Stanford: Keep Knocking At The Gate WOOF! WOOF!

Maggie's pawsability thought for the day:

"Perseverance is a great element of success. If you only knock long enough and loud enough at the gate, you are sure to wake up somebody."

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

GO STANFORD

  Today is a big day. At 5:00 pm PST Maggie's Stanford football team plays UCLA football for the Pac-12 Championship. The game is held here at the Stanford Stadium. Maggie has been a big supporter of the team all season. She's donned her Stanford scarf, shouted out WOOF, WOOF's to cheer her home team on. Our typical sunny weather is overshadowed by dark and rainy weather this morning. But, one never knows in California, the weather could clear up later today. If not, then our team will be sloshing through the raindrops to forge ahead and get that Pac-12 Championship win. Maggie's sibling will be at the game. She'll send us live updates from the field. If our Stanford team wins, then it is on to the Rose Bowl on January 1, 2013! Maggie likes flowers. She's all about smelling roses of success. One thing we do know is Maggie's home team has fought long and hard knocking at the gate of success. We are really proud of them and all that they have achieved. Stanford football players have shown humility and team spirit. Maggie and I are a team. We know, like the Stanford football team knows, that there is no "I" in teamwork. Keep knocking Stanford football! 

WOOF! WOOF! GO STANFORD!

Meanwhile, Maggie will try and relax until game time.... no easy feat. 

UPDATE! After raining all day and at the game, it finally rained roses in Palo Alto! Perseverance paid off. The door was open. Pac-12 Champions! Stanford is going to the Rose Bowl on January 1, 2013!

Maggie Dreams of Sugar Plum Fairies

Maggie's pawsability thought for the day:

"A good conscience is a continual Christmas."

Benjamin Franklin

  Daytime. Maggie was all snuggled in her cozy bed beneath the Christmas tree. The rain storm had caused a very dark sky. I turned on the Christmas tree lights. Suddenly, the sun peeked through the darkness illuminating Maggie. She lay sleeping looking like she was dreaming of sugar plum fairies. Yes, it is that time of year. I remember very well taking my girls to see the Nutcracker in San Francisco. My girls loved meeting with the ballerinas afterwards both Nutcrackers and Sugar Plum Fairies. Seeing Maggie lay there beneath the tree brought back memories of when my children were young. Our tree would be filled to the brim with many, many presents, in addition to the Christmas Eve drop off from Santa. Now that they're grown we think of other gifts like "adopting" in name only a wild animal, donating to a food bank, or a favorite charity or maybe just praying for someone else's needs. These kind of presents don't take up much space beneath our tree, but fill a huge void for the animal or person receiving the gifts. I am glad I raised children with a good conscience to keep the Christmas spirit alive. Maggie is all about giving. She gives her heart and soul to all in order to bring them joy. In return, she receives back a bounty of pleasure allowing her in good conscience to sleep and dream of beautiful sugar plum fairies. The Christmas spirit continues on in our home.

Maggie's Day: The Little Things of The Five W's

Maggie's pawsability thought for the day:

"It has long been an axiom of mine that the little things are infinitely the most important."

Arthur Conan Doyle

Timmy on Tui (Maggie's pals)

  Sherlock Holmes always noticed the little things like the Five W's (who, what, when, where, why and how). These little things helped the famous detective solve the great mysteries of his whodunit cases. Maggie loves watching and absorbing every little part of her day too. Her typical pattern starts with early morning turtle watching while she lays on her favorite towel and listens to soothing jazz music. It's quiet, the lights are low and she has time to reflect and collect herself for the day. No mystery here, just relaxation.

bird watching

Maggie does have a new best thing to to do; bird watching. When the little bird hits the bird feeder Maggie leaps up and heads for the garden window to get a closer view. In her mind she seems to ask the question "Who is it?"

She might give me an earnest look or two....while I talk to her about not scaring the little birds away. Her look begs "Why not?"

