
Okay, I really do have recipes going on in my life.
And they will make it to the blog, super soonish.Ā Pinky promise.
But if we can just be honest with ourselves, is anyone in the world really lackingĀ for recipe ideas right now? errr, uhmm, file under things a food blogger should never ever say.
Just a guess ā you, lovely reader, have 800-some recipes bookmarked online somewhere (hi Pinterest) and a handful of cookbooks that youāve been meaning to cook through but yet somehow the recipes-to-makeĀ list just keeps growing and you never actually get around to making most of them. They are all amazingly good ideas, but TIME, where are you?
Enter todayāsĀ fur baby mind candy post. Itās aĀ Monday morning and weāre doing this.

Last week we spent a few days working from a little cabin-type place on the North Shore of Lake Superior ā Tofte, Minnesota, to be exact for all my peeps who are familiar with theĀ Midwestern cultural practice of goingĀ UP NORTH.
While we were there, IĀ decided to give myself a little cooking retreat where I would make recipes just because. Weāre talking the kind of thing where youĀ just look through a cookbook, pick out some recipes, make them, and eat them. Revolutionary, right? No new recipe concept development, no photos, no scramble. Just good food, and just because. ā” And everyone (ME) breathed a collective sigh of sweet, delicious relief.
I made lots-oĀ differentĀ recipes ā mostly slow, old fashioned, totally from scratchĀ comfort food, which was so perfect for creating those yummyĀ fall feelings. Like for example. Texas chili con carne with cornbread. Spicy kale and almond pesto that ended up on crackers, eggs, a tricolor carrot salad, and multiple varieties of homemade pizza. Vermont chicken pot pie (why Vermont? I donāt know and better yet I donāt NEED to know ā someone else named that recipe and I donāt need to think about it š) that took a total of TWO DAYSĀ to make because I made the chicken, stock, gravy, and biscuits from scratch.
You can bet your buns that I haveĀ a list of new ideas that are a mile long after taking just a few days to get back to the basics of cooking love. But also: I made delicious recipesĀ that will probably never find their way to the blog because SOMETIMES ITāS GOOD TO DO THAT.
Which brings me to Sage.
Sage is just rocking the October vibes, you guys.

I know itās technically not the end of October yet, but letās be real: she doesnāt have much more going on for the rest of the month besides sleeping on the couch, so I thought today was as good a day as any for a monthly recap.
Our trip up northĀ was her first Sage-cation and she did brilliantly with the change of location, change of pace (HIKES! wow Sage), and change of scenery. I think sheās a granola dog at heart.
We even caught some rare paparazzi-like shots of her (wait for it) BEING ACTIVE.
Or more accurately, āBeing Active.ā




Yep. There she is, our little mathlete.
Okay, but seriously, Sageās October highlights (with an emphasis on our little vacation) included sitting on laps, sniffing the trails, and eating mass amounts of treats during our training session to try to teach her how to play fetch.
The fur hooded vest sweater situation was not exactly her highlight, but it was definitely mine.
From the moment that we packed her up in the car and she snuggled right into her little backseat spot to the moment we walked back into the house and she belted out a long, happy howl⦠it was all just meant to be. Sage + October for lyfe.
Happy Monday, all you dog lovers of the internet!

































In other news, Iām looking at studios today. WHAT WHAT WHAAAAAT.
That is for real happening in my actual life and Iām so excited about it slash dorky that I literally couldnāt sleep last night. You should come along for the tour today! Iāll be snappin. Just search and follow pinchofyum on Snapchat ā if you see something you like, send me a snap! Snap message? Snap-text. Right? Iām old. I love hearing from you guyz on all these internet places.

