Category: Brodie

Christmas elf in a bad sweater

Golden Brodie looks at Holiday Trending

Published on by Lucas Pam6 Comments

My golden self is about to celebrate my third Christmas…can’t wait.  Just noticing how the holiday season is ever-changing …evolving…

What’s in…Ugly Sweater Parties that include adults wearing outrageous footed pajamas…Bad Santa Parties that are close to the “Ugly” but perhaps a bit “Up” in “bad taste”…  It’s totally innocent seasonal fun wrapped around the colors of red & green, mixed with different levels of alcohol…laced with meatballs, wings and cheese trays… as well as record-setting numbers of selfies taken within these celebratory & innocuous 3-4 hours.

Santa Claus
How can Santa be bad?

What I want to know is…did the house dog get an outrageous sweater…perhaps a meatball or two…perhaps chilled water bowl while the “adults?!?” party down??

What have we learned here…Christmas Caroling is out. I’m just saying a golde…Ho! Ho! Ho!

US Capitol Tree glowing brightly in the night 2016

Golden Brodie yaps about the potato tree?

Published on by Lucas Pam11 Comments

My golden retriever self saw this beauty just last week…the US Capitol Christmas tree…gorgeous…a golden gorgeous.  What makes this gem so special is to know that all of the ornaments this year…over 18,000 of them have meaning and were hand-made by fellow Idaho peeps…proudly coming from the great state whose state vegetable is the glorious potato…state fish is the cut-throat trout. You gotta read about this…the warm-hearted golden in me wishes each of you could visit this very special celebration of state caring and national pride.

Vice President of the United States Seal

Brodie sniffs out housing for the in-coming Veep

Published on by Lucas Pam5 Comments

I completely forgot about our new in-coming Veep! Mr. Pence and Mrs. Pence will soon move to Washington, DC.  Where’s he going to live?  Can’t be The White House…so I took a golden moment to check it out.

With their offices located on the White House grounds, every Vice President since Walter Mondale has lived with their families on the grounds of the United States Naval Observatory.

The coolest part of this housing is the Naval Observatory itself, which continues in full operation since 1893. I’d love to go there and be with the Scientists, who study the star and the planets…measure time and  publish vital information that keeps navigators safe on the seas.

So, I’m ready now to welcome the in-coming Veep and his family to their residence on the golden Embassy Row of Massachusetts Avenue!

U.S. Naval Observatory
U.S. Naval Observatory, Home to the Vice President of the United States

 

traditional ink pen tip shown writing on lined paper

Brodie barks on presidents passing notes

Published on by Lucas Pam4 Comments

Passing notes…an age old no…no…in the classroom. Students know this.  But then..talking now…do they pass paper notes these days or do they text each other…ok…so now teachers set ground rules for…No cell phones allowed in the classroom..or put your cell phone in the basket by the door as you enter and pick it up on your way out…if said teacher sees a phone in students hand during class…it becomes the “teacher’s phone” through the remainder of the day…and so it goes.  Well, presidents have been passing notes beginning with George Washington for many reasons…becoming a tradition.

My golden self really likes the note that President Ronald Reagan scribbled for George H.W. Bush… “Don’t let the turkeys get you down.” …left it in the Oval Office desk for “W” to find.  Ha!  But then, Ronnie had no idea that he was starting a tradition…a ritual…a practice…an institution…a praxis between the exiting president and the coming in president.

The notes are rather secretive…they’re personal. But…I wonder if they ever consider mentioning the dog…you know maybe…something simple like…The dog had a blast.  He’ll really miss the Secret Service walks and filing up the official White House Poop bags. Paws Up!

 

 

Statue of Freedom

Brodie sniffs out the bronze beauty atop the US Capitol

Published on by Lucas Pam5 Comments

I’m preparing for the Presidential Inauguration Ceremony at the west front of the US Capitol on January 20, 2017. So steeped in tradition, the presidential inaugurations have deviated little in the two centuries since Washington’s inauguration. Think of it…from George to Donald and all the presidents in between.  Our great nation just keeps rolling on…nothing can stop her…nothing.

While preparing for the Inaugural …I’m discovering so much about this baroque city and its beauty.  My golden self enjoys the rich history of the District of Columbia…at every turn in this metropolis there is history hiding…symbolism abounds…take for instance the State of Freedom who sits atop of the Capitol dome.  She’s been there since 1863…many have little or no idea about her.

Capitol Dome topped by the Statue of Freedom
Capitol Dome topped by the Statue of Freedom

The Statue of Freedom took her high place while our country was in the midst of our Civil War……the War between the States.  She continues to symbolically protect our nation’s capitol.  She ignites the history buff in me and I’m so glad.

On your next visit be sure to send an air-kiss up to this bronze (I see her as golden…but that’s just my 4 paws position.) beauty in appreciation for what she represents and how she steadily stands guard over our special city for all people.

Just think for a moment about all she has viewed from on high.  Blows my golden mind.

Crowds gather for the official lighting of the National Christmas Tree on the White House Lawn

Brodie barks about a special tree that come every Christmas Season since 1923

Published on by Lucas Pam17 Comments

My golden dog sled is ready to take me to the official lighting of the National Christmas Tree on the South Lawn (the backyard) of the White House on Thursday, December 1.  But wait, how did this 94-year-old tradition get its start?

