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Dear Readers and faithful friends,

After a number of years of wonderful blogging, this blog has effectively become dormant - except for occasional updates regarding my book, MAXDOG. I have left this blog as a legacy to my dog and a place of sanctuary where we can reflect upon his life. Take your time, peruse the pages spanning Max's 18 months in cyberspace. Feel refreshed and uplifted because his story is an amazing one of..."LIVING LIFE TO THE MAX!"
My activities have now moved on to my new blog entitled "LIVING LIFE TO THE MAX". Please join me there where you can read about my family and canine companions. I also invite you to visit MAXDOG's FANPAGE on FACEBOOK. You can follow the specific links by clicking below:

* 'LIVING LIFE TO THE MAX: click HERE
*MAXDOG'S FACEBOOK FAN PAGE: click HERE
* MAXDOG, the book: click HERE

If you would like to follow me on a deeper, spiritual level, then I invite you to visit my more personal blog:

May God bless you and thank you for following me!
MAXMOM IN SOUTH AFRICA

MAXDOG's CHRISTMAS TRIBUTE

Thursday, January 7, 2010

LION PARK ADVENTURE

GREETINGS FROM SUNNY SOUTH AFRICA!!!
MAXDOG here...

Hey there all my bloggie-buddies.

What a wonderful sunny day it is here in JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA. The weather is quite exquisite! We are so aware that many of you are experiencing unprecedented freezing weather with snow-covered landscapes, so we thought we'd post a picture up of our inviting swimming pool.

mmm...lovely, isn't it!?!

Well, I have been having many ear-rubs from all our visitors. All this attention makes me feel quite special, but the humans often leave the house on their adventures and come back with some great photographs.

This week, our visitors were taken to the LION PARK, just outside Johannesburg. It is an exciting tourist attraction where you can view some of our big kitties and other animals.
Check out these GEMSBOK...!

Visitors are able to feed the ostriches too. You have to be careful though that you don't have jewelry around your neck - these big birdies love shiny things and they have quite a strong peck and can deliver a painful nip!


Of course, the lions are the biggest attraction.
Check out this lionness, just parking off in the road...

If there are cubs around, toursists can get to touch (sometimes cuddle) them. This lot seemed very sleepy, but very cute!

Of course the male lion with his big, dark mane is quite a sight. Excuse the quality of this photo, but they had to keep their car windows shut!

They all returned home with lots of stories and fun pictures.


We also have some new residents on our own pavement right outside our house at the moment. These beautiful birds are called DIKKOP's. They are part of the plover family and have the most gorgeous colouring. They have a truly odd trait - to make their nest in an exposed area, directly in the sun. The male always lingers a little way from the nest to provide a decoy for any threat.


What irritates me, is that this pair have set up home directly in my 'free-running' space. I'm really not impressed, because I now have to be on lead there too.
Perhaps I'll chase them away...mmmm?!

This blogpost won't be complete if I don't show you some of Mom's beautiful newly blooming Dahlia's. They are quite exquisite and are perhaps the pride and joy of my garden at the moment.
We have another plant which is sporting a long strand of 'bell-like' blooms. We are not sure of it's name, but it is absolutely beautiful too!...

A closer view of one of the opened buds...

...and another Dahlia...

Well, we are still getting our walks at the moment.

Here is a picture of TAMMY & I waiting at the front door...

Of course TOFFEE tries to get in with the action too...
That's all for today. To all my friends in the Northern Hemisphere...
KEEP WARM!!!!
As for those in the South...
ENJOY THE SUNSHINE!!!
Lots of licks
MAXDOG IN SOUTH AFRICA


33 comments:

D.K. Wall said...

Woo - those are really big kitty cats.

Angus said...

Great photos of the big cats and the flowers. Toffee of course steals the show with his demonstration of winsome charm.

Dexter said...

I feel warmer just looking at your sunny photos.

The lion park is awesome. So many most amazing creatures.

Slobbers,
Mango

houndstooth said...

Your mom has some gorgeous flowers! Right now all we have outside are snowflakes.

