Coming Tomorrow: !!!

The first excerpt from PAW AND ORDER will be posted tomorrow. We’re starting at the beginning, and by pub date, August 5, we’ll have completed chapter 1. The first word of PAW AND ORDER is: “We.” That seems right.

 

Welcome Buster, Lucky & Bandit (quite possibly the same as a very recent Bandit); Ozzie.

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This entry was posted on Wednesday, July 30th, 2014 at 7:44 am and is filed under Chet The Dog. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.

117 Responses to “Coming Tomorrow: !!!”

  1. Kat
    7:54 am on July 30th, 2014

    Good morning. We just watched Diane’s deer video. All I can say is “Awwwww”.
    We did not send photos to Wose, except for one questionable one of Zeus that we emailed. So if we find pictures that are worth sending, do we just email? Mom is not very good with photographs.

  2. Barb & Maggie
    8:03 am on July 30th, 2014

    Good morning Howlers. We haven’t gotten any pictures either. Barb is just not good at that. We’ll see what we can do.

    Two walks in already, and now Barb is off to watch Baye and Lily at their final golf outing and then lunch.

    Nice and sunny here today, but a bit cool. We agree, HOH, good thing climate change is a hoax, or else we would be concerned.

  3. Herd of Hounds
    8:05 am on July 30th, 2014

    Good morning, Kat and everyone! Welcome to Bandit, Lucky, Buster and Ozzie. Lots of new friends. WE are excited about the bit of chapter 1 each day until the release and mom has ordered her book 🙂
    DDD, G-son and mom will have a wobbly Wednesday since they are going to the “Jump Park” (wall to wall trampolines).

  4. Herd of Hounds
    8:08 am on July 30th, 2014

    Hey to B&M, too. Think it was DianeC that mentioned the hoax. And speaking of DianeC…of course you geranium is “naturalizing” in So Cal. Heavens to Betsy, girl, it is the official state weed! Mom grubbed one out in Temecula to 4 ft. down and it still came back 🙁

  5. BooBear
    8:52 am on July 30th, 2014

    Guys, mom just emailed my pic to Rose and I think that was fine.

  6. Wose-the small and meek
    9:37 am on July 30th, 2014

    Greetings!

    BooBear: The pictures your mom sent are great. Staff even sent a picture of youse.

    Kat: That picture from PNP youse posted the other day is a very nice picture.
    You on the boat is my favorite picture of you. Then you will have to find one with Mama Meash, and I am pretty sure I have seen some nice pictures of Zeusikov on this here blog. Let’s not forget T.C.

    Commander RIO! Read, understood, and responded to your e-mail. burp! sneeze! ( I am still practicing how to be a pug, so your friend will adopt me).

  7. B.Stover
    10:18 am on July 30th, 2014

    Excerpts….This will be fun!

    Good morning all.

  8. Tupper's Mama
    10:29 am on July 30th, 2014

    Morning all.
    We have sent pictures for the calendar. Please note that we did NOT submit Sage’s “exhibitionist” pose.

  9. BearSpiritDog
    10:38 am on July 30th, 2014

    So…the truth comes out.
    And, here we thought WE Were the Only Late Ones in sending Photos to Wose.

    Paw And Order. An Excerpt a Day! Dogs (and Cats) are we Looking Forward to this or what?

  10. B.Stover
    10:39 am on July 30th, 2014

    I’ve sent pictures of Brandy for the calendar.

    Tupper’s Mama: Actually I think that the squash plant is beautiful. I have a recipe for zucchini bread that’s quite good. It’s sweet and calls for cinnamon, nuts and raisins (what I call a tea bread).

    Rio: Have you watched the latest episode of Murder in the First? Next week is the final episode.

  11. Kat
    10:56 am on July 30th, 2014

    Wose, the picture of me in the boat would be fantastic on that there calendar! It is the “Real Me”. heh!
    (whispering) do you need my mom to email that one to you?

  12. Masquers
    11:02 am on July 30th, 2014

    B: We found the ark commercial you mentioned the other day:
    (our advice is to skip the movie preview.)
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SeSKhXj-s1Y

  13. Tupper's Mama
    11:06 am on July 30th, 2014

    Bee – we agree the plant is beautiful, which is why we are letting it take over the yard. But it is absolutly NOT a zucchini.

  14. B.Stover
    11:11 am on July 30th, 2014

    Masquers: Thank you. For some reason I like it.

  15. B.Stover
    11:12 am on July 30th, 2014

    Tupper’s Mama: Do you know what the plant is?

  16. Zeus
    11:16 am on July 30th, 2014

    Wose, Mom sent you a very Chet-like photo of me a few days ago, although her picture-taking skills and camera quality is not too good.

  17. Riö -The Evil Pug
    11:22 am on July 30th, 2014

    Stover!…snort!…I did watch the latest episode of Murder In The First last night…gasp!…Just when I thought the guy was innocent…grunt!….What a turn of events…heh!heh!…Once a slither always a slither.

    Calendar!…Do I need to re-post the Calendar announcement or has everyone read every word of it from last night?..grunt!

  18. B.Stover
    11:28 am on July 30th, 2014

    Rio: “Slither”–LOL! For some reason I think he just told the detectives that he had done it to be perverse. What would his motive have been (unless he knew she was pregnant and didn’t want the child); how did he pass the lie-detector test? I think he may have killed his father (revenge would be the motive since his father deserted him). The final episode should be interesting.

