A couple of weeks ago we did some dogsitting for a friend of ours. Nan is a northern girl who looks to be half Exquimaux or Siberian husky and half German shepherd. She is very tall with incredibly slim delicate features and very soft fur.
No matter what her DNA says, she’s an amazingly even-tempered pooch who could probably turn the most determined dog-disliking person into a canine advocate. Gentle and cuddly, she loves to play and run and be fussed over and petted.
A very sweet pooch.
I’m afraid that M and I spoiled her just a little bit.
Of course, we’re missing our Rudy who passed away a couple of years ago, but maybe it’s time to bring another canine friend into our lives. 🙂
Rudy is my dog. Well, he’s technically my son’s dog, but he has lived with me for most of his life. Rudy readily adopted M into his pack and now hates it when M is away. Recently, he also adopted B, M’s son.
Rudy is an amazing dog. And he’s about to turn 15. We’re not sure exactly when he’s turning 15 because he was an SPCA dog. But it’s within the next three months, most likely around the end of February or beginning of March. Rudy is in excellent health and is still living a full life. His hearing and eyesight are not quite what they used to be and he’s got a little arthritis, but those things aren’t holding him back at all.
So in honour of Rudy’s 15th birthday, and in honour of the fabulous guy that he is, I’m going to share with…
Rudy is my dog. Well, he’s technically my son’s dog, but he has lived with me for most of his life. Rudy readily adopted M into his pack and now hates it when M is away. Recently, he also adopted B, M’s son.
Rudy is an amazing dog. And he’s about to turn 15. We’re not sure exactly when he’s turning 15 because he was an SPCA dog. But it’s within the next three months, most likely around the end of February or beginning of March. Rudy is in excellent health and is still living a full life. His hearing and eyesight are not quite what they used to be and he’s got a little arthritis, but those things aren’t holding him back at all.
So in honour of Rudy’s 15th birthday, and in honour of the fabulous guy that he is, I’m going to share with you some of the wisdom that I’ve learned from Rudy over the years.
1. Go for a walk every day. If there’s mud, snow, or deer poo, play in it. (Actually, you can skip the deer poo.)
2. Â You sleep better when you’re with your pack.
3. Grow your pack whenever you can.
4. Always wag your tail and show your pack how much you missed them.
5. Be sure to use your bark sparingly, but don’t be afraid to use it if the zombies come.
6. One invitation can negate seven rejections. (No matter how often Rudy is kicked out of the kitchen, he completely forgets the moment he’s invited in for a tasty tidbit!)
7. Demonstrate your loyalty without reservation.
8. Enjoy your food, especially your vegetables. (Rudy loves broccoli, asparagus and peas.)
9. Â Roll over and get your tummy scratched as often as you can.
10. Be polite to the other dogs, even if you don’t like them.
11. Going somewhere, anywhere, is a wonderful thing.
12. If someone tells you you’re great, lap it up and wag your tail in appreciation.
13. Grumble if you think the humans are being unfair. They might change their minds. 😉
14. If you need to lick your butt, don’t worry about what others might think.
15. Remember that you bring great joy and pleasure to life. 💜
You’ve brought great joy and pleasure to my  life.
Life turns on the simple things, I believe. They are the things that keep us going, that provide us with that little boost, that make life worth living.
In no particular order, here are some simple things that I really enjoy:
1. Chocolate. The darker, the better. And if it arrives as a brownie, I’m in heaven.
2. Being greeted by my dog at the door. He’s so nonjudgmental. He doesn’t care what’s going on. He’s just happy to see me.
3. A sunny, crisp, windless fall day. They are so gorgeous!
4. A good glass of red wine. I’m quite fond of the new-world wines, but Europe has some pretty good stuff, too!
6. Browsing a newspaper from front to back on a Sunday morning with a pot of coffee at hand. And not an online paper, either. I haven’t been able to do this much lately as I’ve been really busy.
7. A hug from my M. He gives the best hugs!
8. A beach on an ocean.
9. Reading a great book. The kind of book that leaves you wanting more.
10. Visiting with my best friends.
There are lots of other simple things that I enjoy – these are just a few of them.