Then too, Maggie's convincing moments she has to go outside can get interesting when I know she's just trying to sneak a little leaf or two indoors. I ask her "What are you doing?"

Incognito leaf? 

My, my Maggie your mouth is looking a little horizontal! How is that possible?

 The evidence Dr. Watson! I know where that leaf came from.

After a day spent filled with the little things that bring Maggie pleasure, the best part seems to be when she can spend a little time hugging her sibling real close. She gazes into her sibling's eyes and says I LOVE YOU.

Maggie rest her case: all 50 lbs. of dead weight

Mystery solved, indeed it is the little things that are the most important.

 

The Tribe Has Spoken: Junco Wins Immunity!

Maggie's pawsability thought for the day:

"For me, the vast marvel is to be alive. For man, or flowers or beast or bird, the supreme triumph is to be most vividly and perfectly alive."

Al Purdy

Male, Dark-eyed Junco "Oregon"

  A few weeks ago Maggie and I were trying to identify a mysterious blue bird's nest in our yard. We wrote about it in our posting The Elusive And Mysterious Two Birds Blue. Yesterday we discovered it was a Stellar's Jay! Maggie and I finally were able to see its crown and body a little closer up. It was because of our curiosity on Google that we stumbled upon the ProjectFeederWatch. This project counts birds that feed at one's bird feeder during the winter months (November-April). We purchased a bird feeder, filled it with some good wild bird seed and waited. The Dark-eyed Junco "Oregon" bird (male) was the first to come try it out. He brought along a buddy. Yeah, two birds! We continued to watch our feeder before officially counting to get an idea how often do birds come to a bird feeder? Maggie would see the bird(s) at the feeder from the living room. She'd stroll over and look through the floor length window at the birds. We started taking photos. Little did we know that our favorite television show Survivor would play out in our yard! The competition for immunity took place at the bird feeder. First, two Purple finches or Cassin's Finches arrived at the bird feeder (we are still working on our bird identification skills). We were thrilled! I was going to take their photos, but before I could go click, the Junco darted out of nowhere, gave them a screech and scared them away. He looked pretty smug on that landing.

I said to Maggie "We are a tribe." We had to announce him as the winner in the bird feeder immunity challenge- that we didn't know we were holding. JUNCO WINS IMMUNITY! The tribe has spoken..... Junco flew the scene of the immunity challenge supremely triumphant. 

Wrapped Around The Christmas Tree

Maggie's pawsability thought for the day:

"The best of all gifts around any Christmas tree: the presence of a happy family all wrapped up in each other."

Burton Hillis

Christmas past

  Our Christmas tree is up. Maggie and I are ready for the holiday visitors that will start arriving in the month of December. Before this Christmas happens we pay homage to those from previous Christmas seasons. When we brought down the Christmas decorations we found a couple of photos in the pocket of one of my daughter's old swim team parkas. In the two photos were our dog Scotty (Maltese) and a photo of one of Maggie's human siblings at Middle School age. She had our dog Scotty in her arms. Scotty has long since passed and is running up in Heaven with his buddy Annie (our Yorkie). It brought back memories of Christmas past. We say thanks to Christmas' past like in Bob Hope's famous song Thanks For The Memory. This year is Maggie's 2nd Christmas. She's more grown up this year, but her youthful sparkle is still ignited. Over our Thanksgiving holiday we had visitors. Maggie was thrilled. It meant more people to play with her or for her to play with them. Also on her mind were the food goodies perhaps accidentally dropped beneath the dining room table. Maggie is like a four pawed vacuum. Thanks Maggie! Over the holiday Maggie watched the Macy's Thanksgiving parade, football and more football.

The biggest treat for Maggie was our sleepy little visitor that came to play. I do believe Maggie thought she was just for Maggie-her own personal fun buddy. That's a whole other story about their playful adventures together. Mostly, it was fun having our little toddler in front of the tree next to Maggie's cozy bed. Maggie attentively followed her around and provided her with lots of giggle material. 

