Lives in a Shoe

Oysters, Salmon, Fisticuffs and Lemon Meringue Pie

At the Salmon Derby in Anacortes over the weekend.  Jeremy, Marcella, Chaffee.  Only photo I took that survived.  They are grilling oysters.  Chaffee has gone back to her real life in Kansas.  We are thinkng next time she visits we'll have to provide better weather.  It was so rough George didn't want to take the boat out -- we're told four boats capsized out there (everybody okay).  The derby winner hauled in a 20-something pound fish

We heard that Buzz Aldrin was at the ferry terminal for some ceremony but couldn't confirm it.  I would have liked to shake his hand, still delighted by his punch to the jaw of the rude man who called him a liar about the moon landing. I remember that July 1969 day, listening to the radio, baking a lemon meringue pie using a hand mixer obtained by redeeming Blue Chip Stamps.  Always think of the moon landing when I see lemon meringue.

The video shows the complete harassment leading to the sock in the jaw.  I embed it here for you to enjoy.

 

 

Elmer Cudd (Bubba) Gets A Manicure

Bubba walks right into his new stanchion which his trusted friend Harmen custom built to his 10 X size.  Joan says, "At 3025 pounds Bubba needed a special treating stanchion designed and built by Harm to fit his massive frame. Fortunately he walked right in for a large helping of grain while Harm & Derrick filed and buffed his feet back into shape.Fortunately for Bubba his owners Catherine Daniels and George Freeman treat him like royalty!"

"He fits nicely, and the stabilizer board behind him allows for safe quick release."

Harmen and his son Derrick discuss with Bubba how to proceed.  Bub would like Cherry Red with French tips. 

Bubba's best friend Margaret Thatcher stands nearby to give advice.  She advises against the red and thinks a more natural look works better with Bub's coloring.  To the right, not inside the barn but standing there in solidarity, we can just see little red Isaac Hays behind Mickey Moos.  Joan's take: "His friends are waiting in the wings. They stayed around and watched the entire process with a lot of low mooing going on."

Cow pedicure tool.  Joan explains, "Electric grinder buffs of his excess rock hard hoof."

My beloved boy, about 3025 pounds of sociability and gentleness.

 

 

Founding Dogs

This video was created by our friend Tombi to mark the 10th anniversary of Washington Owners of Flying Disc Dogs -- it's a tribute to the Founding Dogs.  Most of these dogs have died; some are still with us but retired.  The people are still competing and having fun with a new generation of disc-crazed mutts in WOOFD2.  I get teary when watching this.  We traveled with these special dogs and these people, know their families, wish each other the best always.  

 

Babe appears at about 2:09; Radar shows up about 4:06 just before George's vanity license WOOFD2.  The end shot is the Founding Dogs at Whistler where they entertained at the World Ski and Snowboard Festival; George and Babe at extreme left.  That was an enchanted time.

George and I look forward to working this year with Rick O'Shay, Radar O'Really, and our new addition Yam.  Maybe I'll throw for Bella too, but she's more of a princess and I am not so good -- it would be recreational only but still fun playing with my dog.  Nothing is better than that.

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WOOFD2 Tenth Anniversary.

 

Washington Owners of Flying Disc Dogs 10th Anniversay video.  Many of the founding dogs have died now -- but watching this brought back wonderful memories and provoked tears and a lump in my throat.  Gorgeous talented dogs doing what they so love to do. 

"I closed my eyes and she slipped away..."  Babe is here and there throughout. 

Radar O'Really appears about 4:10 -- look at those choppers.  Then Rick O'Shay.  And George, with his WOOFD2 license.

Friends dear to our hearts -- we've shared so many good times over the years, so many adventures.  "We're with the disc dogs..." 

Thank you, Tombi, for the beautiful video.

 

Saucy and Shadow + Mary Ann

When Mary Ann came to meet the blue heelers, those dogs recognized her right away.  They knew she was to be their very own Forever Person.  Look:

 
Saucy there, on the left, snuggling into Mary Ann's stomach.  And look at Shadow, with her entire dog heart in her eyes as she sits in Mary Ann's lap.  This was it -- and on Thanksgiving morning Shadow and Saucy went to stay with Mary Ann in her exquisite small jewel of a home on Lake Samish.  When we arrived, neighbors and neighbor dogs came out to greet us and I knew that Mary Ann was rooted in her village and so these dogs would be.  These dogs are GOOD dogs and really truly needed their own person to love.

Which is not to say I didn't have a big lump in my throat and tears in my eyes as we drove home.  We will miss them so much.  But -- Mary Ann has promised to teach both of them to use email so they can send updates.  She has also promised that when she travels they can come here while she's gone.  And sometimes also we can meet up for play dates.   Yes.  I intend to hold her to it. 

The entire story of how the dogs came to me and how we found Mary Ann is below the jump

Veterans Day

And a loving thank you to my veterans -- family members and others who touched my life:  Walter R. Daniels and his brothers True and Al; George Freeman II; George Freeman III; Greg Daniels; Gene Voda; Em Voda; Lou Voda, Lee Voda, Lloyd Burkhardt; Jerry Higgins; Jim Voda; Bob Voda, Rocco Granato, Rocco Granato II, Frank Browder.

And always in memory:  Philip Ferro, who died in Vietnam.

"We sleep soundly in our beds because rough men stand ready in the night to visit violence on those who would do us harm."  Winston Churchill.  I know, I know -- it's usually attributed to George Orwell, but it's been said in many similar ways and I'm going with Churchill at the moment.

How Wonderful is This Picture?

Coincidence abounding -- I had a really good long chat on the phone with Judi and we were talking about movies.  She and her sister Penny had just seen "Julia" and liked it.  Judi mentioned particularly how the real Julia Child was so life-loving she would have liked to have known her.  I had it in mind to say that it would be great if somebody would make a film about Harry and Bess Truman based on the wonderful book about Bess that was written by their daughter.  Judi and I both read that book and loved it.  But the conversation richocheted around, as our conversations do -- and somehow it never came around to that.

After we'd hung up I thought, "Dang. I forgot to mention the Harry and Bess Truman thing."  I went right to email intending to write to Judi -- and there was an email from Deborah with some nice Harry Truman stuff -- and this seriously wonderful picture which I cannot look at without a cheek-rounding grin. Channeling Nancy Drew I deduced that this is a reproduction of an actual book cover.

Sure enough, there the book is on Amazon.  And of course I ordered it, and if it's as good as I think it will be, I'll send it along to Judi and then to Deborah if she might want to read it also.  Free shipping with Amazon -- can't beat that.  You really can't.

Harry Truman is a hero to me and -- I say this with all sincerity -- I named one of my dogs Harry Truman in heartfelt tribute.  I have been thinking of renaming Belle, my gorgeous Aussie shepherd, and calling her Bess, since it gets tiresome being asked again and again and again if she is named after the Disney princess. 

I've been tempted to say she's named after Belle Cora, particularly after reading an essay by one Dr. Weirde titled "For Whom the Belle Toils"  detailing the history behind the graveyard at San Francisco's Mission Dolores.   Buried there are "the Gold Rush era's most notorious madam, Belle Cora, and her gambler lover, Charles Cora, whom she finally married two hours before his neck was stretched by the Vigilance Committee."  This has absolutely nothing to do with Bess or Harry Truman.

I wanted to know something about the author (of the book I was talking about before) and came across a nice op-ed he wrote for the New York Times about President and Mrs. Truman's trip.  The whole thing is below the break.