  19. Riö -The Evil Pug
    11:38 am on July 30th, 2014

    Motive!…That is what I cannot figure out…sniff!…Why did he kill her? It does not make sense. I have always thought it was the Pilot who murdered her…grunt!

  20. B.Stover
    11:44 am on July 30th, 2014

    The Pilot does seem to have a temper he can’t control. I was wrong–apparently there are two more episodes, August 4 and 11.

  21. Teddy Ruff Rider
    12:40 pm on July 30th, 2014

    Ms. Wose, the Mighty and Powerful. I think you already have my picture, but if not, let me know and I can resend it. Your pal, Teddy RR

  22. Belle Starr
    12:42 pm on July 30th, 2014

    I may or may not have fallen off the bed earlier this morning. What did that damn pixie do? Once she realized I was okay and after she gave me bellies, she laughed at me. Laughed, I tell youse!

    (whispering) Then, she gave me more tummies.

  23. Siber-H
    12:46 pm on July 30th, 2014

    Teddy RR? Do you bark? I was reading one of those lists on the internet this morning about the quietest dog breeds. Goldens were one of the quiet breeds.

    Rio, The Rockies game went 16 innings last night.

  24. Dawson
    12:52 pm on July 30th, 2014

    Oh Boy!
    Excerpts of Paw and Order!

    Hello to all the good looking new Friends of Chet (that’s all of y’all) and especially to Edgar, Miss Pretty and Conan.
    I looked for Diane’s “deer” video and I couldn’t find it.

    I am looking forward to seeing the calendar and am glad we will retain our “G” rating without the suggestive Sage picture.

    Borrowed a bike off cousin Elly and went for a morning ride along the new seaside trail. Lovely! Did not see any eagles and then, just as I got back to the residential area, two flew overhead. I was going to try to follow them when they turned around and flew right over my head about 20 feet away. My camera was safe in the backpack, groan. I love this place!

    Masquers is heading to So. Cal? And then back again for the book signing. Yeep! Don’t get stranded.

  25. Masquers
    12:59 pm on July 30th, 2014

    Dawson: We have ticket in paw and are good to go! ^..^

  26. O'Howlers
    1:36 pm on July 30th, 2014

    Dawson, we want to be where you are, but where are you? We don’t remember, or maybe you never exactly told us?

  27. Riö -The Evil Pug
    1:38 pm on July 30th, 2014

    Exerpts!….I am so happy and relieved I will get to read the first chapter of Paw And Order right here on this blog…wheeze!…My friend will not be getting the actual book until Aug.12th when we go down south to meet Spencer and The Charming Mr. Abrahams – I am assuming he will be there too…heh!heh!

  28. Tupper's Mama
    1:40 pm on July 30th, 2014

    Bee – the good folks at the farmers’ market think it is a Hubbard squash. We have one giant “pod” forming on the vine in the side yard, and multiple pods on the other vines. The vine really is lovely, and the Corgis seem to enjoy lying beneath the huge, shady leaves.

    And we had a hummingbird at our butterfly plant today. We almost got a picture, but then Basil came sailing up onto the dining room table with a mighty MER-ooooowwwww and the little bird yeeped and boogied right out of there.

    Silly cat. But Belle Starr, we would never laugh at a silly cat….or a clumsy puppy. (tee hee)

  29. Herd of Hounds
    2:06 pm on July 30th, 2014

    Our mom and g-son are home and plum tuckered out. Jump Park is an old warehouse the has had the floor raised and lots of trampolines installed. Some go up walls, some have b-ball hoops, some have ledges w/ bean bag chairs. There are climbing walls and tightropes with foam blocks to fall into. G-son is tired. I am tired from watching and shivering (about 65* inside so kids don’t get too hot). DDD is just tired. Also stopped at a local micro brewery which does both beer and root beer for lunch and thought of the Howlers ‘rents. Quite a morning 🙂

  30. Siber-H
    2:07 pm on July 30th, 2014

    Pods!
    Just like in the classic movie, “Invasion of the Body Snatchers”

  31. Meashka
    2:30 pm on July 30th, 2014

    HOH! Microbrews! The ‘rents would be right there. Of course, they also love root beer.
    Speaking of beer, guess who is going to Yappy Hour tonight? Me Me Me!!!

  32. O'Howlers
    2:35 pm on July 30th, 2014

    We just had a BIG SCARE. Mom is working from home, fortunately. About a half-hour ago, there was a super loud helicopter sound coming closer and closer. She saw it go around the barn, looking like it was dragging something.
    A few minutes later, it was right out front, and swoping at ground level!! It kept coming back and doing spins right in front of our porch. It was so loud. We were scarit. WE thought we were under attack! Mom made us Howlers come in, but the chickies and horses had to tough it out.
    Now she thinks it was “crop-dusting”. What was the dust? she worries.

  33. Tupper's Mama
    2:42 pm on July 30th, 2014

    Howlers – YEEEEEPPPPP. We would have been terrified! Check to see if your neighbor was dusting. If not – check for pods.

  34. Siber-H
    2:47 pm on July 30th, 2014

    Howlers? Does your mom think it was crop dusting on your land?
    Even close to your land is not good.

    I hope it was just a chopper with mechanical problems or an insane pilot.

  35. Masquers
    2:52 pm on July 30th, 2014

    O’Howers: YEEP!!!

    Siber-H: Oh, No. The POD.

  36. BearSpiritDog
    2:55 pm on July 30th, 2014

    O’Howlers: Helicopter Pilot from Hell we say. OMD!!!

