~THANK YOU LAUREN AND DOLLY~

Autumn, the most wonderful time of year...

Lauren, of the blog Rugs and Pugs, recently offered her readers a giveaway...a most wonderful giveaway...and I was the lucky recipient...earlier this week a small parcel arrived in my mailbox...As I opened the package a lovely vintage bracelet emerged...I had the choice of a Dog or Cat theme bracelet or one with plain vintage buttons... I loved all three designs...how to decide?  I asked Lauren if she would surprise me...Below is the sweet bracelet that I received...vintage buttons along with two little heart charms holding tiny paw prints...

Dolly, good friend of Lauren, creates these artsy bracelets with 100% of the sales going to the Ohio Pug Rescue..I ask you, how very kind and generous is she?...

If you are familiar with Lauren's blog Rugs and Pugs you know Lauren's commitment to the Ohio Pug Rescue...she quite frequently fosters dogs... providing them with the love and security that they have not been shown...giving them a home till their forever parents come into their lives...

Thank you Lauren...and Thank you Dolly...I love this bracelet...I can even get it on my wrist without the help of Mr. Dog Trot which is a big plus!! Thank you for helping our furry friends...some with a face that only a mother could love...

~AUTUMN GREETINGS~

Each season arrives with it's own special beauty...but there is none that can compare to Autumn...

 It's when Mother Nature dresses in her finest...

 and shares her earthly delights...

soon scents of fruit and spices will fill the air...

 and hints of color begin popping everywhere...

 each day in Autumn is a new adventure...

 one I look forward to...

 Autumn...

 grab a sweater and head outdoors the magic awaits you...

"Autumn...the year's last loveliest smile."

~William Cullen Bryant~

 

~AN ACT OF KINDNESS~

I have a friend...a dear friend...a friend I have never met in person...but through blogging...many of you...

 my blog readers...are familiar with Jacque...proprietor of the blog "Doodles Of My Mind"

As you may know Jacque is a very talented quilter... I had the good fortune of winning one of her table mats... now holding a place of honor on my kitchen table...Two weeks ago a surprise arrived in the mailbox...a package which had traveled to Maine  from Wisconsin...Jacque...who knows how I adore my grandson Travis and also knows how Travis adores tractors... Jacque who unearthed this  tractor fabric from her material "stash"  immediately knew what she was going to do with it...Jacque thought of Travis...and in doing so crafted a "tractor" sac for Travis Lloyd...a sac which now holds his prized tractor collection...

this little sac travels to story time with us...

it has  gone to the ocean where treasures plucked from the sand were placed for safe keeping...it can hold a snack...a juice box...and it appears Granny's car keys... 

It warms my heart to know I have such a kind and thoughtful friend...Thank you Jacque...Travis and I send "big big" hugs from Maine...

9/11

Just three little words...

GOD BLESS AMERICA....

~A BRIDE AND GROOM~

A bride and groom...

September 2, 1978... was a beautiful late summer's day...the sky was a brilliant blue...the fragrance of flowers filled the church...my heart beat wildly as my father walked me down the aisle...Mr. Dog Trot's hand was sweating as I slipped on his wedding ring...35 years ago today...I became a Mrs... Happy Anniversary  Mr. Dog Trot...I love you...

~SEPTEMBER~

September arrives ...this day is hot  

the air  thick with humidity...

but, we know it won't be long now...the signs are subtle... soon Fall will  arrive with all it's brilliance...those dreamy golden days... just warm enough with nights crisp and cool...

color will abound as far as the eye can see...

yellow...

orange...reds...

 these are the days I have patiently been waiting  for...dreaming about...

how about you?

~UNEARTHED~

Every treasure tells a story...

 my newly found treasure was unearthed at our local Goodwill for $1.99

A red ware plate hand crafted in Bird- In- Hand, Penn. signed by it's crafter M. Stoltzfus. Mr. Dog Trot and I have a fondness for Lancaster, Penn. Years ago, while on our first trip to Amish country, we stumbled upon a lovely out of the way Inn.  The owners, David and Linda Stoltzfus, (David grew up in an old order Amish home) quickly made us feel like family. The inn is a working horse farm and home to Himalayan kittens, which Linda breeds...Thanks to Linda Mr. Dog Trot and I have had the pleasure of dining with  Amish families...in the Amish community there are some Amish families who open their home once a week for dinner and scripture...before the meal is served a blessing is offered, hymns are sung and we each tell a little about ourselves ...it is a most joyous and memorable experience...and the apple dumplings out of this world! ...After dinner "we" are invited to tour the farm, dairy barn, and gardens.  As twilight descends ice cold lemonade is served on the front porch, while we watch in delight as Amish children chase after flickering fireflies...it is a most delightful was to end a perfect day...

