Today would have been Maximus’s twelfth birthday. I’d like to dedicate today’s entry to his memory and offer up some of my favorite photos of my boy, “the handsome one”.
50 thoughts on “April 1, 2012: Remembering Maximus”
Ahh, that’s so sweet. Nice to see all of the pictures. We have a lot of dogs around here, and there’s one that looks alot like Maximus. I think of your Max every time I see him.
I hope today you have more good memories than you do tears. What a special dog to have touched the heart of so many (not only those he met, but those here).
All I know about my Harley is that she was born in April 1997 so I celebrate her birthday on April 1st. She NEVER would eat ANY dog food (& I tried them all, expensive & cheap). She still snubs her dog food till she just can’t stand it, eating mostly what I eat. My research said that dog food mostly became popular after WWII, when prosperous times allowed people to consider feeding pets special food. Before that, it mostly was the family’s leftovers. I checked with my vet just last week & she agreed my mutt is not overweight and is actually in remarkable health for an old lady. No diabetes, no kidney or any other problems that everyone is warned about. My point is, it really IS cheaper & healthier to share. Harley’s 15th birthday present was a small bowl of Campbell’s best Chicken Noodle. & I had a bigger bowl!
Being able to have a dog sitting in your lap as you work is probably the reason you are such a good writer, and a good human being. Happy birthday little Max. We miss you too.
Awwwwwwww! The Baby Max pictures are killing me! No wonder you fell so in love with him! Still, I think my favorite out of the bunch is the one of Max smiling in the sun, that one just warms my cockles. 🙂
Aww Baby Max was adorable and his more mature self doubly so. Happy Birthday, Maximus. I’m sure you’re doing just fine gamboling on the Rainbow Bridge and my dear cats are either keeping you company, or keeping you exercised. 🙂
Sweet Max. What adorable baby pictures! He was a heart stealer from the first day. And in the last picture, I can’t help but see what a soulful little guy he was.
Regarding food, awhile back I read that a lot of Whole Foods Organics are grown in China, with the guarantee that third party inspectors make sure the products are up to US standards. Yeah, right.
I’m buying only US grown. There are no guarantees, but a lot of the pesticides that are banned in the US are still used in other parts of the world, which, of course, we import.
What a sweetheart… Who says dogs can’t register expression on their faces (or cats for that matter). Great pictures of great memories…you are very lucky.
Hi Joe, I look at the second photo of Max when he was a puppy and wonder why he was called “Maximus”, he was so very tiny. But he had a BIG smile, was a wonderful character & had a big heart. (((Joe)))
Regarding your pet food post: I was feeding Brandi those self-same Waggin’ Train chicken jerky treats when the alarm was raised. Immediately in the trash they went. Luckily, she suffered no ill effects. We now make her treats from scratch and she loves them. We’ve also considered making all her food, but haven’t moved on that yet since money is pretty tight at the moment.
Here’s the recipe for the dog treats. Very easy to make:
2 cups whole-wheat flour
1 tbsp. baking powder
1 cup peanut butter (chunky or smooth)
1 cup milk
Preheat oven to 375’F. In a bowl, combine flour and baking powder. In another bowl, mix peanut butter and milk, then add to dry ingredients and mix well. Place dough on a lightly floured surface and knead. Roll dough to 1/4 inch thickness and use a cookie cutter to cut out shapes. Bake for 20 minutes on a greased baking sheet until lightly brown. Cool on a rack, then store in an airtight container.
So many GREAT pictures! Gorgeous, heartbreaking and adorable in equal measure.
A few favourites: Jelly & Max snoozing/cuddling. Puppy Max – cute as a button. Jester. Laughing in the sun. It’s my monkey. Trio. Max and Jelly on the lawn.
Perfect Post – Definitely remembering Max’s Birthday!
Thank you for these wonderful pictures – I hope it helps you to feel better to know that, partly because of reading about your pugs (especially Maximus) I have agreed to my son’s dearest wish to have a pug as a graduation present 🙂 I was brought up in the country with ‘big dogs’ and wasn’t at all sure of having a little pug, but getting to know them on your blog has convinced me that they have a big personality in those little adorable snuffly bodies. And I can’t wait to see my 6’4″ boy with his tiny puppy – he’s even voluntarily cleaned up his room to make sure it’s puppy-safe. Thanks for the lovely memories of Maximus – I’m looking forward to many happy years with our pug. OK, HIS pug. I get to cuddle, though! 🙂
Aw, Sweet Max. He certainly was “your boy” and he became very dear to all of us through your blog posts. Thank you, Joe. I love the one of him with Jelly and of him laughing in the grass on a sunny day. Hugs and belly rubs to you all on this special day.
Max was lucky to have you as a daddy, and you were lucky to have Max as part of your life. I can tell there was lots of love, and I’m sure that love is still active, passing though the veil to and from wherever spirits go.
