But now that graduation is over, I can show you what I was searching high and low for! A pair of Staffordshire dogs; actually, reproduction Staffordshire dogs... The originals are a tad out of my price range! Now I agree, that may sound like a strange college graduation present, but it's all because of this house...
For the four years my daughter went to school in Boston/ Cambridge, every time I picked her up from college, or brought her back, we drove past this beautiful little "grandma" house. (That's what I always call houses like this because they look like houses where the best kind of grandmas live, wearing aprons and putting pies on windowsills to cool... )
Oh yes, to get back to the story... There was always a pair of white Staffordshire dogs in the front window of that house and my daughter would say that someday, when she had her own place, she was definitely going to have a pair of Staffordshire dogs just like that (mental note to self.... Staffordshire dogs = fun association with college commute = great graduation present to always remind her of her college years). Alas, the house was sold last year and the dogs no longer sit in the window. However to us it was, and always will be, the "Staffordshire dog" house.
So my search led me from one place to another, hot on the trail of the elusive white dogs...
When graduation was just weeks away, it became clear that there was no guarantee I would find them locally, so I turned to the one place that never (well, almost never) lets me down.... eBay!
In no time at all I found exactly what I was looking for, and within a week's time these two precious pups arrived on my doorstep....
I've grown quite accustomed to them being here! And I think they kind of like it, too! Lucky for all of us, our daughter will be living at home for a while (at least for the summer)!!! When she eventually does move out, the hunt may be on for another pair... for me!
Photo shown with permission of copyright owner
Karsten Petersen
I also purchased this beautiful photographic print for my daughter from Karsten Petersen of Denmark. He has several photographs of Staffordshire dogs on his website and I loved this one with the bright blue window and the pitcher of flowers. Staffordshire dogs are very popular in Denmark and Karsten explains on his website that if the dogs are facing into the house, the sailor is at home... If they are facing out, then the sailor is away at sea...
So there you have it... A very successful "Staffordshire dog" search thanks to eBay and Karsten!!
Update and Correction! Karsten was kind enough to send an e-mail after reading this blog entry and give me a bit more information on the background of Staffordshire dogs... Apparently it was not just sea Captains (as I had stated above, and have now corrected), but all sailors who purchased Staffordshire dogs. He told me that the type of dogs that I bought were the ones typically purchased by crew members (legs and body joined together in a simple mold), whereas the Captain and officers would normally purchase the more refined (and more expensive) Staffordshire dogs with free and separated forelegs. Thank you so much for taking the time to send along this additional information, Karsten!
Donna