The Haasienda on Shroyer…

Col. Deeds keeps taking his toys to Chief. I guess Deeds thinks Chief will play with them but Chief, Bailey, and Harrigan have never been toy playing dogs.

I opened the kitchen door to throw some chopped up and unused vegetable parts into the fenced in easement for some of the animals that pass through.

I saw something in the tree and when I turned on the light, I discovered it was our resident possum.

I love this little fellow. He will follow me around and chat with me. I’m glad I finally got a photo of him.

It was not as productive a day as I predicted due to gut torture but I relaxed on the deck in the 71-degree weather while the pooches played.

The temperature is mild but we have a threat of some morning rain showers.

Sleep was good, but somewhat sporadic throughout the night. At 4:30 AM, Deeds moved to another side of the bed causing Harrigan to snarl and snip at him. I ordered her out of bed as I had done to Bailey for the same offense. Harry lay on a doggie bed, whimpering for several hours. When 5 AM rolled around, Deeds let me know he needed to potty. I let Erma and Deeds outside and I was soon back in bed, but sleep was hit and miss for another hour.

It’s nearing 8 AM. I have a nearby interview appointment at 10 AM and then Taco Tuesday with Mama Kay and The Gang. There will be precious little time, if any, for a nap before teaching begins at 3:30 PM.

I keep better watch with any new news regarding President Jimmy Carter. He has been such an inspiring individual both as a former president and as a humanitarian.

I will relax for thirty more minutes before wading into the day.

Make it a great day!

Last night, I posted several photos of Deeds on Instagram that showed how much he has grown over three weeks. Others had been noting how much he has grown but I couldn’t see it as much. I began noticing how much Col. Deeds’s weight had increased when lifting him onto the bed and after looking through photos, I could really see how he has matured.

I noticed Deeds left my pillow and crawled down to my arm to sleep next to Bailey. There was the initial grunt from Bailey, but I told her she would need to hop out of bed if she kept up her unwelcome response. She stopped. Deeds spent the rest of the night snuggled next to her.

Ode [For General Washington’s Birthday]

By Robert Burns

No Spartan tube, no Attic shell,

No lyre Eolian I awake;

‘Tis Liberty’s bold note I swell,

Thy harp, Columbia, let me take.

See gathering thousands, while I sing,

A broken chain, exulting, bring,

And dash it in a tyrant’s face!

And dare him to his very beard,

And tell him he no more is feared,

No more the Despot of Columbia’s race.

A tyrant’s proudest insults brav’d,

They shout – a People freed! They hail an Empire saved.

Where is Man’s god-like form?

Where is that brow erect and bold,

That eye that can, unmoved, behold

The wildest rage, the loudest storm,

That e’er created fury dared to raise!

Avaunt! thou caitiff, servile, base,

That tremblest at a Despot’s nod,

Yet, crouching under the iron rod,

Canst laud the hand that struck th’ insulting blow!

Art thou of man’s imperial line?

Dost boast that countenance divine?

Each sculking feature answers, No!

But come, ye sons of Liberty,

Columbia’s offspring, brave as free,

In danger’s hour still flaming in the van:

Ye know, and dare maintain, the Royalty of Man.

Alfred! on thy starry throne,

Surrounded by the tuneful choir,

The Bards that erst have struck the patriot lyre,

And rous’d the freeborn Briton’s soul of fire,

No more thy England own.

Dare injured nations form the great design,

To make detested tyrants bleed?

Thy England execrates the glorious deed!

Beneath her hostile banners waving,

Every pang of honour braving,

England in thunder calls, ‘The Tyrant’s cause is mine!’

That hour accurst how did the fiends rejoice

And hell thro’ all her confines raise th’ exulting voice,

That hour which saw the generous English name

Linkt with such damned deeds of everlasting shame!

Thee, Caledonia! thy wild heaths among,

Famed for the martial deed, the heaven-taught song,

To thee, I turn with swimming eyes.

Where is that soul of Freedom fled?

Immingled with the mighty Dead!

Beneath that hallowed turf where Wallace lies!

Hear it not, Wallace, in thy bed of death!

