Just Be There

Maggie's pawsability thought for the day:

"Even when a bird walks, one feels it has wings."

Antoine-Marin Lemierre

Our neighborhood white crane

  Sometimes when Maggie and I take our walks, if we're lucky, we see our neighborhood white crane. It will casually just be there. If one approaches this magnificent bird as it slowly walks, it will bolt and fly away. For Maggie and I it's a precious moment in time to see this powerful, yet graceful bird just be there in the moment. 

The Eyes Have It

Maggie's pawsability thought for the day:

“Dogs are not our whole life, but they make our lives whole.”

Roger Caras 

Maggie

I love my dog Maggie. Her look pierces into the depth of everyone's soul, including mine. 

My life is blessed.

Anchors Away

Maggie's pawsability thought for the day:

"A ship in port is safe; but that is not what ships are built for. Sail out to sea and do new things."

Rear Admiral Grace Hopper 

Where my dad lies-retired US Navy

  Today is Memorial Day. I salute my father who served in the US Navy for 28 years. My father's brother died in Guadalcanal during WWII while serving aboard a ship in the US Navy. Afterwards, my father lied about his young age of 16 years, and like many others enlisted the US Navy. He served on ships in the Pacific fleet during WWII. His career in the US Navy took him around the world. Some of my youth was surrounded by young Navy men my mom & dad had adopted and brought home, because their families were miles away. We had many holidays with these "uncles" from the US Navy. When the photo in this blog circulated in an email (highlighting the eagle on the headstone) I discovered that this was the exact cemetery my father was buried in. I attended his military funeral. They handed me the flag from his casket folded up. My dad would like this photo being circulated. He was very social. He'd want his buddies, and all the women that served in all the services remembered. My dad knew that a ship in a port isn't meant to stay in the safety of the harbor, but to go out to sea and do new things....

To all our military we salute you! Thanks for serving!

Maggie and Me

PLAY: US Navy Anchors Away by Morman Tabernacle Choir

  

  

Call Me Maybe...woof woof

Maggie's pawsability thought for the day: 

"Hey, I just met you,
And this is crazy,
But here's my number,
So call me, maybe?
Carly Rae Jepsen

Miss Maggie

  Maggie is a social beast. Yesterday in the backseat of the car she impatiently waited for her human sibling to bring the take-out food to go. I noticed she saw a good looking guy walk by our car. I'm expecting her to give a snarl, bark, or perhaps a scary look? What do I see? Maggie's wiggle butt going in full force back and forth. I can see the look in her eyes "Hey, I just met you....so call me, maybe?" Oh boy, baby's grown up... Flirting already? She can tell a good looking guy she might want to get to know. I think she thought "I've missed you so bad..." Woof Woof

So call me, maybe?

PLAY: Call Me Maybe by Carly Rae Jepsen

Home Sweet Home

Maggie's pawsability thought for the day:

"There's no place like home"

American Proverb 

Capital

  I've just arrived home from Washington, DC after attending my daughter's fabulous graduation. The weather was picture perfect; clear, sunny, and no humidity. The big graduation ceremony on the Washington Mall went off without a hitch. The day after the graduation it rained and was very muggy like the Botanical gardens we stopped at to visit. I think the weather was a farewell of tears for my graduate leaving their fair city. As my daughter and I traversed the city's capital hitting the last minute sightseeing spots I reflected on the feeling; there's no place like home. It's fun visiting elsewhere, but for me going home meant my funny, bunny dog Maggie once again awaited me to throw her the tennis ball, or to bug me repeatedly to go outside and get some twigs. I was right. I picked up Maggie at the sitter's, we went to the Vet for her latest immunizations, then home to tennis ball and twigs. Maggie happily licked me and snuggled close. There's no place like home....with a fur ball at your side.

 Maggie's garden 

Maggie Erin Morning

Maggie's pawsability thought for the day:

A sunbeam to warm you,

A moonbeam to charm you,

A sheltering angel, so nothing can harm you.

