Chautauqua Institution - Week Two

July 4th Weekend
Since moving to Burlington in 1999, I don't think I have been in the US for a Fourth of July. It certainly spurred my patriotism to be present for the festivities! Saturday afternoon the Chautauqua Community Band played rousing renditions of favorite patriotic and American songs. The Saturday night Pops Concert included the 1812 Overture with the audience popping paper bags at the cannon shot moments. Awesome! Apparently, this is a common occurrence in recent times when the Overture is played, but it was my first experience. Following the concert, we went to the lakeshore to see the flares around the lake and the Mayville fireworks accompanied by patriotic songs being played by the Bell Tower carillon.

The decorations around the grounds were heart-stirring and magnificent.









The Chautauqua Choir sang two patriotic anthems in the morning service. The Evening Song Service, which is a choir concert with some hymn singing, was on theme as well. Sometimes there is a bit too much liberalism expressed here. There was one congregational hymn ("...The poor are rich, the weak are strong, the foolish ones are wise, Tell all who mourn: outcasts belong, who perishes will rise..."and a responsive reading ("...From greed and selfishness, from a society in which the irch get richer and the poor get poorer, compassionate god, deliver us...") which was beyond my conscience to participate.

Sunday afternoon, Jared (organist and choir director extraordinaire) led a Blessing of the Animals at the lakeshore! Guinness must have recognized the spiritual significance and reverence of the occasion. He could not have been better behaved! In fact, he was a favorite of the crowd. Everyone wanted to pet him. I wish old Mr. Billy Goat had been there!



I noted that a "Daily Chautauquan" photographer, Emily Fox, was taking closeup photos of him. Overnight, I was dreaming he would be the poster boy on the front-page! But alas... I ran for the paper first thing! They didn't even include an article about the Blessing. I have since learned that the photos were taken as filler when needed. So he still has a chance for fame. I went to the newspaper office to see if I could buy a photo she had taken. So hard to choose! She had taken several shots of the group with Guinness's glowing face in the lower right corner. At $15 each, I chose only two: one showing the group with Jared leading --

and a full view of Guinny.

I am still considering going back to fork out another $15 for one of those darling shots with just his cute face in the lower right corner!

The first blessing was bestowed upon a cat -- the only cat and a remarkably calm cat. He rolled on the grass with all the dogs present!

Guinness receiving his blessing:


While at Chautauqua, I always go on the weekly Bird Walk. Other than a Great Blue Heron flying overhead, the clan of Purple Martins living in the gourds provided them on the lakeshore, and a Hairy Woodpecker, I did not see any spectacular or unusual birds on the weekly Bird Walk, but I did see a rosy breasted grossbeak out our condo window. I also saw a tiny gray bird with yellow beak and a song which is a rattle, but have yet to identify him.

When I returned to the condo after the Bird Walk Tuesday morning, an empty clear glass bowl was sitting IN Guinness's water bowl -- unbroken! It took me a second to figure out why it was there. A bunch of 6 bananas had been in that bowl sitting on the counter directly above his water bowl! He ATE ALL 6 bananas!!!! No more treats for him that day!

While walking Guinny around the property, I heard an unusual bird song as we passed a clump of trees. I stopped, turned around, and looked for the bird in the trees. I did not see it, but a crow loudly cawed at me from a nearby rooftop. Then I realized it was a baby crow chirping its baby song! When we returned to that spot several minutes later and heard the baby again, I stopped to gaze for the nest. This time, two crows cawed their disapproval of my attention!

The temps last week were chilly. This week is steamy! Here is Guinny after a hot walk.


On Tuesday, Grant's cousin Angela and her dog, Louis, came to spend the week with us. Little Louis took control as the Top Dog immediately and put Guinness in his place. Guinness is such an Omega dog that he defers to anyone. Notice he tried not looking a Louis to see if Louis would let him pass.

That didn't work, so then he looked at me pleadingly to assist him in passing Louis and leaving the kitchen!

These pictures were taken one of our walks around the property to show Angela around.
The President of Chautauqua Institute's home.


The Bell Tower through the trees.

This week, I went on the Tree and Garden Nature Walk for the first time. It was very informative about the species of trees here, the care they are given, the challenges they face, and the replacement for each tree lost. Prior to twenty years ago, basically only shade plants could be grown on the grounds. Now that some of the larger trees are being lost, there is more sunlight and a greater variety of perennials can be planted.

