My everly most favorite Uncle Michael. We truly have a special relationship. I think you can tell by the picture that we really REALLY love each other.
Love, Mary-Margaret
Tuesday, June 28, 2011
My Fambly!
My everly most favorite Uncle Michael. We truly have a special relationship. I think you can tell by the picture that we really REALLY love each other.
Love, Mary-Margaret
Saturday, June 18, 2011
Happy Father's Day - June 19, 2011
Good morning, everyone! To all of our fathers everywhere I wish a very special "Happy Father's Day"! This picture is for my Daddy in case he has internet access and this is me on my first birthday. I think he'd like this for his wallet, don't you?? If he had a wallet....or pockets?? No matter! It's the thought that counts, they say!
Today, we're going to keep services short and to the point! It's a special day for all of our fathers - our birth fathers, our adoptive fathers, our friends and relatives who are fathers..to ALL Fathers. Today should be about THEM!! So....instead of writing an inspirational message or a sermon, I wrote a tribute to my very own personal Dad, and I'd like to share it with you.
(ahem...coff coff.....stepping to microphone and unfolding paper)
To My Birth Father...
Dandy Agustus Bush,
On Father's Day 2011
Of Presidential quality
Was my dear old Dad.
He was the handsome sire of me,
The best that could be had.
Although we never really met
His genes make up my cells.
Whenever I think of Dear Old Dad
My little puppy heart swells.
I know if he were with me now
We'd take long, luxurious walks.
We'd toss the Frisbee, Roll the Ball
And have Father-Daughter Talks.
Before I go to sleep at night
As I wind up my day's affairs,
I rest my head against the bed
And name him in my prayers.
Dear Lord, I say, please bless my Dad
And (if you're not in an awful hurry)
Be sure to give my love and thanks
To Dandy Agustus Bush of Missouri!!
by his most loving daughter, Mary-Margaret O'Brien
(or, as he might remember me, ID number GF110958)
Thank you...thank you, everyone. I know that, at this moment, you are all thinking about your Dads, too. No matter whether we were part of a litter or a clutch, without our Dads we wouldn't be here today. And without our heavenly Father orchestrating events in the Universe, we wouldn't be in our forever homes with our adoptive parents, and we say "Thank You!" to Him, too!!
Today we are foregoing the usual treat table in the garden as I understand that the Ladies of the Leather Collar have a barbeque planned for later in the day. All are invited. Chicken and hamburgers will be provided. Please bring a side dish to serve eight if you'd like to participate in our "potlick".
Please turn to your neighbors and wag your tails or fluff your feathers as a sign of peace and love. Remember to always be as you wish others to be. As the famous poet, Rowlf Dingo Emerson, once said - "He who bites, picks fights!".
Go in peace...
Blessings....
Mary-Margaret O'Brien
Lt. Chaplain - Yorkie Brigade Chapel
"Yorkie prayers are Angel's wishes!"
"Pups for PPL"
"A dog has lots of friends because he wags his tail and not his tongue." Anonymous
MY GRANDPA!!
(and PS - I'd like to take this moment to tell my Grandpa George that I really love him, too, and I thank him for loving me back! Every night he sends me a kiss and a hug and he calls me his "Grand Dogger". I love you so much, Grandpa!)
Monday, June 13, 2011
Shhhh! Dog at Work!
SHHHH! DON'T BOTHER ME! I'M WORKING!!!
I've been everly so busy for the past few weeks. What, between my regular office job, my blog, my column in the Yorkie Times and my duties as Chaplain for the YorkieBrigade Chapel, I've just been swamped.
This week, Shannon is on vacation and Jennifer is helping us out again. It's been almost a year since she last filled in so I'm giving her a refresher course and she's having me check her work. She remembers quite a lot, actually, so my job is pretty easy.
I caught up on my responsibilities this weekend and I'm enjoying the comfort of Jennifer's lap. She also takes me wherever I want (mostly) when we go for a walk. Lots of sniffing to catch up on.
For the past four days I've been waking Mom up anywhere between 4:00AM and 6:00AM and I'm not her favorite person when I do that. Well? It's not easy to cover your business on a piddle pad no matter how hard you try. I end up squatting in a corner and then folding it over (think origami) so I don't accidently step in a wet spot. Still...I'd rather run in the dewy fresh morning grass before the sun comes up. What IS it with some people, anyway? What's so great about sleeping in??
Ta ta for now...
Mary-Margaret
Sunday, June 05, 2011
June 5, 2011 - Pink Paper Umbrellas
Good Morning, this glorious Sunday of June 5, 2011. It's so nice to be back from vacation and back with all of you. Truly, I've missed you all. I had a much needed time of relaxation and reflection, and I also learned a lot about enticement and temptation. For example, the prettier a drink is, the more dangerous is becomes.
I think that applies to a lot of things in life. Think about it. Even in nature the Lord has made some creatures absolutely irresistible in their beauty to attract the unwary. The songs of some are designed to lure the unwise. Let's talk about appearances and personalities. Appearances attract, but personalities will keep. We are enticed by the packaging but often disappointed by the contents.
The song of the Sirens lured sailors to their deaths in Ancient Greece. According to legend, Ulysses wanted so much to hear the Sirens song that he had all of his crew stuff their ears with wax and bind him to the mast of their ship. As they sailed by, the Sirens called to Ulysses in song but his crew followed their orders and kept right on sailing as they bound Ulysses even tighter to the mast. Legend has it that if even one ship were to pass the Sirens successfully without crashing into the rocks, then all three of the sisters would die, and according to legend, they did.
The Venus Fly-Trap lets out a sweet scent to attract insects and then, when two sensors are touched within 20 seconds, the leaf closes and the plant digests it's catch, to provide energy for the carnivorous plant to repeat it's procedure.
We walk into a Casino and we're immediately dazzled by the lights and the sounds of the bells and whistles of the jackpots. We sit at a slot machine and become almost addicted to the sensory rewards even more than a possible cash payout. We become bedazzled...and we're lulled into semi-hypnotic state as we feed coin after coin into these one-armed bandits. We're allowed a small win every so often, but ultimately the house takes our money and we walk away dazed and defeated and poorer than we were when we walked in.
Back to drinks with little umbrellas in them, my sweet parishioners. I remember so very little about my vacation in the Bahamas other than dancing in a Conga line with Julio (pronounced "Who-LEE-oh") and waking up in a palm tree with a prickly coconut. I was enticed to taste the sweetness of the tropics and I paid for it with a very bad hangover and a flight home on a bumpy cargo plane that I swear was simultaneously dusting crops as we winged back to the States. I was lured by the beauty of the Islands much as Pinocchio was lured by the Coachman to go to Pleasure Island (and he was almost turned into a donkey, while I merely made an ass of myself).
We learn to resist temptation. Yes....Temptation! That's what happens when we
see or hear or taste something wonderfully attractive and our conscience is drowned out by our desire. Jiminy Cricket was Pinocchio's "conscience", and he was explaining all about temptation to Pinocchio one day. This is what he said:
Jiminy Cricket:
Now, you see, the world is full of temptations.
Pinocchio:
Temptations?
Jiminy Cricket: Yep, temptations. They're the wrong things that seem right at the time... but... uh... even though the right things may seem wrong sometimes, or
sometimes the wrong things, [chuckles] may be right at the wrong time, or visa
versa. Understand?
Temptation is what we ask God to lead us not into, and we ask the Lord to remind us to take our time before we make decisions based on impulse. Perhaps counting to three slowly and saying a quiet prayer to ask for guidance in making our decision. Ask Is this what I really want? Can I afford it? Will my family and I be safe from harm? And if I choose not to follow this temptation, will any harm come from that?
Now.....I've talked enough about pink paper umbrellas. It's time to ask you all to turn to each other, grasp paws or talons or webbed-feet or....goodness, whatever you have will do, and wish peace upon your neighbors.
We have a table set up with coconut meat in the main lobby. I brought some home from my trip to share with you all. I've had lots of compliments on my shiny coat and I attribute all to coconut. We don't recommend eating the shells, though, so be careful.
Thank you to Neeko and AbbeyMia for filling in for me while I've been on vacation. I've heard glowing reports from the parishioners and I know they'll be wanting to hear from you again. Next week we will be hearing from Gizzie, an absolutely lovely pup with much to share.
Go now and spread peace and joy wherever you are. There's nothing like a puppy lick to brighten someone's day. In closing, I quote Barbara Woodhouse who says: "I have caught more ills from people sneezing over me and giving me virus infections than from kissing dogs."
Blessings to all....
Mary-Margaret O'Brien
Lt. Chaplain - Yorkie Brigade Chapel
"Yorkie prayers are Angel's wishes!"
"Pups for PPL"
"A dog has lots of friends because he wags his tail and not his tongue."
Anonymous
EDITOR'S NOTE: Mary-Margaret was the recipient of an all-expense paid vacation to the Bahamas with a group of single pups last week. It was rather last minute so she didn't have time to announce this to the group OR TO HER MOTHER!! She came back with a splitting headache, a hang-over, and the seed was planted for this week's Inspirational Message. And she still doesn't remember much about "Julio", or so she says.
Sunday, May 22, 2011
Sunday, May 22, 2011
Happy Sunday everyone! Today is Sunday, May 22, 2011 and we are HAPPY!! No more tornadoes, no more flooding. Things are getting back to normal and the good Lord has kept us all safe.
We wish every one adopted in the month of May a very Happy "GOTCHA DAY". How lucky we all are to have our families to love and support us. Home is where the heart is! No matter what the rest of the world is doing, we are safe in our forever homes.
