Peaches seems like such a different dog than she did when she first came here. She has settled into her life with us more comfortably now and doesn't even seem to notice when I leave the house because she feels confident that I will always return. She has stopped making piddle mistakes in the front room, which were a symptom of separation anxiety, I'm sure. She's not as nervous about going places with us because she knows we won't dump her like her former owners did. She loves going in the car and sits in the back seat like a person. She is so smart, too. Extremely bright. When I walk her around the neighborhood she looks so joyful and trots along with such a lively air, tail held high. Occasionally, she'll just stop and sit down at my feet mid-walk and look up at me adoringly with her sparkling ginger eyes to get some pets or sometimes she'll grab her leash in her mouth and lead me. It is hard to find the words to describe the love and devotion, perhaps even gratitude, that I know she feels for me, and I am grateful to have been blessed with this dear, sweet little dog who seems to be a composite of every dog I've ever loved before. It's almost as though someone had placed a special order for me at Heaven's Petshop and sent me Peaches. Could it have been Daisy, perhaps?

Bubba likes having her around, too, but I have to ensure that he has his alone time with me like before. I would never want him to feel like he's no longer top dog around here. He seems to enjoy having a buddy around, and we are making lots of memories together while we can. He is slowing down, and I know the day is coming when he'll no longer be with us, but I try not to think about it and just enjoy each day we have with him. I took this photo of Bubbie and Peaches at the park under a beautiful flowering tree. The falling petals carpeted the ground in purple and white. I'd love to try painting it sometime.