Tucker McFadden

We lost our eldest yesterday, March 28, 2012.  Tucker Anne Hanson McFadden went on home to play with Chrissie and wait for us.  Karla didn't tell me, but I believe that he had been missing her a lot these last few days, and just decided it was time to follow her home.

Tucker Anne

Karla brought Tucker home when we was a tiny puppy, and of course he immediately became the favorite one, the play with me one, the full of energy catch me let's RUN! one.  He was into everything and loved everything and talked a lot and ruled the world.

When he came to visit we were all beside ourselves with delight - mostly at his joy from moment to moment!  He would bark and bounce and wiggle and launch himself into my arms the minute he came through the door.  His eyes were always full of mischief and he would race to Chrissie or out into the yard where they would play for hours.  Tucker ran rings around Chris, and once the chase was over they would get down to business, tugging and pulling at ropes together, shredding them into masses of strings. 

Karla made sure that Tucker had the best life a dog could have, taking him everywhere, giving him chances to camp, hike, swim, run, ride in the car, and be next to her side.  He loved it when she got other dogs because every day was a play day - but he always knew he was the special one.  I know I will miss him dreadfully, and am so very thankful for the joy he shared with us.

Tucker Cutie Pie in the Impatiens

Good bye precious Tucker, love you much sweet boy.

Welcome 2012!

Happy happy New Year to each and every one of you!!

My six month break from blogging was the start of a six month break from "me" stuff.  I stopped blogging, writing, working in the sketchbook, spinning, knitting, scrapbooking, and crocheting.  I didn't stop reading books, but every other thing went by the wayside except the very much needed focus on other priorities. We even stopped our Sunday grandson / grandmother trips to the game store for role-playing games.

Sounds like things were pretty quiet, yes?  Well, during that time we:

• had our annual family vacation at the beach which was wonderful as always. We took the puppies, and they both loved the ocean. After three days, though, Jack Junior got very very ill. He cried out in pain, was unable to walk, had urinary problems, and slept rolled up in a tiny ball. Mr. Bryant took him home the very next morning to get pain medication from the vet, while I stayed and took pictures and loved the time with the fam.

  

• said goodbye to Ama as she went off to Portland. Mr. Bryant laid out her driving trip across the country, and we even found a cabin in Yellowstone for one of the nights of the trip. The drive took her to the Arch in St. Louis, Colorado to see friends, Yellowstone, Coeur d'Alene, and the Columbia River Gorge. 
• said Goodbye to Shannon and John and family as they went off to new adventures in Virginia.
• put all the puppies on a new diet. 
• watched the puppies grow like weeds!

• took Jack Junior to six vets and finally to NC State Veterinary School, where they diagnosed the infection that was crippling and killing him.  We got him started on a three to six month course of antibiotics and noticed immediate improvement in his condition.
• continued to take the puppies to Obedience Training. 

 

• flew the cats across the country to greet Ama in Portland.
• learned the incredible blessings of being members of the Leonberger Community. 

 

• had a fabulous family Thanksgiving in the mountains hosted by Mr. and Mrs. McFadden.

 

• had another wonderful Christmas hosted by Mr. and Mrs. Hanson.
• went to an amazing New Years dinner with our very dear friends.

In addition to all this, I interviewed for a new job or two, adjusted to a restructure at work, and did my best to support Mr. Bryant while HE adjusted to a restructure at work.

During all this time off from "me," I thought I was doing the right things, doing the things that needed to be done, paying primary attention to the other people in my life in the best way. But as I look back at the last half of the year, I can see that I was less centered, less thoughtful, and frankly, less confident.

I am grateful to have learned this lesson, which I think I really knew but allowed myself to conveniently forget.  Taking care of "me" is important, and changes how I interact with the world at every level.

I can't say that I am sorry to see 2011 go.  Although it wasn't the worst year it also wasn't the best.  And sometimes, that's exactly the inspiration needed to go forth and know this New Year better, man! (with a nod here to our friends, the Muppets!)

Here is to the most wonderful year yet.  Welcome 2012!

Wordless Wednesday - May 26, 2010 - Brooklyn Blackout

Karla and James

Before we get too far into the week, too far past October 26th, I just need to recognize the wonderful Anniversary of my dearest sister and her fabulous husband.

