Most engaged couples of the past few years have had to wait. The brides and grooms scheduled for 2020 had to reschedule their nuptials, sometimes two or more times. Our youngest daughter Lucy and her Alex became engaged Fall of 2021, yet there just were not any openings in local event facilities. Every place they… Continue reading The Wedding has been Celebrated! The “sewing factory” returns to “sewing suite,” and the baby bird has flown…
Category: Labradors and Friends
The stories of our dogs
Flowers in Winter
Clockwise from top left: Lenten Rose, Christmas Cactus, orchid closeup and plant, rose mix, Lenten rose, amaryllis. Flowers are a simple thing that bring a lot of joy. When it’s chilly out, I enjoy looking for the first signs of Lenten roses, ducking their heavy heads below their sturdy leaves and a layer of pine… Continue reading Flowers in Winter
A Review of… We Need to Hang Out
COVID has made both 2020 and 2021 strange times, with so many of us at home, others working harder, wearing masks, and getting by. We all miss seeing faces, smiles, and being with people. It's getting better now, with the vaccines, and I have enjoyed getting together with a few more people this summer, mostly… Continue reading A Review of… We Need to Hang Out
Hanging Out, a book review of We Need to Hang Out, by Billy Baker
I became interested in this book after reading Dave Shiflett's February 4 review in The Wall Street Journal. COVID has made both 2020 and 2021 strange times, with so many of us at home, others working harder, wearing masks, and getting by. We all miss seeing faces, smiles, and being with people. It's getting better… Continue reading Hanging Out, a book review of We Need to Hang Out, by Billy Baker
Dog Parties and Another Gran-Dog!
Dog parties are common at our house…we started long ago, with Sandy, my first dog who was my birthday present, a first addition to our little family (a.k.a. before kids). Sandy always enjoyed having dog friends over, playing with other neighborhood dogs, or going to play with our parents’ dog. Toddler Sarah called her “Sandy the… Continue reading Dog Parties and Another Gran-Dog!
The Perfect Gift, choosing a custom bag from Satchel, Savannah
I don’t usually get very excited about gifts. They’re fun to buy for other people, but unless small children are in the picture, I don’t expect it to be magical. I enjoy making presents much better than shopping for them. If someone asks me what I want, I probably come up with a few books,… Continue reading The Perfect Gift, choosing a custom bag from Satchel, Savannah
Who is that Doggie in the Mirror?
Sally and Buffy learn about mirrors...or do they?
Changing of the Colors
Transition times are hard, but with kindness we can reach the new bright spots in our lives
Hello from Sally!
Hi there, Mom says she's been having a bit of writer's block lately, which I think means she is playing with her sewing machine, digging in her garden, or walking my sister Buffy and me instead of writing. Anyway, Mom said I could fill you in on what Buffy and I have been doing since… Continue reading Hello from Sally!
Reading, Cooking, Sewing and Walking the Dogs…Life in these Strange Times
Things I've been doing while "sheltering in place."
The Puppies Are Here! Sally and Buffy are Home.
I have been just a little bit distracted lately. We got back from Singapore (more on that in my next post), with two weeks of laundry to do, doctor and dentist appointments, evening meetings and, oh, yes, work, when we hear that Atlanta Lab Rescue is having an adoption event Sunday afternoon. We look up… Continue reading The Puppies Are Here! Sally and Buffy are Home.
Weekend with the Grand…Dogs!
Amusing weekend with visiting dogs!
Meet My New Grand-Dog!
Meet my new Grand-Dog, Max
A Tale of Dale
How does one tell a story about an old, blind, rambunctious dog like Dale? I guess we start at the beginning, at least, the beginning for us. Our "mini-Lab" Maggie was 12 & 1/2, and taking the stairs a little more slowly. Maggie enjoyed time with our recently married daughter's dog Ivy, so we thought… Continue reading A Tale of Dale
Maggie’s Story
Maggie was an unusual variety of rescue dog--a puppy, only eight weeks old! Her mother was one of two black Labrador rescues, adopted by the same family, who had neglected to have both dogs spayed as required. There was a male black Lab in the neighborhood, who was presumed to have jumped the fence, but… Continue reading Maggie’s Story
Elizabethan Maggie
A Royal Purple Elizabethan Collar or cone of shame?
Happy New Year… from Dale the Dog!
