My afternoon's walk today with Tess has convinced me of something I have known for a long time: I was absolutely right to keep her when I moved. It was rubbish to think I would not be able to 'cope' with her - she has kept me going. She has made me get up in a morning to let her out. She has made me do three(albeit fairly short) walks a day for her sake. And above all she has been the company I would have otherwise missed. Life would have been very quiet and lonely. Alright - she doesn't answer back, but you would be surprised how much her eyes can convey.
This morning we did our usual walk round the estate, meeting our usual dogs, having our usual chats to people (and dog to dog). After lunch we had a longer walk down our old farm lane. Autumn leaves have almost disappeared from the trees and bushes and few hips and berries remain on the bushes. I suspect the fieldfares and redwings and Winter thrushes have been around although I saw none of them, just the evidence.
Now, at twenty to four in the afternoon, I am tired after my walk and I need a sit down. Tess is patiently waiting for her four o'clocks and I shall sit down with a cuppa. I managed to find sixty tulip bulbs in town this morning to buy for my new border by my new fence (not finished yet) but I need at least as many more, so I shall search again tomorrow.
I was hoping you would keep Tess.
ReplyDeleteEspecially at our age they are great company a good reason to enjoy our lives.
cheers, parsnip and badger
So that all worked out very well, you are keeping each other young.
ReplyDeleteWell, we did all tell you that and yes, dogs get you out and about, unlike cats, which you basically just sit and look at. Couldn't imagine life without a dog, I've had them without a break for 46 years now.
ReplyDeleteI've finished planting tulips now but have planted around 110-120 so far. I ordered in most of mine from Sarah Raven and Thompson and Morgan.
Sounds like a lovely walk with a lovely companion.
ReplyDeleteAs I am not a gardener myself, thinking of tulips now that we are actually approaching Christmas simply would not occur to me, but you speaking of the bulbs you bought instantly put a very colourful image of spring in my mind - so, thank you for that!
ReplyDeleteYes, it was the right decision to keep Tess. Had you been wheelchair-bound or bedridden, it would have been fairer to let her move in with someone else, but since you are neither, those daily walks are great for both you and Tess.
I was so glad when you moved with Tess and clearly you both provide each other with companionship and warmth :)
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you kept her too, I knew you'd regret it if you didn't
ReplyDeleteI think animals are so adaptable to our lives. Our dog lived almost 16 years and he went through baby and toddler hell, teenage moods and 3 house moves. We loved him so much. Tess has been a joy for you, keeping you going. I'm so pleased you're rubbing along so well.
ReplyDeleteI adopted my dog 10 days after the death of my husband and my younger son was holding Bounce yesterday and said "he saved us." I very much agree, your Tess and my Bounce are loving companions that keep us moving. I bought a dog leash that says "Who rescued who?". Your tulips will bring you many smiles come spring.
ReplyDeleteSo glad you have Tess as a companion. And with a dog you can chat to other dog owners, whereas if you walked on your own, just stopping and talking to people ... well, it just wouldn't happen, would it?
ReplyDeleteI hope you find the tulips, they're such lovely spring flowers. It's thinking about the lovely daffs and tulips I planted that gets me through the long winter days - how I long for spring already!
Margaret P
The tulips will be thick on the ground.
ReplyDeleteAs allergic as I am, I'm so glad to have my cat. His "cat room" is our first project every morning (after I get dressed!), and he badgers me every inch of the way.
ReplyDeleteRick takes me out for a walk every afternoon. (Paul does the morning one.) No risk of me forgetting, he is by my side at half two every day wagging his tail and looking at me with his big brown eyes.
ReplyDeleteAh, I wish I could grow tulips....The deer eat the bulbs before they have a chance to grow. At least they do not like daffodils!
ReplyDeleteYou are certainly wise to have Tess with you. And Tess is surely happier as well.
I'm so glad Tess takes you out for walks everyday - keeping you both active.
ReplyDeleteWhen we had a dog for 10 years I know she didn't mind what was happening as long as she had us somewhere around.
