KathyMcCurdy.comtag:www.kathymccurdy.com,2011://22011-11-09T11:47:08ZMovable Type 3.33Christmas 2011 -- Birth of a New Traditiontag:www.kathymccurdy.com,2011://2.2422011-11-09T11:20:28Z2011-11-09T11:47:08Z As the holidays approach, the giant Asian factories are kicking into high gear to provide Americans with monstrous piles of cheaply produced goods -- merchandise that has been produced at the expense of American labor. Let's make this year...
(Editor's Note: New tradition? No. This is what we grew up with. Let's just get back to supporting one and other.)
Forward this to everyone on your mailing list -- post it to discussion groups -- throw up a post on Craigslist in the Rants and Raves section in your city -- send it to the editor of your local paper and radio stations, and TV News departments. This is a revolution of caring about each other, and isn't that what Christmas is about?]]>
LADY OF THE MANORtag:www.kathymccurdy.com,2011://2.2412011-06-26T19:50:16Z2011-06-27T16:14:59Z April 10, 1999-June 26, 2022 This morning at approximately 7:30 a.m., our wonderful Labrador Retriever, Lady (aka Ladykins, Ladybug, Ladybuggles, Baby Girl), died. We had Lady for just over 12 years. She came to us the day of Heather's...
April 10, 1999-June 26, 2022
This morning at approximately 7:30 a.m., our wonderful Labrador Retriever, Lady (aka Ladykins, Ladybug, Ladybuggles, Baby Girl), died.
We had Lady for just over 12 years. She came to us the day of Heather's graduation from Northfield Mt. Herman. I remember that beautiful, sunny, blue-skied day well. Leaving Northfield, we stopped at a nursery and bought Heather a red rose bush to commemorate the occasion and, when we arrived home, we quickly unpacked the car and headed down to Clinton to pick up our new puppy. I can see that little black ball of fur with the red collar calmly sitting on the passenger lap now, leaving the only home she had known.
Lady had a great life at Thirsty Boots Farm. She loved to play and there were plenty of people who loved to play with her.
She loved to retrieve sticks or tennis balls. It was her regular routine that when a visitor got out of the car, she would dash off to find her stick or ball which was then dropped at the visitor's foot. She'd look up with those brown eyes...."Go on! Throw it!" This instinctive habit of hers continued even when she lost the use of her right rear leg due to an ACL injury and we had to beg people not to throw things for her.
Lady loved to swim. At first it was in the pool. I remember that requiring some repairs to the vinyl lining. She learned that was a no-no and moved on to the pond. She loved to glide after us when we were in the rowboat and we'd order her to "go back." She loved swimming out through the lilies to retrieve her stick or tennis ball. She could go forever.
She loved digging the dirt out from under bushes and lying in the cool spots she had created. Up went fencing. She loved food and had greater finesse at stealing from the table than Tucker. In fact, I'm sure Tucker got blamed for a few of Lady's thefts. She loved her own mealtime. She was the best alarm clock I had. When she came over to me and sat in front of me and stared at my face, I knew it was 3:00 p.m., dinner time.
She loved the couch. I gave up a long time ago trying to keep the dogs off....electric pads, spiky pads...forget it. She particularly loved the couch or loveseat if you were sitting in it. She'd hop right up and put her head in your lap (or her entire body). She loved John's side of the bed where she got to sleep when he was away on business.
Lady loved people and animals. When people arrived, she would often break into a huge grin, something that was a little disconcerting to those who did not know her well. I remember two deliver men who refused to get out of their truck. She hated the UPS truck but loved the driver with his cookies. She loved the horsie vet who often greeted her with a piece of his morning doughnut. She loved being in the middle of holidays and family gatherings. I have many mental pics of her surrounded by mountains of wrapping paper. She loved Tom Wells, our neighbor across the road. She loved the chickens and every once in a while would bound after them pretending to chase them. At the beginning of her life, she liked the horses but after she got kicked one day, she'd bark protectively whenever she accompanied me out to the barn at feeding time. Ahh...Lady hated squirrels.
