New Kitty?

Hi Bozo and Mum's blog readers; this is Ambrose with news of a new kitty in the house - or not? 

Earlier Mum came home with a box which made squeaky noises. We all knew Mum had brought home another kitty - a small one.  I ignored it but Missy was very angry.  Mama and Aunty Chappie didn't mind the new baby. 

 Missy is very jealous of the new baby 

 She forgot for a bit while she and Aunty Chappie played in a shopping bag 

 I, Ambrose, spend much time outdoors in the sun or at the dairy (which is where the baby kitty came from) 

 My favorite dog, Skabenga is also interested in the new baby in the house 

 Aunty Chappie says as long as it doesn't sleep on my chair! 

 The baby kitten is as small as one of Mum's beauty thingy's 

Mama Cass was quite interested in the baby

And suddenly the kitten was taken to the next door lady who loves cats.  Phew. I think Mum is relieved that she doesn't need to get Missy to accept the baby any longer. 

For more cute pet posts, please click here

Calves, cows and cattle egrets

As Skabenga and I walk, we encounter many cute "critters" Here below is a new born calf - tired out from arriving in the world! 

Another calf lies with its mother close by 

And as always, where there are cattle, you find the Cattle Egret 

I'm linking to Saturday Critters with Eileen here

HAPPY SATURDAY TO YOU ALL! 

Changes

I've posted quite often about my friendship with, Lynette,. another 60-something single lady in the Valley. I also recently posted that she's left to go to the UK where she's taking up caring. and that Lynette has cut my hair for the past two and a half years. I was sad to see Lynette go and also sad because there goes a person who knew my hair so well that it always looked good under her care. 

I used this photo in the March Probus newsletter (of which I'm the editor) and called it: Jo and Lynette, vintage friends 

Earlier this week I had my monthly appointment with my nail technician. I have been visiting Jessica for more two and a half years and also came to trust her implicitly with my hands, feet and the nails on them! 

As she was putting the finishing touches to my feet, she said was moving to Bloemfontein in the Free State - leaving in the first week of April. Ergh! 

I sincerely hope and pray that the beautician who has bought Jessica's business, will be as good as her. 

My finger and toenails always match! 

HAPPY FRIDAY TO YOU ALL ! 

Happy Birthday Eryn and Bethany

Today is the combined birthdays of two of my granddaughters. When Eryn turned six, she and Joshua were staying with me. Their mum and dad had traveled to Bethlehem hospital to await the birth of their third child, Bethany. 

What excitement; especially when Mum arrived home three days later with this tiny baby sister. 

Today Eryn is 16; a beautiful teenager with the kindest heart ever. 

Bethany is ten years old today and just as beautiful as her older sister. 

At the moment John, Debbie and the family are in Tanzania visiting Zanzibar. They invited me along but the times fell over the school holidays which has been a busy time for me at the shop and with guests in my accommodation. 

They are in my thoughts and always in my heart. 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, DEAREST ERYN! 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, SWEET BETHANY! 

Me and Grant with the children in Mossel Bay, Western Cape. Eryn is closest to me with her arm around Bethany!

HAPPY WEDNESDAY TO YOU ALL ! 

Waning Gibbous Moon

One of my biking friends said on Facebook yesterday, that he missed my moon shots. I sped outside (it was 5.30am on Sunday morning) and snapped the waning moon.  

24 March 2019 Waning gibbous Visible: 85% ↓ Age: 18.55 days

HAPPY MONDAY TO YOU ALL 

Ambrose Hedges pet post

Hi Bozo and all Mum's blog readers; this is Ambrose with news about the Hedges pets. As always we're all resting and enjoying the life Mum has created for us. 

 Here I, Ambrose relax on Mum's computer case. She's just arrived home from work 

 Aunty Chappie was woken from her slumbers as Mum snapped her 

 Photobomb of Missy! 

 Missy gazing at the wall in case the spider reappears 

 Mama Cass is queen of her bedroom. I don't go in there as we still don't see eye to eye! 

 My favorite dog, Skabenga

He sleeps indoors at night. So do we kitties 

For more cute pet posts, please click here

Kitties and critters

  Last week I had my resident rain spider made its appearance    from behind my bedroom wardrobe. I only noticed it I saw       madam Missy with neck craned upwards and staring at the   wall. 

