Happy Birthday, Moses!

In the first year of my life, lots of amazing things have happened, just a few of them are worth setting down for biographical posterity!
Let's see now, I think we'll start with those things which I wish had been mastered, and yet look forward to this coming year when they will be, for sure:
1. Swimming. I'm not 100% sure that this is an enjoyable passtime. Last year the river was so high and raging from all the rain, that it took all my courage to follow Sadie in to retrieve various sticks, and each time I ventured forth, my life (short, as it was) flashed before me. Mama Sally tried her level best to convince me that this was what I was supposed to love by going in with all her clothes on, but the resulting image was so alarming, that all of my worst fears were confirmed, and I ran from the river with my tail firmly tucked!
2. Come! Yes, well, there's a very good reason why this command hasn't yet been mastered. First of all, when I was little, we went to Obedience School. I loved it! I made lots of friends and was rewarded with delicious bits of something or other every time I did whatever it was that was asked of me. Later, we'd practice, and again the treats were forth-coming. Now, when I Sit!, Stay!, or Come!, okay, there's a pat on the head, or a 'Good boy!', but hey, where are the treats? I mean! So now, when Mama Sally calls me, I look at her and then sit down! I'm trying to teach her to remember the treats, and I believe she is beginning to understand! Boys, some humans are really hard to train!
Let's look at some things that have transpired in this first year: some good, some not so good (apparently!):
1. I'm a great retriever.
2. I like to nose around in the waste-paper baskets.
3. My favourite things to chew are loo-paper holders, gloves, socks, fat-wood, and paper towels with bacon drippings on them.
4. I do have a basket full of toys. These keep me occupied when the above aren't around.
5. I just adore to eat Sadie's poos! Mama Sally says O God and walks away, but Papa runs at me screaming, which only makes the game more fun! Sometimes, I'll run away, and he thinks he's fixed it, but then I sneak back and get the rest when he's far away!
6. It rarely happens, but when Mama Sally is sick, Sadie and I are allowed to lie on the bed and make her feel better. We get lots of treats during these times.
7. Sometimes, Sadie and I get to go to the Oasis Pet Resort and Spa. We get to play with lots of friends and get our pedicures, groomings and shampooings done. We like to spend a little time here, yet sometimes, we've had to stay a bit too long, and we miss our walks in the woods.
8. A rare treat is when Cooper and Cabot come to visit. They're urbanites and live in Burlington, but you'd never know it. They fall right into place up here in the Northeast Kingdom, especially when Cabot wears his orange collar!
All in all, it's been a pretty fantastic first year, and I think I shall go outside and chase a red squirrel to celebrate birthday #1!

A Lullaby For Sapphie

Lulla, lulla, lulla, lulla-bysie,

Do you want the moon to play with?

Or the stars to run away with?

They will come if you don't cry.

Lulla, lulla, lulla, lulla-bysie,

In Mama's arms a-keeping,

And soon you'll be a-sleeping,

Sing lulla, lulla, lulla, lulla-by.

Two Weeks Old!

Sapphie my little one! My own and my dear!

Today is your birthday! Two weeks, to be clear!

I wish we could snuggle, I wish we were near,

To celebrate this milestone in your very first year!

