I mentioned in my previous post that I was in Northern California (small town outside of Sacramento) visiting friends Kathy and Matt this past weekend, and I would share some stories/photos from that visit.
This post is sort of inspired by my blogging friend Beth’s blog Lessons from a Lab, where she blends her spirtuality with life lessons from her labrador retriever.
Labrador Retrievers are smart, loving and amazing dogs and although I’ve never owned…no wait – “partnered” seems more appropriate…with one, they are one of my favorite dog breeds (but don’t tell Mike my Miniature Schnauzer).
Matt and Kathy have a chocolate lab named Riley that I’ve known since she was a puppy. I visited them in April 2019 (see series of posts California Quilting Sisters Adventures, Part I, California Quilting Sisters Adventures, Part II, and California Quilting Sisters Adventures, Part III) and Kathy and Matt had just adopted Riley, so I spent quite a bit of my visit snuggling with their new puppy (and we took the pup many places with us even breweries):



Kathy and Matt assigned me to be Riley’s “Dog Godmother” and she has always had a special place in my heart since then!
Okay so now the subject of this post: When I took my partner John with me to visit Matt and Kathy for the first time, Riley fell in love with him. I have this wonderful series of photos I wanted to share with you of John being loved/mugged by Riley which seemed to be a pure moment of JOY for the both of them!
When a lab wants to love on you, they go all in! John could barely control all that loving at one time – ha!
I’ll close this post with a sort of calmer photo of Riley from the trip – here I am attempting to do whiskey tasting while acknowledging Riley (and not both successfully)!

Riley has stolen my heart. What a beautiful dog. They are just like Golden Retrievers. So full of love and wants for pets.
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WARNING: Labs and Golden Retrievers never return hearts ♥️ once stolen 😀😀😀
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Two of your favorite guys loving on each other – what fun to see the delight & devotion in Riley’s actions!!!!!
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It was an awesome lab filled weekend 🙂
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Tierney, I was so excited when I read your title (it made me laugh out loud) that I couldn’t wait to read what you wrote. Your words, “When a lab wants to love on you, they go all in!” are spot on. Labby love consumes every fiber of their body. I’m glad John got the full Labrador experience. I’m completely humbled that Lessons from a Lab helped inspire this post. Riley is absolutely beautiful and the pictures of the two of you together are precious.
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Glad you enjoyed it and we did get fully labby loved while we visited our friends! I am honored to have been designated her dog godmother by her parents 🙂
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That is quite an honor and Riley looks like she loves her godmother to pieces. You are a blessed to enjoy the best of a Schnauzer’s world and the best of a Labrador’s world.
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They are the best dogs and what a beautiful color!
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They are awesome dogs and thanks for stopping by!
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Looks to me like Riley wants some whiskey too!
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You. might be right! Riley wanted whatever we were eating or drinking!
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I absolutely loved reading your blog about our recent visit. Smiling at all the love that Riley showed Mo (Amadeo). She thought she could get away with almost anything, including sampling some of Mo’s fantastic cooking. For example, Biscuits and gravy and of course some did not make it into the oven but instead in Rileys mouth. Also as Mo turned for one second, Riley had to sample the pasta dough that Mo was kneading with his hands and left unattended for a nano second. This created some excitement in the kitchen and now Mo is known as “Mo-Dough”. Thanks for being total dog people and letting our lab love the heck out of the 2 of you.
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Thanks for being awesome hosts and having my beloved dog goddaughter – hugs 🙂
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Ow – my heart! Great post! I love the pictures of Riley both as a puppy and now. How great that she and John bonded too 🙂 And so lovely that you got to spend time with her too. And your friends too, of course!
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Glad you enjoyed it, she is a cutie! We won’t tell my friends I only visited them to see their dog 😉
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Thanks for making me smile. What would life be without dogs?
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I could not imagine it – I love dogs so much!
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John hadn’t the earlier connection with the puppy – and he looks at times overcome with this rather large Riley – seems though there is much love…
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There was a lot of love going on and I did not know John liked big dogs as he seemed to primarily like our small dog Mike!
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Moka and RIles would be best friends for sure. Labe are hte best. Such smart and loving creatures. Glad you had a ood time and got some lab love.
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This is most special. This brightened my holiday, Tierney.
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Glad you enjoyed it! 🙂
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