Sunday, January 23, 2011

Carefree





Our Sunday morning routine. Into town with Wilf . First stop the bakers for the breakfast croissants .Then a cup of coffee at the bar on the square. Wilf accepts the hair tousling and the 'Salut Ongoose , Salut Wilf ' as though it's entirely natural. Another cold, cloudless day. On our way home we stop by the river. Wilf rolls and rolls in the hard, frosty grass. Carefree. Fear of the future a human, not a canine, trait.

We pass through the neighbouring village. There on a cottage doorstep, soaking up the sun , Oliver, the old widows labrador. He took up this position a year ago on the day her husband died. He resolutely spends his days there come rain, sleet or snow. Waiting patiently for his masters return. Now he's the man of the family. Literally guarding hearth and home . Invisible routines of life in deepest France Profonde

Wilf has had a good week. The new insulin regime working wonders. Only one pit stop a night. The rickety old farmhouse echoing with laughter at his escapades. He's recently taken to falling asleep in the oddest places. Late at night we find him slumbering contentedly away under the dining table or in downstairs bedrooms. Places he usually never visits. His eyesight is clouding over but he lives by that old philosophy " Faith makes all things possible. Love makes all things easy ".

23 comments:

  1. Our canine PONtiff is so wise - we're sending him some extra love so all things are easy.

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  2. Every great day you have with Wilf makes my day happy too! How truly blessed to love and be loved by a dog. So hard for us to witness our four legged loved ones to lose their capacities. But it doesn't seem to bother them usually as much as us. I feel inspired and happy that you love Wilf so much and give him such a great life with such compassion and care! He deserves it though, of that I'm sure!

    I was just curious how much Wilf weighs? Don't know if it's proper to ask you questions. I've never seen his type of sheepdog in person, actually didn't even know of his breed until your blog. I'd always wished my sheepdogs weren't so heavy so when it's necessary to carry them I could. Not going to happen with 88 lbs.

    Wishing you more wonderful time together!

    Two Old English sheepdogs & their Mom

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  3. Another pleasurable day.....more to come.

    XXXOOO Daisy, Kendra & Bella

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  4. Happy Sunday sweet Wilf ! Enjoy rolling and rolling in the frosty grass !
    I have thoughts for Oliver and his incredible faithfulness to his master. You are right Angus by speaking of invisible routines, those little things nobody take care of, except some, like you (and i,honestly...). May be is it because we lived hard things in our own lives.
    Bisous and calins to my beloved Wilfee. And good evening for you Angus, and the Font.

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  5. what a lovely post...to see Wilf rolling in the frozen grass...
    and such a sad/sweet story of the lab....
    xoxo

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  6. So lovely to see your village has it's own Greyfriar's Bobby in Oliver. What a wonderful soul. Glad to hear Wilf had a good week and I echo the comment above...may there be many more to come! Since dogs rely more on their sense of smell than their eyesight, Wilf may be unaware of his clouding eyes. I did hear an interesting tip about blind dogs, it was suggested to put different fragrances of candles or other room fragrance in each room so the dog can identify each place by it's smell. Interesting, hmm?

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  7. Lovely to see Wilf being carefree.I love your blog and all the little stories you tell by the way .. and the pictures are wonderful.
    Have a great Suinday with yout lovely Wilf and loved ones.

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  8. Carefree is the way the rest of us ought to approach life.

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  9. Seeing that Lab lying there and knowing the story brought tears to my eyes. Have you heard the story from the early 1900's in Japan about a dog named Hachiko who waited at a train station for his master for many years after his master died at work? It's been made into a movie that made me cry and cry.

    I'm so happy that Wilf is having these wonderfully good and laughter-filled days. It looked like he was rolling in frosty grass. A happy day for a Pon and especially for Wilf.

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  10. Hey there Angus...
    I'm so glad to hear that Wilf is holding up. I hope you are too.
    Sending lotsaluv
    MAXMOM IN SOUTH AFRICA

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  11. Love makes all things easy - he has wonderful humans - love the pictures!!! Salut to all of the Wilf-family in the old farmhouse echoing with laughter!!! From Susanne, Daisy and Foxiie

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  12. Love Wilf's philosophy, love that the new insulin regime is working, love that the days are cold and sunny and just right for a stubborn, very much alive PON.

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  13. We're happy the insulin routine is working and Wilf -- and you - have had fewer nighttime pit stops. But add your tale of Oliver to the mix and the tears start to flow all over again.

    Our furry friends understand so much -- but the things they can't understand -- or that we cannot convey to them -- can be so heartbreaking. Like Hachiko. Like Friar Bobby.

    Love makes all things easy; until it doesn't.


    xxx Joan

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  14. So happy that the new routine is helping Wilf and you! The story of Oliver brought tears to my eyes, our pups are so faithful and loving....

    Blessings and Love,
    Janelle and Maggie Mae

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  15. Wilf definitely looks like he's enjoying that grass roll! There's a definite comfort in holding to those old routines. I'm glad to see Wilf looking so happy!

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  16. So happy for you all and Wilf. What a wonderfully interesting post, Angus. Thank you so much.

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  17. We love all the photos of your cheeky face. Have a good week Wilf.

    Molly, Taffy and Monty

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  18. It's too bad Wilf's eyesight is going but I truly believe he sees with his heart rather than his eyes!

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  19. Oh one more thought. The program I saw about helping blind dogs find their way around the house also suggested putting tape or a strip of carpet by steps or stairs to cue the dog by the change in the surface so they'll be less likely to stumble or slip. As for the candles, dogs have such sensitive noses that you don't even have to have the candles lit for them to sense the fragrance.

    We have such affection for you, the font and Wilf -- anything we can do to help!

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  20. Wilf is very wise and he doesn't even know that either. worrying about the future is highly overrated.

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  21. Oh sweet Wilf.... Lovely pictures in this post. Thanks for capturing him rolling in the cold grass. Bittersweet story about the grieving Lab, such a loyal friend. Have a good week ahead, enjoy every minute with your faithful companion. xo

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  22. i loved all your photos and the blog is just outstanding. keep doing your job.
    Dog Supplements Muscles

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