Yeah!  My Baby, Blue is back after his unexpected illness and trips to Sand Road Veterinary Hospital and Tufts Cummings Veterinary School.

In the picture of Blue in our garden, you can see the places where his fur was shaved for various procedures. He smells of antiseptic and medicines. Katie gives him about a dozen pills in soft, delicious smelling food after each meal — I’m a bit jealous of all the attention he’s receiving! 

But, we were certainly worried last week. Blue’s back foot was swollen and he was panting like crazy —  he could not breathe very well. The nice vets at Sand Road took good care of him, but told Katie we should take him to a specialty hospital. Katie and I drove him to Tufts, where he was quickly admitted. We stayed in the waiting room. I greeted my fans in the waiting room with a wag of my tail. I sniffed a crated cat and licked a toddler in a stroller, and basked in the compliments about my giant size and luxurious black coat.

So many marvelous smells and so many nice people in one room! I loved the commotion and felt like a rock star. Every few minutes, people approached a big box in the corner of the room and pushed a few buttons. Suddenly, there was a loud noise and the big box spits out a bag of chips, granola bar, or candy bar. I stared and stared, trying to understand this miracle machine. 

Katie and I trotted behind a nice lady into another room full of sick dogs and chemical smells. Blue was asleep on a soft blanket with a fan blowing at his face. It looked so comfortable – I wanted to join him for an afternoon snooze. We touch noses and I wagged my tail. I reassured Blue that he would be okay.  

And, he was! I heard Katie telling friends they were not sure whether it was related to nasty ticks, a snake bite, or something else. All I know is I’m glad he’s back romping with me through the fields in Little Compton. 

Bella

The huge painted picture of Brady and Buffy reminds me of the ancestral portraits hanging at Downton Abbey!! At first, I barked as they stared down, but now I am used to them and like the company during a mid-afternoon snooze.

Earlier today, Blue and I enthusiastically greeted the dock guy and his hefty black labrador. As his owner installed our dock with its dog ramp, we romped and chased each other around in circles. Now, we can go down for a lake swim — its 50 degrees, so I am glad to have a thick Newfy coat.

Bella

We just received a picture of Tiller, who lives in upstate and loves to chew things as much as his brother, Blue.

iLots going on, so Katie and I have been very remiss in our blogging. We moved into a new place out in Colorado — here’s Blue eating some vegetation and here’s me snoozing on the new bed. Someone gave us a lovely furry-feeling faux fur and I love to nestle up with it on the bed. 

Bella

This is a picture of Blue resting comfortably after his elbow surgery. I’ve been careful with him, knowing he is a bit sore. He is wearing a tee-shirt in this picture so he does not lick his incisions. I can’t wait until he is healed — I like having a furry little sidekick when I follow the rabbit and elk trails or when we find a deer carcass and drag pieces of it home to show Peter and Katie.

Sorry to have been late blogging. There’s been a lot going on since we moved out to Colorado. Blue and I both had big medical adventures in the past few weeks. We went to CSU in Fort Collins. I happily raced in to the lobby area, loving the great dog smells and friendly receptionists. They immediately gave me a new paper collar. I got lots of treats and petting — the first day was fun. They gave me something that made me fall asleep and the next thing I know, I have my belly shaved and a pain in my side. They were very nice to me, but I was pleased to see Katie and go home to sleep on the bed again. 

No more potato-sized pups for me. Now that I am spayed, I’m less likely to get an infection, so that is good.

More soon…. Bella

Merry Christmas to all. Katie saw this on facebook and wanted to share it with all of you.

It is snowing in the Colorado mountains — thick fluffy flakes that stick to my fur.  I am patiently waiting for sunrise and the coyote-free daylight hours when Blue and I can roam the snowfields and chase rabbit smells deep in the thickets.

Bella