MaggieMoose: Christmas Kindness

Maggie's pawsability thought for the day:

"I don't think Christmas is necessarily about things. It's about being good to one another...it's about kindness." 

Carrie Fisher

Christmas is about being good to one another and sharing kindness. It's what Maggie and her human siblings were shown by example. It's a good way to be! 
Right moose?
Maggie shares her cozy with her pal.

MaggieMoose: Innovation Girl

Maggie's pawsability thought for the day:

"Innovation distinguishes between a leader and a follower."

Steve Jobs

  Twigs are everything for a moose, because they are the "eater of twigs"... When the twigs weren't plentiful in our yard Maggie went into innovation mode. She brought in the next best thing, a free floating root. She looked at me with that I can create my own bliss, I'm an innovator. It reminded me of our MaggieMooseTracks® books. They've become a cross-over book series for both kids & adults (yes, adults love Maggie's books too). In her book series, Maggie blazes an adventurous trail of life lessons in the most innovative way. Our books have full color illustrations throughout and they have B&W illustrations to color and pages to draw one's own creative artwork. Yes, it's encouraged to color & draw in the MaggieMooseTracks® keepsake book series. Maggie likes others to find their own bliss. After all, she's from the same area as the visionary Steve Jobs. It's only right there's a four pawed leader to create change in the literary world while doing some good for others. Twigs are great, but a creative root is good too. Who knows what leader will spring up?

All MaggieMooseTracks® books are available on Amazon.com, including our 1st book which is translated into Japanese. 

MaggieMoose: Moose Size Dreams

Maggie's pawsability thought for the day:

"To accomplish great things, we must not only act, but also dream; not only plan, but also believe."

Anatole France

  We have some chocolate moose for our #MMTWorld celebration of #MooseMonday. YUM. For me, it's all about the moose size dream of chocolate come true. Since Maggie is the moose in this house she's happy if I'm happy. Hey, wait a minute! Maggie, do I see a twig hanging out of your mouth? Now that's Maggie's idea of moose size dreaming. “Moose” comes from an Algonquin Indian word meaning “twig-eater”. Happy #MooseMonday!

Send us your Moose photos for Maggie's Monday blogs at:

WOOF@MaggieMooseTracks.com! 

MaggieMoose: Cow Love... MOOSE LOVE MONDAY

Maggie's pawsability thought for the day:

“Hunters will tell you that a moose is a wily and ferocious forest creature. Nonsense. A moose is a cow drawn by a three-year-old.”

Bill Bryson

Maggie and I have moose love. We also have cow love. What's a pup to do? MOOSE IT UP! There is a #moosemonday in the Twittersphere-no, we didn't think that up. Maggie and I prefer #MMTWorld for our moose love in Twitterville. 

SEND US us your moose photo! WOOF@MaggieMooseTracks.com

We'll post it on our #MMTWorld moose love post! Ironically, it will be on Mondays! Any kind of moose; hands above the head for antlers, family by a moose statue, a real moose, a moose drawing, wear some moose antlers like Maggie-get creative! If a 3 year old can draw a moose cow so, can you! Maggie will send the weekly photo a #MMTWorld beach ball globe with her cute moose mug on it! 

Tell your friends and pass the ball around the world. bounce bounce bounce

MaggieMoose: Summer Fling

Maggie's pawsability thought for the day:

 "Mysterious love, uncertain treasure, hast thou more of pain or pleasure! Endless torments dwell about thee; Yet who would live, and live without thee!

Joseph Addison

  My phone rang. I started chatting with a friend. Of course, Maggie requests to go outside when I'm on the phone. She predictably does this only when this one friend calls. Maybe I talk too long? In stealth motion she's back inside with a twig in her mouth. The difference with this twig is that Maggie has been in a summer induced twig drought. To those who know Maggie, they know she LOVES TWIGS. I have many, many photos of her with her favorite twigs-coffee table material. The origin of the word moose is loosely translated into 'twig eater'. Hence, MaggieMoose. This one twig is likened to a summer fling for Maggie, after all who would live without thee! 

MaggieMoose: A Circle Of Friends That Never Ends...

Maggie's pawsability thought for the day:

Have you ever heard the wolf cry to the blue corn moon

Or asked the grinning bobcat why he grinned?

Can you sing with all the voices of the mountains?

