Spring is in the air...

GREETINGS FROM SOUTH AFRICA!

MAXMOM here...

I'm sitting here, with my laptop and sweet little 'Twix' on my chest. She is just so cute when she is relaxed.  Every so often she lets out a spontaneous giggle and I follow suit.  She's grown so much in the last month - since I 'rescued' her - and she's filled out into a round little ball.  Twix is 'on top of the world'!  She has the sweetest little personality too.
 I just adore this little Guinea Pig!

I must admit that I've recently suffered a bit of 'blogger's block'.  Usually, I hesitate to write when I feel uncertain, but my posts are getting too irregular for comfort.  Ironically there is so much happening in my world, but words don't seem to flow any more.  Perhaps I've simply been too busy, burnt out perhaps (?)  Perhaps it's just the seasons which are changing(?)  Perhaps I'm disillusioned with the sales of my book(?) (I still haven't broken even yet - despite selling over 600 books).  

All these things add up, but I just have to make an effort to keep posting.  Blogging is what keeps me sane during stressful times; it keeps my feet on the ground and allows me to link with a network of amazing people.  So, please accept my apologies for my absence, dear friends. As they say...it's just one of those times.... 

Today is our first warm Spring day - it's a maximum of about 27 degrees C, clear skies, emerald shoots on the trees and a faint smell of jasmine in the air.  Everything is coming to life again after the cold months of winter. It seems impossible that, only two weeks ago, we were in the midst of a cold snap with snow around the country. 


 Isn't our weather extraordinary? 
Our Spring means that some of my bloggers will be experiencing their first signs of fall...

Eleven-year-old Tammy gave us a big scare last week.  Besides Toby, all my furry friends have been getting old and we have had to watch the inevitable process which goes along with ageing.  Only a month ago we said goodbye to Toffee, so Tammy's new ailment left me numb to the core.  She suddenly went off her food and demonstrated uncharacteristically impatient behaviour with the 'Sweet Hooligan' - a clear sign that things weren't normal.  Our vet checked her out and prescribed antibiotics, but remained worried about the pain she seemed to be experiencing in her lower abdomen. (All I could think of was "Oh no, am I going to loose her too?") The medication seems to have done the trick however and she is much, much better.  Despite this, we took her in for a scan today - for "safety" sake.  Thankfully everything is normal.  Slightly swollen lymph nodes suggest a viral infection.  But she's going to be okay.  I can breath again. Yay!

I've been doing some baking for a local home-industry lately - lemon biscuit squares, chocolate squares, choc-chip cookies and the occasional cake..  It's kept me busy and also given me the opportunity to 'help out' in the store sometimes.  (But has distracted me from my writing) I love the vibe in the store. People are very friendly and it's allowed me to get out a bit more.  It's also great that they have copies of my books on their shelves.  Some Saturdays I go into the store to do promotions.  We've sold about 35 books in the past 6 weeks... 

I've also finished the lovely crocheted, cuddle blanket which has been packed up and sent off to a special little baby in Canada.  Made with love...

 So....life continues in our household...and the 'Sweet Hooligan' is his usual 'Sweet Hooligan self'.  He  certainly injects youthful vigour into our household.

That's all I can muster at the moment.  Hope you are all well, dear friends. Happy Spring everyone!

"Live life to the Max!"

Sending lotsaluv