Two years today.

Life after Tess seemed pointless, I cried more during the first year than ever before in my life. As time passed I learned to think mostly of the good times, and we had an abundance of happiness. We travelled a lot in 2012, but wherever we went we seemed to notice dogs more than anything else. My holiday photos show dogs in Berlin and in Rome, in art, statues, murals, paintings, street dogs. We returned home last October knowing that we were ready to open our hearts and home to another dog. It is ironical that our 5-month old healthy and robust puppy, Ruby, should be ill to I today for the first time in her life. Not seriously, though, and she will continue lightening our lives with her antics and loving personality.

A year on . . .

Today is  a cold day, and I dug up a pair of old woolen mittens. When I put them on I noticed a hole in them. A little bite mark. It reminded me of how Tess  loved to pinch my mittens to play with.
The memory of my beautiful Tess is as vivid as ever,  in my mind's eye I see her everywhere, and I miss her so much.  Life has continued, but it has been difficult. We have taken it one day at the time, hoping that time would eventually numb the pain.  Our consolation is that Tess had a good and happy life, she enjoyed it to the full, and  she gave us so much joy.  The days with Tess were happy days.

Goodbye Dear Tess

Tess, 12.2.1998 - 15.1.2011

Yesterday we took Tess to the vet's, who told us that there is nothing more that can be done. Keep her on the steroids, antibiotics and painkillers, and bring her back next Wednesday, although she did not expect her to last until then.
Tess is comfortable, constantly hungry (steroids do that), but needs to go outside to relieve herself every two to three hours. We now take turns, and stay with her all day and all night. 

Christmas Eve

 Are any of these for me? I think I can smell a dog treat. 

He is serving up the creamy dessert. I'll have some of that too, please.

Christmas Countdown

I am told that in Iceland there are thirteen naughty Christmas trolls, called Jólasveinar. They used to be bad, but have turned nice, started dressing like Santa, and nowadays they put gifts in shoes which Icelandic kids put in their window every evening for the last 13 days before Christmas. In our half-Icelandic household the dog gets a treat wrapped in fancy paper every night after dinner.  I enjoy that tradition, and know where to look. 

It's been snowing

I have always been a cold weather dog, so I like this. The human members of my family don't agree, they keep wishing it would go away.

Pills

We saw the vet again yesterday.  I trembled like a leaf while we were in the waiting room, and to make it even worse this big collie came. I have never liked collies. The vet checked me over and gave me new pills. Pills mean bigger dinners (to hide them in) or even pieces of cheese to disguise them. Not too bad.

New pictures

This is me this afternoon, telling them to take me out for a walk and I always get what I ask for. 

Happy and relaxed, until it is time for my next dinner.

 I am beautiful.

Tearing up empty cereal boxes is one of my favourite occupations. I always get a box of some sort after my dinner, with a treat inside. Mom thinks that working on a cardboard box is good for cleaning my teeth and gums. 

Autumn. This would have been a good photo for a Halloween card. Scary.

Feeling better

They thought my end was near last Thursday when I suddenly became very ill. I was very hot and restless and would not even eat, and that means I am not myself at all.  I was carried out to the car and rushed to see the vet, who poked a thermometer up my behind and gave me a couple of  jabs. A few hours later I was able to eat a bit of chicken and yesterday I felt as if nothing had happened. They are shattered, however, and I get every treat I ask for.

After dinner

When I have had my evening meal (never after breakfast or lunch) I get a sudden burst of energy. When I was young I would run madly about the house and garden, challenging them to a ball game or a tug-of-war, or I would fiercely attack a toy and rip it to shreds. Nowadays I still feel the urge to have a little game when I am full and happy. 

Are you talking to me?

Here I am, feeling good, enjoying the autumn. Cooler days have always suited me best.

Me in the sea!

I am as good as new, and today we went for a little walk by the Clyde.  

Ahhhhh

The vet told them to rub the scar on my belly with baby oil to help it heal nicely. That is soooo nice.

The Check-up

The problem is never knowing where you will end up when you are taken along for a car ride. Often it is a nice place, like the riverside, a  park or even an interesting car park with lots of smells. Yesterday I found myself at the vet´s again. She poked me and checked me all over, weighed me and told them what I know, that I am well healed and fine, but also that I am now too fat. Then she gave me a biscuit, which I refused to accept until we were on the pavement outside. 

Recovery

This afternoon we went for a little trip and I enjoyed the fresh air. They thought I deserved a treat after the morning's ordeal at the vets. They put me on my side and held me down - and removed the stitches from my belly. Now I do not need the big lampshade collar any more.  I can lick myself again!

The Big Collar

Look what they are making me wear. I do not like this big collar at all. They say I bit off half of the drain the vet left in my wound - well, there was this bit hanging out of me, I did give it a good tug when they were not looking.

Feeling a bit poorly

4 am, morning after my op. What is "mom" doing up just sitting there, watching me? Handy, because if I moan, there is a cuddle and even a biscuit, cause my appetite is back. Well, it never went away, because the first thing they did when I woke up at the doggie "hospital" yesterday was to eat a meal they offered me. A dog is not allowed to go home until it has eaten something. Then I had a good dinner at home, and a snack later. How about a little early breakfast, now?

Back home

A very drowsy Tess is back home, with a big scar on her belly. The vet said the operation went well.