Family and Friends Poetry

As I said in the last one, poetry about family and it's importance- for everyone. All of us need a little comfort at some points in life, and for those of you who don't, may these poems comfort you.

Friends


Friends listen,
Friends forgive,
Friends are there to help you live,
Never afraid,
To lend a hand,
They try to make you feel quite glad,
Even when your feeling blue,
Your friends are there,
So loyal and true,
They always hate to see you blue.


Pets Who Care


I walk in my house,
Tired out from play,
My pets are there to help me out,
All throughout the day.
My puppy brings my pillow in,
And I lay down my head,
My kitty brings the cookie tin,
And tucks me into bed.
And if I have a nightmare,
Mom is there for me,
But every single little pet,
Is part of family.


Happy New Year!
Maddie

A Trip To NJ

Hello from NJ! Though I am away from my normal Think A Thought base, I can still do my writing due to my Grandma's new internet connection. So for the rest of the week, everyone will be getting regularly scheduled Think A Thoughts.

It's good to be back with my family, back where I came from. Everyone is always happy when we go up there, and it's nice to get away from things, to relax. We always get a good meal, love, and a good family get-together. It's nice to see old friends again.

To finish this very special Think a Thought, I am going to give you a poem about family and it's importance. The next Think a Thought will also be family, holiday, and happiness related in poetry. Here we go. Enjoy, and Happy New Year!
Maddie

Family


Family is important,
Family is true,
Even if your far away,
They're always there for you,
If your sick they'll heal you,
But not with medicine,
They'll heal you with they're loving care,
To show you that they're always there.

Christmas

Christmas was a big success for me and my family. We all made out like bandits in the gift section, and also in the candy section. My stocking was stuffed to the brim with candy ... as was Ashleigh's. You should have seen her face when she bit into a lemon gummy bear! She spat it out right away.

Now, not only were our stockings stuffed, but under the tree was stuffed too! Me and Ashleigh had a great time opening all our stuff up, but not before I gave Mom and Dad their presents. I had given Mom and Dad their gifts in the form of gift baskets. They enjoyed them.

Some of my favorite gifts that I got were: My radio, along with some CD's Dad gave me. My Wizard101 game card, which gave me  a Sun palace ( a very large and cool Wizard101 house ), a giraffe pet, and tons of other stuff. I also liked my Littlest Petshop toys I got, which included a tree house set up.

Well, all in all, that's how my Christmas went. It was a very nice one. I hope your Christmas went well too.

Maddie

More Poetry, Sorry

I am very sorry about this, but I am listening to my history as I type. Poetry is easiest. So sit back and enjoy. Once again, sorry.

History

The pieces of our long-lost world,
All our mysteries are unfurled,
Cleopatra mummified,
Museums hold it all,
Long lost sculptures,
Bits of bone,
History is here.

The Free Man

Fred was free,
He could run,
He could laugh and have some fun,
He had no taxes and no bills,
His whole world was full of thrills,
He could eat and walk away,
No money did he have to pay.
This may seem like fantasy,
But someday,
Our world will get there.

Poems, Poems, and More Poems

The Lighthouse

The ship sails by,
The lighthouse glows,
The ship sails on,
But lighthouse knows,
That those who do not heed her glows,
They shall be lost forever.

Christmas Time

Snow and ice,
Sugar and spice,
Christmas time draws near,
Cookies dipped in sugar,
And apple pie with cream,
A bowl of mashed potatoes,
Can put you in a dream.
A turkey stuffed with stuffing,
Dances out of view,
Then mistletoe and holly,
Hung above a pew,
A midnight mass is stunning,
From a choir view.

The Forest Mountain

Deep in a forest,
Beyond the sky,
There is a place where you can fly,
Go to the mountaintop,
Up in the clouds,
Let your troubles go,
Free fall through a sky of blue,
And know that you won't hit,
When gravel bottom comes around,
You'll float right through the air.

Lucky Pup

I am watching my owner type on her machine again. It seems that it's all she ever does! All I get is LUCKY! GET OUT! LUCKY! LUNCH! EAT IT NOW! As it is stuffed in my face. Now I am taking a nap. It has been a long day. I was out in the woods again; I caught whiff of a good scent and followed it all the way up to a dead mouse. I carried the mouse back with me and laid it in the front yard to gnaw on, but I was called in for lunch.

Lunch was decent, I much prefer table food, but what am I to do? I am still small. My biggest adventure today was when I got chased by a pack of wolves ... OK, I am exaggerating a little. I just went over to the neighbors and  got chased by Misty a little.

I am really worn out from all of this. I am going to take a well deserved nap. Don't bother me! I bite when you wake me up while I am dreaming! GRRR! OWNER! STOP THAT RACKET! YOU'LL WAKE THE PUPPY!!!

(Maddie)

Christmas Ball

Today I had big time fun with Ashleigh and Dad. We held the very first Nef family Christmas ball! I spent a lot of time getting Ashleigh dressed up in one of my old nightgowns so it looked like she had a dress with flounces in it. Then I put on a fancy dress myself, and went downstairs to set up the "ballroom".

The ballroom was the living room. I magically turned it into a ballroom by turning on some small lights and our tree. Then I set the table so it looked nice, and practiced dancing with Ashleigh ( Who by the way is now a dancing star ).

I was going to make a secret dessert, but Dad said no to it. I instead ended up making a cherry jello that STILL isn't ready. But aside from that, the night went great. Dad dressed up, and all of us danced. We ate meat pie for dinner, and hershey kisses for dessert. If you think you can handle the stress of a ball, than go ahead and try one. Good luck to you!

Maddie

Haircut

Yesterday I went for my second haircut in my entire life! I know it's hard to believe it, but I am 10 and have only had my hair cut twice. Once upon a time, I used to have hair that hung down passed my butt. But that was way back when.

When I was 8, I got my first haircut ( let's skip the story in which Mom tries to cut my hair, and gives me a yucky do. ) Anyway, I thought my hair was pretty short then. I got it cut to shoulder length. It was nice, but it still got too many tangles. But yesterday, I found out about real shortness of hair.

I first had to have all my knots removed, which was a real bummer. But from there on out was fun. I got my hair cut shorter than last time ( because family reads I won't tell how short), and Dad says it frames my face well. I owe it all to my wonderful nanny, Nancy, who took me for my haircut. Thank you very much!

Merry Christmas,
Maddie

I Wish You A Merry Christmas

This think a thought is very special. I am wishing everyone I know a very merry Christmas, for family and friends alike.

Grandma, I cherish every time I visit you. I look forward to visiting you and Grandpa in NJ for New Year's. Merry Christmas!