He took us to the Butterfly Garden and explained that there never are butterflies there. They are not sure why unless it is the proximity of the fire station, the large colony of bats on the property, or what. As he was saying this, I pointed out a white butterfly fluttering a few feet from us! He said it must be a moth. ha! A few minutes later, there were three white butterflies hovering around the garden. Again, he insisted that they must be moths. I looked up moths that are active in the daylight. None of them are pure white.

I also attended the Bat Talk Wednesday afternoon. I experienced the bats Tuesday evening while walking back to the condo at dusk. They were flitting around high among the trees except along the pathway to my condo -- they were flying all around me so fast that they were gone before I realized they were there! The Bat Talk dispells all the myths which most consider to be fact, and replaces their image as wonderful creatures with whom we cohabitate.

Thursday, July 8
Guinny and I took a walk down by the lake. It was very hot, so I let him go in the lake where a couple of other dogs were playing fetch in the water.

Then we met an artist painting a lakeshore scene.


Tonight was a Chautauqua Symphony Orchestra concert. They played the Violin Concerto in D Major by Tchaikovsky with the Concertmaster, Brian Reagin (Concertmaster during the regular season at The North Carolina Symphony in Raleigh), as soloist. He was FABULOUS!!!! What a wonderful rendition he played of that concerto under extremely hot conditions. Everyone was to their feet within seconds!

Chautauqua Institution - Week One

Saturday, June 26
We began our vacation at Chautauqua Institution with a Jersey Boys concert. What fun! I crooned along with most of the songs!

The 5000 Amphitheater was packed out!

Our friends, Ruth and Con, are here for Week One as well.

We are very pleased with our accommodations for this year. Guinny thinks it is cool too!

Sunday, June 27
Morning Worship at Chautauqua has to be experienced to comprehend its awesome qualities -- the Massey Organ played by a master with all the stops pulled, the 150 voice choir, 5000 congregants singing Holy, Holy, Holy sending chills down your spine, and being a part of the Chautauqua traditions.


Monday, June 28
Today is our 41st anniversary! However, Grant had to go back home to work. We intended to have a celebratory dinner last night, but I was sick most of the day. Grant made me some chicken noodle soup.

With my newspaper-boy absent, I took Guinness with me to Bestor Plaza to buy a "Daily Chautauquan." There was a very long line of people stretched the entire length of the Plaza waiting to obtain a free ticket to the Monday Afternoon Chamber Concert. Several of the ticket hopefuls had quiet dogs lying sedately at their sides -- pictures of the perfect pets. Guinness, being Guinness, was excited to see the dogs. His aim is to meet every dog that comes within his range of vision (or smell, as the case may be). He saw a delightful Golden Retriever. He knew this dog wanted to be his best friend and proceeded to bark at full voice while jumping and tugging at his leash 20 feet away. His wannabe friend stood, but did not bark or pull. As is my norm, I declared, "He is very friendly. He just wants to play." Another person in the line declared in a deep, Billy Goat Gruff voice, "We can see that." I just rolled my eyes. What can one say?

Later Monday morning while walking without Guinness, I encountered an 18 month old, chocolate brown, jack-in-a-box Australian Labra-Doodle. I commented on how cute the dog was, how playful, and that I have a dog who would love to play. I asked if she ever goes to the Doggie Park on the grounds. She replied that no one is ever there, so I asked, "How would you like to meet there tomorrow morning at 9:00?" She accepted our invitation!

Obie and Guinness met promptly at 9 AM the next morning. Soon Baxter appeared followed by two relatives. They had a fabulous playtime and I took many cute pictures with my new iPhone only to lose them when I uploaded them. ??

The next day I took my REAL camera and caught some good shots:



Every day all week an assortment of dogs came to our morning playtime! One day we had eight dogs, and one of them was a small dog. He held his own, as they usually do, though he was slimed from all the big guys drooling over him.


And another fun day with canine friends. One brought a stuffed Elmo. Guinness stole it and would not let anyone else have it. It was quite hysterical! His dodging maneuvers were remarkable.


The theme this week is "Writing Week" with Roger Rosenblatt and Friends. Each morning Roger interviewed one of his author friends. We heard Jim Lehrer, Alice McDermott, Alan Alda, Anne Fadiman, and Marsha Norman.

