Out at Roman Nose

Last month we went on a family camping trip out at Roman Nose State Park.

A few "out-takes"...

 camping out

bugging out...

cooking out...

budding out...

hanging out...

making out...

creeping out...

(that is a lizard's backside)

chilling out...

flipping out...

(he was hoping we would, I was hoping we wouldn't)

(we didn't)

freaking out...

(those are buzzards)

shelling out...

     rocking out...

sticking out...

calling out...

watching out...

faking out...

(it was a fake snake)

looking out...

Part Ten--Confessions of an Almost Dog Lover

It's quiet around here, a little too quiet...actually alot too quiet. But it is all good. Mostly all good. Sorta good. A little bit good.

Ok. I miss that dog.

Maddie has a new home and a new mommy.

And a doggie sister.

Human mommies are good. Doggie sisters are good. Forever homes are best.

And she gets to live inside. Which may not be too big of a deal right now when it is nice outdoors but when fall comes and the  frost is on the pumpkin, Maddie needs to be an indoor kind of dog. She wasn't bred for living in the elements. She was born to spend her days inside, following her human mommy around, jumping on her lap and protecting everyone from dust bunnies. (she did a good job; no one was killed or injured by a dust bunny during her sojourn here)

I would tell you all the good things about not having a dog living in the house but I kinda can't think of any right now.  

Her new human mommy loves her to distraction and that makes me happy. And Maddie is happy and content and doing well.

I like to think that in a tiny little corner of her itty-bitty little canine heart, she remembers me and our days together. And how she almost made me a dog lover. Maybe not a lover of every dog or even of dogs in general but most certainly a lover of a particular little dog we called Maddie. 

Part Nine--Confessions of an Almost Dog Lover

Live like a dog...





Why is it that dogs don't live as long as humans?

Well, people are born so that they can learn how to live a good life — like loving everybody all the time and being nice...dogs already know how to do that, so they don’t have to stay as long.

~Live simply.
~Love generously.
~Care deeply.
~Speak kindly.

Remember, if a dog was the teacher you would learn things like:

-When loved ones come home, always run to greet them.
-Never pass up the opportunity to go for a joyride.
-Allow the experience of fresh air and the wind in your face to be pure ecstasy.
-Take naps.
-Stretch before rising.
-Run, romp, and play daily.
-Thrive on attention and let people touch you.
-Avoid biting when a simple growl will do.
-On warm days, stop to lie on your back on the grass.
-On hot days, drink lots of water and lie under a shady tree.
-When you’re happy, dance around and wag your entire body.
-Delight in the simple joy of a long walk.
-Be loyal.
-Never pretend to be something you’re not.
-If what you want lies buried, dig until you find it.
-When someone is having a bad day, be silent, sit close by, and nuzzle them gently.
 
Live like a dog and enjoy every moment of every day.

Author Unknown

(source: I saw this awhile back making the rounds on Facebook. So I copied it and am posting an excerpt here. I would happily credit the author if anyone knows who it is)
("Live like a dog" is my sole and humble contribution)
(I might have to add: "Jump as high into the air as possible when you want to go to the restroom." I am pretty sure that would make all of our lives just that much more interesting and entertaining.)

Part Eight--Confessions of an Almost Dog Lover

The whole incident began with this very cool "survival bracelet" dog collar that Daniel made for Maddie. We didn't feel like going to buy her a collar when she came into our lives because we were so convinced this was Maddox and he (although it was really "she") would be going home within hours if not by the end of the day. So Daniel made him (her) a collar. Daniel is a "paracord expert" but not necessarily a "knot expert" (this will become very important later).

We put her on a leash, really just a length of paracord and tied her in the front yard when she wasn't in the house jumping on my lap or resting in her kennel. Actually it was Rosie's kennel but Maddie didn't know that. (although Rosie did) (but she didn't care) (in fact, I am pretty sure she was happy to share it) (because it kept Maddie out of her hair) (and she pretty much hated it, anyway)

Anyway, this morning Maddie stood by the front door, patiently asking to go outside. Let me rephrase that, Maddie stood by the front door and jumped three feet straight up into the air, over and over again. That got my attention all right and I grabbed the paracord leash to attach to her collar. As I did so, I noticed that another length of paracord had been tied on. Not being a boy scout, I didn't inspect the knot. Rememer the whole thing about Daniel not being a knot expert? Yeah. Right. Soon that would become very important. Maddie saw a squirrel across the streeet or heard another dog or smelled something very interesting. Something clicked in her little brain so she and I set off in pursuit of whatever she was tracking.

Suddenly, she lunged forward and the knot gave way. She dashed off across the street and I dashed off in pursuit of her. Soon she gave up on the squirrel or whatever it was that had originally piqued her interest and zoomed off in another direction. I zoomed right behind her. In my own way. Which was not a pretty sight. I soon began to huff and puff and there was a stitch in my side and desperation in my heart. She was so fast I was afraid I would lose sight of her. I ran faster than I have ever run--probably since junior high when I took second place in the 50 yard dash. I called her but since she wasn't really Maddox or Maddie, she didn't pay the slightest bit of attention to me--she was busy pretending to be a greyhound or a bloodhound or...something.

