Five Loves on Friday

Happy Friday, friends!

Linking up with Andrea and Erika for another round of Friday Favorites!

This week's loves will involve some misadventures, a bit of puppy talk, family fun, some sweet thoughtfulness, and more.  Let's get right to it! 

One  //  Family Movie Night

My girls signed up for a free trial of Paramount+ on Friday to watch A Quiet Place II for free.  Can't beat that!  If you haven't seen it and have wanted to, skip the ticket price or rental fee and sign up for a free trial.  (Then be sure set a reminder to cancel if you don't want to keep/pay for the service beyond that.)  They loved it and wanted us to all watch it together while we still had a streaming service that features it, so I suggested my favorite carb-y movie pairing, pizza, and we were ready for some Saturday night jump scare filled fun!

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If you enjoyed A Quiet Place, I think you will like the sequel as well.  They didn't disappoint when carrying on this story.

There's something about family movie nights that make my heart so happy.  Getting cozy with those dearest to my heart,  enjoying a story in movie form together, add in some yumminess - and you've got a pretty great evening in my book!  

Two  //  Toffee's Spot

Just call her Sheldon, because she's officially got a "spot".  ;)  As I looked back at the photos on my phone from the past week I noticed just how often I photographed our girl on her new favorite couch cushion.  She can't get up on the couch herself so she gets me to pick her up with her cute puppy dog eyes and sits with me for a moment until she decides she'd like to be in "her spot".  Too cute! :D  I didn't know if we'd allow her on our couch, but she's an extremely low-shedding dog and our couch is past its prime and nearing its exit from our home anyway, so here she sits.  I love that she's made herself right at home here with us.

Cute little sweetie!

Three  //  The Misadventures of Date Night with a Dog

No, the date wasn't with the dog.  It was with my husband, but the dog was with us, thus this Love's title.  Over the years my parents have invited our girls to come for dinner and to spend a few hours with them on a weeknight evening now and then.  Typically this means a date night for Jason and I.  The other day when he heard about the girls' invitation to my parents' place he said, "Ooo!  We have a date night this week?!"  I answered, "Yes, but we'll be caring for Toffee, so do with that what you will."  :)  

Friends, it was the most comically chaotic "date"!    There was a work emergency that kept Jason's work phone ringing for the first hour after the girls left.  (I completely understand when things like that happen.  Thankfully it's rare, but I know if my husband was on the other end of the emergency I would want the person he was calling for help to be available to provide it.  His job pays our bills and affords me the great joy of being a full-time homemaker, so no complaint from me here.  Just an unexpected part of the night.)  Once that wrapped up we decided we'd get takeout from Texas Roadhouse.  I'm always up for a good steak.  While Jason picked up the food, I stayed home to get our puppy all settled in hopes of having a quiet and relaxing dinner for two.  That part went as planned.  I got her so cozy and sleepy.  When Jason pulled into the driveway and I put our lit'l fur baby into her puppy playpen on a soft doggy bed with a cozy little blanket.  Then stepping out of the dog playpen I whacked my foot, hard.  Ouch, ouch, ouch!  I startled Toffee, but she was still cozy at this point and fine.  I had a good laugh at myself, trying to be smooth when I'm clearly not and what is even more hilarious is that I thought that'd be the mishap of the night.  We got our dinner plated and went to sit down, but clumsy moment #2 followed when I tripped and knocked over a full glass of soda.  Splash!  Yikes.  I guess I need more sleep in my life.  As I was cleaning that up I had my back to Toffee and she began barking which is rare for her to do.  She normally only does that to notify us of a problem... uh, there was one, she was letting me know she needed to go potty.  We're using the bell method for potty training and there's no bell in the puppy playpen.  I hope no one is tallying up my failures.  But, the tally on messes being cleaned up before I could sit down to that delicious dinner was now two.  That food was getting colder by the minute.  Ha!  I finally got to sit down and with a half hearted attempt to document the date, snapped these photos...

Whenever my hubby and I eat at a steakhouse that offers delicious bread, whether dining in or takeout at home, Jason always cuts and butters bread for me and then some for himself.  It's the little things like this that make my heart sing.

