Thursday, October 7, 2010

A MIXED BAG...

GREETINGS FROM SOUTH AFRICA!
MAXMOM here...


Hello there everyone!

There are five things on my list today which I would like to talk about, so gather your beverages and take a seat...this is our time together...and I love it!

The first...
Toby had his first swim yesterday!...and yes, it was a planned one!
We went off to Asta's house, where my friend has a heated pool.  It was a beautiful afternoon - clear skies, warm temperatures and a green garden, with a variety of twitterings coming from the surrounding foliage. Both Asta and Toby had been highly energised throughout the day, so we thought a swim might dissipate all their puppy energy.

I fished my swimming costume out my cupboard and transfomed myself into a fifty-something beachbabe (Huh?)

..In your dreams, Maxmom!  Toby looked on with a mixture of horror and glee...I wasn't sure if the horror had something to do with my swimming costume! Anyway, I was in the pool before he knew it.
Fortunately I didn't have my camera with me! LOL!...so you will just have to imagine it!

The bottom line (excuse the pun) of the story is that TOBY PUPPY is a natural water pooch!
He jumped into that pool as if there was nothing else in the world.  At first I was thrilled, thinking that he 'loves' the water.  Indeed he does love the water, but his determination to get into the pool was because his seperation anxiety had taken over....
Is this good or bad?

Secondly, I would like to announce that there will be very few (if any) photographs of our dazzling
 'AUNT TAM'
 in the immediate future!

  Unfortunately she has had a make-over and looks nothing like herself!

  Some budding hair stylist in our household got hold of a pair of scissors....more horrors!
  The closest description I can give you is that our 'AUNT TAM' can now substitute for an Albino Zebra!
No amount of coaxing will entice me to put up any pictures of her on this blog!!!
Sorry folks!

The good news is that she 'feels' so much cooler in this hot climate!

Caution! Caution!...not for sensitive viewers!
Please close your eyes as you scroll down!

You are warned!...
.....
.....

African rain spider - in our bathroom last night!

The beautiful rain spiders have sought refuge in places where they won't be showered!
Our temperatures have picked up dramatically over the past couple of days and we've had our first rain shower this afternoon.  TOBY PUPPY thinks this is heaven!  The droplets pour off him like a duck and he is very interested in the booming heavens...interested, NOT scared!

The fourth thing I want to say is that I am so sorry for all the sadness which is prevailing in bloggie-land at the moment.  So many friends have lost their animals or their loved ones. You are ALL in my thoughts and prayers.  If it is any consolation...it is these difficult times which prime us to appreciate the happier ones.  Hang in there, dear friends...one day at a time!


To my many blogging friends who responded to TOBY's call yesterday...
THANK YOU!

I honor you all for your unique role which you play in our beautiful,
 "Power of the Paw!"

Fifthly and Finally...

Isn't it amazing what us Mom's have to endure....mmmmph!

I am sure we all have stories of our households being filled with various 'projects' which belong to our children/grandchildren.  Well, I thought I'd outgrown that one, but I now have to think twice...

One of "Miss R"s subjects at university is micro-biology, so now we have
MUSHROOMS
growing in our bathroom!
Yes, beautiful, frothy, pink mushrooms!
My whole house smells like a mushroom farm!
Oh dear!


Do the joys of motherhood match the joys of Puppyhood?
I wonder!


Sending lotsaluv


26 comments:

Sheila and Bob said...

Love the photos, so glad Toby enjoyed the pool.
We look forward everyday to you blog, photos and comments, keep up the wonderful work.

Sheila & Bob

Two French Bulldogs said...

Oh my Toby your first swim! How exciting. Did you
and piggy do the back stroke? We bet you were very tired after your big swim lesson. Poor Tammy, don't worry you are adorable
Benny & Lily

3 doxies said...

His a water dog fur sures...dunno why but I is allergic to it...hehehe!
Now lemme telss ya bout my sissy. Her is a longhaired doxie and da groomer lady SHAVED her. Mum wasn't happy at all until her brought Whitney home and saw how much cooler and HAPPIER her was....don't worry, it's growing out...her looked like such a dork.
No need to thank fur going to Missy's blog. We were happy to do so. We should all come togethers during a time like dat.