Mom's taking a little vacation this weekend. She's absolutely exhausted and so she told me to rummage through my "quote box" and find something suitable. I like this pretty much. It fits just about everyone I know. I wish I knew who wrote it but I don't and it was submitted "author unknown". Still, it was obviously written by someone who loves dogs, and probably dogs love them, too!
(ahem....cough cough....and Mary-Margaret begins to recite!)
Why Own A Dog?
Why own a dog? There's a danger you know,
You can't own just one, for the craving will grow.
There's no doubt they're addictive, wherein lies the danger.
While living with lots, you'll grow poorer and stranger.
One dog is no trouble, and two are so funny.
The third one is easy, the fourth one's a honey.
The fifth one's delightful, the sixth one's a breeze,
You find you can live with a houseful of ease.
So how 'bout another? Would you really dare?
They're really quite easy but, oh, Lord the hair!
With dogs on the sofa and dogs on the bed,
And crates in the kitchen, it's no bother, you've said.
They're really no trouble, their manners are great.
What's one more dog and just one more crate?
The sofa is hairy, the windows are crusty,
The floor is all footprints, the furniture dusty.
The housekeeping suffers, but what do you care?
Who minds a few noseprints and a little more hair?
So let's keep a puppy, you can always find room,
And a little more time for the dust cloth and broom.
There's hardly a limit to the dogs you can add,
The thought of a cutback sure makes you sad.
Each one is so special, so useful, so funny.
The vet and food bills grows larger, you owe BIG money.
Your folks never visit, few friends come to stay,
Except other "dog folks" who live the same way.
Your lawn has now died, and your shrubs are dead too,
But your weekends are busy, you're off with your crew.
There's dog food and vitamins, training and shots.
And entries and travel and motels which cost lots.
Is it worth it you wonder? Are you caught in a trap?
Then that favorite one comes and climbs in your lap.
His look says you're special and you know that you will
Keep all of the critters in spite of the bill.
Some just for showing and some just to breed.
And some just for loving, they all fill a need.
God, winter's a hassle, the dogs hate it too.
But they must have their walks though they're numb and your blue.
Late evening is awful, you scream and you shout
At the dogs on the sofa who refuse to go out.
The dogs and the dog shows, the travel, the thrills,
The work and the worry, the pressure, the bills.
The whole thing seems worth it, the dogs are your life.
They're charming and funny and offset the strife.
Your life-style has changed. Things won't be the same.
Yes, those dogs are addictive and so is the dog game.
Written by "Unknown Poet"
Thank you, everyone. Thank you. Thank you for being here
faithfully every Sunday and for loving each other and everyone in
our church family, and for your postcards to Sister Chiquita in
the Amazon. She wrote back the other day and said your well
wishes are what keeps her and the girls going.
Bean sprouts, soybeans, biscuits and apples chunks are on the buffet table
today, courtesy of Fachsie Dachsie Brownie troop #411. They
prepared everything all by themselves, and they even washed their
paws first. Very colorful and tasty, I'm sure.
Please turn to your pew mates and wag your tails and fluff your feathers
as a sign of peace and love.
Dear Lord - Please help us to be as we wish others to be! Amen
Go and share your glow with others not quite so fortunate!
Blassings...
Mary-Margaret O'Brien
Lt. Chaplain - Yorkie Brigade Chapel
"Yorkie prayers are Angel's wishes!"
"Pups for PPL"
"A dog has lots of friends because he wags his tail and not his tongue." Anonymous
We wish every one adopted in the month of May a very Happy "GOTCHA DAY". How lucky we all are to have our families to love and support us. Home is where the heart is! No matter what the rest of the world is doing, we are safe in our forever homes.
Mom's taking a little vacation this weekend. She's absolutely exhausted and so she told me to rummage through my "quote box" and find something suitable. I like this pretty much. It fits just about everyone I know. I wish I knew who wrote it but I don't and it was submitted "author unknown". Still, it was obviously written by someone who loves dogs, and probably dogs love them, too!
(ahem....cough cough....and Mary-Margaret begins to recite!)
Why Own A Dog?
Why own a dog? There's a danger you know,
You can't own just one, for the craving will grow.
There's no doubt they're addictive, wherein lies the danger.
While living with lots, you'll grow poorer and stranger.
One dog is no trouble, and two are so funny.
The third one is easy, the fourth one's a honey.
The fifth one's delightful, the sixth one's a breeze,
You find you can live with a houseful of ease.
So how 'bout another? Would you really dare?
They're really quite easy but, oh, Lord the hair!
With dogs on the sofa and dogs on the bed,
And crates in the kitchen, it's no bother, you've said.
They're really no trouble, their manners are great.
What's one more dog and just one more crate?
The sofa is hairy, the windows are crusty,
The floor is all footprints, the furniture dusty.
The housekeeping suffers, but what do you care?
Who minds a few noseprints and a little more hair?
So let's keep a puppy, you can always find room,
And a little more time for the dust cloth and broom.
There's hardly a limit to the dogs you can add,
The thought of a cutback sure makes you sad.
Each one is so special, so useful, so funny.
The vet and food bills grows larger, you owe BIG money.
Your folks never visit, few friends come to stay,
Except other "dog folks" who live the same way.
Your lawn has now died, and your shrubs are dead too,
But your weekends are busy, you're off with your crew.
There's dog food and vitamins, training and shots.
And entries and travel and motels which cost lots.
Is it worth it you wonder? Are you caught in a trap?
Then that favorite one comes and climbs in your lap.
His look says you're special and you know that you will
Keep all of the critters in spite of the bill.
Some just for showing and some just to breed.
And some just for loving, they all fill a need.
God, winter's a hassle, the dogs hate it too.
But they must have their walks though they're numb and your blue.
Late evening is awful, you scream and you shout
At the dogs on the sofa who refuse to go out.
The dogs and the dog shows, the travel, the thrills,
The work and the worry, the pressure, the bills.
The whole thing seems worth it, the dogs are your life.
They're charming and funny and offset the strife.
Your life-style has changed. Things won't be the same.
Yes, those dogs are addictive and so is the dog game.
Written by "Unknown Poet"
Thank you, everyone. Thank you. Thank you for being here
faithfully every Sunday and for loving each other and everyone in
our church family, and for your postcards to Sister Chiquita in
the Amazon. She wrote back the other day and said your well
wishes are what keeps her and the girls going.
Bean sprouts, soybeans, biscuits and apples chunks are on the buffet table
today, courtesy of Fachsie Dachsie Brownie troop #411. They
prepared everything all by themselves, and they even washed their
paws first. Very colorful and tasty, I'm sure.
Please turn to your pew mates and wag your tails and fluff your feathers
as a sign of peace and love.
Dear Lord - Please help us to be as we wish others to be! Amen
Go and share your glow with others not quite so fortunate!
Blassings...
Mary-Margaret O'Brien
Lt. Chaplain - Yorkie Brigade Chapel
"Yorkie prayers are Angel's wishes!"
"Pups for PPL"
"A dog has lots of friends because he wags his tail and not his tongue." Anonymous
Sunday, May 15, 2011
A Bunny Thing Happened: An Oral History of the Playboy Clubs Culture: vanityfair.com
A Bunny Thing Happened: An Oral History of the Playboy Clubs Culture: vanityfair.com
Dear Grandpa - Mom says to click on this link so you can read the article. Mom even got quoted a whole THREE times, too. How come she got quoted is beyond me, though. With all the famous people associated with these clubs it's just surprising is all. On the other hand, maybe I should start listening to her instead of turning away every time she says something. Maybe I should give her more credit than I do?
Anyway....here you go. First time anyone that I know of personally ever got their name in an international magazine with over a million circulation.
Love you, Grandpa!
Your Grand Dogger....
Mary-Margaret
Saturday, May 14, 2011
May 15, 2011 - Happy Sunday!
Good Morning on this beautiful Sunday, May 15, 2011. Most everywhere the sun is shining and life is good. Our prayers are in force and the tornados have stopped. Unfortunately they were replaced by flooding, which in turn will cause many more problems. Before we get started with today's message, let's put our paws together and ask God for some relief from the flood waters, and ask for his help in the recovery of our economy. I know the Lord never gives us more than he thinks we can handle, but so many are at the breaking point, and so many souls have been lining up at Heaven's gate recently because of the tragedies in the South.
Please, Lord, we ask you, PLEASE help us get through these trying times and help us to see the way beyond. Amen.
Now...today's message is about "commitment". Yes, about taking personal responsibility for following through on your promises.
Let's talk about adopting a fur baby, for example. God made newborn fur babies so darn cute that they're hard to resist. We're little, cuddly, smell sweet and give tiny little kisses that are absolutely addictive to most humans. We are adopted and we become a part of a family. We learn, we love and we grow.
The first two parts are a given - we learn what the humans want from us and we try really hard to live up to their expectations. We also love our adoptive families unconditionally. We don't question our people when they put us outside and they go off for hours at a time because we trust they will always come back for us. Even if we get swatted for some minor "faux pas" (puddles, shredded toilet paper, a little brown pile on the carpet) we know that they will forget and they will hug us and forgive us and we will love them again as if nothing ever happened.
It's the last part - the growing - that some humans have trouble with. Hardly anyone of any species ever stays the same size. That's just life, guys. And when we start knocking over Aunt Grace's porcelain collection, or shedding on the couch, or eating bowls of kibble proportionate to our weight, some humans forget that we are family, and they forget their commitment that they made when we were babies. And some of us end up in the back yard or kennel for days instead of hours. We are fed and watered when someone remembers to do so. We get fleas and sores and no one cares. And finally, some of us end up at a shelter because our families no longer want a grown up dog. We are abandoned and left to our fate.
