Tuesday, March 31, 2015

Slober on my Head!

It probably comes as no surprise but I love animals!  My son loves animals too. He is a huge animal lover just like me. I love my Doodle Doggies, I love my horses, I love the birds, the deer, the bunnies and all creatures great and small.  I love going to the zoo or walking in nature or anywhere I might have a chance of an awesome animal sighting.  I am like a child bursting with excitement.  I am hoping that my blog posts for the next few days don't bore you too much but - we had the best animal experiences!!!!  WE GOT TO FEED GIRAFFES!!!!!

Coming to see me

My son giving the giraffe a good neck scratch

Romaine Lettuce leaves...how delicious!

They're my favorite!

Pretty much best day ever

Who doesn't love giraffe hugs?!
They give the best kisses


Giraffe's love a little scratch!

And a kiss or two

Thanks for the lettuce!

Mmmmmm more please!

Yes - I am petting a giraffe!

I could not stop smiling!

Either could my son

That's when the tour guide put lettuce on my head

I mean doesn't everyone love giraffe slober in their hair???
Pretty much AWESOME!


Monday, March 30, 2015

1...2...3...CHEESE!

Birdie's Goldendoodle Puppies are just starting to venture outside and start their housebreaking training. Each day they get a little bit bigger. By this time next week, they will all be big fluffy teddy bears running around with joyful abandonment.  For this week.....they are still thinking, "why does grass tickle me?"
"This grass sure does feel funny"

"Maybe we should hold it down"

"Did you say Group Picture Time?"

"Okay Bri! Line us up!"

"1....2.....3... CHEESE!"

"Can I give you a kiss now?"

"What do you mean you want another one?"

"Okay...one more time"

"WE DID IT!"
"Bet you can't repeat this next week!" 
Happy Monday!




Sunday, March 29, 2015

Never Lose the Wonder

My son's friend that is traveling with us on Spring Break has never been on any adventure of any kind. We have kind of adopted him since he was in 7th grade and you can find him at my house pretty much on any given day.  He doesn't have the best home life so we have given him a safe place at Yesteryear Acres full of love and good food where he can come any time he wants.  He has grown into a fine young man and will make an excellent Marine.  The day he took his oath was a proud day for us all.  This Spring Break trip will be filled with wonder for him.  He has never been on a plane and is full of questions - how do you check in? What happens at security? How will we get our luggage back? What will the hotel be like? What is the weather like?  Everything is new and interesting and wonderful.  It is an adventure of a lifetime for him and we are excited he is joining us.  The best part about having him with us on our trip is the reminder to never lose the wonder.  Never forget how exciting things are for those experiencing something for the first time.  It is fun to be filled with the same anticipatory excitement. It is important to remember - life is full of wondrous amazing experiences and to look at them with fresh eyes of appreciation, makes it all the better.

Saturday, March 28, 2015

One Last Hurrah!

Today is my son's last day of school before his Spring Break begins. We are going to go on an epic Spring Break trip! This is his last year of high school and our final vacation together for long time.  My mom is going with me and we are taking two of my son's best friends with us as well.  One of my son's friends is heading off to study Petroleum Engineering and the other friend has officially enlisted in the Marine Corps and will be heading off to Parris Island. This is their last hurrah before they all head their separate ways.  I feel so blessed to be sharing this adventure with them.  They actually enjoy my company and my mom's company and chose to do their Spring Break with us which is just awesome.  We are going to have the very best time ever!  I hereby promise to not look at my "adopted" son who is heading off to Parris Island with tearful eyes.  I will not think, this is the last time we will all hang out together to just have fun.  I will not at all think this is the last time my mom and I will have one of my kids with us on a Spring Break Adventure.  I will not think about the passing of time and how quickly everything flies by.  I will live in the moment.  I will look at my growing boy and give him a hug and go off to have fun each and every day.  I will treasure this week and hold it in my heart forever and I will be so very grateful to have been able to share this experience with my mom, my son, and my "adopted" son and their very best friend. It will be a week to remember.  Alright!  Go time!

Friday, March 27, 2015

Another Visitor!

I don't know what it is about Yesteryear Acres but if there is ever a stray dog to be found......it can be found here! We had yet, another four-legged visitor find its way to Yesteryear Acres.  Our Doodle Doggies are not all that fond of stray doggies roaming about and they let us know immediately that WE HAVE COMPANY! Today's guest was a red and white husky mix. It ran around saying, "HALLOOOOOOOO....HALLOOOOOOOO".  It had quite the howl.  Of course our Doodle Doggies all answered, "WHO ARE YOU?!"  I am sure you can imagine the commotion.  Mr. Yesteryear Acres was quite patient with our skittish friend.
The doggie just ran around howling until Mr. Yesteryear Acres showed him that they could be friends.  The two of them sat like this for about 15 minutes. The doggie kept looking at Mr. Yesteryear Acres with eyes that said, "I think I like you."

