Tag: Fanny

Welcome to The Forest

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Welcome to the one and only forest. There are very few forests here in Malta but one that I often visit is il-Miżieb. It takes about 20 minutes by car via the coast road and of course, Fanny always comes alongThe woodland was planted in the early 1970’s and stretches for some two km between Xemxija and Manikata. Here you will find Aleppo pines and a generous sprinkling of the slower growing carob and olive trees.

There are plenty of walkways and narrow paths to choose from and the scenery often changes. Fanny and I usually try to explore new trails and there is no risk of getting lost as we are on a high ridge.

Blue markings like these arrows are often seen but I have no idea where we would end up if we followed them. But, when we see this magical being, we know that we are close to where we started.

Flowers of The Day

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When I look at above images, I realize that they would probably fit better in a theme called “Today’s insect”.

So here I show some wildflowers that are found here in Malta, without any visible insect.Finally, Fanny, in the middle of nowhere, surrounded by a stunningly flourishing scenery.

Susan’s Flower on Fridays 
Cee’s Photo Challenge Flower of The Day

The Year’s first..

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This is the year’s first dragonfly that I managed to capture with my camera a couple of days ago.
It sat on the stick only for a few seconds before it flew away and disappeared. Bye, bye..I also managed to photograph a few butterflies. This is quite common but rarely sits still.
Could it be an Green-veined White butterfly? It has green eyes.This is a colorful beauty and surely it gives you a sense of joy that at least now and then succeed in capture these unique little insects that are such an important part of our nature.

Tired of running very fast in search of rabbits in Majjstral Park.
Always waiting for me while I shoot.

Fanny is always my companion. She’s the best, she’s curious, awake and very funny. We have a heat wave here on the island, almost 30 degrees so now we are heading to Il-Majjistral Park where we can take a dip in the sea. Take care! ❤

Me and my dog

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In this post I show some images from my recent walks with my dog in various Nature parks here in Malta. Thanks to Fanny, I’ve discovered amazing sceneries on this tiny island in the Mediterranean.

The greenery, the narrow paths and the deep slopes of Victoria Lines.The barren landscape along the sea in Pembroke.The steep clay slopes in Ghajn Tuffieha.Together we have made adventurous climbs in Il-Majjistral Nature Park.

Besides Fanny, I also photograph the variety of wild plants and insects found in our nature, more of that will come in a later post. And don’t worry, Fanny is visible also in the first image, but you have to look closely.

Life is good…

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Life goes on as usual, I can still go out while my husband since three weeks now has to stay indoors. I go to the supermarket when needed and I take long walks with Fanny twice a day, otherwise I stay home as advised. I’m grateful to have my beloved dog as a companion when walking in nature.

Now in the spring you will find different flowers everywhere and thus a variety of colors while bees are looking for nectar. This flower is as small as my thumb nail.Despite prevailing circumstances, life is good…

A trip to Għajn Tuffieħa

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Għajn Tuffieħa / Riviera Bay is located on the north-west coast of Malta. Here you’ll find clay slopes and high cliffs on either side of the bay, red sand, crystal clear water and lots of narrow footpaths to hike on.Here I go with Fanny as it’s one of the few places where she can run freely. Ta Qali Park which is closer and where we normally go is completely closed and on the rocks along the sea at home dogs must be leashed.This man has chosen a clever way to keep the social distance imposed by the authorities.The scenery here is barren but offers several beautiful views. Singita Miracle Beach – Mgarr Għajn Tuffieħa – Malta / April 2020

 

Black & White Photography – 9

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This is the ninth time I join Susie’s fun photo black and white challenge.
In the past I have mostly photographed people, this time I choose pets, dogs and cats.“When I look into the eyes of an animal I don’t see an animal I see a living being, I see a friend, I feel a soul”
– Anthony Douglas Williams –“ If cats could talk they wouldn’t”
– Nan Porter –“Dogs eat – Cats dine”
– Ann Taylor –“Having a dog or a cat will open your heart. Reading a book will open your mind.
Having both a pet and a book… absolute heaven.
– Mark Rubenstein –“You can keep a dog but it is the Cat how keeps People because Cats find Humans useful domestic Animals”
– George Mikes –“Look at animals kindly, and they will see. Talk to animals gently, and they will listen”
– AD Williams – “All animals are born with innocence, curiosity and love”
– Anthony Douglas Williams –

Below are the images also in color for those who like to compare. And as always when it comes to quotes, we mustn’t take them too seriously, although some may be worth considering.