Puddles

NAK and The Residents of The Khottage Now With KhattleDog! said...

The mixed bag was a lovely mix!

Thanks fur sharing all the images - even those we DIDN'T see!

Hugz&Khysses,
Khyra

Jake of Florida said...

If it's any consolation, when we pluck Jakey and Just Harry after they have "bloomed" -- the technical term for putting on at least two pounds each of fur -- they too feel so much lighter and happier. JH gets speckled -- kind of like Ms. Tammy's zebra stripes? -- but he's so spry, we don't care about the look. Just curious though, does Tammy herself feel she looks odd?

Loved your blog except for the spider... perhaps you could post a graphic warning for the squeamish among your followers!!!

Wirey love to all from the Boyz,

Joan

Ms. ~K said...

Hi Toby,
We're so excited about your first swim, for whatever reason!
You will soon learn that a wet Retriever is a happy Retriever!
Licks and sniffs,
Zack, Sassy and Buddy

PS...And a big kiss for your adorable snooter from Ms. ~K!

verobirdie said...

The mushrooms make me laugh! They are beautiful, and I like the smell. I can't remember something similar from my girls.
You are sure Aut Tammy has a bad hair day? (or month?); We'll miss her!

Mrs. JP said...

Oh, you're a funny gal posting that picture of the hog! I'm glad that Toby likes the water, of course he likes water...he's golden!!
Regarding the mushrooms, at least they are pretty mushrooms.
Also, that tree is so unusual...glad for the picture!

The Heartbeats said...

How fun! I love swimming with my pups! And the mushrooms are beautiful. The spider is not. LOL! I would come unglued if I saw a spider quite that large!!

Amy & the house of cats said...

Wow what a full post! We think it is great that Toby is a natural swimmer. And for the separation anxiety, well, I don't know much about that in dogs, but I woudl think at that age it is normal - sounds like a normal thing to me at least.

And well, we are sorry that Aunt Tam got a bad furcut - but sometimes comfort trumps fashion (for me most times). If she is more comfortable in the heat it seems like a small price to pay!

We missed the post yesterday, but we have been so sad as we are visiting today because so many of our friends have lost friends in the blogosphere. We have been sending out comforting purrs and prayers for all of those who had to leave.

Anonymous said...

Oh, gosh! You sure do have a lot going on! Those were the neatest mushrooms ever! We've never seen anything like that.

And, um, PLEEEEEEEEZE puts up a picture of Aunt Tam??? PLEEEEEEZE? I've got this ker-azy picture in my head and I wanna see if I'm right.

Oh, and please tell Toby that I was so happy that he was able to stop by my bloggie yesterday! He's very well-spoken for somebuddy so young.

Wiggles & Wags,
Mayzie

Jacqueline said...

So cool that Toby enjoyed the swim with you; he seems like such an adorable, curious, playful sweetheart!...Sorry about Tammy's bad haircut, but glad to hear she feels better in the heat; did Toffe or Toby react differently to her?...The mushrooms are actually quite beautiful, I was surprised by their beauty!...Hope you have a great day, sweet friend.

The Life of Riley said...

Visiting your blog and seeing photos of Toby always make me smile, as Toby looks so much like a young Riley! The only difference I see is that his ears are darker, but his mischievous face and poses for photos are so similar. Perhaps all puppies look the same, but it makes me wonder how far back they share the same Golden Retriever genes. Riley’s dad never set paw on New Zealand soil. He lived in England and I've only seen a picture of him, which reminds me to ask you what does Toby’s dad look like? Did you or Toby ever meet him?

I hope Tammy’s bad-fur days don’t last too long, as I’ll miss seeing her, but can understand the need for a cooler fur-style for summer.

I enjoyed you mixed bag – have a great day.

Love from
Riley’s mum

George The Lad said...

