After Derek’s death, Ruth was lost. Now there was no reason to dust the house, there would be no more tomato competitions and no real incentive to paint again. Two great artist had died that day.
The distress of loosing Cleo had damaged Ruth irrevocably, that followed by the inevitable passing of family dogs, then Nicholas and finally Derek. This succession of life’s scars had drained her. She still had Josse and the grandchildren, but Duff House was large and empty and she felt alone.
It was now, that Dolly came into her life. Dolly, a small jack russell, was from the local dog sanctuary and Ruth instantly threw her whole heart and soul into their friendship. She walked her tirelessly, often five times a day, fed her endlessly, much to the horror of the grandchildren, and gave her everything a dog could want, even going to the point of having the legs sawn off the brand new bed, so Dolly didn’t have to over-exert herself, jumping onto it. In return, Dolly became Ruth’s alter ego. if Ruth got tired or bored, at someone's house, she would simply say “I think Dolly is getting tired, I better take her home” and she would leave.
In the eyes of Ruth, Dolly could do no wrong.
Dolly sleeping I
Gouache & watercolour on paper
15 x 12 cm
Ref: DSC_0264.JPG