After all the excitement of laughter and joy the Thanksgiving holiday brought us, it was over. It was then back to the quiet zone of just zany Maggie providing the laughter. Maggie missed her toddler play pal. She searched the house looking for the little munchkin sniffing here and there wondering where she went. Maggie and I think it was very nice having our happy family wrapped around our Christmas tree. It was the best gift before Christmas.

Hurry back!

MaggieMoose: Black Friday, I'll Sleep, You Shop

Maggie's pawsability thought for the day: 

"Once again we find ourselves enmeshed in the Holiday Season, that very special time of year when we join with our loved ones in sharing centuries-old traditions such as trying to find a parking space at the mall. We traditionally do this in my family by driving around the parking lot until we see a shopper emerge from the mall, then we follow her, in very much the same spirit as the Three Wise Men, who 2,000 years ago followed a star, week after week, until it led them to a parking space."

Dave Barry

Black Friday shopping road trip

  My daughter Julie and I decided to go to JC Penny's for Black Friday. We blame the Ellen DeGeneres Show. Ellen said there were little buttons for big gifts! It is a "Merry Christmas America" from JCP. We wanted the buttons! I discussed it with Maggie, but she kept falling asleep. Maggie eventually vetoed the idea, but gave me the green light to proceed without her. No Bow Wow Friday for her (Black Friday in dog speak). Maggie wanted to work on her beauty rest. After all, the relatives are coming over later. She wanted to look her absolute best. 

Shop on, I'll sleep.

I left the house without Maggie. It was black outside like the color on the JC Penny's Black Friday ad. Julie and I were on our way. The parking angels were with us. BAM! We had a parking spot as soon as we entered. We stood in line with the rest of humanity waiting for the doors to open at 6:00 am. We tweeted about our JC Penny's shopping trip. The temperature outside was 40F .

Julie in line.

The doors opened and we were in! We picked out some shopping goodies and we headed to the counters. Julie got a reindeer button (nature girl). I got a Santa button (love Santa). 

Julie and her reindeer button

We shopped some more. I had one melancholy moment wishing Julie's twin sister Christy was with us, but she's out of state. Miss you Christy! Back to shopping, we each received another button. An elf for Julie and black coal for me. Black coal? Really? What the heck Santa, I've been good! We were done shopping. Both of us hungry and tired. We drove home as we watched the sunrise. On the hill were two horses grazing, but the sun in the sunrise obscured their images. It was a beautiful way to wrap up our Black Friday blitz.

sunrise on the way home

When I arrived back home Maggie was still sleeping. The sun was shining. She was a happy camper I was back home. I showed her my buttons from JC Penny's. I went online and checked the numbers on my buttons. I didn't win anything. The coal button I could understand no gift, but the Santa button? What the heck? Only kidding. HO HO

My buttons

Maybe I'm like Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz? I never really needed to leave home. I have everything here. I'm counting my blessings. On my Black Friday road trip I got to spend time with my wonderful daughter Julie, and I was welcomed home with lots of hugs and kisses from my sweet MaggieMoose! 

Maggie's wanting me to give her more kisses!

Happy Holidays JC Penny's, you have quality merchandise, great prices, but most of all excellent customer service. 

For the Ellen DeGeneres Show- It's OK I didn't win anything. 

I love my cute Holiday buttons!

MaggieMoose's Turkey Sunshine: Gobble Gobble

Maggie's pawsability thought for the day:

“As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them.”

John Fitzgerald Kennedy

Eat pork!

