GREETINGS FROM SOUTH AFRICA!!!MAXDOG here...
Hello there to all my furry friends around the world!
It's a cool and overcast day here in JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA, on this my
44th day of Grace!
It is also a public holiday here today, so my 'girls' are both home from university and have their noses in their books. (I wonder what news could be THAT interesting!?!)
Mom and the "Boss" are taking it easy - like us dogs.
As you know, KING TOFFEE has a flared up grass alergy and his little paw on his left foot is quite raw from all his chewing. He really doesn't enjoy his feet being bandaged up and is quite a miserable little soul at the moment. Mom has been giving him extra treats and lap sessions. She also made some socks for him (out of old bandages) which are supposed to keep his feet away from his mouth. Pauper's socks...!
But as you can imagine, they are no problem for KING TOFFEE! He simply chewed right through Mom's efforts even though there was also sticky plaster involved. Unfortunately the KING has to wear the dreaded satellite dish now...not exactly regal...! Anyway, I am sure that with all the tender loving care he's receiving he'll be back on his throne very soon.
Well, I know that my Northern Hemisphere friends are experiencing touches of Spring.
This means that we are about to go into Autumn (Fall) here where we live.
Some folk have again expressed curiosity about our weather in
SOUTH AFRICA
So I thought I'd discuss it a little today.
If you look outside our windows at the moment you will still see our resident weaver bird going about his usual business...
You will notice that our plants are still very green and there are still many grass seeds for the little weaver bird to feed his family and himself...
Although winter is just around our corner, we are still experiencing our rainy season here on the 'highveld'. Our city of JOHANNESBURG is located at 2000m above sea level. On most afternoons we experience violent thunderstorms over our city.
The heat of the day and the high humidity help to fuel the big thunderheads...
If the storm arrives in the early afternoon we are treated to magnificent sunsets...
With all the rain, there are many insects, so their little predators are also out in force...spiders, lizards and geckos. We always have little house geckos on our walls. You have to admire them for their ability to walk upside down and for their instinct to rid our environment of mosquitoes...
The arrival of winter is heralded by a countryside full of cosmos flowers (weeds if you really want to think of them that way!).
The moment the season changes, the 'COSMOS' appears and can be seen along the long national roads of South Africa...
Some are snow white whilst others are glorious shades of purple and pink...
But yes, where I live (on the 'highveld') it is NOT a reflection of the entire country!
Our country has a kaleidoscope of different climates from the vast coastal desert and semi-desert in the West to subtropical forests in the east and grasslands all around. In the Cape we have a mediterranean climate and in some parts of our country we have dry woodland. It really is a country of MANY climates!
Here is a map of the rainfall distribution of Southern Africa to give you an idea...
So the question which often crops up is...
DOES IT GET COLD IN WINTER???
The quick answer YES!!!
Here in JOHANNESBURG we experience biting cold winters with wind chill factors which fall below freezing at times. Because we live in a predominantly hot country (i.e. most of the year), our houses aren't really equipped for cold conditions. So, in general, we simply brace ourselves for the 2-3 really cold months (May, June, July) and huddle around heaters.
Snow is usually restricted to the high lying mountainous areas of the Drakensberg mountains and the Cape Fold mountains. On occasions (although very seldom) we might have a small flurry of snow here in Johannesburg. If this happens our citizens go wild with delight because we don't often see it. There are parts of the country where snow will fall heavily, but it usually doesn't lie around for long.
And...as always...our Sunshine is just waiting to cut through the clouds.
For the moment though, our trees are still green here in Johannesburg. Odd ones are turning a shade of yellow. The Easter Weekend (in 2 weeks time) usually brings us our first cold front.
For the moment, we bask in the sunshine!
...or sleep on the cool floors...
So I hope that answers some of your questions(?)
We also want to apologise for being tardy and not getting around to your blogs as much as we'd like.
Please know that you are all very special to us and we send you lotsaluv and lotsalicks.
Enjoy your day!
MAXDOG IN SOUTH AFRICA
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