Tuesday, February 21, 2012

In Memory

Our beloved friend, Tony, the very definition of a good dog, passed away on Sunday, February 19, 2012, at 13 years old.
 He was with us for over 10 years and I have never missed anyone more. May he rest in peace. We love you Tony!

JUST MY DOG
                                                      He is my other eyes that can see above
                                                   the clouds; my other ears that hear above
                                                    the winds. He is the part of me that can
                                                                 reach out into the sea.

                                                   He has told me a thousand times over that
                                                    I am his reason for being: by the way he
                                                  rests against my leg; by the way he thumps
                                                  his tail at my smallest smile; by the way he
                                              shows his hurt when I leave without taking him.
                                               (I think it makes him sick with worry when he
                                                                is not along to care for me.)

                                                 When I am wrong, he is delighted to forgive.
                                               When I am angry, he clowns to make me smile.
                                                    When I am happy, he is joy unbounded.
                                                          When I am a fool, he ignores it.
                                                                When I succeed, he brags.
                                                Without him, I am only another man. With him,
                                                                     I am all-powerful.
                                                                    He is loyalty itself.
                                                   He has taught me the meaning of devotion.
                                                     With him, I know a secret comfort and a
                                              private peace. He has brought me understanding
                                                            where before I was ignorant.
                                                His head on my knee can heal my human hurts.
                                                 His presence by my side is protection against
                                                        my fears of dark and unknown things.
                                                           He has promised to wait for me...
                                                    whenever...wherever--in case I need him.
                                                       And I expect I will--as I always have.
                                                                     He is just my dog.
                                                                        -Gene Hill



SPECIAL TRIBUTE TO A DOG
The one absolutely unselfish friend that
a man can have in this selfish world,
the one that never deserts him,
the one that never proves ungrateful
or treacherous, is his dog.
A man's dog stands by him in prosperity
and in poverty,
in health and in sickness.
He will sleep on the cold ground where
the wintery winds blow,
and the snow drives fiercely,
if only he may be near his master's
side. He will kiss the hand that has no
food to offer, he will lick the sores
and wounds that come in encounter with
the roughness of the world. He guards
the sleep of his Pauper master as if he
were a prince.
When all other friends desert,
he remains.
When riches take wings and reputation
falls to pieces, he is as constant in
his love as the sun in it's journey
through the heavens.
If misfortune drives the master forth
an outcast in the world, friendless
and homeless, the faithful dog asks
no higher privilege than that of
accompanying him to guard against
danger, to fight against his enemies.
And when the last scene of all comes,
and death takes the master in it's
embrace, and his body is laid away in
the cold ground, no matter if all other
friends pursue their way, there by the
graveside will the noble dog be found,
his head between his paws, his eyes sad,
but open in alert watchfulness,
faithful and true, even in death.
-George Graham Vest 

 A dog will never forget the crumb thou gavest him, though thou mayst afterwards throw a hundred stones at his head.
-Sa'di


 "Until one has loved an animal, a part of one's soul remains unawakened. " (Anatole France)

For although we may not be together in the way we used to be,
We are still connected by a cord no eye can see.
So whenever you need to find me, we're never far apart
If you look beyond the Rainbow and listen with your heart. 

-Cate Guyan
 
" Even the wealthiest child, if she does not have a dog, lives in utter poverty"
-J.W.


 I talk to him when I'm lonesome like; and I'm sure he understands.  When he looks at me so attentively, and gently licks my hands; then he rubs his nose on my tailored clothes, but I never say naught thereat.  For the good Lord knows I can buy more clothes, but never a friend like that.  ~W. Dayton Wedgefarth


 My little dog - a heartbeat at my feet.  ~Edith Wharton

Friday, February 17, 2012

Signs of Spring

Spring is here, at least the flowers and the trees seem to think so. We have our greenhouse up and seeds planted, anticipating an early crop of spinach and nasturtiums for a lovely salad.
Spring is a  time for renewal, growth and change; how are you marking the season?

     A Prayer in Spring by Robert Frost
OH, give us pleasure in the flowers today;
And give us not to think so far away
As the uncertain harvest; keep us here
All simply in the springing of the year.

Oh, give us pleasure in the orchard white,
Like nothing else by day, like ghosts by night;
And make us happy in the happy bees,
The swarm dilating round the perfect trees.

And make us happy in the darting bird
That suddenly above the bees is heard,
The meteor that thrusts in with needle bill,
And off a blossom in mid air stands still.

For this is love and nothing else is love,
To which it is reserved for God above
To sanctify to what far ends he will,
But which it only needs that we fulfill. 















 

Wednesday, February 15, 2012

Madeira Beach

We journeyed to Florida to escape the dreary weather here in Georgia and what do you know- it was freezing down there and we ended up coming back a day early. Yes, I read the forecast, but we had booked the flight a month earlier and I somehow tried to convince myself that it would be warm, it wasn't. All was not lost though-it's nice and sunny today in Mableton and there's nothing like a vacation to remind you of how much you love home!









A little side note on Madeira Beach: it's near St Petersburg and it's mainly retiree's that go there but that's what I like about it. No screaming kids, no teenagers getting drunk and trying to hook up, just old people floating in the pool and taking long walks on the beach. It's a great place to go and just kick back and relax. There aren't too many of those gimmicky restaurants and cheesy putt putt places, if you want to go out it's fishing and golf and sunset cruises, just my style.