Always Late but worth the Wait!

I’ve been bad, I know!  We are excessively grateful for our awards but also, it appears, frighteningly easily distracted by the likes of competitions, law cases (Molly and Doggie), Springbok stories and absurd mini-blogroll competitions.

I’m hoping that my fabulous readers and Award givers will take a page out of my long suffering Mother’s book who says I’m “Always Late but Worth the Wait”.  She even bought me these funky slipslops to prove it!

ALWAYS LATE BUT WORTH THE WAIT!

Of course, she is totally biased, as the laws of nature determine Mothers’ must be.

Don’t get a shock at the number. It’s purely because I’ve stacked them up for quite a while.  These awards are accepted with ludicrous elation by the rescue animals!

Hurdles to Happiness awarded us, ages ago, the Sunshine Award

Sunshine Award

Jodi Stone, equally long ago, awarded us the Sisterhood of the Bloggers award

Sisterhood of the World Bloggers award

Dockfam Adventures, Mollie & Alfie, and Raising Daisy, awarded us the Beautiful Blogger

Zac the All Black (now The Princess Tails with Zena) awarded us the One Lovely Blog

Donkey Whisperer  sent us the Kreativ Blogger award

It’s a Pussy Cats Life sweetly sent us the Super Sweet Blogger Award

plus the

Addictive Blogger Award, which we also received from The Misadventures of Misaki, Angels Whisper and Misty Shores Chesapeakes.

Having received some of these awards before, we decided to abide by the rules of the Addictive Blogger Award.  This allows us to eliminate a degree of embarrassing personal facts and, rather, tell you why we started blogging.  A much easier task!

This blog aims to raise awareness for the superb Pro-Life Animal Shelters in South Africa.  The awesome people running these organizations give up their entire lives to this daunting task.  They take in, feed, love and care for the neglected, abused, orphaned and injured animals.  They do not euthanise but, if suitable homes cannot be found, take these animals in for life.  The amount of work, time and dedication involved in ensuring that the animals not only get to live but have a life worth living, is so immense that many are left little time to promote themselves.  This is where I come in.  I have made it my task to raise awareness.

There are so many incredible blogs, each utterly deserving of awards.  This is stupendously difficult.  This post is already absurdly long so I am offering the following sites any of the above awards that they may not yet have:

Comedy in Crisis – Hilarious and well worth a read.  This site, from Cape Town, South Africa, will show you how to deal with adversity with a smile!

Granny 1947 – From the Eastern Cape in South Africa.  This is one funny granny.  Hop over and find out a bit more about life in our beautiful country.

Teedeevee – How brilliant to find a blog concentrating on the wonderful things in Johannesburg, South Africa.  This site might just change your mind about our city.

Birding Zimbabwe – A fantastic birding site from South Africa’s bordering country, Zimbabwe.

The Princess Tails – This site used to be called Zac the All Black, as  I’m sure most of you know it but I thought Zena needed a little confidence boost, now that she has, sadly, had to take over the reigns of blog fame.

Georgia About – What a fantastic place.  I have learnt so much about Georgia from this brilliant site.  Will have to visit there sometime.

Doggy’s Style – Yes Doggy, this is officially bribery.  Having been put in charge of keeping you under control in Mollie & Alfies competition, I thought an award might soften your trigger happy snipers a little.

Hey It’s Jet Here – Because Jetty the Gentleman (or Gentledog, more appropriately) deserves every award possible for his delightful, kind and forgiving nature.

Easy Weimaraner – Because Litchi thinks Easy is HOT!  She’ll be very embarrassed that I said that though!

We adore getting awards, so we hope that there will be plenty of opportunities in the future, to pass awards on to the sites I have not mentioned today.

A Royal Pardon!

Lady Litchfield Love of Litchfield, Staffordshire, hereby extends to Jet the Fabulous, of Hey It’s Jet Here, a Royal Pardon for her misconduct with regards to the Mini-Blogroll Competition post.

