Happy One Month Adoption Anniversary

Hard to believe that we adopted Max 4 weeks ago today from the no kill private cat and dog shelter.Seems like we have had him longer than that.It also seems like he has grown quite a bit in the month that we have had him.

Max has adjusted so well.He has really taken to me so I guess you would say that he is my dog:)

He takes Ken in stride.Don't know what it is but it is taken awhile for Max to warm up to Ken and he was suppose to be Ken's dog! He adores our grandson so we are thinking that maybe a grown man had mistreated him.Another theory is that the owner of the shelter is a female so maybe he might just be more fond of adult females and not adult males.

Max loves to run in the back pen.He allows Ken to play with him there but once we are back inside Max once again fears Ken.I have never seen a dog run and jump like Max does.He is very fast and loves the exercise.He seems to be a very happy dog and has come a long way in the past month:)

Happy one month anniversary Max.We love having you become a member of our family!

Annual Model Train Show

Today was the annual model train show that our grandson Jeremy looks forward to every year.He loves watching the trains go around and around and around.

I took this picture of a circus scene.I love how the flag is flying from a fire truck.It's so much fun just looking at of the little details.

A lot of work goes into putting this show together.We noticed that there were a lot more train displays this year compared to the last couple of years.

Fun Times with puppy Max

We have had Max two weeks now.He is slowly getting adjusted to our home.This picture was taken Saturday morning after we had some snow overnight.Most of it had melted thanks to the sun.I believe we had about an inch of snow which was our first snowfall of the season.

What joy it is to have a puppy when Daylight Savings Times ends...NOT.Max is still on Daylight Savings Time but hubby Ken and I aren't.Max wakes up at his usual time which is an hour earlier now thanks to turning the clocks back.Needless to say we have been losing an hour of sleep the last two nights.Guess it would make things simpler if we went to bed an hour earlier but we want Max to get adjusted to the time change.Until he does I guess we will be getting less sleep.

Max has thrown a few challenges our way.He was suppose to be a dog for my hubby Ken and grandson Jeremy.Well Max has taken a liking to me and seems to be my dog.I have to walk him during the day.Hopefully he will take a liking to Ken soon so that he can do some of the walking too.I don't mind walking Max but he is rather strong and can really pull on the leash at times.

I walk Max to the fenced in area at the back of our yard to run around and do his business.He loves to run and hop and can move rather fast.Ken was playing with him and I was suppose to be watching the open area where we take Max into the fenced area.The gate is broken so one of us stands there.I was standing there watching them play and Max ran right past me! I was dumbfounded that he would do that.He was running loose in the part of the yard that wasn't fenced in.I called for him and he came right back to me and ran into the fenced in area.Wow we were quite pleased with his response.

Our dog Bub who died last June would try to escape the fenced area then run through the neighborhood.We would have to chase him down.Glad Max hasn't gotten that brave yet:)

BE THANKFUL

This is a view of the viaduct on the Blue Ridge Parkway.The parkway is celebrating it's 75th anniversary this year.We traveled a good portion of the parkway a few years ago.We loved the slow paced drive and lovely views.

Be Thankful
Be thankful that you don't already have everything you desire.If you did, what would there be to look forward to?Be thankful when you don't know everything,for it gives you the opportunity to learn.Be thankful for the difficult times.During those times you grow.Be thankful for your limitations,because they give you opportunities for improvement.Be thankful for each new challengebecause it will build your strength and character.Be thankful for your mistakes.They will teach you valuable lessons.Be thankful when you're tired and weary,because it means you've made a difference.
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Happy Halloween 2010

Happy Halloween.Grandson Jeremy and I carved this pumpkin Friday evening.This was a first for me.It is hard for me to believe that I had never carved a pumpkin before.I might have done it when our daughters were young but I honestly don't remember doing it.

Jeremy had his heart set on carving a pumpkin this year.He and I enjoyed this special activity together and will be making it an annual tradition.

I was noticing in the picture how the pumpkin looks opaque.Funny how the light shines right through the back of it and you can see the brick wall through the jack o lanterns smile.

I went with our daughter and one of her friends along with a nice group of children Trick or Treating last night.It was nice going as a bigger group this year.Grandson Jeremy was the first to complain of being tired so I headed back to his house with him a little early.He doesn't have this drive to get candy like most children do.He has never really had a fondness for candy until this year.His favorite candy is Reeses Peanut Butter Cups.Our granddaughter will eat any and all candy.Wonder how she stays so tiny?

Have a safe and Happy Halloween everyone:)

Happy Birthday Granddaughter Mariah

Yesterday was granddaughter Mariah's 6th birthday.Here she is beside her cute Cinderella Ice Cream cake.She was born 6 years ago on a Saturday which fell the day before Halloween like this year.

It was a busy day.After her party she and her big brother Jeremy had to get ready for Trick or Treating.Here in our small town rural area they decided to hold Trick or Treating on Saturday evening which really works out better for everyone.

Our daughter and family live in a neighborhood that gets lots of Trick or Treaters.Since we live on a hill we may get only a few trick or treaters so we buy candy and take it to our daughter's house.That way they have plenty of candy to give out.

The hours for trick or treating were from 6-8.It was still daylight out when we started at 6.Grandson Jeremy got tired a little early so I headed back to their house with him.His daddy had stayed at the house to give out the candy.His mommy and one of her friends continued on with younger sister Mariah and the friends children.

I remember way back when I was a child how we didn't go out trick or treating till it got dark which was around 6:30 or 7.We were allowed to stay out till around 8:30.We couldn't wait till it got dark to get out and trick or treat for candy.One house gave us a banana every year.

One thing in our grandchildrens' trick or treat bags that I thought was rather odd was a piece of political mail.There are some hotly contested races in our area so I am figuring that this household wanted to get their candidate's message out.I honestly think that trick or treat bags is not the place for promoting your political candidate.

Our New Dog Max

This past Sunday October 24th 2010 we adopted Max from a no kill shelter.He is a black Labrador retriever mix.He has some white on him too.

It is taking awhile for Max to get adjusted to us.He was suppose to be a dog for my husband but Max has taken a liking to me.We are thinking that is due to the fact that the owner of the shelter where we adopted him is a woman.

Max is a sweet quiet dog.He sleeps through the night just fine.We haven't heard any whining from him.He's about a year old and has been neutered.We wanted a dog around a year old so that we wouldn't have to go through the puppy stage.

We adopted our dog Bub from a different animal shelter.He was a year old when we adopted him and lived to be 12 1/2.Bub passed over The RAINBOW BRIDGE this past June.He has really been missed.