A special breed...

Don't you just love this!

Thought we'd pop in to say hallo to everyone! We've been scarce but certainly very busy! Little Ms Abbey has been on a few road trips since we last posted and last weekend she was the team mascot for our cycling team, she joined the backup team in the vehicle for all of 210km!

Here she is with her dad at one of the feeding stops...

Looking at this picture I have to say, it's amazing how such a tiny little creature can melt a grown man's heart the way this little one does! "Show me where the bullies are..." could very well be the caption for this picture as well! :)

I don't know about you, but I for one continue to be amazed by the truly special people who cross my path via the blogging world. Last night I chatted to my South African blogging buddy, Caryl, for the first time. What a special conversation we had! Caryl has just published her first book and I can't wait to read my very own copy! She's posting it to me today and you can be sure that I'll be posting a review somewhere in the near future!

Caryl and I chatted about what a special breed dog/cat bloggers are and she really gave me loads of food for thought. We do adapt writing styles when we write alongside or by mouth of our animals and by doing so we certainly attract a very special audience. Mostly people who can identify and I have to say, people who seem to be incredibly caring and loyal. I think that this is one of the reasons I have been unable to say goodbye to this blog - somehow I sense, every time I look at my little silent family of 51 followers, that there are amazing friends in that little group. 

I am forever grateful that I started Abbey's blog and as she and my three other four legged children will never actually utter an actual word to me - their love and friendship is as tangible as the love and friendship that I share with the humans in my life.

So, to all my blogging friends out there - THANK YOU so much for taking time to share of yourselves in your blogs. I feel honoured to be a member of this exclusive club and Maxmom - a big hug to you today!

Click here to read Maxmom's amazing blog.

Hope this week bring you loads of smiles!

Interesting encounters...

Halooo! You're different!

MSA - Not three letters that you want to see together!

This morning we'd like to ask you to join us on the 3rd of October in raising awareness of a horrible disease, known as MSA or Multiple System Atrophy.

Here is the definition as per Wikipedia:

'Multiple System Atrophy (MSA) is a degenerative neurological disorder. MSA is associated with the degeneration of nerve cells in specific areas of the brain. This cell degeneration causes problems with movement, balance and other autonomic functions of the body such as bladder control or blood pressure regulation. The cause of MSA is unknown and no specific risk factors have been identified. Around 55% of cases occur in men, with typical age of onset in the late 50s to early 60s.

The overall prevalence of MSA is estimated at 4.6 cases per 100,000 people.'

On the 3rd of October the organisers of International MSA day have asked that people all over the world light as many candles as possible at 8pm their local time to create awareness of the illness. They have also asked that people walk a mile during that day, either alone or with someone else and that those miles are logged on their official MSA website. What a wonderful idea!

I have written a piece on this on my Camino blog and all the info you will need if you want to participate is to be found from my post on the subject. I will be walking with the amazing Sonja, one of my newest friends, who was diagnosed a year ago with MSA. From being a vibrant athlete and gym instructor, she is now wheelchair bound. I will be meeting her in person for the first time on Monday - in fact, we'll meet at her local beach where they plan to start the walk. People will take turns to push her wheelchair - I thank God that he surrounds us with our own special angels in the form of friends and family in time of need!

To find out more about Sonja and MSA, click here for our post on the subject. Thank you for taking the time and we'd love to hear from you if you have participated or discovered what people have arranged for the 3rd October in your part of the world.

We would love it if you can join us in lighting a candle in your own home at 8pm on Monday. Why not send us a photo of your burning candle/candles and we'll send it on to our friend Sonja, who is working so hard to raise awareness while battling the illness herself.

Our email address: ferreira.emilene@gmail.com.

A few special moments from our roadtrip...

Almost at our destination - this part of our country, known as the little Karoo, is pretty arid but covered with amazing wild flowers this time of the year.

Beautiful blue skies with yellow and purple flowers alongside the road for miles...

