Freddy Friday #4 - Freddy on the Farm

On Monday night, many in New Jersey braced themselves for up to two feet of snow. The weathermen and weatherwomen told us we would have enormous amounts of snow and wind. Freddy and I eagerly watched out the window only to see flakes peacefully layering themselves upon the 4 inches from the weekend before.  We got about 5 more inches, which was no trouble for the snowplows in the area to clean up.  

As you know, Freddy absolutely LOVES the snow.  He goes bonkers with excitement at the first sight of it and was happy I got to stay home from school on Tuesday to take him out in it. I got a call from my friend to ask if I would like to go on a snowy trail ride that morning. "Riding a horse in the snow?  How beautiful that would be," I thought.  We even decided to let Freddy tag along.  

Freddy had never been to a farm and hadn't met a horse that I know of (remember we do not know what he did before I adopted him).  When we pulled into the farm Freddy dashed out of the car to sniff around.  As we walked into the stable to tack up the horses, he followed. He darted in zigzags from stall to stall to check out his new, bigger, four-legged friends.  You should have seen his face. It was if to say, "Hmmmm....What are these guys about? What do they smell like? What are they eating? Mmmm....This stuff is delicious."  Yup, Freddy will eat anything!  He was trying to steal the horses' breakfasts. Silly pup!

As we got on the horses, Freddy led the way.  He was very comfortable on the farm. Check out how his first farm visit went in the photos and videos below. 

Freddy checks out the farm. His boots match the trim on the stable!
He is a fashionable pup!

Freddy checks out the paddock.

Not only did Freddy check out the horses but they were curious about him too!

Whoa, Freddy...I think I'll rename him
Full Speed Ahead Fred!

After the trail ride was over, Freddy was ready to have his mom back all to himself.
I just love this dog so much! <3 

That was a long run which made for a tired little buddy.

Freddy Friday #3 - Snow Dog

Freddy is getting quite frustrated this winter.  Why?  He said there is not enough snow!  Sure, it's fun to leave our prints on the sidewalks when there has been a dusting of flurries, but he wants MORE! Last winter was just perfect for him.  There was SO MUCH SNOW!

Best buddies walking side by side

You see, Freddy loves to run, leap and chase his friends through the snow.  Check out the photos to see what I mean.

Super Dog!!!!

Playing with friends at the Colonial Park Dog Park

Man, that snow was really
piled high last year!

Taking a break

Freddy wanted to share some of his favorite books and videos about other dogs who like snow.  Get them at the library!  They are all available in Somerset County!!!

BOOKS:

VIDEOS:

Martin Luther King Jr. Day

We learn from history's great leaders.  You're never too small to stand tall, kiddos!

Read more about Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. at our county's library:

Freddy Friday #2 - K9 Explorer

In the first Freddy Friday post I told you how Freddy loves to go on new adventures.  I really love visiting new places too.  Freddy and I went to my parents' house in Virginia for Christmas.  He really likes it there.  My mom has two dogs, Sophie & Jackson, and one of my sisters brought her dog, Big Boy.  All of them got along so well.  Freddy always enjoys his trips to see his "Grandma and Poppy" (my mom and dad).  He especially enjoys running around the open space outside.  This makes me wonder if Freddy could ever survive in a city since there isn't much space to run around.

Top: Sophie and Jackson  Bottom: Freddy and Big Boy

Big Boy and Freddy love to snuggle. They are great cousins!

Freddy loves running around the open grass in Virginia!

Freddy always enjoys a hike through the woods in Virginia.
I had to pick the thorns off of him when we got back though...

In order to test Freddy out in a city I decided to stop in Washington D.C. on the way home.  We got a parking spot on the street right along the National Mall (It is not a shopping mall.  It is actually a tree-lined, narrow park). We were both happy for the chance to stretch our long legs. So many other visitors stopped to admire Freddy as we walked along.  I mean, he is super cute afterall.  Grown-ups and children would pause to ask if they could pet him.  It is always important to ask a dog's owner before you reach out to pet their dog.  This will keep you more safe from a dog who could be frightened or in a bad mood. Freddy loved the extra attention.  We checked out some of the sites. Look at the photos below to see what we saw.  I bet you know some of the presidents I'll talk about! In our classroom we discuss them each day during our math routines while counting money and identifying coins!

