Our newest family member has reminded me of how much a person learns in their first few years of life. And of how important "life" is. Not just to exist, because is there really a reason for living, but the amazing thing that new life is. Toni came from the SPCA in Mossel Bay and is not the Lab mix I had planned. In fact all I can recognise is a bit of German Shepard in her flopped over ears, the rest I don't know. Max is still a bit uncertain that when she jumps on him, she is not trying to bite him. Wonder where his fear of dogs came from.

She is very sweet, clever and has been very good. So far, no shoes have been chewed! She will be a medium-sized dog and we will still look for that lab as a friend for her. Soon. Can anyone sleep as well as a puppy?

Also new to our brood is Prunes- a calico cat which has been living on the farm. Perhaps we should have called her Hoover with the way she sucks down food. She is healthy and really doesn't seem to have the ticks & fleas one would expect from an unattended farm cat. She is loving and doesn't seem too phased by the other cats, puppy or Max. BTW, she too is named after a character in one of Max's books.

Next on my list of adoptees will be a few chickens. I am planning a chicken tractor to move around the farm but first off the bat will probably be just 3 and a small movable ark. I want them in the orchard first to manage any bugs as the fruit grows. The trees are so small, they need all the help they can get.

We still await the police clearance to continue with adopting our human family member.