September 13th, 2011 Tuesday 72* and SUNNY!

We arrived on Labor Day the 5th, the trip was a long one at about 450 miles and a little over 9 hours. It rained most of the way and had stopped about a half hour before we arrive, BUT as luck would have it 6 miles prior to arrival at campground it began to pour down rain and did not stop until Friday. Counties to the east along the susquehanna river we flooding and causing terrible problems and uprooting families from their homes. :(

Saturday we got to go in town and do a little browsing, rain was still happening off and on but did allow us to explore.  Earlier in the week we went with Ken and Kathy to the New visitors center with the restored painting of the war in the Cyclorama. Quite the impressive display with over 20,000 troops painted on the canvas. The size of it is 377 feet by 44 feet tall and was one of four and the only painting known to exist in full. Words can not describe what it is like, the landscape blends right into the painting and you can not tell where the transition takes place. The foreground is covered with authentic items from the day, including carts, weapons, clothing, saddles, cookware, tents and so much more. You are given a limited time as so many people are going through it but you do get probably 10-15 minutes to take it in. It is well worth the $10.50 it costs which also gives you a 1/2 film telling the story of the Battle of Gettysburg and also admission to the museum.

Sunday our friends left for Hershey Pa. for a trade show so we are now on our own to explore. We started by doing the first of 3 parts of the self guided tour. It was a beautiful day with the sun finally shinning. We spent probably 4 hours during this part of the trip, stopping to visit and read the monuments which number close to 1600 I believe! I was in particular looking for the 66th infantry from Ohio, they were formed in Urbana Ohio and served in defending Culps Hill. We finally found the monument and spent some time trying to imagine the mass of it all. The rifles firing the bullets zinging by the yelling the cries of pain. Its all so much to take in and should never be skipped during your life time.

From an email I received, thoughts to live by

Keesh and Major

Dog's Purpose? (from a 6-year-old).

Being a veterinarian, I had been called to examine a ten-year-old Irish Wolfhound named Belker. The dog's owners, Ron, his wife Lisa, and their little boy Shane, were all very attached to Belker, and they were hoping for a miracle.

I examined Belker and found he was dying of cancer. I told the family we couldn't do anything for Belker, and offered to perform the euthanasia procedure for the old dog in their home.


As we made arrangements, Ron and Lisa told me they thought it would be good for six-year-old Shane to observe the procedure. They felt as though Shane might learn something from the experience.

The next day, I felt the familiar catch in my throat as Belker 's family surrounded him. Shane seemed so calm, petting the old dog for the last time, that I wondered if he understood what was going on. Within a few minutes, Belker slipped peacefully away.

The little boy seemed to accept Belker's transition without any difficulty or confusion. We sat together for a while after Belker's Death, wondering aloud about the sad fact that animal lives are shorter than human lives.

Shane, who had been listening quietly, piped up, ''I know why.''

Startled, we all turned to him. What came out of his mouth next stunned me. I'd never heard a more comforting explanation. It has changed the way I try and live.

He said, ''People are born so that they can learn how to live a good life -- like loving everybody all the time and being nice, right?''
The Six-year-old continued, ''Well, dogs already know how to do that, so they don't have to stay as long.''

Live simply.

Love generously.

Care deeply.

Speak kindly.

Remember, if a dog was the teacher you would learn things like:

When loved ones come home, always run to greet them.

Never pass up the opportunity to go for a joyride.

Allow the experience of fresh air and the wind in your face to be pure Ecstasy.

Take naps.

Stretch before rising.

Run, romp, and play daily.

Thrive on attention and let people touch you.

Avoid biting when a simple growl will do.

On warm days, stop to lie on your back on the grass.


On hot days, drink lots of water and lie under a shady tree.

When you're happy, dance around and wag your entire body.

Delight in the simple joy of a long walk.

Be loyal.

Never pretend to be something you're not.

If what you want lies buried, dig until you find it.

When someone is having a bad day, be silent, sit close by, and nuzzle them gently.
ENJOY EVERY MOMENT OF EVERY DAY!

