Hello everyone & Happy Christmas Eve❣ I needed to write one last Christmas post for Maddie. She brought me so much joy, especially at Christmastime & I have a lot of photos of those special moments we shared.
I adopted Maddie in September 2009, so this was our first Christmas together. She had turned two a month earlier.
Christmas 2015 – Age 8Maddie really hated the cold. She never strayed very far from the warmth of the woodstove. 💕Maddie & Alfie watching for Santa❣Cutest little Santa’s Helper 2016Christmas 2017Maddie’s one job was to protect Santa’s cookies from Alfie while I was busy. It was a major failure… 🙄2017Christmas 2021 in Quartzsite, AZMaddie was less than thrilled being my reindeer… This is the YouTube video of our parade in Quartzsite. Please copy & paste the link to GOOGLE! It doesn’t always open correctly in YouTube. 😫 https://youtu.be/8uAOZXH_DGA?si=_l5MVhAZ33hNksu9 The narrator mentions my car as the SUV @ the .32 mark. Not all of us were in 4 wheelers… 🙄 Following a LONG DRIVE into the desert, we all gathered for a feast & Christmas cheer! It was an AMAZING experience & so much fun! ❤Maddie’s last Christmas in 2022. 🥺 We were housesitting for friends in Maine & alone for Christmas. I didn’t feel alone. I cooked delicious meals for myself & Maddie & I snuggled up & watched Christmas movies. 💝❤ Christmas 2022 in Maine ❤Please hug your loved ones tight. You never know when it might be one of your last… 💔Maddie moved to Rainbow Bridge on 12/1/2023. 💔With best wishes to everyone for a very Merry Christmas & a Happy & Healthy New Year❣
I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving, with lots to be thankful for this year!
As always, I’ve been most grateful for my beloved Maddie, my family & friends. ❤
Friendship isn’t about who you’ve known the longest. It’s about who walked into your life and said “I’m here for you and proved it.” ~ Unknown ~
I’m very lucky to have so many amazing, lifelong friends, including friendships we forged in the 4th grade, junior high school, high school & 4-H! You know who you are & I hope you know how much I love & treasure you. 💞
I’ve also made some truly special friendships throughout the years, including some through work & a few more that I met on our yearlong roadtrip.
I’m grateful for my friends & family, today & every day❣
💔 Maddie…the love of my life...💔
When I adopted Maddie from PEI, Canada at 22 months old, I never dreamed that she’d still be with me at 16! On Thanksgiving Day, November 23rd, we celebrated her 16th birthday❣
I adopted Maddie from the PEI Humane Society on September 12, 2009. I’ve been grateful every day since to have had her in my life. 💝
Our 14+ years together absolutely flew by, much too quickly. After losing my beloved Shadow suddenly in September 2006, I waited 3 years to adopt a dog.
I didn’t think that I could ever love another dog, as much as I loved her & it wouldn’t have been fair to have a new dog try to live in Shadow’s shadow.
I was wrong… 😍
Maddie & Shadow shared many similar traits & quirks, but Maddie smiled, wagged her tail & immediately secured her own special place in my heart.
I’ve been very lucky to have had quite a few dogs in my life. ❤
🥺 TISSUE ALERT🥺
I’m heartbroken to share with you that on Friday morning, December 1st, my sweet, smart, loyal, adventurous, loving, amazing & beautiful Maddie crossed over the Rainbow Bridge. 💔
“Do not think I did not hear every last word you said. Do not think I did not feel your trembling hand touch my head. Today you did the bravest thing, today you set me free. Thank you for a wonderful life, thank you for loving me.“
💔 ~ Author Unknown ~ 💔
I’ve been working on this tribute to Maddie for awhile because I knew I wouldn’t be able to find the words now. 🥺 Searching through the 100’s (1000’s?) of photos I have of her has been surprisingly therapeutic. It’s reminded me of how lucky we both were to have shared our lives & adventures. 💞
Looking at Maddie recently, at a standstill, she never looked close to 16! Her beautiful, black fur was as shiny & full, as always.
Right up until she crossed Rainbow Bridge, she still had her sweet puppy face.
She was eating great, sleeping peacefully, breathing normally & using the doggie door, as needed. She was deaf, but her eyesight was really amazing!