There were three places Lady particularly loved to sit and survey her domain. One was on the hill lawn looking down at the pond. She'd spot things moving we could not see and bark, "Stay on your side." She loved sitting in the entry doorway, with her front paws hanging over, watching the comings and goings on the driveway and across the street at Tom's house. Her most favorite place was in the sun out by paddock gate.
This morning was a normal day for Lady. She went outside and came back in to eat her breakfast. As I came down the stairs, Lady had her first episode (which the vet tells us was a heart attack) near the bar door. She fell and began breathing raggedly. I gently placed her legs under her and rolled her on her side. Her breathing stopped and she stared fixedly ahead. I called John and as we stroked her and massaged her neck and told her she was a good dog and all was OK, she heaved three huge breathes and came back. In another minute or two she was lying normally. She continued to improve and got up and went into the den. We gave her water which she drank. She sat at my feet and thumped her tail as only a lab can do. After another few minutes she decided she wanted to go out and it was on her way through the hall with me she had her second heart attack. She took three breaths and went down. On her side and with me beside her and stroking her, she drew her last two breaths. It was quick and her last thoughts were of going outside and of a voice telling her she was loved.
She now rests near her favorite sunny spot and next to the Northfield roses. She joins our dogs Ben and Miles (her first TBF buddy), and cats Tippy and Cotton. We are so terribly sad and are missing the great black presence in the house but are so grateful for her quick and "easy" death. We will miss her more than we can say, but are so grateful to have had this happy, loving, devoted "Ladybug" with us for twelve years.
Thanks, Heather, for the headstone.]]>
Got Hit Again!tag:www.kathymccurdy.com,2011://2.2402011-01-27T14:24:49Z2011-01-27T14:39:56ZOk....so another foot of snow last night....yes a foot. The yardstick disappears in parts of the lawn. There are some who don't mind the snow and just want to play...... Oreo decides he wants to roll. He's under there. That...
Oreo decides he wants to roll.
He's under there.
That felt good!
Let's do it again!
The other side and Willy gets into the act also in the back field.
You called?
Getting out to the barn
and back to the house.]]>
Blizzard of 2011!tag:www.kathymccurdy.com,2011://2.2392011-01-12T18:00:01Z2011-01-12T20:06:47ZYikes! We knew it was coming. School was cancelled yesterday, the weatherman were talking it up and said we'd get about 20 inches and this time they were right. Here's what we woke up to this morning: From one horse..........
From one horse.......
...to another.
Need the horses to trample the snow!
Dug out the chickens but they won't come out! Smart!
There is a Mini Cooper under there.
Buried horse trailer
To the house
To the barn
Going out
Not at all interested! Dashing back to the house!
1:15 p.m. and it is still snowing! Out to shovel to the barn for the 5th time.
Don't you want to come back to New England, Heather and George?]]>
Half the Year in Reviewtag:www.kathymccurdy.com,2010://2.2382010-11-02T00:40:04Z2011-01-12T21:29:21ZI can hardly believe that my last post to this website was four months ago. The simple fact is that the ease with which one can upload photos to Facebook and the limited space for comments encourages one to be...
We miss Cameron terribly.
A visit to Florida to see Uncle Ed, aged 93!
Uncle Ed and my cousin Cammy
And a visit to the Proias in Gainesville.
We saw the Igoes in Fernandina Beach, Amelia Island also.
Getting back home it was time to concentrate on the wedding.
Found the dress!
Then it was time for showers.....Aunt Barbara's was the first one.
Then Gretchen's
This one given by Heather's bridesmaids....
Instant aunt
Last fling before the ring!
In between the party there were some other things that happened! We joined John and Lynn Adams in Windham, NY. Who knew it ws Irish Arts Week?
Look closely at the sign.
We visited Joan on Cape Cod.
My nieces and Lily came for a sleepover......
...and discovered chicks had been born!!
We fostered Lou.....
...who loved following Tucker into the pond!
There was Joe and Katie's engagement
Then time for mailing the wedding invitations
A September visit to Middlebury for Murphy's football game
John published a book....
...and emceeed at his 50th reunion.
There were:
Boat rides on Heather's boat...
a birthday and Sushi...
a Choate speech...
a reunion in Florida...
a visit to Epcot...
