Lest we Forget

In Flanders fields the poppies blow

Between the crosses, row on row

That mark our place; and in the sky

The larks, still bravely singing, fly

Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago

We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,

Loved and were loved, and now we lie

In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:

To you from failing hands we throw

The torch; be yours to hold it high.

If ye break faith with us who die

We shall not sleep, though poppies grow

In Flanders fields.

--John McCrae

Happy Birthday Mandy!

My favorite Christmas program is "How the Grinch stole Christmas" When the Moyer clan came home for my wedding, Mandy reminded me of the character Cindi Lou Hoo, so in my mind you will always be Mandy Lou Hoo

Naive vs Sophisticated

People today like to think they are so much more sophisticated than those of past generations with our educations and technology and such. There is a poll that has been making the news lately about the number of people who still think that George Bush knew about 9/11 ahead of time and chose not to do anything about it. Just because you read it on the internet or hear a celebrity say it, doesn't make it true. Grandpaw Cushing had a saying

"Believe 1/2 of what you see, 1/4 of what you hear and

nothing that you read in the newspaper."

I would amend that to include read on the internet. So, who is more naive and who is more sophisticated

We woke up this morning to two wild turkeys looking at their reflection in the window - they had their feathers fanned at the turkeys they saw in the glass. We scared them when we came up to look, so weren't able to get that picture. Chet was able to take these as they walked away.

A couple weeks ago, our Board of Realtors had an auction and dinner to raise money for their political action committee, the theme was "Hawaii." People in the office were talking about what they were going to wear to go along with the theme. As I was going right from work, I figured I would just wear whatever I had picked that morning. The day of the event, one co-worker was telling me about her shopping trip to find something new to wear. In one store, she asked the clerk what she had that would fit a Hawaiian theme. In my co-workers words: "She took me over to a department that had, well, you know, clothes like you and my Mom would wear" OUCH!!! She's 32, has a 13 year old step daughter and 6 year old son - not old, but not exactly a teenager, either. Well, I did what any self respecting gal would do - I went shopping on my lunch break. I found a pair of black, boot cut jeans (a full size smaller than the last time I bought a pair of jeans!) and a v-neck white t-shirt. I didn't think I looked bad. Went to the function, and who should come up to me in her denim mini skirt and tube top - you know - the kind that looks like you pulled your skirt up over your boobs. I guess I didn't realize that not looking old meant showing copious amounts of flesh. I give up, no one wants to see me in a tube top, and I doubt I could keep it up. As for the mini skirt - I'd probably drop something and not be able to figure out how to pick it up!

Happy Birthday Mike and Mar

I know I am a few days early - just wanted to wish you both a happy 60th! Hope we have another fun vacation like we had in Savannah soon!

Further Adventures of Molly the Dog

Molly has a ball that looks like a deformed tennis ball. She loves it. One of her favorite games is to push it under a piece of furniture. She'll look at you (gotta say it) with puppy dog eyes and whine and see how long it takes before you get it for her. She will also take her ball when we walk out back. As we were walking in the woods she dropped it into a new ground hog hole she found. I love my dogs, but there is no way I am sticking my hand down in a hole in which a wild animal lives. Not happening. Sassy and I continued to walk around the yard. Molly would come up to us, then go back to the hole. Come walk with us awhile, and then go back to the hole. After we had been around the yard twice, she either finally realized I wasn't going to get it, or suddenly remembered she had paws. The groundhog now has a new, enlarged entrance to his home, and Molly has her beloved ball.

A Pefect Day

When we think of Spring, we think of daffodils and tulips, rains and maybe a storm or two. When you are a dog Spring brings new smells and often surprises. At the back of our yard, we have a tree that is severely leaning over - to the point the roots are pulling up. It creates a perfect spot for ground hogs to live. As we were walking today I noticed movement in the grass.

A ground hog was trying to get back into the hole without being noticed - unsuccessfully. Molly and the ground hog went round and round in circles - at one time Molly had her mouth on it's back. Neither was growling, so I'm not sure what they were trying to do beyond playing with each other. The ground hog did manage to get back to it's hole, and just as I was getting the dogs to move on, a black squirrel fell from the tree and quickly ran back up it.




Molly has yet been unable to climb a tree, but not for lack of trying. Finally we were able to finish our walk. We headed back up the hill, only to find rabbits eating grass. Again Molly gave chase. Alas, poor Sassy, we keep her on a leash, so her only contribution to protecting the home land was observation and tactical support. Now that's Molly's idea of a perfect day!

Last night I went to hear the author, Jennifer Chiaverini speak. She writes the Elm Creek Quilt novels. If you have never been to hear an author speak, you should go if you get the chance. I have been to several. Some speak about their latest book, some read stories from their book, some talk about the process of writing and others talk about themselves and how they came to write. I have also been to one that encouraged everyone to write their own stories. But with all the differnces, each has been fun and a learning experience. One of the interesting things I learned about Jennifer is that she was born at Good Samaritan Hospital in Cincinnati, and now resides in Madison Wisconson. We live in a small world! I forgot my camera, so the picture is from her website.

Holy Thursday

Even though I spent 12 years in Catholic schools, I don't remember the Mass of the Holy Supper being much on my radar. Humans love ritual, and I find this one to be particularly poignant. I would love to see George Bush washing the feet of the Secret Service who stand all day to protect him. I would love to see Congresswoman McKinney wash the feet of the Capitol Police who stand all day so she can work in safety. I would love to see Nancy Pelosi wash the feet of the soldiers who stand all day guarding the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. While people might not appreciate it if we should ask them if we can wash their feet, perhaps today we can do something to serve those who serve us.