Rescue groups and shelters are full of residents that are grown. We have already learned and loved, but we are (pardon the expression) "dumped" because we grew. Many of us, but not all, get a second chance. That's when those second chancers will find their forever families. That's when our existence is truly validated and we know we are part of God's plan.
There are all kinds of commitments that humans make throughout their life. Commitments to each other, like "marriage", and a while into the relationship the reality of the commitment sets in and the humans forget their promise of "until death do us part".
Or promises to God - like saying "Dear Lord, if you just let Uncle Aloysius get better, I promise to quit smoking", but when God helps Uncle Aloysius walk again, the human who made the bargain with God in the first place celebrates by bumming a cigarette off the first smoker he sees.
Even our Inspirational Message for Chapel is a commitment that I've made to you all and I intend to keep. You are all part of my family and we never let our family down, no matter what.
I'm sure you each can think of promises that you or those close to you have made that are broken without another thought. Unless that promise was made by a dog (or a duck). And us pups ALWAYS keep our promises. Once we are part of a family we are a part of it forever. If you leave, we grieve. We find your scent and we follow you to the ends of the earth. If you see us years later we will remember you and love you with all our hearts as if you had never left us.
We wind up these inspirational messages with a couple of quotes: A quote from John Holmes: "A dog is not "almost human" and I know of no greater insult to the canine race than to describe it as such." and one from Robert Brault: "An old dog, even more than an old spouse, always feels like doing what you feel like doing."
Let us grow old with you and you will never be sorry.
Please put your paws together and bow your heads as we ask that our Lord or Higher Power help us to honor our commitments and fortify our resolve on a daily basis:
Dear Lord - we ask you to make us wise and alert in our duties. Help to keep us faithful in the time of routine; to be quick to make decisions; and and to be courageous to act in a time of crisis. Help us to always keep peaceful and focused in our minds and our hearts so that we can take care of our families and keep them from harm. Take care of our loved ones when we are separated. Help us honor our commitment and always keep us true to each other. If we have to be apart, help us to return to each other with safety and love. Amen.
(a moment's silence as our prayer fully sinks in....and then Mary-Margaret speaks!)
And now I ask that you turn to your neighbors and wag your tails or fluff your feathers as a sign of peace and love.
We still need volunteers to be guest speakers at Sunday services. Please PLEASE submit your stories so we can incorporate them into our messages. Mom says I'm going to have to start paying her if we don't get some outside help and ....well...collections have been pretty meager in the cyber basket.
We will be serving raw carrots and freshly picked green beans from our garden on the side of the church by the now-functioning fountain dedicated to our parish by the Sisters of St Francis. We have a new member to introduce to you: The Sangster family has adopted little Raffie (Prince Rafael Zane) and he will be in the nursery class for Preschool Puppies starting next Sunday. Congratulations Sangster family!! We also remind you that our Parish Library is open 24/7 if you would care to review our Parish Family Albums and get to know your church family members face to face.
A reminder to you all to pick up your tails, links and photos from our cloakroom on the way out. Our "lost and found" is getting a little cluttered, and those items left after Memorial Day will be auctioned off at our next yard sale, June 5th, with the proceeds going to our Summer Camp fund for Underprivileged Pups (SCUP).
Blessings to you all...
Have a wonderful day!!
Mary-Margaret O'Brien
Lt. Chaplain - YorkieBrigade
Wednesday, May 11, 2011
Bogart and Me at the Doctors!
My new friend, Bogart. Isn't he cute? I mean, what you can see of him? He's sort of a golden blonde Maltese and he's only eight weeks old. He hit on me right away. Oh yes he did. At only EIGHT WEEKS he was right on my rear end, sniffing away and dodging my waggy little butt. He didn't know it but I was laughing at him. He tickled. He's way to little to get all serious, and every time he'd try to sniff my girlish charms, I'd knock him in the nose with my tail. It was pretty funny.
Mom wouldn't tell me what this said but the same sign was put out on two doors while were were waiting. You have to double-click the picture to see the writing on it. I'm pretty smart, though, and I have a good idea what's going on. I know it's a very sad thing because there were some ladies there who were crying a whole lot. I know I should mind my own business but when folks are in trouble and hurting in their hearts I think it's my job to comfort them. So I did. I just snuggled and kissed and loved all over them. I really think I helped, too. They didn't stop crying but they did smile through their tears for "Midnight", their pet. I didn't find out if Midnight was a cat or a dog or anything, but whoever it was they sure had a lot of love to take to the Rainbow Bridge with them.
God bless Midnight and those two ladies. Amen.
Love,
Mary-Margaret
Monday, May 09, 2011
My new friend, Chica!!
This is my new friend, Chica. She lives across the street and she's about one and a half years old. Her mom is named Nancy. Today when we came home from working Nancy and Chica were outside and me and Chica said "Hi!". Our moms started talking and next thing I know is they're talking "play date". Oh this is SOOOO exciting.
I see Chica outside sometimes but I'm inside and I can only say "Hello!" through the window. Now we have sniffed each other and even gave kisses AND we will have a play date.
I might add that I need some friends my own age (and species) to play with. Today when we went to pick up at a client's office I got off the elevator on the wrong floor. Hey, what do I know? All the floors look alike but this one smelled different. So I said "Hello" to everyone on the floor before I'd get back on the elevator. That kinda made Mom mad and some guy was hollerin' "LET GO OF THE ELEVATOR!" on one of the other floors. Oooops (I said)...sorry!
Then when we got on the third floor where we were supposed to be our client wasn't there. The envelope was by the door. That was fine for Mom but I wanted to see our client. So I sat by the door and wouldn't budge. Again, the "momster" comes after me but I'm too fast for her. I duck and dodge and I'm having the best time with this game.
Pretty soon a lady comes over and says "Is that Mary-Margaret?". I guess I have a reputation in town. So Mom says "Yes! And I can't catch her!". The lady is very nice and I know I've met her before so I go over and flip on my back for belly rubs, sort of like a Shmoo in a frying pan (if you remember L'il Abner comic strips, anyway!). I get my belly rubbed and then I get scooped up and handed to Mom.
Sheesh! Can't trust anybody any more.
Love,
Mary-Margaret
Saturday, May 07, 2011
Happy Mother's Day - Sunday, May 8, 2011
(It's Mother's Day already somewhere in the world - This is for Australia, New Zealand, India and Nepal and all those other places!)
Good morning everyone, and especially to all the "bee-yoo-ti-full" mothers, both present and departed. Today is Sunday, May 8th, 2011 and we are celebrating those who not only gave birth to us, but those who loved us enough to raise us and who raised us with the capacity to love unconditionally.
I barely remember my birth mother, Sissy's TooToo (by T and J), of Elkland, Missouri.
While I know my bloodlines by reading them off my "Birth Certificate" also known as a
"Certificate of Pedigree", I am who I am because of my adopted mother, Michele (by Ruth and George) of Temecula, California. At the tender age of nine weeks I had already been ripped from my birth family, shipped to California, undergone surgery for an inguinal hernia and tossed into a plexiglass box full of shredded newspaper in a local pet store. It was there that I first spotted my REAL mom and made it my business to leave that pet store with her, no matter how long it took.
She wasn't particularly impressive on the outside. She was a little older than the
other ladies who had come into the shop. She looked maybe a little sad and lonely, and she could stand to lose a few pounds, but I saw the beauty in her soul and the light in her eyes and I knew that we were destined to be a couple...a TEAM, if you will. I thought she was absolutely the most beautiful human being in the whole world. I could tell she only stopped in for a quick puppy kiss and to sniff the sweet milky smell us puppy kids have when we're babies. If I didn't act quickly, she'd walk right back out of my life forever.
Together, I knew we could handle anything that came our way. It took me two hours to talk the other pups into chewing on her shoes, barking incessantly, piddling in the middle of the playpen, etc. and otherwise make themselves totally unacceptable to her. Finally, at long last, it was just her and me..side by side on the little bench. Yup. Me and my "soon to be" Mom!
The sales lady, exhausted from bringing Mom pup after pup, finally asked us if we were
going home together. I saw the lady's lips moving slightly as if she were praying we'd say "Yes!". Mom paused for a moment and then asked "How much?". She just about
passed out when Ms. Saleslady quoted her a price, but I was negotiated for and finally
Mom whipped out a credit card. She looked at me, hugged me even closer and gave me a
big kiss, while saying "You can't put a price on love!". I totally agree with her on
that! Moms are just naturally beautiful that way. Truly!
Helen Keller once said "The most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even
touched, they must be felt with the heart".
And Khalil Gibran, the Lebanese poet said, "Beauty is not in the face; beauty is a light in the heart".
Elizabeth Kubler-Ross was quoted to say, "People are like stained-glass windows. They
sparkle and shine when the sun is out, but when the darkness sets in, their true beauty is revealed only if there is a light from within."
"You don't love your Mother because she is beautiful. She is beautiful because you love her!" (Mary-Margaret O'Brien)
And on that note, I know you are all anxious to celebrate this special day with your
beautiful mothers. We will be serving Pupcakes and Snausages in the Great Hall to give our special moms a day off from the feed bowl.
Special Announcement - Graham Quacker's family has adopted a baby chick with a
dislocated leg. We ask that you offer prayers for the baby's speedy recovery. Also Graham is now sharing his personal pond with a Red Slider turtle that heard that the Quacker home is a shelter for homeless critters of all shapes, sizes and species. We hope they will be coming to Chapel with Graham.
We are still recruiting volunteer speakers for future Sundays. Please let me know when you'll be available and we'll work your presentation into our Inspirational Message.
Before you leave, please turn to your neighbors and wag your tails (and fluff your
feathers) as a sign of peace and love. And wherever your Mom is, please take a moment
to silently thank her for being your Mom, and for giving you the opportunity and foundation to share your love with the rest of the world.
