I had a few hours yesterday to myself and decided to take Dixon, our puppy, to the dog beach.
We got there, and he was so excited! He bounced around before taking off to meet new friends.
Now there were big dogs, little dogs, hairy dogs, skinny dogs, fat dogs- dogs of all varieties!
Dixon, in his floppy puppy self doesn't discriminate against any dog- any is fair game for a potential play buddy!
One dog in particular wouldn't leave him alone- it was some sort of chihuahua mix that was barking, snarling, jumping all over him. This happened for half the length of the park. The owner tried getting him, but he was more interested in antagonizing Dixon. Through the whole experience, Dixon didn't flinch. He tried engaging the dog in play, but the other dog wouldn't have it. Dixon would run up to another dog to play with the little guy bounding at him- Dixon just let that dog do what that dog wanted to do. So me, the guy who tries finding meaning in events that happen around me, came up with this: I should be more like Dixon!
He knows what he wants: play. Someone tries to squish his plans, and annoyingly so: but he continues his quest for play. How cool would that be if we had our eyes on what we want and not let the annoying people who don't want us to achieve our goals get to us? And more importantly, realize that sometimes it is us who are afraid of reaching our goals and sabotage what we want.
So I am not going to let the chihuahua mixes get in the way of keeping my goals!
Thanks, Dixon, for the lesson!

Although this past Sunday was Easter, we colored our Easter Eggs today.
It was so much fun, even though we used several colors a month ago (we couldn't wait!) and had three to use today!
We left some in a very long time, some not so long, and another batch right in between the two.
After the eggs dried, Olivia painted them. She had fun, and said this was the best day ever! And my sister Midge reminded me of us using the cracked eggs, too- and I remembered the cracks taking on more dye, and the egg whites being stained with whatever color bled through!
Coloring Easter eggs was always a fun thing to do growing up- we used PAAS dyes! I remember the box with the push out holes, the white crayon to make designs, and the transfer stickers that came in the box. Such fond memories! Definitely something we will always do in our household, too! It was always family time when it came to coloring the eggs, which SOMEHOW made it into our Easter baskets! Smart bunny! :)
I love hearing about others Easter traditions- so feel free to drop me a line and tell me yours!
Happy spring everyone!

Got a puppy or dog with a diahrea problem and can't get to the vet right away? I found a simple solution when Dixon started getting a little, uh, poopy!
Boil one package of ground chicken.
Make double the rice.
So, the mix is two parts rice and one part chicken. Mix them together.
For a medium/large size dog, give one teaspoon (that's all) of organic (if possible!) pumpkin. Not in the food, but mine loves licking it off the spoon!
Of course, take your dog into the vet if you think anything is wrong. This isn't a cure, but will definitely help with the poopies!
And, they love it!

Yes, I bemember when...

It's hard to believe that April is upon us. The daffodil's, tulips, and day lillys are popping up through the ground. A couple days of warm weather will make them grow even faster. The ancient crab apple in the front yard looks like it is going to bless us with many white and pink blossums again this year- I think of that tree as just too old and cranky to give up the ghost, though every year we seem to lose a major branch of it.
And then there is Olivia. This is going to be her fifth spring come May. For me, she is the most glorious flower I have ever helped "grow". Watching how she has grown from a wobbly toddler to someone that runs, turns corners quickly without falling... wow. And her laugh. That laugh that I sometimes want so badly to hear that I engage her in a game of "Tickle Monster". Every year is full of amazement. She is unfolding into the most amazing girl. We share the love of animals, of nature, art. And stories. It makes me happy to hear her start a sentence with "Papa, bemember when...." and she'll recall something from the past, sometimes right on, or sometimes with her own twist. She has a very healthy imagination, as most kids do, and I feel so priveledged to be a part of her life. My little flower.

It's a beautiful world.
Forget for just a moment if you can the wars, both political and personal, close your eyes and listen. Listen to nature, your child's laughter, your partners breath. There is so much good happening around us, it is just as important to give energy and importance to those happenings, no- it is even more important to give energy and importance to them than to the negative! We should all bring the positive to the forefront of our days. Sometimes we have to find the good, but believe me, it is out there.
Yesterday we had a little break in the weather. I was able to open my windows and let some fresh air in. It was great, as not only did the house breathe a little, but as I was getting ready for work, the sounds of sparrows were heard. Sparrows, which my science teacher were brought over from England for the theater, and so that our English immigrant ancestors could hear a familiar sound they liked so much from their homeland in their gardens.
So, if your view is the side of a brick building, or your view is of the ocean, take a moment, take a deep breath, and think to yourself- it is a beautiful world.

It's March 2nd and I am starting to feel the shift that comes with the onset of spring!
I have noticed the birds, for one thing, have been singing outside. I also heard the geese, and saw some on the ground taking a break from their flight up from the south.
I have been showing my daughter the signs of spring: the big buds on the magnolia's, the start of buds on the trees, the sounds of the birds... love the sounds of the birds..., and the melting snow. We are both looking forward to the colors that will come in the way of green grass, yellow daffodils and different color tulips in our yard!
Olivia is really into color. Her teacher recently gave the class "worry dolls", those little dolls from Guatemala. You tell them your worries before you go to bed and supposedly they make your worries go away. Well, she said they are also "wish dolls" (!), and you can tell them your wishes and they will come true. I asked her what her wish was, and she said she couldn't tell me or the wish wouldn't come true. I said she was right! Well, after school today she was sitting in her car seat and said, "daddy, my wishes didn't come true." I said,"oh, thats o.k., sometimes wishes take awhile to come true!" She said, "well, I wished that everything would be pink. The school, the houses, and our car!" Yep, my girl definitely sees her world through rose colored glasses! And thank God not every wish comes true!
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It's been a while since I've last blogged, and the reason is I've been busy being happy!
I love the people I have in my life now- an awesome daughter that keeps me focused on what is right and beautiful in this world;
a wonderful man that makes me laugh, makes me love, and makes me happy and excited to see him; and a wonderfully supportive family that I would wish for everybody!
For the first time in three years, I know what it is like to be in a good relationship. No hidden agendas, nothing to hide- just living openly and honestly, and with hope and honesty for a future!
So yeah, things are going well- busy being happy!