We began eating when Toffee, now out of the playpen, rang the bells to let us know she needed to go outside.  This time Jason took her out.  With my blessing he had started eating as I cleaned, now I would eat while he was outside with Toffee.  We both scarfed down our delicious (semi-warm) food in shifts, had what I'll simply say was an eventful evening, then laughed about how differently our hopes were for the night vs. reality.

At the end of the evening when the girls arrived back home to a tuckered out dog and two yawning parents on the couch, I told Jason that it may have been a hard night, but there was no one else I would've rather spent it with than him.  I love that on any given day, come whatever may, I have Jason at my side.

Four  //  Thoughtfulness Warms My Heart 

As Jason prepped to head out on a work trip in another part of of our state we chatted about how fun it'd be to take a day trip date soon.  To my sweet surprise when I welcomed him home he had a stack of brochures in one hand and a brown paper package in the other.  The words, "I brought you a souvenir!" came just before his story of how our conversation prompted him to stop at an Iowa Welcome Center.  It warmed my heart to think that he went out of his way to go and pick up a stack of possibilities for us to flip through and plan a mini getaway for two.  Before daydreaming my way through sights and spots across our state, I opened that little bag with all the wonder and curiosity of a kid on Christmas morning.  The gift inside was far more meaningful than this snapshot can convey!  You see, I collect magnets.  Every time we visit a new place I seek out a gift shop to bring home a reminder of that day/place.  This scenic byway holds such a sweet spot in my heart for a few really special days we spent there last year during difficult times.  It's easily one of my home state faves, yet I would've never thought there'd be a place to stop 'n' shop for a magnet representing this beautiful byway as it stretches over 200 miles across wide open spaces, countryside, and through some cute lit'l small towns.  This simple and incredibly sweet item will not only be a treasured addition to my collection for the place it represents, but equally so for the thoughtfulness from which this gift made its way to me.  

Five  //  My Daughter's Earring Additions

For the longest time my oldest daughter, now just months from beginning her twenties (how is that possible?!), has wanted to add more piercings to her lovely lobes.  She added three this week and loves how it came out!  I'm happy for my jewelry loving sweetie as I'm sure she'll enjoy having new accessorizing possibilities.

Thanks so much for spending a bit of your day here with me today!  Wishing you a wonderful finale to July & a beautiful beginning to August!

Earlier This Week on Chatting Over Chocolate:

Direct Link to Post:  Trip Report Tuesday // South Dakota & Wyoming Trip 2021 Finale | Days 4 & 5

Trip Report Tuesday // South Dakota and Wyoming 2021 Trip Conclusion | Days 4 & 5

Welcome to the finale of this vacation's trip reports!  I am so thankful to the Lord for this refreshing getaway with my family!  I'm also happy to now have it captured here and to have had the opportunity to share it with you, my sweet readers and cherished friends!  I hope these posts have served as a virtual vacay of sorts for you.  Should you plan a trip to the Black Hills too, perhaps some of our favorite spots will make it to your itinerary as well!  Ready to hear about the rest of the trip?  Let's get to the day 4 and 5 deets!

Five Loves on Friday // Our First Puppy Edition!

 Happy Friday, friends!  I've gotta say, I don't think I've ever been any more excited to prep a post than I am today!  We added such a sweet and spunky, cute and cuddly little love to our family this week!  I'm head over heels for her and can't wait to introduce you to our girl!  So, welcome to an edition of Five Loves unlike any other I've shared before, packed with puppy perfection!  

One  //  Welcoming a Furry New Family Member!

Allow me the great pleasure of introducing you to our pretty pooch, Toffee!

After much research on various dog breeds my youngest daughter found one that was a perfect fit for a first time dog owner in a cozy (aka: small-ish) home, that's low-shedding, hypoallergenic, and not "yippy" (loud without cause), the Cavachon.  Cavachons are a King Charles cavalier spaniel and bishon frise mix known for being loyal, playful, and friendly.  These are all traits we've seen over the past week with our precious lit'l pup.

