Best of Mother Earth » Random

Summer Fluffy White Cloud Day

Karen Hanrahan — Tue, 29 Jun 2010 19:42:35 +0000

One excellent barometer for an absolutely perfect summer day is the blueness of the sky and the fluffiness of the clouds.

When combined and viewed from an especially thick patch of grass laying flat on your back

(that’s what I did when I was little – how about you? ) this is what daydreams are made of.

Today on a scale between 1-10, with 10 being the most excellent of all in fluffy white cloud days – was a 12!

A positively stunning example that fluffy white clouds just doesn’t get any better than this.

When lying flat on your back or driving the countryside or perhaps grabbing a quick walk during your work day perhaps like me you feel you can touch those clouds or do just about anything you set your mind to

remember that the clouds are there, at least in my opinion anyway, to foster all that is dreamy about our world.

Take a moment and ponder.

Flicker Image Credit – blueness and fluffyness superbly rated

Ode To Marble

Karen Hanrahan — Fri, 01 Jan 2010 10:13:00 +0000

My Marble taken by Karen Hanrahan

I so adore this transitional time of year – the week in between.
The year behind and the year ahead potential

My thoughts are all over the place.

Full, grateful, reflective and heart filled. 2009 was quite the year.

I recently made a decision.

I let go of my Marble. I decided that she was happier elsewhere. I decided she was happier in an environment that let her be a dog.

I look at this picture and it melts my heart – my goodness I loved this animal.

When I was pending my surgery last winter I needed care for Marble. I asked my Jazzercize instructor who she might know who loves dogs and could perhaps help me. She said .. uh… like — ME!! My Siberian Husky fell for Tracey the moment she met her. Tracey is an animal person. Not just dogs but horses, cats and more. Her home has a huge incredible yard. My Marble befriended Tracey’s two dogs Snoopy and Tim and her many cats, not to mention her entire family. It was cool. Marble stayed with Tracey for six months.

She transitioned well to my move. However and to be truthful — I didn’t transition well to caring for her solo. I found her challenging at times. This dog needed more than I could provide and I wondered if she was happy here.

At Thanksgiving I realized my travels were going to have me away from home. I needed dog care for Marble. Tracey welcomed her again. When visiting I watched Marble run, and run and run. I watched her play with her dog friends Snoopy and Tim. I heard Tracey share an awesome story about Marble and a gargantuan snowdrift. Oh my gosh – I can’t provide a place EVER for this pup to run. She couldn’t run here. No yard. My little house could never offer a huge drift of snow for this dog to lay on. I asked Tracey to keep her. My friend Tracey loves my dog as much as I. She adores her. Appreciates her quirks, her Siberian Huskyness. She totally said yes!

I feel really happy for my dog and ever so grateful for my friend Tracey.

See Marble Run!

My Dog The Truffle Pig

Karen Hanrahan — Sat, 17 Oct 2009 10:25:00 +0000

Why do dogs bury their bones? Mine buries hers in my couch.

Why do dogs scuffle their front and back feet after they “go”? Is that the ”I did it” dance?

Why is it when she has to go she spins like the cartoon character tasmanian devil?

A trainer taught me to keep my dog on a very short leash when walking her. If I didn’t I’d have no shoulder sockets left with the twists and turns she takes. Apparently it’s the ultimate to loose leash your dog – I really can’t until the end of a walk when she’s a little less ADD.

There is currently a wonderful very long stretch of parkway that I let her loose leash along that is covered with a ton of autumn leaves. I adore shuffling my feet through it all.

She gets her super duper sniffing powers in action and is no longer a dog, but a truffle pig. She snorts her way from one end of the parkway to the other.
I often wonder what she smells along the way. Her “truffling” nose is hyper focused and very VERY intense.

Too bad we couldn’t find some truffles along the way – aren’t they like $300 per ounce or something ridiculous like that? Not to mention truffles are positively delicious.

What’s a truffle pig? A pig whose nose leads him to truffles, a rare and expensive underground mushroom.

Or in my dog eat dog world….

It’s my dog who leads me to nowhere, but down the parkway…with her nose.

my dog the truffle pig – pic taken by karen hanrahan

Marble Comes Home

Karen Hanrahan — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 10:06:00 +0000

My dog has been away since December while I recovered from surgery.

