Simple Gifts

In celebration of the simple things that remind me day-in and day-out how blessed I am to be free.

(The photo was originally published on Memorial Day in a post titled Freedoms.)

For those musically inclined, a bonus:

Variation on Simple Gifts (from Appalachian Spring), Aaron Copland composer, with photography by Ansel Adams

Video credit

Have a wonderful day!

Warm Fuzzy on Ice and Just Plain Jubilation

This is Elliot of Virginia, the practical English Bulldog. :)

Photo credit is due to Elliot's owner (whose name I do not know), who apparently caught him making good use of discarded cooler ice on his driveway.  :)

Would your dog try this? :)

(I think Jon Farleigh would.)

*****

And now for the JUBILATION!

My blog friend Jenny at Of Pit Bulls & Patience has some wonderful news today concerning Sinatra, the adorable, former waif pit bull, who is in temporary shelter housing.

My name is Sinatra and I will melt your heart.
(Photo courtesy of Of Pit Bulls & Patience)

If you do nothing else today, go HERE and see what a sweet, energetic dog - who's been confined to the metal and concrete walls of a shelter - with limited human contact - and little hope of redemption - looks like when he finally gets busted free. :)
Oh, happy day!

*****

The Cardigans will return tomorrow. :)

All-American Corgis

Today is Independence Day (the Fourth of July), and we are celebrating with yummy American food (cheeseburgers, corn on the cob, watermelon and apple pie), plenty of water (to drink and to play in), fireworks displays (humans only)...and lots of RED, WHITE and BLUE.

Wherever you are today, we hope you find reason to celebrate, too!

(Mom, we are hot. Can we please get off this table, take off these ridiculous scarves and eat those frozen bananas that you are so rudely dangling in front of our faces??)

Charlie is perched high in heaven today...

...keeping watch over Buster and Albert, who despite their differences in life, no doubt, greeted her arrival with purrs of welcoming delight.

She was 20 years old and with the human she loved most in the entire world (her dad), in the moments before she was lovingly set free. 

1991 - June 2, 2011

Goodbye, Chatty Charlie. You rocked this place.


(I'll be back as soon as I can, y'all. This kinda sucks.)

Injustice (or should I say - in the words of JF and Dewi - Cats are stoopid!)

The other afternoon when all the humans were getting ready to leave the house...

Typical scene. Nothing too unusual.

Eva likes a big (dog) bed.

W.T.Fudge? Mom? Please help us understand. Why do we only get a rubber toothbrush?

It's just not right.

Hope you're treated fairly today. ;)

Freedoms

Today, in America, it is Memorial Day.

A day to remember those who have made the ultimate sacrifice, and to celebrate freedoms.

Including the freedom to get in my car and drive to Target for silly patriotic headbands...

The freedom to have a blog and to read other blogs without restriction...

And the freedom to keep and be loved by inexplicably devoted, (and sometimes hilarious) furry four-legged friends.  :)

Happy Monday, Y'all!

In memoriam:
Ernest Caviness Vaughn (d. Aug. 25, 1944, in action)

son, brother, husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, soldier