Late summer ongoings and beautiful autumn is here...........

 

Summer is well and truly gone and we're enjoying a mild and beautiful autumn. Here's an update on my late summer ongoings and Mummy & I hope that autumn will go on and on and that winter will stay away as long as possible.........



Group picture with my daycare friends



On the bus off to visit Grandpa and my brother Lucky.
I like looking out the window watching cars and the countryside wizz by.........reflecting over how different Mummy & I perceive the world.

Now I'm a bit concerned........I have lost one ear!!! This is seriously worrying.....I hope Mummy quickly can find it!



Back home.........ready to tear into my yummy roll of treats :)

Ahhh.......those late summer sun rays are total bliss. I can lie here forever!
Mummy and I are in the countryside for the week-end visiting her friend Eva.
I've been here several times before and love it!

We've taken a walk to the sea and I think Mummy is planning on a dip but I have no intention of wetting my paws in 16 degree water!



Oh nooooo........please be careful Mummy, I think I can see scary stuff down there in the murky water.
I don't want anything scary swallowing Mummy!!!!

Thank goodness.......Mummy is safe out of the water. I'm so relieved I have to kiss all the salt water off her face :)



Mummy & Eva are striking a pose.
Nice for a change that I'm not the subject of the camera!
Can you spot me in the pic?

Eva is rowing us way out on the lake!
This is a lifetime first for me....being in a rowing boat!

Yikes........not sure whether to tremble with fear or relish the moment!
At least I have my ears in perfect Milou position :)

HELP!!!    Mummy is almost strangling me....I can hardly breathe!
She's holding on tight because she's afraid I'll jump into the water in chase of two swans some 100 metres off!
Those that know me also know there is every reason for Mummy holding me in this VERY FIRM GRIP!!!

Magical sunset.....nature at it's best.

I'm sort of becoming quite an expert at framing stuff with my ears!
Here I've framed Ulriksdals Slott :)

........and I'm also an expert tree climber!
Even at the ripe old age of 10 1/2 I have no fear in doing a tree climb :)

Hehehe.........three FABULOUS smiles!
It's got to be a cover :)

..........and Astor's Daddy Anders.......looking supa cool!
I wish I had a Daddy like Anders. I've often asked Mummy why we can't take him home.......like he & Astor could live with us.
That's a very nice thought Mummy says......but Anders already has a home and in the human world things don't work like that, you can't just take someone you like.
Hmfp.......human world sounds pretty complicated to me!

Who's got the prettiest nose? ME or Mummy?
Hehehe.......Mummy's nose isn't even symmetrical so I'm a clear winner. My snout is PERFECT!



I've got "the look"..........a look Mummy never can resist :)



Zzzzzzzz...........nothing better than snoozings on the fake fur quilt.

........changed my mind! The BEST snoozings ever is with my Lamb Chop family.
I love them dearly and whenever we have visitors I like to show them one by one :)



Look who's visiting....it's my bro Lucky! We try to be "cool" and not give each other too much attention ;)

At the summer cottage........how different we are, yet alike.
I suppose that's what it's like with siblings.......different but also similar :)

My latest polo sweater addition in my collection.
Turquoise really suits me :)



This could almost have been a scene from "Out of Africa" :)



I'm at the vets.....and blood is being taken from me :(
I'm always a very, very good boy at the vets and today was no exception. In fact they told Mummy that us whippets are amongst their favourite patients because we are generally so good and gentle.
My condition has been under investigation since end of May when Mummy noticed I was drinking so much water. The tests then showed no diabetes or cushings disease. Mummy was VERY relieved. But then after the summer I started losing weight and had days when I was tired and listless so back to the vets for more tests. In all (including a PET scan) they could not find anything obviously wrong with me except that my urine was slightly diluted. The vet told Mummy that tests on us animals are very rudimentary, so even though nothing negative can be seen in the test results, this does not mean a clean bill of health. Finding causes to an animals condition can be very difficult and since my general condition is more or less ok, vet thought we should wait with further investigation. I'm still drinking lots more than before but it's within the boundaries considered to be "normal" which is 50 ml per kg dog. In my case 7 1/2 dl since I weigh around 15,3 kg's. This is what I drink most days, 7 1/2 dl......and Mummy gets all uptight if I go to my drinking bowl too often :(
Fingers & paws crossed that this is not the beginning of a more serious condition!