Aunt Michelle, I enjoy spending time with you and Uncle Rick when we visit. You always find something fun and creative for us to do. I will see you at New Year's. Have a lovely Christmas!

To all the rest of my family, have a very merry Christmas, and a happy New Year. See you soon!

Hanshi and Shihan, thank you very much for the karate lessons. They have taught me greatly. Merry Christmas!

To all my friends and teachers, thank you for the lessons you have taught me, and for the friendship that will never be forgotten. Have a Merry Christmas!

To Beth, my nanny, thank you for all the lessons you have taught me. You will never be forgotten. I am sorry about your recent loss. Merry Christmas!

To Nancy, my nanny, thank you so much for my haircut. You have taught me many valuable lessons. I don't know how I can ever pay you back. Love ya! Merry Christmas!

For all of my readers and followers, have a merry Christmas and a happy New Year. I know I will.
To my Mom, Dad, and sister, I will always love you, and I am sorry for all the wrong things I have done this year, as I know there have been quite a few. I forgive you for any wrong you have done this year also.

Merry Christmas, ( and a happy new year)
Maddie

Poems A-many

Ok, I am getting wrapped up in poetry, but I can't help it. There is a poetry contest for a game I play, Wizard101, and the grand prize is $60 worth of crowns ( an in game currency.)! Writing for my blog helps me get inspired. I will let you know if I win or not when the time comes, but for now, enjoy the poetry!

Good and Plenty ( I cannot stress how good Good and Plenty are. )

Pink and white,
Candy covered,
Yup, your right!
Good and Plenty,
Good and Plenty,
Eat 'em all night!

The Junkyard

My house is like a junkyard,
With clutter everywhere,
Even if you look outside,
You'll know a dog lives there.
There's wood chips on the walkway,
And clothing on the stairs,
And downstairs in the office,
Rocking music blares.
My house is like a junkyard,
With treasures to be found,
The only time it's quiet,
Is when I'm sleeping sound.

I'm Sick
I've got a scratchy throat,
And my head aches like a rock,
My feet are cold as ever,
And the puppy stole my sock.
I'm told I need a medicine,
But which type is right?
Grape is just plain yucky,
And the cherry's for the ducky,
The raspberry's to blame,
And banana has no aim,
So I am sent home with no medicine for me.
Then my Mom looked in the cupboards,
 And she saw something I'd like,
She pulled it down and showed me;
It was orange for the tyke,
I was a little doubtful,
And thought it would be bad,
But if I had not tasted it,
Boy would I be mad.
The medicine, it cured me,
And here I am right now,
Hoping that tomorrow,
I won't look like a cow.

More Poetry

I am having a super poem idea, and I am going to share it with you. Here are a few more poems for you!

Lucky pup was out to play,
It had snowed quite hard that day,
The ground was gone and full of white,
The snow piles, they were quite a sight.
The puppy was up to his knees,
In stuff that really made him sneeze,
But then his owner called him in,
But Lucky pup,
Shall be out again.

Time, time, there's not enough,
No more time to do fun stuff,
Times to eat and times to rest,
Times to eat and times to test,
You'd think that I'd be sick of time,
But I've run out of things to rhyme,
Simply 'cause I've got no time.

I'm, Dreaming, of A White... WHAT!?

I know it seems impossible, but up here, in the state of snow before Halloween, there is no snow to be found! So much for a white Christmas. This is the first time in my life I have ever had a not white Christmas. The weather better shape up, 'cause if it doesn't, I'm gonna get mad! Christmas isn't Christmas without snow angels and snowmen. So, if you are bored of no snow, here are some things you can do to cheer up.

1. Go on the computer. It exercises your brain most of the time. If you like playing games, a good place to start is www.miniclip.com. It has a large variety of games, and you'll be sure to find one you like.
2. No computer? No problem. Try practicing something you've never done before, like the hula hoop. I got quite good at it with one days practice.

3. If it's nice weather, you can take a short walk. These are especially fun when you bring your pet if you have one. If not a pet, see if a friend can come with you.
4. Go to a friend's house, or have a friend come to yours. You'll think of something fun to do.
5. If your STILL complaining that there is nothing to do, GO CLEAN YOUR ROOM! AND I DON'T WANT TO HEAR THAT THERE IS NOTHING TO DO AGAIN! EVER!

Well, not really.

Cya later,
Maddie

The World of Byzantium 3 Page Report- Enjoy!

The World of Byzantium, Compare and Contrast: Why did the East succeed while the West failed? A 3 page report, by Madison Nef

Constantine, the first Christian emperor, founded Constantinople, a second Rome,  in what is now Turkey. He lost Rome to the Ostrogoths because he focused on Constantinople more than his own city. Constantine made Constantinople the capital of the East. He set it up between two seas, so it was basically safe.

The emperor in the West, Honorious, did not take good care of his land. He lost it to barbarians. Alaric, one of the trusted people, is sent to Italy to kill. He does not, just scavenges for food. He quickly becomes an enemy. Stilicho, a successful army leader, was the hero of the Goths for helping them take over Rome. The barbarians were let into Rome as they were good for an army. The Rhine river froze, and armies were sent over to stop Alric from killing people.

Stilicho is executed by Honorious, which causes uproar with the barbarians because Honorious has executed one of their kind. They join Alaric. Attila the Hun is the leader of the barbarian group called the Huns.  They wreak havoc for Italy until the Pope ceases battle by talking to Attila. The Huns collapsed after Attila killed himself by over indulgence. His wife was blamed, but he had killed himself. That is the fall of the West Roman empire.

Attila

Attila the Hun was the mighty and ferocious leader of the Huns. He led them for 19 years, and would have led them longer had it not been for his death in early 453 A.D.. He was described:  Short of stature, with a broad chest and a large head; his eyes were small, his beard thin and sprinkled with grey; and he had a flat nose and tanned skin, showing evidence of his origin. He is described clearly like an Asian, though there is no surviving proof of what he looked like. His name in Bulgarian is translated “ universal ruler”, but this still proves nothing of his origin.

 Attila planned to attack the Visigoths by making alliances with the Emperor Valentinian III, since he had a good portrait in the west already. Valentinian’s sister, Honoria, sent Attila a letter and her engagement ring as a plea for help so she would not have to marry a Roman man she did not love. Attila, taking the message as a marriage offer, sent for her at once. He asked for half of the empire as a dowry, but Valentinian would not allow it. His mother forced him into exile rather than kill his sister.

