Monday, August 22, 2011

things I love


sound of cicada beetles in the bush
the smell of rain on african soil
picnics
early mornings
farmers markets
safari tents
dirt roads leading off into the distance
camp fires
picking berries
eating under the stars
riding my vespa scooter with my man
my staffie’s unconditional love
smell of thatching grass
sitting at a water hole waiting for game
tickling my feet
sun dried cotton bed linen
the elegant loping walk of the giraffe
the smell of veld grass parting as you walk
sleeping under a mosquito net
records played on an old grammaphone
morning filter coffee
whales in spring
call of the fish eagle
artichoke and halloumi on ciabatta
spring jasmine
scones with clotted cream
hunting for wild mushrooms
the sound of hyenas and jackals in the night
mozart’s clarinet concerto played really loud
smell of an old library
icy cold homemade lemonade
the sound of karoo silence
head massage
full moon
black figs
heart of palm
croteas and blue cranes
sandstone autumn colours near lesotho
the colour of the african light
shell and pebble collecting at puntjie
the sound of crickets
my mom’s cooking
organic veggies from our garden
the thud of a paddle fan in the heat of summer
watermelon wedges from the fridge
a cup of tea anywhere anytime
candles, fairy lights and sparklers
baobab trees
african acapella harmonising
cheese cheese and more cheese
all the windows and doors wide open
weekend trips
people watching
freshly baked hot bread with farm butter
a highveld thunderstorm
lingering daylight hours
wildflowers growing along dirt roads
driving with the sunroof open
the smell of a braai
anything lemon
thorn trees
antique handwoven linen
hot air balloons
infinity pools
giving to others
unplanned trips to exotic places
the sound of rain on a tin roof
a hand written letter with exotic stamps
a steaming hot bath
street cafes
summer salads
a warm sincere hug
teapots with teacosies
hats
dear precious friends
amazing grace on the bagpipes
hot popcorn at the movies
my man nuzzling my neck
africa
exploring remote and strange places
an all boys choir singing in a cathedral
steam trains
all creatures great and small
humility and graciousness

Thursday, July 28, 2011

Puff Adder Hotel

Just discovered to my horror - that there is a puff adder hotel /commune/ community living a mere one pace from where I park my car every day at the factory.

Some time ago, my staff saw a puff adder in that vicinity and threw rocks at her. By the time we stopped them and called the snake man , Mrs Puff Adder had been injured and had to go the vet.

Dr hazel gave me a dressing down for the fact that she has a few broken ribs and a ruptured spleen. He nursed her for 4 weeks and then she was set free in the local Bontebok National Park .

Now we have discovered that she was in fact only one of a "nest " of puff adders to who live under the flagstone at the front right tyre of my car. I can't help but wonder how close i have come to standing on a friendly puff adder when opening my car door in the dark.

Best part is, the snake man can't reach them in the nest and so we have to wait till they "un-hibernate" in the spring and then hope we can catch them and reloacte them to somewhere with a better view than my front tyre and my ankle.

Winter essential: Wild harvested Baobab oil

There is a beautiful African folklore story about how the Baobab tree came to be African and also known as ‘the upside-down tree’. ...