Shopping With Ken Sails Into Bellwether Harbor

​During decades of writing in this and other venues reference has occasionally been made to a deep and abiding partiality personally held toward canine quadrupeds. Among the list of the  better friends SWK has ever known exists a number of distinguished dogs and I have been honored to have several share their lives with us.
Over the years there has also been a cluster of cats sharing quarters and coexisting with us. Though not one to get too close to cats (allergies) there has always been an enduring respect for the felines  who took us on as house staff existing only to meet their needs and respond to their whims.
Though currently dogless and catless we have granddogs who visit and have housed one or more of a trio of grandcats off and on. My esteem for these marvelous creatures and the majority of their brethren knows few boundaries and my judgmental side can emerge when confronted with a human who disdains them. I’ve found if one is  puzzled as to the trustworthiness of someone newly met it is handy to find a way to ask their feelings about dogs. If they don’t respond with appropriate enthusiasm there’s a personal tendency to become a bit wary.

Bellwether Harbor does wonderful work.Their services are many, their compassion for the work is vast and their hearts are in the right place. I have visited several times and always come away with a high level of regard for their mission.
SWK’s late companion Shotgun always insisted they be included on our list of recommended shopping stops for the family pet(s)  but this year the gifts we are recommending are for the humanoids on your list.
Calendars.
We all need them and the house where SWK is allowed to reside (because of the depth of patience possessed by LSC Lil) generally features a couple in key spots for quick reference which comes.in handy if your phone is lost.. I mean... if unlike SWK you know how to use the one on your phone.
Bellwether has put together what is perhaps the perfect calendars for the dog and/or cat lover on your list and seriously, if they don’t like animals should they really be on that list anyway?
But I digress.
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These great gifting opportunities  are  $20 each and can be found  at Bellwether Harbor,  NCCA- ArtsPlace, or Liberty Jewelers in Fremont, or can be purchased online at https://shop.theprintshop.biz
Themed off of famous movies , each month features a caricature of one of the BH  shelter animals in the starring role of a familiar film. The story of the animal is on the back of each month along with the photo that was used as the inspiration.
The creative keepsakes involved a collaborative effort from the imaginative mind of Genji Leclair, the artful eye of Treasured Images by Jeffrey, and the discriminating design skills of Kiki Kolakowski.  
Brandmark Goods and The Original Print Shop produced the calendar design and production.

Buy one. Or maybe buy a couple. Look, there are people on your list who spend hours looking at cat or dog videos online so you know a calendar of cuteness will be right up their alley right?
And if you make your purchase at Bellwether or NCCA-Artsplace make sure you tell them Ken sent you and I am certain you will be met with a puzzled look and the time honored reply…..
“Ken who?”
Time's a’wastin’  because the Big Day is approaching with the speed of a runaway train (or sleigh) so get hopping you petulant procrastinators.
And again, should you have an interesting shop for us to visit or a product that deserves mentioning send an email to [email protected] and Shopping With Ken will do our best to check it out.

In the meantime remember..
Buy Local
Be Local
Embrace The Mitten