New Puppy Families....We are Ready for You!

This is the last Puppy Picture Monday for Maple's Double Doodle puppies as they are all going home this weekend. They are the sweetest bunch and we will really miss them!!!!

Maple's puppies are really good about going outside for potty breaks

They know just where to go

"Come on everybody!"

"We are good little puppies!" 

"Everyone takes a turn and then.....

Mr. Yesteryear Acres cleans up our mess"

"He is a nice guy!"

"Now it is time to play!!!!"

"Gotcha!"

"We have the best time"

"And can't wait for puppy pick up day"

"New Puppy Families.....We are ready for you!"

and just so we won't be lonely with all of Maple's Puppies going home......

Sugar's Goldendoodle babies are here!!!!

Aren't they adorable?!

We have 3 little girls

and four little boys

for one happy perfect beautiful bunch of puppy love!

Happy Monday!

Care

I can barely watch the evening news as it is just an endless barrage of fighting, sadness, more fighting, death and more sadness. I find my self constantly shaking my head and wondering how did we get to such a place? I have a couple of friends who are battling some very serious health crises and....just like that.....they are facing an abrupt end to what they had hoped would be a long and healthy life. My heart breaks for them over and over and I find myself just sitting on the floor, with my lap full of doodles, soaking in a quiet moment of pure love and compassion. There is much comfort to be found in the unconditional, undeniable love of a furry best friend. In these moments, I think, "Is it that hard to share that same compassion with others?" Just think if everyone took the time to lend a hand or show support or stop judging - things would become so much more beautiful.  It isn't hard to open your heart or your door or your home to someone in need. Just care. Take a moment out of your own busy day to do something beautiful for another human being.  Make a difference.  Do good.  Be good. Care for one another.  We are not guaranteed forever and we are certainly not guaranteed good health.  What we do with the time we are given is up to us. Make every minute count.  Tell those you love how important they are.  Care.

How can I possibly choose a favorite?

Today was puppy visit day.  We had families here starting early this morning and our last family just left.  The puppies had a blast!  All day long they had families oooohing and ahhhing and cuddling and snuggling and playing with them.  It was a great day for them.  I love puppy visit days because the puppies get attention from a variety of people - younger, older, exuberant, shy, long-time dog owners, first-time dog owners and babies, toddlers, grandmas, and grandpas - they get a lot of love from everyone! We heard a lot of "How can I possibly choose a favorite? I love them all!"  We love that!  The puppies do too.  Lots of love, lots of smiles and lots of tail wagging devotion.  Another fun puppy visit day here at Yesteryear Acres!

No electric....No problem!

We were without power this afternoon so my list of things to do couldn't quite proceed as I had thought.  Vacuuming......a little tough without electricity! Guess we will have to go to Plan B.  The puppies and I headed outside where there was plenty of beautiful bright light and green grass.  They all got their nails trimmed and their coats brushed and then it was some outside recess time.  No electricity required!

First day playing in outdoor puppy pen

Leaf chasing is always fun

So is tag!

Lots of things to explore

"HEY! Wait a minute!"

"We can't get out!"

  Learning how to play within boundaries.  

Good little puppies!

I hold her responsible

Yesterday as I was leaving my younger daughter's house, she gave me her stash of candy as she no longer wanted to be tempted by the deliciousness inside each wrapper.  She made me take the bag of candy.  I didn't think much of it at the time but now it is clear - I am holding this act of treason against her.  How could she commit such a treacherous act? Without my consent, without my permission, without my desire............

This has been turning into 

this......all....day.....long

I keep getting assaulted by unopened candy and then the next thing I know - nothing is left but an empty wrapper.  I hold my daughter responsible for my actions.  She knows what she did. I hope she feels terrible about my predicament!!!!!  Oh look!  A Kit Kat!

Now You Can Bake!

Ever since my younger daughter moved to her own place this July, I have been promising to go over for the day and help organize her kitchen. My daughter loves to bake and cook and we have both been so busy that her kitchen has been in disarray since she moved. She can't even bake! Peanut Butter in with macaroni boxes?!  ACK!  This just won't do!  Nothing was where it should be and everything needed redone.  Today was the day!  I got up early and helped Mr. Yesteryear Acres with all the farm chores and was on the road by noon.  I spent the whole rest of the day with my daughter.  We took everything out of the kitchen and then put things back one-by-one, right where they should go. Now she has a proper baking section and her spices are all arranged and her canned goods are all together and her boxed goods are neatly organized and the whole kitchen is happy.  It looks fantastic!  Once we had all the cabinets organized and a nice new shelving system for the pantry, we went out on a little grocery shopping expedition to fill in the gaps.  We went to a store she had never been to, close to her new home, and it had EVERYTHING.  I might need to go back and shop there for my groceries! I found things that I normally have to order online. It was a very successful grocery outing and now my daughter is super excited to go shopping at her new favorite place.  My daughter thanked me a million times and I got the biggest hug ever as I was leaving.  She had just one question before I walked out the door......."Can you come back and help me with my clothes closets?"  Looks like I have another house-organizing promise to keep!  I'll be back!

