Tippy and Spot

This photo was cut and stuck into a glass furniture caster to be used as a paper weight. Every Christmas in country school, the teacher would pick a project for us to make gifts for our parents. The photo was taken around 1950, so it was probably a gift that Christmas. The teacher furnished the materials so the parents wouldn't know what the project was, but, we had to come up with the photo we wanted to use. The paper weight was on Mom and Dad's desk forever after and it is now on mine. Mom always had these caster cups under the legs of furniture, whether is was on carpet, wood floor or linoleum. I think they are now considered antique !! Tippy was the runt of a litter of rat terriers when we adopted him from family friends. Spot, who was totally white with one black spot on a shoulder area, appeared at our farm one day. No one ever came looking for him, so he became ours. We always thought someone had dumped him off nearby, knowing we would take care of him because they couldn't.

Memories of My Buddies

Ginger, the setter, and Amber, the Sheltie, were adoptees. Both started out as your dogs, they came to live with us, then ended living with my Mom and Dad. I loved having dogs when they had a yard they could go out to anytime they wanted. These two were great pals on my daily walks when we lived in Tulsa. Your Dad taught them to understand the spelling of w-a-l-k. If the word or spelling was even mentioned, I had to get my walking shoes on and go or they would not settle down !! Nowadays, I get my dog fix with friends and neighbors dogs, plus my smart little great-grand-dog, Jasmine !! AND, of course, Susie and Clarice when I get the chance !!

Ringo was His Name

Ringo graced our lives for 16 years. Your Dad brought him home to us when you were about 5 years old. It was a total surprise for me as well as you, our first family dog -- I don't remember that we even discussed getting a dog ! Your Dad was always full of surprises. Ringo proved to be easy to house break and learned a few tricks. His first Christmas with us, he opened a few of the presents under the tree while we were at work and you were at school. I remember your Dad being a little put out with him the day he brought him home because he got carsick. It was always difficult to get him into the car after that ride to his new home if we wanted or needed to take him somewhere. He was a good companion, friend and watchdog.

Top Dog

As a farm wife in the 40's, my Mom's social life was limited. Of course, all the surrounding farm families knew each other and their kids played together on occasion, but, the women rarely had "morning coffee" together or went to someone elses home for an afternoon visit. Farm families had too much work to do !! BUT, this one holiday season in 1944, I remember vividly, Gladys Oviatt, a farm wife friend of Mom's, invited several neighbor wives and their children to her home for an afternoon "Christmas Tea". Everyone was to bring a 10 cent wrapped "grab bag" gift. These were placed into a pretty decorated basket. Some little games were played, tea and cookies were served, and everyone "grabbed" a gift from the basket. I grabbed my gift, excited to open it and see what it was. It was a potholder !! I must have had this hugely disappointed look on my face as the woman sitting next to me opened her gift and it was this cute little dog figurine - I don't remember that woman's name, but, I have always remembered her saying "Oh, you got just what I wanted. Would you like to trade?" And so, when I look at this little guy with his umbrella cane and top hat, he brings me a memory of kindness and sharing, never forgotten.