Hot Dogs

Today was hot, much like most of the week. The washing is drying as soon as you put it on the line and the water is just disappearing from the dogs bowls. Here are two of the hot dogs trying to stay in the shade as much as they can. While River seems to want to just relax and let the heat off, Seun just can't help himself to just prance around and try play. It have something to do with their size.

Who Let the Dog In?

Here we have Jade, old in her years but still acts like a pup full of energy. When Lynda comes home from work she lets open the back door and the small dogs come rushing in. Jade sometimes struggles to get past River as she tries not to attract her attention. She is often distracted by noises in the kitchen and is always looking out for any opportunities for something to snack on. 

Day 79 - Shaved Ewok

 

Lockdown Day 79 - Level 3 Day 13 - Winter is truly here, and Lynda has been digging in the laundry cupboard searching for Jade's clothing that is too small for her. Here is one outfit that now fits Seun so nicely that he looks like an Ewok. Okay it is a long stretch but maybe a shaved Ewok? Okay that nose is certainly not from the Ewok genes. 

Winter we are ready for you!

Day 76 - Seun the Pomeranian

 

Lockdown Day 76 - Level 3 Day 10 On Sunday evening another rescue was brought home, this time it as a Pomeranian called Snoopy but the kids are calling him Seun which is boy in Afrikaans. Strange even our tenant calls his pig dog Seun whereas his name is Murdock.

Today Seun was taken to the doggy parlour to be de-fleaed, de-wormed, and have his haircut before he can be integrated with our other animals. So here is Seun or is that still Snoopy?

Day 71 - Varkhond

 

Lockdown  Day 71 - Level 3 Day 5 - Next month we will be getting new tenants in our garden cottage which means we will be seeing the last of Murdock the Bull Terrier or a Varkhond in Afrikaans. No we not that sorry to be seeing the last of him as not only has he chewed up the electrical cables feeding the outside lights in the front of the property but also the irrigation system's pipes and sprinkler heads. As in Afrikaans it is called a Varkhond or directly translated a Pig Dog because of its pig like appearance and its looks like only a mother would love. Although it gets on with other dogs it tends to be a one dog family dog as it can be obstinate as they are independent and very, very stubborn.

Day 54 - Piglet in Water

 

Lockdown Day 54 -  Our tenant sometimes leaves his dog Murdock on our side so that he doesn't get bored being alone. Well on our side he has River Song to annoy and he is able to play in the water that sits on top of the pool cover which he simply loves, just like a pig in mud, or in this case a piglet in water.

Day 52 - Dog under Lockdown

Lockdown Day 52 - Nica did a Tik Tok video of River Song today. Yes aren't she a beauty even under lockdown conditions.

Day 41 - Crazy Fool

 

Lockdown Day 41 - I only heard in my head "Murdock - you crazy fool" in the voice of BA as I saw our tenant's dog Murdock on top of his owners car trying to get some of the winter's sun. I suppose after yesterday's post Murdock wanted to show who is actually the king of the castle.

Day 30 - Paw Patrol

 

Lockdown Day 30 - One of my duties during the lockdown is keeping an eye on our gorge. When the weather is good, I do a patrol to the edge, checking up that no illegals have decided to make this beautiful wild place their home. River Song enjoys her only opportunity to get out of her lockdown. Remember this is not a dog walk but an official paw patrol and as you can see River has spotted a pilgrim scurrying to get out of sight from her beady eyes. I then report back to the Ops Room about the numbers of illegal camps we found.

Day 17 - Bath Time

 

Lockdown Day 17 - The weather is so unpredictable with just about 4 seasons in a day. Our Easter Sunday started with online church service and breaking of bread. Yes we celebrate Easter Sunday, the holiest day in our Christian calendar, the Messiah was put to death on the Friday over 2000 years, and on the Sunday, the tomb was empty. He had risen, conquered death.

Later on, the day grew hotter so Matthew decided to bath all the dogs. The smaller ones were easy but River Song, well at least she sat still during her ordeal. Not long after all the dogs were sunning themselves outside, the clouds started building up. Oh well, at least the dogs are clean.

