Holidays

National Dog Day

The Dog Park

We didn’t know it when we took Beethoven and Cabela to the Wickenburg Dog Park today, but today is National Dog Day. I discovered that it was dog day while browsing the book of face after we got home.

The dogs really enjoy running around the dog park. They don’t generally get off their leashes when outside, but they run around sniffing everything and, as usual, give us an opportunity to clean up after them. Today, they enjoyed it so much that they took an extra lap around the park perimeter and didn’t seem to want to get on their leashes until after that.

After I discovered it was National Dog Day, I searched for it on the internet and found Holiday Insights:

National Dog Day has two goals: to honor dogs, and to rescue dogs from homelessness and abuse. It’s an opportunity for us to recognize and appreciate the value and importance of dogs in our lives.

This day is intended to honor dogs for all that they do for us. In addition to giving love and companionship, dogs help us out in countless ways. They are watchdogs for our safety. They lead the blind. Dogs aid in search and rescue, and they seek out bombs and drugs.

The second goal of National Dog Day is to rescue dogs in need. On occasion, dogs need us to save them from homelesness and abuse. The goal of the National Dog Day foundation is to rescue 10,000 dogs a year. Lend a hand to help a dog in need today, or any day.

Decorating for Independence Day

Patriotic Mailbox

With the Fourth of July just around the corner, I decided to do our usual thing and decorate the mailbox for the holiday. The mailbox is the first thing one sees when approaching our driveway along the road from the east.

I went to the dollar store and got some red, white and blue flowers. I also got a few little American Flags to scatter around, two of which are on the mailbox. The mailbox already has a patriotic cover. Click on the image to enlarge.

Flag Day in Wickenburg

Re-posted from Flag Day 2011:

Several times during the year, the Wickenburg Chapter of the American Legion places US flags in the historic downtown area and along the two main drags through town. Today, Flag Day, we ventured out for several errands and were delighted at the patriotic display. This image was taken along East Wickenburg Way (US 60) near old downtown looking west. Click on the image to enlarge.

town-flags.jpg

A Red Rose to Remember Our Fallen

A Red Rose

We hope everyone is having a nice Memorial Day. We are having a nice day and are thankful to those men and women who have made the ultimate sacrifice for our country and our freedom. I took this photo of one of the multicolored roses we bought at the floral shop in the supermarket and dedicate it to those we remember on this day. Click on the image to enlarge.

Mothers Day 2014

Beavertail Cactus Flower

Happy Mothers Day!

We noticed that a new flower opened on one of the beavertail cacti in my rock and cactus garden today. It is very unusual for a flower to open this late in spring. All of the other beavertails in our garden stopped getting flowers several weeks ago. I guess this one is a special flower just for Mothers Day. Click on the image to enlarge.

Easter Lily

Easter Lily

One of the Easter lilies opened up to its full glory on this Easter Sunday. I placed it in the shadow in the courtyard such that the back of the flower was in sunlight. I like the “light from within” effect. Click on the image to enlarge.

Happy Valentine’s Day!

The U.S. Greeting Card Association estimates that approximately one billion valentines are sent each year worldwide, making the day the second largest card-sending holiday of the year, behind Christmas. The association estimates that, in the US, men spend on average twice as much money as women.

The rise of Internet popularity at the turn of the millennium is creating new traditions. Millions of people use, every year, digital means of creating and sending Valentine’s Day greeting messages such as e-cards, love coupons or printable greeting cards.

Me? I’m sending you all this pretty electronic valentine!