I Remember Snowball

I was looking through some old files and found the button above. My friend Lynn made this for me from a photo, just after our dog Snowball passed away.

In the fall of 1987, my daughter, Michelle, and I decided we would like to have a dog. We went to the pet store at the local mall and they had some beautiful puppies that they described as American Eskimo. We decided that the male was the pup for us.

As we left the mall with our little bundle of fur, it was snowing hard. Since he was pure white, Michelle chose the name of Snowball.

Snowball was a hard puppy to train. I was driving cab and working the swing shift, which was 11 am to 2 pm. Michelle was still going to school and also working at KFC. Snowball was left alone much of the time and he certainly knew how to get into mischief.

After he was trained, he was a delight to us. Michelle has a photo of him jumping on her head while she was sleeping. I took the photo. I will ask her to scan it and post it on her blog.

I remember one winter when Snowball got out of the fenced yard after we'd moved to another property. Hubby and I went searching for him. A snow plow was backing down the side street and there was Snowball chasing it and barking for all he was worth. I was afraid that the plow would move forward and he would be gone, but that didn't happen. The snow plow driver saw us coming and stopped to find out what was happening.

Another time Snowball got out of the fence and we found him across the park right in the middle of a main intersection, going in circles. He had traffic stopped all four ways. What an experience.

Despite his adventureous nature, Snowball lived to be 13 years old. In the spring of 2000, he started peeing in the house, which he had never done. The vet told us that he had blood in his urine. He gave him a round of antibiotics. When they were finished, Snowball had to go back for another test. There was no blood. Have you ever tried getting a urine sample from a male dog. Well...that is another story.

In September, Snowball once again had blood in his urine. He was diagnosed with Renal Kidney Disease and the vet warned us that his time with us was almost over. He died in November 2000.

It wasn't long until Meeko came into our lives and then a little more than eight years later, he too has crossed Rainbow Bridge and now we have Dakota. Be assured that one dog doesn't replace another, but each find a special place in your heart. Today, I remember Snowball, who was a great companion and a good protector. I always felt safe with him in the house and I know he would have given his life for me. Rest in Peace, Old Friend, and know that I will never forget you.

If you would like to join the I Remember When meme, please visit Speaking from the Heart. It's a lot of fun stepping back in time through our memories.

William Peyton Hubbard

February is Black History Month. It is a time of year that I enjoy researching the lives of Black Canadians and Americans. While doing that recently I came upon a name that I hadn't seen before...that of William Peyton Hubbard. In recognition of Black History Month, I would like to tell you more about this man.

William Peyton Hubbard was born in Toronto in 1842, to parents to had escaped slavery and came to Canada along the Underground Railroad. He was raised in a cabin in The Bush, which was in the vicinity of what is now known as Bloor and Brunswick Streets.

Hubbard's father had been a slave in Virginia. Upon arriving in Toronto, he waited tables to earn a living for his family. He saw that his son, William, attended school and when he had completed his schooling, he was sent to Toronto Model School to learn the trade of baker. This was a great opportunity, as Toronto's schools weren't segregated, unlike most Ontario schools.

Hubbard practiced his trade of baker for sixteen years, at which time he invented and patented an oven. He expected to continue in this line of work for the rest of his life.

On a dark, dreary night, Hubbard rescued a man who was driving his horse and carriage when his horses spooked and threw him into the Don River. Hubbard rescued him from the waters and found out that he was George Brown, the editor of the Globe newspaper and a future Father of Confederation.

Brown hired Hubbard as his personal driver - a reward for saving his life. The two men came to know each other well. Brown recognized Hubbard's sharp wit, oratory skills and strong sense of civic duty. He encouraged Hubbard, who had strong political views, to enter politics.

In 1894, Hubbard became the first person of African descent to sit on Toronto City Council. He stood up for the rights of the working man and protected small Chinese laundries from being harrassed by large laundry companies. Hubbard was re-elected several times and served on council for thirteen years.

Hubbard fought hard to keep Toronto's water supply public. He also played a prominent role in creating a public owned hydro-electric company which today is known as Hydro One. It supplies electric power to most of Ontario. Hubbard later went on toe champion the cause of tolerance and fight against racial prejudice.

Hubbard was blessed with the gift of longevity. He died in 1935 and was buried at Toronto Necropolis, a historic cemetery alongside other prominent Canadians such as George Brown, William Lyon Mackenzie (Toronto's first mayor) and Dr. Anderson Ruffin Abbott. (Canada's first black surgeon.)