Can you believe the cuteness of our new little fur baby?  Here she is as we carried her out to our SUV for the 4.5 hour drive home from the breeder in Kansas.

The entire time that Toffee was in the car she wanted to be right up to the side of her crate as close to her new owner as possible.  It was so sweet!  She would occasionally sit, or stand on her crate's side, but much of the ride she snoozed peacefully.

She behaved beautifully all the way home!  We stopped a few times to give her the opportunity to go potty.  Throughout our travels, as well as getting her in and out of the car, cleaning up her paws, and all that good stuff, she didn't make a single peep!  

First little road trip break

Dare devil pilots in crop dusters provided us with some in-car entertainment as we made our way homeward.

Home Sweet Home 

Upon our arrival home Toffee was in full investigation mode.  First off she wondered, what is that coral thing you have pointed at me all the time?  I may have been more than a little snap happy with my phone that day.  Can you blame me though?  I was experiencing cuteness overload!

From the moment we brought her into our home and lives she seemed super comfortable here and with us.  I had been praying from the time we'd gotten on the breeder's cavachon waiting list that we would get the puppy that was just right for us.  She truly is a precious answer to prayer.  God is so kind! 

The first time she made herself cozy on my lap.  My heart melted instantly.

New toys and a doggy dinner awaited her upon our homecoming.  We were told that puppies sometimes won't eat dry food when adjusting to a new place, but she did just fine eating and drinking.  She didn't eat much the first day, but enough, and her appetite has increased each day.

She played hard and settled in with us sweetly.  It was a big day for such a little girl. 

This snapshot of her sprawling out to rest after playing really hard is a whole mood isn't it? Ha!

Two  //  Toffee's 1st Full Day at Home

We had a fabulous first full day with Toffee!  We all bonded and I'm pretty sure I said, "I can't get over how cute she is!" about 500x.  Seriously, though, she's like a living plush!  She could not be more adorable!  God has created such cute creatures!  

Plates of pork chops hot off the grill with seasoned fries on the side were placed around our patio table and our pretty pooch settled in below. 

Sitting sweetly in the shade with her own lunch and one of her favorite chew toys, Toffee loved her first lunchtime with her new family.

Her first day at home was a combo of playing, exploration, and bonding with us.  We instantly fell in love with our new girl.  She seemed to take to us just as quickly.  The only time she fussed was when we left the room and she wanted us to return.  We are so thankful that she took to us as quickly as we did to her.  

Three  //  Toffee's 1st Bath at Home

One morning this week it was very wet outside which resulted in a very messy puppy.  My daughter thought the easiest solution to clear the mud and muck away was to give her sweet girl a bath.  Toffee did super well.  We couldn't be more thankful to have such a sweet and cooperative pup!

Four  //  Toffee's 1st Vet Visit

Technically it wasn't her first ever trip to a vet as the breeder had taken her to a vet in their area for multiple check ups and vaccinations, but it was her first visit to what will now be her own vet.  

She had a fantastic checkup!  Her vet and vet techs all thought she was the cutest little thing!  They said that she's the perfect mix as King Charles cavalier spaniels are sweet and bishon frises are playful.  Sweet and playful sums Toffee up perfectly!  

We have a healthy girl, all 4.2 pounds of her!

Five  //  Doggie Dress Up

A neighborhood friend of my daughter's told her that Build-A-Bear's Promise Pets (plush dog) clothing fits puppies.  We had some from a few birthdays back and couldn't resist seeing for ourselves. :)

She bit at it at first, but then carried on with playtime as usual. We only had this on our pretty lit'l pup for about ten minutes, but those were easily the cutest minutes of the day!  Ha!  We had way too much fun with this!  I hope seeing these snapshots adds a smile to your day too, friends!  

Thank you so much for spending a bit of time with me here today!  I hope you enjoyed "meeting" our little sweetie.  She'll no doubt be a regular here in Loves to come!  

Before you go, I'd love to hear from you in the comments section below!  Have you had or do you currently have a dog?  Any dog must-haves OR puppy training tips you care to share?  