Back home from the ordeal at the vets......I'm totally exhausted (and so was Mummy).

Some weeks later......I'm more my usual self (except for the drinking more water bit).
Autumn has sprung upon us and the air is wonderfully crisp and clear.

This is my friend Cesar. We had a super dogwalk and it was nice to see that he's recovering well from his nasty accident with a car. Poor Cesar was run over and it was truly touch and go as to whether he'd make it. But he did.....and his Dad refused to give up and after horrendous Vet bills and rehabilitation, Cesar is back on track and can now be off leash and run as he used to. For over 6 months he hardly walked at all so he's put on lots of weight.....but the weight is coming off more and more. Way to go Cesar....you & your Dad have made it :)

Early autumns day, rain caught us out but always time for a bit of posing!

And now a bit chillier.....so my wardrobe has been opened and out came the red polo sweater for an airing.



Hurry up Mummy.....my botty is getting COLD!!!!!

Autumn colours beginning to show and that's when I wear my leopard coat!

A bit scary so high up........peering through the bars at the boats way below passing under the bridge.

Spectacular autumns day. Not a breath of wind, clear blue sky.....perfect for a moments meditation on the jetty.

Picture for my "Dogue" portfolio!

Miaow........ehh, I mean Grrrrrr!!!!!
Public alert!!!:   a miloupard is roaming around!!!!!!

What can I say.........a bed of autumn leaves is truly heavenly. The softness, the rustle, the rustic colours, the sensation of heading into something new. The changing of seasons, the path of life we all travel.....a circular movement, we are reborn over and over again.
I hope me & Mummy will meet again in life ahead........

This is precious.....this is me and my wee friend Jack, walking side by side on a path of autumn leaves. Wee Jack is a special boy, a rescue from Spain, just a baby he was when his Mama found him. Today wee Jack is 15 yrs old and has no problem whatsoever in walking 1 1/2 hrs. Now how impressive isn't that!!!??

Wee Jack, his Mama Martina and me :)

Autumn in full bloom and I have a "date" with wee Pixi!

We've been on a 12 km walk and having a sausage pitstop to refuel our energy levels!

Poppy's Mummy Jennie got wee Pixi after Poppy crossed the rainbow bridge. Pixi is adorable but it takes time for a broken heart to recover.
While Pixi is seeking a kiss I'm not quite ready yet......as my heart still misses Poppy <3

When Mummy has too much on her agenda with a stressful job and other ongoings.....than I decide to step in and take over in order to give her a well-deserved break. Since us whippets are phenomenal at more or less ALL things, this evening I'm tackling the task of doing our invoices/bills and getting our budget in order.
Accountant Milou at your service!!!! :)
......and with that said I'm signing out for this time. Until next time, as always......stay cool and hug a whippet or any fourlegged darling :)

Lazy days at the summer cottage at Österlen with focus on sunsets and EARS!!!!!!

Our longed for vacation is finally here.......no daycare for me or work for Mummy for a full month! We headed down to our summer cottage at Österlen. This is where I recharge my whippet batteries for the coming autumn and long winter and this is where Mummy "goes to war" with the garden and there in between she heads out on her racer cycle for very loooong bikerides!
This is our summer paradise. Mummy's heart is here and where Mummy's heart is.....so is mine :)



Good morning.....I'm all confused, not sure where I am my first morning at the summer cottage. The bed is ALOT smaller here so Mummy is slightly peeved at getting less space. Hmpf.........us whippets HAVE TO stretch our limbs even during sleep, it's our night time yoga. This has to be done in order to stay sleek, slender and elegant daytime.

Our first day..........feels so good to be here at our wee haven!

My brother Lucky visited for a while and he always lies outside. Rain will possibly force him indoors but otherwise he's always outside, lazing in the sun, watching insects, listening to the birds........

The fairy rose in full bloom..........

.....and the roses.

They say that people with "green fingers" are clever in the garden. Mummy really works HARD but her fingers are more brown, well.....like really brown! Not much green there yet...........but given time they might turn a shade green. I hope they do for Mummy's sake, because with all her heart she'd like to make the garden something Grandma would have been proud of.

Ssshhhh..........I'm scanning the fields......

