Ludwig van Beethoven's Birthday!

"Beethoven"
(C) Flickr Creative Commons, Francisco Anzola

"HISS! HISS! HISS! BEETHOVEN?? BEETHOVEN? Why in the world are we pawing about Beethoven Noah?"

"Woof, don't you have any culture, Samson? Though his exact birthday isn't certain, it may have been yesterday December 16th, but he was baptized on December 17, 1770! He was a great romantic composer of pawsome music! BARKS!"

"Meow! Silly boy! I have culture I just wondered why we are celebrating his birthday? Is he one of the guys that Dad likes to listen to his music while we are working? Hiss! He plays the stuff ALL DAY LONG! Gets a little annoying after a few minutes if you ask me!? Can we all say TURN ON THE ROCK 'N ROLL?"

"WOOF! Yes, Beethoven, actually Ludwig van Beethoven, is one of several composers who Dad loves their music. Beethoven was known for being instrumental in changing the world of music. Though he loved and was influenced by the Baroque and Classical music periods, he is known for taking his music in a different direction which led to what is known as the Romantic Period. Mozart and Haydn gave him lessons and instructions in music. Without Beethoven's influence, we could still be listening to Baroque or Classical music. Dad would like it but the rest of us would go a bit crazy.

What Dad finds fascinating about Beethoven's music was his ability to compose such awesome music while going deaf. His final Symphony, number 9, he never heard. When he finished conducting its performance, someone had to turn him around to face the audience so he'd know how much it was liked! WOOF!"

"Meow! Purrs! So purringly grand!"

"Beethoven wrote 9 symphonies, 5 piano concertos, a violin concerto, string quartets, a mass, and some choral pieces include including opera!

Don't like classical music? BARKS, you can be thankful for Beethoven who enabled music to go beyond its classical roots.

Beethoven would have been 249 years old. His birthday this year celebrates the beginning of a year of celebrations leading to his 250th!"

"Meow" "WOOF!" "HAPPY BIRTHDAY BEETHOVEN!"

A Merry Christmas from Peanuts by Charles Schulz

Merry Christmas!

Friday's Friday! Dog Adoption, Cat Adoption

WOOF! WOOF! Barks! MEOWS! MEOWS! I have just spent a few days with my mostest fabulous and grand Aunt Prissy Face and Uncle Tall Guy in North Carolina for our annual Christmas visit. Samson got to spend a few days pawtying with "Miss Glenda." We will be back next Friday, December 20 to share with you some friends needing "Forever Homes!" and humans to love!

Friday's Friend! Cat Adoption, PetConnect Rescue

Photo: PetConnect Rescue
Creative: Allen Pearson

MEOW! Happy Friday! My pawsome friend "Cat Lady" from PetConnect Rescue stopped by this week with a pawsomely beautiful black cat looking for a "Forever Home!" and humans to love! Meows! Meet Orchid!

Orchid is a little sweet princess who will warm up any household and brighten your day! She gets along with other cats, dogs, and mini-humans! Paws, she does like to tease the dogs in her foster home but it's always in good fun! Purr...

Pawingly, Orchid enjoys ruling her home with tender loving care! She has a sweet, loving nature mixed with a little sassy going-on! MEOW!

Meows, at around 19-months-old Orchid came to PetConnect Rescue with two pawsomely sweet kittens. Now that they have been adopted, she is looking for her own "Forever Home!" where she can get some pampering herself.

Orchid loves keeping her foster family company when they are working from home. She enjoys watching TV or reading with her humans too! Time bathing in the sunlight is a must!

Paws, her foster parents say if she was human, she would be a psychologist! Of paws, cats are pawsome at helping humans! Meows- just ask mine!

Orchid is more than just a cat. She will melt your heart and be your friend- forever in her "Forever Home!" MEOWS!

Purr..purr... purr.. if you would like to learn more about cat adoption with PetConnect Rescue, pawlease visit their Adoption Guide!

Paws if you would to meet or apply to pawssibly adopt Orchid, pawlease complete the PetConnect Rescue Adoption Application. 

Meows, are you unable to adopt? Paws, how about supporting Orchid financially? Donations will assist with her care. Any extra funds will be used to assist other cats at PetConnect Rescue. Interested, pawlease donate HERE!

Friday's Friend! Dog Adoption, Lab Rescue of L.R.C.P., Inc.

Photo: Lab Rescue of L.R.C.P., Inc.
Creative: Allen Pearson

WOOF! Barks! Happy Friday! My pawsome friend "Lab Lady" stopped by this week with a handsome fella named Grant for you to meet! He is around 7-years-old and a Black Labrador Retriever mix.

Grant is looking for his "Forever Home!" in a rural or suburban single-family home and has no fence requirement! WOOF! Barks.

WOOF! Barks! Grant is one handsome fella! Almost as handsome as ME! And that's saying quite a bit! Barks! He is quite the cuddler and snuggler too!

He gets along with the resident dogs at his foster home!

Photo: Lab Rescue of L.R.C.P., Inc.
Creative: Allen Pearson

Grant is house-trained with pawsome house manners! He knows some basic commands and walks well on his lead. He has a moderate energy-level!

Grant has no history with cats and is approved for mini-humans ages 10 and older!

Barks! If you would like to learn more about adopting a Labrador Retriever from Lab Rescue of L.R.C.P., Inc., pawlease visit their Adoption Guide!

Barkingly, to meet Grant or apply to pawssibly adopt him, pawlease complete the Lab Rescue Dog Adoption Application! Barks!

WOOF! WOOF! Unable to adopt? Barkingly, how about supporting Grant financially? Donations will assist with his care. Any extra funds will be used to assist other Labrador Retrievers at Lab Rescue of L.R.C.P., Inc. Interested, pawlease donate HERE!