~Irish Blessing

Maggie in the morning (5:00am)

  Maggie Erin is the name I gave my English Springer Spaniel dog on her AKC papers. It means "the pearl of Ireland". Our family's roots are Irish so, I had to bring Maggie into the fold by making her an honorary Irish lass. This morning is the last morning I'll see Maggie for awhile. I'm heading out to Washington, DC for my daughter's college graduation. Today like the others we wake up early. Not all the lights are on yet and it's still dark outside. I make my coffee, and sit at my computer. After Maggie eats she gets her tennis ball out for a round of chasing the ball down the hall. Today I couldn't get enough hugs & kisses from her 45 lb huggable body. Looking at Maggie standing by the pantry door, her hoping for a treat (sorry my lass-No is the answer), I felt a tug at my heart. Maggie will be staying with her dog walker's family while we're apart. As social as Maggie is she'll have a fun. But, I will miss her. So, with this heartfelt parting upon us I send Maggie off with another Irish blessing:

May the road rise up to meet you; 

May the wind be always at your back, 

the sun shine warm upon your face, 

The rain fall soft upon your fields, 

And until we meet again 

May God hold you in the hollow of his hand.

Maggie Erin in the morn

  

Hey Mama! Happy Mother's Day!

Maggie's pawsability thought for the day:

"If you have a mom, there is nowhere you are likely to go 

 where a prayer has not already been."

Robert Brault

Proudly wearing Semper Fi for her child

(Stanford Pow Wow)

  In my opinion, a mother never forgets, nor stops worrying, nor stops wondering if their children are OK-no matter how old they are or where they are in the world. Our hearts and prayers are always with our children....

Semper Fi 

(Stanford Pow Wow)

The unexpected reward of motherhood is when a child Thanks You for being their mama, mom, or mother. I say Thanks to my girl Christy for sending me this song across the miles. It's perfect! Happy Mother's Day to all the moms!

PLAY: Hey Mama by Kanye West

Maggie puppy

Celebrate Life: Attend A Pow Wow

Maggie's pawsability thought for the day:

Each of us is put here in this time and this place
to personally decide the future of humankind.
Did you think the Creator would create unnecessary
people in a time of such terrible danger?
Know that you yourself are
essential to this World.

— Chief Arvol Looking Horse of the
Lakota,Dakota and Nakota Nation,
19th Generation Keeper of the
Sacred White Buffalo Calf Pipe

Stanford Pow Wow 5/11/12

Mother's Day Weekend 05/11/12-05/13/12

Happy Friday!

Maggie's pawsability thought for the day:

"The purpose of our lives is to be happy."

Dali Lama 

Nothing like some beautiful flowers to bring out a smile..... 

Happy Friday!

Cloaked In Sunshine Kindness

Maggie's pawsability thought for the day:

"Sometimes when we are generous in small, barely detectable ways it can change someone else's life forever."

Margaret Cho

Maggie in the morning

  I woke up this morning thinking about the kindnesses of others I received the day before. When Maggie and I stepped outside into the sunshine J. M. Barrie's words danced in my head; "Those that bring sunshine into the lives of others cannot keep it from themselves." I could tell Maggie knew what I was thinking. She's like that. She just gets me. The generosity I received yesterday from others however seemingly small was huge for me. It will change my life forever. Maggie's life will change too thanks to the ripple effect. Generosity has a way of living on and moving forward. For example; I have a Martha Washington geranium clipping growing in my garden. It was given to me years ago by a friend. Its beauty is a reminder to me of how these small acts of kindness continue to grow and help others grow. Maggie and I are thankful. We'll share the sunshine kindness with others so, their garden will grow too.

Martha Washington geranium

(also know as Regal Pelargonium)

Coastin' ....Maggie Goes Solar

Maggie's pawsability thought for the day:

"To raise new questions, new possibilities, to regard old problems from a new angle, requires creative imagination and marks real advance in science."