Maddie always enjoyed her meals, but for her last 2 weeks, she LOVED her meals❣ Along with her kibble, I was serving her deli roast beef, rice, sweet potato & shredded cheddar cheese, at least 2-3 times a day. She achieved Empty Bowl status, at every meal. 💞
I came to this excruciatingly painful decision to say goodbye now because of her declining mobility. She’d been struggling to get up occasionally & walking was becoming painful for her. She’d had a few slips outside & couldn’t get up to come back inside. She always HATED the cold, wet weather & with winter fast approaching now, it would only get worse for her.
As Friday morning approached, I started to second guess myself. Maddie was still doing “well”. If we were living somewhere with warm weather, I wouldn’t have made this gutwrenching decision now. To hopefully avoid any major regrets later on, I requested a consult with our vet, Dr. K, prior to the appointment.
As always, Dr. K was wonderful. 💕 She sat on the floor with me & did a quick exam of Maddie. As it turned out, Maddie was in really good shape, especially for a 16 year young pup. Now my decision became even more difficult… 😥
As I sat & softly stroked Maddie’s beautiful face, I made the final decision to say goodbye. I knew that she loved me & would keep fighting to stay with me, to her own detriment. Dr. K had said that she wouldn’t try to influence my decision, but at 16, she said that we’d be back there again sooner than later. My fear of having to say goodbye in an emergency situation returned. I’d lost my beloved Shadow under emergency circumstances & I never want that to happen again…ever… 🥺
As final preparations were made, I opened a small bag of Reese’s mini candies for her. She’d never had chocolate before, but she loved peanut butter, so I knew it was a good choice for her last snack. I ate one & she ate all the rest! I could barely get the foil wrappers off fast enough for her. 😁
As I held Maddie’s sweet face, nose to nose with mine, I told her that I loved her & to go find Shadow at Rainbow Bridge.
In just a few moments, she was gone, very peacefully.
💔 My heart is broken, but I’m at peace with my decision. 💔
I know that Shadow was waiting for her at Rainbow Bridge. I’m sure that they found each other & were soon off & running on an exciting adventure together. 💕
I just hope they remember to come back for me, when it’s my time to cross the bridge…
I want to thank Dr. K, Vet Tech L.B. 💓 & the entire staff at the veterinary hospital. For the 14.5 years that Maddie was their patient, they always provided excellent care & advice, in a professional, kind & compassionate manner.
I also need to thank my devoted support team of family & friends for helping me navigate this heartbreak… 💝 Your phone calls, cards, texts & emails have truly helped me.
Special thanks to my dear friends, WM, DR, PC, MH & to my sister, Carla. You all played extraordinarily important roles for me, as I said goodbye to Maddie. ❤
Maddie was happiest on warm, sunny days.During our roadtrip, Maddie would find the most uncomfortable places to sleep! She always had at least one bed available, but she chose to sleep on rocks, with her head resting on railroad ties or rocks. She could get herself totally tied up around poles & table legs. To a casual observer, it probably looked like I didn’t care about Maddie’s comfort...😳This was one of Maddie’s finest & most proud moments of entanglement! 😳 After someone almost drove into my tent in the dark, in the desert in Quartzsite, AZ, I’d put solar lights on top of pvc pipes on top of the tent stakes. It worked great, initially… 🙄 One morning, I heard a strange sound & discovered that Maddie had somehow gotten herself completely caught up in one. She wasn’t concerned, but I was freaking out! In the 2 minutes that I hadn’t seen her, she’d managed to get all tangled up & almost pulled the tent down! 💝Maddie was definitely a Sagittarius! She was born on November 23, 2007. ❤ November 23-December 21 Sagittarius is the third and final fire sign; those born under this sign are the seekers of freedom and adventure. Sagittarian pets have lots of energy and enjoy challenges. They also like to move around and not just in the backyard, either. As they love action, these pets want you to take them with you when you go hiking or biking. Or for a yearlong roadtrip… 💗 When i decided to take the journey with Maddie, I really wasn’t sure we could make it work. As a first time camper, my goal was pretty ambitious. She was a Super Star❣The saddest moment is when the one who gave you The Best Memories… becomes A MEMORY… 💔
Good Old Dog by Savana Frame
With your old, gray face, you sure know how to brighten up this place.
Your pace is slowing, time is wearing thin. You won’t be here for long, old dog & I will miss your grin.
But before you go, there is one thing to say. Old dog, I love you and I’ll miss you the rest of my days.
