THE FACE THAT CHARMS FROM THE ARM OF THE COUCH

My sweetspouse Martha and I were watching some British mystery together one night last week and she snapped a photo of me because I’d nodded off in her alternate recliner. She was in her other recliner. I have no recliner but I do have a spot on the couch if the dogs will let me sit there.
Anyway, in the photo, my eyes are shut, I’ve turned my body sideways, I’m not reclIned and my mouth is open wide enough to trap flying beasts if I’d nodded off outside.
And when I saw the photo I've posted here, I was envious of our dog Dudley the Angel. That is the picture that I wish had been me. What a face! Thus Dudley, a dog who wandered into our animal kingdom, is this weekend’s featured canine in Let Sleeping Dogs Lie & Napping Cats Nap. 
Isn’t that quite a slumbermug! 
You can see why he’s using the arm of the couch as a pillow — he had to make sure he left enough room for Martha’s dog, Wendy (Wedneday Louise Wagstaff Arden). They’re pals, Wendy and Dudley.

He loves for me to ruffle his thick coat —it’s the result of Border Collie and Chocolate Lab cross-breeding -- probably by accident. He has four white paws, a white blaze and a white tip on his tail. Plus there’s this white strip on his handsome muzzle. And his hair looks black at first glance, but then, in the sun, you see the brown coming through — and as his first vet, Dr. Vladi deJong, announced while hugging him, “Look at that — Border Collie and Chocolate Lab! This is a pretty dog!”

We cherish all our dogs and cats and I deeply envy those Earth creatures who can drop off and snooze on a whim. I have to plan sleeping. These mutts and cats look up at me when I’m and just shut down happily.
That’s something to envy.
Martha can do it when I’m talking. But, of course, I hang on her every word. I don’t want to nod off because she may be on the brink of saying something funny — or important.
I’ve noticed that the dogs and cats tend to listen to her, too. For me to hold their attention, I have to open  cookies packed in a bag that oughta carry a label warning “CAUTION DOG PEOPLE: EXTRA LOUD PLASTIC BAG.
Yes, I love dog faces and cat faces. I’m iffy on photos of my own face. Not as charming as a dog’s face -- awake or sleeping.
[DEAR READERS:That is my cat Stevie Ray demonstrating dignified and stylish cat-napping. If your cat can nap or your dog can sleep or any critter in your household or barn or pasture can nod off, send a photo and the story of that family member to [email protected] and we’ll post it in our long-running weekend feature, Let Sleeping Dogs Lie & Napping Cats Nap. Remember, you’ll be inspiring other people to open their homes to an animal. You’ll also be helping insomniacs in their quest for sleep — for example, they’ll try to bend their heads from their necks at a 45 degree angle while flopping on the couch. Insomniacs will try anything legal and some things that aren’t to get a full night’s restful sleep. And that last photo looks like Dudley is listening to me, but the woman he adores -- must I say "Martha"? -- was standing behind me and talking and he was as "all ears" as a flop-eared dog can be!]
— Offer sleeping tips or pillow advice by clicking on ‘comment’ or by emailing [email protected] and put FEAR OF HELL IS THE INSOMNIAC’S BED PARTNER in the subject line. It’s not, but that’s scary enough to keep you awake. —-