ASTA visits her puppy-playground

(Above: Toby and Asta: 2011)

I am sure that regular readers will not have forgotten a very special canine friend of ours:

"ASTA" 

ASTA is a Guide dog who spent her puppyhood in the committed care of my equally special friend - Lorraine. 

Asta was Lorraine's first puppy as a 'puppy-walker'. Subsequent to Asta, she has nurtured "Themba" and "Keltex" too.  I am always in awe of puppy-walkers - they give endless hours of their time in order to prepare these pups for a life with someone else.  There is no other way to say this - puppy-walkers are angels on this earth!

Anyway, you may also remember that ASTA and Mr TOBY were very close canine-companions when they were puppies.  Here are some pictures to remind you:

  During ASTA's puppyhood, we organised many 'play sessions' for them.  Asta and Toby were about the same age and adored each others' company.  Sadly, it was inevitable that their time together would end.

In October 2011, we all said 'good-bye' to ASTA when she returned to the Guide-dog centre to begin her formal training.  It was a bitter-sweet and tearful moment.  Lorraine had done a sterling job - nurturing this young dog for her big journey.  Lorraine's patience, dedication and care has shone through all the way and ASTA was ready for the hard work ahead.  

While ASTA was interned at the GUIDE DOGS FOR THE BLIND we relied on random snippets of information about her progress. She did go 'home' to Lorraine on one or two brief occasions, but that was all. Lorraine waited patiently for news about her impending graduation. 

All went well and  ASTA finally graduated in September 2012.  She had spent nearly a year at Guide dogs before she was handed over to her new companion - Tracy Smith.  Tracy has been blind from birth and had been waiting for a while for a new Guide dog.  Asta and her formed an immediate bond during their orientation week and they finally went home to start their new life together.

(Above: Tracy with Guide-dog 'ASTA')

Quite coincidentally,  I received an email from a young woman who had read my book "MAXDOG".  Besides telling me about how my book had affected her, she also mentioned that she had a friend, called Tracy, who was blind and has a dog named Asta too.  It was the same person and the same dog. To cut a long story short, Lorraine decided to organise a tea so that we could all meet one another.  It would also give ASTA the opportunity to see and play with Mr TOBY again.  It has been approximately 18 months since the two dogs last saw one another. We wondered how they'd respond when they met up again.

At 3pm on Sunday, TOBY and I made our way to Lorraine's house. Soon ASTA arrived with Tracy and Lee-Ann.  They had hardly parked their car when ASTA bolted out of the passenger door.  She knew immediately where she was and entertained us all with a dance of absolute delight.  She bolted from one end of the property to the other in a celebration of familiarity.  Then she roped up TOBY into a vigorous romp. TOBY was equally delighted to see his old friend again.  After running around in circles for a while the two dogs ran straight through Lorraine's house to the back, where the swimming pool is located.  Like old times, they swam and chased one another in jubilation.  Amidst all this, I was also finally able to meet Tracy and Lee-Ann and we sat down to have a cup of tea and watch the dogs.

Here are some photos:

 (Above: Asta - all grown up)

 (Above: Asta and Mr Toby)

 (Above: Mr Toby - finally calmed down)

 (Above & Below: 'Asta' in the background and new puppy-in-training, 'Keltex' closest to the camera)

It was a lovely afternoon.  We munched on an array of delicious nibbles as we took in the spectacle.  Lorraine's new guide-dog puppy - KELTEX - was also present at the party.  It was so uplifting to watch ASTA in her "old" home; she hadn't forgotten the place at all and seemed to be rekindling the connection with her puppy days and her old canine friend.  

Having said this, I must also say that the working bond between ASTA and Tracy is incredibly strong - ASTA's attention is never far from her owner.  Their relationship is tender, happy and loving.  My heart went out to Lorraine too and I asked her how she felt about seeing ASTA again. 

"It is so wonderful to see how she has grown and the bond she has formed with Tracy.  She looks happy and beautiful.  Seeing them together simply reinforces my feelings that, in the end, it is all worth it!" Lorraine said.

In addition, I imagine that Toby's take on the afternoon would be something like this:

"When are you coming to visit again, Asta?"

(Above: Mr Toby, Lorraine, LeeAnne, Tracy and Asta)

Thank you again to Lorraine, Tracy and LeeAnn for making our meeting possible.

Once again, I commend the amazing work of puppy-walkers in general.  Their commitment to this cause is, quite frankly, amazing!  To bring a puppy into your home, train it up and spend so much time nurturing it and then to give it back, is a heroic deed indeed!

The relationship that ASTA has with TRACY is testimony to the selflessness of these incredible people.  I wish you all strength and encouragement as you go about your amazing work.

