Over here in West Africa, winter has arrived and the nights are getting cold.
Despite being born in a cold country and brought to Africa at the age of nine weeks, Sheba our Rhodesian ridgeback from Sweden finds the African nights too cold to her liking, and asks for her blanket (on top of her blue fleece vest) as soon as the temperature drops.
Our evenings rituals are a highlight of the day. Sheba has a way of drawing me into her own world, where time (or rather, lack thereof!) is never a factor and where life quality is all that matters.
Between her squeakytoy and her peanut-tasting ‘kulikuli’, it’s hard to decide which is being the most mischievous and in need of some RR chewing.
In the end, peanut-tasting Kulikuli - our locally purchased canine candy - wins over the squeaky toy.
Once her human has made her bed (with the blanket she just walked away with…) Sheba decides it’s time to call it a day. Does it matter that it’s “only” 8.30 pm and that our RR girl normally likes to stay up until midnight? Not the least. Temperature decides when a hard-working Rhodesian ridgeback goes to sleep!
Not being one to wait idly for human assistance, Sheba has developed a technique of flipping the blanket (which we’ve tucked in between the plant pots) over herself for maximum effect.
This however is as good as she gets it on her own, and the look she is giving means that we humans are expected to help her with the rest, as opposed to just standing there smiling and taking pictures.
Two minutes later and well tucked in, Sheba is ready for the night. THIS is how our RR princess wants to sleep! She won’t move until morning comes - unless there’s an emergency that calls for RR guarding.
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27 users commented in " The nights are getting cold! "
Follow-up comment rss or Leave a TrackbackOh - how cute is that!! Sheba is the most interesting dog!
A Sheba parcel.
How squidgeable. And I’m glad to see she’s got you guys well trained.
Only Rusty likes to be covered in our world. Everyone else loves the cold.
I keep forgetting that you’re in the northern hemisphere and have the same seasons we do. Whenever I think of Africa, I relate to the southern hemisphere where it’s not summer. What a big world!
Sheba is such a doll! You have a great dog! I have a doggy very similar to yours. She insists on sleeping under our blankets (even thought she’s really not allowed on the bed). She will flip up the blankets with her nose if we don’t lift them up for her. I have been debating on getting her a sweater for the winter. She has sych short hair that she gets so cold out there in the winter.
Oh, those last pictures of her in a blanket are too deliciously adorable for words!
Maybe Khyra needs to send some of her floof!
Oh Esther! Thanks! That is just so amazingly cute, I am so glad you shared that! I do believe you have raised that girl to think she is HUMAN!
I never get tired of your posts, and have in fact, gone through a withdrawal of sorts, in the past few months my computer went rock slow, making coming to anyone’s site a 10 minute chore, and then finally staggered out a croak and died. And for some reason, the corporate company I work for blocks your lovely web site, so I could not go to see you during my lunch breaks as I could blogspot folks! But all is well, my computer is repaired and I am able to come see you once again!!! Come take a look at my second to last post to see my friend Lorri’s new (6 mos. now!)
RR named Heike! She is the last pic in the post, but it is a great pic if I do say so! I am still waiting to get to my own bit of land to get my own RR, I think that is wisest for the dog’s sake! In the interem I must enjoy my friends’ five crazy ones! Happy Holidays, Esther and Annette!
Slainte’
~Mindy
I love all the shots, but the last one is so precious! Sam and Mojo and me send lots of hugs and warm thoughts!
Stay covered!!
That really is “stinking” cute as we say. She also reminds me of our miniature Schnauzer who has a sweater and a coat and a blanket and lounges in front of the wood fire. We are all comfort-seeking creatures!
She is a very sensible dog, tucking up warmly when it’s cold outside. Very sweet!
I love her blue jacket! We got a jacket like it for our dog, Abby, too because it’s so cold outside for her walks. Your dog is pretty good at getting under that blanket but it’s nice of you to help her out some.
Visiting from Pet Pride.
Sheba’s not a dog, she’s part of your human family. I love her ritual with that adorable fleece blanket of hers. She is such a wonderful companion Esther and you take care of each other.
I love seeing dogs use their paws…always makes me smile. Sheba looks so cozy in her blanket….makes me want to go crawl under mine! our weather is getting pretty cold too…in the 20s to 30s degrees.
As Chula, our Doberman gets older, she, too, likes being all covered and cozy at night. I guess it helps those old bones feel better.
Great photos.
How cute is that!!! We have bedtime rituals here too, and for Phantom he knows when it is 9:00 every night. He heads for his bed no matter what else is going on. He is a creature of habit for sure.
Woos, the OP Pack
So sweet and she knows what she likes!
Sheba looks so warm and cozy all cuddled up in her blanket!! So darn cute!
Underbart.
I covered my Kayla with a blanket the first night we brought her home and now it’s nightly ritual, she has to be completely covered, even her head.. within minutes she’s snoring!
Too much! I love the last couple of shots. And I love the way you “get inside her head” as if you know exactly what she’s trying to say. I’m sure you’re quite correct too.
I remember a few weeks spent in the Upper Mojave Desert in California about this time of year back in 1984. During the day it was pleasant enough, but as soon as the sun hit the deck the temperature started dropping like a stone! But that’s life where there’s no insulating humidity holding the heat in.
Stay warm!
I hear ya Sheba..I need my blankie too! I often walk around with it on. It has been in the 20’s and below at night here. BRRRR!
Nala
This is the same dog who was resting in a bucket of water to cool off a few months ago! What a life
That is just the cutest! Sheba looks so cosy!
Oh Esther, this dog is toooo much. I love all your posts but the ones about the animals are extra special. I just LOVE the photo of Sheba with half the blanket over her and her peeking out at you. Thanks for sharing (((Hugs))) Jo.xxx
She looks very snug in her blanket!
Sheba is such a big dog and still manages to look ultra cute! I love how she tries to get the blanket over herself! Very clever and sensible!
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