Missy in the window

Hi Bozo and Mum's blog readers; this is Ambrose. I'm not in the post today. Nor is Unca Shadow, Aunty Chappie or Dad Ginger. I''m  in the dairy with the other kitties and the other cats in the house are asleep. 

But Missy was caught on the windowsill yesterday and Mum photographed her. She's watching the bird in the trees outside. Although we don't catch birds (Mum wouldn't like it!) we still look at them in the garden. 

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Creepy critter; curious kitty

 It's summertime in  South Africa and the creepy crawlies are appearing all over. 

I thought this spider was an offspring of the rain spider I had as a resident last summer. Now I'm not so sure... 

Tonight I'm about to capture this crawly and take it into the garden.

Meanwhile Missy is fixated by the critter!  

I''m linking to Saturday Critters with Eileen here 

HAPPY SATURDAY TO YOU ALL !

Walking the farm

I took these photos ten days ago on one of my and Skabby's  three walks on the farm.

Today, as we start to say goodbye to September, it's so warm, it's difficult to imagine the snow on the mountains only a short while ago! 

HAPPY THURSDAY TO YOU ALL!

National Heritage Day

...when South Africans celebrate the diverse cultural heritage that makes up a "rainbow nation". It is the day to celebrate the contribution of all South Africans to the building of South Africa 

— Lowry 21:1995

Monday 24th September was National Heritage Day in South Africa. here

The Zulu ladies in the Valley always dress in beautiful traditional outfits. Yesterday I joined them; albeit wearing a gift from my Guest House kitchen staff in  Tanzania - way back in January 2015.

 Gugu, Cecelia, Jo and Happy on the shopping center veranda 

I had guests in The Bunker over the long weekend.  So after  closing the shop at 3pm,  I drove up to the unit, cleaned it and changed the linen. On my way home, I always pass Thokosiza Lifestyle Center . Yesterday I popped in to drop information with the info center and then walked around to see Mavis, whom I knew would be dressed traditionally. 

 ... she was!

Mavis and I smiling for the camera!

Mavis is my house-lady, Thandiwe's sister. Mavis often helps me to explain something to Thandi . Thandi is pure Zulu and my Zulu leaves a lot to be desired! So Mavis is a great help when either of us need to communicate. Mavis also sells Avon Skincare for me in that Center. 

And as if the day wasn't full enough, I had a surprise visit from extended family. Many of my blogger friends have read about my SIL,  Shelley, who's also my birding mentor. Early on Monday morning, a couple walked into my shop. The man asked if I was Jo Hedges. As he introduced himself as Shelley's brother, Laurie, I recognized him. He and Lynn had been visiting in the Berg and Shelley told him where to find me. I was so touched that they popped in to greet me. I hadn't seen them since Grant and I attended Shelley's younger daughter, Kerry's wedding four years ago! 

Jo, Laurie and Lynn 

While writing this post, I got to thinking back on how blessed I've been this past month. On the first Friday both my brothers visited me - the younger one I hadn't seen since 2009. 

In the middle of September Cheryl and Chris made a special detour to stay in the Berg. We'd last seen each other 24 years ago; and for me to meet Chris. 

Yesterday, Laurie and Lynn stopped off to say hello. How cool is that! 

I'm linking to Our World Tuesday here

HAPPY TUESDAY TO YOU ALL! 

Playing with Missy

Hi Bozo and Mum's blog friends; this Ambrose to tell you how I enjoyed playing with Missy. Mum has emptied a box that had motorbike clothes in it; some of hers and some of our yoomen dad who's not with us any longer. I know he would've loved Missy so I've decided to play nicely with her. I hopped into the box and when she jumped onto it, the lids closed. I peered out of the gap in the side and also pushed my paw out while Mum took photos ! 

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Floral and other critters

For several weeks we've been waiting for a flower bud to open in a pot on Colette's part of the veranda.  Between me and Colette, Charmaine manages the off-sales. Last week Charmaine's elderly mum suffered a stroke and passed away suddenly. Charmain was away from work until Wednesday this week. The morning she arrived back at work, the long-awaited bud opened up. 

 Colette and I dedicated this bloomm to Charmaine in remembrance of her mom's passing 

And of course, back on the farm last Sunday, Skabenga and I had several walks. He was delighted !

 White-faced Duck...

  ... on Skabenga's pond ...

 ... who fly off as he enters the dam (see bottom right of photo) 

 Whoo-hoo! 

 He takes great gulps of water as he plodges through the water ! 

