Memorial Day 2017

Today is Memorial Day in the U.S., a day when we remember and honor those who have died in service to our country.

Big & Rich's song "8th of November" always brings to mind, not only those who died, but those who survived and live with the memories of their fallen brothers.


If the video doesn't play, click here.

Not Me!

Percy:  Uh-oh, look at what I found in Jan's photo albums.  Which one of you guys did this?

Micah:  Not me!

Mercy:  Not me!

Marcus:  Whatever it is, definitely not me!

Percy:  But I haven't even shown you what happened yet.

Micah:  That's okay.  It wasn't me!

Percy:  Well, this is in with Jan's photos.  One of us did it and it most definitely was not me!

Merci:  It had to be one of you.  I'm in trouble for destuffing dog beds. (Miss Messy Destuffs)   Glasses are not my thing.  No stuffing!

Marcus:  Don't look at me.  I'm innocent.  The dust mites went on a rampage and destuffed the bed in my crate.  You and Micah knocked all those stuffed animals and VCR tapes to the floor, Percy.  One of you must have done it.

Percy:  Not me!

Micah:  Not me!  We'd better find out who broke Jan's reading glasses before we're all in trouble.

Merci:  How do we do that?

Micah:  Democratically.  We take a vote and the winner takes the blame.  I vote for Marcus.  He's usually the guilty party.  All in favor of Marcus, raise a paw.

Merci:  That's it.  Four votes for Marcus.

Marcus:  Wait!  I didn't do it. And how can there be four votes for me if there are only four of us voting and I didn't vote against myself?

Percy:  I'm sorry.  I got a bit carried away and raised two paws.  But you still won, Marcus.

Marcus:  But I don't want to win!  It isn't fair!

Cyndi:  You won something, Marcus, and you don't think it's fair?

Marcus:  We don't know who broke Jan's glasses, so they voted me guilty..

Cyndi:  Oh, is that what this little conference is about?  I know who broke them.

Merci:  Who?

Cyndi:  Jan did.  They were on a TV tray she knocked over and something heavy landed on them.  That was a couple of months ago. 

Marcus:  I was tried and convicted without any proof.  Do any of you have anything to say to me?

Percy:  Yes.  We're sorry the dust mites went crazy and destroyed the bed in your crate.

Graphic by Zoolatry

Today is Veterans Day in the United States and Remembrance Day in Canada and other countries.  It is a day to honor and celebrate all our veterans.  Without their service and dedication, our lives would be very different. 


Note:  Our power supply fan is on it's last "legs", so w probably won't be around much until after the power supply fan can be replaced.   


We are joining the Pet Parade hosted by Rascal and Rocco, Basil the Bionic Cat, Barking from the Bayou and Owned by a husky.   

Freedom Isn't Free

This is the flag that used to greet us each time we took a walk.  It became old and tattered and was removed, not to be replaced.  We miss seeing the symbol of American freedom flying proud in a breeze.

This Memorial Day we would like to share a video titled :Freedom Isn't Free.  It's in honor of all our vets who have sacrificed their lives to help keep us free.



If the video doesn't play, click here.

Veterans Day 2015

PERCY:  Today is Veterans Day, a day the U.S. honors the veterans of our Armed Forces. 

BUDDY:  We want to share this video of the Homeless Veteran Post Traumatic Stress Disorder Song called I'm Not Home.

MERCI:  The reason we chose this song to represent our veterans today is because so many of them have returned home with PTSD.

CYNDI:  You might know someone who is struggling to cope with traumatic memories after military service. 

MICAH:  Many of us will never know what these men and women have faced in order to protect us.

RUSTY:  Because they have served, we have freedom to go about our lives.

MARCUS:  But we should not undervalue those have returned with PTSD.

SAM:  These veterans are our relatives, our friends, our neighbors ... and some of them are among the homeless.


If the video doesn't play, click here.

Late Veterans Day 2014

Merci:  Yes, we know yesterday was Veterans Day in the U.S. 

Micah:  But as you know, we are always late. 

Rusty:  This time Jan did read the calendar ahead of an event but she couldn't take the photographs until yesterday.

Buddy:  Each year Thomaston, Georgia holds a ceremony to honor our veterans for their service. Here are the speakers and the Wreath Layers.

Cameron:  Not that we were there.  Jan doesn't take us anywhere.  She just comes home and says, "You won't believe what you missed." 

