home!

Hi Everyone!

I have been home from Scotland for about 5 days now, and I still feel like I am getting my bearings. I’m all unpacked and my photos are all uploaded, but I still seem to be fighting of the last little remnants of jet-lag. I go to bed & wake up at my normal times, but by 6 or 7pm I am exhausted beyond words. It is a struggle every single day to stay awake until ‘bedtime’ at 10pm. These things sometimes take some time though and  I am sure that if I just keep to my normal sleeping & eating schedule, things will click back into place soon.

The dogs were VERY happy to see me when I walked in the door. Jersey was all over me immediately, but Oslo seemed like he needed to thoroughly sniff me out before he confirmed my identity. They were stuck to me like glue that first afternoon/evening home!

I had an amazing trip– I ended up with 5 full days in Scotland, one of which was spent photographing an absolutely gorgeous wedding. I stayed mostly in Edinburgh, but did manage to take two day trips to Rosslyn and Stirling. Both places were incredible & awe inspiring! The weather during my trip was unseasonably perfect and it seemed like every Scot that I encountered marvelled and remarked on it. With clear skies & sun every single day, I did not see a single drop of rain. I would have never expect that from Scotland in March!

In a Frenchie-related story…

I was awake one morning and headed to catch a bus (to Rosslyn). As I walked down the street, I glanced into a Hair Salon window and noticed a resident French Bulldog. Of course, I *had* to go inside to say hello. Well, I encountered quite the surprise upon walking in… The Frenchie that I saw was actually a Frenchie MOM who was attended by her two, 7 week old babies! Of course my heart melted into a puddle right there on the floor, as I snuggled the pups and ‘talked Frenchie’ with the Salon Owner. It was very, very hard to tear myself away from those two precious babes & their cutie-pie Momma (who spent the visit attacking the laces on my shoes!).

 

scotland!

The most exciting thing going on over here this week is that I am headed to SCOTLAND today for the next week! I’ll be spending the majority of my trip in the Edinburgh area, but I’d like to make a day trip to Rosslyn and Stirling while there. I could be more ambitious and try to pack MORE places into my days there, but I am a firm believer that travel is best done slowly so that you can savour things a little bit. Attempting do too much will result in having gone a lot of places, but truly experiencing very little.

The pigs will be left in very capable hands, but I am sure that I will miss them constantly (though, I’ll try not to let it get in the way of me having a super awesome trip). Getting to sleep in and shirk my ‘dog-care’ responsibilities if fun for about a day or two… but after that I start to feel awfully lonely. I’m already looking forward to seeing them when I get back, and I haven’t even left yet!

I'll miss these faces!!

backyard love

With Spring officially here and some beautiful spring-like weather in our grasp, the boys & I have finally been able to enjoy our backyard! They absolutely love it out there and would probably be out there all day long if I let them.  I do have to limit their ‘backyard time’ though because Oslo spends every possible moment out there nibbling on the grass. This is all well & good, but then he throws up! I generally prefer to spend as little time as I can get away with cleaning up dog vomit (or any vomit, for that matter) so I have to watch it and reel him in when I think he’s had enough.

Also! I refuse to have a backyard full of dog-poops! So when they are out there, they need to be watched to make sure that they don’t leave any sneaky piles anywhere (for me to step in later!)

 

Mount Pleasant

photo credit- www.vancouver.ca

The dogs & I have really been loving our new neighbourhood! Spring has slowly been poking it’s way though and we have been seeing more and more clear, pleasant afternoons. To top that off, daylight-savings has given us an extra hour of daylight in the evenings. All of that has made for some really great afternoon and evening walks. My routine has tended to be that when I get home from work, I leash up the pigs and away we go. Sometimes it’s only for a 10 minute ‘around the block’ trip…. and sometimes it’s for a half-hour excursion. We have to take it fairly easy because Oslo burns out pretty quick but it has been really, really nice.

Jersey loves collecting sticks of ridiculous sizes!

 

recent photo

I took a photo today of Oslo standing up so that you all could see how his body is looking at 8 months post-surgery.

Settling in

Oslo & Jersey have been settling into our new place really well. The backyard that I mentioned earlier has been nice, though we haven’t really been able to put it to use. It has been so rainy lately that opening up the patio doors and letting the boys out there to roam & explore is just not happening. Jersey doesn’t seem to give two hoots about the rain, but Oslo & I hate hate hate it. I think we spent too much time in California!

Oslo had a really persistent ear infection for about 2 months. I was keeping it at bay with tea-tree oil, but it seemed to get worse & worse. I finally caved in and took him to the vet. Turns out it wasn’t an ‘infection’ after all, but likely an allergic reaction. The vet explained that he has likely developed an allergy to his food. However, knowing how sensitive French Bulldog’s stomachs can be, he cautioned me against changing Oslo’s diet straight away. Changing the food might clear up his ears, but it could (and with Oslo’s delicate stomach– likely WOULD) cause other/greater gastrointestinal issues. He did however send me home with something called ‘Burrow’s Solution‘, which are drops to put into Oslo’s ears. I was instructed to do it every day for a week to clear up the initial flare-up… and then with that under control I could do it just once a week for general maintenance.

Within two days of using the Burrows his ears cleared up AMAZINGLY, and by now he is right as rain.

Leaving this entry with a couple photos of Jersey… such a sweet boy!

 

Kony 2012

Because Oslo & Jersey care about all the children of the world.

Please watch this & share.

Lovers

some news

It has been awhile since I have updated with anything of substance (photos & videos are nice and all, but…)

I apologize for that. There has just been a lot going on. I moved this past weekend, so most of February was spent packing and trying not to get too stressed out. My new home is smaller than my last, but it’s selling feature was/is it’s large, fully-fenced backyard. It has been a bit cold recently, but once the weather warms up, I am positive that Oslo & Jersey are just going to love it out there! It’s a real treat.

My biggest news, however, is not my move. It has more to do with the REASON for my move…. My husband & I are separated and filing for divorce.

It has been an easy topic to avoid here on Oslo’s blog.. because, after all, this blog is about my dog(s) and not about me. It has been easy to completely avoid the subject and I have been happy to do so. However, it’s probably time to let the cat out of the bag and just get on with it. Justin & I are no longer Justin & I. I will not go into details because it’s a private matter & this simply isn’t the place for that.. but I will tell you that I will be keeping primary custody of our two dogs and that we are doing very well.

Being a ‘single owner’ of two dogs– one of which is fairly ‘special needs’ has been tough and overwhelming at times. Fortunately I am surrounded by amazing friends & family who have been incredibly supportive, loving & eager to help. Despite how much ‘work’ these Pigs can be, I am so thankful to have them with me while I enter this new chapter of life. Their unconditional love and devotion has been a real anchor for me– I can’t image making this journey without them by my side.

With that out of the way– Please stay tuned for some photos of our new home and what else we have been up to. XOXO

Snoring away

Aaaand, this would be why Oslo & Jersey do not sleep in my bedroom at night.