We missed her tremendously, visited when we could, and were truly blessed that the family that cared for her loved her as much as we did.

The other day we brought her home and my daughter documented the ride.

This pictoral essay just cracks me up.

note the mouth flapping in the wind

Marble Temporarily Has A New Home

Karen Hanrahan — Sun, 21 Dec 2008 23:31:00 +0000

Our Siberian Husky is graciously staying at my Jazzercise instructor’s place while I have and recover from my surgery.

With the news of my surgery finalized, my number one wish for assistance was to find someone to care for her

I knew once my daughter went back to school I couldn’t manage the dog while casted, risk pulling the plate or re injuring my wrist

Tracy has a huge fenced amazing yard, 2 other dogs, 4 cats and 3 kids. The home is definitely a bustle, yet one thing for sure this family adores animals. Our Marble settled in beautifully.

When Tracy came to meet her here I felt like the two of them fell in love. It was as if they had known each other forever! Taking her over the first time it was clear she could manage the transition. She wasn’t too alpha with the other 2 dogs. The yard alone is a Siberian Huskies dream come true!

When we dropped her off it felt right.

Yet coming back home we never ever realized how much energy she had – that dog filled this space and more. It was an immediate missing.

All her little nuances, sounds, quirks and such …were gone. No one greeted us when we got home.

Tracy emailed or called in Marble reports.

Marble’s first night she had trouble settling down for the night, Tracy stayed with her, reassuring accordingly – Marble would wake up wonder, lick Tracy’s face and settle again. Each night now, my pup is near Tracy’s bed.

I was so touched by this

I particularly love the story of when they brought in their holiday tree and my dog barked at it for over an hour. Yes, that’s a tree. Thank you for sharing.

A very typical Marble antic

The other day I got a call from a very nice man who said I have your dog. Yikes! I gave Tracy a call to let her know the dog was found – poor thing just about had a heart attack. A gate had been left open. For the Siberian Husky escaping comes with the territory. Oooh a gate is open – that is an engraved invitation to “run!” She got as far as down the block when she befriended two young boys – their dad was very cool about all. Marble had found more new friends

We had the opportunity to visit her the other evening. I had no idea what to expect. Would she remember us? Marble is new to us – dog owning is new. We didn’t know.

She completely knew us, it was positively heartwarming. She behaved as she does here, in her Siberian Husky, I have ADD way, it was clear as Tracy had shared how she had completely adopted Snoopy, one of Tracy’s dogs.

Mostly she had made herself part of their family

When it was time to get back …Marble started to nibble and chew on us, she KNEW we were leaving. And as Tracy’s daughter held on to her at the door she was whimpering and anxious. She totally didn’t want us to go.

Wow.

Below are the few pictures we took:

snoopy

marble really likes him

The Boys – Tim and Snoopy

Happy to See Kate

Playful

The Advantages Of A Fur Coat

Karen Hanrahan — Mon, 08 Dec 2008 03:40:00 +0000

We try and keep the thermostat down as much as possibe during the winter

We find that our dog, marble – gets resourceful!

We just think she’s adorable!

My kate took the above

The entire set of Marble pics are here.

Happiness is the family that is going to temporarily house our Marble during my surgery. Our dog already loves you!

My Dog Is A Truffle Pig

Karen Hanrahan — Sun, 19 Oct 2008 21:30:00 +0000

Why do dogs bury their bones? Mine buries hers in my couch.

Why do dogs scuffle their front and back feet after they “go”? Is that the ”I did it” dance?

Why is it when she has to go she spins like the cartoon character the tasmanian devil?

I keep my dog on a very short leash when walking her, if I didn’t I’d have no shoulder sockets left with the twists and turns she takes. While they tell you in dog obedience school that the ultimate is to loose leash your dog – I really can’t until the end of a walk when she’s a little less ADD.

There is currently a wonderful very long stretch of parkway that I let her loose leash along that is covered with a ton of autumn leaves, I admit that I adore shuffling my feet through it all.

This is when my dog is no longer a dog, but a truffle pig. She snorts her way from one end of the parkway to the other. I often wonder what she smells along the way. Her ” truffling” is hyper focused and very intense.

Too bad we couldn’t find some truffles along the way – aren’t they like $300 per ounce or something ridiculous like that? Not to mention truffles are positively delicious.

What’s a truffle pig? A pig whose nose leads him to truffles, a rare and expensive underground mushroom.

