Dogs of Our Lives: Pen Pals, Pepper, & Peeps

A few days ago, I got a call from Sarah LaRose, the woman Pepper had guided prior to retiring and coming to live with us. That's not unusual; Sarah calls once in a while to say hello, ask about Pepper, and share what she has been doing.

Like Kathy, Sarah is a very active woman. She has a doctorate in Divinity, is a minister, teaches university classes in Hebrew and Greek languages, translates those languages for others, does public speaking, and is an author. 

When Pepper came into our life, it was an unexpected transition, both for Sarah and for Pepper. Pepper had collapsed one day while working. Realizing that the collapse meant something was seriously wrong, Sarah immediately raced her to a specialist. 

In doing so, Sarah saved Pepper's life. She nearly died and was ill and in the vet hospital for several days. The diagnosis was a severe Addison's Disease crisis and Pepper had to be retired from guiding immediately. Thanks to a recommendation from Kathy who is also a friend of Sarah's, we were selected as Pepper's retirement home.

Me, Sarah, Craig, and Kevin LaRose doing a group hug with Pepper in the middle of us.

Sarah missed her Pepper, and so I started writing pseudo pen pal letters from Pepper to Sarah (which were very much a precursor to the current iteration, Dogs of Our Lives.) The letters helped Sarah stay in contact with Pepper and reassured her that Pepper was adjusting, healthy, and happy.  

Currently Sarah is working on another book, one that includes traveling and working while being assisted by the dogs who have guided her.  Naturally Pepper is included.

Sarah and Pepper as new partners at The Seeing Eye in 2017.

While we were chatting, Sarah asked, "I was wondering if I could include some of the pen pal letters Pepper wrote me after she went to live with you in my new book. They helped me so much after losing her, and I'd really like to share some of them."

That admission that they had helped her brought tears to my eyes. The fact that Sarah gave up Pepper because she put Pepper's health first and at a tremendous cost to herself... well, I can't imagine what that was like. I told her to use the letters as she wished.

And then Sarah shared an amazing story about Pepper with me, one I had not heard before. "She is a brilliant dog," Sarah said after concluding the story.

I'll share that story next, but in the meantime and just for fun, here is one of my favorite pen pal letters "written" by Pepper for Sarah. Enjoy it, and stay 'tooned! 

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Thursday, April 9, 2020

Greetings, Mom!

I am so excited. Easter is coming, and Lynn said that the Easter Bunny is going to bring me an Easter basket! Even better though, the Peeps for my basket are already here! Last night Lynn took me out to do my business and we could hear the Peeps calling to me from the woods!

I tingled all over withe excitement and asked Lynn if we could go and get those Peeps. I really wanted a purple one, but you know me, I'd settle for pink or yellow or just about any color. Lynn started laughing (she does that a lot) and said, "Oh, Pepper! You big goof!" (She says that a lot, too.)

Lynn explained that there is a difference between Peeps and spring peepers, and that what we were hearing were the spring peepers. I responded that I don't mind if my Peeps talk; I am sure that talking Peeps are just as good. (Maybe a little more expensive, but I'm worth it, right?) But then Lynn told me that the spring peepers were really frogs that were talking to each other in the woods.

Frogs?? FROGS?? Eeew! Why are there frogs in the woods! They're supposed to be in ponds and creeks. And why are the frogs talking? Are they telling each other where the Peeps are hidden? Even worse, are they eating my Peeps?

Mom, I am so confused and could really use your help. Will you please talk to Lynn and tell her to let me go to the woods and get the Peeps before the frogs eat them all? I would really appreciate it! (You know how hungry I can get.)

Wags and licks,

Hungry for Peeps Pepper

Kalamazoo 2025: Friday's Activities

Second Post of the Day

My sales items may have arrived in Kalamazoo on Wednesday, but I did not leave home until Friday at noon.

I went up with Leslie's bestie, Gretchen who is part of the show staff and was willing to let me put my things into her truck and travel with her. We had so much fun and I soon was hoarse from gabbing - I can see why she is Leslie's bestie.

What luck to run into my favorite living history friend right when we arrived - Carol Jarboe who portrays indentured servant, Maggie, at events. (Remember this photo when you look at others pictures of her as Maggie - yes, she really isn't missing all those teeth. LOL)

We had just a short amount of time to catch up before Leslie called all the staff into one of the Expo halls for dinner.

There were four rooms like this, set up with tables and ready for the doors to open at 7:00 that evening so vendors could begin setting up. The Expo Center is huge!

Leslie and Ethan Hazel, who is taking over for her next year, served us all. Technically I am not staff but Leslie and Gretchen told me not to worry about that and eat.

So I did. My plan had been for Goldfish Crackers back at the hotel, but a pasta dinner was much better. (Thanks, Leslie!)

I stayed for the staff meeting and then took a gander at the traditional Peeps display.

Leslie started the tradition years ago as a way to make people smile.

That's Gretchen on the right - she manned the front desk all weekend.

Honestly, aside from the "Hi," I couldn't read the Peeps message. But it still accomplished its purpose - I smiled.

Then it was on to the North Expo where my tables were and time to set up.

I nearly cried when I stepped through the doors and into the hall. 