Pres. Calvin Coolidge lights the first outdoor Christmas Tree on the White House Lawn
In 1923, Pres. Calvin Coolidge lights the first outdoor Christmas Tree on the White House Lawn

When our 30th President, Calvin Coolidge, along with his family, celebrated their first Christmas in the White House…they decided to have a tree for all of the people.  So, on December 24, 1923, the first official National Outdoor Christmas Tree was lite.

This event has evolved into a huge televised celebration with entertainment and something for every peep that continues throughout the holiday season.  For instance, The National Hanukkah Menorah Lighting Ceremony will take place on Sunday, December 25, 2016, 4 p.m.

I’ll close with some words to the wise.  Trees inside can blow a dog’s mind… we become challenged to maintain our cool with the tree and decorations and all…so think about how to help us do the right thing...help us avoid watching the sad clean ups and pet shame…we want a happy and calm time.  I’m just saying…Here comes the season to be jolly (and wise about the four legs in your home.)

P.S.  For you cats out there…maybe this will help ya’ll stay off the tree and on the floor.  Good luck with that.

 

Gingerbread White House

Golden Brodie sniffs out the Gingerbread White House History

Published on by Lucas Pam8 Comments

There’s a dog bone cache of rich tidbits…history snippets… about the White House that is simply fascinating.  Take for instance, the baking & construction of the gingerbread White House…it’s been a long-standing tradition since the 1970’s…and through the years the house keeps increasing in square footage. Each year White House chef’s at Christmastime, prepare a ginger model of the “people’s house” for the touring public to see and do the ooh-awh moment.  It’s a grand tradition.

Now I would love to wrap my dog lips around a piece of that sweet creation, but dogs really have to be careful with the ginger intake. Dang, there are so many things from the peeps world that are limiting for dogs.  I’m requesting with a golden tone…some homemade dog biscuits please…and thank you.

So…going forward…light the golden flames of joy in your heart, make some cookies and remember:

“Christmas is the season for kindling the fire of hospitality in the hall, the genial flame of charity in the heart. ”
― Washington Irving

 

Kitchen circa 1930's

Brodie learns about food rationing

Published on by Lucas Pam8 Comments

It’s Thanksgiving soon and we are all consumed with the associated thoughts of feasting, family and friendship.  How fortunate I feel.  My peeps will have one familial event recorded on their many cell phones, iPads, 35mm cameras and Skype. Then they’ll post the stuff on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and so on.  The social aspects roll on.  That’s todays fun and entertainment.

I want to take you back to two periods in our USA history…a time when we were at war, WWI and WWII.  I bring this up because during those difficult years we as a nation buckled down.  Food was scarce.  Food went first to the troops.  People bought limited amounts of certain commodities through rationing…ration stamps. So my golden mind took me to those times, thinking about what Thanksgiving was all about then…

Rationing came into place by our government and families were strongly encouraged to eat simply…meatless meals…and forget about sugar.  What a prized commodity sugar became…and coffee…and flour…yes the very basics.  I’m thinking everyone worked together, helped out and got involved in the war effort…while missing their stuff.

I feel golden sure that on Thanksgiving Day folks were even more grateful for whatever they had as they struggled.  But then…the food was secondary for those who had loved ones serving in the war…those who had lost a loved one…and those who simply felt the unrest of not knowing what the future held.

Our country held together and came out on this side of freedom both times.  This Thanksgiving season I’m going to say a special thanks to those serving our nation and especially to those away from home …and a special moment for those who we have lost…we will remain forever a grateful nation.

So this Thanksgiving, my grateful heart will enjoy watching all of the cell phone action, getting my many pets and walks and giving out my goldeness.   Peace baby and paws Up!

P.S.  Dogs don’t do coffee but…How fortunate that you can have as many Starbuck’s with all of the sugar possible…all of the cream…whenever…

 

Brodie is cute as a pumpkin and talks about how dogs benefit from eating pumpkin

Brodie licks pumpkin and dreams of turducken

Published on by Lucas Pam7 Comments

We’re getting ready for Thanksgiving. The peeps are talking who’s making what…what’s the final head count?…who ordered the Turducken?!…the what??? yeah, that’s a deboned chicken stuffed into a deboned duck, further stuffed into a deboned turkey…did you get that?  Now I must admit my dog lips would love to grab some of that…no such luck…I don’t get people food…but then I do.

Thanksgiving time always means I get some celebration in my dish…like canned pumpkin mixed lightly in my evening meal. The pilgrims and Native Americans liked pumpkin and so do I.  Funny part is that throughout the year if my dog insides start having problems, I get served some canned pumpkin to get me regular and settled…but Thanksgiving reaps the bounty of the pumpkin just because I get something special and it’s really good for me.  Now, while I really appreciate the canned pumpkin and it’s nutritional rewards…I do wish for and would give thanks for some of that three-layered foul thing landing in my bowl.

Giving thanks and feeling grateful.

 

 

 

Frosty Glass of Beer similar to servings at The White House of Obama's home brew, Honey Beer.

Brodie gets into the White House Basement and finds Honey Beer a brewing

Published on by Lucas Pam1 Comment

Never happened in the written or recorded history of The White House…brewing beer inside the walls of the residence of the POTUS.  You gotta read this…an adventure paid for by President Obama…involving bees and honey…hops…and more.  Seems this Honey Beer is really tasty. Go on take the tour!