Lady Litchfield Love

My Dear Jetty, although Litchi (Lady Litchfield) had managed to capture you on her Awesome Blogroll Competition Winners list, she had, due to extreme brain-wave decline, neglected to add you to the List Of Winners in her post.  Being of Royal decent, she finds herself unable to hang her head in shame, finding that her upbringing within the Stiff Upper Lip society, has bred this out of her.  However, if she were able to, she most certainly would.

As compensation for her blunder, she offers to you, a post dedicated to Your Royal Fabulousness.  She trusts that your forgiveness will be forthcoming, as she is particularly aware of the eye-crossing, mind-boggling efforts you went to in order to assist her in the Le Clown blogroll contest.

Jet The Fabulous, you are held in the highest regard by this dynasty and your magnificence is awe-inspiring.  Litchi and the Rescue Animals of the world unite in their admiration of you.

Your faithfully

Lady Litchfield Love

Litchi’s Royal Pardon

The Awesome Blogroll List! Competition Winners Unite!

THERE IS NO REASON FOR THIS PHOTO – I just know you like to look at pictures! This is Ashley, a previous bottle-feeder foster kittie

I know I’m mad.  The voices in my head tell me so.  Being a nutter, I pinched Le Clown’s idea and ran a mini-blogroll contest of my own.  This was a positively preposterous idea – leading to untold hours of complete confusion on my part.

The entries were easy enough!  The creation of an ordered blogroll list was, on the other hand, absurd!  WordPress could, of course, have kindly allowed me to simply “drag” the blogroll widget across and edit the entries from there.  But no!  Why would they make my life easy?  Instead, I was inflicted with the admin (my downfall) task of creating individual links, under categories that, for reason unknown to myself, only allow 20 at a time, for each and every blog.

I trust you are thoroughly impressed and utterly delighted to be featured, as my once fabulous but now imploding electrical brain circuits have officially revolted (no, they are not “revolting”, they are staging a “revolt”) and I can no longer process enough data to make a simple cup of coffee.

So, to avoid any further brain-freeze, I shall move swiftly onto the list of Mini-Blogroll Contest Winners, who are now listed under Awesome Blogroll – Competition Winners!  These utterly superb sites, that helped keep me in Le Clown’s competition, are as follows:

Mollie & Alfie

Doggy’s Style

Madame Weebles

Dockfam

Easy Weimaraner

Molly the Wally

Texas a cat in New York

Birding Zimbabwe

Henriettas Hippo

Serenity Spell

Oh Melvin

Granny 1947

The Misadventures of Misaki

My Small Still Voice

ShareChair

The Emes

Angels Whisper

Comedy in Crisis

Animal Couriers

The Misadventures of Misaki

I wish I could say that was it but, no, I simply couldn’t leave off people who have contributed to the success of this site and, therefore, made a valuable difference to the plight of Rescue Animals.

An additional, labour intensive blogroll has been created in honour of the Comment Contributors for the month of September.  DBS (Dead Brain Syndrome) prevented my going back further.  Check out the Blogroll – Comment Contributors list for additional terrific sites.

WWRAG (World Wide Rescue Animals Group) would like to inform all readers that this “Blogroll – Comment Contributors” list is not static.  You too can gain fame (although, probably, not fortune) and appear on this list, simply by contributing to the valuable comments.

Go on – comment for the critters!

AGAIN – NO REASON – JUST LETTING YOU LOOK AT BABY ASHLEY!

Dazed by Doggy!

I’m Amazed, Bowled over and Completely (had to put that in for the “C”) Dumbfounded by the kindness and generosity of Doggy’s Style.

I’m left Scratching My Head in Astonishment!