A new nephew! FJ and Diyari's son Liam!
Julia's arrival
and oh, yes...the wedding!
Extended family
It was a great year.
Merry Christmas! Happy New Year!
Here's to a great 2011!
]]>
Summertime and the Living Is Easytag:www.kathymccurdy.com,2010://2.2372010-07-09T14:38:06Z2010-07-09T15:57:54ZIt may be summer but here at Thirsty Boots we are busy....relaxing, beautifying and having fun! Michelle and Andrew have made the flower beds around the house look a lot better. Michelle Andrew trims the 40 year old yews. The...
Michelle
Andrew trims the 40 year old yews.
The final result. You can just see the fencing, meant to keep Tucker out!
New seating for the terrace
A baby raccoon got separated from mom.
We lost our beautiful swans to a coyote but gained this cormorant:
Lucky enjoys an early morning walk.
The horses enjoy the early morning.
Lady continues to be optimistic.
Kim came up to relax on July 4.
John joined him in cool relaxation.
Hamish and Ellie were here with Rowan and Heath before they move to Portland Maine.
Hamish takes Rowan for a row.
Heath charms Kim.
John chooses the pond to cool down.
]]>
Life Is Good!tag:www.kathymccurdy.com,2010://2.2362010-05-25T13:36:24Z2010-05-25T13:55:29ZThis little guy surely lives up to his name. How did we get so "Lucky" to have him in our lives? (if my dad were here, he would be correcting me that the correct word is "fortunate!")...
How did we get so "Lucky" to have him in our lives? (if my dad were here, he would be correcting me that the correct word is "fortunate!")
]]>
Happy Mother's Day!tag:www.kathymccurdy.com,2010://2.2352010-05-09T15:11:32Z2010-05-09T15:12:14Z
]]>
Engagement Partytag:www.kathymccurdy.com,2010://2.2342010-05-08T17:17:46Z2010-05-08T17:20:18ZThey say a picture is worth a thousand words: Congratulations Heather and George!...
Congratulations Heather and George!]]>
First Riding Lessontag:www.kathymccurdy.com,2010://2.2322010-04-20T13:55:41Z2010-04-20T14:03:35ZAfter Lily's beaming grin and excitement over riding Oreo, Heather and I put our heads together and thought it would be great to give Lily riding lessons. Lily's mom agreed and here she is, waiting for her first lesson over...
She looks happy.
Within the 45 minute lesson, Lily was trotting and working on her posting!
Lily looked so serious during her lesson, I was worried she didn't have a good time. She assured me she did, stating, "If I smile for the camera, I can't focus."
Nine lessons to go (for now)!
P.S. Mrs. Schreiber reminded me it was 25 years ago that Julie started lessons with her!
]]>
Weekend Funtag:www.kathymccurdy.com,2010://2.2312010-04-13T00:58:13Z2010-04-13T01:39:00ZSo what did we do over the weekend? Well, Sunday proved to be the fun day. Heather brought George's daughter, Lily, over to build a fort in the woods. Julie helped out and once stage 1 was done, they all...
Picnic in the fort
Lady wanted in.
So did Lady.
Next it was rowing on the pond.
We checked out the fort from the water.
Then off to ride
Look at that smile
Happy girl
Yep, it was a good weekend.]]>
SPRINGtag:www.kathymccurdy.com,2010://2.2302010-04-12T17:46:44Z2010-04-12T17:55:13ZThis past weekend was gorgeous and allowed for all good outdoor, fun things - garden planting; weeding; fort building with Lily, Julie and Heather; kayaking and just sitting in the sun. After such a perfect weekend, it was hard this...
]]>
CONGRATULATIONS TO HEATHER AND GEORGE!tag:www.kathymccurdy.com,2010://2.2292010-03-06T12:38:40Z2010-03-06T12:44:15ZThey're engaged! So happy to be gaining a great guy and a beautiful Lily!...
