A Story that Gives Me Goose Bumps

Kentucky Greetings, WoodyWatchers! It is Tuesday afternoon and our family has been busy little bees all day long. We were gone all last week and today we have been catching up on emails, phone calls, paying bills, and cat naps. I was planning on writing about all the neat things we did last week. We had a PAWS-atively perfect week. Don't worry, I will tell you about it next time, but I had to share this story.

In my last post, I shared a photo of one of my favorite families! I met this family in 2004 and we have been life long buddies ever since. I could tell you the story of how we met, but their Mom can do it much better. So, take a minute and click on this link

www.adventuresinhomeschooling-butts.blogspot.com

and go to the second post on the page. (You might have to copy and put it in the address bar.) Every time I read this story, I get goose bumps. When Chloe and Mom read it, I saw a tear or two - or twenty. Mom says it is her favorite story of all stories. It is mine too!

We love you Butts Family! Thanks for the Goose Bumps! By the way, do you really have 4 snakes in your house???

Hope everyone has a great day! Work and Dream like a BIG DOG!

WOODY

An Afternoon in Paris

Kentucky Greetings, WoodyWatchers! We hope you have had a terrific Monday! Our family is loading up the Woody Bus, headed out of town for a week of presentations. My day has been spent making sure my Scooby backpack is loaded with all the things I need for life on the road. Speaking of being on the road, last Thursday our family spent the day in Paris! We love Paris in July! Paris, Kentucky that is!

We spent the afternoon at the Paris Bourbon County Public Library. When we visit, it is just like walking in the front door to our home. So many people that we have met over the years come to see us. We catch up on the latest news, see how much everyone as grown, and tell stories from the past year! We also snap lots of family photos! And, we learn new information! Let me tell you about what we learned on our last visit.

Mom and I were talking about our latest book, Mr. Dogwood Goes to Washington. While we were talking, Dad put the illustration from Chapter 8 on the screen. The illustration shows me with my cap over my heart, reciting the Pledge of Allegiance. Our illustrator, Mr. Asher, included an illustration of the photograph Raising the Flag on Iwo Jima originally taken by Joe Rosenthal. Mr. Rosenthal took the picture in 1945 during the Battle of Iwo Jima during World War II. It shows 5 United States Marines and 1 United States Navy corpsman raising the American flag on top of Mount Suribachi. Anyway, one of our friends who was at the library explained that the one of the United States Marines in the original photo was her cousin. His name was Franklin Sousley and he was a Kentucky boy! Isn't that cool?

Well, we love to research so we came home and looked it up. We learned that Franklin Sousley was born in 1925 in Fleming County, Kentucky and graduated from Fleming County High School. He joined the Marines after he received his draft notice. He later died in the Battle of Iwo Jima and received a Purple Heart after his death. It made us stop and say thanks to Mr. Sousley and all the other men and women who have fought for this great country! Our family will never look at that photo the same way again. I've said it before but I will say it again - if you ever see a military person, stop and say thanks! It is the very least we can do!

I better sign off for now. Chloe can only find three of her four flip flops so I need to help her find them so she can finish packing! This week will be exciting for our family. We will be doing presentations in Owensboro, Benton, and Paducah. We will be meeting Cleo (see the previous blog)for the first time and will even appear on Broadway! I can't wait to bark all about it!

Have a great week! Thank a military person, learn some new facts, keep up with all your flip flops, and Work and Dream like a BIG DOG!

WOODY

Cleo and her Wagon

Kentucky Greetings, WoodyWatchers! Chloe and I are constantly saying that we have the best job in the entire world! How could we not like traveling around in the Woody Bus with our family and seeing new places? But, the very best part is meeting new people! Just this past week, we crossed paths with Cleo.

Remember when I told you that I had seen Dr. Campbell about the pesky bean in my nose? Well, after our visit, Dr. Campbell told me about another little dachshund he cares for in his practice. This little wiener dog's name is Cleo. Unfortunately, Cleo had a much more serious problem than something in her snoot; she was suffering from a heart problem. Cleo's vet in Indiana, Dr. Susan, noticed Cleo's heart problem and thought Cleo should see a specialist, so she sent her to Dr. Campbell in Louisville. In fact, her heart stopped beating one time, but Dr. Campbell and the great staff at Metro Vet Specialists worked and worked to get Cleo's heart beating again. Of course everyone wanted Cleo to live, but she had a special reason for living. You see, like us, Cleo has a job.

