
If we were having a beer, well, you’d be having water.
“I thought you were going to the bar.”
“Not today. I thought I’d sit here with you for a while.”
“Thanks. I like sitting out here.”
“We know, Maddie, we know.”
“Well, it was your idea, you and Faith. You guys built that patio for my cot.”
“No, we built that patio for mom.”
“Oh.”
“You took over the patio, and when we moved the bench out of the way, you started sitting on the steps.”
“I like sitting on the steps. I thought you knew that. I figured it’s why you moved the bench over here.”
“We moved the bench over here, so we could take comfortable chairs over there. This bench is not comfortable.”
“Then why did you buy it?”
“It’s pretty. We wanted to make a pretty little place for mom to sit – for a few minutes – while working in her garden.”
“Wow. I really got this all mixed up. I thought the whole thing was so you guys could sit with me.”
“No, this had nothing to do with you. We bring you outside to, well, you know.”
“Go to the bathroom?”
“Yes.”
“I prefer exploring the yard and I love sitting.”
“Yes, but you have to go to the bathroom.”
“I know, but sometimes, I forget. I get distracted.”
“Well, we do enjoy sitting here with you, and it seems to help your mood.”
“Yeah, it calms me down quite a bit. I know I can be a jerk now and then.”
“Hmmm, yeah, I think I’ll just have to agree with that, you can be a jerk. I think MiMi and MuMu would agree, too.”
“They’re cats. I know they’re our cats, and I really do love them, but sometimes, all I see is cat, and I think I should chase them.”
“You don’t chase the squirrels or the bunnies.”
“They’re not cats.”
“I see.”
“So, what else do you enjoy doing?”
“Why are you asking?.”
“I’m sharing this with the people who read my blog. It’s part of the Cherished Blogfest. Some of those people really seem to like you a lot.”
“Then maybe you should edit out the part about the cats, and my being a jerk.”
“I think they would understand.”
“OK. I mean, I’m not always a jerk.”
“We know.”
“Well, I guess the other things I like are laying on the couch, especially when I can snuggle up next to mom or when I can use your legs as a pillow. I really like it when Faith comes over and I can lay next to her.”
“There seems to be a pattern forming.”
“You know, sometimes, when I snuggle with mom, MuMu joins us. I’m nice to her then.”
“MuMu likes to snuggle too.”
“She bumps my nose sometimes. I like that.”
“MuMu wants to be your friend. So, is that it? You like to sit and you like to lay down.”
“I like to walk. Like when I take you to the park and when I take mom on her walks. Like I said, I like to explore.”
“Well, it’s getting cold. I think we should go inside.”
“Is it going to snow?”
“No, not today.”
“Soon? Is it going to snow soon?”
“Maybe in a month or two. We usually don’t see much snow until December.”
“I’m not good with dates, but you know why I’m asking. Don’t you?”
“Mt. Maddie?”
“Yes – I love Mt. Maddie!”
“We know.”
“I like climbing up and sitting on top. I can see all over the neighborhood from up there.”
“That’s quite a list. Add in all your toys and it must be hard to pick a favorite.”
“Nah, that’s pretty easy.”
“Really?”
“I love you guys.”
This post is part of the Cherished Blogfest. The blogfest is hosted by Damyanti Biswas, Dan Antion, Cheryl Pennington, Peter Nena, Sharukh Bamboat, Mary Giese, and Kate Powell, Paul Ruddock, it is open to anyone who wants to tell the world about something or someone they cherish. If you want to join us, click here. The blogfest is open until Midnight Sunday.
Hi Dan – lovely … and so true … animools are special – Maddie very much so – but I won’t forget the whole fandambilly … cheers and happy weekend – Hilary
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Thanks Hilary. Maddie is special. Sitting with her really does help her get into a better place.
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Maddie’s brilliant. She knows what she wants and how to get it. You’ve got to admire that.
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She does seem to know how to get us to do what she wants. Sometimes, the timing isn’t great for us, but it seems that doesn’t matter.
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A whole new world opens up around animals.
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It does. We’ve had four of these redheads over the years. Maddie is the most demanding, but she loves being with us, and these things help her to stay calm.
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I take it she’s a thoroughbred.
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Ha! Yeah, but that’s not the word we usually use 😏
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haha, gotcha.
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Perfect way to start a Saturday. Maddie has you guys trained well. She loves a simple but good life with her family – a lesson we could learn from her. Happy walking and resting this weekend with your bud. :-)
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Thanks Judy. She really does love being with her people. I’ve got some work to do, but I’m starting out on the couch with her and my coffee. We’ll walk in s but and I’m sure I’ll end up on that bench.