Ye babbling winds in silence sweep;

Disturb not ye the hero’s sleep,

Nor give the coward secret breath.

Is this the ancient Caledonian form,

Firm as the rock, resistless as her storm?

Show me that eye which shot immortal hate,

Blasting the Despot’s proudest bearing:

Show me that arm which, nerv’d with thundering fate,

Crush’d Usurpation’s boldest daring!

Dark-quench’d as yonder sinking star,

No more that glance lightens afar;

That palsied arm no more whirls on the waste of war.

It’s a grey and rainy day, here in The Miami Valley. The good thing that is overriding the gloomy weather is that the temperature’s high is to be 67 degrees.

There are so many areas in life where we need to find “the balance.” Right now, my balance concentration is making sure each member of The Quartet feels the same amount of enthusiasm and love as the newest member of the new Fab Five. If I tell Col. Deeds he is loved, I am certain to call out to the others that they, too, are loved. If I pet Col. Deeds, I usually have a hand on another, or more of the Fab Five.

Bringing in a new family member, whether a human or a pet is always like walking the proverbial tightrope. When a new son arrived, I would find ways to connect with the sons already in The Haasienda so they did not feel pushed aside. It is no different with these pooches.

I have a ton of outlining, research plotting, and more editing to complete. On with the day.

Make it a great day!

After about ten minutes of corralling a puppy to sit and not go around kissing his older siblings, I managed to get ONE photo.

Col. Deeds is three days away from being here a full three weeks. The little fellow fits right in. There is no question.

Deeds is patient waiting on his treats as the older four go in order: Chief, Erma, Harrigan, and Bailey.

I’ve noticed that when I open the door to let them go potty, Deeds is now charging to the lead of the runners.

Tonight, he has been hanging at Chief’s side. It is Chief’s twelfth anniversary, or Gotcha Day at The Haasienda.

When the dogs return from being outside, Chief has always waited until his pack has reentered the house. He’s done this since he was a puppy. Deeds follows Chief around and often he will just go sit by his older pal.

The aging Chief still lingers outside the deck door until everyone is inside, but it is Deeds who happily greets each returning member with eager kisses, jumping up and down with delight.

This photo of Chief and Deeds is currently my favorite.

I live my pooches!

Make it a great day!

We now have a new official treat catcher at The Haasienda!

Col. Deeds has now been catching all of this treats for the past two days.

He had to learn quickly because treats that bounce off the face and gobbled up by other pooches are gone forever.

And just like that, we are on the other side of February with ten days remaining in this month. “It just keeps rolling along.”

“But ol’ man river, He jes‘ keeps rolling’ along.”

I first heard the lyrics to “Old Man River” when I was a very young boy attending the high school’s Variety Show. Now, most of the time, we think of a variety show as something thrown together but Wendell L. Willkie High School, later to become Elwood Community High School, always presented a top-notch, concert format Variety Show featuring the concert band, jazz band, choirs, show choir, majorettes/guard, and soloists. Sometimes, the directors were a part of the show. Mr. Clifford Brugger, one of the three originators of The Variety Show, often performed and the one song I clearly remember was “Old Man River.”

The lyrics to “Old Man River” were written by the iconic theatrical genius, Oscar Hammerstein II, along with Jerome Kern for the 1927 musical, SHOW BOAT.

“Don’t wish your life away,” was a common phrase used by my grandmother, Donna Barmes, whenever anyone within earshot remarked how they would like to skip ahead in time. Grandma Donna always cautioned us about wanting life to move too fast.

I remember commenting once, as a six-year-old in kindergarten, that “I’ve got twelve more years of school.” Mother said, “The years will go by fast. Trust me!”

And those twelve years did move quickly. This year marks the fortieth anniversary of my high school graduation.

I always try to live in the present, taking each day as a page in each month’s chapter. Sometimes, I refer back to a page or chapter, but most often I keep to the day at hand, only looking ahead to see what’s coming on my calendar. But the days do keep rolling along. Now, nearing the halfway mark of my fifty-eighth year, the current days become more precious.

So, I remind myself that I must make each day great, filling them with all the ingredients I desire.