Can you paint with all the colors of the wind?

 ~~~~~~~~~~

And we are all connected to each other

In a circle, in a hoop that never ends.....

Stephen Schwartz 

  I played for Maggie the song Colors of the Wind sung by Judy Kuhn from the classic Disney movie Pocahontas. It reminded us of our new children's book MaggieMooseTracks® MakingFriends (age 6 up) now on Kindle. (PS. Adults like it too!) In our book, we wanted to share the theme of appreciating individuality, nature, and that we are all connected in a circle of friendship that never ends. Our story tells of a fictionalized Maggie, a puppy with moose antlers, who meets some interesting animals and kids on her adventure to finding her own family. Maggie and I hope that our circle of friends will tell their circle of friends about our new book with its important messages. We've painted the beauty and wonder of the colors of friendship in our fully colored, illustrated chapter book. 

The paperback edition of MaggieMooseTracks® MakingFriends will be available anytime from 2-3 hours or 5-7 days on Amazon.com. We'll post updates on our website when we have the link! Your reviews on Amazon.com will help make our 1st book a huge success. Would you please share the book news and write a review? We thank you in advance for helping us connect globally in friendship through our heartfelt, yet adventurous romp in MaggieMooseTracks® MakingFriends. 

  

MaggieMoose: Chocolate Moose Joy

Maggie's pawsability thought for the day:

"Joy is what happens to us when we allow ourselves to recognize how good things really are."

Marianne Williamson

Maggie's rich, velvety coloring reminds me of chocolate moose. As in chocolate mousse. YUM. I'm a lucky girl to have such chocolaty love in my life. Others are lucky too, because Maggie exudes sweetness. For those out there that think she's a marshmallow push over- beware, her bitter chocolate side that makes her so sweet will come out gnarling. Miss Maggie is very protective of her human family. The other 99.9% of the time she's like having dessert without the calories. I recognize how good things are with Maggie's chocolate moose joy of in my life. Have a WOOF WOOF wonderful day world! 

MaggieMoose: Blue Blood Moose Gene Pool

Maggie's pawsability thought for the day:

"The privilege of a lifetime is being who you are."

Joseph Campbell 

  Little did I know a couple years ago when Maggie arrived that I got a two for one package. Part dog and part moose. As a puppy, Maggie didn't just have moose size paws, but she came with a a very active moose gene pool twirling about inside of her. This was the part of her that swirls and twirls for a moose size love off twigs. She lives for twigs. I could make a coffee table book of all the photos I've taken of her twig delicacies she's brought me. On my part, it's acceptance. I accept her for who she is, part dog and part moose. On Maggie's part, it's privilege. Privilege to be who she is in her lifetime. Everyday she reminds me of this moose side of her. I acknowledge and accept this fact when I take another camera shot of a different twig hanging out of her mouth. The day I discovered that the word moose meant twig eater I put aside the need for a DNA test to prove she's part moose. Anyone that can track twigs down like Maggie is a true blue blood twig royal. She agrees. WOOF WOOF

MaggieMoose: A Day Well Spent

Maggie's pawsability thought for the day:

"A well-spent day brings happy sleep."

Leonardo da Vinci

  Yesterday was Mother's Day. Maggie and I went on our morning walk. We saw pink roses and a very bright and cheerful yellow rose. Perfect for a Mother's day. We rather see flowers growing than get flowers. Well, I stand corrected, Maggie rather sniff flowers on her walk than get flowers. The morning was as sunny and bright as the yellow rose. The whole day Maggie was like velcro. She must have known it was Mother's day. I was doing a little of this and that in between Mother's day phone calls, texts or Facebook posts and so forth. There was Maggie as my four pawed shadow. By the end of Mother's day Maggie was spent! I think my best Mother's day gift came when Maggie ran outside to collect the biggest twig she could find. Of course I accepted my Mother's day gift from her with glee. After all, who needs flowers when you can get twigs from a moose full of love? We slept great after our Mother's day well spent.

MaggieMoose Awards: And The Twig Goes To.....

Maggie's pawsability thought for the day:

"Gratitude bestows reverence, allowing us to encounter everyday epiphanies, those transcendent moments of awe that change forever how we experience life and the world."

John Milton

  Maggie had a very busy 2012 holiday schedule. Her appointment book was filled to the tallest twig with friends and relatives. As her scribe, I wrote down all the names & dates of the special people who nominated MaggieMooseTracks.wordpress.com for various blogging awards. Many nominations came at the end of the year. What Christmas presents! Many WOOF WOOFs to our community of blogging pawsability believers for all nominations. I, as Maggie's scribe want to say the dog ate the homework, but I can't blame Maggie for my own foibles. On accident, I threw out the paper listing those folks I had kept to thank after our holiday company was gone. Meanwhile, January 2013 started out with another nomination: The Addictive Blog Award from Bella Remy Photography's Hoof Beats and Foot Prints.

