From Farm Dog To World Traveler...

I just can't resist sharing this adorable (yes, I'm biased!!) picture with you this morning.  Cheryl and Frank sent me this picture of Findlay on Monday night.

From northeast farm dog to southwest world traveler!  Findlay traveled in a car, on a plane, on a train, and got to take her first cruise...all in one day!

I just want to scratch those soft, warm little ears and have her lick my face one more time!

Thanks for the picture, Cheryl, and love on her for me!

Saying Goodbye To the Puppies...

It's getting a little lonely around here these days!

Last week at this time we had seven puppies running around, rolling in the flower beds, playing tug of war with a chew toy, chasing Murphy for the elusive drink and pointing at the chickens.

As of this morning, we have only three.

Watching kids pick out their favorite puppy...watching people meet the dogs they chose by sight on the internet...it's all good.

Wilbur left for his new home in New Jersey on Thursday, Reggie and Nugget left for New Jersey and Pittsburgh on Saturday, and this morning Cupcake (aka Findlay) is flying home to Arizona.  Jenna left early for school this morning and said her goodbyes while it was still dark.

Meet our new friends Frank and Cheryl...

We had so much fun meeting them yesterday afternoon and hosting them overnight while they met and got to know Findlay.  They took us out to dinner last night, and there was no lack of things to talk about!  Findlay is going to have a great life in Arizona, we just know it!

*Findlay and her family made it safely to Phoenix...and the word is that she was an amazing traveler!

This Friday we'll say goodbye to Mocha (Delaware) and Ted (aka Cooper) will go to New Jersey next Sunday.  That leaves us with...

Phoebe!

I'm sure you'll be seeing more of this pretty gal!

First Frost...

After a record setting hot summer, we woke up on Tuesday morning to our first frost...

It wasn't a hard, killing frost, but a sure reminder that the seasons do change, as always!  Our typical "frost date" here is around October 15th, so it really wasn't that early.  It's been flannel shirt and jeans weather in the barn (for me at least), and that's a welcome change...

The cows have been staying in overnight the past few days, and the tender plants on porches are gradually moving inside.

The puppies are spending their nights in the barn too.  They're seven weeks old now, have had their vet checks, first round of shots, etc, and are for sale, available for adoption next weekend!  They're so sweet...but I feel like the Mom of seven toddlers, continually counting heads when they're out for playtime.  Oh my.

The wear themselves out playing. Here they're playing tug of war with a dog toy...
(photo courtesy of my friend Denise who came to visit yesterday with her daughter)

...and then they crash...

Just like toddlers!

We're going to miss them when they're gone!

Waiting For Breakfast...

There are so many creatures around here depending on us for their breakfasts...

These two heifers in the corner hutch saw me coming.  They're anticipating hay, grain and silage...

The chickens get excited when I fill their water tub, knowing that something else is coming soon...

Murphy saw me toss some stale bagels into the chicken pen yesterday, and she's been keeping vigil...thinking that somehow, sometime, she'll get one. Shy of digging under the fence...which she tried...grrrrr...she's going to be waiting a long time...

The puppies have been staying in the warm barn overnight, and they can hardly contain themselves when they see someone in the morning. Anticipation of freedom and breakfast and attention has them so excited...

How do you anticipate your breakfast?

Puppy Love...

Day 11

We just can't help it...

They're eating like little piggies...and growing like weeds...

Look at their tiny, perfect little feet!

We're in love!

...And Then There Were 9...

We have tried numerous times over the past few years to have our black lab Murphy bred, without success.  As a result, although she hasn't been spayed, we were pretty unconcerned about her becoming pregnant on her own.  Well not on her own, but you know...promiscuously!

Over the past several months we have occasionally seen a male German Shorthaired Pointer roaming the neighborhood.  The last time I saw him was July 1st, which would coincide with what happened here last night...

Murphy is now the proud mama to nine adorable puppies!  Three are brown, and six are black.  They look mostly like labs at this stage, but several have some white on their bellies, and we assume they will change their looks as they get a little older.

Let the fun begin!