PS:  If you're not a "dog person" thank you for reading through this entire post!  Whether you're Team Dog, Team Cat, or passing on pets altogether, I appreciate you sharing in our joy all the same!  Wishing you and yours a wonderful weekend!

Earlier this week on Chatting Over Chocolate:

Direct Link to Post:  

Trip Report Tuesday // South Dakota and Wyoming 2021 Day 3

Trip Report Tuesday // SD & WY Trip Day 3 | Friendship Tower, Mount Rushmore, Keystone Boardwalk, & Room with a View

Welcome to this week's trip report!  Today I'll be sharing some family firsts as well as old favorites.  We spent this morning on a trail to a Friendship Tower built in honor of a former president, the afternoon enjoying another president's ice cream recipe, and finished our day in a room with a view of Mount Rushmore!  It was a day to remember and I can't wait to share it all with you all now! 

South Dakota & Wyoming Trip 2021

Day 3 - Friday, June 18, 2021

Thursday morning we bid a fond farewell to the Spearfish Canyon Lodge where we'd made such sweet memories!  I couldn't leave without another long look at this beautiful crystal clear creek that flowed right beside the lodge. 

With hopes that we will return one day, we packed up and headed off into the fun of the second half of our vacation.

Such a lovely drive!

Mount Roosevelt / The Friendship Tower

Deadwood, South Dakota

Time to visit a spot (other than Mount Rushmore) that honors Teddy Roosevelt.  This was the first time we visited the Friendship Tower, in fact this year was the first time we'd even heard of it!  Come along on this pictorial tower tour and I'll let the signs tell you the stories of its origin.

The trail to the tower is a bit of a workout, but it provides stunning views throughout.

This sign read:

Conservationist

Born in Canada in 1847.  Bullock moved to Montana at 18 and was soon elected to the territorial senate.  Seth began a lifelong commitment to public service and conservation with sponsorship of a resolution to establish the Yellowstone area as a national reserve.  

After his move to South Dakota in 1876.  Seth was instrumental in establishing:

-  Wind Cave National Park

-  Devils Tower National Monument in 1906

-  Jewel Cave National Monument in 1908

-  DC Booth National Fish Hatchery

A Chance Meeting

While riding on his Belle Fourche ranch in 1884.  Seth Bullock, now a Deputy U.S. Marshall, saw three horsemen riding across the plains.  He stopped the party as, "they looked like a 'tin-horn gambling outfit.'"  Two men were bringing in a horse thief wanted in Dakota Territory.  One of the men, a Deputy Sheriff from Medora, North Dakota, was a 26-year-old rancher named Theodore Roosevelt.  This chance meeting was the beginning of a very close 35-year relationship between the two men.

Seth & Teddy

Seth and Teddy enjoyed a life-long friendship that included hunting and camping expeditions.  Teddy sent his sons, Ted, Kermit, and Archie to spend summers on the S & B Cattle Company Ranch, where as Roosevelt states, Bullock would teach them hunting and riding, and give them adventures and skills needed to be true "Westerners."

In 1901, Vice President Theodore Roosevelt ensured that Bullock was appointed as the second Forest Supervision of the Black Hills National Forest, a position he held until 1906.

This sign read:

"The most important single ingredient in the formula of success is knowing how to get along with people."

- Theodore Roosevelt

Gold Rush in the Hills

A U.S. government expedition discovered gold in the Black Hills in 1874.  The Black Hills Gold Rush brought rapid growth.  Deadwood's population was at 5,000 people in 1876 and surging.  That growth brought deforestation to the Black Hills stretching for 8 miles around Deadwood.  Builders and miners set up a working economy.  Congress passed the Mining Act of 1872, viewing mining as essential to the economy.  The Act allowed timber harvests on mining claims for the development of minerals.  The Free Timber Act of 1878 allowed everyone access to public forest lands for free timber harvests.  The result was a clear-cut forest for miles.  An estimated 1.5 billion board feet of timber had been harvested by 1898 with almost no regulation

A Time for Regulation

President Grover Cleveland responded to 1897, to increased voter concern about the long-term sustainability of the forest.  He established the National Forestry Commission and the Black Hills Forest Reserve.  The Forest Reserve measure outlawed logging on nearly one million acres of public lands.  This slowed the booming mining industry to a halt, since timber was necessary to support mining operations.