And it’s been an honor to walk across this land with your faithful head right at my hand.
Despite being part Labrador RETRIEVER, Maddie took after her predecessor, Shadow, when it came to retrieving. Neither one of them had much interest in playing fetch, so these are two very rare photos❣
I bought a snuffle mat for Maddie, a few months ago. The concept is to provide mental & physical stimulation, by hiding kibble & treats in the ruffles. Maddie loved it! She’d spend a long time searching for her snacks. On more than one occasion, she fell asleep on it, after successfully finding every last piece! 😊I might need to buy an alarm clock now!2015: Age 8 ❤
Dogs may age, but their hearts forever remain young and full of love. 💝
We were surrounded by BISON on more than one occasion & Maddie was extraordinarily calm about it! I never heard a sound from her.! Maybe she thought they were giant dogs! 🤔Maddie was a fashion icon❣In 2016, Maddie & I spent a weekend in a cabin with friends at our 4-H camp. This was the extent of our camping experience, prior to our yearlong tent/car camping roadtrip!Howloween 2022Maddie was a good sport to wear sweaters, coats & hats, etc. Several years at Christmas time, she wore her Christmas coat or a dress for 36 hours! As I’ve said, she didn’t like being cold, so she was happy to wear a warm garment.Last Christmas, we were staying in our friend’s home in Maine. I knew it was going to be Maddie’s last Christmas, so I decorated with a black lab theme. 💝I don’t actually hate winter as much as Maddie hated winter!I wrote Maddie’s name in the beach sand on Assateague Island in Maryland. We’d enjoyed 3 very special camping trips to visit the wild ponies there. This was my way of making Maddie part of the island environment forever. 💝As I drove to her appointment on that Friday morning, Maddie was wearing the t-shirt I’d bought for her for our roadtrip. It had a rainbow on it & it said More to Explore. It felt like appropriate attire for my glamour girl.
I had a Lennie Gallant CD cranked up on the radio. He’s my favorite musician from PEI. Maddie couldn’t hear the music, but I could tell that she could feel the vibrations.💓
The silhouette of a black dog is on the wall at the pet crematorium, where I delivered her to be cremated. Her ashes have been returned to me now, so she’ll always be with me… ❤
Dr. Seuss was a very wise man. I’ve shed a lot of tears in recent weeks, but I keep remembering this quote. As I reminisce about the amazing life that Maddie & I shared, I’ve smiled a lot, too.
Hello there! Yes, I’m still alive. I’ve had a few rough months health wise, but I’m still standing!Maddie is definitely showing her age now (her 16th birthday is 11/23/23 🤞🏼), so I’m treating every day as a gift… 💝
I’ll do an update post soon, but I’ve just had something truly special happen & I want to share it with everyone!
During our yearlong roadtrip, Maddie & I visited some extraordinary places all across America & we shared many, many once-in-a-lifetime experiences.
Some of my most special memories include the wonderful, unforgettable people we met along the way.
This week, I was able to play a fun game of connect the dots with friends, from 1400+ miles away!
A Brief History
Lorrie & I met briefly at the Leech Lake Recreation Area Campground, in Federal Dam, Minnesota & we’ve stayed in touch ever since.
Maddie & I camped there for almost a week in late September 2021. The foliage was gorgeous! The campground was nice & I especially loved the FREE hot showers in the amazingly clean restrooms & the use of the FREE washer & dryer!
Lorrie walked by our campsite & we chatted about the beautiful weather & colors that Mother Nature was showing off for us. She was there camping & fishing with her husband, Dennis. I still haven’t met Dennis, but hopefully we’ll meet someday…
Maddie & I met Jane, Tim & their sweet pup, Sophie at Cochiti Lake Campground in New Mexico. It was in late October 2021, just before we moved on to Utah & I got us lost & stranded in the desert for 4 days. 🙄
We had a chance meeting because I overheard a conversation & politely invited myself (aka barged) into it. 🤷♀️ The discussion was about the horrendous Goat’s Head burrs.
We’d only been at this campground for a short time & Maddie had already encountered them. 😳 I thought she’d suffered a stroke because she threw herself to the ground in pain, after stepping on one. 🥺As it turned out, Jane had bought protective booties for Sophie, but they were too big for her.They fit Maddie perfectly, so I bought them from her. As they say, the rest is history! Jane & Tim invited me to their fabulous home on wheels for several meals & it felt like we’d been friends forever❣When we parted ways a few days later, I was sad to think we’d probably never cross paths again.