Or in my dog eat dog world….

It’s my dog who leads me to nowhere, but down the parkway…with her nose.

flickr image credit

K a r e n H a n r a h a n
Wellness Educator/Nutritional Consultant
Mentoring YOU to Health Success
708.482.0678

Websites:
Nutrition
Weight Loss

Taking the Weekend Off

Karen Hanrahan — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 21:19:00 +0000

I am staying as far away from my computer as possible this long holiday weekend.

Here are some recent shots of our Marble taken by my daughter

Which is your favorite?

in the grass

fur

brown eyed beauty

profile using the portrait setting

Marble Moments

Karen Hanrahan — Sun, 20 Apr 2008 23:13:00 +0000

had a few recent marble moments to share from this last roll of film….yeah I know – film. What can I say it’s what I’ve got.

It’s 4 o’clock and we’ve just completed the tasmanian devil spinning dance at the mere implication of our daily afternoon walk. Leashed and ready to go, we pause at the top of the back door stairs as I, mere mortal, have to pull my act together. In the winter that would mean putting all my layers of clothing on, hat and gloves, etc and struggling with a really funny zipper on that coat

I love that she’s learned to settle herself here at this intermediate ( is that the word i am looking for ? ) moment where just seconds ago she was a complete lunatic about the idea of going out - I can proudly say I thought of the idea to pause, and to teach her to do so, otherwise she’d be doing the tasmanian devil thing at the bottom of the stairs

this is so much more dignified

sometimes she just gives me this look while she is so patiently waiting that has me about melt into a dog ownership puddle of puppy love mush – she’s so endearing to me

can we go yet??

When I first got her I asked one of my dog mentors what’s the day like in the life of a dog ? Truth being – I had no idea. To me it was exactly like bringing home your first child. Now what ??

She and we have really relaxed into a daily routine.

The picture above exemplifies where you will find her most of the day, curled up ever so on the couch looking out the window, solving all the world’s problems. Happy. I feel she’s happy.

Kate I think hoped that she’d be excited by bubbles, she glanced at them…. YAWN!

Letter to the Editor: Please Shovel

Karen Hanrahan — Thu, 24 Jan 2008 22:26:00 +0000

One of the very first blogs I ever visited was that of Franke James, you’ve heard me tout her greenness and the wonderfully unique way she illustrates her views. Recently she posted and illustrated something brilliantly. How what she said spoke to me!! I had been writing a very similar conversation in my head.

I wrote this letter to the editor of my 2 local papers yesterday:

Please shovel.

In the old days our streets were mud and plank.

There were no sidewalks.

Ever wonder why we have sidewalks? Could it be to make our walking commute to town, or to the train easier? Could it be a safety thing? We are definitely a commuter town and many of our citizens use the sidewalks as a safe, swift portal to get to where they need to go.

I walk my Siberian Husky daily on our community sidewalks. This winter my walks have become rather treacherous. See… when the sidewalk is clear I can walk a good 2 miles in about 45 minutes. When the sidewalks are not clear I can’t get more than one house away before having to hit the street for safe ground or shuffle my way along the sidewalk praying I don’t go flying. The shuffling makes me feel like an old person or something, and yet even when I shuffle I have a good 3 slips or scares every time I walk my dog. I don’t like feeling scared and I get mad that I can’t hit my stride

It doesn’t help that my dogs is 70 lbs of lean running machine – I need to and want to walk her for that reason; for her spirit of mind, to exercise her and for my health. I can’t accomplish any of these things if I can’t get my stride.

Why are some sidewalks not shoveled? Where is the concern? Do these people not realize that the sidewalks are there for a reason? Isn’t it a homeowner’s civic responsibility? Are sidewalks a municipality? Perhaps the community could pitch in. Where are the boys who used to shovel from Sunday school?

For those who shovel your walks – I thank you. For those who don’t …perhaps you could.

cracks me up lego snow removal flickr image credit

^{Karen Hanrahan ~ Wellness Educator/Nutritional Consultant/Blog Author
708.482.0678 ~ Websites:}^Nutrition^,^{Weight Loss}^{, and}^{Green Clean}^{as seen on Oprah}

^{Member of BNI – West Suburban BNI: “Chapter Mentor”
Member, Board Member and Programming Chair of}^{West Suburban Women Entrepreneurs}