Cyndi:  These are NJROTC lined up behind everyone.  This is only a portion of the group. 

Marcus:  This group is the Upson-Lee High School Marching Band.  Jan said they played music.  It's too bad they didn't have Buddy there to howl ... I mean, sing with them.  He can carry a tune really well.

Sam:  Here is a shot of some of the attendees.  Many of them were vets and their families.

Percy:  The Exhibition Drill Team did a presentation. 

Merci:  CDR Malcolm Williams, the bugler on the far right played Taps. 

Buddy:  City officials attend the ceremony.  Here is our Mayor Hays Arnold. 

 

Cyndi:  And Jan's favorite police officer, Chief Dan Greathouse.

Sam:  Captain Toby Hardeman, Sheriff Dan Kilgore and Gary Bedford. (l - r)

Percy:  And here we have the reason for the ceremony:  veterans!  Jan was too late to get a shot of all the vets attending, but she was in time to grab a shot of her friend Johnnie's annual photo group.

Merci:  Willie Brown, Jeffrey Hobbs, Ralph Mann, Jr., Willie Harris, Leroy Terry, Robert Jackson, and Jimmy Edmondson.  (l - r)

Rusty:  We will see all of you guys next year.  Well, Jan will.  We'll just get to see your picture.  Take care and be in health!

Cameron:  Jan says we should honor our vets and never forget they leave families behind for long deployments.

Micah:  I guess we're fortunate to have such brave men and women who serve.

Note:  Clicking on a photo sometimes enlarges it; however, we make no promises when dealing with Blogger.

Veterans Day 2013

Buddy: Today is Veterans Day in the US.  We're very late posting our tribute but it's all the cats' fault.

Percy:  Whoa!  What do you mean it's the cats' fault? 










Buddy:  Well, Jan was waiting to post pictures until after today's local Veterans Day Observance.

Percy:  And?

Buddy:  And when she downloaded the pictures from the camera, she discovered there were no pictures, only videos.  Mostly of her hand, the keys hanging around her neck, upside down people ... things like that. 

Percy:  Guess that explains why she was mumbling about the camera acting weird today.  But how is that our fault?

Buddy:  Because after Jan found she could only capture very small stills from the videos,  she declared the day a CATastrophe.  And we don't have any pictures to post today.

Percy:  Okay, so you can spell.  But this is not our fault.  It's Jan's.  Totally Jan's.  Unless you dogs want to take the blame.

Buddy:  Oh, no, we didn't have anything to do with it.

Percy:  Yes, you did.  When Jan checked the camera, there was only room on the card for 2 more shots, so she changed the setting in order to delete them all.  She didn't realize she'd changed the setting to video. 

Buddy:  There are no dogs in that story, so we're innocent.

Percy:  No.  She jumped up to answer a phone call about her ride and then let you guys outside to pee before she left.  You distracted her. 

Buddy:  Oh, well, it looks like all us dogs and cats are completely in the clear then.  The evidence proved it is all Jan's fault we have no photos to post today. 

Percy:  In that case, why don't we just have a verbal post today?

Funny Farmers & Jan: A big thank you to all our veterans for their service.

USAF Angel Flights

Hey, remember us, Merci, Sam & Buddy?  The Funny Farmer Felines keep hogging the posts with their Mousebreath interviews and Jan keeps hogging the computer, so we don't get to post very often and we keep getting overlooked.  But we're still here.  Today we have something special for you.


Veterans Day was November 11 and we wish we had known about this musical video then, but we didn't and we like it so much, we're going to post it a week late.  Grab a box of tissues cause we doubt you'll make it through without tears.

This video begins with Radney Foster, Darden Smith and Darius Rucker giving a short explanation of why / how the song was written  For those who are not aware, the U.S. Air Force Angel Flights bring home our fallen military (heroes).  

Co-writers Foster & Smith are donating proceeds to a charity that provides assistance to military families of the fallen.


If the video doesn't play, click here.

Many thanks to all our veterans, including those who ride - as well as those who fly - the Angel Flights

We prepared this yesterday and don't have time to write a new post, so w apologize this teary video falls on the same day the cat blogging community lost the lovely Miss Huffle Mawson. It is doubly sad since her family is traveling out of the country. 

And the dog blogging community lost the adorable Princess Isis. Isis was Hansel's cousin.  Isis's' blog will be closing now. 

Thanks for Serving

Yesterday was Veterans Day but our town held it's annual observation ceremony at 11 a.m. this morning in a nearby park instead of at the courthouse.