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There is no question that Maddie is cherished. By so many of us!
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Thanks Maggie. When we extended #CBF17, I knew I had to work her into a post.
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Gibbs gives Maddie two thumbs up for being a jerk sometimes. I don’t know why that would be….
Ahhh, the life of a dog. Sleep, eat, play with toys, poop. Sounds very similar to a cat’s life, along with the fact that we spoil them both. Maddie is forever adorable and she deserves extra couch time today. Thanks for sharing her in your CBF post!
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Thanks Mary. And tell Gibbs Maddie sends him a high five (four). We’re in the couch. As soon as she’s ready, she’ll let me know that it’s time for my walk. Thanks for encouraging this post.
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That was wonderful Dan! Hi Maddie!
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Thanks Pam.
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This was a pleasure to read, Dan. Maddie is definitely one great dog. Thanks for interviewing her. I love Mt. Maddie and all the couch snuggles. Happy weekend!
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Thanks Jennie. We’re on the couch now. We’ll be walking soon.
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Give Maddie a pat for me.
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Will do 🙂
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What a sweet post for the Cherished Blogfest. Maddie is such a good interviewee. And so pretty, too. I’m smiling here.
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I’m glad you liked this. She’s a handful, but we love her.
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Dan, you clearly know Maddie and how her mind works quite well! A delightful weekend post. Have a satisfying Saturday. Hugs
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Thanks Teagan. Her mind can be a scary place, and a quiet place. We never know. But, when she sits, it’s all good.
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I’d love to have heard what Maddie really had to say, unleashed =^_^=
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Ha ha. She really doesn’t like being off leash, unless we are playing. If we let her out on her own she stays by the door until we come. She has done neurological issues that we’re still learning how do deal with.
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What a great post Dan. Maddie, aka The Sometimes Jerk, is s diamond in the rough. You are too funny, the way you describe the jerk/cats relationship. Something tells me MiMi and MuMu are quite capable of defending themsleves though. Happy weekend! I feel Mt Maddie is just around a windy corner here.
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Thanks Cheryl. Unfortunately, neither MiMi nor MuMu know how to be a cat. If they would stand up to Maddie and smack her, they’d be fine. It’s like we have three dysfunctional pets 🙁
My. Maddie should be 6-8 weeks out. We need snow and highs in 30s or lower.
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Does Maddie know she’s a dog? Looking at some of these pictures, I wonder about that.
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Ha ha, maybe not. Or, she thinks I’m one of her litter mates.
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Awwww. It’s too early for me to have a beer, but I think water, in the guise of tea, will work quite well, thank you. What a lovely and loving post, Dan. One of our foster dogs took over the game chair, which, because it sits rights on the floor, was just perfect for her (pit bulls being shorter than Maddie.) We put a towel over it and she made it her place to curl up…at least if she wasn’t wanting to sit on our laps. :-)
janet
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It’s funny how they make their place(s) and how we adapt. They just walk into a room and go “oh, this must be my spot”
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Super photos and great conversation with Maddie. Well done, Dan
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Thanks John!
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A perfect Cherished post today Dan! Maddie hits the AWWW factor outta da park!
She’s picked some great spots to get cuddles, snuggly, warm, and keep an eye on things too. :)
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Thanks Deborah. She seems to have everything figured out. She drives us crazy, but she can also just be sweet.
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Very cute conversation, and I’m sure you got most of it right. :)
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I think so, thanks. She’s pretty easy to figure out.
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What a wise dog , and so articulate !
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Ha! Yeah, she has us well trained.
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Dan–this was the most beautiful post. Maddie–you are cherished and loved by so many of us. Nah, I don’t think you’re a jerk–way too pretty a girl for that.
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Oh, Lois. Don’t say that. I’ll have to start posting the other side of Maddie stories. She has a little curl on her forehead, and she fits that classic poem perfectly 🙂
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Ha! No, not Maddie!
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Reblogged this on Crazy Pasta Child.
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Thank you!
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Awwww… so much cuteness. She’s a lady who knows what she wants (even if she sometimes needs to be a jerk to get it). She definitely belongs in the Cherished Blogfest.
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Thanks. Since the bloggers ended up spanning two weekends, it only seemed fair to give Maddie a chance.
