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Welcome to Get Sleepy, where we listen, we relax, and we get sleepy.
My name's Thomas.
Whether this is your first time listening or one of many times you've joined us, we are so grateful that you're here.
Get Sleepy has been running for a number of years now, and everything you hear on the show is written, recorded and produced by our wonderful team of creative and talented people.
Real people pouring our love and care into everything we do.
So thank you for your support and for trusting in us to help you get a good night's sleep.
This evening, we're going to join our old friends Alice and her rescue pup, Quill.
We first met them in a story called A Dreamy Day of Geocaching, which we released on March 18th 2024.
While this story follows the same characters, you can enjoy this one independently too.
And of course, you're welcome to go back and listen to the other one another time.
Thank you to Alicia Levesque for writing it, and to Vanessa, who'll be narrating it for us shortly.
So, let's settle into bed with some calming deep breathing.
First, make sure you're in a comfortable position, one where you can breathe fully and with control.
Now, softly and slowly, allow your diaphragm to open up and create space to breathe in as fully as possible.
And hold that nourishing air in stillness for a few seconds.
Before you steadily release it back out.
As you breathe in again.
Sense how the air filters to every part of your body, nourishing your muscles, your organs, your bones and every cell.
And with each exhale you release anything unnecessary tension, excess energy and any burdensome thoughts.
Enjoy the flow and rhythm of breathing at your own relaxed pace and know that this soothing natural process is going to guide you into a beautiful night's rest.
In fact, even before you drift off to sleep, Simply relaxing and bringing your awareness to the breath is giving your body so much goodness.
Life can be stressful and demanding, but every day you can find moments to enjoy some restorative, deep breathing.
To recenter yourself and let go of those unhelpful energies and stresses.
And even if your day feels too busy to take those moments, you'll always have this time right here, when you come to bed and restfully wind down.
Let's take one last deep breath together before I leave you to peacefully enjoy our story.
Breathe in slowly and fully.
Hold for a moment.
And then, steadily let it flow all the way back out.
Now that our minds are quiet and our bodies are settled, let's enjoy a special day with Alice and Quill as they embark on a new adventure.
On a sunny weekday morning, Alice stepped back on the sidewalk and shielded her eyes as she looked up to admire her work.
The sign above her read Grand Opening.
She was pleased to see that she had managed to hang it evenly on her first try.
In her hand, she held the end of a bright green leash.
She looked down at Quill, her beloved rescue pup, who was faithfully sitting beside her and gazing up at the sign.
What do you think? she asked him.
At the sound of Alice's voice, Quill's tail began wagging with excitement.
Alice laughed as she bent down to hug him.
You inspired all of this, Quill, she said.
It was one hour before opening, and they were ahead of schedule.
With the extra time, Alice decided that she and Quill would be their own first customers and enjoy breakfast together.
She placed her hand on the brass handle and took in a deep breath, grounding herself.
Then she ushered Quill inside and bent to remove his leash.
They stood still for a moment before Quill took off gleefully, his wet little nose sniffing each new thing in their bakery.
This bakery was extra special.
Alice named it Quill's Barkery, since it not only served delectable human treats, but also natural homemade dog treats.
Walking over to the display case, Alice took her time admiring each delicacy.
On the side containing human treats, there were tender scones dotted with chocolate chips, blueberries and various other dried fruits.
A large coffee cake was sliced into generous portions with rich cinnamon crumb that swirled throughout, and various fruit pies took center stage the bright jewel tones of their fruit fillings giving a beautiful burst of color to the pastry case.
Rounding out the selection were homemade cake donuts.
They were drizzled with different flavors of glaze and nestled between rows of jumbo cookies in all the classic varieties.
Alice felt a warm sense of pride growing in her heart.
She had made all of these lovely pastries.
As she went over to look at the canine pastry case, she inhaled the sweet aromas permeating the air around her.
If it smelled this good to her, she couldn't imagine how it must smell to Quill.
Standing in front of the canine case, as she liked to call it, she felt Quill bump her leg and look down to see his little nose working overtime.
Alice crouched down and put her arm around him as they stood still taking in this side of the bakery together.
