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Who Are you?

After posting Love is the Key on January 19th of this year, it still stands. I just love my dogs.

Maybe they have replaced caring for my granddaughters full time. LOL I do call Teddy Roosevelt (the pup) Penny June (the girl) from time to time. I have even called Penny Teddy, oops.

It must be the mothering thing. It just doesn’t go away as time goes by, it changes. I like that. After all, as we grow out of childhood into adulthood and the decades that entails, we don’t go away…..we change. We evolve. We grow.

We are still there – or here. I know for me, my whole life has grown and changed and evolved. Some of us “find ourselves” at a young age. Some never lost ourselves so therefore, didn’t have to find ourselves. Some of us, like me, did not grow up in an environment that knew myself. But I found me along the way and I love me.

Did you follow that paragraph? I hope so. The bible says to train up a child in the way he should go and when he is old he will not depart from it. I’ve heard countless times that it refers to faith and spiritual things. I believe it goes deeper than that.

If you have five children you cannot raise all five the same way. You have five different people in your care and all five are individual personalities. I believe that as parents we need to purposely find out who each one is and help them along the way to see who they are and who they will become. Then they won’t have to go on that journey of discovering who they are. They won’t lose themselves in life and then have to find themselves.

Wow. That almost twisted my head. I had two cups of coffee this morning and then a noon latte.

So, back to my dogs….. Teddy Roosevelt is just about five months old now and has already outgrown his brother George Bailey. The games continue….

Teddy Roosevelt

 

George Bailey after Penny June put party hat on his head

Enjoy!

Cate B

 

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Love is the Key

This season of my life has been hard. I lost my best pup the beginning of November and then came to the close of semester as I wrapped up caring for our youngest grand daughter.

I was grieving. Big time. I had cared for our granddaughters for the most of the last five years of my life. I knew I wouldn’t do it forever but I had no idea how it would impact me.

I am relieved in many ways since I am a Grandma and not of childbearing age. But the loss was great to me. I actually fell onto a bit of depression and anxiety.

It would come and go and I would cry out to my God to take this from me.

Well, after a few days of intense cold and ice outside that caused us to stay indoors for the most part, I was a mess. Crying and sadness were overcoming me. I cried out to God again and the very day – yesterday – the sun (or shall I say Son ) shined bright in my heart.

We adopted a puppy. Whoever thinks animal therapy is nonsense is very wrong. It may not be for everyone but it is for me!

A friend of mine had an unexpected guest show up at her house in the fall. A pregnant dog who appeared to have had some abuse. Naturally she took her in and cared for her. The sweetest terrier mix with a great personality. She birthed the pups of many colors and I considered taking one when they were of the proper age.

Well, the sweet momma went and got ran over. So sad. She left about six or so pups orphaned but fortunately, they were eating puppy mash at that time.

Because of their orphan state I decided we would take one in a few weeks. I picked the one I wanted. I was still apprehensive until I received a text yesterday saying that there was concern about them being left alone all day in their ever energetic state of puppyhood. Can I take him now?

Of course! I jumped into action. Cleaned the crate and mopped the floors and sent the hubby to the store for puppy chow and replacement milk.

Funny thing is……… all my anxiety symptoms vanished. I came home yesterday evening with a sweet bundle of fur and puppy breath. He needed me.

But more than him needing me….. I needed him. My prayers were answered. Never underestimate the power of prayer. The answers come in many shapes and sizes. Mine came in a bundle of furry mutt that looks like he rolled in a few colors of paint.

I am so thankful. And now, without further adieu…… meet Teddy Roosevelt, the new brother of George Bailey……. Enjoy!

Cate B

me and Teddy Roosevelt
Teddy Roosevelt
Sleepy Pup with brother ever vigilant

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Old Drum Festival – Happenings Around The Burg

The Old Drum Festival……. no drums to be found.  However, the story of the dog, Old Drum, is what put The Burg on a map…… maybe.  Here is part of a short article about the true story of Old Drum:

“Old Drum, a hound dog, was shot dead in 1869 by Samuel “Dick” Ferguson, nephew and ward of Leonidas Hornsby, an irate neighbor who thought Drum had been killing his sheep.”

Every year, in April, the Old Drum Festival happens, whether I go or not.  This year was my first year.  It is held in the original site of the  town.  Stop getting so excited, Dear Reader!  The festival appeared to be only a block, maybe two, long.  A few vendors, a band was setting up, a bouncy thingy for the kiddies, corn dogs and fennel cakes…………….