Constantine

Constantine was the 57^th Roman emperor. He ruled 306-337 A.D.. He defeated emperors Maxentious and Licinious during civil wars in his reign. He started a ‘ New Rome ‘ named after himself, Constantinople, in 330. He is known for being the first Christian emperor, and turned from Pagan belief, though most emperors were supposed to dress the same, eat the same, look the same, and have the same beliefs. He changed the belief.

Just after Easter 337, Constantine became seriously ill. His wish before death was to be baptized in the Jordan River, and he started leaving Constantinople for hot baths in the town his mother lived in. On the way back one day, he died, leaving his wish behind.

Why The East Didn’t Fall

The Eastern empire was under the reign of Constantine. He was balancing the use of coinage, unlike the West, were gold was doing poorly. After defeating the Visigoths in 332, he reconquered Dacia, and was planning to attack Persia next. When Attila the Hun died, Constantine had a stable relationship with the remaining Huns, who would later fight in the Roman armies.

After many reigns, Justinian I came around. He survived an ample attack on his palace in which over 6% of his own men and townspeople died. He had a very wise wife named Theodora, whom people disliked. The emperor had married her for her wisdom, not for her beauty. He depended on her to help him run the kingdom.

The Persians proved to be a handful, so Justinian gave them 11000 pounds of gold in order that they would not attack. In doing this, he was able to set his attention on the West, which needed help.

Comparison of the Eastern and Western Portions of the Roman Empire

Quality	Eastern	Western
Population	Dense	Sparse
Society	Urban	Tribal
Education	Literate	Oral
Law	Written	Customary
Economy	Commercial	Agricultural
Exchange	Money	Barter
Living standard	Wealthy	Poor
Language	Koine	Mixed

As you can see from above, the West was not doing too good.  The East had riches, good citizenship, everything. The West, however, had poor money, teaching, etc.

Justinian

Justinian was the great Roman emperor. He ruled 527-565. He is known for his great ambition to reconquer the lost western half of the Byzantine empire. He married a beautiful young woman named Theodora, who was very smart and helped him run the kingdom. He almost depended on her.

 Justinian was one of the most important figures of late antiquity and the last Roman Emperor to speak Latin as a first language. Justinian was struck by the plague  in the early 540s but recovered. Theodora died in 548, perhaps of cancer, at a relatively young age; Justinian outlived her by almost twenty years. Justinian, who had always had a keen interest in theological matters and actively participated in debates on Christian doctrine, became even more devoted to religion during the later years of his life.

When he died, on the night of November 13–14 of the year 565, he left no children. He was succeeded by Justin II, who was the son of his sister Vigilantia, and married to Sophia, the niece of Empress Theodora. Justinian's body was entombed in a specially built mausoleum in the Church of the Holy Apostle.

All in all, the Eastern empire was better in many ways than the Western.  The West let all of the following happen:

• ·         Gold runs out, and currency becomes brass, and not precious metal anymore.
•               Barbarian army that rebels
• ·         Not good army base
• ·         No good living situations

The East did not let their money conditions get out of hand. They stuck with gold and survived. They had basically everything that the West did not.

The Fall of Rome

 Constant warfare required heavy military spending. The Roman army became over-stretched. The barbarians, who had been conquered, and other foreign mercenaries were allowed to join the Roman army. This over-used gold. The Government was constantly threatened by bankruptcy. The cost of defending the Empire, the failing economics, heavy taxation and high inflation was another reason why the Roman Empire fell. The majority of the inhabitants of the Roman Empire failed to share in the incredible prosperity of Rome.

 The flow of gold to pay for luxury goods led to a shortage of gold to put in Roman coins. Roman currency was devalued to such an extent that a system of bartering returned to one of the greatest civilizations the world had ever known. The knowledge that the Barbarians gained of Roman warfare and military tactics by serving in the Roman army were eventually turned against the Empire and led to the sack of Rome by the Visigoths led by an ex-army soldier Alaric.

Life became cheap - bloodshed led to more bloodshed and extreme cruelty. The values, the ideals, customs, traditions and institutions, of the Romans declined. Imagine if all your traditions and customs just blew up! The basic principles, standards and judgments about what was valuable or important in life also declined. The total disregard for human and animal life resulted in a lack of ethics - a perverted view of what was right and wrong, good and bad, desirable and undesirable. Any conformity to acceptable rules or standards of human behavior was being lost.

Rome had fierce foreign enemies. There were great Barbarian armies consisting of warriors such as the Visigoths, Huns and the Vandals. The final death blow to the Roman Empire was inflicted by these Barbarians. The city of Rome was sacked by the Visigoths in 410 and by the Vandals in 455 signaling the disintegration of Roman authority and the Fall of the Roman Empire.

Dictionary Definitions Of Honor, Honesty, and integrity

Honor

' A mark, token, or gesture of respect or distinction.' That's how the dictionary defines honor. Now I will give you a real life story example.

 Two boys were walking along a road through a field, when they came upon an old coat and a badly worn pair of shoes. Off in the distance a farmer was working his field. The younger boy thought it would be fun to hide the coat and shoes, and then wait in the bushes to see the farmer’s expression upon finding his things missing. The older boy thought about that, but then told his friend that the farmer must be awfully poor to have clothing so worn. Instead he suggested that he would put a silver dollar in a shoe, then they could hide and watch the expression on the farmer’s face. 


Silver dollars were worth a lot to a boy in those days, but the boys agreed that this was a good idea so they each did it. By and by the farmer came out of the field and put his foot in one shoe. He pulled his foot back out, reached into the shoe, and withdrew the coin with considerable surprise. The farmer looked around and couldn’t see anyone, so proceeded to put on the shoe again, and then to try the other one. Finding the second silver dollar, the farmer knelt on the ground and prayed aloud to the Lord, rejoicing because he would now be able to help his wife, who was sick, and his children, who had no bread.

That lesson was worth far more to the boys than $2.00.

Honor means choosing right over wrong, even when it's tempting to make a mistake. The 2 boys learned this lesson when the farmer discovered the money, and even though the money could have helped the boys, it helped the farmer more.

I think that the boys made a smart move. Not only did it give the farmer a needed gift, it gave the boys a feeling that they did something good, a feeling of pride. I think everyone, including myself, should try to live like that.

Honesty

The quality of being honest, integrity.

'Lets say I tell you President Bush has a tail. And for some crazy reason I convince you and you believe it. You run around telling everyone what you think is true. Yes, you are being honest. But your word has no integrity.' I pulled this one off of Yahoo!, and let me tell you, now I completely understand the difference. So here is honesty.

