Take The Dog

Fall is not fall without a visit to the annual Springs Folk Festival.  There is plenty to see and do. 

Some of the highlights are....  

 Running into four-legged furry friends such as this sweet guy.

Country scenery and settings...

Food!!!  Especially the fresh baked bread smothered in butter and apple butter.  Yummmmm

I have a love/hate relationship going on with this time of year.  I love the cooler days, the autumn smells and all the great festivals.

But I hate the shorter, grayer days, forever rain, and the season that follows this one.  I won't say the word.  It's a bad, bad word.

Summer will be with us throughout the year thanks this little cutie.  And speaking of Summer, we went to my grandsons soccer game last week and she found the thing that makes her happy in any season - DIRT!

While there, God decided to show off a bit with some eye-candy right above the soccer field.  Thank You God, for all good things.

 Gracie, Gracie, Gracie! What will we ever do with our girl Gracie?

We have a camera that we can check in on her if we go somewhere.  Lately, we have found her barking and howling the entire time we are gone..  even if it's just for half an hour.  We never leave her alone for long.  But it seems she has developed extreme separation anxiety no matter what.  Now, if she thinks I am over at my office she is fine.  And so, on Sunday when we went to church, we left the TV turned on and snuck out without telling her we were leaving.  She was fine.  Upon returning home, Gary dropped me off a block down the road and I sneaked up to my office door and unlocked it - pretending I'd been in my office all along.  I hope this works or we will be forever bound to our home and needy dog.  Oh, the things we do for our dog!!!

Sigh

Dear Mom, Dad or Whomever It May Concern,

Last year you started a trend.  One that has become embedded in my sweet doggie heart...  it's called camp and Buick.  There are so many wonderful things about going to camp and so many awesome smells when one sticks ones head outside of those windows in the Buick when it it moving....   but the best thing is spending time with the peeps I have grown to know and love.  Yea, that's you guys.  Oh, and another thing you started was dragging me along each and every time the wheels on that Buick go round and round.  Yep.  Dad, me and you we hang out in the car while Mom goes into those big buildings and comes out with bags of more stuff and ....  I've grown accustomed to accompanying you on each and every journey outside of these confines we call home.  So, yea.  Sure I'm anxious about you leaving the house without me.  Why wouldn't I be?  You created the monster problem now deal with it in a way that is humane and kind and good.  Take the dog with you.  Wherever you go.  Forever and always.  

Gracie 

Perfect!

What an awesome weekend we had!

Our town's Heritage Day's,  falls on the second weekend in June each year.  

Usually it is unbearably hot...

But this year,  

Perfect!!!

Five years ago we took Rissi to Heritage Day's and she enjoyed an ice cream.

This year we took her with us again.  And she enjoyed an ice cream.

Where have the years gone?

Rissi and Gary at Heritage Days 5 years ago

Five years later

  Gary and I were taking pictures, and suddenly Rissi says "here, give me the camera and let me take a picture of you guys..."

And that's when I realized just how grown up my little baby granddaughter has become.

It makes me sad to know this.  Years pass by way too quickly.

 It was a beautiful weekend.  A perfect weekend.

Good Day turned Bad

 Today we decided to take Gracie with us to Heritage Days in downtown Cumberland.  She was excited to be around different smells.

I filled her new doggie canteen with plenty of cold water and we stopped and sat on the downtown mall a few minutes while she drank...  then we were on our way up the big hill to visit the different booths.

But our good day turned bad quickly...

 A thunderstorm sent a torrential downpour soaking us within seconds and causing us to run for cover under the nearest tent, while the winds threatented to take the very tents we were standing under.  Gracie was forced to share an 8 X 10 space with two other big dogs and one was black.  YIKES!  Their noses touched.  The winds whooshed.  The rains pounded.  "Get in here!" Gary yelled.  I was halfheartedly standing underneath the tents edge, trying to keep Gracie away from the other canines that I was pretty sure she'd pick a fight with if she were forced to be close.  "Wait!" I said.  "I'm going over there!" And at that I ran through the downpour, as my scared wet dog ran with me, to a doorway where a gentleman was standing and he was kind enough to share his space.  Gary was not far behind...  

The days festivities were  cut short.  

And Gracie was left wondering ...  what was that all about?

And how was your Sunday?