Blessings to you all....
Mary-Margaret O'Brien
Lt. Chaplain - Yorkie Brigade Chapel
"Yorkie prayers are Angel's wishes!"
"Pups for PPL"
"A dog has lots of friends because he wags his tail and not his tongue." Anonymous
Saturday, April 30, 2011
May Day - Sunday, 5-1-11
Good morning, everyone. What a beautiful day it is today. May Day! Celebrated since pagan times by going out and gathering tree branches and twigs and flowers and decorating the houses or other buildings in town. The Roman Goddess of Spring, Flora, was celebrated from April 28 to May 3rd, and there have been numerous poems written about May Day, or "going a-Maying".
Here's one to think about from about 500 years ago:
- And furth goth all the Court, both most and lest
To feche the floures fressh, and braunch and blome
And namely, hawthorn brought both page and grome
With fresh garlandes, partie blewe and whyte …
(The Court of Love, first printed 1561, previously attributed to Chaucer)
So it is with joy and love in our hearts that we dedicate this day to the happy memories of those that have gone on to the bridge recently - To Cubby and Lexi and Lacey, and to Nickie (Nicholas, Duke of York). You may have other little ones that you want to send some happy thoughts along to brighten their day at the Rainbow Bridge.
Our guest speaker today is Sam Press who has composed a lovely eulogy to her beloved fur baby, Miss Sweet Pea Magnolia Press. Please welcome Miss Press to our podium. Sam?
(as Sam approaches the microphone there is a peaceful calm descending upon our congregation. A stillness prevails and sweet smiles are upon the faces of those present. They are thinking and remembering those they've lost, and they await the special tribute that Sam has prepared for Sweet Pea Magnolia)
Her name is Sweet Pea Magnolia Press. She was born on 7 May 1996 & it's been almost 15 years since this amazing ball of fluff entered my life. Sweet Pea was only 3 weeks old & weighed about 4 or 5 ounces when we first saw each other. 2 weeks later she came home with me to live.
Sweet Pea is my beloved Yorkshire Terrier. She arrived at a very sad time in my life...my oldest daughter had passed away & for over a year I'd felt numb. Sweet Pea had so much energy that soon she began to fill all the empty spots I had. Throughout the years, Sweet Pea taught me many things....but the most important was how unconditional love impacted all of our lives.
In happy times, sad times, good moods or not....Sweet Pea was always there with her wagging tail, endless kisses & "cuddle with me Mommie" attitude. Spoiling her was a natural thing to do. Than, one day, I noticed my precious Sweet Pea was not herself. It was then end of January, this year....just 2 days after my foot/ankle reconstructive surgery. Sweet Pea was very sick.....she had kidney failure. She looked up at me, while I was holding her, & asked me the only thing she had in 15 years....."Mommie love me enough to let me go...help me to Rainbow Bridge, it is time".
My beautiful Sweet Pea crossed to Rainbow Bridge the morning of 29 January 2011. She is back home with us now in a special Cedar chest & I talk to her everyday. This precious little girl helped me understand so much.....how to find joy all around, that we are all special in our own way & that we can get along with anyone if we really try. Thank you my darling Sweet Pea!
(warm applause fills the chapel, and some of the parishioners are sniffling or quacking quietly. Pawkerchiefs and tissues are passed, and slowly the attendees rise. A standing ovation is given to Miss Sam Press, and the warmth and love in the Chapel takes on a light of it's own)
(Mary-Margaret steps to the microphone and the parishioners take their seats)
Thank YOU, Sam, for that wonderful tribute to Sweet Pea Magnolia. I'm so glad you two had each other as long as you did. What better gift than the gift of love could you have given Sweet Pea Magnolia to carry with her on her trip to the bridge. Thank you again for sharing with us. What a wonderful way to celebrate today by giving us that "flower" of your memory. All of our happy and loving thoughts are like beautiful blooms to be gathered into everlasting bouquets, fragrant with love and kept alive in our hearts forever.
Please turn to your neighbors and wag your tails or fluff your feathers as a symbol of peace and love. Sister Chiquita and her troop of dancing Chihuahuas are still on a mission in the wilds of the Amazon and they expect to be gone until the end of summer. We will be enjoying Pupperoni and spring water in the beautiful flower garden today, courtesy of the Fachsie Dachsie Brownie troop #411. They have gone to great lengths to provide floral centerpieces on the serving tables to honor May Day with you.
Blessing to you all, and have a wonderful day remembering your special ones. Reflect on the joy that they brought into your life, and feel them dance in your heart today.
Thank you, Lord, for giving us the capacity and opportunity to love and to be loved.
Blessings......
Thursday, April 28, 2011
Is that my friend, Lily?
Smack dab in the middle of my mid afternoon nap I sniffed a familiar scent. Is that my friend, Lily? (I asked) In MY office? I crawled out of my office bed and wandered into the main office. OHMYGAWSH! It's LILY! LILY! LILY!
Her mom came to see my mom and Lily came to see me. We started dancing in circles around each other. Then I sniffed her butt. And then we went into my office and I showed her all my toys. Then we ran back into the big office and she sniffed my rear end. THEN...she went into my Mom's inner office and pooped on the carpet.
EGADS! (I said) That's NOT acceptable to me. I walked into Mom's office and I stood there and just stared at the little dark brown pile. I wanted my mom to know that I didn't approve and I was NOT going to move until someone cleaned it up. Lily's mom asked for a tissue but she ended up going to the Ladies' room and getting some toilet paper. Once that little mound was disposed of, me and Lily went back to playing.
We had the everly bestest time. I just love it when friends come to visit me. Oh...and before I forget to tell you, our moms finally figured out where me and Lily knew each other from. We get our hair done at the same place - Miss Marilyn's Puppy Day Spa in Temecula (she calls it "Prime Cuts" but doesn't that sound more like a butcher shop to you? Hmmmm??). We both just LOVE Miss Marilyn to pieces. She really knows how to bring out the best in a pup.
Love and kisses....
Mary-Margaret
Tuesday, April 26, 2011
The Box with Many Buttons
First off, let me apologize for not writing more in my diary. My "secretary" has been up to her eyeballs in other projects, including helping edit my Sunday Chapel messages. I forgive her for not having more hours in her day and I hope you do, too.
I'm also noticing that it's much harder to get her attention when I'm needing it most. We have supper, we start to watch some TV and I end up having to hop on her tummy to wake her up to go upstairs to bed. Once in bed, she's half asleep most of the time and belly rubs are the last thing on her mind.
Last week I discovered that the little box with all the buttons (she calls it a "remote") can be very useful. I accidentally rolled over on it and BINGO! The channel changes and she goes "Wha..? Huh...?" and grabs it back from me. "Darn you, Mary-Margaret!", she says. But then I get some scratchies and some belly rubs and things are good.
Last night I was sort of fooling around with this "remote" thing and pressed another button. We got a little message up on the TV screen saying to enter our pass code. Hee hee hee....and sure enough! She says "NOW WHAT HAVE YOU DONE?", and I just give her my most winning smile. She messes with the button box and gets things back to normal. And I get some more scratchies and belly rubs.
Mom's favorite saying is "Think outside the box!". Mine is "Think about the box!".
Life is good.
Love,
Mary-Margaret
I'm also noticing that it's much harder to get her attention when I'm needing it most. We have supper, we start to watch some TV and I end up having to hop on her tummy to wake her up to go upstairs to bed. Once in bed, she's half asleep most of the time and belly rubs are the last thing on her mind.
Last week I discovered that the little box with all the buttons (she calls it a "remote") can be very useful. I accidentally rolled over on it and BINGO! The channel changes and she goes "Wha..? Huh...?" and grabs it back from me. "Darn you, Mary-Margaret!", she says. But then I get some scratchies and some belly rubs and things are good.
Last night I was sort of fooling around with this "remote" thing and pressed another button. We got a little message up on the TV screen saying to enter our pass code. Hee hee hee....and sure enough! She says "NOW WHAT HAVE YOU DONE?", and I just give her my most winning smile. She messes with the button box and gets things back to normal. And I get some more scratchies and belly rubs.
Mom's favorite saying is "Think outside the box!". Mine is "Think about the box!".
Life is good.
Love,
Mary-Margaret
Saturday, April 23, 2011
Easter Sunday - April 24, 2011
Good morning to you all on this absolutely BEE-YOO-TEE-FULL Easter Sunday, April 24, 2011. We are so blessed to continue to grow as a parish and as a chapel family. We welcome back Miss Merry and her crew who inadvertently got left at a rest stop on our way to Rome a couple of weeks. We are so happy to have them with us again.
We also have the honor of welcoming our first duck into our parish, Fr. Graham Quacker of Kailua-Kona, Hawaii. He is an Indian Runner duck known for his chocolate and marshmallow markings, and also for his unusual height. He's quite tall for a duck and writes very well.
Fr. Quacker (Fr. stand for "feathered", by the way)...Fr. Quacker has asked that his adoptive mother be allowed to tell his story for him. He's quite shy about his inability to enunciate the English language, and he hopes that you will extend a warm welcome to Miss Allie, Duck Rescuer Extraordinaire.
We received several submissions from our volunteers within the parish to deliver an Inspirational Message this Sunday, and rather than randomly select someone we decided to invite them to the podium in the order received. We will dedicate next Sunday's service to Sweet Pea Magnolia Press, and our speaker will be her adoptive mother, Sam.
Easter is a time of life renewed, of birth and rebirth. We are blessed with miracles every day that reinforce our unwaivering belief that there are powers or forces beyond us that illustrate the balance that exists in our universe. We witness random acts of kindness between species that confirm that we are one in our life spirit.