~DEAR FRIENDS~

Dear friends...I fear my Sadie Mae will not be returning home...it has now been two weeks since her disappearance... after much searching... inquiries...and a visit to the local animal shelter...we still come up empty handed...

I want to thank you, my blog readers, for your kind comments and concern...Sadie Mae was a very sweet two year old  kitty...petite in size... an independent kitty, one with a mind of her own...initially my intent was for Sadie to remain an indoor cat...however...it simply was not meant to be...Sadie had been found as a stray from a neighboring town... living outdoors and fending for herself was her way of life...Soon after I adopted Sadie she discovered my flock of chickens and it was clear she liked what  she  saw and enjoyed hanging out with them... daily she could be found curled up asleep next to the chicken coop...drinking from their water container and eating  chicken feed...perhaps in another life she might actually have been a chicken for one day I discovered her happily tucked in a nesting box...Oh Sadie Mae we will miss you...our hearts are heavy here at Dog Trot Farm...

~INSPIRATION~

Inspiration in the form of Queenisms... words by Cindy Ratzlaff and Kathy Kinney...

She decided to stop waiting until

everything, including herself,

was perfect...

So she took a deep breath, let

go of her fear

of being judged

and simply began to live...

It felt delicious!!...



QUESTION?

Could this bird have the capability of flying off with Sadie Mae? Sadie was a light weight, perhaps two or three pounds...

I believe this bird to be a hawk, what species I am not sure...this bird has been hanging around (high in the tree tops and also in the field) since early July...There has been absolutely no trace of Sadie Mae, it is as if she simply vanished into thin air...Any information and or advice would be greatly appreciated...thank you...

~SALTY SEA AIR~

Blue waters and salty sea air are calling me...

I'm leaving my woe's behind and heading down the bay...an island visit is well needed and earned... 

~DEAR SADIE MAE~

Sadie Mae... where in the world have you disappeared to?  Come on now...It's been four long days since I scolded you for scratching the furniture...enough already...come home...

...I miss you...we miss you...

I apologize... come home...no questions asked... To be continued...

~AUGUST~

Twilight comes and the song of the cricket is soon to follow...

The August air lies soft and cool... a much welcomed relief from our summer weather...Once the grey rains of June disappeared ...July came barreling in with scorching heat and high humidity...

 The gardens have suffered...both vegetable and flower...the only plant to do well was dill, which had reseeded itself...

 In the hen house my flock of nineteen was suddenly reduced to eighteen...Annabelle...a petite white banty...suddenly became ill...she was brought inside and nursed in the chicken infirmary... sadly Annabelle passed away peacefully two days later...needless to say I have a very lonely rooster...But...on a happier note...Travis Lloyd is walking...and accumulating a vocabulary. His favorite word, said with much enthusiasm...

 one  he repeats over and over again..."TRACTOR"

tomorrow...I'll show you why...

THROW CAUTION TO THE WIND~

I highly recommend taking the road less traveled...

 you just never know where it may lead or what you might encounter...

 unlike any pig farm I have ever seen...

 but certainly one having a sense of humor...

so...throw caution to the wind...take a back road...chances are you'll discover something new that just might put a smile on your face!



~GREETINGS FROM DOG TROT FARM~

Greetings from Maine...those hazy, hot, and humid days of summer have arrived and along with them... rain and fog...Humidity, how do women in the South deal with endless days of humidity? Me...my hair curls...my skin takes on a permanent shine and clothes sick to my body...Spanx...I need Spanx...

 July 1st...honestly... how can it be... where did June go? My grandmother was correct when she use to say "the older you become the faster time goes"... remember those long idyllic carefree days of summer? A thing of the past...

 Here in New England "we" rush around making  grand attempst at those chores which have been building up... creating a mighty fine "to do" list... 

but, there is progress... Mr. Dog Trot has  installed the new kitchen window... finally there is a date for the installation of new  living room carpet... and new/old pine flooring is being put down in our bedroom...progress... 

  I love native strawberries...do you? here in Maine the strawberry season is in full swing, those tender red berries, plump and juicy...homemade strawberry shortcake with fresh whipped cream is my nirvana... 

 this is Mr. Dog Trot's nirvana...

fresh sweet lobster meat...with just a touch of mayo...

"All I could see where I stood was three long mountains and a wood. I turned and looked the other way and saw three Islands in the bay." Edna St. Millay. I hope to catch up with each and everyone of you...I am looking forward to seeing what you all have been up to...Enjoy the day, Julie.