Rufus

The vet who treated Rufus sent this hand signed card and a packet of Forget Me Not seeds. The practice did the same when Buster died, I think it might be something most vets do nowadays. It's nice.

Rufus is always in my head, lots of memories and there will always be a "first time" memory. A few days ago I came home with some shopping bags. he used to be behind the door to greet me and would dive his head into the bags to sniff anything good in them, then follow me, nudging me all the way into the kitchen. I shed a few tears. I know it will get easier with time.

Polly

x

Rufus

We are in a state of shock and unbearable sadness. We had to have our beloved Rufus put to sleep on Boxing Day morning.
On Christmas Day we went out for dinner and arrived home expecting to find him excited to see us, and eager for his dinner. Instead he didn't get out of his bed. He got up a bit later for a drink but he was confused, he didn't know us, then his back legs gave way, we helped him stand and he managed to get back to his bed. His breathing was laboured but he calmed down a bit and slept a bit. My daughter and son-in-law took it in turns to stay up with him. The following morning he seemed better, he had a drink and went into the garden but he didn't want to eat and he still seemed confused.
After examination and test his heart rate was 200. There was blood in his abdomen which the vet thought could be a tumour that had burst, and there was a shadow on his heart. The vet could have operated to see what was happening inside, but at nearly 13, and with the shadow on his heart it wasn't what was best for him.
My grandson and I stayed with him to the end. Before administering the final injection I asked the vet if we were doing the right thing, she said yes, but it didn't make it any easier. It all happened so quickly. I’m struggling to process it and I can’t stop crying. He's not at the bottom of the stairs waiting for breakfast and/or a walk, there's no 5 o/clock dinner to prepare, the doorbell rang earlier, he wasn't there to run to the hall to see who it was, it's strange locking the back door last thing at night without calling him to go out for a wee.

He was a rescue dog, a real character, fearless, crazy and funny with a sweet nature

very handsome, all legs, never walked, ran everywhere.

He loved his toys. The green squeaky in the middle was his favourite.

This was a doorstop but he liked putting it in his bed now and again.
He never damaged it.

He wasn't impressed with the santa costumes

We enjoyed lots of lovely walks

particularly in bluebell wood

Sometimes he got dirty

and sometimes he got disgustingly smelly!

He loved a comfortable place

even more so in the sunshine

Evidence

My favourite photo

On a lighter note.
Where's my dinner, no seriously where is it?

He had a good life with lots of love.

Dear Rufus, my heart is aching 💔 You will be sorely missed

A Break in the Weather

After all that rain we are now enjoying some beautiful warm sunny days. 

The badgers have been busy again

 

the entrance to their sett used to be in the field, if they continue at this rate they will completely take over the area between the field and the hedgerow!

oOo

A new kid on the block

 

meet Buzz

he is a rescue retired racing greyhound, and he is so lovely and gentle. When we first met him he was a bit wary but now when we meet his tail starts wagging and he gets very excited.

oOo

Has anyone been watching "The Wives"? The story revolves around three women who are related by marriage to three brothers. It's set in Malta where the couples holiday at a resort together every year. The previous year one of the wives disappeared and is presumed dead. One of the remaining wives isn't happy with that, she is convinced Annabelle was murdered. The more the three wives investigate the deeper they get into the mystery. It was very good BUT the ending was - WHAT, WAIT, who was in the black van; what's with the casino chips, will Charlie be vindicated; will the real villain be uncovered? The cast were all very good actors and most of the script was good, but the ending was very bad, unless a second season is planned.

oOo

The size of my header image suddenly changed so I thought I would be able to use the original image but I couldn't get the size I wanted, I think it has to do with the sizing of the layouts, I've tried changing them but it didn't make any difference. My blog says its custom so I'm not confident to change anything in case the whole thing goes wrong!

∼ Be safe and well∼ 

Polly x

Happy Birthday

As a rescue we don't know the exact date when Rufus was born so I worked backwards from when we adopted him and guessed that it was September 2012 and decided he could share his birthday with me.

We will both have treats. I have a gift voucher from my daughter, a parcel is on its way from my Ozzie daughter and I'm pretty sure I will get something from my grandson later today.

 

The rain has stopped, we've had a walk in the sunshine, and later I'm going out for lunch with my daughter.

∼ Be safe and well∼ 

Polly x

Rufus' Diary

Hello dear reader I hope you are well. Autumn is on its way, daylight hours are shorter, it's dark by 8 o/clock, the evenings are slightly chilly but the days are still sunny and warm.

Crops are being harvested

We're enjoying lots of lovely walks

The bonfire that never goes out is still not out 😄

Polly loves her small patio at the bottom of the garden and now she has created another lovely shady area to sit, under the cherry tree

That whole area behind the recliner was completely overgrown with nettles and weeds which was great for bees and butterflies but when it all died down she cleared it away.

There's a nice cool place for me to enjoy too.

We don't know what this cute little insect is.

A guy in the village is a Naturetrek Group Leader. Now and again he sets up a box in the churchyard to see how many moths visit. There were lots of species, sizes and colours but they didn't all photograph well.

Because I was a rescue the exact date of my birthday is unknown. Polly worked backwards from when they got me and how old they said I was and guessed that I was born in Sep 2012 and so she decided I would share my birthday with her later in the month. I will be 12, I daren't tell you how old Polly will be 😀

∼ Be safe and well ∼

Rufus 🐾

Rufus' Diary

Hello dear reader, I hope you are well.

Well after a dismal start June has finally come through with some lovely summer weather. Still a few clouds in the sky but sunshine and higher temperatures forecast for the next few days. That will make Polly happy.

I look squashed!

Historically Polly hasn't had much luck with hostas, this one was completely eaten by snails last year, she dug it up and put it in this pot "just in case it revived" !! and look at it now, how sweet is this with it's tiny flowers.

 

The countryside is looking good as usual

 

I think this tree is dead though

a few bee orchids are blooming 

The badgers have been busy with this new entrance, that is a large amount of soil that they have excavated. The entrance is the dark area just off centre on the left of the image.

This is their original entrance, the one at the back of the image where the white bag is. Unfortunately we think their underground network of tunnels might have caused some subsidence at the area at the front where the green bag is. A horse riding lady we occasionally meet when she is walking her dog is concerned that horse riders might not see the holes so she has put these sticks and bags in the holes to warn them. But then that probably causes problems for the badgers getting in and out, althought they do have mighty powerful legs and claws.

It's amazing how quickly the ground dries up.

Some horses are still wearing their coats

This one has his tail plaited because it's so

long it hangs on the ground and gets dirty.

I often lag back a long way behind Polly. She says its because after a while I just want to go home for breakfast. I don't often lay down though, you can just about see me in the long grass.

I have to confess though that I do speed up when we're on our way home, and then I'm way ahead of her, all I can think of is breakfast of tea and toast!

∼ Be safe and well ∼

Rufus 🐾