  Today is the Thanksgiving Day holiday in America. The turkey takes front and center in our lives at dinnertime. Yum; mashed potatoes, gravy, stuffing, turkey, and pumpkin pie. Maggie has a turkey she'd like to sink her teeth into. It's our plush Thanksgiving turkey that says "Eat pork!" or "Gooble Gooble" like a real turkey's sound. Maggie is grateful her orange ball was returned to her too. It's been lost under the couch since last Christmas. She gives thanks to Julie & Patrick for helping get it back to her. WOOF! WOOF! The second item Maggie is grateful for is the plush talking turkey. This turkey was never Maggie's, but when she saw it she immediately opened her mouth wide to take it from me. She thought it was hers. Sorry Maggie, it's not safe for you. I put our talking turkey up on the piano out of harms way. We'll get to the real turkey meat later. I am grateful for my daughter Julie's help going through holiday stuff and more. While we rummaged through our holiday things we also cleared out many things for "give away" to others. In our house we are so grateful for our family, our friends, good health, and me personally-lots of laughs with a MaggieMoose around. Grateful, grateful, grateful. Maggie is grateful too. She decided to park her cozy bed right in front of the Christmas tree. I bet she's planning to give thanks to the jolly man in the red suit come Christmas eve. I can see her saying in Woof-Woof-ese: What's in the big, black bag? Any balls? Meanwhile, I see Maggie's getting her football out. How did she know the Thanksgiving Day football games are on today? Oh Maggie (chuckle, chuckle), let's watch the Macy's Thanksgiving Day floats first. WOOF! WOOF! Happy Thanksgiving Day to Christy & Ryan in  New York City!

Happy Thanksgiving friends!

MaggieMoose's kind of Thanksgiving (orange ball is where it belongs).

MaggieMoose: Dog SUPER MODEL

Maggie's pawsability thought for the day:

"Beauty has a lot to do with character."

Kevyn Aucoin

MaggieMoose: dog super model

  Maggie takes her photos seriously. She willingly poses for me. She will hold a pose for the longest time. I can tell she loves it. It's the twinkle in her eyes that gives it away. She loves the act of acting like a dog super model. I think she takes pride in her work. Well, she is from America's heartland where hard work, integrity and pride of one's work is valued. Maybe it's in her English Springer Spaniel roots. She's just a country girl at heart that rolls up her sleeves and gets it done. Yesterday thanks to the rain the fresh green grass was so beautiful. I wanted Maggie to sit and pose in front of it to show off her beautiful coat contrasting the green. She sat and posed for me as I started taking her photos. Then I notice that her lip on her right side was eschew. Her smile wasn't symmetrical. I didn't care. I kept taking photos. Later when I reviewed the photos I noticed that Maggie noticed her lip was out of place. Beauty really does have to do with character. What a character my Maggie is!

First she aligns the left side.

Then she corrects her right side.

Finally, all is well-perfectly posed.

She held this pose and didn't move a muscle! 

I guess she was happy with this look!

Bow Wow Friday

Maggie's pawsability thought for the day:

"Once again, we come to the Holiday Season, a deeply religious time that each of us observes, in his own way, by going to the mall of his choice."

Dave Barry

Maggie's choice

  It's almost turkey day. That's Thanksgiving day in America. It is this Thursday, November 22nd. Maggie and I have heard the term Black Friday on the internet, television and radio over and over again. As most know this day is the day after Thanksgiving. Retail shoppers rise early and get the best shopping deals for the Holiday season. Maggie decided to call this special shopping day Bow Wow Friday. Maggie and I are always get up early. We could shop. In fact, I found the perfect place for Maggie. It's called BowWowzer in Los Gatos, CA. Fresh water bowls are throughout the store. I'm not so sure this store will be up early the day after Thanksgiving, but if they were open there's plenty of goodies for Maggie. Dog clothes and other dry goods don't have much pull for her, but food goodies do. There's a whole biscuit & cookie section I think I heard call Maggie's name. If Maggie convinces me to go shopping at the crack of dawn on her Bow Wow Friday her list is written. I am to get bone shape biscuits, football shaped cookies (her Stanford college football game is this Saturday) and anything else I might think she'd like to munch on. Rawhide chews? 

Woof Woof

Eureka! Organic Street Art

Maggie's pawsability thought for the day:

"The purpose of art is washing the dust of daily life off of our souls."

