Goodbye Sam the Grand-dog

15 years ago Matt and Colett adopted a naughty little mixed breed dog that would not stay in their yard. He even learned to crawl up the wire fence and jump out to freedom. They had to chase him and bring him back so many times that Colett had about decided that the next time he left, she was just going to let him leave and not go looking for him again. Of course that never happened....oh yes, he did get out again, but she did keep bringing him back. As he got older, he came back on his own and then finally decided that his yard was the best after all and stayed home.

Sam had lost all quality of life the last few months, and with many tears and much hesitation they had to have him put down. This brings a sadness to all who knew and loved him and there will always be a little place in our hearts that will miss him. Sammy lived with us for a few months when Matt and Colett were living in an apartment and couldn't keep him there. He became our dog too. We had a little poodle "Dusty" at the time and both Sam and Dusty would nap on top of Wayne and put their faces in the window waiting for him to come home from work. He worked his way into Wayne's heart too.

Will we see Sam again? Well there is not a lot written about animals in the afterlife, but some church leaders have said this : Animals in the Hereafter Ask Gramps. We will see him again I am sure and right now he is playing with our dog Dusty just like they used to play when they were buddies a few years ago, and now he can run and hear again like he used to. Oh Sammy, our little Grand-dog we will miss you, but we know you are feeling better now.

Arbor Day

Today is Arbor Day and I have to say it is a great day. I LOVE trees. I'm not a tree hugger, although I wouldn't mind hugging one. I didn't know exactly how many trees we have so I went out and counted, and this is the way my yard stacks up: 24 trees

9 Aspen

2 apple

1 pear

1 peach

1 cherry

4 flowering plums

1 pine

1 maple

1 genola maple

1 pussy willow

1 arborvitae

1 cypress pom-pom

I won't photograph them all but here is a sampling: The Genola Maple

The pine

2 of the quakies

I just threw this is because it's so pretty but not mine...it belongs to Shon and Kee

Flowering plum

My Dr. Seuss looking cypress pom-pom tree

My peach tree

I'm sure my tree owning will not end here. I would love a few more if I can find the right spot to put them. So for this Friday, plant and love a tree. Help out Mother Earth produce shade and good oxygen for us all.

I missed a National Day this week. It was "National Change your Name Day". I know there have been people who have changed their names permanently because they hated their given names. I have never really been entirely fond of Joan or Loraine (my middle name) because I thought they were a bit boring and old sounding, but I don't hate them, and given the choice I wouldn't change them because my parents thought enough of them to give them to me. How many times can I say "them"? After having said that, what is it that you love or hate about your name? And given the choice, what would YOU change it to even for a day? Maybe for just a day I would be Colett (my daughter's name) because I have always loved that name, and my middle name would be Michelle. I would be Colett Michelle Marshant spoken with a French accent.
Now it's your turn.

Amelia

How adorable is this 5 year old? She is one child that has a sweetness in her that can't be denied. She follows around her 1 1/2 year old cousin Emerson and helps him and plays with him whenever he is around. She will be a great baby-sitter and Mama some day. She has tender feelings and loves her family and friends. She is a little lady that we call Silly Millie because she always comes up with quips that make us laugh. Happy Birthday to my special little girl.

Shon Turns 39

Yesterday was Shon's birthday. He turned 39. Of course I'm not old enough to have a 39 year old, but he was 4 years premature. This is such a cute picture of him with his daughter Lissie.
I just included the dialogue that I wrote last year because it is just the way we feel and we still love him more than imaginable.

On April 6th, 1970, Wayne and I welcomed our new baby son. Oh he was beautiful and perfect in every way. He had golden hair that the nurses found delight in, and each time they would bring him in, he would have a new hairdo. He was a very good baby and such a blessing to us. He had the biggest blue eyes. How did that happen? Wayne's eyes are brown and mine are green. Each time one of our children was born, we would pick out a song that was just for them and we would sing it to them throughout their life. Shon's was "Close to you" by the Carpenters. On the day that you were born the angels got together and decided to create a dream come true, so they sprinkled moon dust in your hair of gold and starlight in your eyes of blue... etc. He is 39 now and we still sing it to him. He is such a smart and talented young man, and one of those guys that can fix anything or if he can't, he will figure out how to, and we are so proud of him. Happy Birthday

Shon, we love you tons.

At the Museum

This is a picture of me when I was in my thirties. There is a funny site that you can go to that sets you up as a "museum portrait" or offers a few other options to have fun with. Ooh, I wonder what they are saying about me? Did she used to live on a farm? Oh, she used to be thin,

she matches the background, her hair is almost the same again.

The picture can be enlarged

Modern Art Museum Effect