Why another lab? (Part 2)

We could use help with the dishes.

Why another lab?

The first and only dog I have ever owned was Maggie, our yellow lab. She was a really nice girl, a friend to all, and an enemy to none. She was very tolerant, as shown in the adorable photo below of my younger daughter, Hannah, about 6 in the picture (she's now 20!). Mags loved to look out the front screen door, surveying the world.

Maggie had been chasing tennis balls in heaven for about 5 or 6 months now.We have reserved another female lab from a very nice breeder, here in Illinois, and should have our puppy in time for a very special Christmas. I'll keep you posted on the puppy's progress, as I get news on the breeder's website!

So - why another lab? Or, why get another dog at all? Because having a dog is better than not having a dog, and having a yellow lab was great. That's why

Hannah and Maggie

Who knew?

I just read that September is NaBloPoMo - which is short for National Blog Posting Month. You are supposed to post every day for a month. Well, I'm getting a veeeeeeery late start on the month, but today makes two days in a row! Which is extremely good for me!

My usual excuse for not posting every day, or at least very often (and I have many excuses) is that I can't upload photos at work, which is where I tend to do most of my computer work, including my postings. So. I need to learn better how to upload my photos myself (without my daughter or best techie friend), and also maybe I should be posting at home, at a regular time each day. We'll see about that!

I have been thinking about all of my mentors over the years - all of those women who have guided me along the way, teaching me intentionally, or just simply by their good examples - they're like my oracles. Yesterday, I shared some beautiful advice from my wonderful Aunt Phyllis with a friend. She deserves another posting all of her own (note to self!). She always said, regarding kids and schoolwork, that all of the "other stuff" - like sports, and plays, and music, and friends, and jobs - was just as important, and that it's all a part of growing up. Which is so true! Phyllis is gone now, but her wisdom lives on, and continues to inspire me.

Here is one of my present-day mentors: my awesome SIL (sister-in-law), Jean. This is her latest profile picture, don't you just love it? It really captures her who-cares-live-life-right-now-with-gusto kind of spirit. She is one of the smartest, funniest, craziest, caringest (so what if it's not a word) people that I know. I like to think of her as my sister, and I am happy also that she is my friend. She is awesome!

Once, while visiting our house, my daughter's friend stopped by to visit. Little did he know that he would be encountering Aunt Jean! She started quizzing him about his earring...and the next time he stopped by, he wasn't wearing it! I guess you had to be there, but we still talk and laugh about it, and it was probably almost 10 years ago!

Here's to you, Jean!

Inconceivable!

Inconceivable! That not only did this wonderful man agree to marry me, but also that he had stuck around for 32 years! He is the sweetest, kindest, most patient man in the world.

Inconceivable! That I have two daughters who are 20 and 24 years old! I love them both with the fierce love of a mama bear, and I am so proud of them that I can hardly stand it.

Inconceivable - that today, I have been married for 32 years! How on earth did that happen? On the one hand, it seems so long ago, and yet also just like it was yesterday, the day of our wedding. A beautiful, warm fall day in Minnesota, surrounded by family and friends, a most special day. Thank you, Scott, for being there for me that day and for every day since then. You are my rock and my life.

Special Moments Take Two

Here we all are, on the streets of D.C. We had just visited the Spy Museum, and the National Portrait Gallery. Both were excellent! The Portrait Gallery was especially nice, and not as crowded as the Smithsonian buildings over on The Mal. Left to right: me, Collin (my niece), Emily, Hannah, Mark, and Scott. In the back is my brother, Chuck.

This was one of the highlights of the trip. While at the National Portrait Gallery, we headed for their atrium area to grab some lunch. As luck would have it, the Airmen of Note were about to perform. They are the Jazz Band for the Air Force - a top band, and wow were they good! They were doing a tribute to Benny Goodman, playing old songs from the 40's. They were even dressed in authentic uniforms from the period. The band encouraged the listeners to dance, and when this couple got up and danced, it was just as if they were both in the 20s again. Can you see the sweet smile on his face? That says it all.

As we were walking across the street, I looked down and saw the Capitol, and made my girls (Emily, left, and Hannah) stop for a quick shot. Gives me a lump in my throat, I'm such a patriot - and I love my girls so much. They're pretty terrific.

So okay, I think I also posted this picture on my last post, but I'm in a hurry, so here is it again - Hannah and Mark in Old Town Alexandria, along the Potomac.

All in all, a great vacation, with lots of special moments! Life is good!

Special Moments

We took a really nice family vacaton over 4th of July this year. Four of us (Scott, our daughter, Hannah, and her boyfriend, Mark) drove from Illinois to Washington, D.C., to visit my relatives. We had a great time, and didn't get sick of each other! Below, see Hannah and Mark along the Potomac, in Old Town Alexandria, Virginia. Very hot, but a beautiful day!We had lots of fun with each other. We were invited to the home of Joel and Jesse, friends of my nephew, Nathan. We had an outdoor picnic, including some fun playing baggo (see my sister-in-law, Jean, celebrating with Mark, below), and then watching the D.C. fireworks from their high-rise window. Here is our daughter, Emily, with our nephew, Nathan. Cousins and friends - the best!

This is a great picture of Hannah, myself, and Jean. It really shows how much fun we were having and much we like just being together.

And I just love this picture, with Emily and her dad (Scott) on the streets of Old Town Alexandria. It is so charming and picturesque, and don't they look adorable?

More phots and special moments to follow!

Indeed!!!

QUOTE OF THE DAY:

"There comes a time in your life when you have to let go of all the pointless drama and the people who create it and surround yourself with people who make you laugh so hard that you forget the bad and focus solely on the good. After all, life is too short to be anything but happy."

~Karl Marx, Composer (1897-1985)

And now, how about some pictures to make you happy?

Scott and I visited a terrific breeder of labradors in Galva, Illinois recently. Her name is Chris Anderson, and the place is called Cricket Hollow Farm. They do a great job with their dogs, and we got to visit some of their already sold puppies! How cute are these?!

We have decided to purchase one, and will get a yellow female from their next litter, sometime this fall. We can't wait!