China Flu

 

The calm before the storm, as South Africa gets its first positive case of the China Flu. Call it what you want, CoVid-19 which is cased by the SARS-CoV-2 virus was made in China, and now it has become a pandemic across the the entire world. ,

Here deep south in Africa, we waited with bated breath, excuse the pun, for the China Flu to arrive and here it is. A Chartered Accountant from Hilton who traveled on a ski holiday to northern Italy with his family and friends, is now known as patient zero but was only diagnosed on his 3rd day back. They say the the incubation period is 3-4 days from infection which makes more likely he got the China Flu virus either at the airport or on the flight back to South Africa. Lets hope that e have contained it in time.

So here I sit, hardly any wind coming down the gorge. Is this the calm before the storm?

Gracey

Oh my, looked what walked into my office on the last working day of the year, an iggy called Gracey. I then discover her full name is Amore Di Mia from the Suamore Italian Greyhound stable run by my good friend Sue Rautenbach and this little pup has just come out of an operation similar to what my Jade had years ago.

It was wonderful to hold an iggy again that wasn't mine, and the tought did cross my mind, that I need another one. 

Murdock

 

Murdock, my tenant's bull terrier puppy is a feisty little thing. I think Murdock is the only dog that can handle River Song boisterousness. Over the weekend, I let them play together, and during this time, I heard a splash, rushing out I found Murdock in the deep end of the swimming pool. He was struggling to stay afloat so I reached in and pulled him out by the scruff of his neck. And today he is back for more punishment. Doesn't he even learn?

Don't Forget Me

 

"Don't forget me,"cried River Song, our 2 year old German cross Belgium Shepherd. "No, how can we ever forget about you , River, you big galoot". So here before I forget about her again, is River Song, one of our children.

K9 Poison Proofing

This afternoon I joined the Roodekrans Neighbourhood Watch on a K9 Poison Proofing training. It was a shock to be told at the training that there is about 800 dog poisoning reported every week in the Roodepoort area to the police. That is a horrifying high number. They should hang the poisoners by their testicles, that is how I feel about these people.

LEAVE!  

Even I am shaking by the command not to pick up any food on the ground.

In Flux

No we are not getting a new puppy, as we already have too many cats, dogs, and other wild creatures at home for any more animals. Today became a very fluid day, with constant changing of what was happening. First Lynda, Robynne, Rebekah, Dakotah, and myself were going to drive down to Pietermaritzburg at 1pm but the plans all changed when Dakotah got very sick and had to go to the doctor. Marco drove all the way back up yo Johannesburg and I was then going drive down by myself but then Lynda decided to join me and off we drove. 

While waiting in flux for Marco to arrive, this little scrap of a pup decided that I was a good carry person. Not sure his name but this puppy is the latest in Robynne's pack of Minpins.

Ancient Jade

Okay not so ancient but Jade, my sole remaining Italian Greyhound, is starting to show her age. Even though Jade is in her grey years, she still is a sprightly little dog. 

Growing Grass

With all the rains, the grass the Dael planted has sprouted and growing much to the bewilderment of River-Song who doesn't know where to did more of her holes, naughty girl. In some parts where there was already grass, it is getting long and needs to be mowed, soon.

Back to Blue

And this is the result of my loving attention that I gave the swimming pool on Saturday, a stunning blue pool. After the Hulk green tinge, it is wonderful to see a pool back to blue again, inviting. Sad though soon we have to cover up the pool and bed it down for the winter dry spell. 

Left Outside

"Hey you! Yes you inside, can't you see that there is a storm coming and I have been left outside." I just got home, just as black ominous clouds started building up towards the west. I was the last one to arrive home as I had to bypass and meet with Tom, my mentor. It was getting dark as I flopped down onto the couch in the lounge. Lynda was busy in the kitchen making flapjacks and all I needed to do was put my feet up and relax. And then I looked up, only to see River Song standing at the sliding door looking in.