That Toffee is darned cute!

Bunny

Byron said...

Well, I feel a little warmer now.
Your Mom's garden is lovely and cheerful with so many beautiful flowers blooming.
I feel bad for you loosing your free roam area Max, can your Mommy not maybe move the nest??

Lots of licks,
Byron

RILEY AND STAR MY MALTESEKIDS said...

Hi Sweet Max and Mommy,

Your pictures are gorgeous but we have to tell ya that the last one of Toffee is our favorite! And it's a framer! Too cute!

Wish we were there with you Max, we're freezing our little butts off and that's not funny cause we're so small, without our butts, all we'd have left are our heads! Now that would be wierd!

Luv ya,
Riley and Star.

Clive said...

Hi Max

We loved your photos today - in particular the NSLM loved the safari photos - the lions are amazing! He wants to hold a lion cub, of course!

His Mom loved the purple dahlias - they are just amazing! Looking out at our snow covered garden it is hard to remember that we ever had blooming flowers there!

Enjoy all that glorious sunshine Max!

take care
Clive

the magic sleigh said...

Wooos! What beawootiful photos of all of those critters! Although that little birdie has to go if he is in your space, time to chase!!!
It might even snow in sunny Florida it has been so cold here!
-Kira The BeaWootiful

Paco,Milo, Maya and mommy Simona said...

OHHHHHHHH THANK YOUUUUUUUUU!!!
we're feeling a little warmer now watching those wonderful pics!!!!
Awwwwwwww...what a lucky guys you're having so much sun and warm!!!!
We're sooo jealous even if we love snow and cold!!!But mommy not too much!!!!;-)))))))
The big cats pics are great and we love lion's puppy....soooooo cute!!!
And the flowers are gorgeous!!!!ù
Thanks for sharing!!!!!!!!
Did you have had a wonderful new year starting?????
We miss you a lot!!!!
Hope to hear from you soon!!!!!
WE LOVE YOUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU!!!
Have a wonderful sunny day!!!!!
MUAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

Ina in Alaska said...

Enjoyed the tour, the pool and the flowers (and the birdies too) Made me warm up a bit! xoxo

KB said...

I love the doggy photos, but especially that cute last one!!

The lion park looks really cool. I've never even heard of a Gemsbok! Those lions are huge. I'm glad that yours are behind bars!

Amy & the house of cats said...

Max you are so lucky to be somewhere so nice and warm! And that lion park looks so cool!

We are so behind in visiting everyone we hope you are having a wonderful new year so far!!

Mochi and Bali said...

Great pictures! We have a plover that sometimes hangs out in my yard.

I love the last 2 pictures! You and Tammy are too cute! And I love Toffee squeezing in for a pic! :)

Mochi

Anonymous said...

Hi Max!

As always you are a great tour guide! Thanks for the interesting info and great pics! Those sure are big kitties though.

The weather there and your pool are very inviting, especially to for my Mom. She would love a pool at our home, it would help to relieve the pain alot!

Max, your Mum grows such beautiful flowers! She takes great pics too! Does you Mum grow Orchids too? My Mom has about 15 Orchids, she loves growing them alot.

In the last pic I think that Toffee looks like a stuffie behind the bosses!

Wiggles, Tessa

Byron said...

Hi Max,
I got your note.
Wow those birds sound scary, I guess you are out of luck with your free roam area. I hope they don't stick around too long.

Licks and slobbers,
Byron
mailforbyron@gmail.com

Unknown said...

Hi Max!

It's sunny and the sky is deep blue here in South Carolina but it is unusually cold! We may even get some snow down here tonight and that's all anyone can talk about. Mommy is worried about her camillia bush - just a few buds but they are quite tight and not getting any bigger. We need a real warm up!

Your pal,

Petey

P.S. the Dalhias are gorgeous! And those lion cubs are just too cute.

Anya said...

Hi Max
Wow!!
Big cats on your blog today !!!!
Its summer at your place
I cannot believe it ,
its here snowing the whole day :(
My Mommy loves the flowers
so lovely and sweet ....
Have a nice evening
hugs
Kareltje =^.^=

Tweedles -- that's me said...