I have no idea what I shall have as a pet when I get on!
ReplyDeleteOf course you were always going to take Tess with you Weave. I think we all knew that. As I said at the time, you both give each other what you need.
ReplyDeleteHow beautiful your garden will look with all those tulips in flower next Spring. I am so glad you and Tess still have each other. I am not able to keep a pet in my flat, but with fitted carpets along each corridor it is only sensible and other residents may not welcome pets. I content myself with a daily walk to the shops for a newspaper and scrounging the odd bit of fuss for any friendly looking dog I come across!
ReplyDeletePat, just a comment but not related to your post today ...I watched Uni Challenge (I've watched this since it started in 1962, when it was dear old Bamber in the chair!) and counted the number of questions I could answer (and answer before the students) and it came to 20! I surprised myself, seeing as I know nothing about the Periodic Table or shooting stars or physics or chemistry, and I also knew the answer to 3 others, but the students beat me to it. I didn't think that was bad for an old 'un, but I have had a few decades to know and, what is more, remember these things! Hope you watched it, too. But I miss it being at 8 pm. I have to put up with Only Connect which I don't actually like as I prefer general knowledge quizzes.
ReplyDeleteAll good wishes,
Margaret P
Our quality of life is so much better with a pet.
ReplyDeleteI think you are completely right to have kept Tess on. She is clearly very happy where she is too.
ReplyDeleteThank you for the winter thrush info - I am going to have a closer look at the thrushes we get round here. I think it is mainly song thrushes I see but now I'm not sure, there might be the odd Redwing.
Dad got me some binoculars last year and I have just started getting them out again. We have had a couple of firecrest and some long-tailed tits recently. Birds seem to love eating from the tree in our back window (not sure what tree it is, but it has some sort of berry).
I would be lost without my Naya........they do keep us going, and moving, and they are the best company.
ReplyDeleteI visited my Doctor yesterday (repeat prescription), and he asked me if I get any exercise. I said I have a big dog, and that he needs three longish walk a day. "Good, good" he said, "Everyone should do the same". QED.
ReplyDeleteKeeping Tess was a good choice and gets you out walking. Dogs are happy creatures full of devotion and we need that sometime. ;)
ReplyDeleteI am so glad that you kept Tess. We all said you should !
ReplyDeleteAs you now know it would have been a terrible decision to have sent her away.
I can't imagine life without my beloved schnauzer and our 2 walks a day. X
I'm so glad it's worked out - we find people talk to us so much more when we're out with our little dog. Sarah Raven has a 50% off tulip bulb sale in case you're interested (postage a fiver from memory, but the bulbs are lovely and well priced) Cathy
ReplyDeleteI think everyone did a good job of convincing you!
ReplyDeleteI recall your posts where you were deciding what to do when you moved and how many people encouraged you to keep Tess. I'm so glad you made the right decision. -Jenn
ReplyDeleteI've never owned a dog but I see a lot of people who wouldn't get out at all if it were not for the encouragement of their doggie friends. When I worked on the farm the boss found that daffodils were very cheap if you bought them by the hundredweight! He was the only person I know who planted his flowers with the aid of a tractor.
ReplyDeleteThanks everyone. Such interesting comments.
ReplyDeleteMargaret (galant) I always watch Uni Challenge and keep a tally of my score - around twelve last night - I am useless at the Periodic Table but I love the English Lit ones and the Arts altogether.
I am now up to 240 tulip bulbs and the bed for planting them is almost ready - should be ready
by the week end so I might enlist my son's help in the planting as I am not brilliant at bending down!
Mummy and me - if there are still any leaves on that tree (and berries) send me a couple of leaves and a berry or two (or a photo) and I will try and identify it for you. An important birthday is coming up - any ideas?
Sue your comment on Rick helps me to be convinced that dogs can tell the time. Tess is just the same.
Thanks to you all for your comments.
How nice to have a lovely four-legged companion. Dogs - and cats - can have such expressive eyes.
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