Category: Commentary and Contemplation

Portrait Richard Henry Lee and his resolution for independence from Great Britain

History Tidbits: Who opened his mouth to Freedom?

Published on by goldenbrodie5 Comments

There is always a beginning…a start…in some cases a stick your neck out and go for it moment.

So, let’s celebrate that moment… let’s celebrate the  man who stood up during the Continental Congress on June 7, 1776 in the Pennsylvania State House in Philadelphia, making the motion…calling for the colonies’ independence from Great Britain.

That man was Richard Henry Lee, a brilliant statesman from Virginia who helped create the United States of America.  We all thank you Mr. Lee, for that beginning…that moment in history and for its outcome as a result of the resolve of the great men representing the 13 colonies and their passion for independence.  Happy Fourth of July.

Brodie the Golden Retriever

Golden retrieves good news lemons

Published on by goldenbrodie9 Comments

Sure…golden retrievers don’t drink lemonade but we do know a happy and golden undertaking when we see it.  The great state of Utah just legalized lemonade stands and other businesses run by kids.

lemonade sign
Come and get your fresh lemonade

Who would ever think that necessary?!..seems odd…but now Utah kiddies no longer need a $30 permit to exercise their entrepreneur spirit…earning money to so such things as shoveling snow and setting up a lemonade stand.  I’m clapping my paws together for these industrious kids…Utah’s state motto is “industry” and for those adults who passed a good golden rule law for “the Beehive State.”

Get ready to walk your dog to your neighborhood lemonade stand and support those golden kids.  Good on ya!

vintage radio

Brodie digs “Fireside Chats”

Published on by goldenbrodie12 Comments

Ears up!.. how have past presidents of the United States chosen to communicate with their people? It’s an ever-changing process that evolved..Abe Lincoln (16) had an open door…people lined up outside of the White House and he spoke directly to them…there was no radio…no telephone…just face time and letters…a slow way…but yet effective.  Franklin Delano Roosevelt (32) communicated through weekly “Fireside Chat” broadcasts over home radios..television was coming and not everyone had a home phone… cell phones didn’t exist or e-mail, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and so on.  So, you gotta listen to FDR and one of his radio chats.  Thousands listened weekly each Sunday to FDR’s broadcast. Picture peeps huddled close to their radio…picture the family dog…ok and the family cat…all sitting in due reverence…carefully listening to each word of their president.  Makes me want to build a fire…a golden fire.

 

Brodie the Golden retriever with his Christmas Tree

Brodie shares the history of the Candy Cane

Published on by goldenbrodie13 Comments

I love peppermint…especially when it is in the form of a candy cane.  Yeah, I learned about them my first Christmas…I golden nosed my way through the decorations on the tree and found this little red and white striped gem…now I look forward each Christmas to getting a piece of the sweet peppermint…however, now I wait for it…I’ve learned to back off the tree…having said that…did you know that small amounts peppermint are good for dogs?  Well…it’s true…and by the way here’s the history of the beloved ‘J’ shape like a shepherds crook…so the back story of the candy cane is spiritual and came in celebration of the nativity.

P.S.  Hope you watched this YouTube of two yellow labs cleansing a Christmas tree of candy canes…the big dude ate them all!  HA!  Love it!  Rock on retrievers!

Map of United States of America

Brodie’s golden In and Out List

Published on by goldenbrodie9 Comments

I know that the Washington Post is known annually for its listing of What’s In and What’s Out as we approach a New Year.  Well, I can’t wait… my golden dog ears and eyes have been keenly listening and observing, ready for the scoop…or the poop…which ever you prefer to call this.  So….read on and consider my golden outlook on the in and out list… be sure to recall what events occurred this year…and oh …what a year it has been…Peace baby

IN                                          OUT

Adopting/saving animals  Not helping the many

Peaceful protests               Rioting/destroying

Shocked veggies                Steaming veggies

45th President                  44th President

DOW 20,000                       Stymied market

Super Beet Juice                 Regular beets

Presidential Tweets            Press briefings

Proudly rich                        Hiding ones wealth

Online shopping                 Brick & Mortar retailers

Civic Lessons                       Clueless about govt.

Dehydrated Brussel Sprouts  Potato Chips

Bad Santa Parties               Christmas Caroling

5th Avenue White House     The White House

Mashed cauliflower               Mashed Potatoes

Feeding the homeless            Not helping the many

Craving Credible reporting    Fake/shocking news

Big Business Cabinet           Prof. Bureaucrats

Middle America                    Coastal Cities

Memes                                   Fads

Extreme minimal living       Extreme mortgage$

Living the golden rule       Not living the golden rule

 

 

 

Statue of Freedom

Brodie sniffs out the bronze beauty atop the US Capitol

Published on by goldenbrodie5 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.

Kitchen circa 1930's

Brodie learns about food rationing

Published on by goldenbrodie8 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…

 

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

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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!

 

Brodie served “Up” food and the White House Kitchen

Published on by goldenbrodie3 Comments

I have a new dog diet…it’s golden exciting when something from a can hits my dish…yeah something soft…something that resembles meat…a lick the bowl clean commodity…something that smells like pate instead of just the lonely pebble like kibbles that bounce into my bowl each morning and evening.  Don’t get me wrong…I am grateful and I gobble whatever lands in my bowl…but this stuff is something I could not have dreamt up.  HeHe says he thinks he could eat is on cracker!  Seriously!?!

Now that we’re on food…this article 11 Things Only White House Employees Know...gives insight to the transition of the sitting president leaving the White House and the incoming president-elect moving in…even talks about the transition of food.  That was my favorite section.

I share this gastronomic epiphany with you to enlighten you peeps…yes dogs like “up” cuisine and Hail to the Chief’s food.  Paws Up!

New dog food introduced:

Can of Fromm Gold dog food, Salmon & Chicken Pate
Can of Fromm Gold dog food, Salmon & Chicken Pate