Once upon a time, long ago, there was an emperor who loved nature. He loved his garden and everything in it very much. Now one day, the time came when the emperor must choose a successor. Since he loved nature, he decided flowers would help him choose. He told everyone in his kingdom to come forth to the palace. 

On the outskirts of the village lived a small girl named Serena. She had always longed to see the palace, and she ran  to it when she was called. Once everyone was there, the emperor gave everyone seeds and told them that whoever brought back the most beautiful flower would rule. Serena took good care of her seed, but despite her good care, the flower pot stayed empty. Finally the day came to show the emperor the flowers. Serena brought hers, and everyone else had pretty flowers. Finally, the emperor said, " Did you bring me an empty pot? Serena answered, " I took good care of it, but it would not grow." " Dear child, I have not any idea were the others got their seeds from. The ones I handed out were roasted and would not grow. Thank you for being honest with me. May you reign long!"

By not cheating, Serena won the kingdom. The others thought they could get away with cheating, but obviously, that did not work out too well. Liars never succeed.


I think I learned my honesty lesson today. I don't want to bore my readers to death with repeated honor and honesty Think A Thoughts, and I also know deep down that it's not ok to lie, because it leaves a stain on your pride.

Integrity

Steadfast adherence to a strict ethical code.  

Here is your integrity story.

Many years ago, Al Capone virtually owned Chicago.  Capone wasn't famous for anything heroic. He was notorious for enmeshing the windy city in everything from bootlegged booze and prostitution to murder.

Capone had a lawyer nicknamed "Easy Eddie." He was his lawyer for a good reason. Eddie was very good! In fact, Eddie's skill at legal maneuvering kept Big Al out of jail for a long time.

To show his appreciation, Capone paid him very well. Not only was the money big, but also, Eddie got special dividends. For instance, he and his family occupied a fenced-in mansion with live-in help and all of the conveniences of the day. The estate was so large that it filled an entire Chicago City block.

Eddie lived the high life of the Chicago mob and gave little consideration to the atrocity that went on around him. Eddie did have one soft spot, however. He had a son that he loved dearly. Eddie saw to it that his young son had clothes, cars, and a good education.

Nothing was withheld. Price was no object. And, despite his involvement with organized crime, Eddie even tried to teach him right from wrong. Eddie wanted his son to be a better man than he was. Yet, with all his wealth and influence, there were two things he couldn't give his son; he couldn't pass on a good name or a good example.

One day, Easy Eddie reached a difficult decision. Easy Eddie wanted to rectify wrongs he had done. He decided he would go to the authorities and tell the truth about Al "Scarface" Capone, clean up his tarnished name, and offer his son some semblance of integrity. To do this, he would have to testify against The Mob, and he knew that the cost would be great.

So, he testified. Within the year, Easy Eddie's life ended in a blaze of gunfire on a lonely Chicago Street. But in his eyes, he had given his son the greatest gift he had to offer, at the greatest price he would ever pay.

Police removed from his pockets a rosary, a crucifix, a religious medallion, and a poem clipped from a magazine. The poem read: 

The clock of life is wound but once, 
to tell just when the hands will stop 
At late or early hour. 
and no man has the power 
Now is the only time you own. 

Live, love, toil with a will. 
Place no faith in time. 
For the clock may soon be still. 

Eddie's choice was a difficult one, but it showed a good example for his son. He had honor to know what was right, and integrity. He knew that Capone was putting words into his mouth, and decided to tell the truth.


Difficult choices are in everyone's life at some point or another. They have been in my life quite a few times. Everyone has to make them. Whether or not they are good ones, it depends on you.


Good night,

Maddie

Recipes For Success

Hiya! Seeing as Christmas is coming up, I thought that you might like a fantastic holiday recipe. How does sweet cinnamon buns, dripped in icing sound? Or blueberry pie? I think I will give you the blue berry pie.

Blueberry Pie

Prepare crust using desired recipe. Roll the dough into a thirteen inch round, fit it into a 9-inch pie pan, and trim the over-hanging dough 3/4 inch all around. Refrigerate. Roll the other half of the dough into a 12-inch round for the top crust and refrigerate. Position a rack in the lower third of the oven. Preheat the oven to 425 degrees Fahrenheit.
Combine and let stand for 15 minutes:
5 cups blueberries, picked over
3/4 to 1 cup sugar
3 1/2 tbsp quick cooking tapioca
1 tbsp fresh lemon juice
1/8 tsp salt
Pour mixture into bottom of crust and dot with:
2 tbsp unsalted butter, cut small

Brush the overhanging edge of the bottom crust with cold water. Bake pie for thirty minutes or until juices from berries bubble.
ENJOY!

Well, now you can surprise your family with deluxe pie from the oven on Christmas or any day. Hope you enjoy it.

Maddie

Another Story From Lucky

Such good smells, and I'm blocked off from them because of something called a baby gate. That gate is my least favorite object in the house, except maybe the brush. I sit by my mistress, wagging my tail ever so slightly and using puppy eyes on her so she will let me go up to the other end of the house. I gaze dramatically down the hallway, then look back at her hopefully, but it is of no use.

No one falls for puppy eyes now-a-days. My momma used to tell me I was so charming, anyone would give me table morsels. I guess that's not the case, because at every FAMILY, emphasis on FAMILY meal, I am shut out! I am part of the family too, right? Right? Right.

'Pad-pad-pad-pad' That's the baby. She walks on me and slaps me more than she pets me, and my paws are usually broken after trips from her. I must have a worried look on my face, because my mistress is glancing over at me. I go up half a step, to see if she will pay more attention to me. I glance back at her, but she is still clacking away on a machine she calls a computer.

I slowly trot under the desk that she works at, but as I do, my mistress calls me. "Out Lucky!" she yells. I groan and drag my feet. Time to do my business. I'll be back!

Lucky
(aka Maddie)

2012: The Prophecies

I'm sure that most of us know the prophecy of the Mayans for next year. For those of you that don't, the Mayan prophecy was that the world would end on December 21st of NEXT YEAR!!! Of course, there are many more prophecies than that.

To get back to ending of the world, in April 2011, the world saw the largest take of tornadoes recorded in the US. Throughout 2011, there has been a massive incline in storms. Expert German decoders claim that the Mayans predicted a new era, not an apocalypse. The hieroglyphics that were translated said nothing about the end of the world.

I don't think that it is possible for the world to end. I think that it's possible for a stormy 2012, but not the end of the world. Loads of people don't believe in it, and neither do I. The only thing I am worried about is if Friendly's will close it's doors to NH or not, as it has been going out of business recently.

