Thank you!

Fragrant roses I bought for Linda

Thank you to everyone who faithfully visited Driftwood Ramblings and left such endearing comments, even though the official Rambler has been absent from her post for quite some time. Thank you for stopping by, even though this piece of Driftwood had apparently deserted your shoreline and left your message bottle empty! Thank you for warmly welcoming Linda in my absence and for all your kind and encouraging words. We both sincerely appreciate your loving messages and loyal support.

To continue reading this post, please click the Read more button below...and see some new pictures of Noodle!

 

Noodle moved in with Linda a week ago, tomorrow (Saturday). She was not a well little pup. The veterinary specialist Linda consulted confirmed a bacterial infection of the respiratory tract and promptly prescribed a course of antibiotics. Her glands were enlarged, her tummy was distended, she was underweight and suffering from an itchy skin.

I offered to "move in" so that I could help with the preliminary training and settling in phase, but as Linda kindly filled you in on all of this, on my behalf, I shall not repeat any of that. Here, I am "training" her to be patient and accept "gently". She is so bright and has learnt a lot in the few short days I've worked with her!

I returned home yesterday well pleased with the progress we had made. Noodle has gained weight and her coat is so much softer and shinier than it was. Her beautiful eyes are bright and alert and she has plenty of energy. She is easy to train, seems to be well-adjusted to her new surroundings and it is already patently clear that she and Linda have bonded "for life!"

Noodle at her new home after only 4 days of hands-on love, attention and high quality feeding...the difference in her appearance and demeanour is amazing!

So eager to learn and please...for a biscuit!

Look at that focussed attention...waiting until she's allowed to take it "gently!"

May I please have another?

At nap-time, a heated comforter is much appreciated!

It's been snowing on the mountains...a girl needs to keep her paws toasty!

Today, Linda had to meet with a potentially new client in Hermanus, a seaside resort town about an hour's drive from where we live. She and Noodle arrived here, bright and early this morning and, after breakfast, Linda and her Dad left for Hermanus. It was raining heavily and my husband did not want her to drive alone, so he loaded our two German Shepherds (Bonny and Toby) in our bakkie and the four of them travelled to Hermanus, while our two pups, Coco and Milo, and our 6 year old, alpha-male, Heathcliff and I spent the morning together, "getting to know each other". I am delighted to report that it all went very smoothly!

As soon as the rain abated, we all bounded outdoors and, while I "gardened", the dogs had a great time playing tug, rough-and-tumble, chase the ball, sniffing out new scents, sniffing each other many, many times and being offered treats, side by side, in turn and by name, so that they could demonstrate their great listening skills and show each other that they were no threat to the others whilst treats were being handed out, literally nose to nose. They were all trying to outdo each other in demonstrating how gently they took whatever tidbit was on offer at the time.

 They all had fun selecting the perfect spot to ablute and then thoroughly inspected each other's spot to ensure evacuation had in fact occurred. They tried out the different water-drinking spots in the garden to see which one tasted the best and, when their paws were really muddy, they all bounded on to the freshly made-up bed in the garage and had a wonderful time unmaking it.

We had only just returned indoors after a thorough towelling down when the travellers returned and then, it was lunchtime for everyone and lots more sniffing and investigating occurred until, eventually, a large pile of puppies collapsed on their beds in the kitchen to enjoy a well-earned afternoon snooze.

My husband could not resist the opportunity to capture a few close-ups of this little pup in quiet repose...

She has incredibly beautiful eyes!

Perfectly lined and with jet-black mascara!

It's so hard keeping awake when all I want to do is suck my teddy and sleep after my very busy morning!

Since things went so well today, Linda and Noodle will be coming to spend a few days with us early next week, ostensibly to celebrate Dad's birthday on Monday, but also to give the dogs more time to bond with each other, so that future visits will continue to be happy, incident-free occasions.  

Just in case you don't believe me about the snow on our surrounding mountains, here's proof...

Taken (by my hubby) this afternoon, using a zoom lens, from over our gardenwall...

The Hottentots Holland Mountain range, dusted with snow!

I will hopefully be able to visit each of you within the next few days...I shall endeavour to view all posts I missed, but I cannot promise that I will be able to leave a comment on each and every one. I will leave my calling card on your most recent post and, if I don't, you have my permission to come round here and throw a hissy-fit if you want to do that!


Thank you, again, for being such great blogging friends! I appreciate every single one of you and carry you all in my heart. I think the following quotation applies perfectly to the friends we are so lucky to meet in Blogland!

"Listening is a magnetic and strange thing, a creative force. The friends who listen to us are the ones we move toward. When we are listened to, it creates us, makes us unfold and expand."

~ Karl Menninger ~