Roger is on stage with Alan Alda. I stood in line to have Alan autograph his book, and I also had his wife autograph one of her books for Gabe.
Roger is very funny and keeps a lively conversation going. He has a new book out -- "Making Toast." They lost their 38 year old daughter December 8, 2007. He and his wife moved in with their son-in-law to help care for the three children and plan to live there indefinitely. Making toast is his contribution to the family's daily schedule.

Thursday, July 1
I learned this morning that a friend in Chicagoland succumbed to cancer at 3 AM. Even when you expect the news, it is hard to assimilate.

This year, we chose to live off campus, directly across the street in a very nice dog friendly condo, as we could not find an acceptable place on campus which accepts dogs. The closest gate to our condo is for vehicles, but pedestrians can also enter there. I was on my way to buy a "Daily Chautauquan," lost in thought about Peg and praying for her family when I walked past the gatekeeper who also was oblivious to my presence, being occupied with the cars coming in and out. My eyes were gazing unfocused at the ground, seeing nothing with my brain orbiting in space when the black and white gate bar came down on my face and nose crashing me back to reality. Not one of my prouder moments.

Friday, July 2
Friends, Emmett and Carol, came to spend the weekend with us and attend, with me, the two required rehearsals to have the privilege of singing in the Chautauqua Choir. It is an honor to sing in the choir consisting of 150 excellent to professional voices (don't ask why I am in it!) and to be under the direction of Jared Jacobson, an incredible musician and organ master of the Massey Organ.

Emmett is equally as goofy as Guinness and even encourages him. Emmett left his bedroom door open, so guess what happened --

Worried Parents

The ER vet last night indicated that the leg would look much better this morning. We didn't think it did, so returned to the Emergency Animal Clinic. Plus the drainage from the incision had increased and had blood in it. A true emergency came in a few minutes after we arrived. The technician, who had seen us last night also, checked his leg and didn't think it looked that bad. We waited more than an hour for the vet, then went home, as it was time for his next anti-biotic pill which he certainly needed.

Pet Poisons

I arrived home from NC two weeks ago yesterday. Two weeks ago today, my computer case zippers were open as I was slowly getting things back to normal. Secret: I eat at least one square of dark chocolate per day. Shhhhh.... It's good for me; right?! Half of a bar of 72% cocoa content Heart Healthy chocolate from our local chcolatier was in my case. Three guesses what happened, and the first two don't count. This IS a blog about Guinness!

It was Sunday morning. I called the Emergency Animal Clinic. They insisted that he needed to come in to have vomiting induced. cha-ching, cha-ching. So I tried to call my vet nephew. He was in church. I called my neighbor with a lab. She said to give him some rice to dilute the chocolate, plus they did some online research. We decided that he had not had enough to be an issue unless I noted a change in his demeanor. Vet nephew called later from a noisy restaurant, and concurred that he probably had not had enough. And he was .... just fine! :)

Today, my son sent this site. A good one to bookmark!!! It says to not go to the emergency vet unless the dog is losing consciousness or having seizures. Good information! I knew most of this already, but no grapes?! I am sure I have given him a grape or two. uh-oh.

http://green.yahoo.com/blog/guest_bloggers/43/foods-poisonous-to-pets.html

Do Dogs Cause Marital Strife?

They certainly can! My mother had a little poodle when she met my Dad. Teddy did NOT like Daddy. Mom tells me that there was some definite tension in the beginning. My Dad LOVED dogs, but Teddy did NOT love my Dad.

Here are my parents on their wedding day, July 25, 1933, with their minister (the inventor of the gumball machine!) and Teddy keeping guard.


Texas Cooper here...

Today, a friend (Sarah -- who readopted Aria after Karin's death) posted an hysterical tale about her dog Cooper which proposed a wedge in her and Chris's blossoming relationship. Check it out -- http://twoinayear.blogspot.com/search?q=cooper.

On the Guinny Trail

This morning, I asked a fellow doggie park friend to take Guinny's and my photo on the bike path leading to the ballfield where we play with our best friends every morning.

Unfortunately, my stylish polka dot boots are not obvious. My unstylish waistbag is front and center, but important! It carries poop bags, treats, camera, and Blackberry.

