Do You Consider Yourself Lucky?

   Do you consider yourself lucky?  I haven’t always considered myself a lucky person, but for the past thirty years, I have considered myself very blessed.  However, for the past couple of years I think that I’ve been lucky.  Okay, so maybe not win the Powerball lucky but I have been on a winning streak lately.  I have been lucky in making new friends, writing, and publishing my two books, starting Barking from the Bayou, and winning prizes!  Bentley thinks it is his lucky #7 on his side.  Pierre feels certain that it is our four-leaf clover patch in the backyard.  I tend to think it’s a bit of both.  Today’s post is an example of my luck.

A lucky example of new friends are Sugar and her family.

  Do you know Sugar the Golden Retriever?  I have followed her blog since I began

Sugar enjoyed the Mardi Gras beads
that Flat Pet Bentley gave her.

Barking from the Bayou.  Her mom makes delicious dog treats, they travel, post interesting reviews, and have a golden good time.  If you don’t know Sugar, do yourself a favor and follow her adventures.

  Sugar and her mom were two on my “must meet” list at the BlogPaws conference.  We have gotten to know each other over the past few months, so I was really excited to meet in person, ummm…dog.  She was in Las Vegas with her mom and dad after a long road trip traveling and visiting along the way.  I think they stopped at a dozen Cracker Barrels en route.

  It was great to find out all three were extremely nice and in no time at all, I felt

The boys enjoyed storytime with
Sugar's fun book.

as if we’d been friends forever.  Sugar is much smaller than I’d imagined.  My Golden Retriever Tucker was a large fellow, so I thought she would be too.  Instead, she is a sweet little Golden with a white face.  I fell madly in love with her and I am certainly not alone.  Sugar is a rock star!  She is like Norm on the television show “Cheers,” everyone knows her name.

  Sugar even has a children’s book titled “Sugar’s Furry Friend" that her mom wrote.  It is a perfect children’s book with easy to read words, a glossary of new words,

I gave Sugar's Furry Friend
a 5 star review on Amazon.

and even some pages for coloring.  The story is about the unlikely friendship between Sugar and a chipmunk.  If you have a child in your family, I’m sure they will fall in love with Sugar.

Winning Contests is so exciting!

   I am guilty of entering most contests that are posted on my favorite pet blogs.  The old saying, “You can’t win if you don’t enter” is an old saying because it is true.  I’ve won several great products this year.  These are the most recent ones I am enjoying:

Planet Dog has so many great products!

   Furry Wiggle Butts held a giveaway sponsored by Planet Dog.  Bentley and Pierre were doing their happy dance when the package arrived.  Inside we found a Planet Dog Orbee-Tuff Snoop, an Orbee-Tuff Glo for Good ball, a box of Plant Dog Eats in the PB & J flavor, and a bag of Pet Naturals of Vermont Breath Bars.  I am happy to announce that the boys loved each and every goodie inside the box.  Plus, the PB & J didn’t stick to the roof of their mouths! 

   Thanks to Sugar the Golden Retriever, Bentley will be enjoying dropping a few pounds with Hill’s Prescription Diet.  We received a bag of the Prescription Diet Metabolic Advanced Weight Solution dry food, two cans of the same formula, and a one-pound bag of Metabolic treats.  I will be featuring these products after we have completed the weight loss challenge.

   My regular readers know that I'm a huge fan of John Paul Pet products.  They offered a 10 oz. bottle of their new JP Super Moist Shampoo to a limited number of people who responded to their e-mail.  Of course, I immediately replied and won!  I will be writing a future post about the shampoo and some of their other fabulous products.

   The Petter intrigued me the very first time that I saw one.  It is the only planner & mini scrapbook that helps keep track of your pet’s schedule.  Inside the spiral bound

Bentley feels so important
with his own date book!

book are notepads, orange page sticker tabs, facts and quotes about animals.  Is that all you ask.  No!  It also has pages to fill out your pet’s family tree, information pages to keep track of a variety of scheduled events, address/contact pages, and a list of important dates and holidays for animals!  I entered every contest that I came across where one was being given as a prize.  I squealed when word came from Spencer the Goldendoodle that I’d finally won The Petter!  I received it just in time for the conference and it proved invaluable.  F.Y.I. ~ Thanks to my handy dandy book, I know today is Endangered Species Day!

  Finally, last week at the BlogPaws conference I entered to win a free custom portrait by

I LOVE my custom portrait from BZTAT Studios!

the talented BZTAT.  She chose 40 attendees to win and each of us received a unique portrait of our pet.  I am so proud of the work she did capturing Bentley in her wonderful style.  I am going to have it printed and framed.  It is so beautiful.

   I thank Furry Wiggle Butts, Planet Dog, Sugar the Golden Retriever, Hill’s Pet Nutrition, John Paul Pet, Spencer the Goldendoodle, The Petter, and BZTAT for the terrific giveaways.  I am so lucky to be able to enjoy their blogging work and great products.  You each make me a lucky person.

The good news continues!

   I just received a letter from one of my readers of The Returns series and she told me that my book is on two summer reading lists in her town!  Woo Hoo!  That is very exciting news!  It makes a great summer read for ages 12 to 112, so add it to your library.

   Barking from the Bayou wishes all of you the best of luck.  Be sure to check back next week when we will host a giveaway by the wonderful folks at K-9 Kelp!  Remember, you can’t win if you don’t enter! *One tip that I can share is if a contest gives you a chance to do something such as Tweet each day, be sure that you do!  

   This is the Pet Parade blog hop that I co-host with my friends Rascal and Rocco, Basil theBionic Cat, Jan’s Funny Farm, and Love is being owned by a Husky.  Please hop in for fun and gain followers on your favorite Social Media.  There are no rules and that’s how we like it.  If your blog is about cats, dogs, birds, reptiles, or any other critter, we want you to join us in parading around the web.  Have a great Friday and check out these other Pet Parade participants.

An InLinkz Link-up

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