Another prophecy is that solar activity will start, but only if leaders make the right move. One false step and the sky will show signs of a third great war. This isn't really a prophecy, it just shows that we had a lack of sunspots this year, and that people are worried about there being even less of them.

Massive destruction. More earthquakes. Not something I want to mess with, regardless if the world is ending or not. If there is massive destruction, though, I pray that it doesn't strike NH. I can't imagine what an earthquake would be like up here.... Mountains splitting, etc. .... Well, I don't think any of these things are true, but I am getting worried about the earthquake. What if Lucky was outside and ... Oh!


Cya later,
Maddie

Back to The Poems

Diamante

Dog

Playful, Furry

Playing, Chasing, Barking

House, Collar, Woods, Stray

Wild, Dirty

Wolf

Cinquain

Dad

Loving, Hard-working

Makes good pulled-pork

Kind, Works Very Hard

Teacher

Sonnet

Sad, sad, puppy,

Locked up in a crate,

Sad, sad, puppy,

His lunch he has not ate.

Mad, mad, puppy,

He's treated like a kid,

Mad, mad puppy,

Do you know what he did?

BAD! BAD PUPPY!

The puppy pooped his crate,

Bad, bad, puppy,

To dinner he'll be late,

For his mean old owner sealed his fate,
and locked bad puppy in his crate.

Poetry Bonanza

Due to my studies in homeschooling, Dad suggested putting up these poems as I am studying different types of poetry this week. The rest of this week's Think a Thoughts will be poetry and the different types of poetry. Hope you enjoy,
Maddie

HaiKu

Poetry

Poetry can touch your soul,

In ways you'll never fathom,

It's your soul laid bare.

Lymric

Young Girl From Kentucky

I knew a young girl from Kentucky,

Who everyone thought was so lucky,

She was rich and was smart,

And had talents with art,

And a sister whose singing was sucky.

Acrostic ( my personal favorite )

Margaret is my middle name.

A DSI is my dream toy.

Dunkin Donuts coffee is one of my favorite drinks.

I have a puppy named Lucky.

Sitter for my sister when Dad needs me to be.

Only Nef to own a prize winning dog.

Nef is my last name.

Christmas

Jingle bells, Jingle bells, jingle all the way! Christmas is just around the corner, so start wrapping those presents! Ok, so maybe I am exaggerating. Christmas is 3 weeks away, but for a 10 year old, it seems like forever. I love Christmas. Who doesn't, you get free gifts! But of course, with every holiday comes an important meaning, and this one is most important of all. The birth of little baby Jesus is what made the holiday.

I have a few Christmas traditions that I try to follow, like Christmas cookies. You just can't have Christmas without cookies! Well, you can, it just won't be as good. Here is the recipe I use for successful Christmas smiles:

Rich Rolled Sugar Cookies ( this recipe can also be found in Joy Of Cooking )

Beat on medium speed until fluffy and blended:
1/2 pound ( 2 sticks ) of butter, softened
2/3 of a cup sugar
Add and beat until well combined:
1 large egg
1/4 teaspoon baking powder
1/8 of a teaspoon salt
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla
Stir in until well blended and smooth:
2 1/3 cups all purpose flour

Divide the dough in half. Place each half between 2 sheets of wax or parchment paper. Roll out to a scant 1/4 an inch thick, checking the underside of the dough and smoothing any creases. Keeping the paper in place, layer the rolled dough on a baking sheet and refrigerate until cold and slightly firm but not hard, 20 to 30 minutes.
Position a rack in the upper third of the oven. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Grease cookie sheets.

Cut out cookies into desired shapes, and place on cookie sheets. Bake for six to nine minutes, cool, and enjoy!

I hope you too find success with this recipe. I did.

Maddie

Honor

Ok, so I bluffed the other one. My reader asked for a thought on honor, not on honesty. My mistake. Now I will do one one on honor.

To have honor, in my books, is to try to keep to your word. To me, if you try your hardest at whatever you are doing, and if you actually do try, it should not matter if you get it done quickly. Lying is not good to do. It shows lack of honor, and also lack of smarts. When you cheat in doing things, it is no honor too.

Honor cannot be bought; it must be earned. Even when times are the toughest, and it seems like you have to be dishonorable, you can always work through it. Dictionary.com defines honor as: Honesty, fairness, or integrity in one's beliefs and actions.

We all live by a code of honor. Mine is to try to never lie, and not take the easy way around things if it means breaking a promise. Keeping an important secret for my friend is something that not everyone can do. I have trouble keeping secrets. Keeping secrets shows honor to the person you are keeping it for. Keeping bad secrets, however, is not ok.

Next week,
Maddie

Honor- A Full Detail Think A Thought- Reader Request

Finally, someone has put in another request. I was worried I was losing readers .... This request comes once again from Mr. Wayne, who seems to like to cover deep down and very serious topics. Well, as an everything site, I will try my best to fulfill his request. Honor again. And my very own code of honor. Well, I might as well start at the beginning.

Honesty started right back at the start of time. Honesty is to never lie ( though all of us lie at least once in life, some of us more than once.) Honesty is to never take the easy way out if it means breaking your word or lying to someone, especially family. Sometimes lying seems the easiest thing to do. Especially if you already have done it. Then it becomes so much easier, and you find it hard to tell the truth.

When you start with one itty-bitty lie, you think, ok. I am not doing anything that wrong, and I won't get caught. So you think. Because once you go into one lie, it connects into another. It all adds up to one big mess, and if anyone should know, it's me. You start with one lie. Then another. And another and another. And once you get about five lies, you have to remember them, because if you don't, you get crunched. Soon you have one million lies that you are trying to remember, and then you let one slip and BAM! You are in trouble.

The Aftermath

Once you are found out, it's going to be rocky between you and whoever you lied to. They will be mad at you, and if it's your parents you lied to, then you are in big trouble. They could punish you, ground you, make you write one thousand lines of writing, or send you to your room. You will also get talked to, and will hopefully learn your lesson. If you lie a second time though, the punishments usually double, and so does the speech. Sometimes, after you have lied, if you tell the truth, the person might go easy on you. It will show that you can tell the truth even in a tough situation.

I hope you learned a good lesson in truthfulness. If you want to know more on any subject, please comment as instructed.

Maddie

Blackout

Last night, as I was writing my Think A Thought, the power WENT OUT! I was afraid at first. Then Dad came downstairs ( he had been putting you-know-who to bed) and was stumbling around looking for matches. Soon we had a few candles going, and I found a flashlight. Finally, we decided to go up to bed. 15 minutes later, the power comes on.