Photo: Lab Rescue of L.R.C.P., Inc.
Creative: Allen Pearson

Friday's Friend! Dog Adoption, Mid-Atlantic Great Dane Rescue League

Photo: Mid-Atlantic Great Dane Rescue League
Creative: Allen Pearson

WOOF! WOOF! My friend the "Great Dane Dame" from the Mid-Atlantic Great Dane Rescue League brought by a handsome fella named Bingo who is looking for a "Forever Home!" and humans to love!

Bingo is quite a young character! He is around 1-2-years-old and a Merle with natural ears! WOOF! Barks, he weighs in at around 114 lbs but it's all muscle! His new family will need to be ready for a large Great Dane!

Barkingly, Bingo is house- and crate-trained. Though he is not to be trusted to roam free in the house yet as he still has mischievous puppiness about him!

Photo: Mid-Atlantic Great Dane Rescue League
Creative: Allen Pearson

Bingo loves hanging out with his humans and is a true "Velcro Dane!" He will lay at your feet and cuddle with you all day! He will nudge for attention too! WOOFs! Barks!

He is tall enough to counter-surf and has shown puppy-curiosity in the goings-on of the kitchen! Barks.

Bingo is learning how to play with other dogs- his foster brothers and sister! He is fostered with a male Dane, a female Dane, and a male Boxer! He would love to have a dog in his new "Forever Home" to show him how to be the-bestest-dog-he-can-be! WOOFs!

Bingo enjoys going for rides, knows some basic commands, and is working on his leash skills.

He will need an adopter with patience, love, and reassurance while being firm to help him be the bestest-dog-ever! He will have a training addendum with his adoption.

Bingo is good with other cats, dogs, and mini-humans ages 8 and older.

Barks! If you would like to learn more about adopting a Great Dane, apply to pawssibly adopt or meet Bingo, pawlease visit the Mid-Atlantic Great Dane Rescue League Adoption Guide!

Barkingly, do you love Great Danes, but, for whatever reason, are not able to adopt? Please consider
supporting Bingo financially. Donations will assist with his care. Any extra funds will be used to assist other Great Danes at the Mid-Atlantic Great Dane Rescue League. Interested, pawlease donate HERE!

Photo: Mid-Atlantic Great Dane Rescue League
Creative: Allen Pearson

Annual Thanksgiving Breakfast!

Noah Heading Out on a Trip!
(C) Allen Pearson Photography

WOOF! WOOF! My human and I, uh especially my human, enjoy heading out to the Shenandoah Valley to meet up with one of his long-time friends for breakfast and a few hours of chatting. Some times I go with him just to get out, other times I stay home to get a few hours of peace and quiet and, oh yeah- rest! It's rarely quiet around the house when he's home! Barks!

Barks, this year's Annual Thanksgiving Breakfast, as Dad calls it, was on a Wednesday - my day with Dad and his day off. On Wednesday's we always do something together like go for a really long walk, railfanning, or walking around a local home improvement store. We both love it. This day, I got a pawsome ride out to the Shenandoah Mountains.

Barkingly, Dad and his friend like to meet at a Denny's in Strasburg which has delicious meals, clean atmosphere, and friendly service. They chat for what seems like an eternity but Dad always enjoys it. They have known each since Dad was around 7-years-old which is quite a few centuries ago! WOOF! Barks.

Trestle Bridge, Compton, VA 

Barks, I wait patiently and read my recent issues of Trains, Railroad History, Dogster, Whole Dog Journal, and Catser - well, paws, so I can try to reasonably understand Samson, my crazy cat brother!! WOOF! Yeah, I read a lot of Dad's magazines.

When they finish, Dad and I took off to explore the universe! I love this... I sit back with my blankies, chew toys, treats, and pillow and he drives where we end up going! A great set up!

Today, I heard Dad say we were headed to Shenandoah, VA, to visit the Norfolk Southern Rail Yard. I'm not sure what a railyard is, so this should be fun. Though Dad has lived in Virginia most of his life and loves exploring the Shenandoah Valley, there are a few places he has not been to yet! This town is one of them!

"Shenandoah, VA, Railyard"
(C) Allen Pearson Photography

We drove from Strasburg to Front Royal through some small towns. One of them was Compton, VA. Dad says its just a spot on the map but he likes stopping here to watch for any trains that might go across the trestle bridge! We waited a few minutes but since time was short, Dad took a few photos and we headed out. Woof!

As we went over hill and dale around curves only to find more hills and dales and curves to go up and down and around I was beginning to think Dad was playing a joke on me. It seems like all we were doing was going around in circles! WOOF! Barks. As we drove through Luray, VA, I wanted to go visit the Luray Caverns since we'd seen trains here before, but, Dad wanted to keep going so we did! WOOF!

We finally arrived in Shenandoah, VA, a pawsitively quaint little town! I noticed a few signs indicating it's a Historic Railroad Town. WOOF! Barkingly, Dad stopped a few places to photograph and then we watched a short train go by. Barks. A fun time had by all- sarcasm not really intended. Barks.

Barkingly, the town of Shenandoah, VA, much like many small towns in Virginia was part of the American Civil War. Today, there a pawlenty of historic sites, towns, battlefields and the like where you can learn about the history. Woofingly, there are pawlenty of natural areas where you can enjoy a pawsome day's drive enjoying the beauty. Barks.

"Norfolk Southern at Shenandoah Railyard, Shenandoah, VA"
(C) Allen Pearson Photography

Our drive home was uneventful though we did hear a few train horns in the distance as Norfolk Southern made its way through the winding hills of Virginia. Dad and I smile and look to see what we might see and learn its too far off in the distance.

Barks and paws, we are not affiliated with the magazines mentioned in this post or Denny's.