Dale the Labrador here, writing to wish you a very happy 2019, as I always have a tremendous opinion about everything, especially if a snacky-snack is part of the conversation. My “dog mom” Patricia, is typing for me, since it is very difficult when you have paws and no thumbs at all! Let me tell… Continue reading Happy New Year… from Dale the Dog!
Dale Shuffles Papers While I Buy Shoes
A Throwback Thursday just for you, from about six weeks after Dale came to live with us. If you don't know Dale's story, please see earlier Maggie and Dale posts, but it's safe to say that this old blind dog had a rough life before he was rescued... Mr. H. was working on medical filing.… Continue reading Dale Shuffles Papers While I Buy Shoes
Dale and Maggie and the Great Big Knock
It's "Throwback Thursday," so here's a trip back only about eight months ago, from notes in my doggie journal... By now, two and a half years after coming to live with us, Dale is a well-adjusted, happy blind dog, and Maggie puts up with him, most of the time. One night we walked before dinner,… Continue reading Dale and Maggie and the Great Big Knock
Dale Dog and the Roses
In 1794, the poet Robert Burns said his love was like a red, red rose. Dale agrees. Mr. H. and I are celebrating our anniversary this weekend, so I'll start with a story that happened the evening before our 31st Anniversary, less than a month after Dale had come to live with us. I was… Continue reading Dale Dog and the Roses
Dale Explores the Pantry
This is another story from my dog journal. It happened a little over a month after we got our big blind dog Dale from Atlanta Lab Rescue. Mr. H. was out of town on 9/16/16, and daughter Lucy was still living at home. Maggie, our elderly "mini-lab," still reigned supreme, sleeping upstairs with us,… Continue reading Dale Explores the Pantry
Dale Goes to Jail… But He thinks He’s at Camp and Makes Some Art
Dale, the big blind Labrador, had been a naughty boy. Very naughty. The Dog Mom needed a break from Dale. So, Dale went to Jail. It wasn’t actually Jail. It was more like a three-week playdate with his dog-cousin Ivy, at our daughter Sarah’s house. “Dale goes to Jail” was a bit of a family… Continue reading Dale Goes to Jail… But He thinks He’s at Camp and Makes Some Art
Dogs, Zucchini, and Getting Along! A Blast from the Past…
As I've been looking over the Dale and Maggie journal, I've been realizing how far we've come, from the huge blind dog who didn't know where he was, and was just learning our voices. He liked Maggie pretty quickly, although she wasn't too crazy about him at first. Here's a little blast from my journal… Continue reading Dogs, Zucchini, and Getting Along! A Blast from the Past…
After Dinner Gardening and finding Hydrangeas
We enjoy the longer days of spring and summer with walks after dinner and sometimes, a little time in the backyard garden afterwards. To make it work, I start the prep work for dinner ahead of time: chopping vegetables, starting brown rice, thawing chicken or fish, and picking any herbs we might need. Once Mr.… Continue reading After Dinner Gardening and finding Hydrangeas
Dale Comes Home from the Vet
It was time for Dale’s annual exam. He got into the car as willingly as a big blind dog can, and wallowed around in the back seat area during the entire drive. I am glad the vet is not far away, as it is difficult to drive with a giant Labrador bumping the seat-back and… Continue reading Dale Comes Home from the Vet
When the Adult Child comes home to cook a birthday dinner… moo
The dogs bark, and want all of her attention, "Woof! Yap! Lucy, you came to see me...did you bring me snacky snacks?" Dad, the honoree, who actually had the birthday a few weeks ago (this dinner is his gift), took them for a quick walk before cooking dinner. Lucy delivered the groceries earlier that morning,… Continue reading When the Adult Child comes home to cook a birthday dinner… moo
That Dale Dog is here to stay…The first month of Maggie and Dale
Maggie was not too sure about that big dog Dale. He was huge and he bumped into her. He bumped into the kitchen island too, and bumped his head on the big old coffee table, but he kept running into things. He also pretended to shake paw when a sensible dog just goes the door… Continue reading That Dale Dog is here to stay…The first month of Maggie and Dale
Maggie and Dale-Our Life with a Big Blind Dog and his older sister
After our daughter Sarah's wedding, we thought we would get another dog, not a puppy-a puppy was too much work, but we wanted a younger dog. Maggie, our “mini-lab” at only 43 pounds, was taking the stairs a little slower than she used to, as was expected at almost 14, (now 15 1/2!) she got… Continue reading Maggie and Dale-Our Life with a Big Blind Dog and his older sister
Hibbard House (full of Basil, Books & Labradors) 