Susan’s Black and White on Wednesdays

Black & White Photography – 6

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The above pictures are from the square along Sarawak River in Kuching. Every afternoon, both young and old can be seen playing with each other, many of them blowing soap bubbles, just for fun.This skilled lady I saw in Valletta here in Malta the other day. Guess why she’s looking down.Concentration! She really knew how to handle her little puppet on a string.Back to the square in Kuching. This little girl seems to be looking for someone.

Finally, Fanny and I at home yesterday evening. Fanny did not like to wear a Santa hat, I can understand that. It’s much more fun to try to bite it into small pieces and so she did. It was cheap and it was Christmas Eve.

As usual, I also show my pictures in color. This time, I prefer to see all these images in color, except one. Guess which one..

Susan’s Black and White on Wednesdays

Back..

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…back to my daily life here in Malta after a couple of weeks in Sarawak, Malaysia. Today’s images are from yesterday’s visit to Ta Qali Park. Nature has changed, in some way, it feels more subdued. It’s winter now, not so many colorful flowers, besides the yellow ones that bloom all year round. These special plants are now seen growing in abundance among the green grass in the park.
They are small and resembles a kind of pitcher plant.I really like being in Sarawak, I wouldn’t mind living there year around. It’s a very special part of the world. But I know it doesn’t work to take my dog ​​to the other side of the earth.
It feels good to be with Fanny again…

The Power of Flowers & Color

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It feels like my last post was a bit too depressing so I decided to add some happy color in a new post instead. My colorful bougainvillea is still blooming on our terrace…

…and the color splash that is barely visible in the top image is the color of Fanny’s new coat.If dogs could smile she would do it and if dogs could talk she would tell that she is a happy one.

Spring is in the air

Published on by Anita41 Comments

Yesterday we went to Ta Qali Park. Usually we never go there on the weekends when the summer is over because there are too many people and you can’t have your dog without leash. But we were all alone.I haven’t been here for a while and was really surprised. It felt like spring even though we are in November! This beauty has a very special expression, perhaps it was also surprised that it felt like spring in the air.The sky was blue, the grass was green and there were lots of small yellow flowers.
Fanny was more than happy to run around in the greenery without a leash. At first I didn’t notice that there were two butterflies on the leaf! A spider with its catch of the day.I saw lots of different kinds of butterflies, dragonflies and other kinds of insects. But as usual, they are very active and difficult to capture with the camera. I’m glad I got this one.Ta’ Qali National Park, Malta

It’s Raining

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Today the weather is so bad here on the island that not even my dog ​​wants to go out.
It’s raining and getting dark outside already at five o’clock.Bad weather doesn’t mean you can’t shoot. But in case you aren’t in the mood for that, it can be fun to look through all the pictures stored in your huge archive and try to pick only ONE, just for fun! There are so many different ways to stay positive when a day feels gray.
Like thinking about old bright and happy memories, and not to forget…

Pomegranates and Prickly Pears

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We spent another Sunday among pomegranates and prickly pears in Majjistral Nature Park. This time I had brought gloves so I could pick some of the prickly fruits. They taste pretty good, not too sweet.

The pomegranate kernels are not sweet at all but taste good mixed with yogurt and some honey.I found a small nest full of life……and a butterfly. There were plenty of them but I only managed to capture this one.Fanny was with us, as always. Here she rests after running around in the amazing surroundings of the park.And here she waits patiently between the rocks as we make our way up the last hill on the way up to the plateau where we have parked our car. The weather was fine, 25 degrees and another day of life is gone.

20 October 2019 Il-Majjistral Nature & History Park

Autumn Feeling

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Last Sunday we went to Il-Majjistral Nature Park here in Malta. We haven’t been here since last spring and it is always exciting to see how our nature changes, depending on the seasons. Now autumn is here.This is nothing to be found in the spring.

