Once upon a moose time...

Now really is that the way a moose like me ought to start his memoir? I think not, but it does seem like a good way to get my hooves wet.

"...there was a moose named Brodey. I have served as the prestigious mayor of Mooseville for many years, but my story begins long before my encounter with Corey Moose and the Mooseville store. It began at the edge of a pond, a soft breeze blowing the crisp fall air and there was love. You really didn’t think I could let Valentine’s Day slip by without a little bit of sappiness.

My parents, Eloise and John were destined to be together in the end, but there were some other suitors that were still optimistic for a chance to win my mom’s heart. My dad, however, was the mightiest moose in the state and he had an enormous rack.

As a little moose, I did love swimming in that very pond where my parents met and eating the lily pads, tender grasses and reeds around the edge. I still love swimming, but it would be hard to pick a favorite pond. But the leading contenders are...

Gosh, writing a memoir is hard. You have to stay focused, a task that I am not very good at especially when I start talking about food. I do love food - grasses, lily pads and Brussel sprouts. Well, I guess that is enough hard work for now.

I do want to mention a few new tidbits, the Star Barn Bed and Breakfast is having two yoga retreats in March! The Phillips Public Library is having their annual Penny Sale Auction and there are so many events going on during school vacation week I can hardly even remember them all. There are sledding parties, movies and ice skating. Also the Phillips Elementary School Boy’s basketball team is overdue for a big congratulations! They have gone undefeated for two years and they clinched the title in a tough game last week against Strong. I think this might be a very good sign for the years to come at Mt. Abram High School!

If you still haven’t told your sweetheart that you love them, the clock is ticking away because it is Valentine’s Day!
Chocolate kisses and Moose love to all of my great fans!

Moose it up For Valentines!

Last week, I gave you some serious advice in the newsletter. Don't just give flowers for Valentine's this year! Flowers will only die and are quickly forgotten, and besides that, there is that whole thing about water.

Now, a moose is the kind of gift that will last. Imagine if I showed up at your door … the memory of Brodey on your back stoop would bring a smile to your beloved’s heart forever! Well, I am available, but the cost is probably up there to high for most folks. I mean a moose on a plane? You get my drift? So I wanted to make a few more affordable suggestions.

Moose earrings, moose socks, pajamas, handsome figurines, and my favorite, the cuddly stuffed version of me would all make great gifts. It would be hard to go wrong, if you are shopping at the Mooseville store.

Now, let’s just think about this! If you wait much longer, you will have to call Corey begging and pleading to get an emergency shipment of Moose goodies. So this week’s advice is don’t wait until the last second like you did for Christmas!

If you have your heart set on chocolates and flowers, you can always get those at the last minute from your local gas station. But I would expect that you should plan ahead for those cute little moose, so you can get chocolate moose poops or a fruity assortment of moose lollipops to go with that great Moose gift for your sweetheart.

Love your friends, love your neighbors, love your Moose!

Welcome 2010 Moose Style!

I know, I really know that I am just a few weeks late, but I have been super busy moosing around! I also know that I am overdue on my list of resolutions for the New Year. I decided this year, I would follow the old advice that less is more, so I only have three resolutions.

One: Be on Time! You can certainly see that I am definitely getting off on the wrong hoof with this one. But, I am trying and hopefully will do better!

Two: Read More Books! This is another one of the resolutions that seems to come up year after year, but I do plan to visit the library more often. And it seems that I am just in time for the Penny Auction at the Phillips Library! Shopping - now that would be a resolution I could really be good at keeping. I did read the back of the cover of a great little book called A Good Dog. It appears that it is all about a dog named Orson. That brings me to my next and final resolution.

Three: Write my memoir! I am thinking about calling it A Good Moose: The story of Brodey. It does seem unlikely that Jon Katz, author of A Good Dog, will have time to write about my life. He does have a farm and a whole pile of dogs to take care of, besides he isn't available as moose ghostwriter. So I guess the sole responsibility
falls to me.

And so it begins, in earnest with something like this, "Once upon a
time, there was a moose named Brodey..."

Stay tuned and I look forward to hearing from you!

Love is in the Air!

What a busy week it has been in Mooseville.

First we start with the bad news…Phil from Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania predicted six more weeks of winter! But that wasn’t really that unexpected for moose around town who had predicted a blustery February and a snowy March, but then we can talk about the hints of April’s peak at spring. For Arizona Cardinal Fans, they lost the big game.

But now moving onto the good news, it was a great game! A couple of random guys made a fun commercial for Doritos and got a million dollars for throwing a snow globe into a vending machine full of chips.

Valentine’s Day is coming right up, so to get you in the mood for love, I thought I would include this recipe from The Best of Strong Cooking (Strong, Maine).

Recipe for Love
By Anne Baker

1 c. love
1 boy
1 girl
2 c. kisses
4 c. hugs
1 T. aggressiveness
7 c. “?!&%#$”

Set all on a park bench and stir well. Put among the trees and bushes with one faded lamplight, a full moon and a deserted area. Then add a pinch of luck from the matchmaker.

Now, like Christmas, I hate to have to remind you, but moose like women have expectations. These expectations revolve around chocolate, flowers and the sappiest card that you can bear to sign your name on the inside, plus a gift. So get busy, because it is on Saturday and Corey still needs time to get your gifts in the mail.

Don’t forget your first loves – your mom and dad, your goofy college boyfriend and your husband! Check out the special Valentine's Section at Mooseville!

Love is in air – isn’t life just full of moose-e-ness!