Pet Sitting - We Let the Dogs Out

We left Wisconsin and headed Southeast. We made a few stops. I can't drive through Kentucky without stopping. We went to a couple more Bourbon distilleries that we had't visited before; Jim Beam and Castle & Key. Both great, Castle & Key felt very special since it was built by E.H. Taylor in 1887, if you know Bourbon, you know why this is so special.

We also went to Churchill Downs to watch some horse racing. We didn't know, but our admission included paddock access as well. We enjoyed being up close to these amazing animals. It was an awesome experience! The Mint Juleps were great too, and STRONG!

Churchill Downs - Louisville, KY

We continued Southeast toward North Carolina, but of course you stop when you see a Buc-cee's. If you've never been to one, go. They are huge! Upon entering you can grab a shopping cart, yeah you read that right. They have great road trip foods and they fuel is always the cheapest around. The wall of beef jerky is wild. The BBQ Ribs and Brisket are excellent and fresh daily. Trust me when I say, "just go".

Beef Jerky Wall at Buc-ee's

Back to the pet sitting story, cue the tears...

We had the honor of having two sweet dogs that lived long and wonderful lives. Pepper (Boston Terrier) & Bentley (French Bulldog). They were the best little dogs and we miss the dearly. They took a lot of road trips with us. They both lived into their teens. Saying goodbye was so hard, but it was for the best because their health was declining. It's the worst day in any dog owners life, such a crappy decision.

Then we discovered Trusted Housesitters. A website where you pay a yearly membership as a house sitter, a person looking for a sitter, or you can register as both. The membership fee varies depending. The website does a background check on the sitter and you can search for sits across the country (and world) that you are available and that are a good fit for you. You sign up for the sit, then usually have a FaceTime call with the person looking for the sitter. If you are a good match and they choose you, congratulations! This is a no money exchanged situation, we watch their pet(s) and their home. Also, we get the mail and water the plants if needed. The homeowner can enjoy their vacation while getting lots of pictures knowing their home is safe and their pet is happy and healthy in their home environment. And for us, we get to enjoy the love a pet gives. 

First sit, Charlotte:
Kane was a sweetheart, the "goodest boi" and we liked our time spent in Charlotte.

Next sit, Waxhaw:
Only about 30 minutes south of our Charlotte sit. This time we're taking it rural. We're talking dirt road and a 10+ acre property. Gorgeous setting & home, and of course a pair of wonderful dogs, Murphy & Lucy. This has been one of our most unique sits to date. We enjoyed this one a lot. 

From the country to the city:

After that we had a bit of a drive to another state to watch Honey & Millie in Decatur, but they were so worth it. We enjoyed being back in the city and got to try a great Ethiopian restaurant and ate amazing Indian food as well.

Wrapping up with our longest sit...in North Carolina

For roughly 3 weeks we had the pleasure of watching a pair of adorable Corgi's in Brevard, the home of white squirrels (who knew?). Brevard was a neat little town with great hiking and mountain biking all around. There are a lot of waterfalls in the area too. Fall was a beautiful time to be there.

Brevard, NC - White Squirrel

The Corgi's were adorable and so much fun to watch. Brevard is a neat little town with so many outdoor activities! We enjoyed multiple hikes while there. Also, it is fairly close to Asheville, NC where there is a TON to do. This brought us to mid-November so even in NC, things were starting to get a bit "frosty" for our thin blood.

With Thanksgiving quickly approaching, it was time to head to South Florida to spend the holiday with our close friends.