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Oh the preciousness of Miss Maddie :) What a sweet face! Great choice of material. You make her seem so calm and reflective. Great photos!
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Thanks. We lie a little with the photos but Maddie liked to share her best side.
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Dan, this is a wonderful Cherished Blogfest Post! Thanks for featuring Maddie, and her likes. She makes me smile. Yep, I love dogs and have two. 🐶 Christine
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I’m glad you liked it Christine. We’ve always had a dog. Maddie is the weirdest one so far but we love her. What kind do you have?
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Maddie looks like a charmer! My doggies are Charley, a brown & white Shih Tzu and Sammy, a black & white Lhasa Apo. Not really dogs, more like little fur boys! Act just like brothers! I had a German Shepherd as a kid. then as an adult an Alsatian Shepherd. Finding smaller dogs are easier to transport and walk! Christine
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They sound adorable. I’m not sure how many larger dogs we can handle. Maddie is very strong (stronger that she appears to be) and she catches us off guard at times.
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Reblogged this on Shirley (the Potcake) and Me and commented:
Conversations with a dog, love this perspective. It’s fun to think about what our dogs would like to say to us…
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Love reading about Maddie and her favorites — very good that you finally interviewed her — she had commented that this was getting a tad annoying, being that she is often talked about but not asked for her opinion…. She emailed me.
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It may come as a surprise to some readers (and to Maddie) but everything isn’t about Maddie.
Uh oh, I’m getting a look. She’s heading for the keyboard 😏
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Awwwww! I cherish Maddie! What precious pictures, and what a lovely post! <3
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I know there are people who support Maddie blogging more often. I hope this satiates folks for a while.
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LOL! How about once a year? Would she blog once a year? You could put the laptop on the patio.
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Ha ha – she appears in many blog posts. I get yelled at if I go too long, i.e. a week, without including a photo.
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I know. I’m one of the yellers. She doesn’t talk to us much, though. :D
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I try to let her talk in the captions. I’ll see if I can’t ramp that up a bit.
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What a beautiful dog she is! I’m not quite sure I know what Mt. Maddie is? Probably it was referenced in earlier posts.
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Thanks. Mt. Maddie is the huge pile of snow that results from my clearing paths for Maddie and so we can access the firewood we have piled in the back. There are a few photos (near the end of the gallery). All the setters have loved that pile. There have been Mt Mitzi, Mt Reilly and Mt Mollie before this little dingbat arrived.
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Thanks for explaining! Makes sense (but you must get so much more snow than we do down here–not that I’m complaining. A couple of good sledding days each year, and I’m happy).
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I think 30-40 inches is normal, but we’ve had several years with 85+ inches to deal with, and a couple over 100″
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My daughter spent the winter of 2016 in Carlilse, PA; she learned about the hard work of shoveling snow that year—and the importance of saving “your place” on the street, which was where she parked her car. Until that winter, I didn’t really understand what you Northern folks go through.
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Saving your space is important.
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hey i like your dog
shes very cute
how old is she?
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Thanks. Maddie is four.
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I hope you’ll take this as the compliment it’s intended to be: this conversation was charming. I didn’t want it to end. I think you’re the only person I know who can get inside the head of a dog. That’s some skill you have.
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Thank you. Of course, the fog has neurological problems, so…
I very much appreciate your comment.
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Great post! … especially the ending 😃
… and I love all the photos of Maddie being Maddie 💕
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Thanks Joanne. I think she really does love us.
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No question about it 😃
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Oh! How lovely! can’t get enough pictures of Maddie. She is so loved by her family! Hope you and your family had a great weekend!:)
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Thank you. I hope you have a great week.
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Maddie is definitely someone who is a member of your family and extended to your blogging friendly community, too. She’s quite a gal, such a character. I cannot see the “jerk” part but trust your opinion. 🙂
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She is a sweetheart (when she’s a sweetheart). We don’t share much about her other side. It’s really not under her control.
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Maddie is such a special dog Dan! Thank you for sharing her spirit and some wonderful photos 💕
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Thanks Val. She is special, in many ways. She’s actually a special needs pup, but we’re learning how to handle her. Sitting really does put her in a better place. So, we sit.
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By the time I got down to the image that said love to sit and sniff” I had this huge smile across my face and it stayed – woof – delightful cherish post and Maddie rocks
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I’m glad you enjoyed this. It doesn’t take much to make that dog happy.
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;)
((And watching parts of the Sunday night game right now – rooting for your team)
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Thanks – They needed extra help last night.
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