Kisses for Mother Christmas

On Sunday we had our Christmas Scottie walk in the Jack Muller Park in Bellville. It was quite hot. Laddie was very happy to see Maggie May (exiting stage right) but since she bit my nose, I don't share Lad and the Food Lady's affection for her. I prefer her wonderfully handsome brother, Kirby (stage centre).

As you can see, it was hot and dry.

Poor Blair had to contend with the heat and Laddie's rather embarrassing interest in her! Oh goodness Laddie - can't you be a tad more discreet?

Luckily he and Maggie May had to veer off into the bush to hunt imaginary rodents, which took his mind off Blair. But then he'd remember and tear off to be with her again.

We had a Christmas picnic and Mother Christmas came round with dog popcorn and a gift for all the Scotties. Here is Lad getting his popcorn.

Some of the puppies were so happy and full of love and thankfulness that they had to kiss Mother Christmas' beard. Such show-offs. They didn't realize that it was Estea dressed up. And if you look in the distance, you can see Kirby with his nose in Mother Christmas' sack. What a clever boy.

The Food Lady photographing Mila the silly licky pup.

And another beard-kisser - little Mac. I must say, he is full of fun - just as long as he doesn't come and live with me.

Lad's gift - biscuits and a dog "aquatoy". I thought we should give it to Kirby but he said he prefers stinky-sticks to chase and retrieve - he would shred this poodle-toy in seconds.

And my present was a packet of delicious dog biltong. The Food Lady confiscated it immediately and only let me have a small taste. But hope to have more during the course of the week.

And here are Bailey and Angus with their humans Le Roux and Melanie with all the goodies we collected at the Scottie Walk for the pet rescue centre, Fallen Angels.

Three hot dogs among the hot flowers

We had no takers for Sunday morning's walk - except for Harvey who was visiting - so it was just us in the fynbos. At the start of our climb up - and up - there were lots of golden yellow Tritoniopsis parviflora flowers that rather delayed the photographing phood lady.

But we eventually got to the top.

Measuring iridescent pollen-tipped flower "feelers" and concluding that is was Dilatris corymbosa.

An early Watsonia tabularis - endemic to Table Mountain - glowing in the fynbos.

Me listening for small animal scrabblings in the Rough Ragwort (Senecio rigidus).

Lordy - do I have to scramble up that steep rock?

More good smells amongst the tall tetraria - Bergpalmiet (Tetraria thermalis) soon to be re-allocated to a new genus.

A rather pretty, very fine, pollen-laden frilly grass.

And lots of hot little Yellow Disa (Disa tenuifolia) flowers.

We came upon a friendly Shar Pei which was very exciting and we all said hello to him.

Then we all started feeling the heat. After all it was almost 11 and teatime.

Laddie seems undecided about which road to take,

but the Food Lady read the sign and confirmed that me and the Alph were on the right track to Lower Steenberg Peak.

Scintillating jewel ericas - the appropriately named Bead Heath (Erica multumbellifera).

I found a cool and shady cave to linger longer and take my time squeezing through. I rather fancy this caving business. I think I was built for it.

A red hot little Crassula obtusa that loves to grow on hot sandstone ledges.

Teatime at last and a welcome breather in the shade.

Oh dear, Lad's lost his ear again ...

Another little orchid called Eulophia aculeata, or it was until recently but now it seems to have changed its name to Orthochilus aculeatus.

And HARVEY's flower - Harveya purpura - but he was too busy to come and be photographed with his flower,

so we just walked on, past the giant Golden Disa (Disa cornuta),

and past the glowing green Erica urna viridis

until I got too hot to walk and the Food Lady put me in my new special bag and carried me down the mountain and home.

The wisdom of dogs

Thanks Pauline for sending this. Both our humans just love cartoons about dogs although most of it is lost on me. Here are a few more.

Alex Graham, a human Scot and the creator of Fred Bassett shows Freda one of his cartoon sketches. (Click here for more on this famous hound whose sidekick Jock is one of our faves.) 

 

And click here for more cartoons  - or on the label "cartoons dogs like" below.

Scottitude

Today was a Scottie Walk on Fish Hoek Beach. I love Scottie walks as there are generally lots of delicious little treats for us. We arrived a little earlier and walked along the beach.

It was the most perfect, warm, gentle summer's morning. My favourite kind of walking - shimmying along in tummy-cooling water.

Lad was up the beach investigating everything and every dog. There are quite a few dead beasties washed up - from seals to seabirds - all testament to the furious gales we have been having over the past few weeks.

Hightailing it up Fish Hoek beach.  

Hartlaubs and Grey-headed Gulls socializing in front of the Beachfront Informal Shelter for the Homeless and Drug-peddling Fraternity of Fish Hoek. All very peaceful.

Then we heard a distant barking, 

and started seeing more and more Scotties,

until we were in the middle of a yapping, sniffing, wagging, snapping Scottie Walk!

Luckily the owners are better behaved and more civic-minded than their charges.

Laddie was overwhelmed as ever with all the bums to sniff.

The posh Scotties about to be greeted by Mac the happy and enthusiastic pup. Like me they were polite, but not impressed with his over-the-top, ecstatic greeting.

Although Fish Hoek municipality wouldn't allow us to play the bagpipes, some of the walkers entered into the spirit of things.

The Gusses and Jeanie - and their collie brother (or is it a sister?).

Laddie and Maggie-May immediately went off exploring,

with Laddie copying everything she did.

The crazy pups - Mac and Kenzie - drawing all the fond and foolish humans towards them,

as did this young whippersnapper called Lily,

who tried to ambush me but luckily couldn't quite reach. Cheeky youngster. Such scottitude!

Her sister, Savanna, suffers from cramps - just like my brother from down the road - and her human put her in the carry-bag that was meant for Lily-the-pup with scottitude. This had given the Food Lady ideas for carrying me on hot Sunday walks.

We got to the end, then walked back again.

It was now getting rather uncomfortably warm for an old Scot, and the treats were really quite underwhelming,

and Lily-the-pup with scottitude was fighting off sleep. She also suffers from fomo like Harvey which makes it difficult to fall asleep.

Some Bosties came past too - in top gear as Bosties always are.

There were also some important peeps from Tin Can Town, who we are supporting today.

Shades of grey - Whisky, Nico, Savanna and Saskia.  

 Then we said goodbye to all our Scottie Walk friends and went to Omie-Domes house for a cup of tea and a ferocious bark at the neighbour's ugly Labrador.