This week, my son Stephen and his girlfriend, Addison, came down for a couple of days with their dog, Hughie — my sweet little mini dachshund grandog (yes, I’m a proud grandma to a four-legged sausage). 🐾

You can actually see our little tribute to him on Instagram here .. because of course, every adorable grandog deserves his own moment of fame.

They live in Philly, but Hughie’s vet is here in Cape May.

You may be wondering why a city dog has a country doctor.

That’s a story for another day .. let’s just say it involves a seven-week-old puppy and potty training gone wrong.

Now, Hughie isn’t your average nervous-at-the-vet kind of pup.

He doesn’t just shake — he vibrates.

We’re talking full-on, teeth-chattering, quivering-ball-of-fur level of anxiety.

Poor guy has to take a sedative before every visit, and even then, it’s a production worthy of a Tony Award.

We usually dog-sit Hughie when Stephen and Addie are out of town (shhh … we’re the designated grandparents with pupcups and no rules).

But lately, the only time they visit is for Hughie’s vet appointments.

I’m worried he’s starting to associate us with trauma.

Imagine thinking Grandma’s house equals needles and thermometers.

I may have to start giving him treats just to rebuild trust.

Now, Hughie is a sweetheart .. loving, cuddly, snuggly .. except when he crosses paths with one of his three sworn enemies: little boys, brown chocolate labs, and anything on wheels (he’s a dog, afterall).

Then he becomes a barking lunatic.

It all started this summer when he met my grandnephew Wesley, age four, who radiates “little boy energy” like a solar flare.

Hughie took one look and thought, nope, that’s too much chaos for one dachshund.

Then came Buckley, Addison’s parents’ big, old chocolate lab .. a dog with seniority and opinions.

Buckley’s way of handling the new arrival?

Pretend Hughie didn’t exist. (Cold!)

So now, every chocolate lab is “Buckley,” every little boy is “Wesley,” and every bicycle, scooter, or skateboarder sets off his “must protect the realm” instincts.

And because dachshunds are famously stubborn, we’ve all just accepted it.

Diplomacy has failed.

Farm Happenings

We had such a fun visit this week from the gals at Hooked Up Seafood — you might remember they carried our Cape May Kimchi this summer.

Tess, her sister Sara, and their mom, Michele (all owners), finally made it out to the farm!

Their restaurant keeps them so busy, it was a treat to see them unwind among the flowers.

We did a mini private U-Pick session: gave them the full farm tour and let them harvest flowers to their hearts’ content.

I love watching visitors fall under the spell of the farm, the colors, the scents, the peaceful hum of bees, and remembering how magical it all feels when you slow down long enough to take it in.

And if you want to see the day through Tess’s creative eyes, check out the Instagram reel she made .. she’s so talented, and it somehow makes our little farm look even dreamier.

It was a lovely little pause in our busy fall cleanup and planting rhythm.

Enjoy this glorious fall weather, friends.

The air’s crisp, the light’s golden, and the dachshunds are barking at everything that moves.