Someone was kind enough to take a photo of my best buddy and me!  :-)  

We took a walk along the water to see the Jefferson Memorial.
Thomas Jefferson, our 3rd president, is on the nickel!  He is also on the $2 bill.
Did you know our country even made a $2 bill?!?

Posing in front of the Washington Monument (he was really checking out the hotdog cart I think!!)
George Washington, our 1st president, is on the quarter and the $1 bill.

I think I found the Lincoln Memorial more interesting than Freddy did...
actually, he may have been distracted by another hotdog cart! This dog sure LOVES food.
Abraham Lincoln, our 16th president, is on the dime and the $5 bill.

We continued on our way home.  I spotted a sign for a scenic stop while passing through Annapolis, Maryland.  When I hear that something is "scenic" I figure it means that it is as pretty as a picture. Freddy and I figured we might as well stop there!  Why not?  We were in no rush and the sign made us curious to what we would see when we followed it.  We had to pay three dollars in quarters to get into Sandy Point State Park.  Freddy LOVED the idea of taking a walk again after being in the car for a while.  Unfortunately it ended up being a short visit by the time I found enough quarters to get in, because it began to rain!  :-/   At least we know it is there if we would ever like to stop again!

Freddy posing on the northwestern shore of the Chesapeake Bay in front of the Bay Bridge.

First Ever "Freddy Friday"!

Freddy has been a big hit with my students.  Since he is my best buddy, I speak of him often and also model several writing samples to include him in my stories.  On Mondays, when we share what we have done on the weekend, Freddy is almost always included in my synopsis.

Right now, as I type, he has his head rested on my lap...probably wondering about the next time I will give him a treat, take him for a walk or bring him on a new adventure of his own. You see, I am not the only one who loves new experiences.  Freddy also enjoys meeting new people, going new places and bounding around in fields, on trails and through mountains.

It is only fair that Freddy get a highlighted day each week on my blog I think.  So, for my first "Freddy Friday" I will give you his background story (well at least as it pertains to me).

One summer, while only working part time, I decided I would like to use my free time to volunteer for a good cause.  I have had dogs as pets in the past including: Precious the Beagle, Mollie the Golden Retriever and Sugar the Boxer.  They were all amazing pups!  I knew having a pet was a lot of responsibility, so I figured volunteering with animals would be a better fit for my spontaneous and busy lifestyle.

One summer weekday, while petsitting for my friend's miniature poodle, I was driving to the public library to return a book.  I passed the entrance by mistake and took the next driveway into the complex as I shook my head at myself thinking of how silly I was.  I thought to myself, "Here is my opportunity to check out the Franklin Township Animal Shelter."  The shelter was in the same area as the library, so I was passing right by.  I figured I should see what the shelter looked like inside to decide if I would want to volunteer there.  As I entered I was greeted by several friendly faces of volunteers helping out.  There were cats, kittens and guinea pigs all where I could see.  I asked if I could enter the area where they kept the dogs.

As I entered I heard echoes of barking and yapping.  Many big dogs sprung up to jump on the gates of their cages.  As I walked by each dog I said hello and tried to calm them down...until I came to a handsome fellow named "Fred".  Fred laid there cool as a cucumber.  He did not get up, he did not bark and he looked a little sad.  "Come on over, buddy," I called to him, but there he laid with his head down, barely raising his eyes to glance at me.  On his information sheet it told me Fred was most likely a Rhodesian Ridgeback mix and was found as a stray dog in Middlesex, New Jersey. There was not much more information on him other than a guess that he was maybe about one year old.

I rushed to the library to read up on Rhodesian Ridgebacks.  I had already read about them in the past.  I knew they were bred in Africa as lion hunting dogs.  They are extremely fast and athletic pups.  I don't have a yard and I live in a small condo, but I knew there was a dog park not too far away.  I returned the books to the shelves and I went back over the the shelter to speak with Katie
Nordhaus, the Animal Control Officer in my township.  I went home to rethink if I wanted a dog.  I was having so much fun with Mrs. Sahns' dog, Maggie, as I petsat for her.  I could NOT get Fred off of my mind.  I went back two days later to visit the calm and gentle dog I had seen the day before, and here is what I saw...