Pablo Picasso

Maggie's fully focused look

  This weekend when we walked the rain filled mornings we came across some street art. We saw multiple leaf prints printed on the sidewalk like silk screened images. Maggie stopped in front of one leaf print as if she "found it". The great art discoverer Maggie! Except it wasn't a human artist, but Mother Nature herself. We were like Sherlock Holmes with our heads down when we continued along the sidewalk. Maybe we discovered nature's gold on the ground? We admired different leaf shapes imprinted on the cement. The other part of ourselves enjoyed the colorful 3D leaves scattered everywhere in between the clumps of pine needles bunched up. Wind and rain plumetted our neighborhood over the weekend. Our surroundings were washed clean of any dust, just like our souls were refreshed and renewed when we discovered the organic street art. 

Eureka!

Friday Freckle Face

Maggie's pawsability thought for the day:

"A girl without freckles is like a night without stars."

Anon

freckle face Maggie

  I love Maggie's freckles. They are so endearing to me. She has a pink coloring around her face as if she's wearing makeup. Lipstick? Blush? When Maggie snuggles really close I get lost counting her freckles. Maybe it's like trying to count the stars? I think Maggie likes her freckles too. They give her that special edge in her individuality. Maggie likes being different and special. Today's Friday. As I look back on the week that has passed too fast I count my blessings one freckle at a time. I shall call today Friday freckle face day as I celebrate my freckle face girl! Count Basie couldn't have played it better than his jazzy little tune; Freckle Face. Maggie likes it. It gives her wiggle butt some swag. Yes Maggie, a girl without freckles is like a night without stars!

 CLICK: COUNT BASIE: FRECKLE FACE

Arithmetic Love: Two Is Everything

Maggie's pawsability thought for the day:

"In the arithmetic of love, one plus one equals everything, and two minus one equals nothing."

Mignon McLaughlin

"B" and double love

  Maggie's friend B in Boston loves her tennis balls. The way she counts, if she has two, then someone else can play with her. When friends come up she shares, because she knows it takes more than one to play. After all,  B has more than enough love to go around. When Maggie has one tennis ball in her mouth it reeks mine as she wags her wiggle butt in anticipation I will play with her. It's a calamity for Maggie because she wants to share, but she hasn't figured out that to share she has to let the tennis ball go. B has embraced that secret of life. I think she's an old sage in a young body. Maggie wants to relinquish her favorite tennis ball, but her brain tells her if she does, then she doesn't have it. Sometimes Maggie forgets if she lets it go then she can chase it. Tennis ball love is such a dilemma for her. On the other hand, B invites anyone to play with her. She has done her math and realizes one plus one does equal everything. Arithmetic love works for her. Maggie is still working on one plus one.... and that's OK. We all come in different packages of love.

B looking for a play buddy

Lucky Us: Would've, Should've, Could've

Maggie's pawsability thought for the day:

"The meeting of preparation with opportunity generates the offspring we call luck."

Tony Robbins

lone horse on the hill

  Maggie and I were in the car driving about when we looked and saw the lone horse on the hill. It was an amazing sight to see. We captured it with the iPhone camera. Where was our new Canon camera with the telephoto lens when we needed it? At home of course still in the box laying there unopened. Busy us. No time to set it up yet. Dang! All we could think is how amazing that horse would've looked through a more powerful lens.... Oh well, we shook it off. Reminder to self: get the camera ready. So, yesterday before Maggie and I went for our walk afternoon I had a feeling something special was going to happen. A little warning sound went off in my head take the Canon camera. I ignored my warning. Maggie and I had stuff to do, no time to dilly dally and take photos on our walk. Holy cow, we're half way through our walk when a red tailed hawk flies right in front of us and goes across the street and lands on a tree top. I pulled out the iPhone and took a photo of the hawk. The whole time I'm telling Maggie "would've, should've, could've" holy smokes! Maggie looked at me with that I told you so look. OK, OK, I'm unpacking the camera. Maybe next time a meeting of preparation with opportunity will yield us some luck close up.

lone red tailed hawk on tree top

  

Who Is In That Dog Bed; Moose Or Bear?