With that being said, please welcome Fr. Graham Quacker and his Speech Therapist, Miss Allie, to the podium!
(applause...clap.clap..."WELCOME"....excited mutterings...more applause...and as it dies down....Miss Allie steps to the microphone as Fr. Quacker signs to the congregation)
Allow me to begin with some background for this inspiring story about 2 old people and 2 faithful ducks who evidently, have a better memory than we supposed.
A couple of years ago, my son-in-law Tom's grandparents, Mel and Anne, were feeding some wild ducks in their yard in Mill Creek, WA. A pair of mallards would come often to eat. One day, they got a letter from the City of Mill Creek telling them that it was against the law to feed wild animals in the city limits and they must stop. So, sadly, they stopped feeding the ducks. The story made the rounds of the family and we all chuckled at the thought of Mel and Anne being arrested for feeding ducks in tiny Mill Creek.
A little over 1 year ago, they had a wonderful trip out here to meet Tom's fiancee and my daughter, Abby. Just after returning home, Tom's grandfather died suddenly. This was such a shock to the family. To give you an example of how close Tom was to his grandfather, he figured out a way to name his boat after him. "Mehem" Mel's initials - the initials written so that backwards or forwards it reads the same. Thus "Mehem" (pronounced "mayhem" was christened.)
Anne's health, not good anyway, began to decline further as time went by. It was touch and go whether she could even make the trip out here for Tom and Abby's wedding last June, but she was able to come and we were all so grateful for that.
Several months ago she had to have some surgery. There were complications and she needed another procedure done, but by this time she was too sick for any corrective surgery. They were able to get her strong enough to transfer to a Life Care facility nearby. After a few weeks, finally she got a little better and about 3 weeks ago had this second surgery. Tragically, an infection had set in near one of the drain tubes, seemed to infiltrate her entire body within minutes, and one day she "crashed" with Tom's mother right there to watch the terrifying scene of nurses and doctors trying to save her.
Finally, Tom's mother Julie said "STOP. Stop, she is suffering. You can't fix her back 100%, please just let her go. " So they made her comfortable and in a few hours, she passed away. Tom, who was extremely close to his grandparents while growing up, was devastated and everyone was very sad. Julie was exhausted and stressed from so many months of this emotional situation. Having to drive up to Seattle from Napa - back and forth every few days or weeks - not being able to work - had completed sapped her strength.
Julie's husband George, whose own mother is ill at the moment, immediately travelled up to Seattle to be with Julie. They were staying at the home where Ann and Mel had lived for so many years. Next day at the house, George was just so antsy he had to find something to do so like a typical man's man, he said "I'll go start Mel's truck and make sure it's okay". The truck was destined to be shipped to Hawaii and given to Tom. George went outside and started the truck, and puttered around a little. Julie came outside too, trying to relax for a few minutes. They both saw something out of the corner of their eyes, and they turned to see what it was.
Here, up the driveway they came - the pair of mallard ducks. In solemn, meaningful waddles they made it all they up to the door, looked inside the house, looked at each other, then turned around and went back down the driveway. Their statement seemed to be "Mission Accomplished".
Julie said "I know that my parents sent those ducks to tell us that they are together again, and that they are okay now". "If George wasn't here to witness it, I'm sure everyone would think I had lost my mind." Who ever imagined that 2 wild ducks would bear such a loving message in the most special and unique manner?
Tom and Abby flew out a few days ago to help and the ducks have been coming into the yard and resting. She has a picture of them. It's posted in my album in the Chapel Library for you to view.
I hope that the next owners of this home realize what a special place it is, full of the love that defined Anne and Mel's life!
(as Allie steps down, Fr. Quacker bows deeply in appreciation to the congregation to show his appreciation)
(we hear applause again, getting more enthusiastic and soon the audience is on their feet. Tissues and pawkerchiefs are taken out and eyes dried. Mary-Margaret joines Miss Allie at the podium and extends her paw!)
Thank you SOOOO much for that wonderful presentation, Feather Quacker and Miss Allie. This is truly an example of how every ending is also a new beginning. You've given us much to think about in this coming week.
Thank you....thank you.
And now, parishioners, please turn to your neighbors and wag your tails (and fluff your feathers) as a sign of peace and friendship. You humans are welcome to shake hands (paws, wings....whatever), too.
In this world we are not alone in our relationship to our God or our universe. Life itself is a gift that we share with all living creatures. We are grateful for our life, and we are respectful of all others, regardless of the genus, the species or the substance.
We honor this gift by showing our appreciation to others throughout this next week. Life as we know it is temporary, but the memories of your life, your love, your kindnesses and your deeds are carried on by innumerable generations to come. This is immortality. This is Easter.
Blessings to you all.
Mary-Margaret O'Brien
Lt. Chaplain - Yorkie Brigade Chapel
"Yorkie prayers are Angel's wishes!"
"Pups for PPL"
"A dog has lots of friends because he wags his tail and not his tongue." Anonymous
We also have the honor of welcoming our first duck into our parish, Fr. Graham Quacker of Kailua-Kona, Hawaii. He is an Indian Runner duck known for his chocolate and marshmallow markings, and also for his unusual height. He's quite tall for a duck and writes very well.
Fr. Quacker (Fr. stand for "feathered", by the way)...Fr. Quacker has asked that his adoptive mother be allowed to tell his story for him. He's quite shy about his inability to enunciate the English language, and he hopes that you will extend a warm welcome to Miss Allie, Duck Rescuer Extraordinaire.
We received several submissions from our volunteers within the parish to deliver an Inspirational Message this Sunday, and rather than randomly select someone we decided to invite them to the podium in the order received. We will dedicate next Sunday's service to Sweet Pea Magnolia Press, and our speaker will be her adoptive mother, Sam.
Easter is a time of life renewed, of birth and rebirth. We are blessed with miracles every day that reinforce our unwaivering belief that there are powers or forces beyond us that illustrate the balance that exists in our universe. We witness random acts of kindness between species that confirm that we are one in our life spirit.
With that being said, please welcome Fr. Graham Quacker and his Speech Therapist, Miss Allie, to the podium!
(applause...clap.clap..."WELCOME"....excited mutterings...more applause...and as it dies down....Miss Allie steps to the microphone as Fr. Quacker signs to the congregation)
Allow me to begin with some background for this inspiring story about 2 old people and 2 faithful ducks who evidently, have a better memory than we supposed.
A couple of years ago, my son-in-law Tom's grandparents, Mel and Anne, were feeding some wild ducks in their yard in Mill Creek, WA. A pair of mallards would come often to eat. One day, they got a letter from the City of Mill Creek telling them that it was against the law to feed wild animals in the city limits and they must stop. So, sadly, they stopped feeding the ducks. The story made the rounds of the family and we all chuckled at the thought of Mel and Anne being arrested for feeding ducks in tiny Mill Creek.
A little over 1 year ago, they had a wonderful trip out here to meet Tom's fiancee and my daughter, Abby. Just after returning home, Tom's grandfather died suddenly. This was such a shock to the family. To give you an example of how close Tom was to his grandfather, he figured out a way to name his boat after him. "Mehem" Mel's initials - the initials written so that backwards or forwards it reads the same. Thus "Mehem" (pronounced "mayhem" was christened.)
Anne's health, not good anyway, began to decline further as time went by. It was touch and go whether she could even make the trip out here for Tom and Abby's wedding last June, but she was able to come and we were all so grateful for that.
Several months ago she had to have some surgery. There were complications and she needed another procedure done, but by this time she was too sick for any corrective surgery. They were able to get her strong enough to transfer to a Life Care facility nearby. After a few weeks, finally she got a little better and about 3 weeks ago had this second surgery. Tragically, an infection had set in near one of the drain tubes, seemed to infiltrate her entire body within minutes, and one day she "crashed" with Tom's mother right there to watch the terrifying scene of nurses and doctors trying to save her.
Finally, Tom's mother Julie said "STOP. Stop, she is suffering. You can't fix her back 100%, please just let her go. " So they made her comfortable and in a few hours, she passed away. Tom, who was extremely close to his grandparents while growing up, was devastated and everyone was very sad. Julie was exhausted and stressed from so many months of this emotional situation. Having to drive up to Seattle from Napa - back and forth every few days or weeks - not being able to work - had completed sapped her strength.
Julie's husband George, whose own mother is ill at the moment, immediately travelled up to Seattle to be with Julie. They were staying at the home where Ann and Mel had lived for so many years. Next day at the house, George was just so antsy he had to find something to do so like a typical man's man, he said "I'll go start Mel's truck and make sure it's okay". The truck was destined to be shipped to Hawaii and given to Tom. George went outside and started the truck, and puttered around a little. Julie came outside too, trying to relax for a few minutes. They both saw something out of the corner of their eyes, and they turned to see what it was.
Here, up the driveway they came - the pair of mallard ducks. In solemn, meaningful waddles they made it all they up to the door, looked inside the house, looked at each other, then turned around and went back down the driveway. Their statement seemed to be "Mission Accomplished".
Julie said "I know that my parents sent those ducks to tell us that they are together again, and that they are okay now". "If George wasn't here to witness it, I'm sure everyone would think I had lost my mind." Who ever imagined that 2 wild ducks would bear such a loving message in the most special and unique manner?
Tom and Abby flew out a few days ago to help and the ducks have been coming into the yard and resting. She has a picture of them. It's posted in my album in the Chapel Library for you to view.
I hope that the next owners of this home realize what a special place it is, full of the love that defined Anne and Mel's life!
