Remembering Buford’s visits. A chance meeting with Buford’s owner prompted me to paint from a photo I took in 2016 when Buford would make his daily treks to the Folk School.

Each workday morning when the Craft Shop was opeining, he would be sitting outside the glass doors, longingly looking in. Those brown eyes and that red collar had captivated me. One morning, when the sun was casting perfect side lighting, I took a few photos. I would paint Buford. But as sometimes happens with working full-time, you don’t always have time to do everything, you would like.

Buford’s visits stopped a year or so later. Fast forward to 2024 when a visitor in the Craft Shop told me she was Buford’s owner. We reminisced. I loved hearing Buford was 18 years young and happily living at home, still wearing his red collar and winning hearts with those big brown eyes.

Here’s a tribute to Buford and all our pets we love.