My thanks, too, goes to LeeAnn, who drove Tracy and Asta all the way across the city to come and visit us.  She is an awesome friend to Tracy.  You guys are a real team!

Sending lotsaluv and wishing Tacy and Asta many happy years together,

Happy Golden morning tea-time. (Bumper photos)

It's a chilly day here in Johannesburg.  

The kettle is boiled and the tea is made.

 I take the tray into the bedroom.

The dog's think I made the tea & muffins especially for them.

 Check it out (above)...Toby is drooling, lol!

 "P-L-E-A-S-E  Boss ?"

 Muffins finished - time to cuddle.

As they say;

"A Golden Retriever is not a dog...

...it's a way of life!"

Sending lotsaluv and wishing all my readers a happy weekend.

MAXMOM's BATCH BISCUITS - Just for fun.

This morning I decided it was time to bake a batch of biscuits. There's nothing like the aroma of freshly cooked biscuits infiltrating your home.  Why not join me in this endeavour?  

I've prepared a mini-tutorial for you - it's really easy, so bake a batch and invite some friends to tea...will you?

MAXMOM's BATCH BISCUITS

(These biscuits freeze well)

INGREDIENTS:

250g Margarine/butter

250ml oil

250ml Castor sugar

250ml Icing sugar, sifted

2 eggs

5ml vanilla essence

5x250ml Flour

5ml Baking powder

5ml Cream of tartar

2ml salt

Coconut, chopped nuts or cherries to decorate.

METHOD

* Preheat oven to 180C

*Cream margarine and oil together

*Add Castor sugar and icing sugar, beat well.

*Add Eggs and Vanilla essence

 *Sift dry ingredients together and add to mixture(Forms a soft dough)

* Roll into balls, press down and decorate.

Bake 15-20mins.

Remove from oven and allow to cool.

Anyone for tea????

If you are in the area, give me a call and come and have a cuppa...

Have a wonderful, happy Thursday (and let me know if you made them)

Sending lotsaluv

Early morning alone ...

(Above: I can't make 'head or tail' of this, lol!)

When "the Boss" is away, I rely heavily on the company of my dogs.  Without them, the house would feel stark and empty.  But they never fail to light up my life.  My trio of Goldens is constantly around my ankles, watching my every move.  With them by my side, my 'empty nest' is never quite empty.  

Lexi, in particular, is a cuddler of note and offers all the affection she can muster - especially in the mornings.  During the night, she is crated next to my bed while the other two, older dogs sleep comfortably on the mattress in the corner. This way I am able to channel Lexi's endless need to romp and play to more appropriate times.  When the dawn starts making its appearance, her need stretch her legs surfaces and she begins to moan.  As I open my eyes, I am met with a determined expression.

  "Time to get up, Maxmom! Hurry up", she moans. 

If I succumb to the urge to enter dreamland again, she begins to bark, which ropes in the other dogs.  "Sleeping in" is simply not an option for me.

I get up, put on something warm and open her crate.  By this time Toby and Tammy are also dancing at my feet.  There is no time to waste.  It becomes a mad scramble as they race down the passage. They wait patiently as I fumble with the keys and rub the sleep from my eyes. Tails wag furiously.

Finally, the house alarm is deactivated and we make our way through the lounge and to the patio door.  All twelve paws prance anxiously - they can't wait to feel the grass under their feet.  The door slides open and they dash outside.  It's time to do their early morning business and read the news of the night.  I turn my back on them, zip up my jacket and retreat 

to put the kettle on.

Five minutes later, I'm back in bed with my computer on my lap and a cup of tea on the bedside table. The dogs are back at my side with renewed energy - doggie smiles painted all over their sweet faces. I can't resist Lexi's cuteness and I invite her up onto the bed.  

"Come Lexi, up!"

She still hasn't worked out that she needs to rely on her back legs to project herself forward and upward.  It's extremely funny and she looks like a four-legged pogo-stick in her feeble attempts to jump  in a confined area  Finally, I help her up and am rewarded with a thorough face-wash. She rolls over on her back and invites me to rub her tummy.  I stroke her as I boot up my laptop.  Toby looks on forlornly until I invite him onto the bed too.  Soon there'll be no space for me.  Thankfully ageing "Aunt Tam" prefers to leave these things to the younger ones and retreats to her own bed in the corner.

There is something so comforting about having a pack of Goldens by my side in the morning.  They light up my spirits and urge me to embrace the day ahead.

But admittedly I still miss 'The Boss' when he is away.

("Come home quickly, my love - I need someone to make the tea!")

Wishing all my readers a happy Wednesday and remember...

"LIVE LIFE TO THE MAX!"