These thistles have completely changed colors. Once purple, now turned into soft autumn colors.Our nature is absolutely amazing! This picture speaks for itself. As always, Fanny was with us. She loves to run freely in the large nature park with all steep slopes. She has seen wild rabbits here, now sniffing and looking for them. Luckily she never catches any, they are too fast.

Sunshine’s Macro Monday.

Dog life

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My lovely Fanny! Here she completely ignores me while looking for something exciting to play with.

She loves to play hide and seek in the hight grass.Exhausted after running very fast. She needs to run a lot to feel happy and satisfied, like all hunting dogs.Although she turns two in July she still acts like a puppy.
She knows that chewing on a slipper is totally forbidden!

Looks like Fanny whispers a secret in the other dog’s ear and then sniffs where there is nothing to find.Do not disturb me when I play with my best friend Kimbo. We are both of the same breed originally bred in Africa. We are very intelligent and tough dogs and are often nicknamed the “barkless dog”. Guess why…?  …because we belong to the very few breeds in the whole world that do not bark.
Other basenji may yodel or howl when they are excited but I’m very quiet.
Besides that I’m also playful, cuddly and I needs a lot of love, which I also give back.
💖💖💖💖💖

Same blue sky…

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As soon as we fly back to Spain, Fanny will come along.
The Mediterranean Sea has the same blue and clear water here as there.
It’s low season for tourists in April, same here as there.
Andalusia with its mile-long coastal strip and its warm climate while snow-covered mountains in the Sierra Nevada are seen behind. Not at all the same here as there.

Back in Malta, back to my longed-for Fanny and back to the fantastic world of bloggers. I’ve been in Andalusia, Spain, a lovely place. Same blue sky here as there but in other ways, so totally different.White houses everywhere and many narrow alleys to find in the small town of Frigiliana.A menu in both Spanish and English is perfect if you can’t speak Spanish and I don’t, yet.I love the atmosphere……and I love the colors!!

Spring is in the air…

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Back home and back to my usual routines here in Malta.

Last Saturday we spent the whole day in Majjistral National Park.It’s not often that I see mushrooms growing here in Malta, but here is one.

Snart blommar Mimosan / Soon the mimosa blooms.

The nature, the plants, everything are so different from what you find in the rainforest in Sarawak, Borneo. Very soon the mimosa blooms as seen in one of the image above. The very best about coming home is to be close to Fanny again. Away is good but home is best.

Depth of Field

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Some images from last weekend in Il-Bajja tal-Ġnejna, Gnejna Bay in Mgarr.

I hope the depth of field can be seen in some of these pictures.Last but not least, my beloved Basenji Fanny, always by my side, a precious part of my life.

For Nancy Merrill’s A Photo a Week Challenge: Depth of Field

Some Fun Growths & Fanny

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There is a lot of growth to be found in nature now here in Malta.

Here are some of more or less funny plants that I saw last weekend when we visited Il-Bajja tal-Ġnejna. Another exciting nature park we never visited before. But thanks to Fanny we still find new places to explore.I’ve never seen anything like this. Looks edible! Wonder how this one will look when growth ends.A cool growth hairstyle.For me, the most precious growth, when Fanny became part of our family.

Tuesday Photo Challenge – Growth

From Nightmare to Pure Joy

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Fanny may look a little “weird” here.
Like if she would say I’m sorry, sorry because she got out of her collar last night and escaped during an evening walk in Gzira with Charlene who will take care of Fanny when we are in Malaysia in February.

We were looking for her for hours, I was so worried. How could we find her, far away from home, in the dark and all traffic! It was absolutely terrible, until we saw her after several hours. She sat on the stairs outside our door, I couldn’t believe it was true. My beloved doggie had found her way back home by herself.
💖 💕 💖 💕

It was not Charlene’s fault that this happened, she´s great, cried a lot and couldn’t sleep for the whole night. Fanny is with here now to stay over the night so that she get used to her and her lovely home in Ħaż-Żebbuġ.