Most of the hard work had been done -  my tubs were all inside, the clothing racks had been assembled, and my clothing removed from their bags and set out. That's Frank and Carol setting up Leslie's tables; they also came over and helped me lift boxes. Grateful to them, and to all who helped me.

Leslie had also asked a staff member, Anita, to help me and boy howdy did she ever. Sadly, I did not get her photo but she has become a friend. Grateful, again!

Frank got a time lapse video of set-up Friday night. I've asked him if I can share it here, and if he's okay with that, I'll post it in the next blog post. Stay 'tooned and cross your fingers.

In the meantime, I discovered this video from the 2023 Kalamazoo show made by living history enthusiast, Michael Delaware. Lisa (red riding habit) and I appear (green caraco) in it briefly starting at 11:42.

It will help give you a sense of the scope and size of this show. Take a look.

More tomorrow!

 

Kalamazoo Week: Packing & Stitching

Leslie asked me to bring my tubs and boxes up to her farm in Brookston yesterday afternoon. She and Rick would be packing the trailer with their things and had offered to take my inventory with theirs. Because they own the event and are in charge of all aspects of it, they have to be in Kalamazoo Wednesday to begin set up.

I was glad for their offer and even more glad that I had taken inventory last week and that my tubs were packed and ready. But, getting those things downstairs was going to be difficult. Craig and I both have back issues, and currently his are worse than mine. I would have to tote them all downstairs and then out into the garage and load my car by myself.

I got the first tote and two wooden trenchers downstairs and into the laundry room and had to stop. My back was already in pain and I had to sit down and stretch it out. There were still four more totes and three boxes of inventory upstairs to carry down and out to the car. There had to be a better way to do this.

I decided to move things in short segments and take a break between each one to rest my back. First, everything was carried out of the horse room and stacked at the top of the stairs. Then, I carried each tub and box downstairs one by one and stacked them in the foyer by the front door.

Light bulb moment - why carry them back through the house and into the laundry room when I could take a shortcut out the front door and into the garage, using my wagon to carry the load?

Bingo! (And probably saved my back.) I got the car loaded and headed out of town to Leslie's.

We loaded my things into the trailer and then I went into their shop and helped gather a few more things that needed to be loaded. 

The Peeps tub was left in the shop for now - it will be put in the trailer just before they go. Why Peeps at a living history event?

I am not sure how the tradition got started, but ever year several volunteers put up a Peeps display of some sort. Usually they are humorous - last year they created a "Peeps-henge" from them.

But sometimes they are a bit more sobering - two years ago the Peeps display honored Ukraine which had just been invaded by Russia.

The Peeps tradition is a wildly popular part of the event despite the fact that it is totally unrelated to living history. Leslie has no idea what the volunteers will create this year, but I am looking forward to finding out.

Robe a l'Anglais Update

I made good progress on Lisa's gown yesterday and I am starting to think I just may complete it in time for her to wear it at Kalamazoo. (The navy color is off in some of the photos because I have three bright lights directly on the fabric while I work.)

The back pleats are finished and stitched down. (I will remove the chalk marks later.)

Some 18th century living history re-enactors sew their garments entirely by hand, and actually all the directions for this gown are for hand stitching. I don't have the time for that, so I am using my machine. There are some areas (circled above) where I don't have a choice and must hand stitch.

The pleats completed, then the bodice must be cut out and attached.

The bodice back lining which was pinned over the pleats before I stitched them down is used as a pattern to cut the gown fabric. 

Another scary part in the making of this gown - if I cut wrong, I'd have to start over from the beginning. I read those directions multiple times before I grabbed my scissors. Sigh of relief, I got it right.

Finally, I cut and stitched four more skirt pieces. These will be attached to the pleated back and then be pleated themselves. 

Still lots to do, but I am making headway. We volunteer twice a month in Indianapolis, and today is one of our days to go, but I can still get several hours of sewing in before we leave.

My Penpal, Pepper: Peeps & Spring Peepers

Greetings, Mom!

I am so excited. Easter is coming, and Lynn said that the Easter Bunny is going to bring me an Easter basket! Even better though, the Peeps for my basket are already here! Last night Lynn took me out to do my business and we could hear the Peeps calling to me from the woods!

I tingled all over with excitement and asked Lynn if we could go and get those Peeps. I really wanted a purple one but you know me, I'd settle for pink or yellow or just about any color. Lynn started laughing (she does that a lot) and said, "Oh, Pepper! You big goof!" (She says that a lot, too.) 

Lynn explained that there is a difference between Peeps and spring peepers, and that what we were hearing were the spring peepers. I responded that I don't mind if my Peeps talk; I am sure that talking Peeps are just as good. (Maybe a little more expensive, but I'm worth it, right?) But then Lynn told me that the spring peepers were really frogs that were talking to each other in the woods.

Frogs?? FROGS??? Eeew! Why are there frogs in the woods! They're supposed to be in ponds and creeks. And why are the frogs talking? Are they telling each other where the Peeps are hidden? Even worse, are they eating my Peeps??

Mom, I am so confused and could really use your help. Will you please talk to Lynn and tell her to let me go to the woods and get the Peeps before the frogs eat them all? I would really appreciate it! (You know how hungry I can get.)

Wags and licks,

Hungry for Peeps Pepper