Maggie's pawsability thought for the day:

"Change brings opportunity."

Nido Qubein

Maggie Sunshine

   Our schedules have changed since Daylight saving time ended. Moving the clock back one hour's worth of time has changed when the the light shines in the morning. Before the time change, it was so dark in the mornings. It made it difficult to see walking in the dark. Now it's lighter earlier so, we can get out there with time to spare. On the flip side, we need to get our afternoon walks in earlier to beat the sun going down. Change is good, it brings opportunity. The chill fills the air with the seasons changing. Maggie feels guilt free as she hunkers down in her cozy dog beds around the house. The carpet use to be the place for Maggie to lay down next to me, but the cushy dog bed has called her. Yes, I understand. I am now wearing a robe to stay warm in the mornings. If I don't see Maggie around me I know I can find her in a dog bed. It keeps things simple. I think Maggie is getting her hibernation mojo on. Wait a minute, I thought she was part moose, not bear? Who knows, maybe she'll transform into something else when Spring arrives..... Maggie reminds me, change is transforming.

Maggie hunkered down with a toy close by.

MaggieMoose Rediscovers Rodin

Maggie's pawsability thought for the day:

"I invent nothing. I rediscover."

Auguste Rodin

The Burghers of Calais

1884-1895

  Maggie is all about great works of art. Today is Auguste Rodin's 172nd birthday. WOOF WOOF Happy Birthday! Maggie is privileged to have sniffed and admired some of Rodin's beautiful bronze statues on the Stanford University campus. The Burghers of Calais are located in front of the main entrance of the Stanford Memorial Church. Life size statues! Maggie was all about these beautiful bronze men. She had a beautiful day in the sunshine taking in Rodin's exquisite statues. Maggie thinks why reinvent the artwork when she can rediscover it?

Maggie & me

Maggie

One Too Many Leaves Made Easier

Maggie's pawsability thought for the day:

"It is literally true that you can succeed best and quickest by helping others to succeed."

Napoleon Hill

Thanks Maggie!

  There are so many sayings around like "what goes around comes around" and so forth. I do believe the adage if one helps another they in turn succeed. Maggie agrees with me. Our tree lined yard was leaf blown after a blustery day. Maggie went outside and pitched in to help me get rid of the leaves. Her cuteness melted my heart and brought a smile to my soul. I count my blessings everyday by having such a sweet girl in her. Maggie is living proof one too many leaves are made easier one leaf at a time thanks to her generosity. 

Helper Maggie in a yard full of autumn leaves.

  

Baby's Got New Moose Antlers

Maggie's pawsability thought for the day:

"Happiness is not something you postpone for the future; it is something you design for the present."

Jim Rohn

Maggie's new moose antlers!

  Yesterday Maggie went to pick up her human sibling and go to her favorite place, the Unleashed store by Petco. It's Maggie's neighborhood pet store. She was in heaven. Spoiled! She received treats and got to sniff all around. Talk about Curious George, Maggie wanted to see and smell everything. She was happy, happy, happy. The store had been rearranged since we were last there. Now they have a self serve pet grooming center. People can bring their pets to bath and dry them off. Shampoo provided.  Maggie thought that was a great idea. Meanwhile, she ventured about and found some new moose antlers with a chin strap. Maggie  looked good as herself; MaggieMoose. The joy didn't stop there. Maggie discovered the Barkery (bakery for dogs). Sniff. Sniff. More sniffs. Maggie couldn't have designed a happier ending for her day than spending time in her favorite pet store: Unleashed. She ate treats, got spoiled by Dana, the employee, and brought home new moose antlers. Looking good there Maggie!

smells good

Oh YUM!

Cookie please?