The canine case was every bit as charming as its counterpart, and Alice marveled at how perfectly they mirrored each other.
The canine cookies looked delicious.
She had rows of cookies alternating with rows of cupcakes in several different flavors, with a miniature bone-shaped biscuit topping each one.
In the center, there was a huge cake that said Quill's Barkery in a rich brown icing.
It was flavored using carob, a natural chocolate alternative that dogs could eat and enjoy safely.
On top of the case sat a jar of dog-friendly biscotti, which she had wittily named Barkscotti.
And next to the case, she had placed a sign advertising the popsicles she kept in the freezer.
Alice walked around to the other side of the counter and behind the pastry cases.
There, she stopped to grab a cupcake for Quill and a scone for herself.
After setting down Quill's treat, Alice went over to the rustic table and settled into a comfy chair.
Lifting up the scone, she broke it in half delicately and held it up to her nose, savoring the comforting smell.
Peanut butter and banana had always been her favorite combination, and it reminded her of the sandwiches her mom used to put in her lunchbox.
Fortunately for Quill, dogs could have those two tasty foods as well.
Taking a bite of her scone.
She looked down to see Quill licking the peanut butter frosting off his cupcake.
Alice smiled as she realized that she had selected the same flavor for quill as she had for herself.
He always seemed to love peanut butter and banana as much as she did.
Looking up at the clock, Alice saw that she still had some time before opening.
She reached across the table for the daily newspaper that she had picked up earlier this morning.
Her own face looked back at her from the article entitled Dog-Friendly Bakery Gets Ready for Grand Opening.
At the sound of the rustling paper, Quilt looked up at Alice to see what she was doing.
Want me to read it out loud? she asked.
Quill let out a little whine that Alice took as a yes.
Setting down the rest of her scone, she began to read.
The article started with the very best part, the story of how Quill had come into Alice's life.
A few years ago Alice was out on one of her usual walks when she overheard a conversation.
Some people were talking about two stray dogs that were running around near the trails in the local park.
Alice had grown up with dogs and had always had a soft spot for them.
Feeling compelled, she went to the local pet store and picked up a leash and some treats.
Then, not sure where to start, she headed toward her favorite walking trail.
She opened the bag of treats and shook them as she walked, scanning back and forth for any signs of movement.
As she came to a clearing, there was the most precious little puppy sleeping in the sunlight.
She approached him slowly, not wanting to startle him.
And then, very carefully, she lowered herself to the grass to sit down next to him.
His little head rose slowly, and his nose began to twitch at the scent of the treats.
Alice pulled a treat out of the bag and offered it to him.
He was slightly timid, but the savory smell of the treat won out and he cautiously took it from Alice's hand.
After a few more treats, Alice tentatively tried to pet him.
He shied away at first, but soon he was in her lap eating the best treats he had ever had in his puppy life.
Alice searched for the second dog for a while.
But after seeing no sign, she took her new best friend home.
The rest, as they say, was history.
The second half of the article went into what had inspired Alice to start a bakery, for people and dogs alike.
It was such a sweet and unusual endeavor that the reporter had wanted to hear the full scoop.
Alice had always loved to bake, and she considered it her love language.
So it was only natural that she would bake for Quill, too.
After researching the topic and making a careful list of ingredients that were safe for dogs, Alice got to work experimenting.
When it came to taste testing, Quill was patient and honest.
There were a few early creations that he simply left on the floor, giving Alice a look so apologetic that she couldn't help but chuckle.
As with everything, mistakes made wonderful teachers, and soon Alice was baking up treats that Quill couldn't get enough of.
A short while later, on one of their many adventures, Alice and Quill came across a bakery for dogs.
It was so charming, and they absolutely loved the people and pups they met there.
Alice couldn't wait to talk about it.
That evening she shared the tales of their adventure with her parents and brother on their weekly family night.
She told them all about the dog bakery and how much they had loved it.
She wished they had something like that close by.
Right away, her family encouraged her to open up her own.
For years, they had been telling her she needed to open a bakery.
So why not sell her dog treats there too?
It could be called Quill's Barkery, her brother had said.
