Good Ole Patterson Park

I have been a Friends Of Patterson Park for a number of years. This morning I received a newsletter from them showing that the City Paper have voted them the "Best Park"
http://www.citypaper.com/bob/story.asp?id=14154

I can't you tell how good this made me feel. Since I grew up a block from the park, it became a second home to me and my family and friends. During those years we had the good fortune to play just about any kind of ball you can think of. This includes curb ball, stick ball, softball, baseball, kill the man with the ball, you get the idea. You mention it, we did it. I had the pleasure to swim in the old swimming lake before in was filled in and a new cement pool was built. The old swimming lake was located where the Ice Rink is now.

The boat lake was used for fishing or just sailing model boats. At one time The Boat Lake actually had boats you could rent! The many hills in the park was used for sledding in the winter and skating in the summer. I remember when they were putting up the Pulaski Monument that is still located near Linwood Ave and Eastern Ave. At that time we didn't know who General Pulaski was! Check him out here: http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2001/10/20011010-4.html

At one time Patterson Park was used as a Civil War Camp and a Civil War Hospital, this was back in the 1860's. I have an original letter written by a soldier stationed there telling about how it was at the camp and Baltimore. He was from New York State.





Patterson Park has a great history. Life around it even now, has benefited living near by or visiting the many functions that goes on during the year.





There is plenty of Patterson Park history on the net if you are interested. I am glad to see that the personnel of the Friends Of Patterson Park who have worked so hard to bring this park back to life get the kudos from the City Paper. They sure worked hard in bringing the park back to life.

For Awhile I wasn't A Double Dogged

My Double Dogged name was taken from our 2 West Highland Terriers. This past June, we had to put down our beloved Tory. She was a Westie Rescue dog that had special needs when we rescued her. Tory became the companion of our other Westie, Katie, and for 7 years there was lots of love to give and receive.

Tory was the love of my life even is she couldn't hear, and couldn't go up and down the steps anymore. She was getting blind and we would practically have to carry her in and out of the house when she had to go and do her business. Tory, was the most lovable dog and the best friend our Katie ever had.

It was a hard decision no matter how much she was suffering. She just was not our old Tory! I miss her and I always will. You just don't forget someone that was a part of your family.

Katie is just about 16 years old and now we will be facing another hard decision soon. Though not in pain she is failing every week.

After Tory left us, my wife and I, or at least I didn't want to get another dog. I just felt I needed some more time before I could make the decision to bring another dog into my life.

My wife didn't have the same feeling about getting another dog. She wanted to get another rescued Westie. She was surfing the internet for a few weeks on all of the rescue sites. I knew this and we talked about another Westie and it didn't matter if it was a male or female. We wanted a Westie puppy and finding one to rescue was difficult to say the least. It had to be a rescue!

She came upon a site from a woman that was finding homes for dogs especially terriers. She bred Scotties and showed them. She had a network of other like minded breeders that rescued dogs through out the US and helped them find proper homes.

She contacted my wife and gave her the name of a breeder in Virginia that had a male Westie puppy for rescue. That was on a Friday. We got pictures of the puppy on their rescue site and the phone number of the people with the Westie. I called the number and made an appointment to see and get the puppy on Sunday. That was a good time for them. They lived in Virginia right on the North Carolina border and was at least a 6 hour drive.

We drove the 6 hours and my wife was on pins and needles the whole time thinking that they would let the Pup go to someone else. I told her that they wouldn't do that to us and that we would get the Pup.

We called them as we were nearing their place to let them know that we would be there soon. When we arrived the wife, led us into their place and met the husband and this tiny white Westie puppy. The puppy came right up to us and greeted us with kisses and was not shy at all.

Just a point of information about rescuing any kind of dogs. Most rescue dog lovers and or breeders will not just hand over any dog to just anybody. Having being active with Westie Rescue for the last 7 years or so, we had good credentials and was screened big time before you will get a dog from them.

This puppy was one of four that this breeder rescued and was the last one to be had. They were Scottie breeders and showed their dogs all of the world. Yet they would rescue just about any dog that was in trouble. They found out that a female Westie was bred with a male Westie. When the female was ready to have the pups she would have to have it cesarian and the original owner didn't want to have that expense for one reason or another, and was going to put the pregnant female down. The nice Scottie people found out about that, and offered them money for the dog and got it. They paid for the birth and the care of the four puppies and put them up for adoption through the rescue network. We got the last one! That 6 hour drive down and another 6 hours back was a very happy drive.

That was back in July and now we have a 5 month old male Westie puppy by the name of Murphy. I am so glad we got this little puppy! It is the love of our life and lifted our spirits having another dog to love. I can't imagine missing out on the joy of having our Murphy even if I was not quite ready for another dog. I am so glad I relented and that wasn't hard to do.

So now I have a Double Dogged home again.

You Know How It Is When This Happens!!!

It has been 6 months since I have posted on my blog. All I can say is that I got burned out on my computer and I am just getting back on. I didn't stop everything, but I sure did slow down. I did check my E Mail and dropped in to check out the blogs here.

I belong to several fishing boards and I hardly have been on them. Sheeeeesh!! No selling on E Bay, just buying a few things and that is about it. It must be the weather! When it was warm I would sit on my screened in porch and read. Books, newspapers kept me occupied, and I just didn't feel like being on this ole computer.

Now that the mornings are cooler, I just feel better being back in the house and on line again. Sorry about not being around and posting as much, but I hope to post more in the future. I missed Ya!