With our luck, all the downstairs lights were on. Dad went down to get the lights, and I followed. Black outs are scary at first, but then they are cool. You get to sit in the dark with candles and flashlights and chill. I was going to write about my trip to NJ coming up later today, but the lights out gave me a whole new topic.

I will be out of state for the week, so there will be no think a thought the rest of the week. I don't want my followers coming on and finding nothing to read. The blackout is the second one this year. Back in NJ, once a month was the basis for blackouts. Up here, it is rare if you get 5 in a year.

Next Week,
Maddie

NJ

Poetry

I seem to have grown obsessed with poetry. For one, it is an easy think a thought, and two, it's easy to do. So here are 2 more poems for you to enjoy.

Thanksgiving

A nice aroma fills my nose,
Oh, what can it be?
It kind of smells like spices so I think it's my turkey!
Today will be a feasting day,
With goodies for us all,
Some of us like pumpkin pie,
In sizes big or small,
Today is when we thank the Lord for our healthy living,
For today is our only one Thanksgiving.



Puppy Run

Puppy run, puppy run, my puppy loves to play,
Round n' round the garden, every day.
He runs and jumps and tumbles around,
Then he comes in all worn out from his play,
And content to lay down in every way.

Advertisements

Hi there! It's me again, and I have good news. Maddie's Think a Thought may have new followers soon. And you know what new followers mean. New posts! Well, there are new posts every day, but these will be reader requests. ( Don't be shy, if you want to know about something, just comment, and I will see what I can do for you.)

Now, you might ask, why will the site hopefully have more members soon? Well, that's simple. Advertising! I will be advertising my website in my library, and hopefully before Christmas I will have more than 3 members ( No offense). If I get about 20 more PUBLIC followers, then I might start using a program called AdSense. AdSense allows me to put real, yes real advertisements on my website. And, on top of that, for each click on an ad, I get paid!

So readers, please be ready. I will also be adding some new items, like whenever a new post comes out, you will get e-mailed. Also I might add a search box. Then, if you have a favorite post that you want to show your friend, you don't have to go through ten  pages to get to it. Just put the name in the search box and- WHAMMO! Your favorite post.

Cya later,
Maddie

Another Bad Day

Today has been a usual bad day. I was woken up by my sister ( ugh ) and she was trampling all over my clothing I had on the floor. I yelled: Get out of my room! She got out. But still. I got downstairs, and couldn't find anything to eat but a bowl of cereal. Then Dad announced that we were going to clean up.

I got stuck cleaning my desk and helping Ashleigh clean the floors. I tied cloth to her feet, and then I tied a wet cloth to mine, and we walked around for awhile ( not on the carpet ). A major funny part was when I gave Ashleigh a drop of lemon juice ... she made such a face! It was hilarious.

Now, Dad has gone to visit my mom, and I am here writing my Think a Thought. I hope you like it Dad, and all my readers. I hope my day improves, and I think it will when I am done with my math .. Then I am going on my Wizard 101.

Well, see ya next time,
Maddie

Rip Van Winkle Book Review and Thoughts

I was reading a story called Rip Van Winkle yesterday, and it was such a touching story I thought I would share it with my readers. Now, if you have read Rip Van Winkle before, you might want to skip from the story to the thoughts and review. Here is how the story goes:

Rip Van Winkle is a young man in a town were he is loved by everyone, because he always helps them. However, his wife is always mad at him for not getting his chores done on his own farm, and always going out hunting. So one day, he goes out hunting in the mountain, and he hears a small voice call his name. So he goes and sees a man carrying a casket, so he helps him. He finds a group of small men bowling high in the mountains, and has a drink they give him. He wakes up lower in the mountains as an old man, and he goes back to town. His son and daughter are grown, and his wife is dead. He missed his life doing something his wife asked him not to do.

Being young, I didn't get the main story idea at first, so I needed some help from Dad. But I finally got the main concept of the story: Sometimes the hero isn't really the hero. I find that some of the sad points in the story are that he practically missed his life. He didn't get to see his children grow up, and he never got a chance to set things right with his wife, who thought he was lazy.

The fact is, if he had done his work in the first place, his wife would not have yelled, he would not have gone into the woods to get away from her, he would not have heard the voice, and then he would never have been turned old. So in the end, Rip had no one to blame but himself for missing his life. It was unfair, but it taught him a lesson.

Rip was showing a lack of honor and respect for his home and his family by not doing his chores. He was lazy and irresponsible, and got what he deserved.

Maddie

The Karate Tournament

I had a karate tournament this Sunday. It was held at The Franklin Pierce College up here in New Hampshire, at it's usual early annoying time: 10:00 a.m. At least we were right close to it, so we did not have to get up until 8:00.

This tournament was the most important one of the year. It is called The Grand Championships. You can only go if you are invited. I was invited in four events: Sparring, Synchronized Forms, Forms, and Weapons. In sparring, I was awarded second place. In synchronized forms, me and my partner won third place. I was second place in weapons, and fourth in forms.

Dad says that he was upset I didn't get first weapons, because he thought I did better than the kid I was up against who bumped his bow against his leg. My main competition dropped his bow, but I only got second anyway. Dad did not really care on my forms, he thought I did only okay on that. My synchronized was good, but I was a little disappointed because me and my partner's form looked like the best one there.

Sparring was going good until I went up against one of my best friends. She has a lot of height on me, so it was hard for me to beat her. I did not. I was glad she got first though. If there was anyone else in that division who I would have wanted to win more than me, it would be her.

I had a great time hanging out with my friends in between events, and once I even played a mini game of soccer with a roll of tape someone had on the sidelines. One of my friends was running the concession stand, so I helped her for awhile, both with running it and buying goods.

Even though I did not get a first place trophy ( which, by the way, were 6 footers ), I still think I was successful. I will continue to compete in karate tournaments till they run them down or I die, which ever comes first.

Til' the next,
Maddie

Weird Optical Illusions

Here are a few optical illusions I have managed to dig up. An optical illusion is something that looks like it's there, but isn't there. For example: This chalk drawing makes it look like a meteor hit in the middle of the sidewalk. A talented artist drew this realistic drawing to draw onlookers to his/her work.

 More common optical illusions include the famous Nescafe sign illusion, shown below. It seems as thought the smoke forms a nose. This could be unintentional, or a simple joke to make people laugh.

Some of the best optical illusions are after-images, like the one shown below. Stare at the four black dots in the picture for about 30 seconds, then look up at the ceiling. It's a different after-image then you expected ....


So there were a few optical illusions for you. If you want more illusions like this, go to www.moillusions.com.