They all fell in love with the name and the clever play on words.
With the help of her family, Alice had purchased and renovated a previously empty building on the main street, a place to fill with the love she baked into each and every treat.
The article ended with kind, heartfelt words from the reporter, along with the official dates and times to come see Alice and Quill at their new location.
Setting the paper back on the table, Alice felt filled with gratitude.
Then, as she finished her last bit of scone, she realized it was time.
Taking a deep breath, she placed Quill in his special enclosed area before walking over to open the doors of their new adventure.
Here we go, Quill, she said as she pulled the string on the open sign.
The moment Alice stepped behind the counter, she heard the bell ding.
Quill went to the edge of his enclosure to greet their first customers.
The man bent down to pet Quill on his head as the husky next to him trotted up slowly.
It's okay, girl, the man said.
And at her owner's encouragement, the husky came up to give Quill a sniff.
The two dogs were fast friends, and Alice and her new customer smiled at the interaction.
As the man approached the case, Alice noticed how he looked at everything before he slowly came back around to the pies.
She made sure to let him know that the blueberry, pumpkin and apple pies all had dog-friendly versions as well.
Loving the idea, the man ordered a slice of blueberry pie for himself and one for his beautiful husky.
Alice served up the slices, putting the dog-friendly one on a bone-shaped plate.
Smiling at the charming treats, the man remarked that if Alice didn't use a bone-shaped plate for the dogs, he might not be able to tell which was which.
The sincere compliment warmed Alice's heart.
Baking was her passion, and she put as much into making the dog treats taste good as she did the human ones.
As soon as her first customers got seated, a couple more came in.
It seemed like every time one person sat down, there was another coming in right after.
It continued to be steady until lunchtime, when a small line began to form.
Alice smiled at the sight.
While she was quite busy, she never felt overwhelmed.
She had prepared for this, making sure plenty of treats were already baked.
Her family had helped her set up her front counter to operate with exceptional efficiency, and it seemed they had thought of everything.
The lunch rush went smoothly, and Alice even saw a few people come in without canine companions.
Whether they had a dog with them or not, everyone stopped to pet Quill.
He was a gracious little host, basking in all the attentions.
That afternoon, people made new friends bonding over their shared love of dogs and sweets.
It was only day one, but Alice thought she might end up with a few regulars before long.
As late afternoon rolled around, the seating area slowly emptied.
Alice was just about to start cleaning up when she heard the door chime.
But before she could turn around, Quill told her who had arrived.
He only got that excited when her dad came to visit.
Alice smiled as he walked in the door with Rue, his English bulldog following close by.
She ran over to give her dad a hug before bending down to hug Rue as well.
Rue was panting with excitement.
Her wrinkly little face stretched into a smile.
Alice laughed and hugged her again.
Since Rue was her dad's girl, Alice always referred to her as her little sister.
She certainly couldn't have asked for a better one.
Alice was so excited to tell her dad about how well her first day had gone so far.
Looking around at the seating area, it wasn't hard for him to imagine.
Picking up a broom, he convinced his daughter to take a well-deserved break with the dogs while he did the cleanup.
Alice wanted to say no, but she realized that her body needed the break and she never passed up an opportunity to hang out with Rue.
Thanking her dad, she opened Quill's enclosure and walked over to get herself a snack.
Just then, she heard a bark she immediately recognized as Rue's and looked to see where she was.
Naturally, she was sitting in front of the canine pastry case, barking for Alice to get her a snack as well.
Alice and her dad started laughing at the same time.
Rue was much too smart, and she loved to remind them of that.
As Alice walked across to the canine case, Rue wiggled with excitement.
Alice reached for the peanut butter and applesauce cupcake, which was Rue's favorite flavor.
She also grabbed a doggy donut for Quill and they both followed Alice to the little couch she had in the corner.
After they'd enjoyed their treats, both pups got on the couch, with Alice Roo one side and Quill on the other.
Alice smiled down at them.
She loved them both so much and she cherished the moments when she had both Quill and Rue sitting beside her.
While Quill was black and white, looking dapper in his natural tuxedo markings...
Roo was white with light brown patches.
