Happy Sunday to you! We are on the road again in No. California. It’s been a good trip so far, visits with family and staying with dear friends. Our days have been so filled that I haven’t been able to get here. I hope to post some pictures this week; until we meet again.
Blessings,
Noreen

Happy Tuesday to you! I wanted to share the latest photos of Banning, Copper's puppy that Kim's family adopted. He is so adorable and settling in well.  Here he is with Petrol, sharing his new bed.

This little guy is growing so quickly, is so smart and is already house trained.

I tell you that I would have taken one of these pups in a heartbeat.  Will you look at his paws though.
His father was only 50-55 lbs and Copper weighs 40, which is small for a Standard Poodle.
Hope you have a great day!
Noreen

Canidae Pure Morsels for Small Breeds review

As a #ChewyInfluencer, it is once again my privilege to share a great little wet dog food with you. As you know, I have got Hunter on grain free foods and add in some frozen raw food too. He is so picky and was totally unsure of this food until his cousin Petrol gobbled it down. It looks just like a stew I would make.

Key Benefits

• Cacciatore style dinner with lamb and carrot morsels for finicky small dogs.
• Simple, limited ingredient recipe is great for sensitive eaters.
• Comes in convenient single-serving trays for less mess and leftovers.
• Nutritious recipe is made without corn, wheat, soy or carrageenan.
• Made with uncompromising quality in the USA by the family-owned company.
  

I love that it has beneficial ingredients without added fillers and is great for sensitive eaters. I also love that is it made by a family owned business and right here in the U.S. Hope on over to Chewy and check out there great products. I received this product free of charge; no review positive or otherwise was required of me. Thank you Chewy for such a great company.
Noreen and Hunter

40 Years Together

Forty years ago tomorrow, I walked down the aisle and met the love of my life to pledge myself to him. It's amazing how fast the years have gone and one thing I know for sure is that he is my best friend, my partner, my hero, my forever love and my husband. We were driving in the car this morning and a country song came on the radio-one line so sums us up-You were made for me and I was made for you. Many thought we'd never last, but here we are. I can't believe how young we looked; hubby says we should have gotten married sooner.

Here we are in February celebrating the 50th wedding anniversary of my brother & sister of my heart.

God has richly blessed us with an incredible family-starting with Carrie and Kim-words can't describe how much these two mean to me and to us, two phenomenal son in laws(who are more like sons to us) and 11 incredible grands.

I couldn't have married a more remarkable and loving man, I'm so thankful the Lord blessed me with you Babe!
Always and Forever!

Happy Thursday to you! I hope your week has gone quickly; to those who live near the wildfires in southern Colorado, please be safe. Yesterday we met our daughter's inlaws for lunch, something we do every month or so. We went to a local brewery and I ordered the gluten free Shrimp Tacos; I specifically asked if they were spicy, as I have gotten where I don't like anything more than mild. The waitress assured me that they weren't. It is a very nice looking plate.

However, now I know to ask what type of seasoning is on the shrimp or meat...it was Cayenne Pepper and was spicy. I scraped it all off and it wasn't too bad. Today, I've already walked my 3 miles with a neighbor and in a bit have to go to the doctor to have 9 stitches taken out(I had a little lipoma taken out last week). I haven't been able to lift any weights at the gym, so just doing bicep curls, walking and bike riding. Next week we head out to attend a wedding in Ca. so will also miss the gym-it will be like starting over when we get back.
For those of you who visit here, I want to ask if you have seen a huge decline in visitors to your blogs. With everyone active on FB and Instagram, I'm sure many have stopped blogging.  However, I never started blogging to get followers, but got used to those would would come and comment.  Now I understand why so many are quitting this wonderful world of blogging.
Have a great day.
Noreen

We Are Family

Good Morning to you! I hope your weekend and Monday were great and that today is just as fine. As you know, our youngest daughter and her family are getting one of Carrie's pups and we are so excited from them. Kim's family lost their Samson several summers ago and they knew they'd always get another big dog, but had to have one that didn't shed. So they were the first to pick out this little guy~name Banning; yes it's another Irish name. Here he is pictured with their toy Schnauzer, Petrol.

We took Hunter over on Sunday to have some play time, but it was already really hot out and the pups didn't play as much as I thought they would. Banning is already taller than Hunter and as cute as any pup in the litter.  Banning is learning how to play from Copper and she has already brought him stuffed toys and taught him tug-of-war.  He is pretty much house trained(amazing at just 8 weeks), so he'll go home to Kim's and make it easy.  All his littermates have left now, so he is adjusting to being with  Copper and Lily; Lily is even playing with him.  He will be staying at Carrie's until Saturday and then will be enveloped into a household of love and activity.  The grands are so very excited about him; I'm happy to say that Petrol adjusted well to him; usually she is a typical "terrier" and a bit grumbly.  Yesterday they were so cute together and Banning actually gave Petrol lots of kisses.
I'm so thankful that one pup is staying in the family!  Also yesterday, our youngest granddaughter Miss E(dog lover extraodinaire) asked if Nana could please go get Heidi for a visit.  I told Carrie to tell her that when we get Banning and Heidi together for a playdate, I'll make sure she is there.  She fell in love with Heidi and one other little female.  I see a dog owner in the future...which will mean there are three poodle owners in Carrie's family; of course Miss E is still really  young-I figure it will be another five-8 years before she gets one.  Miss O on the other hand will be one in two years.
I'm off to walk now, then will have quilting with Miss O and later today a bike ride.  I had a little thing on my back removed, but I can't do weights for another week or so, so for now I'm walking and biking.
Joy to you!
Noreen

Together Forever by Jody Hedlund review

                                                    
As a Bethany House Blogger Reviewer, each month I am given the opportunity to review new release books written by some of my favorite authors.  Jody Hedlund has become one such author for many reasons.  Her writing is developed and accurate for the time period her story is written about; her character and rich and inviting, drawing you into the story.  She will often throw in something you weren't expecting and makes each plot exciting.  This book was so rich and is the first I've read dealing with Orphan Trains.  As always, after I read one of her books I find myself wanting more.
From the publisher:

 Will the Mistakes of Their Past Cost Them a Chance at Love?
"Determined to find her lost younger sister, Marianne Neumann takes a job as a placing agent with the Children's Aid Society in 1858 New York. She not only hopes to offer children a better life, but prays she'll be able to discover whether Sophie ended up leaving the city on an orphan train so they can finally be reunited.

Andrew Brady, her fellow agent on her first placing-out trip, is a former schoolteacher who has an easy way with the children, firm but tender and friendly. Underneath his charm and handsome looks, though, seems to linger a grief that won't go away--and a secret from his past that he keeps hidden.

As the two team up, placing orphans in the small railroad towns of Illinois, they find themselves growing ever closer . . . until a shocking tragedy threatens to upend all their work and change one of their lives forever."

As a blogger reviewer, I received this book free of charge from the publisher.  No review, positive or otherwise was required; all opinions are my own.  I would give Jody Hedlund a 5 star rating, for such an incredible story.  Thank you to Bethany House, a division of Baker Publishing for having this wonderful program.