“Ah gits weary
An’ sick of tryin’
Ah’m tired of livin’
An’ scared of dyin’
But ol’ man river
He jes‘ keeps rolling’ along.”

Make it a great day!

I was busy at my study’s desk and turned to check on Deeds. He was seated right next to Chief.

This is how I’m watching a documentary on President Grover Cleveland. I love the paw around my neck.

Snow. We have a light covering of snow on the deck. It is very little but just enough to say, “we have snow.”

My plan is to spend much time researching and writing. I am sure there will be some documentary breaks, napping, and Fab Five time.

I have read this post, often, and love it.

10 THINGS YOUR DOG WOULD TELL YOU…

1. My life is likely to last 10 to 15 years. Any separation from you will be painful: remember that before you get me.

2. Give me time to understand what you want of me. (Always!)

3. Place your trust in me – it is crucial to my well-being.

4. Do not be angry at me for long; do not lock me up as punishment. (I might growl but there is no punishment; my Fab Five always want to please me)

5. You have your work, your entertainment, and your friends. I only have you.

6. Talk to me sometimes. Even if I don’t understand your words, I know your voice when it is speaking to me. (We have a lot of conversations and sometimes I know my pooches really understand me!)

7. Be aware that however you treat me, I will never forget.

8. Remember before you hit me that I have teeth that could easily hurt you, but I choose not to bite you because I love you.

9. Before you scold me for being uncooperative, obstinate, or lazy, ask yourself if something might be bothering me. Perhaps I might not be getting the right food, or I have been out too long, or my heart is getting too old and weak.

10. Take care of me when I get old; you too will grow old. Go with me on difficult journeys. Never say: “I cannot bear to watch” or “Let it happen in my absence.” Everything is easier for me if you are there, even my death.

Make it a great day!

It’s been a nice and relaxing day.

I got to listen to my friend and history colleague, Valerie Gugala, in two different Zoom presentations. The first was presidential birthplaces and early homes. The evening presentation was about all the homes of Abraham Lincoln. She did a great job and covered a wonderful amount of material.

I’ve completed several hours of research, watched some interesting documentaries, and spent time playing with the Fab Five.

A thunderstorm rumbled through The Miami Valley and the four older dogs cowered in my study. Deeds continued playing and watching the other pooches.

In my bedroom, while watching a documentary, I caught the pooches lounging, or in Erma’s case, sleeping and wanting to be left alone.

It’s been a good day.

Deeds had the physically infirm Chief playing a bit. It was terribly funny when Chief moved to take possession of the one doggy bed that Deeds’ usually holds.

Fifty years ago, on this night, I hovered around Mother’s bedroom as she prepared her suitcase. Grandma Donna was there, assisting Mother. I asked Mother why she was packing her suitcase.

“I just want to be ready. The baby will be here, any day, now.”

I was nearing the anniversary of my half-year birthday, and at age eight, I was finally going to be a big brother. I was the only student in my second-grade class at Washington Elementary School who did not have a sibling. For a while, it was Roger Smith and me who were single children.

I nibbed around Mother’s room and on top of the cedar chest by one of the two windows that looked down the large hill to Main Street, there was a sack. I opened the sack and was instantly excited. There were two cardboard portraits of Presidents Washington and Lincoln.

“Well, I was going to give those to you for Valentine’s Day,” laughed Mother.

We went to my bedroom and tacked the two portraits on the bulletin board.

I went to bed that evening and when it was time to ready for school, it was not Mother but Grandma Donna who came in to wake me.

Grandma Donna sat on my bed and announced, “Your mommy had a baby girl this morning.”

I was elated as I hurried to school to make the announcement to my class. For a second grader, it was a surreal day. My second-grade teacher, Mrs. Cassidy had the class take time out to write congratulatory notes to my family and to welcome my new sister, Dena Linn Jolliff.

That night, we drove to Muncie’s Ball Memorial Hospital, but I had to remain in the large waiting room as children were not allowed to visit the rooms. Mother wrote a note to me that Grandma Donna delivered, and a second note to Mrs. Cassidy and my classmates, thanking them for all the wonderful greetings.