  37. Scout
    3:05 pm on July 30th, 2014

    Mom is excited about the new book, and she is busy getting caught up the other books. Her “upstairs book” is To Fetch a Thief” and her “downstairs book” is The Dog Who Knew Too Much. She mutters about being confused sometimes but I do not care. She pets me while she reads. She laughs, too. It is nice to hear.

  38. Diane C.
    3:20 pm on July 30th, 2014

    HOH–4 ft!!! And yet I retain some fondness for rose geranium (which is like a hedge and supposedly has magickal properties–which ones, I have forgotten). I just wish it had left my yellow mini-tomatoes some room. (By the way yesterday you mentioned 7 kinds of unidentified tomatoes–if they’re unidentified, how can you know they’re tomatoes? Or maybe they’re surprise nightshades? Or does that just mean they have those weird names like Brandywine and Black Plum and you don’t know those?)
    Dawson–Here’s the link to the deer video : http://www.pawbonito.com/deer-and-dog/
    So are we now theorizing that the GMSP is also a pod mothership (which strikes me as entirely likely)?
    C. Hobbit: I used to use the same recipe for what I call cake and you call tea bread: it was essentially an applesauce cake recipe, and varied from week to week depending on what kind of fruit was around–apricot, banana, smashed mangoes, etc. Do you feel like sharing your zucchini bread recipe?

  39. Diane C.
    3:22 pm on July 30th, 2014

    Meashka and Household–this sounds terrible! You are beset by potential perils on every side! (I wasn’t aware that choppers could be used for dusting, but what do I know? Still, always good to err on the side of caution and chaeck that story out CAREFULLY…)
    On my way to work. Back later.

  40. Siber-H
    3:25 pm on July 30th, 2014

    Me too, I have never heard of choppers being used as crop dusters, but as Diane said, what do I know.

  41. O'Howlers
    3:28 pm on July 30th, 2014

    He was dusting. He was on his land, which is next to our land, and very close to our house. We are worrit about what it was he was spraying. Only bad comes from that.
    Scout! Mom is trying to hurry up and finish her book too, if she could ever get time to sit still and read. She is still reading The Thirteenth Tale, and it is very good. Thank Dog vacation starts at end of work on Friday!

  42. Siber-H
    3:29 pm on July 30th, 2014

    I just googled “helicopter crop dusters”.
    Yes, helicopters are used as crop dusters.

  43. O'Howlers
    3:33 pm on July 30th, 2014

    Mom was too shook up to get good photos, but here is what we have:

  44. O'Howlers
    3:34 pm on July 30th, 2014
  45. Masquers
    3:35 pm on July 30th, 2014

    Mom just got off the phone after being bounced around from number to number, recording to recording, person to person. Her business was finally concluded after trying a rather unusual subversive tactic.
    I’m playing this video now to calm her:
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zeoT66v4EHg

  46. B.Stover
    3:48 pm on July 30th, 2014

    That’s the Hubbard squash. I see.

    Pods….You guys are cracking me up.

    Diane: I am the one who has the recipe for zucchini bread and I will post it.

  47. Siber-H
    3:50 pm on July 30th, 2014

    Howlers, Gah How does one learn what kind of toxic substance was sprayed?

    I remember Barb had this problem when she lived in the country.

  48. B.Stover
    4:07 pm on July 30th, 2014

    Zucchini Bread: Beat until foamy: 3 eggs. Add: 1 cup oil (I often use melted butter), 1 cup sugar, 2 cups graded zucchini, 2 teaspoons vanilla, 3 cups flour, 1 teaspoon baking soda, 1/4 teaspoon baking powder, 1 teaspoon salt, 2 teaspoons cinnamon, 1 cup chopped nuts, 1 cup raisins. Pour batter into 2 greased loaf pans and bake 1 hour at 350.

  49. Herd of Hounds
    4:08 pm on July 30th, 2014

    DianeC. Never fear. the plants were purchased at a sale at Home Deepoe and just didn’t have tags. The ‘maters have been delish.

  50. Diane C.
    4:17 pm on July 30th, 2014

    B. Stover–Thanks–I will try (and apologies to you and to CH)
    HOH–Ah. Poor little nameless tomatoes…

  51. Barb & Maggie
    4:25 pm on July 30th, 2014

    I had never heard of helicopters for crop dusting either. I used to see a small plane that crop dusted near me when we were in Lena and I hated it. The farmers are all big chemical uses. It looks like you have soybeans in the field. Both corn and soybeans are GMO and are Roundup ready. They are moving to super herbicides as the weeds become immune to Roundup, which means more chemicals are being poured on the soil and the crops.

    Yes, one year the wind caused over spray and it affected most of the plants on my acreage. Leaves got white spots from the chemical burn and then trees and bushes lost their leaves. Pine tree new branches (called candles) wilted downward. I was afraid to eat the produce, some of which survived. The company sent out a rep who said they would pay if my trees and bushes died, but they felt it was just a temporary loss of leaves. They were totally unconcerned. No wonder many people out there get cancer.

  52. Staff
    4:25 pm on July 30th, 2014

    finally I found the picture of Abbie that I have been looking for for a week. Check your SDD in a minute Rose.

  53. BearSpiritDog
    5:05 pm on July 30th, 2014

    Speaking of Food (we were, weren’t we?)
    Today is National Cheesecake Day. Snowhook’s Pixie take notice!