Karla and James, congratulations on seven incredible challenging wonderful years together. Our very most sincere wishes for a wonderful hundred more!

Love you both, much and much.

Wordless Wednesday 9-23-2009

CSA week 3 - an update from the NC mountains!

Hi everyone I thought I would do a quick update on my CSA project here in the mountains of NC.

Things are going very well. We have lots of veggies in the field and our subscribers seem very happy so far. We started a new tailgate market at our local Co-op last Monday. It was very warm and I learned that the 5 miles between the farm and the venue is just enough to make all the greens wilt! The Co-op manager was kind enough to get us some additional ice and a quick dip in an ice bath at regular intervals seemed to help perk everything up. Lots of sweat on the brow trying to get it all together in time for the clients!

Our neighbors at the market have a really cool Biodynamic farm. Check out http://www.biodynamics.com/ for more info on this process. They had some really cool chinese greens that I had never even heard of, Tat Soy was one that comes to mind. Our farm grows more widely known veggies and in last weeks share we had Red Mustard Greens, Russian Red Kale, Summer Squash, Spinach and Spring Salad mix. Lots of greens at this time of year moving slowly into the veggies with more biomass soon.

Please support your local farmers and a great resource for CSA's in your area as well as tailgate markets is http://www.localharvest.org/

Check it out and remember to EAT YOUR VEGGIES!!!!

KM

Hi from the lovely NC Mountains

Hi everyone!
I just want to take a moment to thank my sweet over committed sister for inviting me to be a guest blogger on The Wild Hare. For those of you who have not met me I am her younger sister and live in the mountains of NC near Asheville with the wonderful Mr McFadden and 4 very hairy dogs!!! Today I am knee deep in getting ready for the start of a CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) program that begins tommorow. We are Blackbird Farms a small local farm in Flat Rock NC. We have a cute little website at http://www.blackbirdcsa.com/. I will probably be posting about our program and its highs and lows in the following weeks. This is our first year as a CSA and I am sure we will have some interesting adventures along with our yummy veggies.
Have a wonderful Wednesday !
KM

Off to Inspired - Stories Next Week. HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY, LOVES!

And, Happy Birthday to my one and only dearest sister WONDER TWIN! LOVE YOU DOLL!

Wordless Wednesday - 4/22/2009

Mr. McFadden Has a Birthday

Lots of family folk mean lots of birthday's - and there is certainly nothing wrong with that! We took a trip to the mountains to visit with our dear ones and celebrate Mr. McFadden's big day. We had a super time visiting and talking with everyone, and really enjoyed the day -- and LOVED the deck. We had a pretty good chuckle when Mrs. McFadden told the dogs that they could come in if they went around to the new back door - and immediately, Georgia came round and was let in the house.

The other male dogs? They just kept hanging out at the front door, looking in through the screen, wondering how that girl dog got in the house!

We took a ride to Mr. McFadden's home in the mountains, and had a fabulous tour. We definitely need to come and check that place out again, especially when the apple trees are blooming!

And then we came home for the presents and cake! Look at all this loot - and yes, friends, that is the infamous Birthday Box on top of the pile. We have been exchanging that box in the family for more than 20 years!

Mr. McFadden loved his "road toad" outfit for the motorcycle as well as his other fun gifts.

And everyone loved the cakes (yes, plural) that we dug into afterward.

Love and hugs to you, dear McFaddens. HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

birthday parties - two for the price of one!

With ADR and JRR's birthday's being only a week apart, it only made sense to combine parties - what with everyone's busy schedules and so many fun things to do. So we had a combined family party at their house, and WOW did we have fun. There was great food, wonderful desserts, and lots of family fun.

Beautiful JPR! Happy Birthday!

There were princesses....

and presents....

and handmade jewelry....

and plastic glove balloons....

and a pretty pink purse with a "J" - whereupon many with a "J" in their name took a pose....

JPR and the Pink J Purse!

Mrs. Hanson with the "J" purse

:)

and pretzel writing....

and a super happy group celebration!!!

Wordless Wednesday - Old Man Tucker

Busy week, busy weekend - but let's put it all in perspective.

So, there are lots of posts to catch up on. In the space of a week, Asa turned 10 and Jaya turned 6. We have been HOPPING around here!

