handful, but so worth it! hehe
They say that dogs will give you a thousand best days of your life, and one worst day. I’ve had three “worst days” in the past two years, but I can say with absolute certainty that all those other days? Worth every heartbreak.
Miss Bella also has the ARE YOU SERIOUS RIGHT NOW? look that she’ll give us when we don’t meet her expectations, by the way. 🙂