Harold and Bea Were Finishing Their Quilt Together. Waffles Had Other Ideas.
Harold and Bea sit side by side in a room overflowing with fabric: baskets of folded scraps, a stack of quilts on the couch, boxes of supplies, and a mug of tea perched on the side table. Bea, in a teal cardigan with her silver hair pinned up in a loose bun, threads a needle through a floral square with careful fingers. Harold, in a blue plaid flannel, leans over the other edge of the quilt, glasses low, stitching in quiet concentration. Neither of them can spread the quilt out properly, though, because Waffles the Basset Hound has flopped across the whole middle of it. His long ears spill over the patches, his jowls rest heavily on a fold of plaid, and his eyes are shut in total, unbothered slumber.
Basset Hounds are famously mellow companions indoors. Bred as scent hounds, they have keen noses and can be stubborn on a trail, but at home they are often easygoing and affectionate. Their long backs and short legs mean it is wise to discourage repeated jumping on and off high furniture, and to keep them at a healthy weight, since extra pounds put strain on their joints and spine. Those long ears also need regular checking and gentle cleaning, because they can trap moisture and debris. Daily walks at a sniff-friendly pace keep a Basset happy.
The quilt will get finished eventually, square by square, working carefully around a very large, very warm obstacle. Harold and Bea do not seem to mind one bit. Some projects are better with a sleeping hound in the middle.