The famous 'rooster brood' or griddle cakes found at all events hosted in our small towns in the countryside.

Made with love by these three local ladies...

...and enjoyed by us with a lovely Italian cheese!

Our home on wheels for four days!

And this is what the trip was all about - the annual 'Karoo to Coast' 100km mountain bike race.

A view of the town of Wilderness on our 'Garden Route'.

Tourists in our own country!

And when a girl has to go, she has to go!

Halloo - we'd like a big bush for privacy please!

Holiday homes along the route...

This was the view at our campsite this morning - picture perfect!

Almost home!

Well, that's about as much as I could stay awake for!

Same here - wake me up when we get home!

Day 1 of our roadtrip...

A flower amongst the flowers!

Halloooo - I'm here too..!

Delicate 'Chinese Lanterns' growing wild along the roadside - stunning!

We are having fun indeed!

Our route so far: Cape Town / Worcester / Montagu / Barrydale / Ladismith / Calitzdorp / Oudshoorn

We are following the classic 'Route 62' - if you'd like to see more of the area that we are travelling through, click here for the official route site.

Roadtrip!

The camper is in the driveway and Ms Abbey has checked out the mobile accommodation - I guess all that remains is to say: 'Watch this space!'

We can't wait to share our roadtrip with you!

We just can't say goodbye!

Miss Abbey making the most of the lovely weather!

Glad to say we've finally had a sunny day in our part of the world! It's supposed to be spring here but it's been wet and overcast for days now - I can't even remember when last we were even able to spend a Thursday in the mountains!

I'm afraid I haven't been very good at updating Ms Abbey's blog - I was just saying to Maxmom that I think I need to concentrate on my Camino blog and do a final post here, as keeping up three blogs (there's the Thursday hiking blog as well!) is proving to be an impossible task! This morning I thought I'd attempt to put together that final post here but alas, I can't do it!!

I've discovered that this little blog really does have a special place in my heart, even though I haven't updated here in weeks. I simply can't say goodbye to it! So, my friends, I'll have to think about the format that I want this to take on, somehow I think we should give it a final bash! 

Lets begin then with an update of the four stars of this household. Firstly, little Miss Abigail. I'm glad to report that she still rules the roost, even though she's the tiniest of the lot. Prim and proper, in excellent health and a true little lady. She really is the easiest little dog to live with - she literally can travel anywhere with me, as long as she's close to me, nobody even knows she's there! That works really well when we have to sneak her into places where four legged little creatures aren't really allowed! As animal lovers I'm sure you can identify!

Miss Chloe is doing well, we seem to be winning the allergy battle at this stage. For those of you who've gotten to know us, you'll know that she's had a constant battle with skin allergies the last two years or so. We now have them all on a Tapioca and fish dry food diet and after an extended period on antibiotics, so far so good. We've had no choice but to go the cortisone route a couple of times now as her skin became SO badly infected, so hold thumbs that that will NEVER be necessary again!

Our old faithful Bacardi the Maltese has had to have a whole bunch of his teeth extracted - he suffered from a nasty abscess and together with that of course he had a serious case of halitosis, which thankfully now has been sorted out! He is such a darling dog - hates any loud noises and actually leaves the room if people talk too loudly! Watching a sports event on TV in our house means making sure Bacardi is not in the room - when our team scores a goal (the men in this house mostly watch soccer), he runs for the hills!

George the Maltese is doing great - we think he had one or two days of what looked like arthritis pains this winter but nothing that needed to be checked by the doctor. Phew, I tell you, we are seriously considering taking out doggie medical aid for these four, our vet's bill has been astronomical this year. Bacardi's stint with the teeth last week was a cool R1980 and I've lost track of Chloe's allergy bills... If our vet ever decides to sell shares in his business I think I'll seriously consider investing - that guy is making good money!

Anyway, there's nothing we won't do to ensure our doggies are well cared for, so here's to good health and many happy years with these special little creatures entrusted to us!

