Welcome to the Wakefield Doctrine (the theory of clarks, scotts and rogers)
‘Whats a birthday celebration without photos thought lost in the past?’
Una at some age less than six months. The woman holding her for the photo is wearing the traditional national dress of the Czech Republic, i.e. red, down-filled quilted jacket. She is smiling in the background. Una is resting her chest and forelegs on the woman’s left hand, her paws showing light beige (Una’s, not the woman’s) in color, Una’s expression is one of less than total enjoyment.
Isn’t it funny how words and expressions can change meaning with time? I’m currently trying to write this on my phone and, for whatever reason, the expression popped into mind, ‘ (he is) all thumbs’. I kinda know why that thought occurred to me, as my texting skills are totally what we used to refer to as ‘hunt an peck’. In any event, I remembered that proper texting technique involves the use of both thumbs, hence the thought of ‘all thumbs’. The continuation of the thought that meanings change was inevitable. (then: ‘Why, the poor dear tries so hard but is all thumbs’; now: ‘yow, look at her text, girls all thumbs’). I trust that’s what the ‘young’ people might say. For some reason I’m not always included in their peer conversations.
Where was I? I know! I know! This is the TToT.
This is a bloghop. People write posts, (on their respective blog), and link them to the post the Josie sets up each and every week. This allows ‘one-stop’ reading and given the theme, gratitude (its appreciation, recognition and sharing) it makes for very enlightening reading.
Thanks as always to Josie Two Shoes for her dedication and hard work in making this ‘hop experience both simple and seamless.
‘Colorful stripes and curious dogs’
Phyllis giving Una her birthday presents. They are in a gift bag, (as opposed to individually wrapped, as Una had already eaten breakfast).
The bag in on the left edge of the center of the photo. It shows as a rectangle (on end) held at the top by two very red strings for a handle. The bag has horizontal stripes from top top bottom and looks like an astronomers spectrum analysis (provide the astronomer was 5 years old and just discovered Crayola Centuri).
Una is on her couch. And leaning forward to check out the bag with her primary senses, i.e. her nose is a quarter in from the bag (to explore the contents), her ears are up (in case it’s alive) and her eyes are totally on Phyllis. A happy and alert dog on her birthday.
“A young dog opening presents.’
Deciding which of the toys to pull our of the bag first.
‘Autumns birthday cake’
A photo of the side yard. The lower half (landscape perspective) is of the lawn, which for reasons related to shade, runs from a splotchy dark green on the left, fading to a worn-carpet beige as it leaves our view on the right.
The top half of the photo is of the pine woods. The nearest pine trees are showing with their branches shooting upwards at an angle to the trunk, like a stop-action fireworks display with green gun powder. There is a gap in the trees in the center that leads to Phyllis’ tree house.
The center of the photo is the birthday cake. There is circle of ferns about twenty feet across. The edges show darker than the center and add to the sense of a disc. The color ranges from green to a diluted mustard-yellow with some brown-trying-real-hard-to-look-red. The edge nearest has shadows and make you think of the upwards-curling-over of frosting around the top edge of a cake.
2) Una’s birthday today, she’s 7 (or maybe 49 or …56.) Nah, she’s seven years old because that’s how long she’s been a part of the family. The time from being born to showing up with her driver* I believe is about 6 months.
3) * ‘what’s this about having a driver?’ Glad you asked!
4) * This would be Una (actually, in this photo, she would be more properly address as ‘Balla’, her Czech name), more than likely at the airport in Frankfort Germany. She flew from the Czech Republic to Boston, (via Frankfort), She was driven to our house from Boston.
5) and since we’re on the subject of hypo-grata**.. abusive games that a certain element of society inflicts on the young and the clarks…. musical chairs! totally awful game meant to amuse scotts, re-assure rogers and remind clarks that they’re Outsiders (like they need the reminder).
6) Hey, ho! New project in the woods and it involves…. moving earth from one place to another! Very excited about the coming week (or two, depending on weather). We’re constructing a new path in the woods that will allow Una and Phyllis to walk down to the pond from a different direction. My part is to create an earthen ramp to compensate for a point in the path where the land rises too quickly. More to follow.
7) ‘Home and Heart‘ I continue to write the story at a markedly variable rate of production. It is very much a learning experience.
8) the Gravity Challenge… the crew, Val and May and Joy and Kristi all be sending in photographic evidence of how big a crush the center of the earth has on each of us. Every single morning except for Sunday. Come on by. It’s fun and beneficial, if altering the number on your scale is an item of interest.
9) ‘This Space Available’ ***
10) Secret Rule 1.3
*** How cool is the attitude towards lists of Ten Items that Josie encourages? (Well, since you asked), if you’re out there and reading this, maybe a friend mentioned a bloghop where people write about their week and their lifes and offer some really positive insights and you’re thinking, ‘Sounds like fun and I’d love to participate but I only have one thing I can think of at the moment.’ Well, problem solved! Send in your Item of Thankful (by comment would be easiest) and I’ll set it right there at Number 9!)
‘This way to entrance! Step right up, don’t be shy! Fun and adventure await on the other side of this little virtual curtain.’
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5UAn7WOqtOs
About clarkscottroger
Love Neil Young. Frist and lemme send this comment ‘afore someone else does. :D
FRIST it is!
Anyways, I smiled and oohed and ahhed at so many of those cute Una photos. She’s a lucky dog: such a special part of the family. :) (Yeah, Vinny’s over here resting next to my toes, happily snoozing and dreaming about (probably) chasing squirrels.)