As I’m sure most of you already know, A Clown on Fire has been holding the most mind-boggling competition.  Doggy, the competition addict that he is, sent out his request for us to vote for him.  This I duly did.  It was mild mayhem in there and, I’m afraid, the fever took me.  I dutifully voted for Doggy but quite simply could not resist brazenly launching my own blog into the chaotic competition.  I begged, pleaded, bribed and cheated as best I could, desperate to usurp Doggy’s lead.  I’m afraid to say, I failed.

If anyone knows how to play a game well, it’s Doggy.  He beat me fair and square, guaranteeing himself a place on Le Clown’s infamous blogroll.

Doggy Won – Congratulations!  But that’s not where this seemingly simple story ends.  No, not when you have a celebrity like Doggy in the mix.

Mere moments after finding out he’d left me eating his dust, he sends me a message.  A message that makes us humble sole’s realise what true kindness and generosity means.

Doggy had arranged with Le Clown that I be given his hard won place on the blogroll!!!  Can you believe it?   How do you even begin to say “Thank You” with sufficient fervor for a gesture such as this.  I am, as I said, Dazed by Doggy.  Not only is he hilarious and utterly entertaining but it seems he is a saint as well.  I bow to your greatness dear Doggy.  The rescue animals of the world say “Thank You” and they mean it, from the bottom of their hearts.

Look closely – even the Baby Buck are smiling!

We Love You Doggy!  

Dumbfounded By Decorations

It’s true.  I am, indeed, dumbfounded.  Could it be true?  Could I really be at a loss for words?  Certainly my Mom would never believe it!  Nonetheless, I find myself simply stunned by the generosity and extraordinary kindness of my fellow bloggers.  I feel like I’m kicking the Oscars to the curb.

Of course you do realise that this means two things.  Firstly, I have to embarrass myself, yet again (I’m definitely going to have to look into writing this blog from an animal’s point of view).  This will happen after displaying my beautiful, new Award Decorations.  Secondly, I have to work, again.  See, you guys are making me use that 4-letter word.  My mother is not going to be impressed.  Tut, tut!

The Ralphie Chronicles recently bestowed upon me the 

 

 

 

Then ShareChair and Paws to Talk went and gave me the

Paws To Talk, not to be outdone, together with Collies Of The Meadow, bequeathed upon my little blog, the 

 

 

Golly, I’m tired already but in an elated kind of way.  I get so over-excited about awards I can barely contain myself.

The work, of course, comes in the form of attempting to think of 7 things about myself (sorry Mom):

1. I have an inherent fear of the kitchen.  As a kid, when in trouble, I was always called to the kitchen, where the door could be shut.  On the short walk there, I had to figure out all the things I’d done wrong, which one she might have found out about and, to be on the safe side, excuses for all of them.  I do not like walking to kitchens!
2. The first time I invited a boyfriend for dinner, I phoned my sister to find out how to boil an egg!  I cannot remember if he got any food and, anyway, what was I thinking with boiled eggs?
3. I am a terrible procrastinator, which is why, whilst I am supposed to be doing research (for an upcoming conference and workshop at which I am talking), I am busy writing this blog.  See, it’s all your fault – never mine!  It would have been just rude not to get a “Thanks for the Awards” blog out.
4. I will be out of town during the coming week (for the above).  This is not an invitation to break into my place and steal anything!  It’s not that I’m possession driven, however, I have become slightly attached to what I have, so, if you could please leave it where it is, I would be eternally grateful.
5. My Dad is convinced (or so he says) that he is from a different planet – called Zurgon.  And my parents wonder why I’m not normal!
6. I believe that laughter is extremely important – which is why I embarrass my mother so frequently.
7. I also believe that forgiveness is vital – I hope my mother forgives me.

Right, that’s quite enough embarrassment for one day.  So, moving onto a more pleasurable task, I am nominating 15 blogs, who, as I have no idea who has received what in the past, may choose whichever award/s they wish.  I believe they all deserve them.