NEVER SAY NEVER!!! 😁
In February 2022, Jane, Tim & Sophie traveled to Yuma, AZ, about 85 miles south of where Maddie & I were camping in Quartzsite, AZ. I was THRILLED when they asked about coming to visit us! They drove up & we had a delicious picnic in the town park. Sadly, the time flew by & they headed back to Yuma. 🥺
FAST FORWARD
I’ve been following Lorrie & Dennis & Jane & Tim on FB & I’ve been living vicariously through their extensive travels.
On Sunday, Lorrie posted that she & Dennis were headed out to camp & fish with friends at Whiteface Reservoir in Minnesota.
I’m grateful for having a decent memory, usually, because I remembered that Jane & Tim are Camp Hosts there until Labor Day! Lorrie’s post said that her cellphone reception was poor there, but I took a chance & messaged all three of them. Soon after I posted, Tim responded! It’s definitely a SMALL WORLD because Jane had just registered them in & they were camping close by!
I asked Jane to get a photo of all of them for me & voilà!
Obviously, Tim & Sophie took the pictures 🤔, but here are Dennis, Lorrie & Jane❣
I don’t always remember exactly where I’ve met someone, but in this case, I have photos of both locations! The top is Cochiti Lake in New Mexico & the bottom is Leech Lake in Minnesota.
These friends all live in Minnesota, but I’m sitting here in Massachusetts & connected the dots for them to meet! The next coincidence is that they’ll all be spending some time this winter in the same area of Alabama, soI’m hoping their paths will cross again, too!
Thanks to Disney, I’ve been humming “It’s a Small World” for 3 days now!
“There is just one moon And one golden sun. And a smile means Friendship to ev’ryone. Though the mountains divide And the oceans are wide It’s a small world after all!”
Many years ago, I owned a flower shop & then I managed a large Hallmark card & gift store. Valentine’s Day was always CRAZY & STRESSFUL in those days. I miss the beautiful flowers & the silly & sweet cards, but not the stress! And I definitely miss the chocolates! 🤷♀️
😁 A few of my favorite days… 😁 The day after: Valentine’s Day, Easter, Halloween & Christmas!
This is how I ended my Valentine’s Day post from Quartzsite, AZ last year & it’s even more appropriate this year.
“Thank you for being a friend. Traveled down a road and back again. Your heart is true, you’re a pal and a confidant.” Written by Andrew Gold
Happy Valentine’s Day to everyone & THANK YOU for being my friend❣
Today is January 22, 2023. It marks the beginning of the Lunar New Year, also known as the Chinese New Year. 🎊 Happy New Year! 🎊
This post is going to be a bit longer than usual. Between the “updates/improvements?” 🤕 to the blog website & my phone still acting up occasionally, I didn’t get my Christmas or New Year posts out. Several people have reached out to me, concerned because I’ve been “missing”. Thank you! 🤗
Maddie & I are fine. 😍
I’m using the “better late than never” theory & combining it all here, so here goes!
I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday season! Maddie & I are safely tucked away, awaiting my fast approaching February cataract surgeries. My vision is really bad now, so I’m definitely looking 👁👁 forward to it!
😎
As a result of my poor vision, we haven’t been out & about much, but I decided to do a quick trip to Wells Harbor, Maine. I’d seen some photos of the lobster buoy tree there & I wanted to see it for myself. I’m sure it’s even more festive all lit up at night, but I’m not driving at night now. We visited it on a gloomy day, so I’m still happy with my photo! The tree was really fun to see, but the next day, the coast of Maine received some serious, damaging WIND & rain. I wanted to see if it survived, so I drove back over on Christmas Day. A lot of roads had been closed, due to flooding, but they were reopened by then.
I was thrilled to see that the tree had survived!
