Old Digger

Thursday, May 29, 2008

Melody at the Bridge

I hope this article helps those that have lost a beloved pet. This helped me when my cat Melody passed away last August, she was almost 16 years old. This is a well known poem entitled Rainbow Bridge, Author Unknown.

Just this side of heaven is a place called Rainbow Bridge. When an animal dies that has been especially close to someone here, that pet goes to Rainbow Bridge. There are meadows and hills for all of our special friends so they can run and play together. There is plenty of food, water and sunshine and our friends are warm and comfortable. All the animals who have been ill and old are restored to health and vigor, those who were hurt or maimed are made whole and strong again, just as we remember them in our dreams of days and times gone by. The animals are happy and content, except for one small thing, they each miss someone very special to them, who had to be left behind.

They all run and play together, but the day comes when one suddenly stops and looks into the distance. His bright eyes are intent, his eager body begins to quiver. Suddenly he begins to run from the group, flying over the green grass, his legs carrying him faster and faster. You have been spotted and when you and your special friend finally meet, you cling together in joyous reunion, never to be parted again. The happy kisses rain upon your face, your hands again caress the beloved head and you look once more into the trusting eyes of your pet, so long gone from your life but never absent from your heart. Then you cross Rainbow Bridge together.

Sunday, May 25, 2008

On the Wings of King Arthur!

Once upon a time long ago I found a blue egg broken on the ground after a storm had blown the nest out of the tree, was a new hatched baby Robin, half out of his egg and not moving. I put the nest on a piece of wood I found and pounded it in the ground , I put the nest on top of the wood and went to my yard to see if mom Robin would come back, she did not. I went and retrieve the nest and put it in the house. I really was at a loss as what to do.

Next day I called a man that by coincidence had an article in our news paper the day before on birds. I called him and he said try and feed him worms cut up and if that did not work try hamburg. I then began a routine, I had an old cat carrying case I set up on end, put the heating pad on low, put a towel in and wrapped him up in a small cloth. I went out to our back yard and put some dirt in a coffee can and dug up some worms. I fed him with a pair of tweezers and I cut the worms very small. As soon as I picked him up he had his little mouth open, wanting to be fed, it was hard to get the worm in his mouth just right so he would swallow it.

Eventually he turned from very pink to a dark colored body as he started to grow. I put him in our bedroom window, and a mom Robin had built a nest in the tree where he could see and hear the baby robins make noises when she came back to feed them. I made a nest for him as he started getting bigger. He was doing very well on the worms. When he started getting feathers it looked strange to see how their wings are hollow. I hung his cage outside when he had full feathers. Soon I decided to take him out of his cage outside and to the back yard to watch me dig worms. I thought he would fly away and I was very nervous. he flew up on the garage roof, I talked to him and low and behold he flew down to me.

Every day we did this, I would bury worms by him and he work dig them up, he was like a pet bird, when I walked across the yard he flew on my shoulder, when we set in the glider he came to us. I put water in an old fry pan and he would bath. One night I had a scare, he flew way over to the neighbors tree and would not come back. I usually put him in a cage in the garage to sleep for the night and I would get up a dawn to feed him. I was afraid our neighbor cat would get him, because the cat was at out house every day.

The next morning I got up at dawn and went out to see if he had come back and he was right in our yard. I had a heart pounding decision, if we should let him stay in the yard or release him elsewhere. I called Hoffman Park rangers and ask their advise, they recommend I could release him at the park. The day we decided to do this was a tearful day. We took him to the park and the rangers had recommended a path that was used very little. I was afraid he would come to anyone that walked down the path.

Well, we released him, he flew out and up in a tree, we called to him but he never came back. This release is like seeing someone you have grown very fond of and loved go away forever. We went back a few days later to see if he was still around, no luck. I have tears in my eyes just writing about this. I would like to mention that I did not take one picture of him. Our newspaper did come to the house and take a picture of me holding him, and that is all I have of KING ARTHUR, a very fitting name for a brave little ROBBIN that showed us his courage to survive in this great big world.

Saturday, May 24, 2008

Family Pictures

Our wedding reception (July 30, 1959).

Expecting our first baby, 1959, this is Charles Wayne, I did not mean to confuse my friends.

Our son Douglas Wayne Cloud, born September 24th., 1960.

Second son Ronald Thomas Cloud, born June 10th., 1963.

My mom and dad, 1942, taken summer before dad was killed in October, 1942.

Our dog Spotty and Grandpa William Applegate 1944, he passed away the next year 1945.

My Grandma Mary Elizabeth Crawford, and boyfriend, this is before she met Grandpa.

My 1953 Pontiac and me, also at work, check out the old typewriter.

Scottie and me, we were in a Minstrel Show 1956, it was a lot of fun, I am the tall one.

Our bowling team, 1957 Christmas party, Ruth is the highest one in the back.

1939 family photo, my mom had to hold on to me, I did not want my picture taken.

1940 picture taken with Uncle Floyd, I am on his right.

This is Beauty, I took her from a house by school, when she was 6 weeks old.

Me with Doug. & Ron, 1970, Ron was just in a parade with his Boy Scout troupe.

This is Melody in 1998, she had put on a few pounds, she went to the Bridge at age 16 years old.

Jake, my best friend, 1982, when we moved to town he was hit by car, he was 11 years old.

2007, Willow, my best friend, went to the bridge in 2007, age ii years.

1940, Margaret (on left) and my sister June, at Thompson Park

1974, Doug (on left) 16 yrs. and 1979, Ron and he is 16years, my clowms.

1957, my friend Ruth, Stan and Bruce, her family.

1952, Marge Nedeau and children, I babysit for her.

1940, Margaret (on left) age 7 years, 1918, my mom, we are same age.

My mom and two cousins, my Grandma Applegates brother & sisters.

My Aunt Anna & friend, and Aunt Lotties girl Louise.

Waynes dad Clifford and friend, and his mother LaVerna.

On Berg Road--Jim Ryan, my sisters Stella and June, having fun.

On Berg Road again, top, Jim & Margaret, bottom Billy & Stella.

Top left, my mom and a friend, Aunt Anna & Louise, bottom from the left Aunt Anna, Aunt Lotties children, in front Russellittle Marie, back is Louise holding Kate, these are cousins.

1940, big guy is cousin Hunter, starting left, Margaret, Stella, June and cousin Joyce.

1938, cousins Kate & Florence Ann and their mom & dad, Aunt Lottie & Uncle Harold, my aunt had ten children, and they are in the pictures above, she had two children that died of diptheria.