Next comes the part which is kinda embarrassing. I slowed down, since I really couldn't keep up with her pace, anyway, and called her quietly and then I said, (oh, yes, I did) "Why are you doing this to Mommy? Please come back..." in a most pitiful tone. Luckily for me, no one in my family or any of my neighbors or casual acquaintances or even random strangers on the street witnessed this moment. (I hope)

Maddie paid no attention. She continued to run down the street. Until something in the storm drain caught her attention. She stopped to sniff and investigate. I got closer and was astute enough to stop running and began to casually walk toward her when her interest in the storm drain was satisfied. Then she set off to check out a flower bed in somebody's yard. I was closer to her now than I had been during this whole ordeal. Her back was to me and her nose was in some petunias--I grabbed her and she wrestled with me a bit until after some petting and soft words (I will not relate what I said to her) she calmed down and we walked back home. Emphasis on the word "walked."

Part Seven--Confessions of An Almost Dog Lover

I might have forgotten to mention that Maddie can dance...

and point...

I probably also forgot to say that she is the best watch dog ever...

she watches everything...

but you have to watch her so she doesn't run away...

because she can run REALLY fast.

(I know this for a fact)

I might also have neglected to mention she has the longest dog tongue 
ever in the history of domesticated canines...

And I don't think I have ever pointed out how very photogenic she is...

whether or not she is looking at the camera.

Part Six--Confessions of an Almost Dog Lover

Maddie is always thrilled to see me. Subtle she's not. If she could talk, she would say,"Where have you BEEN? I missed you. I needed to hear your voice. I needed you to pet me. I needed to tell you that I think you are the kindest, smartest, funniest, best human I know. Now, how about a snack?"

Maddie is always sensitive and understanding. If she could talk, she would say, "Why are your eyes raining? Why is your smile droopy? Come here and let me sit in your lap and lick your face...or you could give me a snack. That would probably make you happy."

Maddie is goal-oriented. If she could talk, she would say, "We have to get things in shape around here. I have been trying to keep some order, trying to keep the boys out of the fridge and the girls on task and nobody listens to me the way you do. Why, I haven't had a snack for at least ten minutes. So let's remedy that right now."

Part Five--Confessions of an Almost Dog Lover

Learning a lot about dog care:


you don't walk when you walk the dog--you run like the scarecrow when the woods are on fire or when the winged monkeys need new bedding.

you don't feed the dog--you serve her dinner.

you don't let the dog out to go to the bathroom--you take her out to sniff around the tree, to bark at the cat, to dive into the bushes, and then go to the bathroom.

Part Four--Confessions of An Almost Dog Lover

A Red SUV, a Red Light, and Red Box

Maddie is wagging her way into our hearts but we still desire to find her family. This whole situation is, I am afraid, making me crazy. As in, losing my mind. One sandwich short of a picnic. The lights are on but nobody's home. Or maybe just barking up the wrong tree.

The other day, one of my sons happened to be in the front yard. He came running in to tell me that a red SUV was drving down the street with open windows, calling out "Daisy!" I ran to the backyard and said "Daisy!" and Maddie came running. Then I dashed back to the front to see where the red SUV was and my son said it had just turned right onto May Avenue so I jumped into my car, and sped down the street in pursuit of a red vehicle. Aha, just ahead was a red mini SUV, in the turning lane and, happily for me, it was a red light. I jumped out of my car, ran up to them and asked if they had been looking for their dog Daisy. Ummm, no, they had not. Jumped back into my car, swung over into the next lane, and spied a red van at the gas station. Well, maybe my son doesn't know the difference between a van and an SUV. It was worth a try. The car's driver was apparently in the gas station getting a Big Gulp. I decided not to go inside and ask who owned the red van. Patiently waiting out by the van, I briefly wondered if I was losing my mind. Before I had time to answer myself, a big guy with a 12 pack (of beer, not abs) came out and I asked if he had lost a little dog named Daisy. No, he hadn't but he wanted to hear the whole story. I was a little impatient to get back to my search for more red vehicles but I gave him the short version. He wished me luck and we both peeled out of the gas station, me in the lead. The next red vehicle I spotted was parked near a Redbox, probably renting Old Yeller, or Where the Red Fern Grows or Shiloh or another sad dog movie. But nope, she didn't lose her dog and she was actually renting Jack the Giant Slayer.

By this time, all the red vehicles in the area had left because there was this crazy person flagging them down and asking if they had lost a dog. So I went back home to play with Maddie/Daisy, who by this time, was not answering to the name "Daisy."

Part Three--Confessions of an Almost Dog Lover

For this dog, going for a ride is like going to the movies.

"wow. I did NOT see that coming."

"Hey, who took my popcorn?"

