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A white-haired woman in a quilted vest naps on the lawn at dusk with her head resting on a sleeping black and white dog. 3 / 33

Grandma Lay Down in the Grass at Dusk. She Found the Softest Pillow in Town.

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Dusk is settling over the backyard, the porch light has flicked on, and Grandma Nell has found the softest pillow in the neighborhood. She lies on her side in the cool grass, eyes closed, her white curls resting right on top of Pepper's shoulder. Pepper is fast asleep too, head down between his white-tipped paws, his scruffy black coat and white chest blaze rising and falling slowly. Her green quilted vest bunches up around her, and behind them, potted flowers and a lit doorway glow gently in the evening.

Sleeping close to a pet is something many people find soothing, and there is a lot of everyday wisdom behind it. The steady breathing and warmth of a dog can feel calming, and for older adults who live alone, that physical closeness can ease feelings of loneliness. Rescue dogs in particular often form deep bonds with the people who give them a second chance. If you nap outdoors with a dog, keep an eye on the season. Evening grass can harbor ticks and fleas, so regular checks and the preventive care your vet recommends are worth keeping up with.

Pepper does not seem to mind being used as a pillow. If anything, he looks like he would happily stay this way all night.

The stars will come out soon, and someone will eventually have to go inside. But not quite yet.

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A white-haired woman in glasses waters pink petunias from a metal can while a black and white dog with a red collar watches.Grandma Nell Was Watering Her Petunias. Pepper Took His Job Very Seriously.A white-haired woman in a navy quilted vest sits on a wooden dock holding a fishing rod as a black and white dog sniffs it.Grandma Brought Her Rod Down to the Foggy Dock. Pepper Had to Inspect It First.
A white-haired woman in glasses and a green vest carries a small fluffy black and white dog up wooden porch steps at dusk.The Walk Ran a Little Long. Grandma Nell Made It Home With Pepper a Different Way.A white-haired woman in glasses reads a newspaper on a sofa while a black and white dog naps across her lap.Grandma Nell Opened the Morning Paper. Pepper Opened Up Her Whole Lap.A white-haired woman in a quilted vest picks a red apple from a tree while a scruffy dog sniffs fallen apples.Grandma Was Picking Apples Off the Tree. Pepper Found Something Better on the Ground.A white-haired woman in a black quilted vest sits in a wooden rocking chair while a black dog sleeps on a woven rug below.Grandma's Rocking Chair Creaks Every Afternoon. Pepper Knows Just Where to Lie.