Monday, February 23, 2015

ARIZONA BOUND!


We're leaving this week to visit our daughter and son-in-law for a week!  Needless to say, we're super excited.  My hubby Clark is especially excited, since the weather out there is perfect this time of year:  it's supposed to be in the 70s all week!  And sunny, of course.  With the low humidity, I'll be in heaven.  Humidity + Mavis = Misery!!

We took tons of photos when we visited last time a few years ago, but I've been posting them here and there on Facebook because I'm so excited.

I won't be posting again until after our trip.  Until then, hug your doxies for me!







Friday, February 20, 2015

TODAY IS NATIONAL PET DAY

Therefore, celebrate your beloved pets!  I cannot imagine how dull and boring it would be around our house without our precocious doxie Duke!

HAPPY NATIONAL PET DAY!  Have a great weekend!







Thursday, February 19, 2015

DACHSHUNDS AND VACUUM CLEANERS



The concept about vacuum cleaners is very true of many doxies.  My Duke just takes a ho-hum attitude toward it, thankfully.  HOWEVER, our doxie granddawg Shadow is another story.

He absolutely hates the vacuum cleaner: he tries to bite it, barks and growls menacingly at it, and generally just makes a nuisance of himself.  Not wanting to put up with it after all these years (Shadow turned 14 last month), our daughter Holly usually puts him in the back bathroom with the door shut while she vacuums the house.   That's where I got the idea for Sarge to hate vacuum cleaners in my book series, THE DACHSHUND ESCAPADES.

On the other hand, if I get out the Swiffer dust mop, Duke goes ballistic--well, sort of.  He acts like he wants me to chase him with it, because if I push it toward him, he'll bark, run off, but then come back for more, with that classic doxie pose for wanting to play:  his posterior up in the air!

Image result for dachshund posing in play



How does your doxie react to vacuum cleaners?

Dachshunds . . . you gotta love 'em!

Tuesday, February 17, 2015

JUST ADDED: Excerpt from A DACHSHUND'S TRIBUTE


Beneath the title of this blog, there are buttons for its pages.  Today, I just added an excerpt from Book 4, A DACHSHUND'S TRIBUTE.

In this excerpt, Sarge relates his excitement over the upcoming Halloween festival at the church across the street--he not only gets to attend, but he also gets to wear a costume, too!


Monday, February 16, 2015




I AM SARGE, BOOK 1 (Second Edition) of THE DACHSHUND ESCAPADES, will be released this week in paperback on Amazon. The Kindle edition will follow shortly, for only $0.99 (for a limited time)! 

Wondering what this book is about, doxie lovers? I'll let Sarge tell you himself:

“I am Sarge the super dog, named after my Papa Duke, who was a sergeant in the Army—and I am very proud of my special name. I was a scared little puppy when Mama and Daddy adopted me at eight weeks of age, but quite a handsome and intelligent dachshund now.”
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
"I’m known as a chow hound extraordinaire, and believe me, I have earned the title! Papa calls me his granddawg, and I know I’ll do great and mighty things someday. Grandma says I’m not only a 
granddawg, but also a GRAND DOG.

"Daddy and mama love me, and inside my home is all the warmth, fun, laughter, and love that I could ever want or need. The only thing lacking is people food. I never get enough of that, but don’t blame a dawg for trying. I also do my best to protect them, but Mama says I’m too loud. (Isn’t that the point of barking—to be heard??)

"Papa thinks like I do, a remarkable ability for a human. So does his buddy, Sellars—both of them are chow hounds like me, and they sometimes sneak me some good food when no one is looking. That makes me feel loved.

"I have lived through some zany times in this family--I even saved Papa’s life when he was attacked . . . by a fence. Such experiences only seem to happen to Papa.

"All in all, my humans are tricky to figure out, ‘cause they don’t always say what they mean—but I can 

Shadow today
handle them. After all, I AM SARGE."

A heartwarming tale of family, joy, good food, and unconditional love, Sarge’s story will bring warmth and smiles to readers of all ages.

Sarge is based upon my doxie granddawg, Shadow (that's his actual photo on the cover).

Dachshunds . . . you gotta love 'em!

Saturday, February 14, 2015

FOR DOXIE LOVERS

With today being Valentine's Day, I sincerely hope you have a great one!  My hubby gave me a nice box of SUGAR FREE Whitman's chocolates (which I prefer).  So yummy!  And, we're going out to eat for lunch when our oldest daughter Holly and family arrive in about an hour.  We love being with family.