Part Two--Confessions of an Almost Dog Lover

The Continuing Saga 

Thanks for staying with me here.

We have a dog and a cat already, two animals that I basically just tolerate.

So I began to set into motion my plan for returning this little girl doggie to her home. From the moment we first saw her and learned she was a stray, we thought of Maddox. This was Maddox; it had to be!!! Maddox the Miniature Doberman Pinscher whose poster is on every lamppost between here and Edmond, possibly even Guthrie. We played with Maddox. We fixed up a little bed for her and gave her some more water and food. Daniel made Maddox a "survival bracelet" collar and leash.  Our family would be the heroes in the story of the missing Maddox. I could hardly wait to send her home to her family, who had been looking for her for six months and who  had spent who knows how much on "lost dog" posters. Meanwhile, Maddox was having a good time at our house and enjoying all the attention and we were enjoying being foster dog parents.

However, one tiny little problem surfaced. We found out that the real Maddox is a boy. Oops. And the dog who was formerly known as Maddox became Maddie.

We walked and drove through the neighborhood we found her in. We knocked on doors. We hung up "Found Dog" posters. We stopped people in the street to ask if they knew of anyone missing a dog. We ran into B.J. Wexler (of OETA Movie Club fame). Actually we didn't run into him; he was driving down the street and we flagged him down. Totally. And practically melted into our boots when we realized who he was. Yeah, just another day in my life...

But he was very kind and called me a good American. It must be true because he mentioned it several times. I guess it is patriotic to try to return a lost dog to his home. Whatever. He now has my name and number should anyone ever come to his door and ask if he has seen a little stray Min-Pin. It could happen, I suppose.

                  (more about B.J. Wexler  http://www.okmag.com/August-2011/Mr-Cinema/)

Confessions of An Almost Dog Lover--Part One

I would be the first to admit that I am NOT a dog lover. I have said this for years without the slightest twinge of guilt. I love babies and kids--yes, I am pretty much basically just a little-people lover.

Until Maddie. Maddie came into our lives on a sunny Saturday in June. We found her wandering around, sniffing out squirrels and looking for a friend. And instantly, just like that, she found 6 friends in our family. Or maybe, 5 friends and a mommy. That dog stuck to me with a bond that was more Gorilla glue than Elmers.

She was well-mannered and dainty in her habits from the first. She nibbled on her food and gracefully drank without spilling. She slept in the dog crate and asked nicely to go outside.

And Maddie followed me around, jumped up on my lap whenever I sat down, and watched every move I made. Flattering, indeed.

But I am not a dog person. If anything, I am a cat person. Dogs are too rowdy and noisy and busy. And they don't get along with cats.

And Maddie's little ears were so soft and her fur so sleek and her dancing eyes such a pretty caramel brown. She had a way of cocking her head to look at me and of standing in front of the door and jumping straight up into the air. She didn't bark much--well, that is until she spotted a squirrel or another dog infringing on her *new* territory.

But I am not a dog person. I might have already mentioned this fact.

Helpful HInts for Home Remodeling

When you are completing a home remodeling project, here are a few important tips to keep in mind:

Proper ear protection is recommended. Or you can just cover your ears.

 Plenty of light is crucial.

Never, ever stand on the top rung of a ladder. Sitting there, however, is okay.

                                                        

                                     

Secure all loose electrical wires.

If you find yourself getting sleepy, take a break or even a nap. 

Whenever the mood strikes and wherever you happen to be.

Appropriate footwear is important, i.e. no white shoes after Labor Day.

Although flip flops and bare feet are generally not recommended footwear on the job, 

we can overlook it since we are not professionals.

(we only appear to be)

If the door isn't quite installed, feel free to walk through the wall...

 ...or squeeze through the doggie door.

Keep your hair pulled back in a "messy bun" with a clippie... 

...or a cute head band. 

Because a girl can't spend all of her time remodeling. 

She ought to spend a little time modeling.

                                             

Don't have too much fun.

Always try out a new door before it is completely installed...

just to make sure you fit.

Children should never climb on ladders near electrical wires...

it could be dangerous...

or dangerously cute.

Don't ever confuse nails with toenails.

For goodness sake, don't step on the former with the latter.

And as long as I am in the advice giving mode, you ought to go get a pedicure.

Take plenty of pictures to document your progress...

...even if all you did was hammer in one nail.

Your children and your children's children will thank you for it.

Everyone is going to be fascinated with the progress you are making.

Many hands make light work...

even if they aren't all helping.

It is essential to keep your work area tidy at all times.

If you haven't gotten the door knob installed yet, 

you can always use a bungee cord to keep the door shut.

Close-up shot of bungee cord keeping the door shut.

(you're welcome)

View of new door from the inside.

Don't feel tied in to the traditional.

This is our version of a skylight--

it lets in a view of the attic instead of the sky--sweet, huh!

My guard trees. Working well so far. Haven't had any intruders yet.

View of the mudroom entrance and doggie door, er, doggie hole.

Chillin' before he starts work on the interior...