Each year, Hydro One awards two African Canadian students with scholarships in honor of William Peyton Hubbard for the study of power related industries. William Peyton Hubbard left behind a great legacy.

National Geographic has a great site. Take a trip on the Underground Railroad. Make choices that slaves would have made when traveling this underground system to freedom. Remember, each decision you make, your life is at stake. Will you gain freedom or be returned to your Master?

Enjoy your weekend and be sure to take time to have fun with your family. ~Blessings, Mary~

A Bit of This and That

Well, since blogger won't allow me to upload photos or even a divider, I am going to bring you up to date on the news.

My youngest grandson, Jordan, is a big Ottawa Senator's fan. He's always wanted to go to a game. He has an Ottawa Senator's coat, hat, shirt, towel and blanket. He lives and breathes the Senators where hockey is concerned.

My daughter, Michelle, was able to get free tickets to an Ottawa Senator's NHL hockey game. A neighbour had won them and was unable to attend. So, because Jordan is such a huge Senator's fan, he was chosen to get the tickets. The game was against the Buffalo Sabres and took place in Buffalo. This meant crossing the border and of course that is no easy task in this day and age.

Jordan and his father left here at approximately 5pm for a 7:30 pm game. That should have given them lots of time to get there, but something happened. Visit Michelle's blog to find out the very odd thing that happened to Barry and Jordan at the border.

In other news, (sorry the divider wouldn't upload) Chicken Soup for the Soul is looking for stories from everyday people for several books. I submitted one today for A Book of Miracles. Deadline for this book is March 31, 2009.

They are also looking for submissions for several other books, including, In Harm's Way - Honoring Our Military. This is the Call for Submissions that they placed on their website:

An amazing collection of 101 stories from soldiers who defend and protect our country – both active and retired – and from their families who make sacrifices when their loved ones are far away. You will be overcome with emotion as you read these stories that will acknowledge, entertain and inspire you and will leave you with admiration and gratitude for our nation’s best and brightest. The deadline date for story submissions is March 31, 2009.

If you are from a military family, be sure to send in your amazing story. You don't have to be a professional writer, just tell the story from your heart.

For more information on Chicken Soup for the Soul, visit their Looking for Stories page on their website.

Take care and have a great Friday the 13th. ~Blessings, Mary~

Flash Fiction Writing Contest Results

Remember a couple of weeks ago when I posted about the Flash Fiction Writing Contest at Pix n' Pens? Well, it was close between me and a lovely woman named Cleda of another Cleda's Cafe. Congratulations, Cleda.

The contest judge was Miralee Ferrell and the prize was her book, Love Finds You in Last Chance. The contestants were to write a historical story of 300 words or less and use the words, cougar, stampede and riding breeches. I wrote up a little story and submitted it. Here it is for your reading enjoyment.

In the Nick of Time by Mary M. Alward

A flash of bronze streaked from a thicket toward the herd of cattle. Luke turned his horse with a flick of the reins.

“Cougar!” he yelled.

Luke knew if the cougar reached the herd, the cattle would panic and stampede. The ranch hands certainly didn’t need that to contend with on top of everything else that had happened lately.

He dug his spurs into the sides of his horse and headed toward the cougar at full gallop. His friend, Charley, was riding hard from the opposite direction, rifle poised. Luke hoped that Charley was quick enough to avert disaster.

A shot rang out! The cougar tumbled, regained its footing and vanished behind an outcropping of rock.

Luke reined in his horse as he approached Charley and slid from the saddle. Charley dismounted and dusted off his riding breeches.

Luke slapped Charley on the back. “Good work,” he exclaimed. “and just in the nick of time.”

~The End~

Miralee Ferrell was such a good sport about the entire contest. Not only did she contribute the prize of her book, but she commented on each of our entries. Here's what she had to say about Cleda's and mine.

It was almost a tie between Cleda and Mary and a very tough choice. I liked both equally well, but there was one thing that pushed me toward Cleda's....she evoked an emotional response while I read hers and I liked the originality of using Cougar as a first name. I would have loved to have seen Mary's a little longer as her writing is quite strong.

What a lovely complement to say that my writing is strong. That was very encouraging and I certainly enjoyed the light critique that she gave.

Thank you Miralee Ferrell. If you would like to check out some of Miralee's books, follow the link to her official site and do a little exploring. You just may find something there that you'd love to read. There's nothing in the world like snuggling up with a great book. ~Blessings, Mary~