It is hot in Tuscany! Yatzie and Moët find different spots in the shade near us to make it through the hottest hours. Once in a while I hose them down with cold water. I also made waterice with meat juice to cool them down from inside. In the mornings and late in the evening, while the temperature is still bearable, we take long walks in the djungle like forests around here. Yesterday night we saw a porcupine (piggsvin) while driving up to the house. The dogs got totally wild, and so did we. Never seen such an animal in the wild before. They look amazing! Afterwards Yatzie was on guard all evening to protect us from that beast!

Finally leaving for vacation! I love the feeling of having all the time in the world together with the dogs and family! This year we are spending 2 weeks in Tuscany again, with friends, and thereafter a week in Austria.

Some photos from the car where we had time to cuddle a lot with our cuddely dogs. Moët has learned to love icecream just like her mother Yatzie!

This time of year a plant is flowering in Holland that carries small green sticky balls that get stuck on the dogs in hundreds every day. So, coming back from the walk you need to spend half an hour to get rid of them! Today Moët did not have a hundred but a miliion! She was more green than brown when she came out of the bush! Her whole head was covered with the plant - I could not see her eyes :-( ! So back home the family team had to work for half an hour, as well as Moët herself, to get rid of them! A handful we gathered! Just imagine what it would have been like if she had her long fur! This weekend we leave for Italy and I am happy we leave the green balls behind us for at least three weeks!

Our darling Saartje is no longer with us. Yesterday her legs started shaking and cramping and she was unable to walk normally. It was a neurological problem that could not be cured. She had her  14th brithday just a few weeks ago. We will always miss you sweetheart. May you run happily in heavenly fields overflowing with juicy bones and tennis balls!

I have added a gallery with sweet memories from our years together.