...............and now into the field but my hunting was not successful this day!

Mummy & I visited Grandma everyday.
Where my head lays.....is exactly where Grandma is.
Our energies were united......she could feel me, and I her.

Mummy is having a break from her "warfare" in the garden!

Every spring there is a hive of activity in this old water pump, a pair of birds are very busy making a nest inside it and later on baby birds arrive and lay safely in the pump :)

The guesthouse.

The sky is light but night is falling..........so lights on in the cottage.

Spectacular sunset.........one of many, many. Our evening walk was always long because Mummy never wanted to go home.....she could watch the sky forever and ever, till darkness forced us home.

Morning beach walk.......already very hot!

My Uncle Roy visited a few days which we loved :)

 

Uncle Roy is telling the moo moo cows how lovely they are!
Lucky is a bit frightened so he turned his back to them just in case.......

Mummy LOVES her cycling down here. She has her very own "Tour de Österlen" and heads off on 55 - 60 km rides as often as she can.

......and this summer her dear friend Eva visited and they "abandoned" me & Lucky and took off for hours on their bikes!

............nothing like swishing by stunning countryside on a bike!

 

And two thirds of the ride done.....Mummy & Eva take what they call a "pitstop"..........which I think means replenishing energy levels with coffee and sandwich :)

Later in the summer one of Mummy's dear friends, Shideh, visited from Copenhagen. They hadn't seen each other in several years but now picked up the thread again. That's what true friendship is all about, being able to pick up where you left off. Just like us canines can do........someone that's been close to us, we never forget, no matter how many years pass by.

Action! Photo shoot in the sunset........Mummy seated on the road, anything for a perfect shot!

Evening walk to Glimmingehus (a medieval castle).

Glimmingehus is the best preserved medieval stronghold  in Scandinavia.
It was built 1499-1506.

Going to the castle is always exciting!
LOOK!!!! I've found something in a hole in the castle wall!
What could it be? ..........a piece of medieval sausage perhaps?

I can really sense the historic happenings here -  like death traps to surprise trespassers and protect the nobles against peasant uprisings! Wow.........hard to believe the battles that have raged here.
Just crossed my mind.....imagine if I'm the FIRST EVER whippet standing here at the entrance of the castle - pretty cool thought!!!!

Me & Lucky......squinting into the evening sun, ready to leave the castle and head home to bed and soft duvets.
Such a different life today compared to then.........

A faint rainbow in the distance..........

This next section is dedicated to SUNSETS and EARS!

Our first evening blessed Mummy with an amazing sky going in shades of pink and light purple.
And for the picture I turned on my BESTEST radar EARS!!!!

 

Almost a full moon and when dusk is falling it is imperative to fold up my EARS very attentively as all sorts of interesting prey is lurking out there.........

Magic..........no words needed!
In fact Mummy put her butt on the road and made us sit there for quite a while just taking in the beautiful sky.....

 

This sunset was amazing...........the sky ablaze in yellow and reds.
Almost like a fire on the horizon......

Totally focused on what's moving towards me.........two horses out for an evening ride.
Mummy has already told me NOT to bark at them!
I'll try not to..........but can't promise anything ;)

This evenings sunset took Mummy's breath away.......like she was making funny oohhh and aahhhh sounds and telling me to LOOK at the amazing sky. I tried to but found it REALLY hard not to focus on the fields instead!

Milou Whippetsson - no further introduction required....
....our last morning walk before heading back to the city.



A final "selfie" before we get on the road. Mummy putting on a brave smile but I know her heart is crying within.....she hates to leave her cottage. But now we can look forward to coming back a few days in the autumn......a few days when the house will be closed for the coming winter.
Next spring we'll be BACK again for more gardening, cycling, sunsets and EARS!!!! :)

Zzzzzzzzz..............I'm literally dead to the world. Now home in the city in our BIG bed, could lie here forever and ever..........

.......but Mummy gets me going and we enjoy a lovely morning walk.
The summer cottage is something we love so dearly......but being home isn't that bad either :)

Hmpf..........Mummy wants a nice "selfie" of us but I'm not amused. Too early in the morning for photo shoots and putting on my "pretty/handsome" face!
Until next time.........take care and keeping hugging & loving your fourlegged family members :)