Thank heavens we have some folks around that can give us a reality check and remind us what is really important.

Jack and Kai enjoying the peace of the day, together.

Karla's huskies are a great reminder of the simply joy of spending time with each other. And of course, loving the weather, whatever it is!!!

The new rug

The new rug and the happy puppy in the living room.

Mr. Bryant encouraged me to move the old living room rug up above the garage. We had purchased the rug on sale from an outlet shop seven years ago, and though it wasn't the best made rug ever it had served us well. Mr. Bryant thought that we might get several more years of life out of the old thing if it was in a place with less frequent traffic.

The old living room rug, happily installed above the garage.

And so, one evening while I was sick we rolled up that rug (really, a 10 X 13 foot rug is HEAVY) and carried it up above the garage and put it down on the floor up there. It looks great in the garage now, and is a perfect place for monthly book club meetings.

Meanwhile, the living room looked pretty dejected. Without a rug the entire character of the room changed - not to mention that it just wasn't as warm in there. Gizzy and Luka were both out of sorts, trying to figure out what had happened and where to lay down.

So this past Saturday I went to Gaffney and met my beautiful sister for the day, and we shopped til we couldn't shop anymore and we had found a rug. Seeing Karla was wonderful. See, look how lovely she looks. It is so great to be with my so great sissy! Her sweet hubby was off doing some work for the day, and I had the good fortune to spend the entire day with her and that beautiful smile!

The Fabulous McFaddens!

But Shopping? Not so much. You may know that I am one of the people who HATE to shop. I don't like spending money, I don't like all the choices everywhere, I don't like the high prices - even when things are on sale, and the lack of help - or too much help - just makes me angry. Ug. Dearest Karla had to put up with me periodically getting snippy while she also had to put up with me having absolutely no fashion sense at all, not even in my littlest finger.

We looked at clothes, we looked at shoes, we looked at makeup, we had a yummy lunch, and when we showed up at the rug store I really went downhill. They were all too expensive; they were all the wrong colors, the gentleman who was supposed to be helpful just argued with everything I said. For example...

Me "I don't think I like the border in this rug."

He "The border like that is extremely popular in all fine homes
today."

Me "I prefer a rug that is less yellow."

He "This yellow is a beautiful accent color!"

Me "I would like to look at rugs that have a lighter
center."

He "Darker centered rugs show off wood floors better than
lighter centered rugs."

Me "I don't want to spend $3000 on a rug."

He "You are getting an incredible value for $3000!"

Me "I am just not in love with this rug."

He "Well, you won't fall in love with it until it is on your
floor at home!"

Finally Karla sent him away, and chastised me for being snippy. Hmpf.

We kept looking and looking - and let me tell you, pushing these 10 X 13 rugs around is hard physical activity! - and finally another gentlemen who was very kind came to help us. He took the three rugs that we liked most that were in the price range and had them moved off the racks and onto the floor so we could check them out. They were VERY DIFFERENT from the rug we had in the living room before, and I just wasn't sure, wasn't sure, wasn't sure.....

The rug pattern in the sunshine.

And then we bought it. I think I was tired and ready to leave, and just didn't want to admit defeat. So we bought it and had it loaded into the truck and we drove our separate ways home. I was not sure Mr. Bryant would be happy with it. And in fact, I was not sure that I would be happy with it. But when we moved all the furniture and put the rug down Mr. Bryant said yes, he DID like it; although I wasn't sure still. Especially because it was evening by now and you couldn't see all the fine patterns and colors.

The new rug installed, the first evening. Colors and pattern both look pretty muted.

So in the morning we both looked again. Mr. Bryant still liked it - and guess what. I think I do too. I think it is growing on me. :)

A sunshine-y rug border.



It's brown and cream and taupe and gray and yellow and ....
"red and yellow and green and brown and scarlet and black and ochre and peach and ruby and olive and violet and fawn and lilac and gold and chocolate and mauve and cream and crimson and silver and rose and azure and lemon and russet and grey and purple and white and pink and orange and blue!" Oh no, that's Joseph's Coat. (Sorry Rosie, just had to do it!)

It is pretty nice. And it works in the room, even though it is such a totally different color palette from the last rug. And I think you will like it too. Come see!