(as Allie steps down, Fr. Quacker bows deeply in appreciation to the congregation to show his appreciation)
(we hear applause again, getting more enthusiastic and soon the audience is on their feet. Tissues and pawkerchiefs are taken out and eyes dried. Mary-Margaret joines Miss Allie at the podium and extends her paw!)
Thank you SOOOO much for that wonderful presentation, Feather Quacker and Miss Allie. This is truly an example of how every ending is also a new beginning. You've given us much to think about in this coming week.
Thank you....thank you.
And now, parishioners, please turn to your neighbors and wag your tails (and fluff your feathers) as a sign of peace and friendship. You humans are welcome to shake hands (paws, wings....whatever), too.
In this world we are not alone in our relationship to our God or our universe. Life itself is a gift that we share with all living creatures. We are grateful for our life, and we are respectful of all others, regardless of the genus, the species or the substance.
We honor this gift by showing our appreciation to others throughout this next week. Life as we know it is temporary, but the memories of your life, your love, your kindnesses and your deeds are carried on by innumerable generations to come. This is immortality. This is Easter.
Blessings to you all.
Mary-Margaret O'Brien
Lt. Chaplain - Yorkie Brigade Chapel
"Yorkie prayers are Angel's wishes!"
"Pups for PPL"
"A dog has lots of friends because he wags his tail and not his tongue." Anonymous
Saturday, April 16, 2011
Sunday's Message - April 17, 2011
Good morning to you all on this beautiful day - Palm Sunday for those of you who will be celebrating Easter next week. My church secretary is a little incapacitated today and will be retiring early, so I've approved her sending this a few hours early. I hope you don't mind.
We do have a field trip planned for today and snacks will be served on the bus. I, your Chaplain, am pleased to be your guest speaker today.
(bewildered applause...some mumbling....puppies scrunching up in their seats to get comfortable...large Basset hound yawning noisily....)
(ahem!)
We think too small, said the Chinese leader Mao Tse-Tung, like the frog at the bottom of the well. He thinks the sky is only as big as the top of the well. If he surfaced, he would have an entirely different view.
By putting ourselves into another's place we can see the world from an entirely
different perspective. We feel empathy for the other's situation or lot in life. We
see a homeless man standing on a highway asking for money, food, or work. So many of us automatically look the other way. If we don't see him, he doesn't exist. If he doesn't exist, then we have no responsibility to initiate a change.
When someone wants a dog, are they asking for a companion? A friend? Someone who will love them unconditionally and who will be grateful for the smallest scrap of food and a warm bed? Or are they asking for a cute little puppy - a live version of a stuffed toy, to nuzzle and play with until they become bored. Until there's a puddle that needs mopping, or a pile that needs picking up.....or a shoe that needs replacing, a hole in the backyard that needs filling, hair that needs brushing, fleas that need removal....and I could go on and on.
Our shelters and rescues are full of former "cute little puppies" who once filled an
immediate need and then somehow disappointed their owners. Abandoned by their families they now want only to love and be loved.
Do you live your life as if you were entitled to take from it what you can without
giving back? To cuddle a puppy until he becomes a dog? Are you the frog in the bottom of the well? Or do you look beyond your confines and ask what you can give back to the world - to humanity and doggonity? And to God? - for giving you the opportunity to make a difference to someone else's life?
Last week I asked for volunteer speakers and none came forward. I asked for ideas for
field trips and - thank you, Eleanor, for suggesting the Carmel Mission, or Lourdes, or that place in Colorado - I shall continue to look for either virtual tours or live
streaming tours to these places suitable to accomodate our entire cyber parish. All suggestions are welcomed.
Meanwhile, gentle Pups, our tour bus is waiting outside.
Today, as promised, we are visiting the Flying Skunk Chicken Farm located in Martha's
Vineyard. Imagine your life as a chicken (or a goat..there's goats there, too!)
outside all day and night, no matter what the weather. You have no name, and you don't know if you'll be contributing to Saturday's omelet, or if you'll be Sunday's main course.
For today, allow yourself to become a CHICKEN and to see the universe from a chicken's perspective.
Click on Flying Skunk Chickens
(I suggest you click on "full screen" to get the full effect)
It was raining pretty hard at 8:29PM EDT as we wrote this. Very wet, muddy, lightning
and thunder...and it looked pretty cold and windy. Oh, and watch out for raccoons,
skunks and weasels. They have to eat, too.
Thank you, Lord, for making me an instrument of your peace and giving me the opportunity to enrich the lives of others. For however long you allow me to be on this earth, I sincerely hope that I will have made this a better place.
Amen
Hurry now....bus is waiting!!!
Blessings...
Mary-Margaret O'Brien
Lt. Chaplain - Yorkie Brigade Chapel
"Yorkie prayers are Angel's wishes!"
"Pups for PPL"
"A dog has lots of friends because he wags his tail and not his tongue." Anonymous
We do have a field trip planned for today and snacks will be served on the bus. I, your Chaplain, am pleased to be your guest speaker today.
(bewildered applause...some mumbling....puppies scrunching up in their seats to get comfortable...large Basset hound yawning noisily....)
(ahem!)
We think too small, said the Chinese leader Mao Tse-Tung, like the frog at the bottom of the well. He thinks the sky is only as big as the top of the well. If he surfaced, he would have an entirely different view.
By putting ourselves into another's place we can see the world from an entirely
different perspective. We feel empathy for the other's situation or lot in life. We
see a homeless man standing on a highway asking for money, food, or work. So many of us automatically look the other way. If we don't see him, he doesn't exist. If he doesn't exist, then we have no responsibility to initiate a change.
When someone wants a dog, are they asking for a companion? A friend? Someone who will love them unconditionally and who will be grateful for the smallest scrap of food and a warm bed? Or are they asking for a cute little puppy - a live version of a stuffed toy, to nuzzle and play with until they become bored. Until there's a puddle that needs mopping, or a pile that needs picking up.....or a shoe that needs replacing, a hole in the backyard that needs filling, hair that needs brushing, fleas that need removal....and I could go on and on.
Our shelters and rescues are full of former "cute little puppies" who once filled an
immediate need and then somehow disappointed their owners. Abandoned by their families they now want only to love and be loved.
Do you live your life as if you were entitled to take from it what you can without
giving back? To cuddle a puppy until he becomes a dog? Are you the frog in the bottom of the well? Or do you look beyond your confines and ask what you can give back to the world - to humanity and doggonity? And to God? - for giving you the opportunity to make a difference to someone else's life?
Last week I asked for volunteer speakers and none came forward. I asked for ideas for
field trips and - thank you, Eleanor, for suggesting the Carmel Mission, or Lourdes, or that place in Colorado - I shall continue to look for either virtual tours or live
streaming tours to these places suitable to accomodate our entire cyber parish. All suggestions are welcomed.
Meanwhile, gentle Pups, our tour bus is waiting outside.
Today, as promised, we are visiting the Flying Skunk Chicken Farm located in Martha's
Vineyard. Imagine your life as a chicken (or a goat..there's goats there, too!)
outside all day and night, no matter what the weather. You have no name, and you don't know if you'll be contributing to Saturday's omelet, or if you'll be Sunday's main course.
For today, allow yourself to become a CHICKEN and to see the universe from a chicken's perspective.
Click on Flying Skunk Chickens
(I suggest you click on "full screen" to get the full effect)
It was raining pretty hard at 8:29PM EDT as we wrote this. Very wet, muddy, lightning
and thunder...and it looked pretty cold and windy. Oh, and watch out for raccoons,
skunks and weasels. They have to eat, too.
Thank you, Lord, for making me an instrument of your peace and giving me the opportunity to enrich the lives of others. For however long you allow me to be on this earth, I sincerely hope that I will have made this a better place.
Amen
Hurry now....bus is waiting!!!
Blessings...
Mary-Margaret O'Brien
Lt. Chaplain - Yorkie Brigade Chapel
"Yorkie prayers are Angel's wishes!"
"Pups for PPL"
"A dog has lots of friends because he wags his tail and not his tongue." Anonymous
Saturday, April 09, 2011
Sunday 4-10-11 Shadow Dancer & Surprise Field Trip
Good MORNING! Good MORNING! It's so nice to see so many of you in Chapel this morning. Are you all ready for our "field trip"? (smiling) Anyone guessed yet where we're going? Ah....well, then. It will be a true surprise.
This morning's guest speaker is known by us all. He's from the State of Washington in the Pacific Northwest. His mother is Dee Davis, and his siblings are Kodie Blue and Cherokee Dawn. Shadow and his family are very active in rescue work, and they are truly an inspiration to us all. Shadow himself was once a rescue pup.
Shadow ......Thank you so much for volunteering today. We look forward to hearing
your interpretation of the Ten Commandments as they would apply to our humans.
Everyone...please welcome.......SHADOW DANCER!!!
(clap....clap....yayy...."Shh...Hush now!"...clap...)
(Shadow steps to the microphone and begins to speak)
A Yorkshire Terrier's 10 Commandments for Humans!
Someone has written these beautiful words. We must try to understand the deep meaning of it. They are like the Ten Commandments to follow in life all the time.
1] Prayer is not a "spare wheel" that you pull out when in trouble, but it is a
"steering wheel" that directs the right path throughout.
2] So a Car's WINDSHIELD is so large & the Rear view Mirror is so small? Because our past is not as important as our future. So, Look Ahead and Move on.
3] Friendship is like a BOOK. It takes few seconds to burn, but it takes years to
write.
4] All things in life are temporary. If going well; enjoy it, they will not last
forever. If going wrong; don't worry, they can't last long either.
5] Old Friends are Gold! New Friends are Diamond! If you get a Diamond, don't forget the Gold! Because to hold a Diamond, you always need a Base of Gold!
