Let's Gab: September 2021

This post contains affiliate links.

September was meant to be a relaxed month. The calm before the storm that is the holiday season (the equivalent to a food bloggers busy season). But September was anything but calm. We beached and danced and impromptu drove across the country.

AND…Rhubarb’s DNA results came back! I finally learned what breed(s) she is, along with her murderous pedigree. DNA results at the end of this post!

A person in an orange beach cover-up strolls along the sandy beach under swaying palm trees, enjoying the blue skies of September 2021 while others relax nearby. Lets gab about those tranquil moments and sunlit memories.

Beach Down In Mexico

The month started with a long weekend trip down to Playa del Carmen. With cheap plane tickets, an affordable resort all picked out already, and some of my best friends going, I couldn’t refuse.

Three people in life jackets sitting on a sailboat, smiling with arms around each other, against a backdrop of clear blue skies and turquoise sea, as they reminisce about their favorite Let’s Gab moments from September 2021.

Woman smiling while sitting on the edge of a sailboat, wearing a blue swimsuit. The sea and part of the sail are visible in the background, capturing a perfect Lets Gab moment from September 2021.

I hadn’t travelled internationally since sh*t hit the fan last year, so dusting off that passport felt real good. And while I can’t say you get much authentic Mexican culture inside the walls of the beachside resorts, it was a refreshing break for 4 days. I drank Aperol spritz and had tacos for breakfast everyday and got dressed up all fancylike for the heck of it.

A person smiling and holding a drink at a restaurant table brimming with food and beverages, while melodious violin strings serenade in the background—capturing an unforgettable Lets Gab moment from September 2021.

Plate with assorted food, featuring tortillas and ground beef with onions. Add a dollop of cream, salsa, and enjoy a yogurt drink. A cup of coffee and glass of water accompany this delightful spread. Its reminiscent of a cozy September 2021 brunch where we said, Lets Gab.

Pizza topped with cherry tomatoes and basil on a white plate, surrounded by glasses of drinks on a wooden table during our Lets Gab gathering.

On the homefront

After a whirlwind August of visitors and trips, my goal for the rest of September was to get into a rhythm with work.

My schedule when I lived in the Netherlands was ultra structured, and I got so much work done on a daily basis – granted, my social life was as sad and withered as the succulent I killed last month.

In Denver that’s changed, and I’m trying to find a way to take in all that Denver has to offer – along with setting up a life and friends group from scratch – while still doing the work I love doing on Live Eat Learn.

And so I found that routine for a few weeks in September. Rhubarb helped (well, watched) me work, I slipped in one more outdoor concert before winter, and I explored some new eateries (how did I live life before discovering the Colorado Cherry Company savory hand pies?!).

A brown and white dog lies on a vibrant rug, eyeing two croissants on a white plate with curiosity. Its as if hes pondering, Lets Gab about breakfast choices! Perhaps hes reminiscing about mornings in September 2021 when treats were aplenty.

Three people in casual summer clothing laugh and kick their legs in unison at an outdoor event reminiscent of September 2021. One person holds a drink with a Lets Gab wristband visible, while others mingle in the background.

Nestled in a box lined with red checkered paper, two whole pastries and one half-eaten share the spotlight with two small containers of dipping sauce. A delicious snapshot thats reminiscent of delightful September 2021 afternoons, perfect for a Lets Gab session.

Southbound

When I got a call about a medical emergency in my boyfriend’s family down in Texas, I started driving down south, Rhubarb in tow. The drive is 14 hours, longer than any drive I’ve ever done alone, but between Rhubs and ample crime podcasts, we made it down to Texas in one piece.

From the view of a car dashboard, the straight highway stretches under a blue September 2021 sky, dotted with scattered clouds. Sparse vegetation lines the road, inviting travelers to enjoy a tranquil moment. As Lets Gab crosses your mind, this serene drive becomes even more captivating.

Due to visitor restrictions in the hospital, I played the role of curbside puppy provider, kolache bringer, and sandwich slinger to bring some relief to the family. And fortunately, things are looking up now!

Rhubarb, who was also not allowed in the hospital, had a grand old time playing around town. She got her fitness on at Chicken ‘n Pickle (followed by a nap in the most convenient location), hung out at my favorite Friendly Spot, and met all the doggos at Hops and Hounds.

Northbound

With things finally looking stable in the hospital, my boyfriend decided to drive along with me back to Denver to make an adventure of the trip!

We first stopped in Palo Duro Canyon State Park, coasting around the park for as long as we could on our near-empty tank of gas.

We kept heading towards Amarillo until we reached this roadside attraction. An attraction that may win the award for the best roadside attraction I’ve personally seen (rivaled only by the World’s Largest Rocking Chair in Mississippi).

Cadillac Ranch. A row of spray paint-covered Cadillacs popping up out of dirt in an otherwise normal sorghum field. Here’s to hoping her first taste of graffiti doesn’t turn Rhubarb into a delinquent.

We all got home safely, though not quite as rested as Rhubs.

She just took a DNA test, turns out…

Given that I got Rhubarb from a rancher on the side of the road, I’ve always been curious what breed she actually is. So she took a DNA test through Embark, and it turns out she’s:

55.5% Australian Shepard
28.5% Australian Cattle Dog
16% Labrador Retriver

This all lines up with what the rancher told me about her parents, but it’s so neat to see her extended family tree! She clearly comes from a long line of working ranch dogs.

In addition to the family tree, Embark has an option to test for hereditary conditions, such as blindness or drug sensitivities. While Rhubs carries one copy of the gene for a few conditions, she would need both copies of the gene in order to actually have the condition.

And the best part of all…Rhubarb has a few relatives in the area! Her closest relative, sharing 37% of their DNA (equivalent to an aunt or grandmother) is Ginger. Ginger, who looks so much like Rhubarb, was rescued from a remote ranch in Colorado after killing a baby cow for food.

I guess sometimes family history is better left in the past!