Next Friday we're off on a road trip with the camper van we always rent when my husband participates in a cycle race upcountry. This time he's doing the 'Karoo to Coast' race and the two Yorkies and I have been invited along for the ride! We won't be getting on a bike but we will be supporting him all the way and look forward to sharing our trip with you here. I hope to take a gazillion pictures and hopefully I will be able to share a part of our country with you that you have not seen yet.

Wish me luck with camouflaging my two princesses along the route as I turn the 'No animals allowed' signs around! :)   

* If you're interested in what else we've been up to, you might want to visit our other blog: http://www.caminosantiago2012.blogspot.com/. You're very welcome! *

And a-travelling we went!

Every year in July we head out to the lovely little town of Knysna, situated on the so-called 'Garden Route' here in South Africa. We rent a lovely home from a Norwegian gentleman and relax for a few days while some members of the family take part in the town's annual cycling races or forest marathons.

This time the men cycled, I am not fit enough to do 5km right now, so the half marathon simply wasn't going to be part of the holiday this year! The town embarks on two weeks of festivities as they host their annual 'Oyster Festival' every year this time.

It takes us about five hours by car to get there, and as the yorkies and our little grandson went with us in the car, we had to make frequent 'pitstops' along the way. I just thought this one at one of the restaurants was the best!

Are they as accommodating in other parts of the world, I wonder?

Little Pixie needs a home!

Today we got an email from a dear friend asking us to help find this little sweetie pie a home. Here is her story:

'This darling little girl is urgently looking for her forever home where she
will be loved and cared for always.

Believe it or not she was abandoned by her previous owner as she just didn't
want her any more and handed her over to a security guard.  She didn't even
have a name so we are calling her Pixie at the moment!

She is approximately 4-6 months, has the most lovable, sweet and gentle
nature.  She walks well on the lead, gets on really well with all other
dogs, cats and people.  She is well mannered and travels well in the car...a
perfect little angel....and oh so pretty!

If you can offer this special little girl the wonderful home she so deserves, please let us know!'

And I'm even showing you my profile - have you ever seen such cute little ears!

All I want is to be loved!

I just know there is a family out there who will open their hearts to this sweet little puppy. She's in Cape Town right now and airfare will be paid to fly her to an approved home within South Africa if need be.

I know most of our readers live outside of South Africa but I also know that there are animal lovers out there with HUGE hearts, so I'm putting it out there... :)

We already have four little one's of our own, so unfortunately we can't help with providing a home but if you do know of someone with space and loads of love to give to our little African Pixie, let me know!

Just popping in...

Just popping in to say we're still around! We've been terrible bloggers lately but I guess it's a case of living a bit and then blogging about it! :)

I would like to say thank you SO much for the 'Versatile Blogger' awards we received, we will do proper posts about that before the end of the week...

In the meantime - have a great week everyone!





Let sleeping dogs lie!

Now THAT was a good night's sleep!

A young lady with manners!

This is little Ms Abbey at a little farm cottage on one of our cycling weekends away. She is so tiny that we often take her along and many of the places are quite happy to allow such a petite, house trained guest - four legged or not!

Right now, as I'm typing, she's standing next to me, staring right at me, almost without blinking an eye. In Abbey language, that either means: 'I need to drink water', or 'I have to have a private moment on the lawn outside...' That's exactly why she makes such a good travelling companion!

So without further ado, let me figure out which it is! Oh, and if you're following our Thursday hikes - latest pics have been posted, to see how blessed we are with wonderful scenery here in Cape Town, click here.

Lovely week everyone!

Not your average campervan!

I LOVE going camping with my humans. They often hire a campervan and sometimes sneak us in as not all caravan parks allow dogs. Their argument is that we're so much more than just DOGS, we're part of the family, more like the only kids still living at home...

So when I saw this picture I thought I should show it to them, they love cycling and this way they can camp and cycle at the same time! They can sleep standing up and my sis and I have a lovely little room at the top - a room with a view at that!

Hope the breaks are in good nick for going down the hills though!