See for yourself…….

outside of original courthouse, Warrensburg, MO
Public Notices in Courthouse
courtroom
original courtroom
courthouse window
original courthouse, Warrensburg, MO
my kids
old building
old door
old building
band setting up
dog contest?
statue of Old Drum
bouncy house
bouncy house
look close – 2 fisherman enjoy The Spring
lily pads are coming back
lily pads coming back to Pertle Springs

 

And there you have it!  Another day in The Burg.  The weather was perfect! You can read more on Old Drum here

Enjoy!

cate b

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Doggie Parks

This is day #20 in the NaBloPoMo thirty day blog challenge.

http://www.blogher.com/nablopomo
http://www.blogher.com/nablopomo

Almost there.  I have a hard time following the prompts they suggest, but some are pretty good.

But today I am doing my own thing, again.  The subject of Dog Parks popped into my head.  I have never taken my dogs to a dog park.  It’s hard enough walking them through a people park when we run into other dogs.  They want to play and they want to play bad!  The thought of letting them go to romp and play with other dogs frightens me.  I just may be more afraid of that than standing on the rim of a very high cliff, or the wing of an airplane!  I’ve been to Pet Smart when the Doggie Daycare is in full swing play mode.  I stood at that window watching all the drooling dogs of various breeds and sizes and saw the look on the playground monitor’s face.  Fighting?  Bullies?  Yes.  I just can’t see letting my precious doggies loose to fend for themselves.  They both just want to play.  But these are dogs.  Dogs are territorial and I’ve experienced lovely tail wagging dogs turn against each other in an instant.  Am I overly protective of my pups?  Are these free-for-all pup parks a breeding ground for disaster or future therapy sessions for our doggies?

see!
see!

I also worry about me!  What if these oh-so-playful pups who “never would bite anyone” decide I look edible?  Scares me big time.  I never tell ANYONE that my dogs are friendly and would never bite you.  Dogs can be a bit unpredictable sometimes, especially if they sense your fear or dislike of dogs.

yup
yup

So help me out.  Tell me your experiences of Dog Parks.  I truly want to relieve my fears and take my pups – maybe.  Wait.  I think it’s me that may need the therapy for that fear.

Enjoy!

cate b

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I Love My Dogs

I have a beautiful Airedale Terrier named Hayley Mills after a childhood favorite actor.  I also have an adorable mutt named George Bailey after Jimmy Stewart’s character in the classic It’s a Wonderful Life.

I’m not the only person to name their dog with the full name of a favorite star or character.  Lorlei Gilmore did it:

And in this weeks episode of The Middle Patricia Heaton names her new found dog Colin Firth (sigh).  You can watch that full episode here:

http://www.hulu.com/search?q=The+Middle

These two totally opposite doggies are so much fun and great friends.  Couldn’t have picked better furry companions and so gentle with kids of all ages.

Loving Caretaker, Hayley Mills
Loving Caretaker, Hayley Mills
RUN!
RUN!
Friends
Friends

 

IMG_0299

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Happy Friday!  Enjoy!

cate b

http://www.blogher.com/nablopomo
http://www.blogher.com/nablopomo

 

 

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Day 5 of NaBloPoMo……. ugh

Here we are on day five of the blogging challenge blogher.com NaBloPoMo_November_small  and I’m doubting myself.  I am blogging at night for the following day which totally puts me out of sinc.  I’m doing this because I am out of town helping with my grand daughters who are 2.5 years and 2 weeks.  My back hurts.  I will be here until Thursday morning – and very glad I am here.

Today’s prompt is: Tell us about your writing space. Where do you write your blog posts?

I chuckle over this one.  I had set up a lovely work space in a spare room where I have a twin size bed that is rarely used.  I also have an old tall chest – or maybe it’s a chiffarobe.  I just love saying that word, chiffarobe, ever since I first read To Kill a Mockingbird.  Chiffarobe.  It must be said with a southern accent and only two syllables.  My piece of furniture opens up a desk area with ample writing space and several little drawers and cubbies.  It’s a nice piece but needs a little fixing.  I had set it up with a lovely lamp and all my creative tools including Eve, my faithful Macbook.  I loved this room.  Then we moved to a two bedroom house.

This house is plenty big enough for my husband and I but that made my work space the guest room and it seems our grand-daughter was over often.  We would rather have her than anything else in there, but….

I then set up a corner in our bedroom which, as I think most creative people will understand, became a catch-all.  So my work space is now the kitchen table.  I actually love working at the kitchen table because I have a lovely view of the backyard and my dogs playing.  It is peaceful.  And the coffee pot is right behind me.

My back yard
My back yard

Blogging everyday is very challenging for me.  I have a lot of ideas running around in my head, which is good, considering just last week I was a blank slate.  But blogging and staying in my son’s apartment for three nights away from my bed and hubby and dogs is very tiring.  Although, the best thing about it is my little Lucy and her new sister Penny June.  I love them more than words could express.

So on that note…… I bid you a good night until tomorrow.

Hayley Mills and George Bailey
Hayley Mills and George Bailey

Enjoy!

cate b