Apparently...

  4.30.12  Diary Entry:

Dear Diary,  The day started out good.  A little R&R with Dad and then  some outside sunshine.  I was luvin' life.

My outside potty time was a little longer than usual.  That's when I became suspicious.  Upon being left back in, I ran to the back door and sniffed at a familiar scent underneath the closed door.  Suitcases.  

It was starting to come together.  The whispers from earlier...  'shh..  Gracie can't know we're leaving.  She'll puke like before'.   I mean, come on woman...  don't you understand that my nose and ears are super sensitive and I can hear and smell everything you're doing in spite of your efforts to hide it all?  Then, they disappeared.    Lindsey came by shortly after and cleaned my puke off of the floor.  She fed me and filled my water bowl with fresh new water.   I had once visited a paw-reader named Madame Snookie who informed me that if I ever wanted to conjure something up I just needed to lay my head on an item that was 'related or close' to that thing and voila, it would appear.  So I brought my dad's slipper into the middle of the floor and layed my head on it.  When that didn't work, I pulled his pillow off of his bed and brought it out into the middle of the living room floor.  Still nothing.  I pulled my mom's sock that was stuck inside of one of her sneakers and brought it out and put it in the middle of the floor.  Nothing. Apparently I was snookered out of 2 milk bone and a pig ear by the snookster.  Guess I'll just curl up on my chair and wait for them to come home.  *wipes tears from fur*  Gracie.

5.1.12  Another Diary Entry:

Dear Diary,  After Lindsey left last night, I drifted off to sleep and I had a nightmare.  I dreamt I had been replaced by another.  

  Worried, I got online and looked at mom's blog to see if there were any clues and low and behold, my suspicions were right.  They did leave without me.  A guy named Jim (who is now my BFF) tried to convince mom that I should go on vacation with them and that I should be given a chance.  I agree with him 100% and don't understand why just because I bark, lunge, and pace when one of them get out of the buick to go into a store that they would hold that against me when it comes to going on vacation 6 hours away.  They really need to give me a chance.  Gracie.  

5.2.12  Another Diary entry:

Dear Diary,  Another nightmare.  Another pup.  I guess I should make the best of things here with Lindsey and Rissi.  They seem to like me a lot, and Rissi fills my food bowl to overflowing.   I've always loved that kid!    Maybe I can eventually own them.  Gracie.

5.3.12  Another Diary Entry:

Dear Diary,  Mom and Dad returned home and they bought me the coolest beach towel!  Apparently Mom has had a change of heart and guess who'll be going to the beach with them this year?  **does victory dance**

Apparently....

 I was wrong.  Gracie.

Let's Get Away PART 3

Early AM the rooster crows; time to rise and shine!  

Starting the day out with farm fresh eggs.

Now...  to just relax and enjoy the animals... and nature.

"You lookin' at ME?"

"Don't you be eyeballing me...  unless you have some fresh apples on you."

"Do I smell apples?"

After the rain...

"Who brought the Raid?  Ugh!"

"Mr. Ed says I have bedroom eyes..."

Relaxing...  

"Did somebody say something about Thanksgiving?  Let me at 'em!"

"I want my mama."

Could we afford this fixer-upper?

bzzzzzz

bzzzzzzzzzzz  bzzzzzzzz

 Meanwhile...  back home, Gracie has nothing to do but write in her diary.  What till you read what she wrote! 

To be continued....

Let's Get Away. Part 2

I had never been to a winery before.  This one has a unique story and is beautiful!  Day 2 of our mini-vacation included visiting  Shelton Vineyard for a tour and wine tasting experience.

We got caught in some pretty heavy storms during our new adventure...   but it was fun.

We enjoyed hearing about how 2 brothers, Charlie and Ed Shelton purchased this land at an auction in 1994, with no idea as to what they'd be doing with the land.  It was just a few miles from where the brothers grew up.

 The grounds are meticulously kept and breathtaking.

 I love the cool musty air, and the earthy, sweet smell inside  where the wine barrels are kept.

For a little over $500 you can purchase a barrel and have an inscription put on it.  The barrel stays in the cellar and houses wine for up to 5 years before the barrel is turned over to it's owner.  (minus the wine, of course).  During that 5 years, a case of wine is shipped to you each year and at the end of the 5 years you have to go to the winery to pick up your barrel.

We learned a lot that day.

 And as we tasted different types of wine and learned about the planting and harvesting of the grapes and how the wine was made, I discovered port wine was my favorite.  A little more expensive, and a little more of a kick...  

The tour concluded at the wine bar downstairs, where we then decided which wine we'd take home with us.

We then ventured over the bridge to the Harvest Grill Restaurant, also a part of the Vineyard,  and settled in just in time to watch another wicked storm outside...

It was a great day.

But for some reason...  we couldn't stop thinking about Gracie..  and then she showed up in the clouds...

Do you see her?