Today, we got a package in our mailbox from Laura Pakain, who lives in Nyack, N.Y., and makes soap with people’s dogs inside of them.

This is something new for me; she had lovely representations of Zinnia, Fate, and Bud (I guess she couldn’t find a black and white plastic figure for Fate. She came close, though.)

I told Maria I wouldn’t be comfortable soaping myself with my dogs, but she explained that the idea was to use the soap and keep the dog figures.

Anyway, Laura included a letter explaining that she makes these animal soaps every winter and sells them in a local lingerie shop as a fundraiser for local dog and cat rescue groups.

She said she’s been meaning for a while to send some Bedlam Farm dog soaps, and she made this one with us in mind.

Thanks, Laura, that is flattering and humbling.

Laura is a long-time reader of my books and blog, “and I’ve bought some of Maria’s wonderful yarn.”

“Years ago,” she wrote, “I had the same idea as you, to buy a farm for my dogs, but I’m still stuck here in Nyack. You both do beautiful things for people! Thanks, Laura.”

Thanks to you, Laura, reading your letter, I was thinking back to why I bought the farm, and over the years, I’ve learned that I got it for me, the dogs were a kind of excuse.

I learned that I could move all I wanted, but the problem was that I always came with me.

I love the soap, but it’s so appealing and accurate I think I could never use it.

With Maria’s permission, I’ll bring it into my study. Thanks, and good luck with your soap and rescue work. Jon