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  • Home
  • Bio
  • Jake's Place Podcast
  • Jake The Road Dawg Book
  • Stop And Appreciate
  • Lake Country Store
  • Photos
  • Videos
  • E Press Kit
    • Press/Reviews
    • Road Dawgin' / Events
    • Media
  • Contact
  • Fan Quotes

Stop And Appreciate

Have a great recipe, inspirational story, picture or poem to brighten our day? Please email to me at tmcgraff@msn.com and we will post them here to inspire others. So let's stay connected.

Hi Tia and Tommy 

  I just wanted to thank you for your GREAT podcasts. I LOVED the Halloween one and I am savouring the ‘Welcome Major’ for later today, as you pay a tribute to all dogs.,, service or otherwise. Every dog I ever had as a kid was one our family had rescued. Those are the dogs that love deeply. Mostly because they remember well what life was like for them before the rescue.   I just wanted to share a story with you. 

  When I taught school, regardless of the age of the kids, we all grew to love and cherish our “Let’s stop and appreciate” moments. These photos I am sending to you are reminding us that we need to stop and appreciate our pets who give so much back to us, unconditionally. Together, we need to stop and appreciate so many of the FREE things in life that at times we take for granted, 

  Perhaps, on your website, you may want to have a weekly “Stop and Appreciate,,,(fill in the blank). I am sure people could find poems, stories, photos, jokes, YouTubes etc. to send in.  In this isolated time of COVID we all need a  ‘once each week’ shot of ‘Stop and appreciate…” moment. 

  Just an idea. I did want to ‘stop and appreciate’ what the two of you bring to the world though beautiful stories and songs-especially lovely harmonies. Mike and I wish you a happy holiday season where you remember to” STOP AND APPRECIATE!” We also wanted to let you know that we appreciate your talents! 

  Play well & Stay well! 

  Love to you both, 

Pat & Mike

How do you cope with a significant birthday during Covid times? Well, an innovative friend threw a wonderful fire pit side birthday gathering of 5 friends on a sunny day in November, November 29th to be exact. The fire was blazing and smoking in the fire pit to warm all of us and make an old Hungarian saying come true that "Smoke only comes to the pretty ones gathered around the fire." All of us must have been pretty because the smoke got each of us. As an appropriate meal, hot squash and red pepper soup was served along side individual almond encrusted cheese balls, Spanish cheese slices, homemade buns, veggies and pickled beets. What an amazing lunch we had beside the fire. We social distanced and wore masks when we weren't eating. Each of us is what I refer to as " not spring chickens any more" so we were especially careful. I carry my hand sanitizer wherever I go and sprayed in-between times I touched something someone else had touched. 
That afternoon allowed us a chance to fill our hearts again with our friendship and loveship which we had been missing during these Covid times. Some of us hadn't seen each other for months and what a joy to see them and feel their love for each other. My tank was going on empty and that couple of hours with my girlfriends filled the tank again and I can now go a ways before I am empty again. 
Then the birthday cupcakes arrived with the 6th friend and she made beautiful gluten free cupcakes, decorated with golden, silver and pearly beads and sugars. They were so delicious and I brought 2 home to enjoy later. When the afternoon celebration was all over and done I thanked the hostess for the innovative way in which we could still celebrate a late year birthday during +9 degree weather in November, enjoy sitting by the fire pit and feel the love of dear friends. Where there is a will, there is a way. True friends find a way to celebrate each other.

Betty Chanyi