Gentle

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Fanny loves warmth. Today it has rained the whole day, it’s windy and only 9 degrees.
She refuses to go out for a walk and now she is sleeping close to the fireplace.She’s not so fond of cats, but likes to chase them.Tuesday Photo Challenge – Gentle

Let the New Year Begin…

Published on by Anita33 Comments

Yes, I know, we are all almost back to our everyday life again and it’s the third day of the New Year 2019. Some may have noticed that I let my blog rest during the festive season, that was without any special reason.Above, two typical images of Malta. Greenery all over the island and yellow flowers, even though it’s winter. And when you see the different colored balconies in the cluttered but yet charming surroundings, it’s easy to guess where you are.

From yesterdays visit to Il-Gżira Manoel / Manoel Island in Gzira. I also noticed that the mimosa trees got buds and they will soon bloom, in February.But, it feels colder than cold, especially when I walk with Fanny on the cliffs along the Mediterranean sea. Strong winds, 12 degrees but luckily the sun shines. The forecast says it will drop to 4 degrees at night!The new year has just begun and we know nothing about the future but it looks bright with lots of love and joy. Take care out there!!!
Anita & Fanny

More from Majjistral National Park…

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Colorful
A banana plant!
Some birds have eaten from a pomegranate
Evening twilight around 5pm.

These pictures are all from last Friday’s trip to Majjistral National Park. The paths are narrow along the steep slopes of dried clay down to the sea. Not a place to walk after heavy rain.But the scenery changes and Fanny is surrounded by greenery…

Very commmon throughout the year.
Not so common, a new plant for me, it’s acually a flower!

…while I photographing plants.

I was happy to find so many colorful flowers growing here on the island in late December.
Malta is a lovely little island to live on all year round, unless you long for snow and a white Christmas.

Majjistral National Park…

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Last Friday we went to Majjistral National Park in Il-Mellieħa. We haven’t been there since spring. It was 18 degrees, and a bit windy but it was really nice to walk on the cliffs again along the Mediterranean Sea.

Fanny really enjoyed running around freely in the green countryside.

I came home with more than hundreds of images in my camera.These were just a part of them, there will be more from the park in my next post.
Hope you enjoyed!

A New Friend…

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Fanny has found a new friend and they really enjoy playing with each other. There are very few of the breed Basenji here in Malta so it was lucky they met, that we met the owners of this beautiful one year old male.

Kimbo
Fanny

Fun in the sun as they run around in the green grass in Ta Qali park.
I feel warm in my heart when I see them so happy together……and now we are planning to buy another Basenji! It’s an amazing breed with a lovely personality!

Fanny in Ta Qali Park..

Published on by Anita26 Comments

Många olika fågelarter finns det i parken och här ser det ut att vara ett nybygge. Betydligt lättare att fotografera än fåglarna 🙂
Nej, några blåbär växer det inte här och jag vet inte vad dessa bär är.
Det finns många oliks slags träd i parken såsom Olivträd och Pinjé plus många som jag inte kan namnen på..
Väldigt gott om små gula blommor tittade fram efter de första regnen.
Efter några dagar med regn har det bildats som en sjö runt träden och det tog flera dagar innan det hade runnit undan. Titta noga så ser du att vattnet når upp till hälften av bänkar och bord där många brukar ha pick nick.

During the Second World War the Ta Qali National Park was used as an airfield. Today the park is very popular with Maltese people and a busy place on Saturday afternoons when many families gather for picnics.

There are many wild cats in the park and Fanny loves to chase them, luckily she never manage to catch any. They run too fast or climb on a tree. But when they lie down or humps, she’s scared of them.Dogs are allowed to run freely in the late afternoons but must be kept on leash all other times. This image with the green grass was taken after the rain, compared to the one above which was taken before. Within a few months, the grass will be so high that Funny is not visible. Then we play hide and seek.
My lovely stubborn and curious Basenji 💕

Friday’s thoughts…

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It’s hard to believe that this creature will transform into a colorful moth. I’ve never seen such a big caterpillar. It’s about 15 cm/6 inches. Could be an Elephant Hawk-moth, Deilephila elpenor but I’m not sure.

