This past weekend we took a little road trip to Sister Bay, WI – in the heart of Door County – our friend, Cassy, John, Lil’ G and I hit the road as the the autumn colors whirled by us traveling north.

I didn’t know how Gidget would do traveling and I tried hard not to worry too much. One thing I’ve learned having had Frankie is to go with the flow and enjoy being in the moment. I’ve also learned that dogs sense our nervousness or apprehension. If I had a great time, Gidget would likely, too.

She did so well traveling with us.  To turn around every now and then to see her sweet face as we traveled down the highway, did my heart good. One of my greatest pleasures is that she is happy and content.

When we arrived late Friday night, Gidget checked out every inch of the condo we stayed at with her snout in full smell mode and then she settled in nicely. She even tolerated quite nicely staying in her kennel when we couldn’t take her with us.

One of her favorite things to do each morning was to settle into the sun spot in the room that we called the all season room. I told John we now need to build her her very own sun room. Ha!

It’s truly the simple things that make life so grand. The colors of fall, time with two people I love dearly, laughter, great conversation, fun…and a traveling weenie.

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And now for the giveaway!  My friend, Lisa, gave me a book she had finished reading called What the Animals Taught Me: Stories of Love and Healing from a Farm Animal Sanctuary by Stephanie Marohn. Lisa told me to pass the book onto someone when I was done and I thought it perfect to give away right her on my blog since many of you are such big animal lovers.

I loved every inch of this book and the cover makes me smile every time I look at it! In some ways it reminds me of my favorite author, Jon Katz and his blog, Bedlam Farm.

But this book left me appreciating all animals on an even deeper level than before…. and wishing even more that I could have a hobby farm. I also really believe this statement on Stephanie’s website:

“A shaman revealed that animals will be arriving more and more in the lives of humans—in dreams, as guides, in the news, everywhere—because they realize humans are in trouble and need the message they are here to tell.”

They are indeed our wake-up messengers and we must listen to what they are trying to tell us. I find myself in such a state of gratitude more and more for being open to what animals teach us – my life profoundly changed because of what I’ve learned through them.

Leave a comment of a lesson an animal has taught you that has changed how you look at life by midnight cst today. Tomorrow (Thursday, Oct. 2) I will use random.org to pick the person to receive this book.