Who can go wrong with a book about a well-loved dog?!  It’s like two of my loves in a $16.99 lump of fun.  I ran across Ree Drummond’s new book completely by accident.  You see, I hopped into Anderson’s Bookstore in downtown Naperville to grab a quick read for myself.  I couldn’t find the book I wanted so, I began browsing the aisles in earnest….I had only a few minutes to “kill” before I had to be at preschool pick-up.  I was breaking out in a cold sweat, checking my watch every couple of minutes while glancing down at the bookstore flier in hand…”oh, come on, where is that book?!”

And then it hit me–as though God himself was shining a bright light upon the bookshelf–the angels sang and my hand was drawn to the book like a moth to a flame.  “Charlie the Ranch Dog,” stared back at me with puppy dog eyes saying, “Pick me, pick me!”  I couldn’t resist.  Are you singing, “How much is that doggie in the window,” too?  Oh, if only Charlie the ranch dawg was real.  I bought the book.  I found the other one I wanted,too, “Beautiful Girl.”  And another I purchased for the sake of Arbor Day (which was that day, in fact)–“Celebritree” about famous trees.

I checked my watch again–whew!  If I drive like a crazy-lady and run all of the red lights, I’ll get to preschool on time.

“Charlie the Ranch Dog” is too adorable for words.  If you aren’t familiar with the author, let me introduce you.  Ree Drummond is also known as “Pioneer Woman.”  Story has it, she used to work in a city wearing all of the traditional city attire–complete with high heels.  She gave up that life to marry her “Marlboro Man” and live on a ranch in Oklahoma.  She began gardening and cooking from scratch (and writing a cookbook), homeschooling her four children and chasing after a Bassett Hound named Charlie.  Perhaps, “chasing” is the wrong adjective.  Charlie doesn’t do much, but he sure is cute.

A quintessenital bassett hound, Charlie is too busy sniffing, napping, and eating to be bothered much with the farm work.  But he sure is cute.  Did I mention he’s  cute?!  The book had me laughing out loud as Charlie did silly things like fall asleep in the middle of a task, only to wake up with a dazed doggy look, “Uh, did I miss something?  Oh, I must of accidently closed my eyes for a second.”

Adorbable, precious, and just what I needed that day. Funny…didn’t I just blog about Bassett Hounds starring in children’s books last week??!  Oh, they are really on my mind.

For more information,

The Pioneer Woman Cooks: Recipes from an Accidental Country Girl Buy new: $27.50 $16.50 77 Used & newfrom $13.75 4.7 out of 5 stars (597)

The Pioneer Woman: Black Heels to Tractor Wheels–A Love Story Buy new: $25.99 $15.33 70 Used & newfrom $10.47 4.1 out of 5 stars (136)

• Here’s the Pioneer Woman’s blog, with photos of the actual Charlie and new addition, Walter.  I recently added her blog to my list of links,   thepioneerwoman.com/