6] Often when we lose hope and think this is the end, GOD smiles from above and says, "Relax, sweetheart, it's just a bend, not the end!
7] When GOD solves your problems, you have faith in HIS abilities; when GOD doesn't
solve your problems HE has faith in your abilities.
8] A blind person asked St. Anthony: "Can there be anything worse than losing eye
sight?" He replied: "Yes, losing your vision!"
9] When you pray for others, God listens to you and blesses them, and sometimes, when you are safe and happy, remember that someone has prayed for you.
10] Worrying does not take away tomorrow's troubles, it takes away today's PEACE.
Thank you all for inviting me to be your guest speaker. I'm deeply honored.
(a brief silence as Mr. Dancer's words sink into the congregation, and then...)
(applause applause...yayyy, Shadow Dancer....woo wooo woooooo.....)
(Mary-Margaret steps forward to the podium and grasps Shadow's paw in hers)
Thank YOU, Shadow, for giving us all something so profound to think about while we are on....TA DAAAA....OUR ROAD TRIP!! I see you little puppies squirming in your pews. (laughing)
OK, everyone. Grab your sack lunches and your t-shirts. The bus is waiting outside by the Passionate Purple fire hydrant (I shall refrain from abbreviating and calling it the PP Hydrant for obvious reasons...LOL).
It's a fairly short ride. Anyone guess where we're off to today? Hmmmmmmm??
ROME...AND A PRIVATE TOUR OF THE SISTINE CHAPEL.
(gasps...."Oh DOGNESS!"...some cheering...."ARF...ARF...!!"
Once you are seated and safely belted in, click on this link.
THE SISTINE CHAPEL
See you there!
Have a wonderful time!! And you little ones...be sure to hold your parent's tail and bark quietly.
Blessings to all...and remember to BE as you wish OTHERS to be!!
*NOTE: THE SISTINE CHAPEL - VIRTUALLY: It's especially amazing if you have a large, high definition screen. The Chapel has been completely cleared for our visit and you're welcome to stay for as long as you like.
VIEW EVERY PART OF THE MICHAELANGELO'S MASTERPIECE JUST CLICK AND DRAG YOUR ARROW IN THE DIRECTION YOU WISH TO SEE. Up-Down-Right-Left and In the lower left, click on the plus (+) to move closer, on the minus (-) to move away as you wish.
The Choir is thrown in free - keep your volume at a comfortable level.
Mary-Margaret O'Brien
Lt. Chaplain - Yorkie Brigade Chapel
"Yorkie prayers are Angel's wishes!"
"Pups for PPL"
"A dog has lots of friends because he wags his tail and not his tongue." Anonymous
This morning's guest speaker is known by us all. He's from the State of Washington in the Pacific Northwest. His mother is Dee Davis, and his siblings are Kodie Blue and Cherokee Dawn. Shadow and his family are very active in rescue work, and they are truly an inspiration to us all. Shadow himself was once a rescue pup.
Shadow ......Thank you so much for volunteering today. We look forward to hearing
your interpretation of the Ten Commandments as they would apply to our humans.
Everyone...please welcome.......SHADOW DANCER!!!
(clap....clap....yayy...."Shh...Hush now!"...clap...)
(Shadow steps to the microphone and begins to speak)
A Yorkshire Terrier's 10 Commandments for Humans!
Someone has written these beautiful words. We must try to understand the deep meaning of it. They are like the Ten Commandments to follow in life all the time.
1] Prayer is not a "spare wheel" that you pull out when in trouble, but it is a
"steering wheel" that directs the right path throughout.
2] So a Car's WINDSHIELD is so large & the Rear view Mirror is so small? Because our past is not as important as our future. So, Look Ahead and Move on.
3] Friendship is like a BOOK. It takes few seconds to burn, but it takes years to
write.
4] All things in life are temporary. If going well; enjoy it, they will not last
forever. If going wrong; don't worry, they can't last long either.
5] Old Friends are Gold! New Friends are Diamond! If you get a Diamond, don't forget the Gold! Because to hold a Diamond, you always need a Base of Gold!
6] Often when we lose hope and think this is the end, GOD smiles from above and says, "Relax, sweetheart, it's just a bend, not the end!
7] When GOD solves your problems, you have faith in HIS abilities; when GOD doesn't
solve your problems HE has faith in your abilities.
8] A blind person asked St. Anthony: "Can there be anything worse than losing eye
sight?" He replied: "Yes, losing your vision!"
9] When you pray for others, God listens to you and blesses them, and sometimes, when you are safe and happy, remember that someone has prayed for you.
10] Worrying does not take away tomorrow's troubles, it takes away today's PEACE.
Thank you all for inviting me to be your guest speaker. I'm deeply honored.
(a brief silence as Mr. Dancer's words sink into the congregation, and then...)
(applause applause...yayyy, Shadow Dancer....woo wooo woooooo.....)
(Mary-Margaret steps forward to the podium and grasps Shadow's paw in hers)
Thank YOU, Shadow, for giving us all something so profound to think about while we are on....TA DAAAA....OUR ROAD TRIP!! I see you little puppies squirming in your pews. (laughing)
OK, everyone. Grab your sack lunches and your t-shirts. The bus is waiting outside by the Passionate Purple fire hydrant (I shall refrain from abbreviating and calling it the PP Hydrant for obvious reasons...LOL).
It's a fairly short ride. Anyone guess where we're off to today? Hmmmmmmm??
ROME...AND A PRIVATE TOUR OF THE SISTINE CHAPEL.
(gasps...."Oh DOGNESS!"...some cheering...."ARF...ARF...!!"
Once you are seated and safely belted in, click on this link.
THE SISTINE CHAPEL
See you there!
Have a wonderful time!! And you little ones...be sure to hold your parent's tail and bark quietly.
Blessings to all...and remember to BE as you wish OTHERS to be!!
*NOTE: THE SISTINE CHAPEL - VIRTUALLY: It's especially amazing if you have a large, high definition screen. The Chapel has been completely cleared for our visit and you're welcome to stay for as long as you like.
VIEW EVERY PART OF THE MICHAELANGELO'S MASTERPIECE JUST CLICK AND DRAG YOUR ARROW IN THE DIRECTION YOU WISH TO SEE. Up-Down-Right-Left and In the lower left, click on the plus (+) to move closer, on the minus (-) to move away as you wish.
The Choir is thrown in free - keep your volume at a comfortable level.
Mary-Margaret O'Brien
Lt. Chaplain - Yorkie Brigade Chapel
"Yorkie prayers are Angel's wishes!"
"Pups for PPL"
"A dog has lots of friends because he wags his tail and not his tongue." Anonymous
Sunday, April 03, 2011
Miss Dolly - Sunday's Guest Speaker
Goooooooooooooooood morning on the Sunday, April 3rd, 2011. So nice to see you all here today. Our very special speaker today is Dolly, who will be speaking on "A Christmas Gift from the Angels Above" to illustrate her special relationship with God. Please give her a big welcome....
DOLL-YYYYYYYY!!
(clap clap...applause....and then quiet)
(Dolly steps to the pulpit and speaks)
On Christmas Eve morning 2005 my mom was given what proved to be a very sick little doggy. She had to ride with Mom to deliver papers, and during the night she came across six puppy's behind the high school in the parking lot. Figuring they probably belonged at one of the houses, she went on to do her job but as it started to rain turning colder and sleeting, she came back to find them still there barking at her to help them.
As she drove in the lot, two ran away and could not be found but one came running to her, barking and the turning to run off, all the time looking back like she was trying to show her something. Realizing she wasn't a puppy but just a very small dog, Mom followed her to behind a tractor trailer and found me in a ice cold wet cage. She got me and my fur mom in the nice warm car where we found our sister Precious who had already been with Mom all night.
We waited in the warm car while she coaxed Tina,Rosie and Princess into the safety of her arms. My fur mom only lived a few days, though. The vet told mom she had a very bad heart and she had been bred every given chance through all her 14 years of life. She loved mommy a lot but her poor little heart couldn't handle the stress.
While mommy was at the vet she talked with a lady who came home with her and adopted my sister Princess. Princess was also taken to the vet and had a lot of money put into her health care and then wasn't picked up, so one of the workers there adopted Princess for his sister who loves her a lot.
Rosie, who had the same life, went to the bridge a few nights later. Mommy came home after a bad night at work full of thunderstorms just in time to say goodbye to Rosie. Precious made it a couple months while the vets were trying hard to figure out what was wrong with her. Finally the diagnoses was made and surgery was scheduled but the night before surgery she left us, too.
Mommy still cries about loosing them and the awful way she learned about puppy mills and Yorkie dogs but she always calls us a Christmas gift from the angels above and thanks the good Lord for helping her through the tuff times ahead.
Oh yes, My two brothers that Mommy couldn't catch that first night? They were caught later the next day and taken to a vet that adopted them out to Mommy's very best friend.
Thank you, Lord.
Photo of DOLLY - Last October 2010
PS: Mommy helped the police catch the man that had done this to us and 30 other little ones he dumped off all over north Alabama to avoid being caught.
[gasps from the audience and then....]
"Bravo"....."Yayyyyyy"....."Oh boy!"....(applause....and a standing ovation)
(Mary-Margaret steps to the pulpit again and licks Dolly's nose)
Thank you SOOO much for telling us your story, Dolly. I know how shy you were to begin with but I have to say that you are a very excellent story teller.
(MM turns to parishioners)
Isn't she, folks? Let's give Dolly another round of applause.
