Good Bye Gunner

Today I'm not going to write about museum or historic place I went to in June, but will jump back on that soon.

Today is a sad day for my family. We had to send our Handsome and Loving boy, Gunner off to the Rainbow Bridge.

Gunner and Tucker

(Sadly, I don't have a pic of them on the computer as puppies.)



He was about 8.5 years old, we got him and his brother Tucker in February of 2005. I remember that very night. I was with my grandparents and it was a cold, stormy night. I think it was a snow storm. My mom called and said we all had to come over right away, in a very (good) excited voice.

We pulled in and there was my mom on the porch with two little Boxer puppies 8-10 weeks old (give or take some). My mom has wanted Boxers since before I can remember. They were the funniest little things, with lots of sloppy kisses and their little wiggy, wiggy, wiggy butts. (inside joke)

We got very lucky with these guys, puppies aren't usually available in February.

Gunner was the one my Dad chose, he became the strapping brut you see there on the left and Tucker is the taller, skinnier one my Mom chose. The story goes that my Dad picked out Gunner, then my Mom picked up Tucker and my Dad held a finger and said "one!", so we ended up with two. And they were floppy eared Boxers, just what Mom wanted. 

We have been lucky with some great pets/friends, dogs and cats, one cat 'who shall not be named', Matty,  was a little witch but we loved her, she lives with another woman now, and is a mouser. And loves it, we hear.

Gunner and Tucker have been a riot since day one. Running, jumping after bugs, bunnies in the field, boxing each other as Boxers do. Quite a circus, especially when Mom added chickens and Bella, her little Shih-a-poo. Daddy's princess. They loved car rides too. When I was home in June I took all 3 of them all the way to Florida, Mass with me in the convertible. It was a good hour or so drive to get there and back. So I'm glad I got to spend that time with all of them.

But sadly, Boxers are known for cancer, bad hips and ACLs. We've been lucky with no cancer, but the ACL and hip on Gunner we had to bear. A few years ago we had his ACL 'fixed', but since then with his size and him wanting to run like a pup, it hadn't helped. Recently, Mom and Dad had him checked to possibly due the surgery again but unfortunately the arthritis had built up so badly that there was nothing we could do except for a particular weekly shot, which could only do so much. But as of late, he had to be carried up all the stairs, it hurt to stand and wouldn't get off the couch.

So, last night they fed him an awesome meal of Burger King, steak and chocolate ice cream. I know he had to be very excited for that. And today, my parents brought him on his last ride down to our family vet. I'm so glad I got to hug and kiss and say Good bye to him when I had the chance.

We will never forget you, Gunner. We Love you. We will miss you. Please wait for us at the bridge.

 

Gunner

RIP August 28, 2013

 

The Rainbow Bridge

inspired by a Norse legend

 



By the edge of a woods, at the foot of a hill,

Is a lush, green meadow where time stands still.

Where the friends of man and woman do run,

When their time on earth is over and done.

For here, between this world and the next,

Is a place where each beloved creature finds rest.

On this golden land, they wait and they play,

Till the Rainbow Bridge they cross over one day.

No more do they suffer, in pain or in sadness,

For here they are whole, their lives filled with gladness.

Their limbs are restored, their health renewed,

Their bodies have healed, with strength imbued.

They romp through the grass, without even a care,

Until one day they start, and sniff at the air.

All ears prick forward, eyes dart front and back,

Then all of a sudden, one breaks from the pack.

For just at that instant, their eyes have met;

Together again, both person and pet.

So they run to each other, these friends from long past,

The time of their parting is over at last.

The sadness they felt while they were apart,

Has turned into joy once more in each heart.

They embrace with a love that will last forever,

And then, side-by-side, they cross over… together. 1

 

1. http://www.newrainbowbridge.com/NRB/rbpoem.htm

 

Votes for Women

Susan B Anthony Birthplace Museum

Susan was born February 15, 1820, in Adams, Massachusetts. She was brought up in the Quaker family traditions. Quaker is defined as "The Religious Society of Friends is a movement that began in England in the 17th century. Members of this movement are informally known as Quakers, a word that means, "to tremble in the way of the Lord." In its early days it faced opposition and persecution; however, it continued to expand, extending into many parts of the world, especially the Americas and Africa."2

After teaching for 15 years, she moved her energy and power to the Temperance movement. For the last 40 years of her life, she was one of the most legendary American Civil Rights Leaders of the time. She died in 1906 at the age of 86, but until that day she did not stop fighting for Women's Rights. The Susan B Anthony Birthplace house was the headquarters of the National American Woman Suffrage Association when she was its president.

(Sorry for the glare) but this hangs over the stairwell in the house, it is one of the original banners that the women marched with. c. 1910.

Here is a painting of Susan Brownell Anthony as an older women. I think fighting with all your might, would give you white hair too.

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The house, is two-stories. The bottom floor consists of 5 downstairs rooms and the upstairs was converted into office space. The gift shop is a separate building just a few feet from the house.

First, the guide brought us into the Kitchen/dining room, had a large table with different instruments for cooking, and a fireplace. This room has artifacts that you can touch.