Post Birth; Pre Death

We walked past several robin egg shells this morning. Guinness took no note, but I did! :)

I know you don't care... ha! but Kevin will! :)

Guinness continues to exhibit his new level of maturity. A 14 year old shepherd was at our park this morning. Guinness eagerly ran to him hoping for a playmate, then realized as soon as he was close that this was a dog to respect for his senior status. But the owner was healthy, so he politely requested attention from him. "Politely" is the key word in that sentence!

The Killer

Today was our date for a heartworm test. As you know, Guinness LOVES going to the vet's office. LOVES! This experience would be a good test of any potential 5 year old behavioral changes. When we turned on the street where the office is, he knew where we were going and was dancing. He couldn't wait to get out of the car. He pulled me across the lawn and through the front door as I declared, "Here we are!" There were three owners and three dogs waiting. He wanted/tried to meet them all as I attempted to restrain him. He nearly leapt over the counter to see "his girls." The barking stopped after a few minutes (sign 1), but the energy level remained off the wall. One of the newer assistants thought a treat might calm him down. He appreciated the treat, but that is not a calming activity.

They now have a scale in the waiting room. Two assistants who know Guinness appeared and wanted to weigh him. I guess, they have forgotten! No one can weigh him but me, and usually it has to be in private for him to settle long enough to register a weight. However, today, he sat still on the scale for me with others present (sign 2)! 77.8 pounds.

As our wait lengthened, Guinness relaxed a bit. First he sat (sign 3).

And eventually he even lay down (sign 4)!

When it was finally our turn to go into an exam room, the waiting room erupted in laughter at his eagerness. Again it was a long wait, and again he lay down (sign 5)! When the vet finally appeared, he greeted Guinness with, "It's Killer Guinness!" When I mentioned that I think Guinness's behavior is improving, he said, "He is a 35 year old male! He won't slow down until he retires." He devoured the vet's attention, had his first treatment of Revolution, and we were on our way. Well, we had to pay first, and, since new dogs were now in the waiting room, he was bonkers again, knocking my purse off the edge of the counter, spilling the contents on the desk of the office staff.

As we approached the door, an elderly woman and tiny Yorkie were approaching on the other side. As she started to open the door, I suggested that I hold the door for her while they walked inside, then we exited. I could see a potential disaster with him racing for her dog, knocking her off balance at the top of stairs as she tried to hold a heavy door. As it was, her Yorkie effectively told Guinness off for being Guinness, and the lady slapped the little dog's face for being impolite. Oh, my.... :\ They entered, and we exited.

I would pronounce: definite improvement! Age is not all bad!

We Finally Learned the Truth

... about Guinness's tongue gash at his pet hotel last August. The original story can be seen at http://dogsofourlives.blogspot.com/2009/08/what-else-can-happen.html.

What really happened is -- they were walking Guinness past the food cart, a two shelved cart with food for the dogs on the top shelf and trash on the lower shelf. As Guinness approached the cart, he smelled goodies on the lower shelf and tried to lick an opened and empty can, gashing his tongue. This is similar to what we expected had happened. You mean that other dogs can walk past a food cart without lurching to glean some treats?

Anyone familiar with labs would expect one to reach for either the trash or the food on top. Someone was not thinking that morning...

Will I See My Dog in Heaven?

How can heaven be heaven if my dog is not there?! I have gathered opinions of theologians and some others on this issue, plus I have written out my thoughts on the topic. I was pleased to find this book at Calvin College during The Festival of Faith and Writing. I set it on the stairs to place beside my bed for reading sometime soon. After I read this, perhaps I will post my ideas on this topic which, I hope, will be bolstered by this book.

I found Guinness running around the house with my book in his mouth!!! You can see some scratches on the cover, but everything is in tact. He rarely ruins anything anymore, but he might leave teeth marks.


Now I wonder... maybe Guinness will not go to heaven after all... if he is going to steal my books!!!!

Signs that Guinness is Maturing!

Today I began to see some indications that Guinness is actually growing up!!!

First, we had window washers come today. I tied Guinness to the tree in the side yard so that he could watch them and perhaps receive some pets. Normally, as soon as they enter the yard, he begins barking and jumping hoping for some attention. Not today. Silence. He watched them work but did not interrupt them or beg for attention. Shocking!