Mr. Yesteryear Acres then used the ole....."Mmmmm look in this dish" trick.

The doggie then just laid down and it wasn't long before the doggie and Mr. Yesteryear Acres were best friends.  We ended up finding who the doggie belonged to and they were happily reunited.  Hopefully the doggie doesn't tell all his friends about the fun day here!  We don't need another visitor! We have our own doggies!!!

Thursday, March 26, 2015

Here Fishy Fishy

It seems as though this cold hard winter was much too much for some of the fishies in our pond. We usually lose a fish or two over the winter, but we have never had a loss like this.  As the ice started to recede, we noticed lots of dead fish at the surface. Our bluegills didn't survive the winter.  It is super sad! Mr. Yesteryear Acres and my son began to scoop out bucket loads of dead fish today.  We filled the front of our front-end loader several times with our dear departed fish.
My son off to the sad job

The fish are all frozen to the ice right below the surface

It looks like we lost all of our bluegill

Once the rest of the ice melts we will have to rake out the rest of the fish 
Blossom and I say it smells yucky!

Mr. Yesteryear Acres and my son spent most of the afternoon in the rowboat raking out the fish.  We are crossing our fingers that the bass and the little fishies made it.  We haven't seen any signs of them yet but there is still hope.  Here Fishy Fishy!  Looks like we will have some re-stocking to do. That was one long cold February! Poor Fishies!

Wednesday, March 25, 2015

I just wanted a gold star!

The other day I called my Doctor's office to ask a vaccine question and I was told that I was no longer considered a patient because it had been so long since they have seen me.  What?! What?!  I literally have an encyclopedia size folder of medical files at that office.  I think they could write an entire book based on my file!  I cannot just simply disappear!  I was told that if I were to come in for a doctor visit, they would reinstate my patient status. I told them - I am not sick! I am fine!  Am I supposed to come in and say, "Hi, I am feeling perfectly well and there is nothing to report and I have no complaints and have a nice day?"  Evidently the answer is yes.  And so I went for my "I am not sick" appointment.  Once I was there, I pretty much answered every question with no.  "Am I on medication?" No.  "Do you have any medical concerns?" No.  "Are you feeling unwell?" No.  I haven't been sick in almost 3 years.  I haven't had a single medical concern in those 3 years. I am not on any medication. I workout regularly. I do not smoke. I do not drink. I am super healthy.  Can I have my gold star now? WELL......That is when I did NOT get my gold star!!!!! I got the WOW! You are turning 50 so........you need a
mammogram
pap smear
colonoscopy
stress test
echocardiogram
shingles vaccine
mmr titer
and
tetanus shot.
I was actually given a take home personal use fecal test thing. WHAT?  Where is my gold star? Now I have to wait for all those appointments to be made and I left with one sore arm from my tetanus shot.  Gee.  All I wanted was a Gold Star. Next thing you know - someone is going to tell me that I am Vintage!!!!! Wahhhhhhh!

Tuesday, March 24, 2015

Excuse me?

When I opened the door this morning for the doodle doggies to go outside for their morning potty break, a few doggies turned around and looked at me as if to say, "Excuse me?"  Evidently they were not fond of the "Spring" weather outside the door. I looked right back at the doodle doggies and said that it was not my fault!  I did not call for this
to be outside our back door. Our littlest doggie looked at me with the saddest eyes imaginable.  She was clearly saying, "I don't want to make any more doggie snow prints!" A few of the bigger doodle doggies ran outside and started eating the snow in defiance.  NO MORE SNOW!  I double-checked the calendar.  Well what do you know? It is Spring! The calendar clearly states that Winter ended several days ago.  I verified that the Vernal Equinox was in fact March 20th.  Ummmmmm Mother Nature? You can have your snow back.  We are ready for Spring Flowers and sunshine now.  Thank you.


Monday, March 23, 2015

National Puppy Day!