Thanks for the gallery of Maximus’ life. What a great way to celebrate his life, on his welcome-to-the-world day. My favorite photos were the Max and Jelly portrait, side-by-side on the lawn, and the one of his blissful, closed-eyed grin in the sun. Here’s one for you, Maximus. *Hugs*
My dad decided it was time to put his German Shepherd, Sam, down on Saturday. He was almost 13 and had a freaking huge tumor on his chest and had trouble walking, but the old man still had spirit. If it was up to me, I would have waited longer, but it was Dad’s dog. I found it was easier that we had time to prepare for it, at least. Still really hard, but easier than it was when my dog just died with no warning at all and I didn’t even get to say goodbye, anyway. But when it happens… it always makes me wonder if having them is worth the pain of losing them.
Ahh, that’s so sweet. Nice to see all of the pictures. We have a lot of dogs around here, and there’s one that looks alot like Maximus. I think of your Max every time I see him.
Have a good night!!!!
Encore! Encore! The Jester outfit-priceless!
I hope today you have more good memories than you do tears. What a special dog to have touched the heart of so many (not only those he met, but those here).
Encore! Encore! The Jester outfit is just so grand Joe!
RIP Maximus. The only fool today is the one who doesn’t think you were cute!
Joe, in relation to your post from yesterday about dog food…
http://en.rocketnews24.com/2012/03/29/our-top-3-most-delicious-dog-foods-as-tasted-by-a-human/
If, we may….Max is our boy too!
Sweet collection of pictures.
thanks for sharing.
What a lovely boy he was. We miss him, too, Joe! Elway, Molly and Gumbo send their love to you. 🙂
That’s a beautiful series of pictures and some wonderful memories, I’m sure. My favourite of those is “Max laughs”. He just looks so joyful there.
<3 Love the photos. He was definitely a looker 🙂
(((maximus)))
So handsome! When did he die? ….Or was he killed?
Were you able to get another dog after? Or was it too painful?
Happy Birthday Maximus! We hope you are chasing lots of cats in doggy heaven. 🙂
All I know about my Harley is that she was born in April 1997 so I celebrate her birthday on April 1st. She NEVER would eat ANY dog food (& I tried them all, expensive & cheap). She still snubs her dog food till she just can’t stand it, eating mostly what I eat. My research said that dog food mostly became popular after WWII, when prosperous times allowed people to consider feeding pets special food. Before that, it mostly was the family’s leftovers. I checked with my vet just last week & she agreed my mutt is not overweight and is actually in remarkable health for an old lady. No diabetes, no kidney or any other problems that everyone is warned about. My point is, it really IS cheaper & healthier to share. Harley’s 15th birthday present was a small bowl of Campbell’s best Chicken Noodle. & I had a bigger bowl!
Being able to have a dog sitting in your lap as you work is probably the reason you are such a good writer, and a good human being. Happy birthday little Max. We miss you too.
Awwwwwwww! The Baby Max pictures are killing me! No wonder you fell so in love with him! Still, I think my favorite out of the bunch is the one of Max smiling in the sun, that one just warms my cockles. 🙂
das
maxb and maxg are my favorites. 🙂
Max smile and Max laugh, (my favs) what a wonderful way to remember Maximus on his birthday, miss you Max from afar, ~hugs~
Aww Baby Max was adorable and his more mature self doubly so. Happy Birthday, Maximus. I’m sure you’re doing just fine gamboling on the Rainbow Bridge and my dear cats are either keeping you company, or keeping you exercised. 🙂
Sweet beautiful boy, happy birthday! Your legacy lives on in the lives you touched.
Love the one of Jelly and baby Maximus.
Thanks for sharing those with us, Joe.
Awww, puppy pictures!! Maximus was just adorable. This is a lovely post in his memory.
Wonderful pictures, especially Jelly and Max snoozing, and him with his cupcake and monkey.. all wonderful. Happy birthday Maximus– loved and missed.
G’day Joe
Remenber the good times with Maximus.
I love where Maximus is poking his tongue to the world.
(((((((((((((((Maximus and Joe))))))))))))))))
Hugs…
Thank you for sharing the pictures. Celebrate, share the life.
Good post!!!!
Wonderful pictures, Joe. Thanks for sharing them. Although my favorite still remains the one at the top of your blog. I hope you never change it.
Hugs.
Stella
From those pictures of Max as a puppy, I can easily see how you couldn’t resist taking that cute little guy home!
Sweet Max. What adorable baby pictures! He was a heart stealer from the first day. And in the last picture, I can’t help but see what a soulful little guy he was.
Regarding food, awhile back I read that a lot of Whole Foods Organics are grown in China, with the guarantee that third party inspectors make sure the products are up to US standards. Yeah, right.
