Tag: pets

All the dogs Rachell ever knew were frightened by fireworks. She took time to scour the refrigerator to find something inside that would override his urge to flee for safety when the loud commotion of the blasts began. The close gigantic bursts of color streaming the heavens or distant booms echoing along the skyline are not what Chester likes to hear, but he could be bribed to stay out from under Rachell’s bed.

“Aha,” she declares on spotting the most popular of July 4^th food, wieners.

She cuts the long frankfurters into half-inch chunks and pops them in a baggie. She scuttles up Chester in her arms and heads to the front door. She seats herself and Chester on the front porch for the upcoming spectacle of humongous sparkles and magnificent eruptions of many colors of a rainbow. They have a clear view of fireworks at the edge of the river on some of America’s sprawling farmland. She entertains Chester with a couple of morsels right before the entertainment starts. What a view, Cheater sits tall and ignores the loud bangs. He begs for one after another to let her know her pick is great.

Chester decides bravely enduring the noise, “This is worth hotdog treats!”

HAPPY JULY 4^th EVERYONE!

Chester grew so excited one afternoon to the point he started making some noise Rachell had not heard before from him. He raced toward the top of the stairs and stood alert while she wondered what he was hearing. She listened intently to sounds coming from the next level downstairs. There was a commotion coming from outside the screen door at the back porch. Rachell came to recognize the familiar scratching on the aluminum from Gibson, her cat, letting her know he would like to come in. At the same moment she heard Chester try to sound an alarm again. Rachell barely heard the sound that was so low she almost missed it. He was surprised at his new ability as he attempted to bark again.

Rachell realized to her own amazement this has been missing since she got her precious rescue pet. Chester was still healing as he found a set of lungs that added a great feature to his protection tools.

He determined what the calamity at the back door was and calmed himself. He ran to Rachell in her office then sat and stared in the direction of the calamity.

Then he stepped up on the arm of her chair and turned as he looked at her to inquire in his way, “What just happened, Mom?”

Rachell asked, “What that a bark, Chessie?”

Chester woofed in a low tenor once more and let her know, “This is just the beginning of my BARK START!”

One evening in the hour at dusk Rachell takes her rescue pet Chester out. She sets him down in the grass in her front yard to do his business and he wanders a short distance into the grass. Suddenly he is surprised by the flickering lights of insects springing up from the ground. He is on guard for the spectacular on and off of several hundred fireflies. He sits briefly watching the event unfold before him.

Rachell declares, “Don’t be afraid, Chessie. These are some of nature’s most harmless, but beautiful insects that light up the night. They are fireflies.”

Chester observes the pre-dark event with wonder. Many tiny green lights going on and off as they hover within a couple of feet of the top of grass blades. He is amazed at the display.

He moves with a start to Rachell’s surprise jumping up toward the tiny creatures in efforts to try to capture them. They are too fast. And as quick as they light up, they darken so that he cannot see them. She smiles at his attempts to catch one.

Chester plays with these new creatures for a few seconds not realizing they continue to elude him. Rachell is thankful he is not able to reach them.

After a short time, Chester returns to sit beside his best friend as if to say, “Let’s just share this vision of amazement in peace and quiet as we watch the NIGHT LIGHTS!”

Check the link below for more information about this magical synchronous firefly display that lights up Great Smoky Mountains National Park:

https://www.blueridgenow.com/story/news/local/2025/06/09/fireflies-shine-in-great-smoky-mountains-park/84000726007/

Often times Rachell and Chester take off on a short road trip to the Top of the World in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The ride is quiet, with no radio blaring, to set the tone for peaceful observation once they reach the top. Rachell rolls back the sunroof in her royal blue sports car to let the mountain night air in. The light, pollution free aroma floods the interior. Chester hops into Rachell’s lap as the car slows for the curves anticipating a stop somewhere.

Rachell hugs him up close and commands, “Be still, little dude.”

Chester leans in to give her a lick to let her know, “I’m right here and I’m staying right here, mama.”

She pulls into a parking lot designed to view the stars announcing, “We’re here Chester. Now’s the time to gander out the roof to see what is up there.”

Rachell does a doubletake much to her surprise to ensure she sees a rare magnificence tonight. They sit quietly observing God’s display above.

She confesses her amazement and iterates the special viewing, “Do you see it, Chessie? I think we’re watching a comet shoot across the sky tonight!” 

Chester relaxes in Rachell’s arms indicating his pleasure in that moment and shares, “Beautiful, this Comet Shot!”

~ In Honor of Our Veterans This Memorial Day ~

Chester heads out this morning like most days, but this one feels a bit different as he watches Rachell walk down to the flagpole in their front yard. Rachell shares with Chester the story of her country’s flag as she works to unfetter the binds. She unfurls the American flag where the wind has caught her beautiful stars and stripes in the line. She liberates the flag to fly high and free in the breeze to show her glorious colors.

“This is what we call our Red, White and Blue, Chessie” she teaches him.

“Many refer to her as Old Glory as devotion to a national treasure.”

Chester shows his support to her tale and dances around her to show he understands her dedication to this national treasure. He stops still and barks intently to say, “Your dedication becomes mine too, Rachell. Honor to OLD GLORY!”