One of the most wonderful aspects of Thanksgiving Day is that it prompts everyone takes a minute or two to list some of the things they are grateful for in their lives. With a wonderful life like mine, it isn’t hard to list all of the people and things that make each day a special one for me.
I don’t know if you know this, but this summer, Mom and Dad told me that I was going to gain an exciting new title: they were going to make me a big brother! Wyatt was a blue-eyed baby who was on his way to steal all of our hearts (and blankets, but who’s counting). It was hard for me at first to share my mom with him, but I quickly learned that the best thing about hearts is that they grow larger the more they love. In our house, there is always enough love to go around!
Having Wyatt around has meant that I always have a dog to play with (if he can talk me into it), but that doesn’t mean that playdates with my cousin, Ryland, are any less enjoyable. The most amazing part of having Wyatt around for those is that they tire each other out, and then I get the benefit of all the puppy cuddles when they are too tired to play anymore.
Ryland isn’t the only dog that comes to see me. I adore all of the different visitors that come to the vineyard each day. Even though I am not always down there to receive them, the tasting room attendants tell me about how everyone asks about me. A few people this week sent in some special photos that they’ve taken with me over the past year, and I loved looking at all of them and remembering all of those wonderful moments that we shared.
It is often said that a business is only as good as the folks working there, and I am eternally grateful for all of the wonderful people we have in our tasting room. This group of ladies works seamlessly together to make sure that all of our visitors have a wonderful experience and also to make sure that everything that needs doing gets done. Plus, they rub my ears between their fingers and tell me my ears feel like velvet, and who doesn’t need more of that in their life?
There are some behind the scenes workers that you rarely ever see, but they are equally important to our success. Jacob works tirelessly in the vineyard, taking care of all of the manual labor, and he even comes inside to “back bar” whenever we need it! Joyce comes in once a week to make sure our floors, windows, and everything else you see sparkle. We don’t know what we would do without these two!
I think I heard a saying somewhere that fits this perfectly, “To everything there is a season…” I have entered the season of rest, and it feels wonderful! Lately, my days have been spent laying around more and running around less, and for that I am grateful. I am an old dog now, and lounging in the sunshine suits me much better than running from person to person and greeting them as they come in the door. Wyatt is able to take over more and more of my responsibilities, and I am happy to turn the reins over to him, so he can enjoy his season to shine!
Oooooh! My turn, my turn!! This is only the second time Winston has allowed me to write on a blog post, and I am so honored that he let me join in for this really important one! I would say that I am thankful for that (which I am), but Winston is number 1 in my heart. He is the best big brother any little dog could ask for, and he has taught me everything I know (even the habits that Mom fusses at me about). Without him around, I would not be able to know all of the very important things I need to know about being a winery dog.
Like, did you know we have people who come here every single week to see us? Steve and Gina come in to eat dinner every Friday night by the fireplace. Steve makes sure to keep the fire going for us, and Gina tells me what a sweet dog I am in between chapters of her book! Sometimes we have horses that come to visit us, and they are even bigger than I am! I like them a lot because they smell so good, and they can keep up when I run beside them!
I don’t meet many dogs that can keep up with me since I am so full of energy, and I am so big for my age. Last week, though, I was super lucky to meet a dog who is my age and almost my exact size! Finley is also a Great Dane puppy, and we had a lot of fun playing together – his mom even said we looked like a dog and pony show!
Even if every dog doesn’t like to play with me, almost everyone loves to give me cuddles. I love them most when they come from my mom or a from a little curly haired girl who comes to visit. We play and play for hours, and sometimes we lay down for naps next to each other, too!
Some nights are busier than others at Brix & Columns, and I really enjoyed the Friday night music series that just ended. If I was good, bands would even let me come on stage and sing with them! Speaking of singing, I am so grateful for my voice. Mom says I can’t use it in the tasting room, but I love to talk and tell people what I am thinking. Sometimes, when nobody will talk with me, I just lay on my bed in the corner and talk to myself!
I also really love to lie around in the sunshine with Winston. He doesn’t always like to play with me, but he always wants to snuggle in the sunshine, and those are my favorite naps!
I am just so happy that Mom and Dad chose ME to come live here on Six Penny Farm. I have acres upon acres of grass to run on, I have so many new friends, and I have the best family a dog could ask for!