I’m buying only US grown. There are no guarantees, but a lot of the pesticides that are banned in the US are still used in other parts of the world, which, of course, we import.
What a sweetheart… Who says dogs can’t register expression on their faces (or cats for that matter). Great pictures of great memories…you are very lucky.
Thanks for the pictures. I have always liked the one of Max sleeping with Jelly and the puppy pictures are adorable. That jester outfit. :p
Hi Joe, I look at the second photo of Max when he was a puppy and wonder why he was called “Maximus”, he was so very tiny. But he had a BIG smile, was a wonderful character & had a big heart. (((Joe)))
Marian
He was a handsome boy.
Happy Birthday Max! Great pictures and memories Joe. A true testament to how much he was loved. Hang in there, buddy.
LOVE the pictures! That puppy picture was wonderful. He was such a cutie pie!
Regarding your pet food post: I was feeding Brandi those self-same Waggin’ Train chicken jerky treats when the alarm was raised. Immediately in the trash they went. Luckily, she suffered no ill effects. We now make her treats from scratch and she loves them. We’ve also considered making all her food, but haven’t moved on that yet since money is pretty tight at the moment.
Here’s the recipe for the dog treats. Very easy to make:
2 cups whole-wheat flour
1 tbsp. baking powder
1 cup peanut butter (chunky or smooth)
1 cup milk
Preheat oven to 375’F. In a bowl, combine flour and baking powder. In another bowl, mix peanut butter and milk, then add to dry ingredients and mix well. Place dough on a lightly floured surface and knead. Roll dough to 1/4 inch thickness and use a cookie cutter to cut out shapes. Bake for 20 minutes on a greased baking sheet until lightly brown. Cool on a rack, then store in an airtight container.
Enjoy!
So many GREAT pictures! Gorgeous, heartbreaking and adorable in equal measure.
A few favourites: Jelly & Max snoozing/cuddling. Puppy Max – cute as a button. Jester. Laughing in the sun. It’s my monkey. Trio. Max and Jelly on the lawn.
Perfect Post – Definitely remembering Max’s Birthday!
CountryGal
Awwww…Maxi-poo. Such a cutie pie. Lovely pictures of Max. My favorite is the one with Jelly and puppy-Max are suddling together. So sweet. 🙂
((((((Maximus))))))
What beautiful pictures and wonderful memories.
Baby Maximus is just adorable. This is the first I’ve seen puppy pictures! So so cute and very cuddly. 💘
Max, Max, MAX!
He was a very handsome little guy. Those were wonderful pics. Big hugs to you as you remember this special day.
Thank you for these wonderful pictures – I hope it helps you to feel better to know that, partly because of reading about your pugs (especially Maximus) I have agreed to my son’s dearest wish to have a pug as a graduation present 🙂 I was brought up in the country with ‘big dogs’ and wasn’t at all sure of having a little pug, but getting to know them on your blog has convinced me that they have a big personality in those little adorable snuffly bodies. And I can’t wait to see my 6’4″ boy with his tiny puppy – he’s even voluntarily cleaned up his room to make sure it’s puppy-safe. Thanks for the lovely memories of Maximus – I’m looking forward to many happy years with our pug. OK, HIS pug. I get to cuddle, though! 🙂
Aw, Sweet Max. He certainly was “your boy” and he became very dear to all of us through your blog posts. Thank you, Joe. I love the one of him with Jelly and of him laughing in the grass on a sunny day. Hugs and belly rubs to you all on this special day.
Max was lucky to have you as a daddy, and you were lucky to have Max as part of your life. I can tell there was lots of love, and I’m sure that love is still active, passing though the veil to and from wherever spirits go.
Aw… *sniff*
Thanks for the gallery of Maximus’ life. What a great way to celebrate his life, on his welcome-to-the-world day. My favorite photos were the Max and Jelly portrait, side-by-side on the lawn, and the one of his blissful, closed-eyed grin in the sun. Here’s one for you, Maximus. *Hugs*
He certainly was a handsome boy – and very well loved. Pcitures are beautiful. Thanks for sharing them. Lots of love to you an the pups today.
Happy Birthday Max! May you rest in peace. Great pics!
Oh, he was an adorable puppy. 🙂
My dad decided it was time to put his German Shepherd, Sam, down on Saturday. He was almost 13 and had a freaking huge tumor on his chest and had trouble walking, but the old man still had spirit. If it was up to me, I would have waited longer, but it was Dad’s dog. I found it was easier that we had time to prepare for it, at least. Still really hard, but easier than it was when my dog just died with no warning at all and I didn’t even get to say goodbye, anyway. But when it happens… it always makes me wonder if having them is worth the pain of losing them.
Awwww What a great memorial! Thanks for sharing the memories with all of us.
My mother and I spent the entire time smiling and occasionally laughing, we love the photos!