 Now, that caterpillar was not yet colorful so here’s some sunshine from Ta Qali……where the grass was wet with dew.A spider’s web along with dew create a nice pattern. Nature is an amazing world to explore and we must all do what we can to preserve it. “We are in danger of destroying ourselves by our greed and stupidity. We cannot remain looking inwards at ourselves on a small and increasingly polluted and overcrowded planet.”
—Stephen Hawking

Food for thought can be that earth is home to millions of species, but just one dominates it.
Wish you all a lovely weekend!“If the bee disappears from the surface of the earth,
man would have no more than four years to live.”
—Albert Einstein

 

 

Ta’ Qali Park – After the rain

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A few weeks ago there was no greenery at all in Ta Qali National Park. After the summer heat it was very dry. Then the rainy season began and nature woke up again. Although it’s October and the winter season awaits, it feels almost like spring is here. Fanny can merrily run around in the high grass again, surrounded by yellow flowers.

In Malta you will not find colorful autumn leaves, but cones may also have autumn colors.I haven’t seen these beautiful flowers since last spring.

This is Malta in October.
In January it becomes colder before the real spring begins in February when the almond tree blossoms.
A pretty pleasant winter awaits.

Genuine Joy!

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Can you see her? For me this is pure joy. To see when Fanny with great delight runs freely on the rocks. She loves to run and she loves to run fast. This is a huge area along the Mediterranean, near Marsalforn in Gozo.

Here you also find the Salt pans. The production of sea salt has a long tradition in Gozo and the Salt pans found near Marsalforn are still used today. Click on the link and read more if you are interested.The salt is stored in caves carved into the coastal rock and I see a happy face!It’s amazing how nature has been shaped through the years! Some rocks looks more like soft sand dunes.

Here someone has created a cute snail in the soft stone.
Like sand dunes.
Fanny resting in the shade
The only plant I found.

Obviously, this is not the place to visit in search of plant or insects…

…but you can run, you can bike and if you’re brave, take a dip in the sea from the high cliffs.
Notice the ladder and don’t forget to click on an image to enlarge.With love from Anita & Fanny, my beloved Basenji! 💕

Selmun Bay

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Last weekend we went to Selmun Bay after we heard that there should be a nice dog-friendly sandy beach. Getting there was quite challenging, this is NOT a one way road! Fortunately, we didn’t meet any cars.Here we are! Looks nice and very dry up here, but we have to climb down a steep slope to reach the beach.

We soon realize that the water and the sandy beach is black! Black and full of seaweed! And where the water is clear it’s very rocky and slippery which makes it difficult to walk, especially when holding Fanny in my arms.But we manage to take a quick dip and a few meters from the shore the bottom consists of soft sand.Back from the water and Fanny has decided that it’s enough for today. No more swimming, now I just want to relax and observe what others are doing on the beach and in that black muddy water.

Fanny is obviously not the only one who prefers to stay on dry land.

All pictures in this post were taken with my digital camera Panasonic Lumix TZ100 that I rarely use for the reason that I still haven’t learned how to use it. I used only P-mode but I’m pleased with the quality and will try to use it more. The weight is only 300 gram compared to my Canon 1,5 kilo.

Happy Birthday!

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Today is Fanny’s birthday and she’s now one year old. We have had here since she was three months and this post is dedicated to my lovely Basenji. A clever engaging breed with great personality and a strong own will……and with a very special tail.Here she’s only three months old and just arrived from Sweden to our home in Malta. Today she runs free in Ta Qali without leash, always coming back when we call or if we hide.

I don’t know why but Fanny has always enjoyed chew on stones and I have noticed that’s a commmon habit even in other dogs.
Tired.
What are you looking at? 😀
Playful!
Tired after running too much.
Always looking for something.
Hiding in the grass. Today, the green grass is gone because of the heat.
She really loves the sun.
We have only meet one Basenji so far here in Malta. They are not common at all and I think there are not more than 5-6 dogs of this breed here on the island..

Click on an image to enlarge. There are a short text to every image.Did You Know?
*The Basenji, whose name means Bush Thing, is one of the most ancient breeds of dog.

*Basenjis have been around very long, they hung out with the ancient Egyptians. In fact, there is evidence of the dogs existing as far back as 4000 BCE. Each is different and unique, and each breed provides dogs that have their own personality traits.