Saturday morning, we returned from Muncie, but this time, with my new sister in a car carrier seat recently vacated by our neighbor girl, Nikki Wolfe. Before going into the house at 825 Main Street, we walked across Ninth Street to introduce Dena to our neighbors, Luther and Ida Myrick.

Read about The Myricks: Luther & Ida Myrick

In fifteen minutes, my younger sister and I will share a decade for a mere nineteen months at which point I will turn sixty.

I raise a glass of Metamucil, lift my age-spotted cheeks in a smile, and tap dance in orthopedic shoes to celebrate the woman who, fifty years ago, made me a big brother, and eventually, an uncle.

Happy 50^th birthday, Sis! Know you are loved…

One thing I am enjoying is watching Deeds emulate Chief.

When they prepare to go outside for potty time, Col. Deeds is either right up front, or trapped in the back by the older crew.  However, when he returns to the deck door, he will rush inside to check his food bowl, but return to the deck to greet the others. Deeds jumps on them, smothering them with excited kisses. And then, there is a slight standoff when Chief finally returns to the deck after pottying and checking the borders. Chief is always the last to enter once he knows everyone else is secure inside. Deeds feels he needs to wait. Chief will grunt, sending The Colonel inside. Then, Chief enters with Deeds jumping on him and kissing him.

It’s the sweetest thing and bittersweet as well. I know the chapters are slated for a change one day.

Our day started at 6:40 AM with the pooches eating and pottying just as the rain was getting underway here in The Miami Valley. I thought I heard distant thunder and wanted to move things along.

Today, I have two Zoom events, both led by my friend, Valerie Gugala, a Mary Lincoln and Lincoln historian. One, on presidential homes, will be during lunch and the second, on Lincoln, is at 7:00 PM. I am looking forward to both presentations.

While writing this post and alternating between emails and social media birthday greetings, I am listening to “Bringing Lincoln to Life: A Conversation with Doris Kearns Goodwin and Ivan Schwartz.” I love listening to Ms. Goodwin, but I especially enjoy her interviews and discussions on her book, THE BULLY PULPIT. She is passionate about all her subjects but there is an additional spark when she speaks about presidents Theodore Roosevelt and William Howard Taft.

The study is quiet, except for Deeds barking at and dancing around the inanimate spoon. It’s cute. The older four dogs have moved on to the bedroom and I am sure they are hoping I will join them. It may happen in an hour or so. A mid-morning nap on this rainy, grey day seems to beckon.

Make it a great day!

When I was four years old, I went to Methodist Hospital in Indianapolis for major surgery. I was admitted on my birthday, and the Ruth Lyons Christmas Fund provided a birthday party for me to which other patients in the children’s ward got to attend. I still have the photograph of me wearing the crown and sitting at the head of the decorated table to receive cake and ice cream.

When my sister, Dena, was little, she watched the Bob Braun Show all the time. She collected pennies in one of those handled cups that butter came in. Mother, Grandma Donna, and my aunt Betty’s mother, Miriam, accompanied my sister down to the Bob Braun Show in Cincinnati. Dena got on television and presented him with the cup, overflowing with pennies. My grandmother won a prize, which was three volumes in the set of Lincoln Library. I still have those books.

Deeds seemed to sleep soundly Wednesday into Thursday and I suspect it was due to his his vigorous playtime in the backyard. He was in his height of puppy glory with most of our day spent on the deck.

Col. Deeds loves Chief and Erma and showers them with kisses. Surprisingly, Harrigan played with Deeds in the backyard quite a bit. She’s a very serious dog and is not given to such antics. It was sweet to watch her with Deeds.

Deeds is no longer demonstrating any aversion to heading out the deck door to the backyard. The first week I would carry him to the yard and set him down. Now, he bursts through the door to do his business and has finally begun exploring more.

When he returns to the deck, he always wants to bring in a leaf or small stick. Sometimes, he forgets to grab something and when he remembers, he swings around with a cute hop and heads off to retrieve a leaf.

Today, he’s enjoying the beautiful, near-70 degree weather. We spent an hour on the deck and he loved it.