  54. Tupper's Mama
    5:15 pm on July 30th, 2014

    We just got an email from Zoe. Martha wrote an incredible tribute to her Dad for the memorial party. Zoe would like it posted on the blog. We were astounded when we read it – lots of it we knew….whole lot more that we didn’t.
    The following is Martha’s tribute:

    Frank Daniel Montague

    Youngest of four, little Danny Montague came into this world March 13, 1929, in Flint Michigan. Yes, that 1929. Son of Frank Daniel Montague, Sr. and Louise Hall Montague, he joined his brother Hall and sisters Harriet Sue and Martha Lee. The youngest by a number of years, he was doted upon. Being a depression baby had special significance to him and his family, as his father, the head teller at a bank, took the blame for embezzling funds from the bank to buy stock “on the margin” in the swelling stock market. The crash happened and money could not be returned to the bank in time. Dan’s dad spent a year in jail. This story is covered in a book called The Day the Bubble Burst.

    The family persevered, though, and made it through. Dan told stories about his childhood. He had scarlet fever (before antibiotics) and had to spend six weeks quarantined with his mother in the second floor of their house while meals were left at the top of the landing. He went with his mother to Los Angeles, California for an extended stay with his aunts who owned and operated a tea house there. He had all kinds of trouble learning to read. He said that he would take forever to decipher the words and in class would count ahead on “reading aloud” day to work on his sentence or two before he was called on. His family had an apartment in their house. A most wonderful woman named Norma Friend lived there with Jofo. Norma was a furrier who decades later came back into his life when Dan and Zoe recognized her at the Kennedy Center. Jofo was the last president of the country of Georgia. He used to tell Dan stories about Russia. Dan kept chickens as pets! He got his driver’s license at age 14 because he had to transport a war worker (his sister) to and from work. Dan wanted to fly. He got a job at a local airport, spinning propellors to start planes. He ended up getting his pilot’s license at age 16. Dan was a Boy scout throughout his childhood. He was one of the leads in his high school production of Oklahoma. He was the school president his senior year in high school.

    And off he went to the University of Michigan. He met Zoe, the love of his life, during Thanksgiving break of 1948. Zoe was the University of Chicago roommate of Pat Elmer, a family friend. Dan knew Zoe was “the one” right from the beginning. The next summer he fought fires in the west and then found his way to New York, where Zoe lived. He then transferred to University of Chicago for a combined BA/MA program in International Relations (language studied: Russian). He lived in the Robi House (servants’ quarters), designed by Frank Lloyd Wright. Dan asked Zoe out and proposed on their second date. He was very persistent and they married on January 27th, 1951.

    Always the adventurers, Dan and Zoe delivered a car to Oregon that summer, met and stayed with Zoe’s sister and her husband and two children, and bought a Model A Ford named Abigail which allowed them to work for the Forestry Service in a fire tower, atop a mountain. The last year of school for both of them came next (so did son Daniel on May 21, 1952), and then they were off to Northern Virginia for Dan’s job at the CIA as an analyst (specialty: Eastern Europe). Enter Joe McCarthy and the communist scare. Remember high school president? Dan and a friend attended some leftist meeting at his high school in order to heckle the speakers. They paid a quarter each to get in. So that was taken to be a contribution to the communist party that he did not report to the CIA. They “allowed” him to resign.

    Off to the Navy! The family moved to Pensacola Florida where Dan started flight school. Three important things happened there: 1. Melanie was born on April 14, 1954; 2. Dan took a speed reading course (massive amounts of training manuals) and it cured most of his reading issues; and 3. He realized that too many trainees were crashing and losing their lives. Dan switched to Naval Intelligence (they laughed when he told them about the CIA) and ended up in Japan.

    Zoe followed him with a newborn and a two year-old. They lived pretty well in post-war Japan. They had walking sticks made when they climbed Mt. Fuji. They began to attend church and became friends with the Reverend Gunter Helft and his wife Diane. While Martha was “made in Japan”, she was not born until August 23, 1956, after Dan and Zoe had returned to the states and Chicago.

    After the Navy, Dan worked with the Brotherhood of St. Andrew, an Episcopal organization that brought people to Christ. He then entered Seabury Western Theology Seminary. At the same time, Zoe was in graduate school getting her Master’s degree in education. The family lived in a small “carpenter’s shack” in Evanston, Illinois. Danny and Melanie went to school. Martha rode on the back of Zoe’s bicycle to the pre-school where Zoe taught. Graduations happened.

    Dan’s first church was a mission church in Glen Ellyn, Illinois. Suburbs and sub-divisions were coming into style in the early 1960’s and St. Barnabas was established to serve the people of the suburb of Glen Ellyn. Zoe got a job at the elementary school within walking distance of the vicarage. St. Barnabas met at an old one room school. The church congregation grew and built a beautiful, award-winning church on the hill overlooking the sub-division called Valley View.

    Every summer, Dan and Zoe would pack whatever car they currently owned with the three children and usually some contraption that Dan had built to stow camping equipment. Off they would go for four straight weeks, camping in National and State parks and, eventually, traveling through all 48 of the mainland United States.

    The roads got crowded in Glen Ellyn and Dan and Zoe wanted a change. Next stop: Tappahannock Virginia (January 1969). Dan was the priest of South Farnham Parish. At first he knew he had two churches: the town church and the “country” church. After several months, they let him know that actually there were three churches. He also had a historically black “country” church. There is a book that could be written about that time! Suffice it to say that he started an interdenominational and interracial youth group. Eyebrows were raised. He burned out on being a parish priest.