Oh, so he really does bark...and he didn't pay 

much attention to me either on my visit.

I stood in astonishment as this 

dog jumped higher than my head!!  

I put the video in slow motion so you could see...

After my visit I was a little worried while wondering, "What will my neighbors think if this dog barks all day, or what if he chews my furniture and jumps on everything?!"

It obviously did not scare me away.  Here he is right by my side.  Stay tuned for more Freddy Fridays where I'll explain more about what an amazing dog and friend Freddy is!! <3

Make New Friends, But Keep the Old

The last days of 2014 treated me so well as I was able to visit with so many friends and family members.  Yesterday, on New Year's Eve, I had the most amazing friendship experience of the year.  Read my story below to see what I mean.

First, let's step back in time...

I had made my very first best friend back in kindergarten when I lived in Staten Island, New York.  Jennifer and I clicked instantly and seemed to adore each other all at once.  I remember always being thoughtful while making or purchasing gifts for her throughout kindergarten and first grade.  On Sundays, I would practice my scissor skills while choosing the coolest comics to bring to my very best friend once I got back to our kindergarten classroom the following Monday. 

Jennifer and I kept each other happy no matter the situation.  When we joined a soccer team with our other classmates it seemed we were sometimes more interested in holding hands and skipping through the field while giggling rather than chasing the hard-to-catch ball.  As other children fought for their turn on the seesaw at recess, we avoided the arguments and used our imagination and sense of exploration while digging in the dirt by the fence.  On weekends we would have sleepovers at her house, might bake with my mom or our favorite...we would take a trip to the mall for a Happy Meal at McDonalds and a shopping trip to the Hello Kitty Store with anyone who would take us.  We had an understanding and respect for one another, as all great friends should.  In fact, I trusted her so much that she is the only person who could get me to try new foods, including the different dipping sauces for my chicken nuggets on our trip to the mall one time.

Ms. Jennifer (left) & Ms. Tricarico (right) on the soccer field in kindergarten

I was close friends with Jennifer until my family and I moved to New Jersey upon finishing first grade.  After we moved, Jen and I only saw each other a few times, once for a Halloween party, for my 7th birthday get together and another time for a super fun sleepover in New York.  One day, in fourth grade, while selling Girl Scout cookies to neighbors, I noticed one family had the same last name as Jennifer.  It turned out her aunt and uncle had moved to a house on my street!  A few short months later, she and her family visited her aunt and uncle for the Fourth of July.  I was able to spend a little bit of time catching up with her, but after that visit life got busy for the both of us and we lost touch again, besides an occasional letter through fifth grade.    

Once the Internet made things easier for people to communicate, I was able to contact my long-lost best friend a few years ago.  It turns out she has remained just as much of a creative thinker as I had remembered.  She designs beautiful handbags (see them here) and lives in Italy now. We write to each other once in a while and always say how great it would be to meet up now that we are grown-ups.  Yesterday, we finally brought this idea to life. Ms. Jennifer was home for the holidays visiting with her family.  As I sat at a little restaurant waiting to meet my old friend in Manhattan I felt nervous wondering if we would have anything in common to speak about anymore. I heard the door open and turned around...we instantly hugged each other and both looked shocked to see one another, even though we had planned the whole thing out. It was an instant reconnection.  We had plenty to talk about and the amount of descriptive memories we recalled from such a young age was beyond amazing.  I am still glowing with appreciation for this opportunity.

Our best friend reunion. Ms Tricarico (left) & Ms. Jennifer (right)

As I drove back through the Holland Tunnel toward home I felt incredibly blessed.  As a kindergarten teacher now, I am able to witness first true friendships being made on a weekly basis.  Until yesterday's reunion with Ms. Jennifer I don't think I had realized how special and important first friendships truly are.  The academic growth is always wonderful to see, but the social and emotional connections my students make are such an important foundation for everything else they have in store for them in their lives.  

When is the last time your child had a play date or had the chance to meet new friends on a playground, at a dance class, karate school or at Chuck E. Cheese?  What will they remember  and discuss 25 years from now about these first friendships in elementary school?  Isn't that something so amazing to think about...?  

Here is some reading for parents about childhood friendship:

How to Help Your Child Make New Friends

The Laws of Friendship