So happy to be gaining a great guy and a beautiful Lily!]]>
Sugar Mapling Timetag:www.kathymccurdy.com,2010://2.2282010-02-14T14:17:00Z2010-02-14T14:41:34ZOn February 13, John and some of his maple sugaring buddies gave a maple sugaring talk at the Parmelee Farm, Killingworth's historic preservation. It was a wee bit cold so I didn't stick around for the tapping of the trees....
Standing in front of the wall Julie helped rebuild last fall.]]>
I'm At It Again!tag:www.kathymccurdy.com,2010://2.2272010-02-13T23:54:32Z2010-02-14T13:45:10ZWell, I couldn't stand it any longer! It's been months since our Stave puzzle Circus Train weekend and I've been adrift without a puzzle. So here is my latest acquisition, Falling for You. It was fun to do. Imagine my...
Falling for You. It was fun to do.
Imagine my surprise, however, when arriving home on Friday afternoon, I discovered a little surprise from the Chief Tormentor himself (Steve Richardson, owner of Stave Puzzles)...a Valentine's Day puzzle..small but challenging. It's one of Steve's "Troublemaker" puzzles. There are two solutions and the trial and error with the geometric pieces takes time!!
Solution 1
Solution 2
And, best of all, look who is now a fan!
John came up with solution 2!
]]>
Lady had a great life at Thirsty Boots Farm. She loved to play and there were plenty of people who loved to play with her.
She loved to retrieve sticks or tennis balls. It was her regular routine that when a visitor got out of the car, she would dash off to find her stick or ball which was then dropped at the visitor's foot. She'd look up with those brown eyes...."Go on! Throw it!" This instinctive habit of hers continued even when she lost the use of her right rear leg due to an ACL injury and we had to beg people not to throw things for her.
Lady loved to swim. At first it was in the pool. I remember that requiring some repairs to the vinyl lining. She learned that was a no-no and moved on to the pond. She loved to glide after us when we were in the rowboat and we'd order her to "go back." She loved swimming out through the lilies to retrieve her stick or tennis ball. She could go forever.
She loved digging the dirt out from under bushes and lying in the cool spots she had created. Up went fencing. She loved food and had greater finesse at stealing from the table than Tucker. In fact, I'm sure Tucker got blamed for a few of Lady's thefts. She loved her own mealtime. She was the best alarm clock I had. When she came over to me and sat in front of me and stared at my face, I knew it was 3:00 p.m., dinner time.
She loved the couch. I gave up a long time ago trying to keep the dogs off....electric pads, spiky pads...forget it. She particularly loved the couch or loveseat if you were sitting in it. She'd hop right up and put her head in your lap (or her entire body). She loved John's side of the bed where she got to sleep when he was away on business.
Lady loved people and animals. When people arrived, she would often break into a huge grin, something that was a little disconcerting to those who did not know her well. I remember two deliver men who refused to get out of their truck. She hated the UPS truck but loved the driver with his cookies. She loved the horsie vet who often greeted her with a piece of his morning doughnut. She loved being in the middle of holidays and family gatherings. I have many mental pics of her surrounded by mountains of wrapping paper. She loved Tom Wells, our neighbor across the road. She loved the chickens and every once in a while would bound after them pretending to chase them. At the beginning of her life, she liked the horses but after she got kicked one day, she'd bark protectively whenever she accompanied me out to the barn at feeding time. Ahh...Lady hated squirrels.
There were three places Lady particularly loved to sit and survey her domain. One was on the hill lawn looking down at the pond. She'd spot things moving we could not see and bark, "Stay on your side." She loved sitting in the entry doorway, with her front paws hanging over, watching the comings and goings on the driveway and across the street at Tom's house. Her most favorite place was in the sun out by paddock gate.
This morning was a normal day for Lady. She went outside and came back in to eat her breakfast. As I came down the stairs, Lady had her first episode (which the vet tells us was a heart attack) near the bar door. She fell and began breathing raggedly. I gently placed her legs under her and rolled her on her side. Her breathing stopped and she stared fixedly ahead. I called John and as we stroked her and massaged her neck and told her she was a good dog and all was OK, she heaved three huge breathes and came back. In another minute or two she was lying normally. She continued to improve and got up and went into the den. We gave her water which she drank. She sat at my feet and thumped her tail as only a lab can do. After another few minutes she decided she wanted to go out and it was on her way through the hall with me she had her second heart attack. She took three breaths and went down. On her side and with me beside her and stroking her, she drew her last two breaths. It was quick and her last thoughts were of going outside and of a voice telling her she was loved.