    Next stop: Alexandria Virginia (1974). Zoe got a job teaching in Prince Georges County, Maryland, just over the Wilson Bridge. Dan opened a pastoral counseling center in Alexandria. Over time Dan and Zoe got their real estate licenses and bought the first of many houses. Zoe continued teaching, and Dan leveraged his commercial real estate work into the job of Head of Economic Development for the City of Alexandria. He had a knack for being able to share his vision for the future and then make the vision a reality. Another personal aspect of the time in Alexandria: Dan and Zoe also rode their bicycles – long distances.

    Zoe had also changed jobs and was working with Digital Equipment Corporation. They moved (again!) to the Boston area in 1983 when she was offered a promotion. Dan found work in Boston but also kept looking for a job he really wanted. He shared his vision with MASSPort about how Boston could be a destination/gateway to the Northeast for tourists from around the world. They liked his ideas and hired him. Again, he made the vision a reality. He travelled often to Japan and reconnected with the woman who had been their maid in Japan in the early 1950’s!

    Ever the intrepid travelers, Dan and Zoe went to China and took a 200 mile bicycle trip from Beijing to the coast, following the Great Wall. China had not yet begun it’s economic and social climb. The phrase “Chinese Food” took on a whole new meaning for them.

    Dan and Zoe moved to a sweet two bedroom condo in Back Bay, Boston. They both were working, and they figured that they were in for smooth sailing to retirement.

    And the Universe said, “Ha!” Melanie was seriously ill. It took a long time to get her properly diagnosed with Hep C. It also took a toll on her marriage, ending it. In the summer of 1991 they bought a big house in Marblehead, north of Boston, and Dan and Zoe and Melanie and her two boys, Robert and McKey, all moved to the house on Gregory Street for the next chapter of their big adventure.

    Marblehead had good schools and wonderful programs for the boys. Located right on the ocean, it was scenic and the right place to be. Digital Equipment Corporation offered an early retirement program, and Zoe jumped right on it in 1992. At loose ends, she went to the local animal shelter and found Bear, a Newfoundland/Lab mix. He ruled the house in his quiet way and started the seed that grew in Zoe’s mind for what came next, still some years away.

    Dan retired in 1995. He and Zoe bought a big pick up truck and a fifth wheel trailer that provided the means for some travel and retirement fun. Ever the active one, Dan decided he would write and publish books now that he was retired. And he did! He took a seminar on how to publish, wrote a book or two and then found an agent. She loved his book White Wings and found a publisher. He did not know that publishing was supposed to be agonizingly hard! He followed that book with Second Chance.

    During this time, the grandsons grew up and moved away, so Dan, Zoe, and Melanie moved to a smaller house on Water Street. Dan wrote. Zoe played with Bear. Melanie did the multitude of activities she always did. It was Dan’s writing and Bear that caused the next great adventure. Dan was writing a book about a woman who, among other things, baked bread. Zoe told him that was boring! Dan asked Zoe what the woman should be doing — and Zoe told Dan her own dream of what she would like to do: move to Western Massachusetts and raise Newfoundlands.

    Within weeks, Dan and Zoe had put a contract on the house in West Cummington, put their house on the market, and found two Newfoundland breeders from whom Zoe would get her first dogs and advice. They moved the summer of 1999. It was another gigantic house but that was necessary. The grandsons moved back in (and out), and Newfoundlands are gigantic dogs, requiring lots of space inside and outside.

    The “ladies” did their jobs and the males did their jobs. At first, Dan and Zoe regularly took the dogs to shows where several of them did well. As the frequency of litters picked up, Dan and Zoe focused their attention on the puppies. Zoe sometimes would keep a puppy from a litter and the number of dogs increased. At one point, they had 10 adults and 12 puppies in the house at the same time!

    All the family was involved. Melanie created a log online that she updated weekly with pictures and stories of what was happening at Riverbear Newfoundland Kennel. McKey helped with showing dogs, birthing dogs, and being the all around helper. Robert illustrated a book that Dan wrote and self-published called ForThe Love of Puppies. This book was a love story. Dan so loved Zoe, his children, his grandchildren, and those dogs!

    Life was always busy now. Dan’s heart was giving him trouble, and in 2006 he had major surgery — a very tough recovery and not the full recovery he hoped for. Cancer took Martha’s husband that same year. Things were very different now. And yet, those puppy litters kept happening! Puppies kept the house busy and laughing.

    Time flew with the puppies! Dan’s number of doctors’ visits escalated while the puppy activity de-escalated. The last litter of puppies was in 2010 – the same year as Dan’s second heart surgery.

    The surgery was somewhat successful, which was good, because Dan was not yet done with his “To-Do” list for his life. He started to go to church with Martha at Grace Church in Dalton. He loved it! The congregation was a loving and encouraging group of people who took Dan right into their hearts. He was happy and so proud on the Sunday that he read the lessons. He practiced beforehand and read nice and loud with his “Priest Voice.” He was encouraging to the Intern on the Sunday of her first sermon. Later she said that Dan’s “okay” was what meant the most to her. He also was thrilled to be singing hymns again. He was not as loud as he had been, but his voice was there.

    Dan also continued to write. He wrote short stories and essays. Some were just snippets of something he intended to complete later. Some were based on his experiences in rehabilitation at the nursing home. It was a tough time. Sometimes joyful. Sometimes just real hard. Finally, there was no more that medications and operations could do for Dan. He was in Hospice care for a short time and died at home on September 22nd, 2012.