(clapping....applause....."woooos" from the Siberian Huskies in attendance....some sniffling and tissue passing...more applause)
We all survived April Fool's Day (no thanks to Rick Caran and Jilli Dog...nice one, guys! Telling us that Jilli needed a new home...INDEED!), and now we are only three weeks from Easter Sunday. For those Puppy Parents who plan on assisting the Easter Bunny by leaving hard-boiled eggs around your yard may I suggest that you make a map ahead of time so that you don't get a brightly colored and smelly surprise from one of your puppies later in the year?
Thank you again to Miss Dolly for the beautiful tribute to both her fur mom for her bravery, and to Susan for her loving care and devotion. Next Sunday we welcome Shadow Dancer to the pulpit as he gives us his version of the Ten Commandments.
Another announcement - one of our former parishioners, Miss Isabella, has won FIRST place in her division in her very first show in Las Vegas. Congratulations. We hope this is just the first of many blue ribbons for her kennel wall.
We now ask the Lord to bless both our fallen sister, Lacey, and her bereaved mother, Vickie. As most of you already know, Lacey ran into the street before her mom could put her leash on. Despite being a brave little fighter, God chose to take her home with him yesterday. Let us have a moment of silence as we communicate with the Lord on their behalf.
(silence.....more silence...and Mary-Margaret speaks again)
Amen!
Now, let us turn to each other and wag our tails as a show of love, friendship and always compassion for our litter mates in God.
"Lord make us an instrument of thy peace!", and please help us always be as we wish others to be.
Kibble-cake and water in the Chez de le Chien...and.....
(Pups and parents already noisily heading out the door for refreshments and so Mary-Margaret sighs....and says....)
Blessings to all in the upcoming week.
Mary-Margaret O'Brien
Lt. Chaplain - Yorkie Brigade Chapel
"Yorkie prayers are Angel's wishes!"
"Pups for PPL"
"A dog has lots of friends because he wags his tail and not his tongue." Anonymous
DOLL-YYYYYYYY!!
(clap clap...applause....and then quiet)
(Dolly steps to the pulpit and speaks)
On Christmas Eve morning 2005 my mom was given what proved to be a very sick little doggy. She had to ride with Mom to deliver papers, and during the night she came across six puppy's behind the high school in the parking lot. Figuring they probably belonged at one of the houses, she went on to do her job but as it started to rain turning colder and sleeting, she came back to find them still there barking at her to help them.
As she drove in the lot, two ran away and could not be found but one came running to her, barking and the turning to run off, all the time looking back like she was trying to show her something. Realizing she wasn't a puppy but just a very small dog, Mom followed her to behind a tractor trailer and found me in a ice cold wet cage. She got me and my fur mom in the nice warm car where we found our sister Precious who had already been with Mom all night.
We waited in the warm car while she coaxed Tina,Rosie and Princess into the safety of her arms. My fur mom only lived a few days, though. The vet told mom she had a very bad heart and she had been bred every given chance through all her 14 years of life. She loved mommy a lot but her poor little heart couldn't handle the stress.
While mommy was at the vet she talked with a lady who came home with her and adopted my sister Princess. Princess was also taken to the vet and had a lot of money put into her health care and then wasn't picked up, so one of the workers there adopted Princess for his sister who loves her a lot.
Rosie, who had the same life, went to the bridge a few nights later. Mommy came home after a bad night at work full of thunderstorms just in time to say goodbye to Rosie. Precious made it a couple months while the vets were trying hard to figure out what was wrong with her. Finally the diagnoses was made and surgery was scheduled but the night before surgery she left us, too.
Mommy still cries about loosing them and the awful way she learned about puppy mills and Yorkie dogs but she always calls us a Christmas gift from the angels above and thanks the good Lord for helping her through the tuff times ahead.
Oh yes, My two brothers that Mommy couldn't catch that first night? They were caught later the next day and taken to a vet that adopted them out to Mommy's very best friend.
Thank you, Lord.
Photo of DOLLY - Last October 2010PS: Mommy helped the police catch the man that had done this to us and 30 other little ones he dumped off all over north Alabama to avoid being caught.
[gasps from the audience and then....]
"Bravo"....."Yayyyyyy"....."Oh boy!"....(applause....and a standing ovation)
(Mary-Margaret steps to the pulpit again and licks Dolly's nose)
Thank you SOOO much for telling us your story, Dolly. I know how shy you were to begin with but I have to say that you are a very excellent story teller.
(MM turns to parishioners)
Isn't she, folks? Let's give Dolly another round of applause.
(clapping....applause....."woooos" from the Siberian Huskies in attendance....some sniffling and tissue passing...more applause)
We all survived April Fool's Day (no thanks to Rick Caran and Jilli Dog...nice one, guys! Telling us that Jilli needed a new home...INDEED!), and now we are only three weeks from Easter Sunday. For those Puppy Parents who plan on assisting the Easter Bunny by leaving hard-boiled eggs around your yard may I suggest that you make a map ahead of time so that you don't get a brightly colored and smelly surprise from one of your puppies later in the year?
Thank you again to Miss Dolly for the beautiful tribute to both her fur mom for her bravery, and to Susan for her loving care and devotion. Next Sunday we welcome Shadow Dancer to the pulpit as he gives us his version of the Ten Commandments.
Another announcement - one of our former parishioners, Miss Isabella, has won FIRST place in her division in her very first show in Las Vegas. Congratulations. We hope this is just the first of many blue ribbons for her kennel wall.
We now ask the Lord to bless both our fallen sister, Lacey, and her bereaved mother, Vickie. As most of you already know, Lacey ran into the street before her mom could put her leash on. Despite being a brave little fighter, God chose to take her home with him yesterday. Let us have a moment of silence as we communicate with the Lord on their behalf.
(silence.....more silence...and Mary-Margaret speaks again)
Amen!
Now, let us turn to each other and wag our tails as a show of love, friendship and always compassion for our litter mates in God.
"Lord make us an instrument of thy peace!", and please help us always be as we wish others to be.
Kibble-cake and water in the Chez de le Chien...and.....
(Pups and parents already noisily heading out the door for refreshments and so Mary-Margaret sighs....and says....)
Blessings to all in the upcoming week.
Mary-Margaret O'Brien
Lt. Chaplain - Yorkie Brigade Chapel
"Yorkie prayers are Angel's wishes!"
"Pups for PPL"
"A dog has lots of friends because he wags his tail and not his tongue." Anonymous
Saturday, April 02, 2011
Lazy Saturday!
Here's me dictating my Sunday sermon to Mom. Actually, my very good friend Dolly will be our guest speaker so all I have to do is the introduction and the ending. Pretty cushy job this week, huh? Next week Shadow Dancer will be speaking so same thing again. I sure love having guest speakers. I think Mom does, too.
You might notice my eyes are a bit glassy. I have allergies and I just got some medicine put into my eyeballs. Gross and disgusting, but I feel better after.
Mom had a bad reaction to something she ate for lunch. You REALLY don't want me to go into the particulars. Suffice to say she's really being careful about what she's eating tonight. Her ankles are still sore and swollen, but better than they were. All in all, we'll just say we both had a "crappy" day (pardon the pun).
Sooo....tomorrow we'll go to the post office and our main office and pick up the mail. We'll probably do up a report and maybe audit last month's billing. We check everything before, during and after we bill because we absolutely HATE making mistakes. It's my job as Vice President of Public Relations to keep our customers happy.
Time for supper....
See you in chapel!
Love,
Mary-Margaret
Thursday, March 31, 2011
Riverside County Process Server
That would be my employer, Rancho Attorney Service of California, otherwise known as "RASCAL, Your Friendly Neighborhood Process Server". I've been working here since I was NINE weeks old. I'm now five and a half. I am the official receptionist and Vice President of Public Relations.
If you're looking for a Temecula Process Server or a Murrieta Process Server, or for one that works in those areas, please visit our website at Rancho Attorney Service. We're in the office Monday through Friday from 9:00AM until 4:00PM unless we're on an errand.
Should you call us at 951-693-0165 and get our voice mail, press 03 (that's zero three) during the message and you'll be connected to us immediately. We're on the job but probably just out for the moment.
(NOTE: If you're calling from New York, please remember that we're three hours behind you before you dial our number!)
See you later....
Mary-Margaret O'Brien
Vice President
Public Relations
Wednesday, March 30, 2011
BOR-ing!!!
It's that time of year. Around tax time it always gets sort of slow. Mom figured it out that if a month is divisible by 4, it's a slow month. April = tax time; August = vacations; December = Christmas and Hanukkah. ALWAYS the same. Never fails.
So we did a little of this...a little of that. I even got to go on a long walk but I was so distracted I forgot why I went on the walk in the first place. It's ok. I can hold it for a long time. I've got a big tank!
So...we're home and Mom's got a stuffed pork chop in the oven. She's never made one before so she's guessing on how long to bake it for. 325° for an hour? We'll let you know. If that doesn't work I'll share my chicken with her. I have plenty.
Love you guys....
Mary-Margaret
(PS added 4/1/11 - FYI, I played it safe and had my usual chicken and kibble. But for the stuffed pork chop? 325° for 50 minutes worked really well. Next time, though, we'll have applesauce with it!!)
So we did a little of this...a little of that. I even got to go on a long walk but I was so distracted I forgot why I went on the walk in the first place. It's ok. I can hold it for a long time. I've got a big tank!
So...we're home and Mom's got a stuffed pork chop in the oven. She's never made one before so she's guessing on how long to bake it for. 325° for an hour? We'll let you know. If that doesn't work I'll share my chicken with her. I have plenty.
Love you guys....
Mary-Margaret
(PS added 4/1/11 - FYI, I played it safe and had my usual chicken and kibble. But for the stuffed pork chop? 325° for 50 minutes worked really well. Next time, though, we'll have applesauce with it!!)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
