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An elderly couple sit on the tailgate of an old pickup truck at the edge of a field with a lemon and white Basset Hound. 10 / 21

An Old Pickup, an Open Field, and the Best Seat on the Tailgate

AI imagebasset houndpickup truckcountryside

An old blue pickup is parked at the edge of a wide, grassy field, its tailgate dropped and its paint worn by years of country roads. Harold and Bea sit close together on the tailgate, Bea in a mossy green cardigan with her hair pinned back, Harold in a brown jacket and glasses, both wearing the easy smiles of people with nowhere they need to be. Between Bea's knees, Waffles sits tall on the truck bed, his chest pressed against her, head tilted slightly, long ears framing his face. Bea's hand rests gently on his back. Beyond them, a fence line, hedgerows, and a gray, open sky stretch toward the horizon.

If you take a dog along on drives, safety in and around a vehicle really matters. Dogs should never ride loose in the open bed of a moving pickup, where sudden stops or turns can throw them out; a crate secured inside the cab or a crash-tested harness is far safer. Sitting together on a parked tailgate is a different story, as long as the dog is helped up and down. Basset Hounds should not be encouraged to leap from heights, since their long backs and short legs make them prone to injury. Bring water, and never leave a dog alone in a parked vehicle on a warm day.

Harold and Bea seem content just to sit and watch the clouds roll over the field. Waffles is content because they are. It is a simple afternoon, but sometimes the simplest outings are the ones you remember.

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An elderly couple read the newspaper on a couch while a large lemon and white Basset Hound sleeps curled across their laps.Harold and Bea Sat Down to Read the Paper. Waffles Thinks He's a Lap Dog.An elderly couple in hats sit on an old dock with a fishing rod while a lemon and white Basset Hound stands beside them.Harold Brought the Fishing Rod, Bea Brought Her Sun Hat, and Waffles Brought the Face
An elderly couple paint together at a wooden easel in the backyard while a lemon and white Basset Hound lies at their feet.Two Brushes, One Canvas, and a Basset Hound Who Picked the Best Spot in the YardAn elderly couple brush a lemon and white Basset Hound standing on wooden back steps lit by a warm porch lamp at dusk.Brushing Night on the Back Steps. Waffles Has Strong Feelings About It.An elderly couple in winter coats shovel a snowy driveway while a lemon and white Basset Hound plays in the snow.Harold and Bea Were Shoveling Out the Driveway. Waffles Found the Biggest Drift.An elderly couple with rakes laugh as a lemon and white Basset Hound bounds into a pile of autumn leaves, ears flying.Harold and Bea Raked Every Leaf in the Yard Into One Perfect Pile. Then Came Waffles.