    The Dan story that Martha’s family most cherishes is the day they were at the house with Dan when Zoe went off to do errands. He was busy doing Dan-things for some time, and then he looked at his watch. “Zoe will be home soon!” he said to people and dogs alike. He took a chair into the dog room. He sat near the window. The dogs sat near the window. And they all watched and waited for Zoe to come home. Dan so loved his Zoe.

  55. Wose-the small and meek
    5:18 pm on July 30th, 2014

    Kat, Yes, please ask your mom to resend my favorite picture of you.

    Zeusikov, I will go back to my picture file and double check to see if your picture is there.

    Siber-H, One of my favorite movies, Invasion of the Bodysnatchers. The 1950’s version though. Do I have a picture of your handsome self?

    ML: Thinking of you. Will we have a picture of Miss Macy and her brood?

    Teddy, My bestest friend! I have a very handsome picture of you. My promise to you stands.

    Belle Starr, ( whispering) Maybe if you fake a limp, you can get even more tummies from the Pixie AND the Giant.

  56. Staff
    5:29 pm on July 30th, 2014

    HOH, Helicopters would never be used for crop dusting because they would blow the dust around too much. Small yellow planes are used here and they go boringly back and forth, they don’t go in circles.

    I would call your local law enforcement and ask what is going on. If they don’t know call the local TV station and give them a tip and see if they can run with it.

  57. Wose-the small and meek
    5:31 pm on July 30th, 2014

    What a lovely tribute to Dan. sniff sniff

  58. BearSpiritDog
    5:34 pm on July 30th, 2014

    Thank You, Amalia, for posting Martha’s very Moving tribute to Dan. Sob.

  59. Staff
    5:45 pm on July 30th, 2014

    Well! Obviously I know nothing about crop dusting. Using helicopters! Sheesh. I keep telling Mr.Staff that I learn lots of stuff on the blog.

  60. Staff
    5:47 pm on July 30th, 2014

    Thanks to the Royals and Martha for the story about Dan. Very interesting.

    I had something delicious for lunch…


    BLT, hold the B.

  61. Wose-the small and meek
    5:48 pm on July 30th, 2014

    Zeusikov, I am sorry to cause any inconvenience, but would you please ask your mom to resend your picture? And T.C. too! The Plunderer calendar is both dog and cat friendly.

  62. Wose-the small and meek
    5:49 pm on July 30th, 2014

    Staff, Is that the lovely tomato from yesterday’s photo?

  63. Barb & Maggie
    5:50 pm on July 30th, 2014

    I think that tribute was lovely and so interesting. What fascinating lives they had!

    I will have to agree with Staff about the helicopter. I only saw the small yellow planes to which Staff refers, when I loved out in the country. Maybe your neighbor bought a helicopter and was taking lessons o operating it.

  64. Riö -The Evil Pug
    5:52 pm on July 30th, 2014

    Sob!…Sob!Sob!Sob!…sniffle!…2010 is where I came in…snuffle!

  65. Thieves!
    5:57 pm on July 30th, 2014

    Our Lady says her favorite part about Martha’s tribute to her father is the love between Dan and Zoe. Our favorite things about the tribute are raising eyebrows, building contraptions and being kicked out of the CIA. Dan—what’s not to love? Youse tell us.

  66. Siber-H
    6:07 pm on July 30th, 2014

    Martha, Zoe, and Amalia, Thank you for sharing Dan and Zoe’s story with us. It is beautiful.

  67. Siber-H
    6:10 pm on July 30th, 2014

    You guys, There are pictures on the internet of Helicopters being used as crop dusters. I agree with Mr.Staff about helicopters blowing everything around.

    Wose, (whispering) No, You do not have a picture of me.

  68. Belle Starr
    6:11 pm on July 30th, 2014

    Wose: Tummies from the Giant!—I wish. He left that damn pixie in charge which means there is no fun to be had. She makes me share my attention with everyone else in the kennel. But, I have made an executive decision. Because that damn pixie was sick when many of youse came north to Alaska to visit me, you missed seeing me do my pawstands when I get excited. She gives me bellies and then I dance around her and yeep. It’s kind of our things. I have decided all youse need to come north to Alaska again so I can show off and then you can give me attention. That is my decision. It is final. Sparkle!

  69. Mollypop's Mom
    6:14 pm on July 30th, 2014

    Siber-H, I have pictures of you. Do you want me go send one to Wose?

  70. Siber-H
    6:23 pm on July 30th, 2014

    Mollypop’a Mom, I guess so. Thank you. They are not very good pictures of me because mom took them. lol

  71. Riö -The Evil Pug
    6:28 pm on July 30th, 2014

    SiberH!…I have one of you in a Rockies baseball cap…snort!…Would you like that one sent to Rose?…heh!

  72. Masquers
    6:38 pm on July 30th, 2014

    What a truly amazing life Dan and Zoë had together. Some things we knew. Many, many things we did not. sniff.

    Siber: We love the foto of you in your baseball cap! That’s a must for the calendar.
    (your mom takes excellent pictures by the way)

  73. Tupper's Mama
    6:40 pm on July 30th, 2014

    Siber – the lovely Rose will soon be inundated with pics of you – we will send the ones we have too.
    And while our tomatoes aren’t ready yet, we are having cucumber sandwiches – yum.

  74. Siber-H
    6:43 pm on July 30th, 2014

    Oh! Wow! The Rockies baseball cap please.
    Thank you, Rio
    Melanie gave me the Rockies hat…sniff

    Masquers, You are a very kind kat. Mom does not take good pictures.

