A sweet visit
dogs, friends, Goldendoodle Puppies 
We had some company at the Cottage.
The pups were pretty happy to see them.
dogs
Karen’s Classes at the Cottage
bird song art event, dogs, Goldendoodle Puppies, We're having a party, Workshops 
After our trip up north to the fleas and the deer hunters' camp, we had a workshop at the cottage. Karen taught a class to craft this darling flower fairy, in warm, fall tones. (mine has a moonstone on the end of her magic wand)
Here is her example in pink.
All of the ladies made really cute ones. If you get wonderful supplies, and are shown a wonderful idea, it is easy to come up with something wonderful, right?
Karen really came through with this one.
We had a smaller group, a couple of people couldn't come due to illnesses. So we cozied up on one side of the room with an intimate sized group, relaxed and casual.
Having puppies to hold is a plus for any gathering too.
I hope the guests had as much fun as I did. For me, it was the best!
Now, I just can't wait till A Snowbirds' Song, I love having friends in my studio. This little get together whetted my appetite for more.
By the way, if you would like to see more puppy pictures, please check them out here: https://karlascottage.typepad.com/cottage_doodles/
And if you need a small to medium goldendoodle to snuggle yourself? They are for sale, just contact me.
Sugarwings turns THIRTEEN
celebrations, dogs, Sugarwings, We're having a party 
Sugarwings and my blog are just about the same age. Here is the first photo I posted of her within a week or so of starting the blog. I have no idea how many times I have shown pictures of her here, but there are enough that I know I will pay the fees to keep my blog going long after I am done writing it, just to look back as a journal of my life and of the grand fairies growing up.
Thirteen years.
Really.
That flew by way too fast. But I have always thought that whatever age she is at the time is the best stage ever. Then, I am pleasantly surprised to see just how much fun she is as she gets just a little older. So, I am looking forward to seeing what 13 brings. And 14, 15, 16, on and on. 2 was adorable, but 12? What a blast! I can't wait to watch her grow and just get better and better and better as time goes by.
She has plans to be an oceanographer some day, and wanted her mom to throw an ocean themed party for the birthday bash.
It was just as cute as can be!
The shark was great!
The sea turtle cake was pretty cool too.
The girls started at her Mom's, then flowed to the Double Tree for a swimming/slumber party.
The next morning, after checking out, they came to see me the puppies. (Who am I kidding, this visit was all about the pups!)
All of the dogs were happy to see them.
I was too.
I loved seeing that my girl had such nice friends to spend such a special occasion with her.
If you’d like more info about puppies, there is a blog with their whole story: https://karlascottage.typepad.com/cottage_doodles/
Sugarbabies- goldendoodle pups!
dogs, Goldendoodle Puppies 
We are head over heels, smitten to the core with the Sugarbabies!
All of us.
Especially Albie. He is fascinated by them
For now, they live in the hearth room, this is my view from the kitchen. But I am usually in that recliner or sitting on the stool next to them, totally mesmerized.
When they are ready to run around and need more space, they will be moved to the breezeway, but for now, I am loving the continual squeaking, occasional yipping, and all of the other cute little sounds they emit.
Although the loud squeals at 3am send me running to them in a panic to make sure everyone is okay (not as cute).
If you would like to follow their story, I have a Cottage Doodles blog for them. But I will also be bombarding FB and IG, as well as posting here.
I can't get enough of the teensy, wriggly, sweetness of these
And if you want to have one of these darlings of your own? They are for sale and ready for pickup end of Sept. beginning of Oct.
Sugarbabies
dogs 
The vet has confirmed it!
In less than 2 weeks, we will hear the pitter, pitter, patter of tiny paws.
I have started a new blog to host info about pups (but of course I will be bombarding you with puppy pics here too).
Check it out and please pass it on to anyone who wants a sweet lil, Sugarbaby!
I had never been to a dog park
dogs 
Typically in the summer, we spend a lot of time hiking around the trails at Lake Clinton with a few dogs along. Or we are out on the lake floating around in the pontoon.
With the huge rains we had early summer and late spring, the lake is closed.