That fur-hooded vest is adorable! And I love your posts about Sage. She is a beautiful dog!
Thanks Crystal! š Appreciate that!
Oh I love Sage posts so very much!! She is the cutest and I am determined to meet her one day.
Thanks Lucia! š Maybe someday sheāll make an appearance on Periscope! Kind of like meeting, right?
These posts fill my heart with so much joy! Sage is so lucky to have you two, as Iām sure you feel lucky to have her. You can see the love in her eyes. So sweet! <3
Thanks Sarah! Love hearing that!
I love food but I love dogs more. My favorite post since Iāve been following; sheās lovely.
Thanks Kristine! š We love her too if you canāt tell ā HA
Sage is fortunate to have you two, and I am sure you feel fortunate to have Sage.
Thanks for sharing these wonderful moments!
Thanks Dayna! I really do feel like we hit the jackpot with this girl.
OMG so dang cute!!!!
Thanks Andrea!
Love all your pics- itās so beautiful up here in N MN right now! And I love Sage- she always has the cutest look on her face- kind of a cross between excitement and āmehā⦠Keep those pics coming! š
Uh, yeah, but probably leaning more towards MEH. All the time. Sheās so unexcitable except for like two minutes of the day, when we finish work and get ready for a walk. Oh Sagey.
Thanks for sharing all of these great pics. Looks like Sage is having a great time. Sheās a lucky dog!
Thanks Amy! We feel lucky to have her š
I needed this cuteness dose this morning. That hooded sweater. Iām dying.
Ugh, right? hahaha I love her sweater way more than she does.
We Midwesterners are very familiar with going up North. How much fun for Sage. Dogs are truly are best friends. So enjoy. As usual, great shots!
Yep ā up north is a must for us every fall!
Amazing! Love love love her furry little jacket š So sweet. She is just adorable. Iām glad you discovered sheās a crunchy granola, hiking type girl š Thank you for sharing!
Our little hiker girl!!
What a sweet little girl! And what a breathtaking autumn landscape. Itās one of those things we arenāt privileged enough to see here in Florida. Thanks for sharing the pictures, at least I could relive some Fall memories through them.
Thank you Tamara! Sending you lots of good fall feelings!
Those sweet brown puppy eyes
That is one loved pup glad you guys had a great time!!!
Thanks Brittany!
I love Sageās vest ā where is it from? I feel like my dog needs a trip āup Northā too š
Vest is from Target! š I mean⦠where else?
Sageās jacket is the cutest! She is a lucky dog/family member. One of the things I like about your blog and that makes it unique is how real you two are on here. Iāve visited blogs where itās obvious that blogger is trying too hard to be funny, find something to write about that they donāt really care about, and/or throw something online just to get something online. You, on the other hand, are not feeling a recipe today so let us know. Just one of the many reasons why your blog is a success.
Thanks Ronda! Thatās really kind of you to say.
Love this post!
Thanks Keri!
Our dogs spend so much time waiting for us itās nice that you devoted some October time for Sage
Itās not too hard to do ā sheās so easy to be with š
Love all of these adorable pics of Sage! They put a smile on my face this Monday morning! š
Thanks Dani! Love hearing that.
Sage is such a beautiful dog! It looks like she had a great time. We took our mutt on her first road trip this fall up to Carmel, CA (and used some of your recommendations for the coastal driveāthanks!), and she loved it.
Enjoy that fall weather for those of us in SoCal; it was 103 here yesterday. I am not a CA native, and Iām gonna make some pumpkin scones now and pretend to be back in a place with seasons. š
ohhhhh sweet Carmel! We have such good memories of that place. Did you take your dog to the Carmel beach where all the dogs run free? Thatās Sageās (read: my) dream trip. š
Yesss we got to see the hoodie! š Sage is beautiful and so was āUp Northā. Thanks for sharing and I hope studio hunting is as fun as it sounds!
Thanks Lauren! It was successful š
Sage is so adorable. Her little hoodie makes my heart melt. Looks like a great week long vacay spot for Fall!
Thanks Emily! We had a great time, Sage included.
I. Love. You. Sage.
You win best reader award!
Looks like Sage has found the perfect home with you and Bjork! LOVE all the photos!
Thank you Mary Ann!
I love this series! It makes me so happy. Yay for Sage for Being Active. We knew she had it in her. But we love her snuggly self just as well. Thanks for making these posts; since I donāt have social media, I really enjoy being able to see Sage and you guys togetherā¦and all the other life posts you do. <3 You're awesome! And gorgeous photos again! āŗ
Yes, I knew she had a least a few jumps in her!!
Honestly, I did need a break from recipes. This has been my favorite post of your so far! I love my dog Lucy as well and am inspired to take more photos of her now š
Thank you Cassandra! Yes ā Lucy needs to be photographed!