Maggie went outside to search for the perfect twig to present as a thank-you gift to Bella Remy Photography (and symbolically to others). Once she settled on her chosen twig it was up to me to transcribe her thoughts. Where to start? My first thought was where did I place my list of gratitude? Maggie reminded me to acknowledge it and move on.... OK Maggie. Gratitude really does bestow reverence to Maggie and me. It is overwhelming to think that we started as one little twig, not yet a year ago. Branch by branch our blogging world has grown and is growing. We are filled with many transcendent moments of awe to those peers in the blogging world that reward us. Receiving awards for time spent sharing Maggie Moose's moose size pawsabilities to the world is inspirational. We hope that those bloggers whose names were on the list the dog didn't eat will forgive me for losing it. Maggie and I both so appreciate your kudos. Our heartfelt thanks to you all. We are forever changed. WOOF WOOF

MaggieMoose Christmas Coin Toss

Maggie's pawsability thought for the day:

"Christmas waves a magic wand over this world, and behold, everything is softer and more beautiful." 

Norman Vincent Peale

  This week Maggie has had a few melting down moments. Not the kind like when one loses self control, but the kind where chocolate melts in the hot sun. UJ (Uncle John) petted her into oblivion last night. She couldn't move a muscle. It reminded me of her literally being attached with super glue. She was not going anywhere. Maggie felt really, really good. Like a coin, Maggie flips to the other side when there's something to get excited about, like presents under the tree or more visitors. Looking very relaxed in her regal pose, she guards her kingdom of presents. Cousin Willy, the moose sits on our piano keeping her company. They wait for the big Christmas eve night..... Mum's the word-tonight we are having more family over. I'll let it be a surprise. If I tell Maggie she might go into Scooby Doo mode with excitement! Arf Arf .... For now, I'll let her stay wrapped up in a soft, magical blanket of Christmas beauty.

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.

Giving Thanks for Unknown Blessings At 9,700 feet

Maggie's pawsability thought for the day:

"A forest of these trees is a spectacle too much for one man to see."

David Douglas

Utah Wasatch Mountain Range (private property)

  Memories of Utah still tug at me. It was a week ago today I was there. I'm remembering the mountains I traveled through that held so much diversity in their topography. It was a gift to see all that I did. Much too much for one person and moose dog to keep to themselves. Maggie and I look at the photos and they all have that WOW factor. Her tongue hangs out with disbelief how spectacular they are. Maggie sees a lot of sniffing and twig potential, but domestic animals aren't allowed there. Maggie's confused why she can't go hiking in the Wasatch mountains since she's part moose. I explain and we continue to look at the photos. Every photographic look has a special unknown blessing in it. The tipi in the middle of nowhere alongside the forest line, the Mule deer I saw leaping through the forest, or the three in one tree from 9,700 feet elevation. The forest of trees was much to much for Maggie and me to keep to ourselves. We like to share and give thanks for unknown blessings.

Wasatch Mountain's National Forest three in one tree (s)

Alces alces: Unpredictable Predictable MaggieMoose

Maggie's pawsability thought for the day:

“It is our task, both in science and in society at large, to prove the conventional wisdom wrong and to make our unpredictable dreams come true”

Freeman Dyson

Maggie & 12" twig

  Maggie walked in this morning from outside carrying a 12" twig. Her usual fare is a 2" twig. I haven't had to negotiate with Maggie over a large twig for some time. I forgot how predictable Maggie is, because she's been unpredictable lately. Back to the twig, the drill is we exchange twig for treat. Maggie's been doing this since she was a little puppy. Her junkyard dog grip on the fragile looking twig is legendary around here. Why bother fighting over it? I give, she gives. 

12" twig

I know she dreams about these larger than life twigs. I think she dreams she's running in the forest with a smorgasbord of twig delights to chose from like her cousin the moose. Maggie's a wannabe herbivore. I'm glad she doesn't have a four-chambered stomach. She might eat me out of house and home. "Mooswa" is an Algonkian name for twig eater later changed into English as what we know today as "moose". I'll support Maggie's unpredictable dreams she's a real living moose with a bevy of greater than life size twigs. After all, we both believe in moose size pawsability living....

photo credit

Maggie Mooseology

Maggie's pawsability thought for the day:

“It is more fun to talk with someone who doesn't use long, difficult words but rather short, easy words like "What about lunch?” 

A.A. Milne, Winnie-the-Pooh 

photo credit

  My dog Maggie is constantly nibbling on sticks, leaves, and twigs. It likens her to the herbivore Moose family. If I take her out for a walk, especially on an early overcast morning the dewy grass has a strong pull for her. Like today, gray as gray gets. Sorry Maggie-no grass. The only bright spot visible on this gray walk was the white blossoms on a tree along our walk.

As I shot the photo of the tree filled with white blossoms Maggie found herself some nice little twigs for a breakfast starter. The real deal (dog food) was at home. Maggie's favorite conversations with me originate with food (the only exception being the word BALL). She knows the words EAT & TREAT very well. Her little Springer spaniel tail wags back and forth upon hearing them. Our friendship grows with few words and some good times together. Winnie-the-Pooh's; "What about lunch?" just about sums it up with a walk tossed in to toast to our health! 

Maggie grazing as a little Mooselet.. he he