Cya,
Maddie

Some Things You Just Can't Do Without Smiling

Have you ever had a moment were you just can't stop smiling? Or ever not been able to frown when listening to a certain type of music? If you love to smile, then this think a thought is for you. Some of the things that do it for me are newborn puppies, music ( preferably the Monkees ), and the smell of cookies in the oven.

Now I will explain how these things make me smile.Newborn puppies are just so cute, they melt my heart. I smile and smile and smile. The Monkees have such a friendly music style that's so cheerful and bright, it makes me smile and know things are good. The cookies smell good. It makes me smile when I think about eating them too ... Did you know that the aroma of chocolate makes a person smile automatically?

Now, while there are a lot of good things to make you happy, there are a lot of things to make you sad too. A few for me are: Death. It's so unhappy when a friend or loved one dies. Smelly gasoline fumes. They get up my nose and stay there to bug me. Also I feel like I am eating fumes. My sister's poopy diapers. The smell! Save my poor nose!

Well, here are some things to smile about try them out when you get a chance.

Til' later,
Maddie

Old Sturbridge Village

Today, me and my Dad went to a place in Massachusetts called Sturbridge Village. It is a colonial style town meant to be from the 1830's.  Different people will dress up as people from that time period, and teach children about the art they are trained in, such as pottery. Me and Dad visited: The Potter, The Shoemaker, and a lady who was baking.

Sturbridge was not just people though. I also met rams, sheep, albino turkeys, cows, and even some oxen. The oxen were trained to line up in a row for tourists, and to tilt their heads while being put in a yoke ( No, oxen do not eat eggs. A yoke is a kind of bridle for oxen to wear ).

 A lady who was baking a lot of goods told us she was preparing for Thanksgiving. Can you believe that it was the most important holiday back then? People didn't even celebrate Christmas. I learned a lot about what cooking was like back then. Pickling and drying foods was useful for preserving harvest for winter, and being there was no such thing as electricity, all of the food was cooked by fire.

I thought the food looked very tasty until I saw the flies. They were sitting right on the apple pie, and the lady did not even care. It turns out people back then didn't care if they were eating flies ... or that they had to sleep in the same room that they ate in, washed in, and did schoolwork in. Houses were not very big back then, and were about the size of you average barn shed. The only big houses were owned by very rich people. Being rich was tough, which I found out in the shoe store. Cobblers back then were only paid 20 cents a pair of shoes! And a pair of girls shoes, on average cost 95 cents!

It was a very interesting experience for me. I hope that I will go there again in the near future, perhaps with my little sister. It was an enjoyable trip, and it taught me a lot of things that I never knew before.

Next post,
Maddie

Interesting facts about me

Here are some things that you might not know about me that are interesting: I sing in the choir at St. Patrick's church in Jaffery NH every Saturday from 6-7. I am one belt away from getting my black belt in karate, and I am only 10 years old. I have lived in NJ until I was about 5 or 6. I started karate when I was 3 years old. I never crawled when I was a baby, I sort of hobbled around on all fours.

I run 2 websites: www.absoluteanimals.blogspot.com, and www.maddiesthinkathought.blogspot.com. ( Note: Maddie's Think a Thought can no longer be found on search engines because of unspecified circumstances, so please write down the web address if necessary.) I am a poet in the making, and I am great with computer and writing skills.

I am sorry that this was not much of a Think a Thought. It is late at night, and I promise to make up for it in tomorrow's think a thought.

Good night,
Maddie

Highlights Children's Magazine

Highlights for Kids, a magazine company that has been running since 1946, founded by Mr. Garry C. Meyers and his wife, Caroline Clark Meyers, has been given awards by: The Association of Educational Publishers, Freedoms Foundation, Graphic Arts Association, iParneting Media, Magazine Design and Production, and a lot of others.

Highlights for kids specializes in a lot of fun activities, crafts, and in-magazine games. Some of the games include: Mazes, Search and Find puzzles, Tongue Twisters,  What's Wrong?, Double Check, and more. The arts and crafts part of the magazine allows kids to send in their own drawings and poems ( entry not guaranteed, I sent a picture in about a year ago and it STILL isn't in the magazine ), arts and craft ideas made from common house items, and funny jokes.

So now you think Highlights sounds pretty great, huh? Well, there's one little glitch. Nothing is free anymore, not even Highlights. So, if any adults reading this think this might be a good idea for their kid, or a kid reading that wants the magazine, you can know that there is more than games to this magazine. There are a lot of true stories in here about friendship, loyalty, and working your hardest to achieve great goals. There is poetry, stories that will enlighten you with new ideas, and comics for small children.

The Highlights motto is ' Fun with a purpose', and I think they have achieved their mission-To educate children, young and old, and make learning interesting with a spark of fun.

Poets Corner?

Ok, I am really sorry about this. I hope none of you think this place is becoming a poetry blog, because it's not. It's just I like poetry alot now, so expect a little more of it. So, here are 2 new poems.

Ode to Ashleigh
Ashleigh's my sister,
Ashleigh's a dear,
Always an angel,
Never a fear.
Sometimes we fight,
Like sisters do.
But believe me it's better,
Than when she goes poo.
My sis is a baby,
2 years old,
And just like her sis she's allergic to mold.
Me and Ashleigh will never part,
Always each other and always smart.

Friends

Friends are always there for you,
And though you sometimes fight,
You almost always work it out,
And make it feel alright,
You share your secrets and your fears,
Your dreamings and your tears.

More Poetry

Ode to flowers

Roses of white and lilies of red,
The sweetest fragrance fills your head,
It makes you feel like your in heaven,
Take a deep breath and count to 7,
Your floating on a lily pad,
And never ever feeling sad.

Ode to Cats

Meow, meow, meow, meow, that's how cats speak,
Meow, meow, meow, meow, to the mountain's peak.
Scratch scratch, claw, claw, that's how they defend,
Scratch, scratch, claw, claw, wounds so easy to mend.
They can, be cute, when they're trained to be nice.
But if, they're not, They are cold as ice.

Peeling the Onion

Peeling the onion: This time, you don't need goggles! Peeling the onion is a simple web technique that you can do. This idea was given to me by my Dad. He will usually start at jeffrense.com and go to a link that looks interesting, and from there go to another, and another.  Finally he will stop when he finds no more interesting articles.

This activity is called ' peeling the onion ' because it seems like you are peeling an onion. When you peel an onion, there is always a peel under it, and then one under that, and then one under that, etc. This is somewhat like peeling websites online, just in a different way.

