It’s not all doom and gloom around the old casa. Life just doesn’t work that way, does it? Summer has finally come, and Buffy the German Shepherd is blowing out her coat. All of a sudden, I have drifts of dog hair piling up in the corners. Luckily, she adores being brushed. She’s my (big!) baby, and is keeping me sane. When I start crying, she picks up a toy in her mouth and puts it on my knee, trying to cheer me up. It always makes me laugh, and I get up and play with her, and the clouds blow over.

She completely ignores her bed on the patio, and has commandeered one of the lounges. She looks so comfortable, I don’t have the heart to make her get down. And, it really tickles my funnybone to see her there, just chillin’ out. I get so many laughs with that dog – she helps pull me out of myself, and notice the world around me. Her presence in the bedroom helps me fall asleep at night, and her needs get me out of the bed in the morning.

Stephen wanted a German Shepherd – I wanted a Labrador. I’m so happy he won that argument. I’d be lost without her.