Artwork from a friend:)

A friend of mine that I met on an RV forum years ago is a self taught artist. After Major passed it only seemed appropriate that I ask Karen Hetzer to do some portraits, the one of both our pups, Keesh and Major is done on a screen and is on our RV, from the inside you can not see it but from the outside it shows up nicely when the window is open. :) We liked the work she did so well we had her make us a 5x7 of each dog in acrylic painting. We currently have the paintings at the frame shop getting them professionally framed.

 This is Keesh above

 Keesh and Major during the painting process

 The screen mounted in our window!

And finally Major,

1. My life is likely to last 10 to 15 years. Any seperation from you will be painful to me. Remember that BEFORE you buy me

2. Give me time to understand what you want from me.

3. Place your trust in me. It's crucial to my well-being.

4. Don't be angry with me for long, and don't lock me up as punishment. You have your work, your entertainment and your friends. I ONLY have you.

5. Talk to me sometimes. Even if I don't understand your words, I understand your voice when it's speaking to me.

6. Be aware that however you treat me, I'll NEVER forget it!

7. Remember before you hit me: I have teeth that could easily crush the bones of your hand, BUT I choose not to bite you.

8. Before you scold me for being un-cooperative, obstinate or lazy. ask yourself if something might be bothering me. Perhaps I'm not getting the right food, or I've been out in the sun too long, or my heart is getting old and weak.

9. Take care of me when I get old. You too will grow old.

10. Go with me on difficult journeys. Never say: "I can't bear to watch it", or "Let it happen in my absence." Everything is easier for me if you are there.

REMEMBER THAT I LOVE YOU.

Long life and sad days

May 2nd, 2011 Monday


Well, as always is the part of owning pets the time came for us to let Major cross the rainbow bridge. He left us around 12:30 today. He had led a great full life and was just short of his 17th birthday! We had never had a dog live that long, as all the others the limit seemed to be 13. He far exceeded that by almost 4 years. He came home with Deanna because when she picked him up at the pet store he had his claws locked into her sweater and said she couldn't get him to let go :). The best $20 she ever spent!

Through all the life stages he took he was always a character, from when he was young and would always want to chew your finger if you tried to pet him to pushing Keesh out of his way to be the first out the door. After Keesh left he went through a transition stage of missing his big brother to becoming keeper of the home. He never was the type of dog to allow much hugging, he would tolerate it for about 5 seconds then he was done with it but never minded being petted.
He hated water and anything that would look like water from showers and baths to ponds rivers and puddles. Gradually as in his later years he came to accept getting wet to a degree, for instance if it were raining he would still go outside to potty and wander around and on occasion just walk through a mud puddle! Now if it was pouring down hard he would just stand there as to say "I ain't goin out in that shit!" One thing that NEVER changed was wiping his feet, he could not stand to have his front feet messed with and trying to get them wiped was a big ordeal, hind feet no problem but front feet stay away. Showers never changed either, I always had to climb into the shower to give him one.

A good note is he traveled well with us and always loved it, he would flop down between us in the truck when we were traveling full time and eventually in the back seat (with reluctance) after we traded trucks. His biggest perk when traveling between us was if we pulled out a snack he just looked at us and knew he would get some. If he wanted a drink of water he would just stare at you while you took one. He loved to travel, soon as we started loading the trailer he was up and ready to go, even just when I would start to raise the levelers he knew instantly! Soon as we put him in the truck he was happy and content to wait on us till we were set to go. His time limit on travel was about 2-3 hours then he would stare at me to let me know it was time to pull over, which worked out just as well for me. :) So we were lucky to have him with us that long and he got to visit a lot of states that many people will never get to travel to.

Many years of age started taking its toll on him slowly, first a little stiff to get up or a little reluctant to go outside or the big surprise was when I had to wake HIM up in the morning to go outside, some days I had to literally shake him to wake him up. He had lumps and bumps all over him from small tumors that the vet said were just fatty tumors and she must have been right cause he didn't live to be almost 17 with anything serious coming from them.

