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A white-haired woman plays an old upright piano while a white Bichon Frise in a red collar sits on the wooden bench. 20 / 39

Grandma Ruth Went to Play the Old Piano. Someone Had Already Taken the Bench.

AI imagebichon frisepianomusic

An old upright piano with a warm, worn finish takes up one wall of the sunny room, its keys a little yellowed from years of songs. Ruth stands beside it in her quilted vest and blue shirt, resting her fingers on the keys as she picks out a tune. Cotton has claimed the piano bench all for himself, sitting tall and proud in a red collar, looking straight ahead like a performer waiting for applause. Family photos, a thermos, a plant, and a stack of sheet music crowd the top of the piano, and colorful afghans are draped over the furniture behind them.

Many dogs react to music in interesting ways. Some seem relaxed by soft melodies, some ignore it entirely, and a few like to howl along, especially to high notes. Because dogs have sensitive ears, it is worth watching their body language when you play. A relaxed dog will stay nearby, lie down, or even doze off, while a dog who flattens its ears, paces, or leaves the room may find the sound too loud. For older adults, playing an instrument is a lovely hobby that keeps the hands and mind busy, and having a furry audience can make practice feel a little more special.

Cotton may not read sheet music, but he clearly has opinions about the best seat in the house. With a duet partner this devoted, Ruth's afternoon concerts are always sold out.

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A white-haired woman in glasses and a quilted vest sits in a porch chair beside a white Bichon Frise as rain falls outside.The Storm Rolled In and Grandma Stepped Out to the Porch. Cotton Followed.A smiling white-haired woman in a quilted vest sways in a kitchen while a happy white Bichon Frise wags its tail beside her.Her Favorite Song Came On While She Was Cooking. Grandma Couldn't Help Herself.
A white-haired woman in a green vest and plaid shirt smiles at a white Bichon Frise in a pumpkin patch full of orange gourds.Grandma Went to Pick the Perfect Pumpkin. Cotton Seemed to Have Already Chosen.An older woman in glasses works on a jigsaw puzzle at a kitchen table while a white Bichon Frise watches from a wooden chair.Grandma Ruth Was Stuck on the Puzzle. Her Bichon Pulled Up a Chair to Help.A white-haired woman in a green vest sits in a wooden rocking chair while a white Bichon Frise sleeps on a rug at her feet.The Rocking Chair Started to Creak. Cotton Already Knew What That Meant.An older woman in a green vest moves a checker on a wooden board while a white Bichon Frise rests its chin on the table.Grandma Was About to Make Her Winning Move at Checkers. Then She Saw That Face.