RIP Lucille

Lucille Goodman, beloved dog and friend, passed away on Wednesday January 7th, 2015 after complications from a brief and unexpected battle with cancer. Lucy, Luce or Lu-dog was born on March 5th, 2002 near Telluride, Colorado as one of a litter of eleven puppies. She was daughter of Ocito and grand daughter of Nakima, a fine lineage of German shepherd, Akita, Wolf and who knows what else, all mixed together to produce a canine with a smooth furry finish and a lot of love inside.

Two months after her birth she went on a road trip to San Francisco to meet her human parents, Liam and Theresa Goodman. Lucille very much enjoyed growing up on the hills and streets of the city by the bay. She made many friends in the dog parks there, as well as at SandBox Studio, where she often worked. Lucille graduated Summa Cum Laude from the San Bruno Obedience School, where she majored in Sitting.

In May of 2006 Liam and Theresa were married at The Boonville Hotel in Boonville, California. At the wedding, Lucille served as the Ring Bearer with a floral garland around her neck. She played the role well and seemed especially happy that day, greeting everyone with big tail wags and lots of kisses.

Soon the Goodman family moved to the East coast and where Lucille got a taste of Downeast Maine before they eventually settled in Beacon, New York. Beacon was a good fit for Lucille as she had nature, a backyard and soon a baby boy brother named Graham, whom she adored. Lucy took her role as guardian of Graham very seriously, often standing between him and those she did not know.

Around Beacon Lucille was well known and often received compliments from passersby. She loved her walks; whether they were on the beach, the streets or in the woods. Lucy had a loyal heart and a friendly disposition - unless of course a cat was too close to her food dish. Lucille was a mouthy girl with a comic’s timing, she could always be counted on for sigh, groan or whine at the perfect moment in conversation. Additionally she had an impressive alto bark and howl. Lucy never forgot those whom she got to know; if someone she had not seen in many moons showed up at the door, she would sense it right away by folding her ears back and wagging her tail. She also had a good memory for shops in Beacon that handed out dog biscuits and was known to stop in front of them, demanding to go inside.

Lucille is survived by the Goodman family and all the friends she made along the way. We will miss you Luce and love you always and forever.

“I have sometimes thought of the final cause of dogs having such short lives and I am quite satisfied it is in compassion to the human race; for if we suffer so much in losing a dog after an acquaintance of ten or twelve years, what would it be if they were to live double that time?” - Sir Walter Scott

Halloween

This is the only picture of Graham and his buddy Milo that I was able to get on Halloween. They moved too fast! By the end of the night those candy buckets were full.

Go Giants!

This is how we root for the Giants around here. Tonight is the night they could take the series...or go one more.

1st day of school

1st day, 2nd grade, not excited at all. The "B" is for Beacon Bulldogs. He's feeling like a big guy since he got to play baseball with 8 year olds this summer and he got a cap from the Beacon High School coach at camp.

Maine 2014

We just got back from our annual trip to Maine where we spent most of out time at Flying Moose Lodge. There was  swimming, canoeing, hiking, mini-golfing, sailing, rock skipping, and not enough lobster. There was time spent with family and friends, some good weather, some quiet moments. Check it out: 

Lobster dinner cooked on the shore

million dollah view of Frenchman's Bay

Graham (pre-haircut) with his cousin Gabriel

Sunset on Craig Pond

Flying Moose Canoes

Evening on the beach at Gaga's house

Sailing w Addie on Craig Pond 

Inside Fort Knox in Bucksport 

I found a 1920 copy of Tom Sawyer which I really enjoyed reading but the language was too complex for Graham. 

August already

I can't believe its August already. As we prepare for our trip to Maine, I'm trying to get the house in order for us to be gone  for 2 weeks. Just as the garden is beginning to produce some vegetables, too. This year I'm growing cherry tomatoes, squash, cucumbers, some herbs and a lot of flowers. We've had a lot of rain and not a lot of intense heat so things are coming along slowly. Its ok though. We belong to a CSA and every week we go to the farm to pick up 2 big bags full of produce. Greens, fruit, herbs, its all wonderful stuff. 

There are 4 weeks left of summer. 2 will be spent in Maine, the last 2 at home then school begins again. Feels like its going so fast! When the tomatoes start to drop it will really feel like full summer. 

our very first cherry tomatoes

a pattypan squash although i swear i planted zucchini!

lunch at Blooming Hill Farm

and there was some baseball camp this summer

Trip to Fenway

On July 7 Graham and I made a quick trip up to Boston to go to Fenway Park and watch our beloved Red Sox get beaten by the Chicago White Sox. Even though the Red Sox pretty much suck this year it was still quite a thrill to be that close to the field. Our amazing seats came to us thanks to our friends here in Beacon who have season tickets. We had a great time and went back to Fenway the next day to take a tour of the place.

Here is the trip in pictures, with my notoriously camera shy boy ducking and making faces at the camera, refusing a straight-up smiley shot.

Ticket-holder's line into Fenway Park

There was a storm delay before the game, a tornado watch no less! so we began by watching the ground crew remove the tarp. 

Big Papi (David Ortiz) takes the plate

2nd baseman Dustin Pedroia, Graham's hero

Clay Buckholtz pitching, notice the capacity crowd 

On Yawkey Way before our tour where we found out, among other things, who Yawkey was (former beloved team owner 1933-76)

This is the view from the Monster Seats, some of the best seats in all of baseball

On the Green Monster, you are never far from hamburgers, sausages and beer

Graham stares pensively out at the field of his dreams 

The hand of Mickey holding a BoSox ball

This red seat commemorates the farthest hit ball in all of Fenway history, hit by Ted Williams 

This is what 3 World Series rings look like all together. Graham got to touch them for good luck

Got the boy to willingly pose for a photo with last year's team

On our way our of town we stopped at 36 Ardale St in Boston, childhood home of my mom Marie Gallagher

Not the sweet smiling face I'd hoped for in front of Gaga's house but I'll take what I can get.