Early morning walks with the dogs

Because of the winter months where the sun is lazy to show its face, I haven't always taken photos or posted about our regular walks along the servitude every morning.

Yes, the dogs and have walked every day this winter come snow or frost! And using a headlamp to light our way.

Speaking of which: we've had very little frost but the photos I post here below show one of the two days where we've actually encountered crisp white stuff on the grass.
Not that it bothered the dogs.

 Eddie waiting for me and Skabenga to catch up! 

Skabenga sniffing at something interesting in the frosty grass

By the time we turn back and approach the house, the sun is making its appearance. 

A rosy glow in the east behind the house 

For those who've followed my blog, you'll know that I've been nursing a bruised foot. I have had to leave off my Saturday Parkrun and also forego the Tuesday mountain walks and hikes. Tomorrow I'll be joining the walking club again. And all things being equal, on Saturday I'll be doing the 5km Parkrun. 

HAPPY MONDAY TO YOU ALL! 

Kitties watching horses

Hi Bozo and all Mum's blog readers; this is Ambrose. Last week Dad Ginger noticed Mum's fruit bowl and hopped up to sniff at the apples. You know that kitties don't eat fruit but kitties are inquisitive. That's why Dad Ginger is sniffing the apples.

 Dad Ginger on the fruit bowl sniffing at an apple 

At the same time, Unca Shadow and I heard galloping feet outside. Now even kitties know that horses gallop so we checked out the window and saw one of the horses running around the garden. 

 Unca Shadow and I watching the horses galloping around the garden 

 Can you see the horses across the yard, Unca Shadow ? 

 Yes, there he is with Bethany in front on him! 

 Ah, at last you see him, Unca Shadow?

 Later I fell asleep with my Dad Ginger...

...who wrapped his back foot around me

For more cute pet posts please click here

Strange critter

This week my post features a critter I've never seen before. Granddaughter, Eryn found it in the garden and showed it to me. 

Although it resembles an elephant beetle which doesn't occur in Africa, I found this critter most exotic. And to date: a no name beetle. 

 With a bowed proboscis, this beetle certainly resembles an elephant

I'm linking to Saturday Critters with Eileen here

HAPPY SATURDAY TO YOU ALL 

Waxing Crescent

Waxing Crescent; visibility 21%; age 4.4 days . 27 July 2017 @ 6.30pm

I'm linking to Skywatch Friday here

Yoomen Kitty Tales

Hi everyone. This is Jo (and NOT Ambrose) I've sneaked in a post about the cats without him knowing. He doesn't like anyone plagiarizing his writing so I've decided to do it on a Thursday. He'll still have his glory on Sunday!

Earlier this week I watched Ginger with his son Ambrose. It's incredible how alike these two cats are; as Ambrose becomes older (he's five this month) he looks more and more like his Dad Ginger. 

And he still loves jumping up on the cushion where his Dad Ginger is sleeping and presses up against him until the older cat starts to groom him. 

 Ambrose being pampered by his Dad Ginger

 Wow, what a long tongue you have, Ginger! 

 This was an in depth...

...ear cleaning session

 Chappie watches the ablutions from the bed

Shadow rather catches up on his sleep 

HAPPY THURSDAY TO YOU ALL! 

Jackal Buzzard

Jackal Buzzard

The adult South African jackal buzzard has striking plumage. It is almost black above with a rufous tail. The primary flight feathers are blackish and the secondaries off-white, both barred with black. Below the chin and around the throat is mainly chestnut, and the rest of the underparts and the underwing coverts are rich rufous. The flight feathers from below are white, tipped with black to form a dark trailing edge to the wing.

The juvenile jackal buzzard is mainly brown above and rufous brown below and on the tail.

The jackal buzzard has a weeah ka-ka-ka call like that of black-backed jackal, hence its name. It is also reminiscent of the call of the American red-tailed hawk.

I'm linking to Wild Bird Wednesday here

HAPPY WEDNESDAY TO YOU ALL! 

Parkrun Update continued

Yesterday I posted about my recent Parkrun experiences and continued standing down while my bruised foot heals.

Today my post shows what Parkrun is all about. Not only do you have to be fit or reasonably fit and motivated to improve your walking time, you can do Parkrun after surgery or illness as soon as your doctor has given you the go-ahead.

Parkrun is popular with serious runners who're spending the weekend in a city and want to keep up their fitness. I've noticed that Parkrun is popular with runners who're training for of have taken part in the annual Comrades Marathon held in South Africa. Parkrun is also for parents who push prams or carry babies in slings or on their shoulders and young old who want to walk/run their dogs! Parkrun is especially enjoyable with the elderly as they can meander along on walking sticks (like our friend Ant does) or using a single cane. They get out, they get to chat to others walking at their pace (often I see one of our older Parkrun walkers walking with mothers with babies strapped to their chests) and they experience an amazing sense of well-being and achievement when they arrive at the end. 

