THE PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS

  

If your church subscribes to MATURE LIVING magazine, I invite you to peruse my article in the Aug. 2013 issue entitled THE PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS (p. 42).

I got my copies today, none too soon since we're moving Sunday afternoon! Thank you.

MOVING AND PACKING . . .

"Mama says we're moving to another state this coming weekend, and I'm supposed to tell you that she won't be posting on here for awhile.  All I understand about this is that Mama and Daddy have boxes all over the house and they keep putting stuff in them--even my toys!

"We are going to be closer to the grandchildren, and my good buddies Shadow, Piper, and

Shadow

Aslan (another doxie and two cats in our family).  I like that.

"Meanwhile, I'm just trying to stay out of the way so they won't put me into a box, too!"  --Duke

Piper and Aslan

I thought it would be fun to have Duke tell all of you out there our news that we're moving.  I had forgotten how much fun packing ISN'T!!  We've only lived in this house eight years, but that's a record for us.  We want to be closer to family; since my mother passed away in January, we have no family here.

I'll be back online in a couple of weeks, Lord willing.  Until then, much to do!!

 

DOG AND A HALF??

That pretty much sums up a doxie!  Except the statement left out:

heart bigger than he is
snuggle-bug
clown
chow hound
loyal
protector (unless asleep)

I'm sure you could add others--feel free to do so in a comment below!

HERE'S THE OTHER POLICE PHOTO AS PROMISED

 

 

A few posts ago, I wrote about my stint as a police officer as a much younger woman :).  At the time, I could not find the picture of my police academy class (do you know how many boxes of pictures we have at our house??). 

 

In any case, here it is below: 

 

 

                     

 

 

 Since there were only two females in the class, I don't think you'll have any difficulty locating me.  We were a couple of the first (if not the first) female police officers back then (1971)--women mainly served as "meter maids," who walked around town issuing tickets for expired parking meters.  Nope.  We served as regular duty officers, and I was assigned a partner, Officer R.D. Williams, who was very helpful, kind, and patient to me.  In the Community Relations unit, we gave talks at schools, civic organizations, and businesses regarding police work--but we also worked beats as well.

 

It was a very interesting year of my life, and I'm thankful to have had that experience.

LET'S KEEP OUR DAWGS HEALTHY

ARE YOU A TIGER AFICIANADO, TOO?

Visiting the tigers at the Greensboro Science Center

                                                 

It's no secret to those who know me that I adore tigers--I think they are the most beautiful animal that God created.  Their majesty, their coloring, their eyes, their large paws--and yes, even their ferocity--are simply amazing to me.

The big cats and house cats act the same in hunting down prey, too.  Whereas a house cat is crouching and ready to pounce upon a small toy, the tiger is doing so to pounce upon his lunch--another animal.  I also enjoy watching mama tigers with their babies; their maternal
instinct is so tender and loving.  However, when those babies reach the "toddler" stage and are biting and chewing on Mama's ears and tail, she lets out a roar that would shake the windows of any building!

I would love to have a tiger as a pet.  Oh, I know I could not afford to feed him, would probably turn into his lunch, and could not provide enough exercise to keep him fit.  But I would love to sit in our sunroom and rub his ears, back, and scratch his belly like I used to do to our cat when we had one.



We've all heard stories about wild animals who show a tender side toward people and small children.  Their natural tendency is self preservation, but I also think that they somehow realize that some humans mean them no harm.


In any case, tigers are beautiful and always mesmerize me.  I have watched countless TV programs about them, always go to zoos for the express purpose of seeing the tigers, and read about them whenever the mood strikes. 

"Tyger, tiger, burning bright . . ."  from the William Blake poem speaks of my love for tigers.  Perhaps he loved them, too?

"Where did that bug go?"

 

 

"Okay, kitties, scratch a little to the left . . ."

 

 

 "Rub-a-dub-dub . . ."
 Tigers are one of the few cats who like water!

                                                        

BANDIT?

CURIOSITY KILLED THE . . . ER . . . DOXIE

Dachshunds, I've noticed, are extremely curious; at least mine is.  He has to see for himself what we might be bringing into the house, especially if it is something to eat.

I've also noticed that he has to help everyone open packages.  He wants to find out what is in them as much as we do!  Not just Christmas presents, but presents of all kinds:  for birthdays, anniversaries, graduations, weddings--even packages that come in the mail when we've ordered something online.

Curiosity may have killed the cat, but with dachshunds, it's just all a part of who they are.

"What on earth are those ugly things??"

 

"I see a bug down there . . . that's why

I'm up here!"

 

"Um . . . what exactly are we

looking for again?"

FLOWER CHILD

Duke loves to smell flowers, even if they aren't food!  In fact, he just loves to lollygag about in the yard when he's supposed to be doing his business.  Doxie lovers, you know whereof I speak!

THE KISS

Our three-year-old grandson absolutely loves his "Uncle" Duke--they're really good buddies.

Duke loves attention, so he gets plenty of it when we visit the grandchildren.  Since Asher is the youngest and therefore closer to  Duke's "neighborhood," they get along famously.