Pinchot Administration

Gifford Pinchot was a member of the National Forestry Commission and an enthusiastic conservationist.  He advocated for adopting efficient, rational and scientifically based management practices that would remove old timber to promote new growth.  Congress passed the Organic Administration Act of 1897, under Pinchot's leadership.  The Act allowed for controlled mining, lumbering, and grazing interests in the Black Hills Forest Reserve.  Pinchot's good friend Theodore Roosevelt appointment Pinchot as the first head of the U.S. Forest Service in 1905.

Graves Rises

Henry Graves succeeded Pinchot as the chief of the U.S. Forest Service five years later.  Graves served as the USFS chief for 10 years.  One of his major accomplishments was passing the Weeks Act of 1911.  This Act increased fire suppression and insect control efforts on public and private lands which was important to the Black Hills.

The early management successes of Roosevelt, Pinchot, and Graves cannot be discounted.  Those successes became the cornerstone of American forestry as it exists today, ensuring the long term viability of a thriving forest and timber source for sustained economic growth.

The girls reading about the tower.

This sign read:

A Castle in the Hills

Resembling a medieval castle, the Friendship Tower is built from native stone, standing 31 feet tall with a 12 foot diameter, on a 16 square foot base.  Twenty mortared steps and an iron hand rail spiral up the inside wall providing access to the wood planked viewing platform which is encased by a 3-foot flared parapet wall.  Eight stone steps accessing the door were removed in 1974.

Monument to a Friend

The Friendship Tower was constructed in 1919, through the efforts of Seth Bullock, lawman, rancher, entrepreneur, and second Forest Supervisor of the Black Hills National Forest, to commemorate the life and death of his personal friend Theodore (Teddy) Roosevelt.

Building a Tower

The tower was constructed between March and July of 1919, with financial support from the Society of Black Hills Pioneers.  Architectural plans were developed by C. E. Dawson and H. S. Vincent of Deadwood, SD.

On July 4, 1919, Bullock realized the completion of his dream with the dedication ceremony of the Mount Roosevelt Memorial.  Guest speakers included South Dakota Governor Peter Norbeck.  Seth died just three months later in September.  He was buried above Deadwood Cemetery on Mount Moriah where he would have an unimpeded view of Mount Roosevelt.

Preserving History

Mount Roosevelt was deeded to the United States Forest Service by the Society of Black Hills Pioneers in 1966.  In December 2005, the site was placed on the National Register of Historic Places for its unique architecture and workmanship.  The site is also significant for its representation of Bullock and Roosevelt who were prominent figures in the conservation movement, federal land management, and history at local, regional and national levels.  Restoration and interpretation of the tower, with support from the Deadwood Historical Preservation Commission and the Black Hills Park and Forest Association, will preserve this site and its story for future generations.

My oldest was up there joking about throwing her hair down.  Hehe! 

My favorite view :)

The rest of the family made their way down the steep spiral staircase ahead of me as I lingered just a smidge longer to take in the view and capture it in a few snapshots.

 

The photo above gives you a peek out one of the cutouts along the sides of the tower.  The staircase was quite treacherous to climb back down.  It's steep and spiraled.  At the sweet advice of my caring hubby I held the hand rail and walked down sort of backwards/sidestepping style.  I made it down safely and was welcomed back down to the ground by a swarm of bees, which was motivation enough to snap a pic of this plaque and then move right along.

Next we hit the road to pick up lunch from a place Jason spotted online with rave reviews, Sugar Shack.

Tastiness in tow we made our way to a pretty picnicking spot.

Pactola Reservoir 

We stopped here during our 2019 trip for a quick bathroom break and thought it was absolutely beautiful.  My favorite vacation planner (aka: my husband) remembered and planned a picnic here for us this vacation.  Reason #197532852 that I adore that man of mine. :)

This burger was scrumptious and along with a generous serving of fries was way more than I could devour on my own, but that didn't stop me from enjoying my share of our order of cheeseballs too.  Yum!