His final days he had stopped eating, weeks before he was reluctant to eat his dog food so Deanna would cook him rice and hamburger or chicken or ham just anything to get him to eat. His snacks which were the most important time of the day were no longer a priority and often just left them laying. It was the no eating for days with no interest of food what so ever that told us he had other things going on. The vet thought he possibly had a tumor in his mouth that was hampering his eating. Regardless of what it was we knew we owed it to him not to let him suffer. He never showed any signs of discomfort other than stiffness and we gave him daily medicine for that and it definitely made all the difference in the world for him.
It was our duty as loving parents to save him from pain and suffering, even with the pain it caused us to say goodbye, we kissed and hugged him and told him to tell Keesh hi when he got to the other side, and we know for sure that right now they are chasing each other all over :)

So farewell our beloved Major Pain, you touched our lives to never be forgotten and thank you for all the great entertainment you provided us and protection. Hope we did the same for you!

PS: This is odd but this morning somehow we both slept though my alarm clock going off at 5 am, well ok no big deal I suppose that could happen but the second odd thing was when the guys came in the shop this morning (which I always have opened up and the alarm turned off) the alarm started beeping warning that it was set and will go off in 30 seconds............................the alarm blew a fuse and did not set the horn off! I do not have a religious bone in my body but somehow have always believed in spirits I guess, but some how I think it was Major telling us "Great job, take the day off and get some sleep, I'm in good hands with Keesh now and having a ball!"
We miss and love you Major, Mom and Dad!

So to close this post out here is my favorite poem,

If it should be I grow frail & weak,
And all that's left is peace in sleep,
I know you'll do must be done,
to end this fight that can't be won

I don't fear death as Human's do.
So let me try to comfort you,
Come...let us take a quiet stroll,
And share some quietness soul to soul.

Do not grieve, it should be you,
Who must decide this thing to do,
We've been close, we two these years,
Don't let your heart hold any tears.

You will be sad, I understand,
But don't let grief then stay your hand,
For on this day, more than the rest,
Your love & friendship must stand the test.

We've had so many happy years,
That what's to come can hold no fears,
You'd not want me to suffer so...,
When the time comes, please let me go.

Take me where my needs they'll tend,
Only....stay with me until the end,
Hold me close with soft good-byes,
Till life's bright light has left my eyes.

I know in time, you too will see,
It is kindness that you do for me,
Although my tail it's last has waved,
From pain & suffering I've been saved

The final sound I need to hear ,
Is your soft voice upon my ear,
Your loving face will fade and dim,
As the rush of Heaven closes in.
-Unknown

To honor his love for traveling we chose to have him cremated. Now when we camp some place he will travel with us and we will leave a pinch of him behind. Some of his ashes will be buried with his big brother and some will be held to be mixed with ours when we go. He was such a big part of our lives in the past that he needs to remain so in the future.

Catch up

April 1st, 2011 Friday Eveneing

Wow does time ever fly! Here it is going into the forth month of the new year! Not sure what happened to the first 3 months. Work is really busy so that is comforting considering all the people still struggling to find jobs.

Spring is here calendar wise but not weather wise although we get teased once in a while. Tomorrow 47 and possible rain. We are having a cleanup day at the Sportsman's Club and I am fixing everyone Biscuits and gravy for breakfast. Then grilling hamburgers and brats for lunch! That will teach them to ask me to participate! :) I have a handgun shoot that I started last year and it was a pretty big hit so that starts back up next Sunday. This year I am adding a Rim fire rifle shoot so it will be interesting to see how that goes.

Vacations this year so far are a Rally with the Heartland folks back in Goshen Indiana this year, and hopefully make it back to Gettysburg for a week or so. There is so much history in Gettysburg I don't think you could ever see it all.

Our friend Malia Lane will be stopping by this summer for a visit on her way traveling to Michigan. She is doing a publish piece for Motorhome magazine on the Michigan State parks. We are very anxious to see her again as we have not seen here since 2006.

Our other friends that will stop to visit will be Terry and Dale and Ken and Kathy! It is always a pleasure to see them all :)

Gotta say Hi to Patti! Love ya sweetie!