SPRING CLEANING: It was 100 years ago this month that St.
Bernard Church was being renovated – no easy matter in those days
before fancy lifts.

According to a May 1907 Era, “fully 16,000 feet of lumber have
been in use as scaffolding.

“While the actual effect of the work cannot be satisfactorily
seen on account of the scaffolding, enough of the new frescoing is
shown to indicate its artistic beauty. Colors were used which would
best harmonize with the woodwork of the interior.

“The main and side altars are to be treated in white and gold …
the predominating color of the decorations in a russet tint
graduated to a buff toward the ceilings and ornamented throughout
with gold and color.

“The ceiling over the side aisles and sanctuaries is blended in
blue and gold, producing a very pretty effect.”

IT’S IN THE WAG: We all know that dogs are man’s best friend,
but how do we know if our dogs like us?

Apparently, the answer can be found in their tails – more
specifically, the direction in which a dog wags its tail.

When dogs feel positive about something or someone, their tails
wag predominantly to the right. If their tail-wagging is
left-leaning – look out.

That’s what researchers at the University of Wisconsin have
found out in their studies of a dog’s “body language.”

The research showed when dogs spot their owners, they wag their
tails more to the right sides of their bodies, but less so when
they see someone they don’t know. Even the sight of a cat causes
them to wag to the right – but ever so slightly.

But put an angry, unfamiliar pooch in front of them, and the
pointer goes left.

That denotes fear, the research shows. That matches human brain
research that shows the left brain, which controls the right side
of the body, signals positive feelings, and the right brain, which
controls our left-side movements, signals fear and/or
depression.

Apparently, the test doesn’t work with cats since one of our
newsroom employees couldn’t make heads nor tails out of her cat’s
tail-wagging.

We studied our dog, but her tail wagged in a circle. The
research didn’t address what that means in dog-speak, but we have a
feeling it’s positive.

We’d like to know if any of our readers have any tales to tell
about their dogs’ tails.