August 28-September 4, 2025
I spent Labor Day weekend at Libby and Jacob’s house in Sturbridge, Massachusetts, expecting a relaxing few days of biking, reading, and maybe a little napping. My only commitment? Dogsitting their rescue princess, Juney, a pitbull with a singular life goal: fetching her ball outdoors. Simple enough… until I arrived and discovered there was a plot twist.
They had rescued a second dog in the meantime: Hudson, a 5-month-old puppy who hadn’t yet mastered the concept of “housebroken.” Oh boy.
Luckily, Mia was off that weekend and drove up to help me survive the chaos. I was so glad she was there. Between Juney’s insistence on living entirely outdoors and Hudson needing to go outside every 15 minutes, our “relaxing weekend” quickly turned into a dog-wrangling fiasco. Feeding time required strategic separation to prevent a pitbull-puppy showdown, naps were interrupted by barking, and every plan of leisure went… well, to the dogs.
We did manage a few highlights. The Sturbridge Farmers Market was a delight, full of pastries, coffee, ice cream, crafts, and fresh produce — a little slice of serenity in an otherwise hectic weekend. Hudson got walks at the local park, and I even squeezed in a bike ride at Buffumville Park (which may have technically been closed — but a little rule-bending never hurt anyone).
Massachusetts also delivered some unexpected amusement in the form of street signs. I’m still chuckling over a road named “Podunk” and “Thickly Settled” warnings that sound more like a polite caution than actual traffic guidance.
In between dog duties, we tried to nap occasionally, though the dogs had other ideas. When Libby and Jacob finally came home, we were thrilled to see them — and I imagine they were just as thrilled to see their pups again.
In the end, the weekend was exhausting, chaotic, and completely unpredictable — and honestly, I wouldn’t have had it any other way. Juney and Hudson may have run the show, but they also made it a Labor Day to remember.