Take a Moment

With my son away at school, the workload here at Yesteryear Acres has really piled up.  We have so much to do to get ready for the cold winter weather and there is no end in sight.  My son helped out so much around here.  His presence is missed in many ways.  We were lucky enough to have his girlfriend Bri here all summer long and she worked hard as well so when they both took off for college, Mr. Yesteryear Acres and I were faced with all the work ... .... all... by... ourselves.  We are doing pretty well with the new routine but we have noticed that we are 100% busy all day long and we don't stop to sit down until after 10:00pm every night. Last night we decided to take a moment. Just to appreciate and breathe and enjoy.  I walked out to the field to give my horses a big hug.

The sun was starting to set and I took a moment to look at the fading colors of the sky 

Buckwheat was glad to see me 

She gives the best hugs

Willow didn't want me to forget her

A big hug from my horses, a nice deep breath, a beautiful setting sun....

and then back to work, refreshed and ready.  Take a moment.  Appreciate the day. All the little moments add up to one big happy life.

All Together Now

Mr. Yesteryear Acres and I decided that we would try to get a great group picture of Maple's 4 Double Doodle girls and then another group photo with Maple's 5 Double Doodle Boys. 277 pictures later......... These are the best shots

The little girl on the left just LOVES to crawl into my lap.  Especially if I have a camera! 

"Please wait just one second" 

Ready.....Set..... 

Go! 

Any guesses as to where the little girl is?

Snuggling with me!  How about a girls' picture with 3 out of the 4 girls.....

so close!

Next up...the boys! 

"Yes I love you too!" 

These two boys are saying, "I hope they are done soon!"

"We will give it our best!" 

Ready 

Set 

Go! 

Hey......who is making all those silly sounds???? 

Me of course!!!

Happy Monday!

You Are Very Welcome

The sun bathed the landscape with a beautiful reddish glow this morning to thank me for putting away all my summer clothes.

It whispered....."Today will be a beautiful day"

"and I will fill your day with sunshine and warmth"

And the sun kept her word.  The day was beautiful!  I was pretty sure my summer wardrobe/fall wardrobe switch was the root cause of such a beautiful day.  You are very welcome.

The doggies were really glad for the sunny day.

Mr. Yesteryear Acres did a little on-leash training and then......

Snuggle time!

Nothing beats Doggie Hugs!

Grits says, "Is it my turn yet?"

Getting their fill of hugs

and kisses!

Off leash time!!!!!

"Oh Boy, Oh Boy!!!!"

Doggie Zoomies!

So much fun

"Ahhhhh the perfect day!"

One last game of fetch

and time to head home!

Thank you sunshine!

I Did My Best

On this chilly, rainy, dreary, cloudy, cold, drizzly, windy October day, I did my best to bring back the sun.  Today I have given it everything I have to make sure a bit of warm weather returns to us. I spent the afternoon packing away all my summer clothes.  Skorts - gone.  T-shirts- gone.  Capris - gone.  All packed away and stored until next summer.  There isn't a flip-flop to be found. My closet is now full of sweatshirts, long pants, turtlenecks and scarves.  I really had no choice as I was freezing outside this morning while I was doing the farm chores and the reality of October was too great to ignore. I had to bring out the winter clothes. My heart smiled as I unpacked my sweatshirts and I immediately put on my favorite soft, well-loved shirt.  I am now prepared for the cold damp of autumn.  This can only mean one thing ..........next week - summer will return!!!!!!!

Doodle or Cat?

My kitten definitely thinks that he is a doodle doggie.  I have him clicker trained, so wherever I am, all I have to do is click the clicker, and he comes running full steam.  He understands commands like, "do you want to go to bed?" and "are you ready for your lysine treat?" and "wanna help do the dishes?". Every night when I tell him that it is bedtime, he runs upstairs and jumps on the bed and is ready for lights out.  When I ask if he is ready for his lysine treat, he runs to where the bag is, and sits and waits for me to open the bag and hand him his treat.  When it is time to do the dishes, he sits on the stool and bats at the various soap bubbles that come his way. He follows me from room to room and is my constant companion. He plays with the doodle puppies every single day and loves to romp around with them.  He snuggles up to the big doodle dogs and loves to get kisses from them.  Today, he wanted in the shower and would not stop crying until I opened the curtain and let him in.  He just sat there in the tub completely satisfied.

He happily sleeps in the Doodle Doggie bed

Helps me write my emails and blogs.

And just when I think......my kitten is actually a doodle.......

He proves he is a cat!

No Doodle Doggie would ever pick cardboard over a real bed!

Well - I guess he will just be.... mostly Doodle! 

Happy October 1st

Last night at exactly 12 midnight, Mr. Yesteryear Acres wished me, "Happy October 1st".  He was quite excited as he rarely wins the late night/turn of the clock, "Happy 1st" award. He is usually sound asleep on the couch and I am the one who wins the late night welcoming of the new month when I wake him to go up to bed.  Not last night.  Mr. Yesteryear Acres was the big winner and I think he took this October thing a bit too seriously.  This morning he told me that I better dress for fall.  He said it IS the first you know!  I thought perhaps he was still all giddy from winning the Happy 1st award, but then I opened the door.  What?!!  How does fall arrive - just - like - that?!  It was cold!  I mean cold.  I had to run back in the house and change into warmer clothes to do the farm chores.  About 1/2 way through the chores, I admitted defeat. I had to go get.......

GLOVES!

Already!

And it is only the first day of the month!   

Thankfully, the beauty of the season makes the incoming cold weather all worth it.  Happy October First!