Alice thought they just might be the two most beautiful dogs in the world.
Petting their soft fur was always so calming.
And by the time her dad came over, Alice realized she had dozed off a little bit.
I guess I needed that break more than I thought I did, said Alice.
She thanked her dad for all that he'd done.
And before she got back to work, she made sure to get him a dessert.
As she was bagging it up, Alice's dad asked if he could get a chocolate chip cookie for her mom.
He and Rue would be stopping by to surprise her at work.
At the word mom, Rue started to wiggle her sturdy little body with excitement.
With her exuberant personality, she never failed to bring her family joy.
As they left, Alice couldn't help but smile at the way Rue sashayed out the door, her little bulldog legs, carrying her with such authority.
She watched as her dad lovingly lifted Rue into his car, her wrinkly expressive face looking at him with adoration.
As they pulled away, another car parked in their place, and a young woman and a dog got out.
Alice did a double take.
The dog looked remarkably like Quill.
And as the woman entered the bakery...
Alice recognized her immediately.
Hello there, new neighbor, said Alice.
The woman smiled back and officially introduced herself as Tori.
She then gestured to the pup at the end of the purple leash, whose name was Kira.
Yeah.
Both women smiled as Quill ran up to Kira and they started sniffing each other.
If it wasn't for the fact that Quill's collar was green and Kira's was purple, one might not be able to tell them apart.
As Alice looked up, she noticed Tori staring at them. just as intently.
The similarity is remarkable, said Tori.
Alice expressed her wholehearted agreement as she stepped behind the counter and got ready to serve her new guest.
Tori ordered a jumbo snickerdoodle cookie for herself and a canine version for Kira.
Alice smiled as she plated the desserts.
She always found herself picking treats for Quill that mirrored her own as well.
As Tori walked over to a table, she looked at Kira in surprise.
Kira followed her everywhere, but at this moment she was completely engaged with the sweet pup who could be her twin.
They're sure having fun, aren't they? said Alice.
Tori nodded as she chewed her first bite of the cookie.
It was one of the best she had ever tasted.
The cookie was thick yet soft, with just the perfect amount of cinnamon flavor coming through.
Seeing the look of delight on her customer's face, Alice felt a sense of joy.
And hearing the happy yips of the two dogs behind her, she was thankful Quill was experiencing his own joy.
Tori had seen Quill many times when she went to work on her new house.
But she realized that Alice hadn't gotten to see Kira yet.
Tori explained that work on her new home was coming along fantastically.
It just wasn't quite safe to bring Kira over to explore it yet.
Hopefully in a few short weeks the house would be ready for both Tori and Kira to live there full-time.
Alice smiled.
The first few times she had talked with Tori, she thought she would make a great neighbor.
Now, seeing Quill and Kira playing like this, Alice couldn't wait for them to move in.
As they talked about their pups, the conversation drifted to how Tori had found Kira.
She had been volunteering at an animal shelter in a neighboring town the day Kira was brought in.
The person who brought Kira said she had been running around with another dog who looked just like her, but they were only able to catch one.
It was love at first sight for both Tori and Kira, and the puppy went home with her that same week.
Noticing the similarities in the story, Alice told Tori about how she had found Quill.
She had also looked for the mysterious other dog she had heard about, but to no avail.
The two women compared the timelines as they looked over at their sweet pups, who had clearly already figured out what Alice and Tori were finally realizing.
Quill's sister was going to be living right next door to him.
Alice and Tori's excitement grew at the idea and they continued talking, planning all sorts of playdates for their little canine siblings.
By the time Tori and Kira were ready to leave, Alice felt the warm blossoming of new friendship.
It was finally closing time, and Quill looked just as sleepy and content as Alice.
As they stood at the door, Alice took a moment to be still and let the day sink in.
Their first day had been nothing short of magic.
The feeling of seeing her treats enjoyed by each customer, two-legged and four-legged alike, was something that could never get old.
They had seen their dear friends and made new ones.
Alice couldn't have imagined a more perfect first day in all of her wildest dreams.
Taking one last look at the bakery.
She shut the lights off and let the door close softly the grandest opening she could have ever hoped for.
Thank you.