Also today, my computer guru came to fix the sync problem between my Outlook and Blackberry. Normally, I have to close Guinness into a room so that he will leave the guest in our house alone. Amazingly, he did NOT jump on Shawn. He lay down at Shawn's feet and behaved like a "normal" dog!!!

In recent days, I do not hold on to the leash when we are in our side yard. So far, he has not tried to run away!

I am seeing definite progress in development! Finally!

5 Year Old Antics

He may be 5 years, yet he thinks he is 5 months. Still a pesky character! Today, I noted that one crocheted placemat was missing from the kitchen table. I went upstairs to see if it was there with a naughty dog. Not only was he on our bed with the placemat, but he also had one of my Crocs. None of this is unusual. It is all par for the course with Guinness.


He still is not looking very happy. :\ His age must be weighing on him...

5 Year Old Photos

I wanted to take some photos of my 5 year old, but I was not too happy with these when I saw them on screen. He doesn't look like a happy dog! ?? He looks worn out or something. Maybe he is feeling his age?

Guinness Turned 5!

April 21 is his birthday.

Here is what he looked like at 5 days old, April 26, 2005, with his canine and his human moms:



We had NO idea what we were in for!!! LOL

I didn't have time to go to doggie park on his birthday, but we went today and took treats for all the canines. He had 5 dogs at his party -- the appropriate amount -- one per year of the birthday boy.

Seamus and Sidney on the left. Crash, the chocolate, playing with Holly, and Guinness wandering off to the right.

After playtime, he went with me 30 min. from home for my hair appointment. He is so smart! I was daydreaming and missed a turn off a major boulevard. He knew I missed the turn, even though we still had 3 more turns to make before our destination!!! He went crazy that I goofed. Oh, my... Last time, I had allowed him to play at a doggie park on the way home. He remembered and started reminding me as soon as we were on the road where the park is. Smart boy! I knew exactly what he was saying. So he had more frolicking fun with more dogs. A couple came in with their miniature dog, Tim Horton's coffees, and sandwiches. They sat at a picnic table within the doggie park, and Guinness jumped right up on the table. He knows Tim Horton's and he wanted some!!! They had to stand outside the fence with their human treats to have some peace. Silly people! What were they thinking? LOL

Coyote sighting

I took Guinness out for a final run and saw a coyote in the driveway behind our place about 50 ft. ahead in the rainy dark. He stared at us and Guinness looked attentively at him, then he walked into the grass and we went inside! I made Grant take him out again later.

All this winter we have had a friendly rabbit in our yard. When I take Guinness out in the early morning and in the evening, invariably the bunny is there. He does not seem afraid of us. He will let us walk up to within 5 feet of him, and as along as Guinness stays still, he will continue nibbling on whatever. But Guinness does not stay still. He eventually bolts and the bunny runs a few feet. I have wondered if I tied Guinness to a tree, could I get closer to the bunny and make friends? For the past month, there has been no bunny in our yard. I fear the worst.

One morning recently, a pile of chickadee feathers was in our lawn. No sign of a carcass. I have wondered who did it -- a hawk or coyote? BTW, a little chickadee has an enormous amount of feathers!!!! No wonder they stay warm through the winter!

I did a search for what coyotes eat: "A coyote is mainly a meat eater, so he hunts rabbits, mice and small animals like that. A coyote is carnivorous (flesh eating). Typically they feed on small game, fruits, insects, rodents, rabbits, small birds, poultry." There are my answers? Yet, would a coyote pick all the feathers out? A hawk might do that. ??

Urban Wildlife

Sometimes I feel like we live in the country due to all the wildlife we see! Of course, there is a conservation area right behind our development, yet the natural area and our home border a six-lane highway.

This morning while taking Guinness for his morning walk, we were beside the fence at the back. A small river is at the bottom of the ravine. There were three animals swimming down there! They had very long tails, but were too large to be rats. Two disappeared under the water and the third swam away and vanished under a log. After considering the options, they were muskrats looking exactly like this one:

Pizza Night

We baked a frozen pizza for our dinner tonight and only ate half of it. After dinner, I was exhausted. I cleaned up the kitchen, but my tired brain forgot to put the leftover pizza away. A few minutes later, I heard the crinkling of a tinfoil pan and knew what it was. That's right -- "was." The boy enjoyed a fair share of pizza and was happily playing with the noisy pan.