Second, was what they believe was a storage room for excess food, possibly, in the room also one of the walls is open, so you can see how it was built. It was different slats of wood, and in between each slat was this type of like mud/hard substance with horse hair. The horse hair creates a stronger hold.

Third, was a bedroom, where Susan was born along with all of her siblings. She was the second oldest of seven siblings, along with sadly, a few were stillborn, if I remember correctly. She remained close to her sisters all her life. Susan herself never married.

Houses in the 1820s did not have indoor plumbing (that came about 1930s), here are chamber pots, that would be emptied each morning, either by a servant if you could them or yourself. Usually they would have lids, like the one on the right with the fancy doily.  

Next, room was her father, Daniel's store. Who was a cotton manufacturer and abolitionist himself. Also, he was big in the temperance movement, he ran his store as a temperance store- no alcohol. He was a stern but open-minded man who was born into the Quaker religion. He did not allow toys or amusements into the household, claiming that they would distract the soul from the "inner light." 3 

Finally, but not least, was a room that was turned into a timeline room. As you went around the room, if portrayed newspaper articles, stories, quotes from Susan and other Abolitionists, Suffragettes, Labor Activists.  

On November 18, 1872, Anthony was arrested by a U.S. Deputy Marshal for voting on November 5 in the 1872 Presidential Election two weeks earlier. She was sentenced, it was just a $100 fine, but not imprisonment; true to her word in court ("I shall never pay a dollar of your unjust penalty"), she never paid the fine for the rest of her life, and an embarrassed U.S. Government took no collection action against her. After her trial Anthony petitioned the US Congress to remove the fine in January 1874. 2

Here are plaques, pins and sashes worn by women, in parades and town meetings. 

Just like what Mrs. Banks wore in Mary Poppins. 

Next up on A Mile Above the Syrup: Hancock Shaker Village

1. http://susanbanthonyhouse.org/index.php 
2. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quaker_history
3. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Susan_B._Anthony

Norman Rockwell Museum

Here it is finally. Sorry it has taken me so long.

I got to go home for 2 weeks this year to visit my family and go to one of my oldest friend's wedding. Congrats again Ash and Greg!

One of my favorite places I visited while I was home was the Norman Rockwell Museum,. Normally I wouldn't have gone because it is a little on the pricier side, $16 per adult. Thankfully, the museum I work for in Golden, CO is part of the NARM (NARM website ) and as a staff member we are allowed the privilege to use it. This allows us to see museums for free, if the other museum is also part of NARM.







The Norman Rockwell Museum (NRM)is located in Stockbridge, MA. A quaint little, quiet town tucked in the hills of the Berkshires in Western Mass. "Founded in 1969 with the help of Norman and Molly Rockwell, Norman Rockwell Museum is dedicated to the enjoyment and study of Rockwell’s work and his contributions to society, popular culture, and social commentary."1 "The Museum houses the world’s largest and most significant collection of Rockwell’s work, including 998 original paintings and drawings. Rockwell lived in Stockbridge for the last 25 years of his life."1 His studio was moved from downtown Stockbridge to the museum grounds it is open to the public, May through October. The museum is a not-for-profit educational institution.





Norman Rockwell was born in New York City, NY, February 3rd, 1894, Norman Rockwell always knew that he wanted to be an artist. "At age 14, Rockwell enrolled in art classes at The New York School of Art (formerly The Chase School of Art). Two years later, in 1910, he left high school to study art at The National Academy of Design."2

His best known work even today people know it from The Saturday Evening Post. My mom actually owns one. I couldn't tell you if it's original or a replica, I'm going with replica myself. This is the one she has-

 

I definitely could tell you that one of his most popular paintings is the Thanksgiving gathering. With everyone smiling around the table, with the heads of the household serving up the turkey.

 

Even with these amazing paintings there was controversy with some of them, depending on the time period but that is definitely a story for another time. The Saturday Evening Post, is still around to this day, but I can definitely tell you it is not the same as when Mr. Rockwell was doing the covers. I was very happy to get to see this museum. It is definitely a must see! I was fortunate to be visiting the museum right after the newest temporary exhibit opened in the museum. The 1937 art works of Disney's Snow White. It was amazing!

 

I would have to say my favorite piece in the museum (besides of course the Disney exhibit) would be Stockbridge Main Street at Christmas

(sorry the pic is very small)

 

 

 

 

"In 1973, Rockwell established a trust to preserve his artistic legacy by placing his works in the custodianship of the Old Corner House Stockbridge Historical Society, later to become Norman Rockwell Museum at Stockbridge. The trust now forms the core of the Museum’s permanent collections. In 1976, in failing health, Rockwell became concerned about the future of his studio. He arranged to have his studio and its contents added to the trust. In 1977, Rockwell received the nation’s highest civilian honor, the Presidential Medal of Freedom."2 He passed away November 8th, 1978.

 



Next up on A Mile above the Syrup: Susan B Anthony Birthplace

1. http://www.nrm.org/about/museum-history/
2. http://www.nrm.org/about-2/about-norman-rockwell/