So, we checked out the dog park instead. It is at the same state park as the lake, but on higher ground. And it was quite different than I expected. There were big, wide trails through the woods and lots of places for pups to play. Including a creek to swim in.
And an obstacle course! Sugar learned every trick right away, with her half poodle gene pool.
Her golden retriever mama, didn't care to even give any of it a try,
We have also set up an axe throwing target in our yard, since we are not boating and need something to do. Well, not so much me, but the guys.
And Twinkle has found a replacement for the lake, she sits in her water bowl quite a bit. For someone as little as she is, that is probably a nice swimming hole.
While flooding is not a good thing, all of our earlier rain has made my flowers lush. Lake Clinton has suffered, but my yard is happy. This Purple Cone Flower is about as tall as I am.
My home town
dogs, family, Travel 
Since we started taking annual Sister Trips to Florida a few years ago, I haven't been visiting Indiana as much as I used to. So I made sure to detour through Pendleton on my way to meet up with Dewdrop in Kentucky.
Sadly, the town was hit by a tornado, the first in almost two hundred years. And apparently, they didn’t think a siren was needed because tornados just don’t hit there…
Luckily, there were no tragedies. I was glad to see the Falls Park lighthouse was still standing, even though it now had a tilted top. Lots of trees were down, you can see an example of the mess in the right side of this photo.
There were tons of big, old trees fallen throughout the town.
The twister’s path damaged one of my sister’s and a niece’s homes, trees, and fences. But on the other side of town, my niece, Shelli, had no issues at all. Her beautifully painted fence was looking great!
Cool, isn’t it?
She says she got the stencils off of Amazon. It is a unique look, I really liked it.
I also really liked Kevin, Shelli’s grand dog. He is doodle-riffic, and every bit as cute as his cousin, Sugar.
While in Indy, I had a chance to catch up with family I don’t see often enough. And to make plans for the next Sister Trip. This time, we are including my sister’s daughters, and making it a Big Girl/Little Girl Trip.
We are going the week after A Snowbird’s Song, and November just cannot get here soon enough for me!
More from our cottage gardens
cottage, dogs, flowers 
I tend to junk up my yard and home with old stuff.
And that makes me happy!
May Showers Bring June Flowers?
cottage, dogs, Dorkies (Yorkshire Terrriers), flowers
Quite a bit of May and into June, it rained.
And rained.
Then rained some more.
I dug some trenches to have the water run away from the house in a few places, but this river was created by the dogs running back and forth to bark at people walking on the other side of the fence. I needed to dig out a tunnel under the fence for it to drain, and then, this raging river became ideal for redirecting the water away from our home.
But just imagine the mud we have had to deal with from all of the dog’s hard work in crafting this trail!
We are so lucky it has only been mud. So many places are flooded or damaged by the tornados.
I hate to even admit this, but the rain hasn’t been all bad at the cottage. We seem to have decent run off, and haven’t had problems with it, once the torrents streaming across the yard subside and drain away.
We have been gifted with lush, overflowing flower beds as an after effect.
Our yard has never been better.
We have also put a ton of work into trimming, planting, and cleaning up too.
And my studio redo made me so happy that I wanted some changes outside too. This swing got a fresh coat of paint, and moved from the big yard that has been taken over by Honey and Sugar, to a cozy spot where it is getting used again.
This corner got a big refresh, I added two rose bushes, a viburnum, some other shrub (whose name I have forgotten), and ten bags of mulch.
I also planted this little perennial that will bloom in pink. My husband said that we should support a local farm/nursery that had tornado damage. He loaded up his chainsaw and gator to spend an afternoon cleaning up there, then picked me up to go shop at their garden center.
We have always loved that farm, in the fall it is a pumpkin patch and we have had many happy memories of tiny grand fairies playing there.
If buying a few pots and flats of plants could help them out, I was in. We even bought a few for our son’s home.
I am very proud of my handsome husband for volunteering his time. He is a nice guy to not only go to help but to also suggest supporting their business.
Happy dogs
dogs, yorkies 
We have survived a rough winter, and the dogs are appreciating having the windows open as much as I am.