*Well known as the “barkless” dog from Africa, the Basenji attracts admirers with his short coat, small, muscular body, alert manners, erect ears, and tail curled tightly over one hip. A wrinkled brow gives him a quizzical and sometimes mischievous expression.

*In Kenya, the dogs are used to lure lions out of their caves, as Basenjis not are afraid of bigger animals. Masai hunters use about four of these dogs at one time to find lions and get them out in the open. Once a lion leaves the safety of its cave, hunters form a circle around the big cat to take it down.

*Like cats, Basenjis like to lick themselves clean. They shed very little and have no undercoat, so they do not tolerate the cold very well. They tend to find the sunniest spot to take a nap.

*Basenjis love to play and play. They act like puppies even into old age. They are very comical to watch and provide entertainment for their owners.

*Basenjis are very intelligent and quick learners but that does not make them easy to train. They are very independent and usually have an agenda of their own.

 

Seventh Heaven On the 7th Floor

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It was on our roof terrace I took my first macro images.A few years ago we bought seeds in an attempt to grow rhubarb. But it didn’t succeed.

Spiders! Click on an image to enlarge.

It’s early in the spring and my dear man is cleaning while I take a selfie in the window of our office.

I’m not sure how many different kinds of flowers we have had but these are some of them.

One of my husband’s many fun experiments. Can you really fry an egg in the sun? Obviously!!Our terrace as it once looked and below, what it looks like right now. Yes, added some color. Our office, my dear husbands atelier and our dining room that we use every summer are gone after twelve years. Of our flowers and plants there are only a very few left and so are the butterflies and other insects. Looking at the stars in the sky and the moon that shine but this is not my Seventh heaven anymore. Fanny, Yeah, come on!!! Rock ‘n’ roll!!!

All images in this post have I taken on our roof terrace over the years gone by…
…apart from the last one.

Splash!!

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Come with me and take a dip in the sea, said the bigger dog when we were at Manoel Island last weekend.
It’s nice and cool, 22 degrees!! Come on Fanny!!!I don’t know if I dare I’ve never swam before but it looks fun. Fair enough, I’ll try!! Splash!!!! This may not be the best way to get up from the water but I’m a brave, strong and very stubborn Basenji who never gives up. I will certainly try again but may need some assistance from my leader.

Hopefully Fanny and I will soon swim together in the Mediterranean where it’s now 22 degrees. Some dogs may have the physical capacity to swim, but a mortal fear of the water. We’ll have to start on shallow waters and I’ll try to make her feel safe and encourage her to enjoy it. If that doesn’t work I’ll will never force her.…💖Who knows, within a week or two, she may be a real water lovers.💖

A glimpse of Malta

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I haven’t had time enough lately to create new posts or visit my valuable followers. Time flies and life goes on but I definitely want to keep my blog alive and stay in touch with you out there in this amazing blogosphere.Looking back… Flowers almost everywhere and it’s a wonderful time right now.
Trying to live in the present while the summer is waiting around the corner.This must be a tasteful thistle. If you look closely, you’ll see three small visitors.It’s now 18 degrees in the Mediterranean. As usual, I wait until it’s at least 25 before I take a swim.The water around Malta is crystal clear and there are also a lot of jellyfishes right now.
Hopefully gone when the water gets warmer.I continue to feed our plants on the terrace. Do not ask me why, because soon we have no plants left to feed. That’s life, a part of my life here in Malta and I must learn how to change my way of thoughts…Fanny, my lovely Basenji, always by my side, my inspiration.

Majjistral Park Plateau

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I’ve shown some pictures from Majjistral Park but not so many from the plateau that is high above sea level. From here the views are amazing but it’s real steep at the edge of the high cliffs. Do not walk too close!Most of the plants up here are small, you can see the ant. These grow individually……whilst these blooms together and forms like small meadows on the plateau.A symbol of the Navy.A very special flower that I’ve never seen before. To me they look like soft corals.

Finally, Fanny on the run, full of energy 💖 …until we are back home. More to come…
Meanwhile, wish you all a great Sunday 💖