Cleo lives in Evansville, Indiana and her mom takes her into several nursing home and assisted living facilities (a place where older people who may need a little help live). Cleo goes in and cheers up the residents, listens to their stories, gives them hugs, and brightens their day. When Cleo was sick, all her friends missed seeing her and even sent Cleo get well cards. Well, Cleo did get well! In fact, not only did Cleo get well, but she returned to work. Dr. Campbell gave Cleo permission to visit her friends again, but told her to take it easy. Obeying Dr. Campbell's orders, her mom bought her a wagon. Now, Cleo goes into the nursing homes and assisted living facilities riding in her very own wagon with her name on the side! Talk about traveling first class! I guess if you are going to have a nice set of wheels, you need cool outfits too. So, Cleo always dresses the part!

I put a few photos for you to see. I couldn't put them all. (Cleo has more outfits than our entire family put together!) Chloe and I picked out a few favorite photos to show you - like the one in her rabbit ears. The second photo is of Cleo dressed as Minnie Pearl. (In case you don't know who Minnie Pearl is, she was on this funny show called Hee Haw - the name is funny all by itself! Minnie Pearl wore a hat that had a price tag hanging down. She would say, "HOW-DEE!") The last picture is of Cleo and Dr. Campbell. I promise to put lots more on the blog in the next few days! Chloe and I have laughed at all the funny outfits Cleo wears! We can't wait for you to see them too - especially the one with Cleo in her bonnet! And, the best part is that we are planning on meeting Cleo within the next few weeks! I can't wait to see what she is wearing!

Hopefully, you can meet Cleo too. If you do, please do me a favor and don't mention her being sick. She doesn't know she is sick. She thinks she is a young healthy pup, and we don't want to tell her otherwise. I'm not a doctor but I think I might know why Cleo has a heart problem. I think it is because her heart is so very big and is made of pure gold! I may mention that to Dr. Campbell the next time he checks out my snout. I know he is a smart man, but he might not have thought about that. I'll confer with him. (I am already starting to sound like a doctor!)

Chloe is looking through some fashion magazines to find a new outfit for Cleo. She is reading Lad & Lassie now! I think I will go help her!

Have a great day! Work and Dream like a BIG DOG!

WOODY

Happy Independence Day

You're a grand old flag
You're a high flying flag
And forever in peace may you wave...

Kentucky Greetings, WoodyWatchers and Happy Independence Day! Mom, Dad, Chloe, Frannie the Body Guard, and I hope each of you is having a terrific Fourth of July! We love holidays - any kind of holidays - but the patriotic holidays are our very favorite! I never really understood the importance of Independence Day until our family spent time in Washington, D.C. researching our last story, Mr. Dogwood Goes to Washington. We learned that Ben Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, and other men known as our founding fathers wrote the Declaration of Independence - declaring our freedom from Great Britain and making us our own free country. The Declaration of Independence was adopted on July 4, 1776. Now, over 200 years later, Americans still celebrate our freedom!

Chloe and I were searching on the internet for interesting facts about the United States of America. Since our latest book was filled with facts that actually had meaning, we thought we would share a few facts we didn't include in the book. A couple of these have absolutely nothing to do with anything, but are just plain fun. Here are our favorites:

1. Ohio is the birthplace of more Presidents than any other state - eight.

2. Thomas Jefferson, one of our founding fathers, is one of only two people to accomplish a so-called "triple crown": serving as Secretary of State, Vice-President, and President. (Can you name the other one who accomplished the "triple crown?")

3. The official colors of the flag are "Old Glory Red," white, and "Old Glory Blue."

4. Fireworks were originally invented in China for entertainment purposes.

5. It was once illegal to take a bath in the wintertime in Indiana.

I read that last one to Mom and she said, "Woody, don't get any ideas!"

Since the bath idea was out of the question, I asked Mom if Chloe and I could shoot off fireworks tonight. Before Mom even opened her mouth, Frannie the Body Guard stepped in and said, "Absolutely not! Too Dangerous for wiener dogs!" Our body guard runs a tight ship - always cautious when it comes to our safety. At least Mom and Frannie gave us permission to watch the fireworks tonight, but in order to do that, we have to take an afternoon nap. So, with that said, I better sign off and close my eyes!

Have a great day! Wave your American flag proudly, sing patriotic songs with all your heart, and take a bath in both summer and winter - even if you live in Indiana. Oh, and Work and Dream like a BIG DOG!

Woody

Should auld acquaintance be forgot
Keep your eye on the Grand Old Flag!