Henriettas Hippo

Angels Whisper

The Misadventures of Misaki 

Sand Spring Chesapeakes 

The Lonely Dogs 

Jazz Cat Jay

Tiggers Teachings 

Hands on Bowie 

I Adopted a Dog – NOW WHAT 

CatsnCo 

Nana with 2 Dogs 

2me4art 

Remain Insane

Hutch a Good Life

PigLove

Now don’t go getting upset if your blog is not on the list.  It’s not because I don’t think you are fantastic.  I am simply trying to choose sites which I have not yet nominated.  I promise, I think you are all brilliant!  For the sake of the rescue animals, I hope there will be more and I can get to nominate everyone I love.

Every One Counts!

Moving on to better news.  Firstly, I must say a huge big THANK YOU to all of my new found blogging friends, whose encouragement and good wishes for Chocy were astounding.  It is incredible to see such support.  We have been awarded two new, fabulous awards and are feeling quite immaturely excited.

Blog On Fire award

Now for the difficult part.  I have to list 8 unusual things about myself!?!?!  Alright, I’m thinking, give me a break here…..wait…..it’s coming……whew, here we go:

1. I used to be so shy I could barely talk to people (except for unknown neighbours).  Now I post my life out on the internet – weird!
2. My folks lost me at age 7, on a trip to London to visit relatives, because I decided a hedgehog was far more interesting than people, followed it through the hedge to the neighbours, then found a cat and decided to visit people unknown.  Well, who could blame me, the room of relatives all had purple hair – how’s a 7 year old supposed to cope with that!
3. I have an unrequited desire to drive a truck – one of those really big, long haul horse and trailer types.  I love trucks!
4. Back to the “shy” thing – in junior school, a chap ran over my foot with his car.  I was so mortified by the attention that I denied the whole thing.  I actually helped the driver look for what he might have driven over – couldn’t put my foot on the ground for months thereafter – silly child.
5. I would love mornings, if only they would come a little bit later in the day.
6. When he’s not with me, my husband phones me about 5 times a day.  I just told him to get off the phone so I could finish this post.  Bad me! Bad, bad, bad.
7. I’m a girl but I hate shopping.  Really, I hate it!  My husband loves it – where’s the sense?
8. I recently found out that I’m nuts.

Diverting slightly, the kindness shown by everyone reminds me of the numerous times I am asked how I can cope with working in the animal rescue field.  My answer is always the same.  Although it is true that you get to see the worst side of human nature and the cruelty that people can bestow upon what they perceive to be weaker than themselves (animals, children, women, etc), I also get to see the absolutely BEST side of human nature -the people who will give of their time, emotion, support and money unconditionally.  Those people who work tirelessly for the good of animals in need, without a thought for their own gain.  To me, it is worth the world.  It is one of the most uplifting experiences anyone could hope for.

For my part, I will continue to work tirelessly assisting the shelters and attempting to grow the support for this blog, so as to raise the necessary awareness and funding for the shelters who will, if need be, keep animals for life.  The shelters not only keep the animals alive, but provide them with a life.  As an example, although Chocy is back at the shelter, she is not simply confined to a kennel.  She is loved.  She is taken for a walk, off the property, every day.  She has bonded with both the owners and staff of the organisation.  She is happy, albeit not in her ideal “forever” home.

Sisterhood of the World Bloggers award

Alright then, having rambled on quite enough, it is time to get back to the reason for this blog – finally!  In the midst of the chaos, yet another Award was bestowed upon us.  This is just outstanding and I would like each of the award presenters to know just how much this means.  Each one counts.  Each one assists in creating the awareness for which I am working.  So, to One Spoiled Cat and Fluffy Popcorn, I thank you for the Blog on Fire Award.  It is really beautiful and I am ecstatic!  To Mollie & Alfie, thank you so much for the Sisterhood of the World Bloggers Award.  This too, is gorgeous and we are overjoyed to have it.  Thank you for your generosity and help.  You are all fabulous!