Happy National Puppy Day!  I have to admit - I didn't even know there was such a day.  Bri wished me Happy Puppy Day this morning and I thought she meant because it was Puppy Picture Monday but nope - it is puppy day everywhere!  So Happy Puppy Day! I think it was very thoughtful of them to arrange such a prestigious holiday on our Puppy Picture Monday. Now I can post all of our Monday Puppy Pictures AND celebrate National Puppy Day with adorableness!
Birdie's puppies will be starting solid foods this week

They will really start to grow by leaps and bounds

Right now they still love Mommy Birdie the best

"Our Mommy takes such good care of us!"

"Do you want to snuggle?"

Happy National Puppy Day!!!
and
Happy Puppy Picture Monday!

Sunday, March 22, 2015

Best. Spring. Break. Ever

I am not sure whether my son's girlfriend Bri actually chose Yesteryear Acres as the place she would like to spend her College Spring Break or if being a poor college student, Yesteryear Acres was the only spring break choice but in either case....BRI IS HERE!  I am super excited that she is here for the week! I am sure Bri looked up all the travel review sites about the top rated Spring Break Destination of Yesteryear Acres.  It probably said things like Yesteryear Acres is full of Non-Stop Things To Do like.....
Cleaning up Puppy Poop
Cleaning up Doggie Poop
Brushing Doggies
Taking Doggies for Walks
Housebreaking Puppies
Cleaning Puppy Areas
and
Cleaning up More Puppy Poop.
Oh man!  Think of all the fun Bri will have! First up
Home Improvement Project!  Oh boy!
Tomorrow maybe we can vacuum the house and wash the hard wood floors!!!!! 
I know what Bri is thinking right now. Best. Spring. Break. Ever!

 

Saturday, March 21, 2015

Did they say Vintage????!

I was working in the kitchen when a news segment came on about making money from selling wedding dresses.  The premise was that wedding dresses are so expensive and only worn one time so why not sell the dress and make some money? I immediately thought, "Who would do THAT?!"  Then the news reporter went on to say things like, "where is your wedding dress" and "how many times have you even looked at it "and how do you even know it is in good condition all boxed up and shoved in your attic?" The segment was really pushing how much money you could get back on your original investment and why not do that rather than store it indefinitely? I was only half listening because my wedding dress is neatly stored in a hermetically sealed box and even though I have never even peeked at my dress since the day I got married, I love that dress!!!!  Maybe one of my daughters will want to wear it. Maybe whomever my son marries will want to wear it. Maybe they will just want to use the veil.  I don't know but I am not going to sell it.  As I was thinking of all the reasons that I would never sell my dress, the news reporter brought out a beautiful vintage wedding dress that was being sold for almost $6,000!  He was saying how vintage dresses were worth so much more money and are in high demand. I was looking at the vintage dress when the date of the dress flashed up on the screen.  1987.  That's right 1987!!!!  As in 1987 is considered VINTAGE!  Not 1930 or even 1940 but 1987!!!!  That is when I GOT MARRIED!  My dress is certainly NOT vintage!  It is youthful!  It is young!  It is has barely aged!  Vintage?  I think not. My up-to-date, fresh, modern, youthful wedding dress is just going to stay boxed up in my attic where it will not age at all and will be forever young! And in case you were wondering, the owner of the dress is not vintage either!

Friday, March 20, 2015

Who Forgot the Cream Cheese?

Today was one of those get 'er done days.  I have been putting off going to the store and our refrigerator was pretty bare.  When I opened my refrigerator this morning, it said, "Feed Me!"  Between locking myself upstairs to do the taxes and heading to Oregon for the Northwest Doodle Breeder's Summit, the pantry and refrigerator needed some TLC.  I knew I couldn't wait one more minute when we used the last of the milk this morning.  We are never without milk!  Shopping could wait no longer.  Mr. Yesteryear Acres did the first round early this morning.  He got at least half the list filled at Warehouse Club #1.  We unloaded the SUV, partially filled our shelves and re-stocked our refrigerator. Mr. Yesteryear Acres even brought home the very best surprise ever.....Fresh Baked Bagels from the Bagel Deli!  How I love Everything Bagels!!!!!! Once my son got home from school, it was time for Warehouse Club #2. Thankfully my son decided to join me so he was in charge of the flat bed while I got the cart.  10 gallons of milk and many bags of dog food later, we were ready for the checkout. We almost made it out the door without someone asking us if we had dogs....but just as we were leaving, the inevitable question was asked.  I assured them that dog food and milk tastes great together and we were on our way home.  Now that we have everything put away, guess who forgot the cream cheese?!  ME!  How can I have my everything bagels for breakfast tomorrow morning??  Hey, I know - Why don't I go to the store!  Looks like it is time for Round #3!