I'm linking to Saturday Critters with Eileen here

HAPPY SATURDAY TO YOU ALL! 

Another catch up...

... this time with friends! 

As regular readers of my blog know, since being public here in the Valley, I have had many many friends pop in and say hello. Three weeks ago, dear friend, Cheryl phoned me and said she and Chris were traveling  back from Gauteng to Durban in mid-September. They booked into The Bunker for a night so that afternoon Cheryl and I could catch up on our friendship. 

I hadn't seen Cheryl since 1994 when we lived in Marquard and she and her husband, Kevin spent a day with us. So much has happened; she and I have both since been widowed and her children have immigrated to Australia.

Cheryl and I met in the 80's when she joined the bank where I had been working for some years already. I already had a baby boy and she was trying for a family. When her first son was born not long after this, we became firm house friends. You always find young mothers flock together and support each other. 

Cheryl and Chris arrived on Saturday just before noon. I gave them the accommodation key and we arranged to meet once I'd closed up shop. 

Chris treated us to a lovely meal  at a local restaurant and Cheryl and I caught up with all the years in between. It was a real pleasure for me to get to know Chris as well. Chris, who's retired, manages a team building company and when we spoke about the Comrades Marathon, Cheryl pointed out that this is Chris' favorite project. He's responsible for many of the activities  at the end of the race.  Cheryl has invited me to  stay with her next year when the race is run and we'll wait together at the end. A few months ago I posted about the Comrades here

Above all, we arranged that now we've met up again, we'd keep in touch and visit more often. 

Chris, Cheryl and me 

THANKS FOR STOPPING OVER, CHRIS AND CHERYL ! 

To visit The Bunker, do please click here

I'm joining Our World Tuesday here

Birds, calves, cows and cheeky doggie critters

For the past two Sundays circumstances almost forced me to stay home instead of opening the shop. Although I may have lost a little or more business (I think not) I enjoyed my time off. So much so, that I'm going to close most Sundays from now on. Nothing like training the clients to come back on Monday! LOL! 

And of course, I and my furbabies enjoyed a whole day in the sun and long walks (Skabby) twice in one day! 

 The calves in the nursery being fed mother's milk straight from mama cow 

 This pretty black-eyed calf stares at me and Skabenga 

 Cows chewing the cud...

 ... makes for plentiful and creamy milk 

 Skabenga making a quick turn and looking quite fierce. Just the moment of the photo! 

Of course, I had time to take my camera along and stopped to snap the many birds and other interesting scenes! 

 Sacred Ibis 

Spur-winged Goose  female. I only found this out today when I had a closer look. I don't have Grant's help any more and have to make a concerted effort to identify the birds - especially waders and larger birds which he was very good at ID'ing

 Pivot sprays early in the morning 

Colorful washing on the line catch the first rays of the sun

The farm house nestled in amongst the trees as it has been for the past 70 years  

 White faced Duck - the first I've seen since being back in South Africa these past four years! 

Once Skabenga dived into "his" pond, the birds took flight! 

Happy, muddy and wet! 

Back home, Junior was waiting to give Skabenga a mouthful! 

I'm linking to Saturday Critters with Eileen, here

HAPPY SATURDAY TO YOU ALL

Catch up

Yes, I'm still posting about the farm where I live and love walking with Skabenga. All about calves this time; it\s apparently calving time now - September. The worst cold is over although we had snow on Saturday night, and the calves aren't submitted to the extreme summer temperatures yet. 

 Momma in the milking shed area watching over her newborn calf 

The next day we met her on the road. Cows with calves don't take kindly to dogs 

Here she faces off Skabenga (and probably me too) while we gave her a wide berth! 

This cow calved in the paddock above the house 

This calf was born on Sunday morning. Here the dairy lady shoos her mother back to the paddock below my house. The calf followed on wobbly legs 

HAPPY TUESDAY TO YOU ALL 

Ambrose is back!

Hello Bozo and Mum's blog readers; this is Ambrose and I'm back from my holiday. Now I'm trying to find all the photos;  it's hard to get back into routine after my nice break. 

Meanwhile Dad Ginger has made a full recovery. When Mum's home during the day, she lets him lie under the bush near the kitchen door. This is the same place where he was when the doggies caught him and hurt him. But he's back in the sun and enjoying life again. 

 Dad Ginger sitting in the sun on the veranda  

Dad Ginger with Aunty Chappy on one side and Missy where I pointed the arrow 

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