Happy birthday to Una! She reminds me that everything’s going to be all right in the world…
And the Call In. I try to call in at LEAST once a month, but last evening we went to visit “newly moved to town” in-laws for dinner. Good fun and got home later than we have in a long while. LOL.
Great job with Home and Heart – great character development. They are so convincing!
And…let’s see…hope you’ve had a good week!
I’m afraid I don’t have anymore “clarky” insights in this comment but I’m grateful for your grateful posts. :)
Neil is funny (follow-up to previous comment…he is a fairly recent fave. And a telling aspect of that is that I pretty stick to his early years.
Dogs do pretty much everything perfectly…serially, they my role model for reals.
The Saturday night conversations I totally look forward to, in a clarklike way, theyre slightly ‘steam-punk’d versions of the instant digital conversations to permeate the internet…the speed-of-light through a string attaching soup cans.
Happy Birthday Una!!!
It reminds me of her arrival. I remember we were shooting for my birthday in January, but due to rules about shots and waiting periods, she arrived on February 14, 2011 (exactly four months of age). She was a little confused having traveled half way around the globe. She became relaxed though as she sat with her head in Clark’s lap as we watched the Westminster Dog show on the TV.
I remember her first night, standing in the kitchen hoping we’d show here where she could crash-out and get some sleep.
Happy birthday Una!
What a storied beginning to her life with you guys :)
New earth moving project in the woods? It will be expected you share pictures of its progression :D
Speaking of projects….status of Una’s garden?
P.S. Picture of baby Una is more like “take the damned picture already so this woman in the red marshmallow thing will put me down!”
Wishing Una many happy returns of the day!
I relay your wishes!
Happy birthday, Una! Drexel is 2 years and a month behind you.
I don’t think gravity works the same way here in Utah. I’m hoping for some change here soon, or at least some courage to join in again!
well, possibly it’s the elevation? you know, higher elevation = greater distance to the center of the earth?
The nice thing about the blog (for the Gravity Challenge) is that you can go back through all the posts and see the change, the progress and the recess (don’t think that application of the word quite works).
‘Autumns birthday cake’ A photo of the side yard. The lower half (landscape perspective) is of the lawn, which for reasons related to shade, runs from a splotchy dark green on the left, fading to a worn-carpet beige as it leaves our view on the right. The top half of the photo is of the pine woods. The nearest pine trees are showing with their branches shooting upwards at an angle to the trunk, like a stop-action fireworks display with green gun powder. There is a gap in the trees in the center that leads to Phyllis’ tree house. The center of the photo is the birthday cake. There is circle of ferns about twenty feet across. The edges show darker than the center and add to the sense of a disc. The color ranges from green to a diluted mustard-yellow with some brown-trying-real-hard-to-look-red. The edge nearest has shadows and make you think of the upwards-curling-over of frosting around the top edge of a cake.
Just in case it is alive…Haha.
I love all this. Happy Birthday Una.
I love how you are always coming up with useful ideas for your yard, to make it more enjoyable for you both and the work you put into that.
I also love that story of how Una got to you both. I had no idea.
it is fun (the yard projects) because it combines exercise (something I have little patience for) and utility, even if it’s a different look to our surroundings.
Una is certainly a story of the virtual world. It was after hours of searching the internet for dogs (like German Shepherds only smaller) did we stumble on her breed, ‘Chodsky pes’ and one look in their eyes and we knew we found the right breed. Problem was, at the time, there were no breeders outside of the Czech Republic. But through google translate we talked to the breeder we liked the best and made all the arrangements, including transportation, all online.
What a fun, uplifting and enlightening TToT this week, Clark! It was interesting to learn about how Una came to be a beloved member of your family. Sometimes you just know you’ve found the one you were meant to have, and a world traveller no less!
Seven years old is a good age for dogs and children too. I have two furkids celebrating birthdays this week, Sophie will be 14 and Toby will be four, they look quite similar, although Sophie is much smaller, but their personalities are largely opposite, except in their sweetness when cuddling. I loved that Una got to “open” her own brightly colored bag of birthday gifts, surprises are fun! I’m thinking treats were probably involved too. :-) She is such a beauty and I hope she shares life with you both for many years to come!
Your “yard birthday cake” is very cool both in color and design, and yes the edges do somewhat call to mind the frosting on a cake. I can’t wait to see the new path you are creating for Phyllis and Una, those kinds of yard projects, with clear results are far more fun than just raking leaves or weeding gardens.
I’m sure it’s no surprise that I totally concur with you about children’s games that single out individuals, or more likely leave them out in the case of Clarks. I was never coordinated nor physically inclined, so games like musical chairs, or dodge ball, or even being chosen for teams was not an enjoyable experience. Wise teachers and group leaders find better ways to make sure that all feel included and important.
Your daily Gravity Challenge updates on Facebook are much like my coordination of the TToT Blog. It only takes one person to keep things going and help people stay motivated. I hope to have a little more time and energy to work on that in the weeks and months ahead.
I absolutely adore your #9 this week and I sincerely hope someone takes you up on it. Maybe you need to try that “share one thankful” thing out on our Facebook page. We have over 150 members who for the most part remain quiet, but I know they have reasons to be thankful!
Wishing you a wonderful week ahead, enjoy these beautiful days of color before the snow comes… and then share photos so I can smile at the white loveliness from a safe distance! :-)