Albert Einstein 

Stanford University Solar Racing Car

  Maggie and I take our walks by the Automotive Innovation Facility on Stanford campus. Also known to us as where the solar car comes from. Recently, on one of our walks we were in luck! The Stanford solar car team was gearing up to bring the car to White Plaza for Admit Weekend. They invited us to White Plaza, but Maggie had an animal-therapy gig to attend. No doubt, we like the creative imagination of these Stanford students as they advance our environmental lifestyle through their scientific innovation. 

Maggie gives it up for their pawsability thinking....WOOF WOOF

solar car getting ready for blast off

Maggie knocking on the door of the future...

They're off to White Plaza! 

*No air we breathed during this photo shoot was harmed by the Stanford solar car in motion. 

PLAY: Coastin' by Zion I

                                        

....Maggie thinks maybe one day they can drive the solar car in the Coastin' video!

Maggie says "Where'd they go?"

A Loving Heart Across The Lap

Maggie's pawsability thought for the day:

"A loving heart is the beginning of all knowledge."

Thomas Carlyle

Maggie and Me

  Maggie was plopped across my legs when she intently looked into my eyes. What I saw back from her was a possessive love; one I could live with knowing her heart was all mine. It was free from clutter of other complications we humans sometimes get ourselves in. I think all I need to know about life comes from Maggie's piercing glance of her eyes into mine. It's more like her soul pierces my soul with a magical key to open the door. A loving heart really is the beginning of all knowledge. Maggie's love lessons build upon each successive lesson. I feel like I'm a walking encyclopedia. Namaste Maggie....

Maggie Smiles In A Pink World

Maggie's pawsability thought for the day:

"The very pink of perfection."

Oliver Goldsmith

ice plants

  Mother Nature's pink perfection! 

Maggie smiles at a sea of pink perfection!

Flowering Miracles From Above

Maggie's pawsability thought for the day:

"If we could see the miracle of a single flower clearly, our whole life would change."

Buddha

Pawsabilities in a blossom

    A single blossom from the tallest tree next to us laid at Maggie's feet. The beautiful colored pattern in the blossom impressed me the most. All my years of walking by this tree I'd never seen its blossoms up so close as when it was next to our feet. Shades of yellows, oranges, and greens layered so precisely within its tulip like shape. Fantastic! Maggie's curiosity peeked too. She bent down while I gazed at the blossom to get her own bird's eye view. The flowering miracle from above reminded us to slow down and appreciate the pawsabilities of a single flower. Life changing miracles delivered from above. Hallelujah!

Maggie sniffs closely

Pawsability tree

May 1st is Lei Day with 101 Dalmatians

Maggie's pawsability thought for the day:

The more you praise and celebrate your life, the more there is in life to celebrate.

Oprah Winfrey

Christy and Julie: 5 years old

  Today is my twin girls' birthday; May 1st. I was lucky enough to choose their birth date. May 1st is also Lei Day in Hawaii. I thought it fitting to choose Lei Day to honor my grandparents who spent many wonderful years living in Hawaii. Their years were spent embracing the people of Hawaii and sharing that hospitality with visitors to the island. My grandparents celebrated life. I wanted my girls to have their credo for living; celebrate life no matter what happens. When my girls were kids there use to be a Disney store at the local shopping center. Back then, a favorite book and movie was 101 Dalmatians. Dogs ruled. We celebrated their 5th birthday with 101 Dalmatians and bowling. My girls and I have gone through some rough patches together. Like my grandparents did, we've gotten through those rough times by focusing on celebrating our lives. My life has been doubly blessed by my girls Christy & Julie. I use to have a license plate holder that said: I'm Doubly Blessed-Mother of Twins. Today my girls and I are miles apart. Little Miss Maggie is holding the fort with her fewer spots than a Dalmatian, but she keeps me focused on celebrating life. Maggie and I say: Mahalo girls & Happy Birthday!

 Miss Maggie with fewer spots....

photo credit