Thursday, March 19, 2015

Law and Order Theme Song

This afternoon, all I could hear in my head was the BUM BUM of the Law and Order theme "song".  My son is participating in a mock trial at school and he is the Prosecuting Attorney.  I had to listen to his opening statement.....again.....and again....and again.  It is a good 10 minute statement.  By the third or fourth time, all I could do was to play that BUM BUM in my head while he was talking.  My son seems to be quite the excellent prosecutor and has a very good case. He is prepared and the defense attorneys will really have to work hard to combat my son's logical and methodical approach. Just when I thought we were done for the night, my son decided to practice his objections for when the trial starts. It looks like the BUM BUM will be playing in my head for a few more days.  I am not sure how I became so lucky as to be selected as the practice jury - but evidently that is my role.  I will look forward to the closing arguments and hearing "the prosecution rests."  Until then....the heinous crime and BUM BUM continues!

Wednesday, March 18, 2015

But it FEELS like 4:30

When I was in Oregon, I started to run out of steam around 10:00pm.  I kept saying things like, "at home it is 1:00am!" By midnight I was so exhausted and of course I reminded everyone that it was 3:00am Ohio time.  Everyone seemed to not care that much about my time change.  When I woke up at 4:30am their time, EVEN though it was 7:30am my time.....no one would wake up with me! I was ready to go hiking and not a single person wanted to do that in the pitch black of night.  Go figure! We had so many late night meetings that by the last day - 7:30am really felt like 7:30am.  I believe I was a true Oregonian!  Well this morning, back home in Ohio, 7:30am did not feel like 7:30am!  It felt like 4:30am!  And guess what? No one really seems to care that much about my time change! Again!!!! As I drank my morning cup of coffee with squinty sleepy eyes, Mr. Yesteryear Acres started talking about all the things on our To-Do list.  Didn't he know it was only 5:00am? Honestly! I hope tomorrow 7:30am feels like 7:30am. Right now.....I miss Oregon! You can sleep in until 7:00am ......which is 10:00am!  Right Maggie?! Guess I better start dinner. Seems like people in Ohio get hungry at this time of day. Whoever heard of eating dinner at 4:00pm?!

Tuesday, March 17, 2015

5:10am....and Home!

Oh boy!  What fun the Red-Eye flight is. I mean who doesn't love trying to sleep on a plane with your neck all bent to the side and then having it fall forward so you jolt awake and then trying to find one tiny bit of comfort so you can sleep only to jolt awake again? Last night I flew from Portland, Oregon into LAX.  I took a picture of Los Angeles from the plane as we were coming in for a landing.  After flying over a sea of darkness it is mind-boggling to see such an expanse of endless lights. There are just so many people down there!

The picture really doesn't do it justice.  After my layover at LAX, I caught my next flight and landed this morning at 5:10am.  Mr. Yesteryear Acres must really love me because he picked me up this morning with a big smile on his face.  Although I am completely and totally TIRED, I am glad to be home.  First up on my agenda.....PUPPY PICTURES!!!!!! So here, with just a slight delay, are this week's puppy pictures!
Here are three of Birdie's Adorable Goldendoodle Boys.  
I love the guy on the end with his ready for the camera pose!

Don't they have the sweetest faces!?

I could just snuggle them all day long!

Here are 3 more boys 

And the last of the boys and Birdie's 2 girls

I am so lucky to come home to such cuties!!!!
I missed them all!
Happy Puppy Picture (Tuesday)!

Monday, March 16, 2015

6 Miles - No Problem!

The last day of the Northwest Doodle Breeder Conference was great.  The speakers were awesome and in the afternoon we had breakout sessions and I was the leader of a group discussion which was a lot of fun. There were some new breeders and it was nice to be able to help them with all their questions.  Today I am heading back home on the red-eye but first......one last beautiful look at Oregon!
Maggie started my day with a delicious breakfast and then.....

We hit the trail!

The views were amazing

And we followed a beautiful stream 3 miles down the trail. With every step down - we knew we had to make the climb back up!

It was an amazingly beautiful walk filled with nature's wonders!

Of course we had Doodle Doggies with us!  They were so happy to go on our long hike with us!

I loved all the moss covered trees

and rushing waterfalls

and the trillium in bloom

along with all the flowering trees

Once we made our way back up the 3 mile trail - the views were incredible!

The doggies were ready to do the entire trail again.  They said, "6 Miles? No problem!  Let's go again!"  I have to agree doggies!  I have to agree!  Thanks for my last look at beautiful Oregon!