These are a few photos from the Wells & Kennebunk police & fire department FB pages. It was an incredibly powerful storm & it caused a lot of damage. 🥺I decided to decorate our “home away from home” for Christmas. It’s been awhile since I’ve done any decorating & I had fun with it! I bought a few decorations at a $ store, so it was Christmas decorating on a tiny budget. 💝 This is the 14th Christmas that Maddie & I have celebrated together & I love this black dog theme❣ The ornament was given to me by a very dear friend & I love it! 💝 It’s even more special to me because the sale of every ornament represents a tree being planted by the National Forest Foundation! 🎄Our first Christmas together in 2009. Maddie was 2 years old.Christmas 2015 – Maddie, age 8Christmas 2022 – Maddie @ 15❣ I need to take some better photos of her in the snow!On nice days, we’ve been walking as much as possible. This was a beautiful day! ❤To my family & friends: I can cook! 🤫 Shhhh!!! Please don’t tell anyone. It will ruin my reputation! 😁This was my Christmas Eve dinner. It was too cold to go outside much, so in between watching Christmas movies all day, I cooked! It was chicken cordon bleu (store-bought frozen) & I made a honey mustard, cherry jam & dried cranberry glaze for it. Side dishes included: sweet potato w/brown sugar, dried cranberries & marshmallows, broccoli, savory herb stuffing w/dried cranberries & fresh mandarin oranges & my own version of cranberry-orange relish. (I LOVE cranberries 😁.) My beverage was orange juice & cranberry juice cocktail. I was too full to eat the dessert I’d planned, so I doubled up on my Christmas Day desserts!It’s your choice, so I hope you enjoy the ride! 💝
My wishes for 2023 are simple. I’m wishing for all of us to experience a year filled with love & laughter, peace, hope, kindness & good health. I truly hope wishes can come true… Happy New Year from Wendy & Maddie 💕🕊🐾🌎🐾🕊💕
“Let There Be Peace on Earth” was written in 1955 by Jill Jackson-Miller and Sy Miller for the International Children’s Choir in Long Beach, California. Yesterday’s walk on January 21, 2023
Winter 2022 officially starts on Wednesday, December 21st. ☃️
At this time last year, Maddie & I were in Quartzsite, Arizona & I was looking forward to our first ever no-snow winter. 💕
December 12, 2021 in Quartzsite, Arizona It was “chilly” in the tent ⛺ that morning, but after a gorgeous sunrise, it warmed up quickly. By the time I finished my coffee & breakfast, it was a beautiful morning.December 12, 2022 in Maine We only received a light dusting of snow overnight, but it was slippery enough to warrant a sanding truck! 😳
Maddie & I are wintering in Maine this year, 2856 miles away from our “home for the holidays” last year in Quartzsite, AZ.
Maddie & I spent June & July happily working for friends at a part-time job, while continuing to camp out in an amazing state forest a few miles away. Maddie went to work with me every day & we returned to the campground every night. 🏕
In August, I packed up the tent, temporarily, in exchange for pet & house-sitting for another friend.
As the weeks flew by this summer, my vision started to deteriorate significantly. I was supposed to schedule a cataract surgery assessment in March of 2020, but before I was able to get an appointment, the pandemic started & everything shut down.
I’ve managed to get by with diminishing eyesight, until recently. Now, it’s become a serious problem for me. I haven’t been driving in the dark since June. Rainy or dark, gloomy days have become difficult now, too. 🥺
I’ve had the same wonderful optometrist for a very long time. After bumping into him, almost literally 🤓, in October, he asked his staff to schedule an appointment for me asap. Following that appointment, he referred me for the cataract surgery assessment. My original assessment was scheduled for January 2023, but my optometrist advocated for me again & I’ve already had the consultation.
I had to leave my job in mid-November because it was no longer safe to be commuting to work every day. 😔
The good news is that I’m having surgeries on both eyes in early February! 😎
This sign was in one of our campgrounds in Virginia in June ’21. It’s important to pay attention to warning signs & change your course, as necessary.
My wonderful friends then offered me their second home in Maine for the winter! Maddie & I stayed here for 2 weeks in June & I’m so grateful for their generosity again. We’ll be hunkered down here until after my surgeries & follow-up appointments.
These are the views from the front & the back of the house. I actually don’t mind the snow, as much, when I don’t have to get anywhere! Let it snow! ❄☃️❄
I took this photo several years ago at the Topsfield Fair in Massachusetts. I’ve always loved the colors of Autumn.On Thanksgiving Day 2021, Maddie & I were at Arches National Park in Utah. We’d recently been rescued from our 4-day misadventure, lost in the desert 🏜 & we had a lot to be thankful for that morning. It was bitter cold, but we still enjoyed our breakfast with a breathtakingly beautiful view.This year, I was invited to spend Thanksgiving with friends of a friend of mine. I’d never met them before, but they warmly welcomed me into their home to share their feast. I took this photo even before everything was on the table! There was also a plethora of fabulous desserts! After 8 of us had our fill of delicious food, there was still a lot of food for several days worth of leftovers. I was well aware all day of the stark contrast between Thanksgiving 2021 & Thanksgiving 2022… 💕😁
“The Value of a Good Friend” zurich.com.au There are a number of benefits that come with maintaining strong friendships and they can improve all areas of our health and wellbeing. Emotionally, strong friendships offer us unwavering support that can lift us up when we feel down, they can give us advice when we’re facing difficult decisions, be an ongoing source of inspiration and they can provide us with an environment to be ourselves.”