Yep, that was a mixed bag, good to see you like water Toby, cus I don't I might do if it was heated, but I am so gald we don't get spiders like that!
Anyways thanks for giving me a poke, I've not been to see you for a while, I picked up on your last post, and have been to see Missy so sad.
Thanks for your comment Toby, you are growing up so fast, I'm sure Bertie and Gail would find room for you.
See Yea George xxx

Angel Ginger Jasper said...

Oh my I love chasing spiders but even I would think twice about that.. I loved all your pictures and wow pink beautiful mushrooms.. LOvely post. HUgs GJ xx

Maggie Mae and Max said...

MaxMom,

Yay fur Toby and his first swim! I wishes I liked da waters. I hopes you changes your mind 'bouts not showin' us pictures of Aunt Tam, her is beootiful no matter what!

Woofs and Licks,
Maggie Mae

Clive said...

Loved reading about Toby's first swim and those mushrooms are amazing.

take care
Clive and Murray

Anonymous said...

So happy that Toby enjoyed the pool. But I sure would have wanted to wee a pic of Toby in the water!

The mushrooms are really pretty. Are they for eating?

woo woos, Tessa

Molly the Airedale said...

We didn't know pink mushrooms even existed! How beautiful they are!

Love ya lots
Maggie and Mitch

KB said...

Oh my, where to start? First, I'm not surprised that Toby is a natural swimmer. He's a Golden Retriever, after all! When I had my first lab, I was convinced that I was going to have to teach him to swim... until he sprinted straight into the ocean and started swimming in the big waves. No need for lessons!

And, seeing those mushrooms and imagining dogs in the same house with them makes me very very nervous, since I have a pair of mushroom hounds in my house. I'm sure that you don't need my reminder but keep that bathroom door closed!!!!

I don't know about the joys of motherhood but I know that the joys of puppyhood are boundless!

Tweedles -- that's me said...

Toby Puppy
You are so brave to venture right into the water to swim. I bet you were so cute!
And we wanted to tell Tammy girl.. well at least you will feel good for awhile- with less fur balls.
I would not tease you at all, if I saw you.
I am sad for all the furrys and people that we have lost too,
Scout and Freyja told me about the greatest friend to all animals went to the bridge. i think many of the animals she helped are happy to see her right now
love
tweedles

♥I am Holly♥ said...

What a beautiful post!!! So many wonderful pictures!!! Toby is already in the pool!!!! That is great!!!! Perhaps Toby could teach Holly how to swim? Lots of love, Debbie and Holly

Dexter said...

Thanks for the warning. We had to scroll really fast through those last few pictures.

Poor Aunt Tam! Perhaps she could wear a mask for the near term so as not to have revealing photos on the internets.

As for the swimming pup. I know that PeeWee is so mental to go swimming that it worries momma because he would just dive into a rushing river and get swept away without a thought. So stay safe, little one.

Slobbers,
Mango

P.S. Momma suffers from jolly bottom and wouldn't want any swimsuit photos of her either. Hehehe.

Milo and Alfie Marshall said...

How wonderful that Toby is a water-baby!
We are sad too ~ there seems to have been so much loss of late. We are purring for the families.

Kasha The Dainty Great Dane said...

Hello Toby,

I don't think I've official introduced myself to you but I knew Maxdog and wanted to say hello to you. Tell your mom I'm sorry I haven't been visiting much but mom's been busy and did I mention lazy!!

You are such a cutie patootie toby. I love hearing all about your life and you sure got lucky getting picked by your family!!

By the way I do want to see some real pictures of Ms. Tammy!! So tell your mom to post them.

AARF Kasha the Dainty Great Dane

sprinkles said...

Eww, I just absolutely HATE spiders! I have a huge one in my garage that I'm scared of. I keep trying to talk my father into coming over to kill it but he just tells me spiders are our friends and that they eat bugs. I don't care, I still don't want it in my garage!

Those mushrooms are kind of pretty. I've never seen any like that before.

Yes, blogland has been very sad lately. Just makes me hug my boys that much harder.

Sorry about Tammy's haircut. Luckily it'll grow out.