Feeding Our Furry and Feathered Friends

We are extraordinary! Human beings, that is. Case in point: there is a multi-billion dollar business out there, which creates contraptions which prevent squirrels from raiding the bird-feeders. Poor little things! Thank goodness that in the Book of Genesis, the Almighty didn't tell us to "have dominion over all that creepeth on the earth, and make sure those pesky squirrels don't steal the sunflower hearts!" In response to the growing need for a separate squirrel feeding station, where none could possibly be accused of 'stealing' anybody's hearts, my beloved husband has spent a large portion of his annual income on setting up such a place. First of all, he had to make sure that this sanctuary, for so it is, was in close proximity to the red squirrels' winter establishment: the rock wall in our back garden. He hauled in a huge stump on which to plonk the block of 'squirrel candy': at $24.95, quite the deal! The next step was to attach to the huge pine tree the greatly 'engaging' Squirrel Spinner, which, he was assured, would capture the squirrels' attention in their relentless pursuit of corn on the cob for heaven's sake! All for the very affordable price of $47.95! Now for the chefs d'oeuvre! A rust-resistant/weather-resistant/bird-resistant little house, the roof of which is raised by the hungry squirrels in order to retrieve the tasty snack inside. To further enhance his purchase, he opted for the bargain kit of house and 5lb. of this tasty snack for the amazing price of $52.95!! It took the squirrels a few weeks to get the picture, but O the joy when we watched squirrel #1 raise the roof of the snack shack, to be followed a few days later by his cousin having a twirl on the corn-spinner! Last week a family of 9 wild turkeys, a Tom and his 8 wives, discovered the block of candied corn on the stump! What a sight for sore eyes. They were later joined by a pileated woodpecker, who was tired of looking for slumbering bugs. For the vastly extravagant amount of $125.85 we have, in our backyard, entertainment of the finest kind. We still feed the birds, but I'm so pleased that there is no sign warning: NO SQUIRRELS ALLOWED!

Sapphire Elizabeth Kouri

This is the whole reason for living...

Where Have All The Bloggers Gone...?

Where have all the bloggers gone?
Long time passing.
Where have all the bloggers gone?
Long time ago.
Where have all the bloggers gone?
Gone to sle-ep every one.
When will they ever learn?
When will they e-ver learn?

Hey, you guys! Wake up! It's snowing like billy-o, Emi's about to produce, Soe and Colin are engaged, Kevin saved a couple of folk from their blazing home, Papa's been on Fox News oh my word, and Christmas is coming and the geese are getting fat! Please put a penny in the old man's hat. If you haven't got a penny, a ha'penny will do. If you haven't got a ha'penny, God bless you! For all you fine folk looking for a little prosperity in the new year, the Figgy pudding will be stirred on Monday...yes, I know it's 2 months late, but I'll compensate with an extra glug or two! We surely will miss the Banana this year. Now I know how my parents must have felt when I came to America in 1968. (Or maybe they raised the flag and had a huge celebration!)

MERRY CHRISTMAS

and

GOD BLESS US ALL, EVERY ONE!

Advent

Advent refers to the 'coming' or 'arrival' of something or someone. Typically, we think of the birth of the Messiah, Who is Jesus, the Christ. This is one of my favourite times of the year, a time of expectation, of secrets, of staying up all night, creating, wrapping up those secrets. It is a time of greenery and tradition, making memories. I love the fact that Soe has her Ornament Making Party every year, reminding us of school days when school chums used to come to the house to make exquisite ornaments. My very favourite one was a tiny Christmas fairy, the details of which were extraordinary, and to whose front had been glued two beads of enormous proportion! (All modestly hidden under her paper dress!) One of the puppies, however, made short work of enjoying her for an Advent snack! This is the time when Christmas puddings are made, using the very best ingredients, and being careful not to be stingy with the orange brandy! Tradition tells us that all who stir the Christmas Pud will enjoy prosperity in the coming year! This would be the year, then, to come on over to my house on the Pudding Making Day, to put all your financial fears to rest!
This year is no exception to that presence of expectancy: somehow, there's a magic hush in the air. We are all anticipating the imminent birth of Emi and Kevin's first child, a miracle in the making! We're holding our breath, savouring each moment of each day. As a mother, I'm quietly following Emi's progression, and remembering...it truly is a miracle, with the birth of each new child.
Another memory is in the making: we, along with some of the family, shall all gather at Soe and Colin's new house to celebrate Christmas together. Sadly, Hannah will be unable to join us this year. Lucy and John shall come and join us, and maybe Baby Kouri will be here by then! Jerry and MariaLuisa may come too. What a time we'll all have! This is our first year without any parents/grandparents, so it'll be such a good thing to be together, to remember, to encourage.
Our little tree in the woods looks so beautiful, it seems to be heralding in this wonderful time of Advent, this time of mysteries and excitement..."How silently, how silently, the wondrous gift is given!"