#NFNOW15

Dear Tootsie,

I am awake at three am. My body still thinks it is Switzerland. Or I can no longer sleep without your sweet nose in my face!

The first day of NonfictioNOW Conference was fantastic. It's incredible to see writing friends from workshops and conferences past (write on) / people who have published me (thank you forever) / and people I'm still shy to approach (fangirl). It's fantastic to listen to so many smart-heart humans talk about spiral investigations on the page. It's an epic trek to arrive anywhere in life, just to be, and I'm so glad I'm being here, right now. Art. Make art.

And I'm so glad Paul Bunyan made it to the conference, too.

Please give Dachshund Daddy a smooch for me.

Love always,
Your Mom

A Motley Crew

Guess who was barking the loudest?

Lake Orta

Lake Orta, Italy

#TBT -- First Swiss Hike Ever

This is Tootsie's first Swiss hike back in 2011! And look, she isn't yet wearing her signature harness. On this hike, our little Tootsie's underarms got so raw, because of the chafing from this crappy PetCo harness. I went online and found the handmade Hug-a-Dog harness from Dachshund Delights the next day.

Greina Plateau, Switzerland

And here's our Sassy Tube of Fur from this past summer. She's decked out in her signature "Hold-a-Dog" harness from Dachshund Delights, she's adapted to Swiss life and bicontinental trips back to Idaho, and she's our treasure.

Madonna & Child. Woman & Dachshund. The Pawdonna Project.

Lake Orta, Italy

Tootsie & Verdi!

Me and Mom and Verdi and Grandpa!

Roncole Verdi, Italy

Verdi's Birth Place

#TBT

Tootsie on the beach near Pisa, Italy.

Doggles. Sun.

Flight Practice Begins. Again.

Halfway between Sils Baselgia and Sils Maria, Switzerland

Thank You, Grandpa

Dear Grandpa,

Thank you so much for making the long trek to visit us in Switzerland. Just this morning, Dachshund Daddy said, "I miss Grandpa!"

Wasn't our first hike to Lake Salei, Switzerland pawsome?

I was so happy to show you the Dolomites in Italy!

And it is totally pawsome that you finally got to meet Dachshund Daddy's family -- and go to the beach where Dachshund Daddy played as a kid!

Here's Verdi's birth place. Why did the Puccini Museum welcome little dogs held in arms, but Verdi's people didn't mention dogs at all?

Please come back, Grandpa. We can take more alpine naps together.

Love,
Your Tube of Fur