Choosing people to whom these blogs should be passed is the really difficult part.  I have chosen to pass it on to those who’s support was so appreciated through the Chocy ordeal (I have not included those to whom I have already passed on awards but please believe me, it does not mean that I do not believe you deserve it!  I simply thought I’d send them to those I have not included before):

To the following blogs, please accept either, or both, of the awards you would like:

Europa’s IceWolf – A fantastic, mystical site, with real life questions – very different and well worth a view.

Granbee – A fabulous Mother, Grandmother, Dog Trainer and writer, finally returning to her roots in writing.

Dakota’s Den – Great stories of the daily “goings on” of a dog named Dakota (her Mom needs some good tidings today, so hop over and say “Hi”).

Easy Weimaraner  – Superb stories from Easyrider, the Weimeraner and proud owner of two human slaves.

Serenity Spell – A wonderful trip through nature, with stunning photographs and an inherent belief in the good of human nature.

We Three Doxies – Brilliant photographs and stories of the lives of these “untrainable” Dachshund’s

2 Brown Dawgs – The escapades and fantastic photographs of 2 Chesapeake Bay Retrievers

I love Schnauzers – A brilliant foster parent for the Schnauzer Rescue Group, whose life “went to the dogs” on the arrival of foster dog Dieta.

Tickled Rainbow!

On receiving my first two awards, I was just Tickled Pink.  Today, I find myself Tickled Rainbow, for I received not one, but two fabulous awards from equally fabulous sites.  There is no “one hue” that can describe my elation now.  I am doing belly-flops I am so excited.  The cats have left.  The dog, on the other hand, is loving this new game, although she is battling to understand the rules of belly-flop.  Then again, when has a dog ever needed to understand anything to get full-hearted enjoyment out of it?

Pick of the Litter Award

Hey It’s Jet Here most incredibly sent me the Sunshine award.  This is truly a great honour and I am astounded by Jet’s generosity.  Jet (clever little dog that he is) writes a most entertaining blog from his unique perspective on life.  DogDaz have also given me an award – you crazy bunch of welcoming bloggers.  This site has brilliant photographs and very entertaining dialogue  (details of their award further on).

Sunshine Award

In acceptance of the Sunshine Award, I have to ….. here we go again….. sorry Mom for all these 4-letter words …..WORK!  I need to answer (which requires thinking), the questions below:

• Favorite number: 3, no 7, no 11 – oh stop confusing me here!
• Favorite Non-alcoholic drink:  What is a non-alcoholic drink???  Amarula Cream has cream in it, does that count?.
• Facebook or Twitter: Would have to be Facebook – never been on twitter, you tweet.
• My Passion: Oh golly, let me think here, it might be….let’s see….animals?
• Favorite pattern: Those one’s that make you inadvertently think of hearts (aren’t I just the soppy one).
• Favorite Day of the Week: The one’s on which we win awards, of course.
• Favorite Flower:  Now there’s a weird one.  Maybe Self-Raising?  Oh, sorry, you meant “flower” not “flour”, ok then, it would be Jasmine (my last rescue dog was even named Jasmine)

Whew!  That’s it for all the Thinking and Work, other than to nominate a couple of my favourite sites.  There’s a good chance I am supposed to nominate a specific number of sites but, unfortunately, I haven’t been around all that long (real spring-chicken here), so it’ll just be a few.  I hope it makes your day guys – it certainly made mine!

I know, I know – all of you have probably received billions of awards, including this one, but I thought you might at least want to know that I thoroughly enjoy reading your blogs and think you are all Fantastic.

To Collies Of The Meadow – who really needs a little sunshine at the moment – God bless you and give you strength.

To Wayward Dogs – for all your incredible work, helping lost and wandering dogs – we appreciate you.

To  I Adopted a Dog – NOW WHAT – thanks for adopting and letting us all share in your adventures.

To Paws to Talk – for always keeping a smile on my face with your unique answers to difficult questions.

To Chancy the Gardner – for your fantastic site with its’ own special point of view.

