Thursday, September 24, 2009

Thank You Very Much . . . .

This month I celebrate the first anniversary of my blog, "Growing
Up Ina". It has been fun sharing stories of my Wadsworth
ancestors from the time they left England and became one of the first families to settle and make their homes in the beautiful little town of Panaca, Utah Territory, now Panaca, Nevada, where my
father, James Allen Wadsworth, was born in 1887 and where I
was born 46 years later.

In telling my stories, I realize I have barely begun my journey,
which began 78 years ago. There are still thousands, even
millions, of words to be put into print as I relive the events that
have shaped my life and the lives of those of you who read these
stories. I thank you for doing so. I appreciate your comments.
They help me to know what it is you really want me to write
about, which events most interest you, and how I can maintain
your interest. I want my stories to help you to know and love
your ancestors, and to better understand what it is that has
shaped my destiny and made me into the person I am today.
I hope with all of my heart that I have remained true to my
heritage.

Writing these stories has not always been easy. Sometimes my
research and memories are easily transferred into the story I
want to tell and sometimes days, or weeks, pass and I have
been unable to write a single line. I am a firm believer in the
'writer's block' I have always read about. It is real.

With Rhonda's help and encouragement, on September 14, 2008,
I posted my first little story. It featured my sweet little Muggles
as she played at Quail Run Dog Park. One year and 8 days later,
on September 22, 2009, my most recent post also features
Muggles enjoying a beautiful Terrier Morning at Quail Run. It
has been a fun year and with your support and encouragement,
I look forward to year number two as I continue my journey,
"Growing Up Ina".

Tuesday, September 22, 2009

A Terrier Morning At Quail Run . . . .






Top picture - Muggles and Mickey
Middle - Peas in a Pod - Carly, Penny, Muggles
Lft to Rt - Dora, Carly, Penny, Minnie Mouse, Muggles
It has been so much fun having Muggles as our funny, mischievious,
bossy, sassy, loyal, and always loving, little companion. There is
never a dull moment in our house. She has her schedule and doesn't
like any deviation from it. She knows what she wants and she lets
us know. From the time she gets up until she goes to bed, she is on a
mission to get it all done, leaving nothing out. She is a terrier, true to
her breed.
David Frey, the voice of the Westminster Dog Show at Madison
Square Garden, said of Coco, the little red Norfolk Terrier I fell in
love with when I first saw her strut her stuff while winning Best
of Show there in 2004, "Besides being a great Norfolk Terrier,
Coco exceeds that very trait that has made terriers so successful in
the Westminster ring all of these years. I like to describe it as always
being on their toes, looking for trouble, which is what they were bred
to do, after all."
So thank you, Coco, aka Cracknor Cause Celebre, for making me
fall in love with you, step one in my quest to have my own little red
Norfolk. Muggles has enriched our lives in so many ways. One of
the things that has been so much fun about having this little dog is
that the Norfolk is very rare in the Southwest. You hardly ever
see them. In fact, Muggles is the only one I have ever seen except
in pictures. She is a topic of conversation wherever we go as people
try to determine what breed of terrier she is. Most do not know
and it is exciting when someone comes up to me and says, "You
have a Norfolk."
It was a wonderful day at the dog park several months ago when
Brenda came with her little Norwich, Dora. The Norwich and Norfolk
were considered one breed, the Norfolk, until 1964 when breeders
in England separated the prick ear and the drop ear dogs into two
breeds. The prick ear became the Norwich and the drop ear
retained the name of Norfolk. The American Kennel Club officially
separated them into two breeds in 1974. Except for the ears and
shape of the eye, they look like the same little dog.
Brenda had told me a couple would be coming to the park with
their four little Norwich Terriers. Muggles and I watched for them
with great anticipation. They have been there twice and Brenda is
there with Dora. I can't describe how I felt when Muggles and I
walked into the park and five little Norwich Terriers ran to meet
us. It was instant bonding. Muggles knew they were like her.
Now, in addition to Muggles and Dora, we have Mickey, Minnie
Mouse, Penny, and Carly. Like Dora, Mickey is the color they
refer to as grizzle, Minnie Mouse is a reddish blonde with a black
saddle, and Penny and Carly are red like Muggles. They are
adorable. I have learned that there is a group formed of people
who have Norwich and Norfolk Terriers. They meet once a month
in Scottsdale during the fall and winter months. They have
invited us to attend their get togethers. They say there are more
Norwich than Norfolk and they are excited to have Muggles meet
everyone. We will probably go. It should be fun.