She now rests near her favorite sunny spot and next to the Northfield roses. She joins our dogs Ben and Miles (her first TBF buddy), and cats Tippy and Cotton. We are so terribly sad and are missing the great black presence in the house but are so grateful for her quick and "easy" death. We will miss her more than we can say, but are so grateful to have had this happy, loving, devoted "Ladybug" with us for twelve years.
Thanks, Heather, for the headstone.]]>
He's under there.
That felt good!
Let's do it again!
The other side and Willy gets into the act also in the back field.
You called?
Getting out to the barn
and back to the house.]]>
From one horse.......
...to another.
Need the horses to trample the snow!
Dug out the chickens but they won't come out! Smart!
There is a Mini Cooper under there.
Buried horse trailer
To the house
To the barn
Going out
Not at all interested! Dashing back to the house!
1:15 p.m. and it is still snowing! Out to shovel to the barn for the 5th time.
Don't you want to come back to New England, Heather and George?]]>
We miss Cameron terribly.
A visit to Florida to see Uncle Ed, aged 93!
Uncle Ed and my cousin Cammy
And a visit to the Proias in Gainesville.
We saw the Igoes in Fernandina Beach, Amelia Island also.
Getting back home it was time to concentrate on the wedding.
Found the dress!
Then it was time for showers.....Aunt Barbara's was the first one.
Then Gretchen's
This one given by Heather's bridesmaids....
Instant aunt
Last fling before the ring!
In between the party there were some other things that happened! We joined John and Lynn Adams in Windham, NY. Who knew it ws Irish Arts Week?
Look closely at the sign.
We visited Joan on Cape Cod.
My nieces and Lily came for a sleepover......
...and discovered chicks had been born!!
We fostered Lou.....
...who loved following Tucker into the pond!
There was Joe and Katie's engagement
Then time for mailing the wedding invitations
A September visit to Middlebury for Murphy's football game
John published a book....
...and emceeed at his 50th reunion.
There were:
Boat rides on Heather's boat...
a birthday and Sushi...
a Choate speech...
a reunion in Florida...
a visit to Epcot...
A new nephew! FJ and Diyari's son Liam!
Julia's arrival
and oh, yes...the wedding!
Extended family
It was a great year.
Merry Christmas! Happy New Year!
Here's to a great 2011!
]]>
Andrew trims the 40 year old yews.
The final result. You can just see the fencing, meant to keep Tucker out!
New seating for the terrace
A baby raccoon got separated from mom.
We lost our beautiful swans to a coyote but gained this cormorant:
Lucky enjoys an early morning walk.
The horses enjoy the early morning.
Lady continues to be optimistic.
Kim came up to relax on July 4.
John joined him in cool relaxation.
Hamish and Ellie were here with Rowan and Heath before they move to Portland Maine.
Hamish takes Rowan for a row.
Heath charms Kim.
John chooses the pond to cool down.
]]>
Lily looked so serious during her lesson, I was worried she didn't have a good time. She assured me she did, stating, "If I smile for the camera, I can't focus."
Nine lessons to go (for now)!
P.S. Mrs. Schreiber reminded me it was 25 years ago that Julie started lessons with her!
]]>
Lady wanted in.
So did Lady.
Next it was rowing on the pond.
We checked out the fort from the water.
Then off to ride
Look at that smile
Happy girl
Yep, it was a good weekend.]]>
Imagine my surprise, however, when arriving home on Friday afternoon, I discovered a little surprise from the Chief Tormentor himself (Steve Richardson, owner of Stave Puzzles)...a Valentine's Day puzzle..small but challenging. It's one of Steve's "Troublemaker" puzzles. There are two solutions and the trial and error with the geometric pieces takes time!!
Solution 1
Solution 2
And, best of all, look who is now a fan!
John came up with solution 2!
]]>