To Bassas Blog – for your hilarious and brilliant photographs and your unique outlook on life.

And last but by no means least:

To DogDaz, who is jointly responsible for my absurd “belly-flopping”, as they have listed me as their Pick of the Litter and awarded me the Versatile Blogger Award.  I love your site and am deeply grateful for your generosity and kindness.

Versatile Blogger

All the furry critters here in Sunny South Africa, send all their slobbery kisses and hugs to Hey It’s Jet Here and DogDaz.  They appreciate your help in raising awareness for the shelter animals.  THANK YOU

Can Addiction Affect Your Work?

My “Baby Boy” Sabre. His story will follow

By now, we all know that my Blogging Addiction Level has reached extraordinary levels.  This has been fueled by the intensive training program, into which I was somewhat unknowingly conscripted.  It would appear that the training is in overdrive and my Rewards/Awards for desirable behaviour are increasing.  Don’t get me wrong, I love my addiction.  The problem I am experiencing, however, is that work (that nasty 4-letter word that keeps getting in the way of pleasurable experiences), seems to be expecting me to maintain a level of responsibility.

I need assistance and, to this end, I have added a poll.  I am now reaching out to my fellow bloggers and friends, to see if there is a consensus regarding this perceived insanity encounter.

Now, on this subject, I will have to admit that – dare I mention this in polite company – WORK got in the way of my ability to keep track of my Addiction.  As such, I have only now noticed that I have, once again, been Rewarded for my Addictive Behaviour.  The wonderful Wayward Dogs (http://waywarddogs.com), who have dedicated a site to helping lost dogs find their owners, or new “forever” homes, have very kindly awarded me with the Very Inspiring Blogger Award.  I am tickled pink!

This one, however, comes with a degree of…..wait…..here it comes again…..that 4 letter word, WORK.  As I knuckle down to the inevitable thought processes required, I now list the 7 Things about myself:

1. I LOVE animals – who’d have guessed?
2. I LOVE my family and friends
3. I love potatoe crisps (as you can see, slightly less than those above but still high on my priority list)
4. I am a Leo (the kitties of the world seem to have figured that out!  Clever little munchkins)
5. My husband is a Basket-Case (but we love him all the same)
6. My Mother may be more so and my Dad remains responsible for my humour (but without them I’d be lost)
7. God is good (although sometimes our priorities seem to differ.  I assume he knows what he’s doing and I’ll look back on my challenges with an “Ahh, that’s why” moment).

My time on the bloggesphere has been short and I am gratified with the acceptance of my short stint with such welcoming.  I would like to pass this Award onto the following kind people who have welcomed me with open Blogger-Arms:

Rumpy Dog – http://rumpydog.com

One Spoilt Cat – http://onespoiledcat.wordpress.com

Hey Its Jet Here – http://heyitsjethere.wordpress.com

Animal Couriers – http://animalcouriers.com

Clowies Corner – http://clowiescorner.wordpress.com

Donkey Whisperer – http://donkeywhispererfarm2010.wordpress.com

Awarding Addiction – Really?!?

Fantastic! Remember in a previous post, I declared my trepidation about becoming addicted to blogging? Well, it would appear that the wonderful people at Collies of the Meadow have just awarded us with a Collies Choice Award.  Incredibly, marvelous, spectacular, splendid – ok, ok, you get the point.  We are thoroughly chuffed! Thanks

We love you Collies – Thanks!

Now, bearing in mind that with regards to the training of our four-legged friends, or two-legged for that matter (never tried with six or eight – I have an illogical fear of those) I believe strongly in the “reward” based system. Reward the behaviour that you want. Reward / Award, sounds the same to me and what do you know, looks like I’m being trained into my addiction. Reward the behaviour you want with an Award! I like it!

So, a huge big THANKS and FURRY CUDDLES to Collies Of The Meadow for helping me to sustain my latest obsession. Visit them at their fantastic site: http://www.colliesofthemeadow.wordpress.com