Even way out in the desert, 2800 miles away from home, I always felt the love & support of my family & friends.😁💝I’m usually an overly cautious person, but I’m glad I chose the front row seat for this chapter in my life! 😁 This image just popped up in my FB archives. My life was very different in 2014. I hadn’t even thought of going on a yearlong journey. Not in my wildest dreams… 💕❤As ALWAYS, I’m thankful for Maddie❣
After unexpectedly losing my beloved Shadow in 2006, I didn’t think I could ever love another dog as much as I loved her… 💔
I’ve NEVER been so happy to be so wrong!
Shadow was my loyal companion from February 2, 1995 until September 13, 2006. I think of her & miss her every day, but I’m forever grateful that she worked her magic to connect me with Maddie.
I adopted Maddie on September 12, 2009 – exactly three years (minus 1 day) after Shadow left for Rainbow Bridge.
Shadow loved our vacation time on PEI, Canada 🇨🇦. The PEI Humane Society is the only shelter on the island, so I wanted to support them & hopefully adopt a dog from there someday. I’m so grateful I made that decision!
It took three years before I felt ready to consider getting another dog. I fell in love with “Maggie”, now Maddie, on the PEIHS website in March of 2009. I waited for the winter weather to pass & finally inquired about her by email on June 16th. She was still available & waiting for the right family.
And then she was adopted on June 20th. 🥺
And then she was returned the first weekend in September. 😳
I believe she was adopted for Father’s Day & returned when school started up again. I was originally really upset & angry with that family for returning her, but it’s been the best thing that could have ever happened for both Maddie & me. The timing for her return to the shelter & me adopting her, coincided exactly with Shadow’s Rainbow Bridge crossing date. This was definitely NOT a coincidence & I will always believe that Shadow connected us. 💝 I’m so lucky & immensely grateful for both of these dogs to have found their way to me.
Maddie’s adoption weekend 2009 On the beach in Rustico, PEI, CanadaThis was on our way from PEI, home to Massachusetts. We’d only been together for 3 days… 💕Our first Christmas together in 2009Santa’s cutest elf❣Christmas 2017 Maddie was supposed to be guarding Santa’s snack from Alfie. When I turned my back for a minute, Alfie enjoyed eating the cookies, while Maddie pretended not to notice. 🙄Maddie at 4-H 🍀 Camp Middlesex – 20162016 – This was a rental car that we were both sad to return.❤These are two of my favorite photos. 😍During an extreme heatwave in Massachusetts in 2013, we went to McDonald’s every day to get a $1.00 soft serve ice cream for each of us. We both loved riding around in the car, with the A/C blasting! The ice cream was a bonus. 😁 Maddie wore a lot of hers! 😊Take time to stop & smell the flowers!Assateague Island National Seashore Campground Maryland – 2021During our yearlong journey, this was our motto. 💕Asheville, North Carolina – July 2021 Despite being a lab mix with webbed feet, Maddie hates getting her feet wet. Our campsite was very soggy for our entire visit, so she came up with a creative solution for herself! At 13.5, she had no problem hopping up onto our picnic table! Normally, I wouldn’t allow it, but it was a poorly managed campground, with nobody available to help with several serious issues, so….. Maddie ate all of her meals on the table there. It also kept her out of the grass & away from unwelcome visitors. There were reports of a lot of rattlesnakes & copperheads on the property. 😳 Luckily, we never encountered any!The New Hanover County Extension Service Arboretum June 2021 – Wilmington, North CarolinaThe Riverwalk in Wilmington, North Carolina Always ready for an adventure❣We had to outrun some severe weather conditions along the way, including tropical storms, thunderstorms & tornados. To stay as safe as possible, we spent a few days & nights in hotels. One storm was an all-day, terrifying thunderstorm. 🥺 I put Maddie in our dark bathroom to shield her from it. When I checked in on her, she was hunkered down & sleeping peacefully in the bathtub. 🤗Despite always having a choice of beds & soft blankets available, Maddie prefers sleeping on the ground. 🤔 Over the years, she’s also spent A LOT of time tangled up!Winter 2021 – 2022 Quartzsite, AZ Maddie almost pulled the tent down, after getting caught up in the solar light pole that was attached to a tent guy line! 