Mother and baby before setting off on the 5km Parkrun walk last week. This little darling was fast asleep when mama passed the finish line

These two serious runners head up the start of the Parkrun

 More runners starting off well at last week's Parkrun

 Dogs on leashes are always welcome

 Gwenda and Ant stride out on the walk last week

 Alan, (87) our oldest local Parkrun participant brought friend Sylvia. Grant as the sweep is always at the back 

The volunteers enjoy a voluntary Cuppachino from the Waffle Hut as they wait for the first runners to return

 Petros Hlongwane does the weekly Parkrun in under 18 minutes. He's completed ten consecutive Comrades Marathons. His most recent passion is mountain biking 

 Striding down the last 500 meters 

Strong young legs 

 Petros clocks in with Shorty Hall 

 A youngster who came in just after Petros, gives us our money's worth by sprinting into the finish 

 A young dad with his toddler on his shoulders 

 This bull dog x strode into the finish with his mistress  

I'm linking to Our World Tuesday here

Parkrun update

I've been very remiss in posting about Parkrun over the past two months. Early in June I was shocked by the electric gate on the property and two days later when in the second kilometer of Parkrun, my hip suddenly gave in. I was horrified; I thought I'd suddenly developed osteoarthritis or that I was going lame. All sorts of dramatic thoughts went through my mind. I couldn't speed up my walk and ended that day on 47 minutes and some change.

When we got home and I opened the gate (this time taking care not to get shocked) Grant worked out that I'd been earthed through the hip, hence the injury. 

The next week, no matter what effort I put into my walk, I ended the 5km on 47 minutes plus again! 

The next week,  I was standing at the front of the group of runners and heard Grant greeting our dear friend, Anthony. I looked back and waved at him. The next minute he was at my side and asked me what I was going to do that day. I said I want to get back to finishing in 45 minutes. He said he did as well. As the coordinator counted down: three, two, one and I set off,  I heard Ant say: Go Jo! I started running and as usual by the time I'd covered about 600m, I had to slow down to a fast walk. 

I passed the first kilometer mark and was making good time when I heard a man calling out a greeting behind me. He was talking to Ant (I never look around but realized Ant had almost caught up with me) Ant told this guy that he was trying to catch that lady in pink ahead. (moi!) By the 3km marker, I was in my stride and for the first time in weeks, enjoying my Parkrun experience. Then I heard the two sticks just behind me. I started to greet Ant but he said: "no time for talking Jo, let's GO!" He picked up his sticks, tucked them under his right and told me to run with him. We continued for about 500m when we passed a trio of people walking side-by-side. As I made my way between and past them, they asked what my rush was.  I said I had an old man chasing me! We had a good laugh and then Ant and I ran another half a kilometer. I had to slow down by now and Ant strode along beside me. 

On the last kilometer stretch, Ant didn't say anything but picked up his sticks again, set off at a cracking pace and got to the finish before me. As I clocked in, I asked  Pieter my time:

44 minutes 29 seconds.

WHOO HOO! 

Ant had done it in 44 minutes and 3 seconds. 

We both had achieved new personal bests. 

BTW Ant celebrated his 77th birthday on Sunday! 

While in Marquard, Grant saw our doctor's assistant, Tracy who gave him an antibiotic injection for the recurrence of a spider bite infection from about two months ago. At the same time I asked Tracy what she suggested for the spasm in my right hip. She said it would have to be relaxed and had just the right injection for that. She injected me and gave me a course of pain tablets and the pain is GONE! Hooray! 

I was looking forward to my next Parkrun to see if I could do even better now that my hip was out of its spasm. Alas and dang. There I slipped and fell off a crate while checking out stuff in our storage and bruised my foot. I've volunteered at Parkrun for the last two weeks, which has been good for me. I'm the photographer and also have gotten to know the other volunteers. 

Yours truly taken after my last Parkrun two weeks ago. 

I've been off since then due to a foot injury (photo credit: Eryn Hedges)

To be continued...

Kitties are happy

Hi Bozo and Mum's blog readers; this is Ambrose and firstly HAPPY BIRTHDAY, Bozo. You are truly a handsome gentleman.

This week Mum went away (not so F A A R place) for one night. We were well cared for here and stayed warm and fed while she was away. 

While Mum packed to go away, Aunty Chappie climbed into the suitcase.

 Dad Ginger sat on his cushion in the sun

Unca Shadow and I slept on...

For more cute pet posts, please click here

Doggy sitting Muthi

Blogger friends have read in my posts about dear old Muthi, the legendary Jack Russell terrier here in the valley. On 12 July 2017, Muthi turned 21 human years old. He is now the ripe old age of 147 dog years. 

