"It's the bright time of year.
The little house frightens me. It's dark
and dusty and full of sharp things.
But she needs what's inside."
I've been thinking about dogs a lot lately. Not because I want one - not at all. I just know how much they mean to the people who have them, and love them. Consider that from the other side of the relationship; that is the premise of this story about a dog and its gardener. This dog loves garden days spent in the company of the quiet woman whose calm voice wakes him each day.
Dutch patiently waits while she has breakfast. Her invitation to be outside together is exactly what he has been anticipating. It is warm in the sunshine. While he loves being there with her, he definitely does not like being near the little dark house that holds everything she will need for her day in the garden. He stays back.
Now, the two can spend rest of their day together. While Dutch gambols in the grass and takes in all the smells of nature, the gardener works. Dutch does his duty - making sure that the holes she is digging for new plants are worthy of his approval. He considers the rituals of the day - hard work, planting, and the need for rest, and knows that this day will proceed as all others have.
"From up here I see the beauty of all her work.
Oh joy! She's bringing out the water."
It is the best part of their day together. As the sky darkens, the two return to where their day began ... together.
This book is not filled with exciting adventure. It is an homage to the peace to be found in being together, no matter the day's work. The serene words are accompanied by glorious artwork done in 'hand-painted gouache textures combined with painting using a digital paint brush'. The images explore the beauty of the garden, while also creating an atmosphere of soothing comfort. Filled with light and shadow, they help readers see, from the dog's perspective, why it is he loves to be there. What a lovely visual exploration it is.
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