Which reminds me:  in a little over a week, we're flying out to Arizona to visit our daughter Bethany and son-in-law Kurt.  We'll spend a week in the warm sunshine; it's supposed to get really cold here in Georgia next week with the possibility of snow, so we'll be glad to get to a warmer climate for a few days.  Duke with stay with Holly & family--the grandchildren love him, and he loves them, too.

Many blessings to all out there, and here's the best valentine of all:



Thursday, February 12, 2015

HOW DO YOU LIKE THESE DOXIE PAJAMAS?


I am always seeing cute photos of dachshunds wearing the most outlandish getups, from Halloween costumes to Christmas outfits.  I must admit that I think they look cute in just about anything!

Here's a doxie modeling his new pajamas.  And, he looks as though he likes wearing them, too.

Dachshunds . . . you gotta love 'em (and their outfits).

"Am I cute, or what?"

Tuesday, February 10, 2015

COVER REVEAL: I AM SARGE, SECOND EDITION!

Two smiling boys:  our grandson
and Shadow cuddling
Today, I'm revealing the new cover for the second edition of I AM SARGE, Book 1 of THE DACHSHUND ESCAPADES series. This is THE book that started it all!  Sarge relates how he came
to be adopted into a busy pastor's family, on up through some of his first encounters with cats, his first time fishing with two interesting characters, and hilarious shenanigans--hence, the title of this series.

Has the story changed?  In a word, no.  There are some "tweaks" to make the story better, however, with added detail and richer description.

I AM SARGE will be released in paperback first (very soon, I promise), then followed by the Kindle version:





If you follow this blog or The Dachshund Escapades blog, my website (www.MavisDukeHinton.com), Facebook (www.facebook.com/mavisdukehintonsbooks), or Twitter (@writer4dawg), you already know that Sarge the dachshund "author" is based upon our "granddawg" Shadow, and the photos on the front of the cover are actually of Shadow himself.  The small photo on the back cover is of our doxie Duke.  Many of the stories in Sarge's books actually happened, so readers of the series will probably agree that "truth is stranger than fiction."

Next up on my publishing agenda is the second edition of I AM DACHSHUND, Book 2 of the series.  I already have the new cover completed, and I'm working my way through the manuscript to polish it up as well.  After that, (Lord willing) I plan to release Book 5, A DACHSHUND'S MERRY-GO-ROUND LIFE, this summer.

Dachshunds . . . you gotta love 'em!

Shadow with cat buddy Piper

Friday, February 6, 2015

HAPPY FRIDAY, EVERYONE!




Although I've been retired since December 2013, Fridays still have that special magic . . . my hubby is retired, too, but he's been subbing at our county schools, so it seems like he's still working (well, he actually is!).

I've been very busy with my writing, now that I have the time to work on it.  I write Christian fiction, of course; one second edition will be out in a matter of days, I'm working on another second edition that will be out within a month, and I plan to have a new book out this summer.  Plus, all the marketing that goes with indie publishing (which I love, by the way) keeps me very busy during the day.  But I love it.

Hope you have a relaxing and stress-free weekend out there.


Wednesday, February 4, 2015

OUR COMICAL DACHSHUNDS!


Ever wonder why so many photos are taken of doxies?  You only have to look for a moment, and you'll see how versatile they are.  So many facial expressions, so many contortions, and so many ways to simply smile.

Dachshunds . . . you gotta love 'em.









Tuesday, February 3, 2015

MY VIEW OF DOGS



I also think God created them to exemplify His unconditional love to us.  Papa Duke in THE DACHSHUND ESCAPADES series once said so in I AM SARGE.  Look to the left of this post, and you'll see the quote I'm referring to.

Dachshunds (and other dogs) . . . you gotta love 'em.  Because they certainly love us and show it.

Monday, February 2, 2015

SELF-ESTEEM NOT LACKING IN DACHSHUNDS!

Of course this doxie is accurate!  With no lack of self-esteem, dachshunds think they are as important (and as big) as any other dog out there, and are noted for their brashness.  I love that trait--but they are brats, aren't they?

I don't care.  They are just so cute that they can get away with being brats and show-offs.  My doxie Duke is right up there with them, too--he tells us off regularly!  We never tolerated that trait in our children when they were at home, as one of our daughters so pointedly reminded me one day when Duke was responding to my "no." He wasn't happy that I wouldn't let him do something, so he barked his annoyance to me in no uncertain terms. But he's just a dog, I say.  Children are expected to learn how to act appropriately.  My daughter replied that dogs can learn, too!

Yes, I do spoil Duke, and I know it--no matter.  He has so many other great qualities that his moxie doesn't bother me at all, and my husband laughs at him regularly.

Dachshunds . . . you gotta love (AND understand) 'em.

Buddies--and this wasn't photoshopped


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