This is Billy J. from the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW), one of the many veterans present today.  He was the local VFW Commander for most of the years Jan was with the VFW Auxiliary.  He was a highly patriotic, high energy, keep the veterans in the public eye, go-getter type Commander.

There is always an impressive number of participants from the local high school.  This is the UL NJROTC lining up before the ceremony.

More NJROTC members, including the Color Guard, marching and carrying the flags. Those on the pavilion spoke in one capacity or another.

The UL High School Band.

Amazing Grace on the bagpipes.

And Taps concludes the ceremony (bugler is on far right).

A group shot of most of the veterans who attended today.  We owe each a debt of gratitude for their service.

Honoring Our Vets

We're a little late getting a post up today but we do want to do a quick one.  Today is a day when we honor our military veterans.  It's Veterans Day in the United States and Remembrance Day in the United Kingdom and Canada.

We salute all the veterans who have given so much for us to have the freedom to make this post.. 

This is Jan's favorite Veterans Day video, so we are posting it as thanks for her allowing us to use the computer first today.  (And we have to admit, we've grown fond of it too.)  If you've heard it before, it is worth listening to again.  GI Joe and Lillie written and performed by Joe Bonsall of the Oak Ridge Boys.


If the video doesn't play, click here.

Memorial Day 2012

Today is Memorial Day in the United States.  We are posting a video titled "True Meaning of Memorial Day."  We offer it with no other comment, except to say thank you to all who gave everything and to all those they left behind.


If the video doesn't play, click here.

Veterans Day 2011

Today is Veterans Day in the US

It is also Armistice Day for our friends in the UK

And Remembrance Day for our friends in Canada

In the US, thousands visit the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier every year, but the Tomb is not a "tourist attraction."  The guards do not speak but the one in this video did. And we thank him for demanding proper respect for those who are buried there and those they represent.. 


If the video doesn't play, click here.

Those resting at the Plaza represent the missing and unknown service members for our military from four wars: World War I, World War II, Korean War, Vietnam War.. It's a place where friends, family and strangers can go to grieve or pay respect. A picnic or party atmosphere is disrespectful.  Take a moment and read a short history of the Tomb.

Visit the FAQ page of The Society of the Honor Guard,The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier for interesting facts  --  not the mix of fact and fiction widely circulated in emails and posted on forums!

And when you see veterans selling poppies this weekend, we hope you will not only give a donation but thank them for their service to our country.

Memorial Day 2011

In memory of those who have died in service to their country.

Arlington, sung by Trace Adkins.


If the video doesn't play, click here.

We are not back. With Blogger acting up, this is a good time to be on break. We just want to honor those who gave their lives for our country.

And we are asking, if you can help these folks in any way, please do so. They applied to become a non profit in Brazil and they have been trying to find funding but they are losing their home and all the 17 rescued dogs. Who will take the rescues in and give them a good home? Most likely they will end up killed.

These folks lost their business in the January 2011 flood when whole villages in Brazil were wiped out with mudslides and flooding. Their home was spared because they were on higher ground and instead of just worrying about themselves, they donated their time to helping the rescued sick, injured and suddenly homeless animals in other villages.

Please donate a few dollars, if you can. And pass this on. These folks have worked hard and done without to save dogs no one else cares about. The Sunday post is titled "last Days." Don't let this be their last days!

Dogs in Brazil

Armed Forces Day

As you know, we've gotten so far behind we're posting later in the day now, so we're a bit behind publishing this.

Today, Saturday, May 21 is Armed Forces Day in the United States.  It was created in 1949 when all the Armed Forces were unified under one department - the Department of Defense - and it replaced separate Army, Navy and Air Force Days.

Jan took photos at two nursing homes this year for the local VFW and we'd like to share them with you. Our WWII and Korean veterans are dying and our Vietnam vets are aging, and it is sad to see those who once fought valiantly for American freedom to now fight age and infirmity instead.

Even though many of them are wheelchair-bound, they were happy to assemble for group photos. We are very proud of each of them.

And we think the song, Sacrifice for Me - written and sung by Joe Bonsall of the Oak Ridge Boys - is appropriate for this post so we'd like to share it with you today.You might want to turn up your speakers.


If the video doesn't play, click here.

Rusty Shares Fire Photos

Hi, it's me again, Rusty, on my chair. Jan thinks the chair is hers but I know it's mine because it's just my size.