I always find being beside water to be so calming and relaxing.  Just looking back at this blue beauty and the rock in the midst of it topped with our country's colors brought me a happy sigh.

After a very satisfying lunch and time chatting with my loves we climbed back into our SUV and made our way down creekside roads to our next destination of the day.

I love spying Mount Rushmore from afar!

Anyone else adore a cool tunnel?

This tunnel offers a cool view of the Presidents!  I don't recommend walking through it though.  It's for vehicles.  Tourists, I tell ya. :)

Mount Rushmore

No matter how many times I visit this patriotic place I'm still in awe of the craftsmanship.  God has given some people such tremendous ability to work with their hands.  To carve this tribute to presidents of our great nation from rock is simply amazing!

Let's take a closer look at each President.

George Washington

Abraham Lincoln

When Jason and I each visited as kids you could only see these great faces from a distance, but in our girls' lifetime they've added a pathway to view the monument much closer up.  I never take for granted how much better you can see the Presidents, even the markings of the tools that crafted them.

Thomas Jefferson

Theodore Roosevelt

Time for one of my girls' fave SD traditions, ice cream at Mount Rushmore!

While Jason had strawberry cheesecake and our oldest ordered mint chocolate chip, my littlest love and I opted for TJ's vanilla ice cream, a treat advertised here as a "taste of history" based off Thomas Jefferson's original recipe from 1780!

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Bye, boys!  We'll see you again tomorrow night!

Off to the lodge where we'd spend the remainder of our vacation, K Bar S Lodge.

We saw K Bar S Lodge online while planning this trip and thought it looked wonderful.  The lodge's grounds are so picturesque that they host many weddings here.  They offer rooms with a Mount Rushmore view, a delicious complimentary breakfast, and it was nearby many of the attractions on our itinerary.  Unfortunately when we were making vacation plans only a month prior to taking the trip, this place was booked solid for our travel dates.  I checked back nearly daily and just a few weeks before we were South Dakota bound one night opened up, then a second!  We were delighted to have the opportunity to stay at this lovely lodge where we'd enjoy a room with a Mount Rushmore view!

I always enjoy a pretty pop of pink!

This room was a comfortable place to rest our heads each night of our stay.  

That door led to the place where I wanted to spend all my free time here, a private patio with a view.

I spy, from our room's private patio, George Washington and Thomas Jefferson too!

How I shared a quick glimpse of our presidential view with my Mount Rushmore loving family back home. :)

After getting settled into our room we went for a stroll to see the stretch of tracks that the 1880 Train passes by upon.  While we didn't take a train ride this trip, we've thoroughly enjoyed it on previous vacations.  We hoped to relax here and wave at passersby, but we didn't quite time being at the hotel with the train's schedule.

Chilling and chatting trackside

 The lodge's cute gazebo

Keystone Boardwalk

This is a longtime favorite spot for us in Keystone and just happened to be right down the street from K Bar S Lodge.  Both sides of the street are lined with shops and eateries.  

Jason ordered a sarsaparilla which always makes me think of Carousel of Progress.  If you know, you know. :)

Dinner at Jane's Boardwalk Pizza

We really enjoy the pizza here, so much so that we often come back  twice per Black Hills vacation.  Stop back by next week to see if we made a repeat visit here this time around!

Us girls shared a half cheese, half pepperoni covered pie and Jason got a small of his own with more fixings.

After dinner, full and tired, we made our way back to the lodge.  Jason and I sat outside on the patio from sunset til moonlight.

At 9:30pm Mount Rushmore holds a lighting ceremony.  It was sweet to watch from afar, cozy on our patio.

This shot shows it as we saw it without a zoom lens to aid us in seeing and snapping photos.

Thank you so much for taking time out of your day to visit me here today!  I look forward to sharing more from this trip next week - same time, same place! 

In case you missed it, you may also be interested in:

Trip Report Tuesday // SD & WY Trip Day 1

Trip Report Tuesday // SD & WY Trip Day 2