This past week, Steve (Muthi's yoomen dad) had to go to the city for a cataract procedure. He and Estelle were frantic with worrying about what to do about Muthi. Then they thought about us...and asked us whether we'd come and doggy sit the old gentleman.

We agreed and on Tuesday evening we tootled across the valley with an overnight back and arrived at Steve and Estelle's home. They were due to leave very early for the city so it was better we stayed over the first night. 

Muthi was still asleep when Estelle and Steve left home. Grant and I had breakfast and then he left for his newly acquired workshop in the valley. I worked at my laptop and at around 8am Muthi stirred. (he wears a bell on his collar so Estelle can hear him at night). I lead him through the house and onto the lawn. There he sniffed at several blades of grass and then obliged me by spending a penny! 

Dear old Muthi in the early morning sunshine

Then he did a little hop and skip and tail wagging, bounded (as fast as such an old man is able) up the ramp and into the house. 

Once I'd moved his soft bed into the lounge near me, and settled Muthi under the blankets, he put his head down and was soon asleep again. 

At around 2pm Grant arrived for lunch and we enjoyed a sandwich and cup of tea together. Muthi slept on. Grant had to collect a starter motor from an old friend and retired engineer, Alan a few kilometers up the hill from where we were staying. 

Meanwhile Estelle had asked me to sign in a young couple who were booked in to stay in their eclectic accommodation, The Zulu Hut. They duly arrived, I registered them and showed them their accommodation. 

Then lifting Muthi's bed with him in it, placed it on the rear seat of our pick-up and we set off to see Alan. Once he and Grant had done with their business, Alan insisted we have a cup of coffee with him. I'd baked him some scones which he enjoyed with his cuppa. Our vehicle was parked on the lawn nearby and Muthi and although he was awake, he just lay quietly in his bed on the seat. 

Once back home, Muthi got up and wandered of to his food bowl. It was empty but Estelle had shown me his stewed chicken which I heated slightly and placed in front of the little ole doggy. He sniffed at it, lifted his head and looked at me; then looking down again, he started to eat with gusto.

After he'd had his fill, he walked to where Grant was sitting on the sofa. Grant lifted his bed, placed it on the cushions next to him and put  Muthi in his bed. 

Then the fun started...

Muthi started to give small yelps. At first they were soft yelps with a period of time in between. Then they became louder and more frequent. We'd been in contact with Estelle all day and she'd told us that Steve had gone into theater at 3pm. Grant, who's had the same procedure, said you're wheeled into theatre but then placed in a long line of other patients in there for the same thing! 

At 6pm, Steve phoned us: he was cheerful and said he's wearing an eye patch and the op went off smoothly;  Estelle was driving and they'd be home in about an hour. 

At 6.30 the second lot of visitors arrived and I went outside to welcome them and show them The Cave. They consisted of a man his wife and two teenage daughters. Using a torch I led the way to The Cave and showed them where everything was (light switches, extractor fans, space for their luggage, the two plate cooker) The man then asked me if I could organize wood as they wanted to braai (BBQ) It was freezing that night and biting back voicing my thought of who-in-his-right-mind-would-want-to- cook-their-meal-outdoors-tonight, I went up to the main house to look for wood. The gardener should've done this job earlier that day but hadn't! 

When I got inside, the other guests who were staying in The Zulu Hut, came to ask if we could show them how to start their electric heater. Grant went up to their accommodation while I went in search of wood. When Grant got back, he picked up some kindling, an axe and a bag of self-starting charcoal. I'd loaded my arms with as many logs as I could carry and together we walked down to The Cave to drop the fuel with these guests. Fortunately they were quite happy with what we brought (I'd had visions of chopping up logs for them !) 

We got back inside the house and by now Muthi was yelping once every 10 - 20 seconds. We told him his Mum was on her way home. His reaction to this was to yelp even louder. '

Finally at 7.15 Steve and Estelle walked in the door and she came straight to where Muthi was sitting on his bed on the sofa and yelping. 

When he heard her voice, he looked at her and with his voice going up several decibels, yelped and yelped. We were all laughing and talking at once with this little dog yodeling in between! 

Finally after a good five minutes of welcoming his Mum home (not even a canine nod in Steve's direction!), Estelle took Muthi out onto the lawn for a walk. Then bringing him indoors, she settled him in his bed in her bedroom and he fell into an exhausted sleep! 

Steve then told us about the long wait to actually get into theater and that once he was there, how simple it all was. He'd been very nervous although every one who'd had this procedure, told him it was a highly successful operation. 

Grant and I packed the car and came back home to the farm.

Debbie and Namusa had kindly looked after our dogs and cats and all were very glad to see us home...

I'm linking to Saturday Critters here

HAPPY SATURDAY TO YOU ALL!