  75. Siber-H
    6:44 pm on July 30th, 2014

    Tupper’s Mom takes good pictures.

  76. Tupper's Mama
    6:52 pm on July 30th, 2014

    We sent our favorite Siber shot to Wose

    Now that is one good looking puppy!

  77. Masquers
    6:58 pm on July 30th, 2014

    Staff: I like your suggestion to contact the local news about the crop dusting incident the Howlers witnessed up close and personal.
    B&M: Your theory that the neighbor may have bought the chopper and was trying to teach himself to fly it doesn’t sound too far off.

  78. Tupper and Gilly
    7:01 pm on July 30th, 2014

    We had to snicker a little when we saw that Barb had “loved out in the country”.
    We have a very naughty mental image of our Hot Ticket Barb.

    tee hee

  79. ML
    7:34 pm on July 30th, 2014

    I’m baaak and a week behind, are there any highlights I should know?

  80. Mollypop's Mom
    7:36 pm on July 30th, 2014

    Tupper’s Mama, that’s a great photo of Siber H, but he just has on too much mascara. He has to cool it a little bit when he’s getting ready in the morning.

  81. Wose-the small and meek
    7:37 pm on July 30th, 2014

    Siber-H, How handsome you are!!

  82. Wose-the small and meek
    7:40 pm on July 30th, 2014

    MPM, The mascara highlights his lovely baby blues.

  83. Wose-the small and meek
    7:43 pm on July 30th, 2014

    Belle Starr, There is nothing in the world that I would love to do than play with you and give you tummies. Maybe if my pug disguise doesn’t work with Rio’s friend, your Pixie and Giant will take me in. Working in the kennel is my DREAM job.

  84. Tupper and Gilly
    7:53 pm on July 30th, 2014

    Hey ML – Highlights, huh. Well, let’s see – we were elected Queen and Princess of the blog, the Howlers got a helicopter to compete with Alice’s Lear jet, Bear Spirit Dog blurred some extra snacks to Sammie, and Rio got a Nobel prize.

    What? It could happen.

  85. Siber-H
    7:55 pm on July 30th, 2014

    Wose, Thank you for the nice compliment.

    ML, Welcome Back!!

  86. Barb & Maggie
    7:57 pm on July 30th, 2014

    T & G, Did we really say that? I am afraid nothing of any risque nature ever happened out there, except maybe between the roosters and the hens!

    Diana, those are not weird tomato names. Here are a few that are weird: Bloody Butcher, Mortgage Lifter, Radiator Charlie, Japanese Black Triefle.

    Rose, we don’t have any great pictures. Getting the two of them to sit quietly on the sofa was a challenge and I finally gave up. Lucy was fine, but crazy Maggie would not sit still long enough for me to snap a pic. I will send you a couple, but if you don’t think they are good,you won’t hurt my feelings.

  87. Wyatt
    8:10 pm on July 30th, 2014

    ML: The highlights are that you there were missed by all us here at the Kennel. Luna blurred to your sleep away camp to keep an eye on you.

  88. Thieves!
    8:16 pm on July 30th, 2014

    This is our favorite photo of SiberH. It is Jem’s favorite, too. Something about noses.

    [img]http://chetthedog.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/image-16-1.jpg

  89. Thieves!
    8:28 pm on July 30th, 2014

    Rio: What are we doing wrong with the photo of SiberH? It showed before we hit submit, but then nothing once it was comment was posted.

  90. Herd of Hounds
    8:41 pm on July 30th, 2014

    Finally home after going to the DDD’s “Doghouse” (5th wheel trailer) which is parked at the lake. Also have the pontoon boat there so lots of hot fun in the summertime.
    Really enjoyed the tribute to Dan, Why is it that so many men who grew up during the Depression achieved so much during their lives? Amazing.
    Staff, On the next BLT (hold the B) try PB (peanut butter). It sounds strange but is a tasty substitute.

  91. Herd of Hounds
    8:43 pm on July 30th, 2014

    Oops, forgot to say welcome home to ML.
    Thought this member of the nation within has tons of ‘tude…

  92. Riö -The Evil Pug
    8:46 pm on July 30th, 2014

    Thieves!…I see nothting wrong off-paw…sniff!…Try again and save the photo without the dashes…grunt!…Who knows?

  93. Riö -The Evil Pug
    8:47 pm on July 30th, 2014

    Camper!…Our Camper is back and I’m sure she has tails to tail…snort!

  94. Dawson
    8:59 pm on July 30th, 2014

    Masquers and DianeC: Thank you for the link to the endearing deer video.
    Masquers: And for the catcerto! Very calming misic.

    O’Howlers: I am in Royston BC on Vancouver Island. It is about 5.5 hours drive from Masquers.
    I would be so so livid to have a helicopter dusting that close and carpola! Shouldn’t they warn you at least so you can keep the animals inside while all that scary loud noise and dog knows what they are spraying is happening?!!!

    ML: Welcome back! We all had an amazing time at the Montague/Carpenter celebration. Sniff. My eyes were so blurry that day. Were you there?
    Also, this is the,last day to get your photos to Wose to be in the calendar.

    BStover: You have no students so now you are “grading” the zucchini?

    This is the view looking towards Masquers house:

  95. Scout
    9:05 pm on July 30th, 2014

    Would that be peanut butter, lettuce and tomato? My mom is drooling. She loves peanut butter. She also loves garden fresh tomatoes…

  96. Dawson
    9:10 pm on July 30th, 2014

    Tupper’s Mama: Thank you and Martha and Zoe for the down-low on Dan the Man!

