I am a fiction writer trying to learn how to write memoir, in small manageable bites. My dog, Cricket, is small and she bites, so I thought she could help.
Cricket is a fourteen pound Cockapoo (cocker spaniel/poodle mix), born on July 13th 2007. She has a strong grasp of the english language, when she wants to. But, most important, she is my social bridge. In the real world, she drags me outside to meet my neighbors, and random strangers with dogs who smell interesting. I’m hoping she can act as my social bridge online, as well, despite the lack of obvious smell.
update: We added Butterfly to the family on November 20th 2012. She was rescued from a puppy mill at eight years old and has added years to the life of this blog.
Butterfly before her bath
update: Miss Butterfly died at age 12 and 3/4, after almost five years of wonderfulness. It took us a year to find a new dog to keep Cricket company, but I’m pretty sure Butterfly found Ellie for us. Ellie came to us in July of 2018, a five year old Havanese, recently retired from a breeder.
I recently self published my first novel, Yeshiva Girl, with Amazon. Please check it out!
You can reach me at: cricketpages@earthlink.net
rachelmankowitz 
Hi Rachel! I’m a bit distracted from your writing I’m afraid – my friend and I have been fawning over your dog <3.
Thanks for looking in on my page! 🙂
I get distracted by my dogs all the time too!
Hi Rachel! I got caught up reading your blog tonight. Love it! I have one little white dog named Zoey. She is part Bichon Frise and part Maltese. She is my little girl! It’s difficult to go anywhere without her! She follows me from room to room when I’m at home. She sits up late at night with me when I write. I don’t know why I’m telling you all of this. I just think you would understand. lol! Something tells me we would be great friends! I just wanted to connect briefly! 🙂 Hope you have a wonderful New Years! Thanks for checking out my blogs too!
Happy New Year! And you’re right, I totally understand the joys of a little white dog (or two!).
Yours are lovely!
Hi Rachel, nice to meet you! I am really happy that you like my most recent post. Have a splendid day!
You too!
Hi, Rachel! Thanks for liking my snippet from my memoir. I must warn you – there will be more! That chapter was the easiest of all since I knew my mom :-). The whole thing took me five years to complete. It was not easy. But being in a critique circle helped. Those people helped me whip it into shape.
Love your dogs. We have a rescue named Gracie, who weighs about 50 pounds. She’s a rescue and a mix of Australian Shepherd, Springer Spaniel, and some kind(s) of hound. She’s a mess but makes us laugh a lot.
Looking forward to reading your posts!
Thank you!
Sorry. WordPress, or my browser, is not allowing me to “like” a post. Still trying. Anyway…
Thank you!!!
I am having trouble commenting on your post Exodus-from-Egypt-song. But I hear you Rachel Mankowitz. I look forward to reading your novel xx
Thank you so much!!!
Hi Rachel ! thanks for visiting my blog ! ( lemon cake recipe ) My official website is over at http://www.bakelikeapro.com ( the one you commented on is a mirror ) I’m also on Facebook : http://www.facebook.com/bakelikeapro Thanks for visiting ! I appreciated it ! 🙂
Thank you for Cricket’s and your interest in following my blog. Stay well both of you.
Pingback: Authors’ Recognition Award I – View from the Back
HI, Rachel! Just wanted to stop by and thank you for your continued support for my blog. I know you read it regularly and hope that you have benefited as a result. That’s the whole idea. Love your pups. Just finished walking my Gabi who will turn 15 in December. Happy and safe Fourth!
Thank you! And happy fourth of July!
You’re entirely welcome!
Hi Rachel! No, I’m not back on WordPress, but I had to say something. He was a good guy.
I hope you’re well.
Thank you! You too!
Hi Rachel, thanks for visiting my blog. I see we have have both chosen the same WordPress theme! We also have our white dogs in common–except ours probably outweighs yours combined by at least 55 lbs, LOL. He is a large old greyhound.
Cricket thinks she’s a tiny, fluffy Greyhound! She also thinks she’s a goat, a rabbit, and a cat.
Hi Rachel, thank you for liking my blog posts always! I want a dog like Cricket to teach me English and drag me out to see more people. 🙂
You’re welcome! Cricket is very proficient at English but she is likely to scare people away from you. She is a BIG barker!
I really enjoyed this page. Cricket, what a cutie pie, and Ms. Butterfly – may she rest in peace. My dog Lola was also a rescue mix. She passed away in 2014 and I haven’t had the heart to get adopt another. It hurt. But so sweet seeing Ellie’s sweet face <3.
Thank you!!
Rachel, hope you post more. I can’t find any posts that I haven’t liked already!
Uh oh!!!!!
Rachel, you are always the first reader on my posts, and it means so much to me. It lets me know I am not posting in a vacuum, and someone is out there hearing me. Thank you for that great gift.
You are so welcome!
Hi Rachel, thanks for visiting my blog! Enjoyed looking at yours – great writing and a cute dog – what more could one ask for?
Thank you!
I think I’ve run out of posts by you to Like. Please post more!
Ha! I’m working on it!
Rachel, I was wondering if you do any collaborating with fellow bloggers ?
I haven’t so far. What kind of collaboration were you thinking of?
My wife Rachel Hershkowitz says: “If you can’t rust your father, always trust your dog!”
Dogs are the best!
Hi Rachel, Can you PM me?
I like the idea of your dog as a social bridge, both on walks and online!
Me too! Thank you!
Hi Rachel,
Cricket is wonderful – what a great friend and companion!
I’ve enjoyed finding your blog, thank you!
E 🙂
Thank you!
Rachel, I feel like a dog with flea when corresponding with a person who has so many followers, I can feel the bite but don’t know exactly where to scratch, so I limit my self to just a few~!
I did find your writing on the pawpaw tree interesting and no person worth while could not enjoying writing, reading and living with animals. So bear with me and I will try to keep up. In the meantime you may enjoy my Tami who jumps in front of the camera every time I get it out,,,,,,do you have this problem too~???
SAM VOELKER
My dogs tend to give me side eye when I try to take their pictures. They think I’m weird. But they love me anyway!
Rachel, a blog through the eyes of your dogs? Interesting perspective. I enjoyed the read. Thank you. “”__””
Thank you!
Hello there! Many thanks for following The Monching’s Guide. Cute dogs, by the way!
Greetings Rachel,
thank you so much for stopping by and leaving a like. You made my morning (together with the first cup of coffee). Your fur babies are adorable! Have a pawesome day, stay healthy and safe. ❤
Thank you!
Awww! Your puppies!
Thank you!
Hi Rachel, thank you so much for following my blog and liking a number of my posts. Your blog is awesome and so I will follow yours too. Have an amazing day. Betty
You too!
Write what moves you. It’s the only thing that matters. Ever.
I will try! Thank you!
Love your dogs! I used to have a Bichon frise called peachy when i lived in usa. She passed in 2013.
Best wishes with your new book! I recently published a picture book on Amazon. Thanks for visiting my blog btw.
Thank you!!
Thank you so much for visiting our blog. I hope you like our funny stories we write. I also must admit your book intrigued me. Olga
Thank you!!!
Thank you!!
Hi Rachel,
I’ve been reading you for a while now, and you have given me the courage to talk about the things I wouldn’t dare to before. Also, I’m at an age and others have since passed. If you ever get a chance to read some of my early forays into this area, I would love your feedback. We have many things in common I think. My new writings are at ossibell . com
That’s awesome!!!!
Hi Rachel, one of your article is featured in Weekendreads. Visit the site, weekendreads.me, sign up, and claim your article as a guest blogger.Feel free to email us if you have any question. https://lekh.co/a-blessing-a-day/