Thank you for sharing your sunshine with us!
And I would LOVE on of those kitten cubs to cuddle with!
Thanks for the safari ride!
love
tweedles

♥♥ The OP Pack ♥♥ said...

Oh, Mom so needed to see some warm sunshine, beautiful flowers, and those gorgeous shots of you. There are some very interesting animals there, we have never seen those gemsbok before - cool. And Mom would love to ride through that Lion Park, with the windows closed for sure:) Your Mom should win a prize for those dahlias.

Tail wags, Phantom and Thunder

The Adventures of the LLB Gang said...

We always love to hear about your wonderful adventures Max!! Not to mention your Mama's flowers are just beautiful!!!

Smileys!
Dory

NAK and The Residents of The Khottage Now With KhattleDog! said...

I wonder if my mom would get me one of those khytty khats?

Tank woo fur sharing those beaWOOtiful flowers!

The furst Dahlia was pawesome!

Hugz&Khysses,
Khyra & Khousin Merdie

Kasha The Dainty Great Dane said...

Hi Maxdog,

Mom says she wants to come and visit you...it looks so lovely there. We are under a snow advisory now and mom even got to leave work early so that was nice.
I love the beautiful flowers you have in your yard.

AARF Kasha the Dainty Great Dane

Unknown said...

Can I come visit? My little hairless body is freezing in SoCal. I want to visit all the wild animals you showed us and then I want to smell the gorgeous flowers (sneeze).
Twink!

Golden Samantha said...

Hi Max! What a pawsome picture of you and Tammy and Toffee at the end there! Loved this post! Are the Gemsbok sort of relatives of gazelles? And we adore the lion kitties - soon, I guess, they won't be behaving like kittens, tho, eh? And I had no idea ostriches liked shiny things - I only thought that barracudas did! Sorry those Dikkop birds are giving you grief! But they are very interesting looking birdies - you are such a great tour exec, Max! Your garden is FULL of the most gorgeous flowers! Both the pink and purple dahlias are to die for and those bell-like hangy-downie things must be related to orchids as the insides look that delicate! Thanks so much for the beauty of S. Africa that you show us!
Big Hugs xo
Sammie

Two French Bulldogs said...

We agree Max, kinda warm here too in California. We love the pictures of all the furry friends. Wonder if those little guys would play with us. Momma said "No way."
Benny & Lily

Lorenza said...

Hi, Max!
The other day we watched a tv program about the promotionals that one of our tv channels are making for the World Cup... and we had a good laugh because the animals there scared them a lot!
Here is a little bit cold, specially in the mornings!
Take care
Kisses and hugs
Lorenza

The Army of Four said...

Mom especially liked that first dahlia! She said it warmed her up. She's such a lightweight -- just because our wind-chill is -20 degrees F right now she says it's "too cold" to go out. (-29C) Where does she GET these ideas!?!?
Love,
Ammy

Jan Mader said...

We're snowed in, Max! Your beautiful photos are the closest thing we'll get to being warm.

Maddie, Annabelle, and Tango are all freezing! Tango's got his winter blanket on because barns aren't heated..of course!

The Animal Doctor said...

What an informative post, Max. We love the pics, thanks a lot for sharing. Ive never seen a big cat like that in person.

~Scarlet

Molly the Airedale said...

Those ostriche's have such long graceful necks. No wonder they want to swipe a necklace or two! A handbag would go nicely too!
Mom is in love with your Dahlia's!

Love ya lots,
Maggie and Mitch

How Sam Sees It said...

Sam doesn't want to visit the park with you - those cats are too big. The photos are all really neat! I love the bird - look at those really long legs!

Sam and Cisco

Nika + PARKER said...

ahhhh yes the summer sun - we cannot wait to be by our pool again, it's too cold here!!! enjoy!!

Augie and Ti's mom said...

You have the most interesting blog! It's so cool to see life on the other side of the world :)