It's a little warmer in here at the moment. We nearly froze yesterday cause Jan was so busy working on a project, she forgot to turn the heat up - even a little - but kept going until she nearly turned into an ice cube and we had to push her into a hot shower to thaw her out. We are expecting rain mixed with snow tonight. Definitely curl-up-on-a-chair indoors weather.

Before we forget again, we'd like to thank Gracie for the lovely Valentine header she surprised us with the other day. If you notice, she even included our handsome Crystal. He's gone but not forgotten.

Buddy, Merci & Sam are about to head out to give Jan a walk. We missed it last night and again this morning, so they're going to herd her out the door before the freezing temperature and winter weather arrive. Whatever she's doing can wait!

We thought we would share some bad news with you. Not our bad news, but the local VFW's. Two weeks ago the VFW and LAVFW held their meetings in the same room, as the ladies' usual meeting room was still icy cold a couple of hours after the heat was turned on. Jan was home around 7:00 pm. The fire department was called to the VFW building at approximately 1:30 am - about the time the roof collapsed.


Yes, you guessed it. The building is a total loss. Jan took some photos a week ago and although you might not be able to tell from these photos because of their small size, when she looked through a door or window, she could look right through the building and see the trees around it. Eerie.


The good news is that they will rebuild. But it sure was a shock to hear the announcement on the news the next morning.

Hope you are all having a good day.  

The Missing Head Photo

Merci:

Hi, we just want to let you know Jan is feeling much better today but we dogs only got half a walk this morning.She did run some errands, which included buying us a different brand of food from the new Petsense. She hopes it will be healthier for us.

This is the second week of the auction to help with Derry's vet bills.  But instead of bidding on items, there's a new twist - a special photo contest for Thanksgiving blessings. Stop over at Furriends of the CB Auctions and check it out.


Do you remember this headless photo from Veterans Day?

Well, surprisingly, the head turned up in today's newspaper. Not the same shot or photographer but it is the head that goes to the body. Notice the VFW apron top. And since some  one or two of you expressed disappointment over the missing head...

Uh, maybe we better mention, you do remember Jan was the subject of the headless photo, don't you?

Veterans Day Ceremony

Today is Veterans Day in the United States and Jan celebrated by attending the local ceremony at the courthouse. She said we can share some of her photos, including one you aren't going to believe. We actually convinced her to have someone take her picture today and she has given us permission to publish it. Yep, her first public photo.

This is the Color Guard leading the Upson-Lee High School Navy JROTC .

The Color Guard has veered off and headed toward the podium.  The rest of the group will line the street behind the veterans and onlookers in attendance.

Here is the Color Guard again.

 And again.

Most of the attendees stand, but a few of the older veterans have a seat.

If we understand correctly, the 5 humans in the first row in this photo include one LAVFW (Ladies Auxiliary VFW) state officer on the left and several veterans. The local post Cdr is in the middle and the past post Cdr/current Jr. Vice is on the right.

 The gentlemen on the left in wheelchairs are veterans who were brought from a nursing home for the ceremony.

The group wearing the white jackets comprise the Upson-Lee High School Marching Band.

This is the beginning of the wreath laying ceremony. Each cadet is assigned to lay a wreath for one of the following groups -

World War 1

World War II

Korean Conflict

Vietnam Conflict

Persian Gulf & Iraq

CDR Malcolm Williams performed Amazing Grace on the bagpipes.

A member of the U-L HS Marching Band played Taps to close the program.

One of Jan's favorite folk in Thomaston - he's always open to questions - police chief Greathouse.

And the photo you've all been waiting for - Jan's internet debut.

Yes, that is Jan with the yellow VFW apron and a bucket of Buddy Poppies and the little American flag.  She asked a bystander to take a photo of her while the veterans gathered for a group photograph.  There were a lot of people moving about and we figure someone must have jostled the woman's arm when she snapped the photo.  For some reason Jan thinks this headless picture is the best shot ever taken of her.   And, honestly, we didn't crop her head out. 

And our final photo, after the ceremony ended the veterans assembled for a group photograph.  We applaud every one of them for their dedication and service.


UPDATE ON KITTENS: Josh, the Petsense manager, left us a comment today regarding the kittens with the respiratory illness that are up for adoption. "The kitties have been taken to the vet for evaluation. We should have them back soon." We were really worried the shelter would just take them back and .... we don't want to finish the sentence. If you missed the kittens, you can see them here.