May 30, 2015 · 0:00
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A Phila — A Philan — A Good Deed Doer

A week or two back, on Gibber Jabber, I responded to a question (because that’s what happens over at Gibber Jabber, she asks questions and you answer them.)  I said that my dream job would be to be a philanthropist.  A good deed doer.

They're called ... (Google, natch)

They’re called … phila — philan — “Good Deed Doers” (Google, natch)

 

And of course, if I could, I would give the world a whole lot of good stuff.

But this week I’ve found myself to be the benefactor of a good deed doer!  Yup, Me!

A very generous, very wealthy man gave me, John and mostly Duncan a lovely hunk of land in Maine on Mount Dessert Island where we are right now.

For many years, we’ve been coming to this island with our various dogs.  Acadia National Park takes up much of the island, and it is an amazingly beautiful place to hike or just sit and watch the sea from a pink mountaintop.  Acadia is magical.

But there are leash laws in Acadia, as it is a National Park.  And while we haven’t always been strict adherents to that particular rule, well, the park is full of people, some of whom don’t really want to meet my dogs (imagine!).

Last year, we found out about Little Long Pond. It is a family preserve, owned by the Rockefellers, with hiking trails, carriage roads and a lovely, well, long pond.  Dogs were allowed to run free there.  In all 1,000 acres of the place.

Little Long Pond Boat house

And this month, David Rockefeller celebrated his 100th birthday by giving this piece of land to Duncan!  Well, and me.  And John.  And you!

FREEDOM!

FREEDOM!

To celebrate his 100th birthday, he donated the land which abuts Acadia National Park (much of which his family had also donated) to the nonprofit Land and Garden Preserve, so that they will keep and preserve it AND CONTINUE TO LET DOGS RUN FREE!

Thank you, Mr. Rockefeller!

Thank you, Mr. Rockefeller!

Thanks, Mr. Rockefeller.  We wish you many happy returns.  We know we will have many happy returns to Little Long Pond; and we will think of you and thank you each time we do.

*     *     *

 I am not a particularly good photographer, but I have a camera shy dog.

 

43 Comments

Filed under All The News You Need, All We Are Saying Is Give Peace A Chance, Dogs, Duncan, Good Deed Doers, Health, Holidays, Humor, Maine, Pets, Taking Care of Each Other

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43 responses to “A Phila — A Philan — A Good Deed Doer”

  1. valentinelogar
    June 4, 2015 at 0:00

    Finally catching up and this is the first thing I read. What a wonderful gift, what a great read.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  2. Exile on Pain Street
    June 1, 2015 at 0:00

    Just when I start to think all wealthy people are douche bags, something like this happens and I have to feel ashamed for my prejudice. Not everyone can fit into the tiny little box I’ve placed them in. Drat.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  3. Lynn
    May 31, 2015 at 0:00

    I love watching dogs in a leash free park, so much fun to watch them interact & play. For the most part, people seem to be respectful of these parks, following the rules & simply enjoying the sheer joy that comes from being able to let their poochies run free.

    What a wonderful gift from Mr. Rockefeller!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  4. markbialczak
    May 30, 2015 at 0:00

    Acadia National Park is beautiful, Elyse. MDW Karen and I have visited. What a great gift from this generation of Rockefeller to us all. 🙂 And I like your happy dog photo, my friend. Good work.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  5. mariner2mother
    May 30, 2015 at 0:00

    What an awesome thing for Mr. Rockefeller to do. Must have wanted to simplify and get a tax write off in the process; not to mention make a lot of people and dogs very happy. I love Maine and am fortunate to be a co-owner of a small summer cottage on the coast a bit south of Acadia. Can’t wait to be there in July!

    Liked by 1 person

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    • Elyse
      May 30, 2015 at 0:00

      Another Maine lover! Yay! We are only here for another week or so. But hope to be back up in August for most of the month. It will be hard to leave. And Duncan is in absolute heaven.

      Like

      Reply
  6. cortney
    May 30, 2015 at 0:00

    How wonderful! Run, Duncan, run, as far as your nose and paws take you 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

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  7. snakesinthegrass2014
    May 30, 2015 at 0:00

    Well, I’ve never been to Maine, but I kinda like…. Oh, wait. That’s Spain. But, I’ve never been there either. Now I want to see Maine!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  9. pouringmyartout
    May 30, 2015 at 0:00

    I share your love of letting dogs run free… unfortunately, many dog owners who also do don’t watch their dogs, or clean up after them, or have mean, bitey dogs… which is why most places have leash laws.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  10. Nurse Kelly
    May 30, 2015 at 0:00

    Love the state of Maine – will remember this as a fellow dog lover 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  11. List of X
    May 30, 2015 at 0:00

    As far as donations to dogs go, this is much better deed than leaving one’s entire estate to a pet chihuahua

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  12. garym6059
    May 30, 2015 at 0:00

    I’ve only visited Maine once and didn’t get up to Acadia but the state is beautiful. I seem to remember EVERYONE walked a dog. It was like an Olympic event there.

    Liked by 1 person

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    • Elyse
      May 30, 2015 at 0:00

      It is pretty much mandatory up here. And at the ceremony when David Rockefeller donated the land, there was a big tent. Outside of the tent were dozens of people with their dogs!

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  13. Victo Dolore
    May 30, 2015 at 0:00

    Gorgeous photos, bad model or not. Imagine what you could do if he would cooperate!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    • Elyse
      May 30, 2015 at 0:00

      It’s just very frustrating to try to capture him. He is incredibly handsome — one of the best looking dogs around — and his coloring is unique. But he turns away whenever you point the camera at him. I have lovely shots of his butt, though!

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  14. Carrie Rubin
    May 30, 2015 at 0:00

    Freedom for the dogs. As it should be.

    I love Maine. I might be heading there myself in June. The Old Orchard Beach area.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  15. Kate Crimmins
    May 30, 2015 at 0:00

    He may not be camera friendly but he is a cutie! I have cats so the idea of a leash never crosses my mind. Nor do I put collars on them. I love them to be free (indoors of course) and lie in whichever sun puddle they chose. They would love that place if there was a nice house where they could romp.

    Liked by 1 person

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  16. Glazed
    May 30, 2015 at 0:00

    I like your photos, and would love to visit Little Long Pond. But it may be a long time before I can get there.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    • Elyse
      May 30, 2015 at 0:00

      Thanks, Glazed. Thanks for the nice comment on the pics, but Duncan is the worst model on the planet!

      And you recently got to go to another lovely island, so I understand!

      Like

      Reply
  17. Life With The Top Down
    May 30, 2015 at 0:00

    Run like wind Duncan! Thank you Mr. Rockefeller, thank you very much.

    Liked by 1 person

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Play nice, please.