Well, I hope you liked today's think a thought. If you wish to start peeling your own onion right now, here is a link to get you started.

www.rense.com

Cya,
Maddie

Lucky's First Snowfall

Alright, so it might seem crazy, but it's true. Up here in NH, it's already Christmas! Well, not really, but it seems like it. Our first snowfall occurred yesterday, shocking everyone. It's rare, even up here, that we get snow before Halloween. Lucky took to it rather well, he just couldn't understand why everything he had dragged in was gone ( so he thought ).

Ode To Snow

Clouds of white and skies of grey,
You will take our grass away.
And leave us here with whitish fluff,
What in the world,
Is this stuff?
It falls and covers up the ground,
It makes you shiver all around,
Winter clothes come into play,
And winds that steal our hats away!
And in the woods at Rindge's Peak,
A girl and dog play hide and seek.

Well, I stand corrected. Lucky managed to dig through about 2 feet of wet, heavy snow and retrieve an old dog bowl he brought in. I don't know whether to congratulate him or scold him. The snow was over his back, and it was funny to watch him at first. He flunked into the snow, obviously thinking he would hit the regular pavement. He did hit the pavement- just not in the way he expected. He went right through the snow up to his back, then looked back at me, like: ' What is this? Where is my yard? ' I just closed the door and left him out for a while. ( Note: Dogs who are not used to snow will get frost bite and frozen paws. )

The next day, I went out in the yard and made a kind of walkway through the snow for him. That way, if he needs to go poop at night ( he only goes out in the yard )  he doesn't have to run through snow.

Well, there is the story of Lucky's first snowfall. I hope you enjoyed it.

Next Post!

Poetry ( Reader's Request )

This request comes from Ms. Michelle, asking if I write poetry. Yes, I do write poetry. It's funny you should ask, because the think a thought after this one ( which I started before I got the request ) was going to have a poem in it anyway. Here are some poems about things I have been thinking about, or just popped into my head.

Ode to Lucky

Lucky, Lucky, my dog of chance,
You were the one that did not prance,
I held you last but chose you first,
My choice was for better and not for the worst.
At first you were tired and lonesome too,
I was about to give up on you,
But something happened overnight,
The next day you were alright!
You started to play and run around,
And that was when my love unbound,
You retrieved my lonely heart,
And I will love you till we part.

Ode to Barkley

Barkley, Barkley, you were a brave dog,
Fun-loving and sweet,
What could go wrong?
I was just 3, and you were 11,
And by the time I was 4,
 You'd be in heaven,
Bone cancer came and stole you away,
The sun did not shine bright that day,
But I'll always remember you as you are,
A dog of great honor, you shine like a star.

Why You Should Never Lie ( Reader's Request )

This request comes again from Mr. Wayne C., asking: Why shouldn't you lie? Well, Wayne, that's a good question, and here is your long and fully-detailed answer.

You should never lie, especially not to your parents, because it shows a lack of honor. It makes people think you are rude and sneaky, and it brings shame to you and your family. Liars are always found out, no matter what. Even if you tell the truth, people might think you are lying if you have a bad reputation for it. I will use this well-known story as an example.

The Little Boy Who Cried Wolf

Once upon a time, in a small village, there was a boy named Tommy. He thought it would be a fine prank on the villagers if he pretended a fierce wolf was chasing him. So after a few times, he had pulled the prank off, and every time people came running out, only to discover Tommy laughing. Now, one day, a wolf really WAS chasing Tommy, so he called out for help. Now the townspeople thought it was another prank, and didn't come out to look. The boy was eaten by the wolf, and learned that you don't lie.

Well, now you know why you should never ever lie. I have learned that lesson, and hopefully you will too. Everyone lies once in their life. If you tell the person the truth, even if they won't like it, you will be better off then if you lie to them.

Next Post,
Maddie

Famous Fudge Recipe- Halloween Special

Hi there! Me and my Mom were making fudge today, and it gave me a great idea for my think a thought. The fudge is so scrumptious, I decided that you too can make this treat! I will give you the full recipe from the box for the time, the ingredients, right down to the pan size. Please take caution, you might fall down when you taste how good this is!

The Recipe:

Ingredients:
5 cups sugar
2 small 5 oz. cans of evaporated milk
1/4 lb. butter or margerine
1 19 oz. jar of marshmallow fluff
1 tsp. salt
1 1/2 tsp. vanilla
1 cup walnuts ( optional )
2 12 oz. bags of chocolate chips
... mixed together with one over-flowing cup of love!


Instructions:
1: Combine first five ingredients in large saucepan. Stir over low heat until blended.
2: Bring to boil over moderate heat, being careful not to mistake escaping air bubbles for boiling. Then boil slowly. Stirring constantly for five minutes. ( use soft ball test )
3: Remove from heat. Stir in chocolate and vanilla ( and nuts if used ) until chocolate is melted. Pour into 2 buttered 9x9 inch pans and cool. Yeild: Approximately 5 lb.
4: Enjoy this tasty treat, and don't forget to lick the spoon!

Cook's tips: Leave the fudge in your freezer over night. In the mid-afternoon, take fudge out of freezer and cut it. Serve immediately after cutting or wait for later.
 

I hope you enjoy this fun recipe for fudge. I enjoy making it .... and eating it! Hopefully you will enjoy it too.

Later,
Maddie

The Life of Lucky

" Why do people always look at ME when they smell something? I mean really, I don't do it that much." "Oh, hello. I am Lucky. ( Ok, it's not really Lucky, it's me, Maddie, as usual, but I am writing as if I am Lucky.)" Today has been a typical dog day for me. Going outside, sleeping, eating, and playing. But, in every typical day for me, there is always adventure. 

I went out in the woods with my mistress, and I got her lost. But it was an accident, of course. I had picked up a really good scent, and I had to see what it was. I think it was my girlfriend dog next door, Misty. There are so many opportunities to life when you are a dog, and sometimes it gets confusing. Should you follow this exciting smell, or maybe this one? Has this territory been marked yet? Can I mark it? So many options, and of course .... Mooching!

Every time my owners eat, you can almost guarantee you'll find me sitting right beside them. I am a hound for food, any kind of food,  and I chew a lot of stuff. I am a retriever, so, my nature is to retrieve things ( duh ). I got yelled at today just for dragging in a milk carton I found. I mean sheesh! It smelled good, and it was perfect for a chew toy. I couldn't believe my mistress threw it in the trash. 

Right now, as my mistress is typing this, I am sound asleep dreaming about my day. I had a great day, and so did my family. Now I think my mistress is going to get up, and leave this up for awhile ... WHAT??!! THIS IS GOING TO BE READ BY A LOT OF PEOPLE?! THE EMBARRASSMENT! STOP IT QUICKLY! AHHHH!

Next Post!