🙄On one scorchingly hot day, I really needed to buy a few groceries. I left the car’s air conditioner running & checked on Maddie every few minutes. When the store manager saw what I was doing, she invited Maddie inside! I did my shopping with peace of mind, while Maddie greeted everyone with her beautiful smile❣At almost 14.5 years young, Maddie & I walked, hiked & camped in City of Rocks in New Mexico. She was AMAZING!Happy Camper❣This was my morning wake-up call face every day❣Maddie was the cutest, little ladybug for Halloween 2022! 🐞This is a recent photo. For the past few months, Maddie went to work with me at the hardware store almost every day. The weather was AWFUL on this day, so I left her home. She was very happy to see me when I returned from work. 💗I absolutely hate having my picture taken, but I wanted a nice photo to make Christmas cards a few years ago. It’s now a favorite photo of mine. 💝Maddie on her 15th birthday, November 23, 2022, is modeling her new jackets. The mauve one is unbelievably soft plush. The bright pink one is water resistant with a nice, soft lining. She wasn’t thrilled doing the fashion show for the photo shoot, but she’s going to love wearing them! 💝
HAPPY 15th BIRTHDAY, MADDIE❣Thank you for being my best friend & the love of my life… 💝
On September 11, 2001, I was just arriving at work at an adult daycare center in Arlington, MA. I was trying to find a parking space when the radio announced the first plane had crashed. I knew our clients would be watching the news on tv, so I parked (illegally) and ran into the building to shut down the tvs. It was a very tough few weeks at work afterwards. Most of our clients had Alzheimer’s disease and thought that the tragedy was JUST happening, EVERY time they saw it on the news. We had to stop doing daily current events. The tvs were all removed from the rooms. A few of our clients were frail, but mentally sharp and wanted & needed to talk about it. To protect our other clients, I was often asked, as an Activity Assistant, to spend some time with those folks in a closed off area to discuss the situation. Their fears and memories were heartbreaking to me because they remembered living through the horrors of previous wars. It was extremely difficult to go to work every day with a smile on my face from 9-3, but we all did it to protect our elders. I remember… 💔
With all of the ceremonies and tributes to honor those lost on 9/11, I would like to remind everyone about the brave men and women that are working 24/7/365 to prevent this horror from ever happening again. Thank you to all of the members of our military. Thank you to our police officers and firefighters and all first responders. I will never forget 9/11, but I will also never forget those who live the motto: “Home of the Free because of the Brave”.
I researched this photo. It was verified by snopes.com as authentic. It was taken at Fort Snelling Military Cemetery in Minneapolis, MN in 2011. The amateur photographer was Frank Glick. I love this photo and the symbolism it represents.
This week, I’ve also been thinking a lot about my Mom. She died on September 7, 1999 & not a single day has gone by since, that I haven’t thought of her.
I love & miss you, Mom, more today than yesterday, but not as much as tomorrow.
💝 Mom 💝I spent some time with Mom (& Dad) on September 7th.
On September 13th, 2006, my beloved Shadow earned her wings and flew to Rainbow Bridge. She was my loyal companion from February 2, 1995 until September 13, 2006. She was at least 12 1/2 years old, but was still very much a puppy until the end of her life. I think of her and miss her every day, but I’m forever grateful that she worked her magic to connect me with Maddie. I adopted Maddie on September 12, 2009 – exactly three years (minus 1 day) after Shadow left. Shadow puppy, you will live forever in my heart and memories.
❤ Shadow, forever in my heart & memories... ❤💝 Maddie 💝 The left photo is from May 2021. The right photos were her adoption weekend photos in 2009. Happy Adoptaversary, Maddie❣And finally, Queen Elizabeth II. I’ve never really been a follower of celebrities, athletes or the Royal Family, but I am sad about Queen Elizabeth’s passing. Rest easy now, Queen Elizabeth. 👑
Where's Wendy? Livin' in the Edge! 