    HOH: Heh!

  97. Masquers
    9:20 pm on July 30th, 2014

    Dawson: Five and a half hours? Bet you could get here faster “as the crow flies”.
    ML: Nothing interesting happened on the blog. It was boring without you.
    How was summer camp? Any interesting snippets to tail?

  98. Herd of Hounds
    9:25 pm on July 30th, 2014

    Scout, yep, peanut butter. It is quite tasty according to mom. She has problems with pork so did the substitution. WE help out be eating any bacon she comes up with 🙂

  99. ML
    9:27 pm on July 30th, 2014

    How do they keep the water in place?

  100. Herd of Hounds
    9:33 pm on July 30th, 2014

    At the risk of missing some on ML’s witticisms until morning, we’re heading to nighty night

  101. Diane C.
    9:36 pm on July 30th, 2014

    Tupper’s Mama–thank you for posting Martha’s tribute. How interesting and varied and packed people’s lives are, and how little of them we actually know. Always good to be reminded.
    B and M–I take your point (and I’d like to see what a “Radiator Charlie” looks like). If I’ve got the right name, I really do like Brandywines, even though they bear no relation to brandy or wine.
    HOH–Another perfect picture to share with everyone I know (dog people or not).
    I get to go to a HOA meeting tonight. Joy. Later…

  102. Barb & Maggie
    9:38 pm on July 30th, 2014

    HOH, sorry but that does not sound good, and I love peanut butter. American cheese is good with tomato and lettuce with mayo.

    A big slice of tomato is also good on a tuna salad sandwich, but you have to have hard boiled egg in the tuna salad.

  103. Herd of Hounds
    9:47 pm on July 30th, 2014

    B&M, it’s not tuna salad without egg, unlass you’re in the south! now we’ll skedaddle.

  104. Basil and Sage
    9:57 pm on July 30th, 2014

    Tuna salad with egg in it?
    We never heard of that.

  105. Masquers
    10:13 pm on July 30th, 2014

    ML: Lol.
    Herbs: Me neither. Tuna is a gourmet dish…eggs would make it rather…crass.

  106. Siber-H
    10:14 pm on July 30th, 2014

    It is not tuna salad unless it has egg in it. I didn’t know people made tuna salad without egg.

  107. Barb & Maggie
    10:18 pm on July 30th, 2014

    T & G, That is the way Barb’s mama always made it. Basically you make egg salad (2 chopped h.b.eggs, mayo and sweet pickle relish), then add a can of tuna. You can add a little celery and/or onion if you like.

  108. Barb & Maggie
    10:23 pm on July 30th, 2014

    All this talk about food is giving me the late night munchies. Better say good night before I raid the fridge.

  109. Riö -The Evil Pug
    10:28 pm on July 30th, 2014

    EGG!…No Egg in my friend’s tuna salad and it is the bestest…heh!heh!….Egg. Gah!

  110. Staff
    10:50 pm on July 30th, 2014

    Welcome back ML. I was thinking about you today.

    Really the only spectacular thing this whole week was that I harvested the worlds largest tomato (1.5 pounds) to universal acclaim. I will repost the picture for you because I am sure you would not want to miss it. heh heh heh

    PS. Egg? In a tuna salad sandwich? What the??? Never heard of it. Tuna, diced onion sauteed in olive oil, celery diced small, lemon juice and mayo, salt and pepper. That is my tuna salad recipe.

    Oh yeah, we are all sending Rose pictures of our 4 legged friends to put in the Plunder calendar for next year. Please hurry up and do that. We were worried you wouldn’t get back in time.

  111. Staff
    10:51 pm on July 30th, 2014

    It is interesting this divide between the egged and the eggless tuna salad. So then do you put tuna in your egg salad??? I mean how do you tell them apart?

  112. Basil and Sage
    11:25 pm on July 30th, 2014

    Tuna salad – drained tuna, mini diced celery, mini diced red onion, mayo, salt, pepper and sometimes a touch of dill.
    But we are going to try the other suggestions too.
    Tomorrow.
    Good night all.

  113. Riö -The Evil Pug
    11:34 pm on July 30th, 2014

    Game!…STILL on!…grunt!…We are still UP…Wheeze!…Now we are almost giving up on this thing…gasp!burp!…HEY! The Rockies have finally won one!.. .gurgle!…This series with the Cubs was brutal..grump!…Only the Rockies could make it that way…growl!

  114. Riö -The Evil Pug
    11:35 pm on July 30th, 2014

    Staff!…You are so Cute!…snorkel!

  115. Belle Starr
    12:04 am on July 31st, 2014

    That damn pixie just talked to the Giant on the phone. She told him all about me falling off the bed. After he asked if I was okay and she told him I was, he laughed. Yes, laughed!

    Nightly noodles.

  116. Masquers
    12:12 am on July 31st, 2014

    Poor Belle-Starr…the humiliation of it all.
    Nite-nite here too.

  117. Staff
    2:35 am on July 31st, 2014

    Hey Rio, What about that Tomato? It is stupendous. Unfortunately only a few diced pieces remain. I think it will be several weeks until the next one is ripe although Fatty Tomato’s sister is starting to blush so there is hope

    I think the Twinkies have lost something like 6 out of the last 7. Mr.Staff was moaning and griping tonight when they lost 3 to 2 to somebody. When I started to leave the room he said “Hey! Come back here I need to whine.” I just kept walking.

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