Missy staring at the spider! 

Later that morning while I opened the shop, I noticed Lips, our veranda cat, staring at a creeper on the rail in front of my shop. 

As I rescued the praying mantis, it flew to my windowsill. Of course, I grabbed my camera and snapped it. 

Praying mantis

I removed the mantis from here and placed it in the garden far from Lips' wanderings. 

I'm linking to Saturday Critters with Eileen here

HAPPY SATURDAY TO YOU ALL! 

Sky view arriving home

Driving home yesterday, I stopped to capture this incredible cloud formation over the neighboring township, Loskop. 

I'm linking to Skywatch Friday here

HAPPY FRIDAY TO YOU ALL ! 

Preparing for weekend guests

Yesterday I drove to the Valley a couple of hours earlier than normal. I had to prep for guests coming into my large accommodation up the mountain. 

Ulundi, a comfortable, spacious farmstyle holiday home for groups and families 

I put out tea, coffee, sugar and milk for the first day. Toilet soaps and rolls in the bathrooms. 

Then it was down the "hill" again to my upmarket two-sleeper unit situated in an estate at the foothills of the peaks.  

The perfect place for that romantic weekend with your significant other 

By 9am I had finished my preparations and was on my way to open the shop. Although it's school holidays and a long weekend (Human Rights Day) in South Africa, the veranda was quiet.  

HAPPY THURSDAY TO YOU ALL 

My life...

Yesterday, waiting in my car for the bovine traffic to disperse - albeit, most languidly - I noticed a cow with two calves. Seeing John on the yard, I asked him if they were twins. He said yes. I have always known about sheep having twins and even triplets, but this is the first time I'd seen calf twins. 

 While I waited, I photographed the cattle egrets against the beautiful blue sky

 My morning traffic! 

 The twin calves  

 My precious Thandiwe helps me carry my work stuff to the car. Here she closes the gate and returns to work indoors 

Skabby and the cats are happy to have her company three times a week. I love Thandi, my domestic goddess! 

I'm off from working in the shop on Tuesdays. Today I do my Weigh-Less admin, sort out my Avon orders and get ready to drive into town at midday. At 3pm I have my Weigh-Less group and afterwards it's a tad of shopping and home. Tomorrow it's back to work in the Valley again. 

I have guests occupying my two accommodation units respectively on Thursday. It's a long-weekend in South Africa and I'm ever grateful for the remuneration of hospitality. Tomorrow I'll check on The Bunker and later drive up the mountain road (I'll try to photograph the ride from the car, but I'm rather nervous while driving!) to Ulundi Family Holiday Home. 

I'm linking to Our world Tuesday here

HAPPY TUESDAY TO YOU ALL! 

Hedges kitty update

Hi Bozo and Mum's blog readers. At lat Mum has taken photos of us kitties so I can do a post again. Oh and there's a photo of my favorite doggy, Skabenga. All the other dogs around make me very nervous. They have caused my dad Ginger and Unca Shadow to go away and never come back. So although I do go out, I keep a good lookout for any danger !  

I, Ambrose, am the only boy kitty around 

 Our own doggy, Skabenga out on a walk with Mum  

 Mama Cass and I still don't see eye to eye! Mum keeps us separated 

 Missy, my favorite kitty, watching a spider on the wall 

Aunty Chappie and I sometimes keep to the uneasy truce; sometimes I attack her (sorry Mum, it's just too tempting) and then she fights back 

For more cute pet posts, please click here

Cute farm critters

Living on a dairy farm, I'm surrounded by huge herds of cows and of course, calves. Often my daily drive to or from the shop in the Valley, is blocked by cows walking from the milking shed to their day paddock or on the road to the field where they spend the night. Yesterday as I reversed from under the carport where my little car sleeps, I had to stop and wait for a hold-up at the gate. I saw the herdsman had only opened the gate halfway so that two cows could pass through only. Then I saw John, the farmer touch the back of each cow in front of him before it went through. I could see he was counting them. When they'd all gone up the muddy road, I walked up to John and greeted him. He told me that they'd had the far fence along the main road cut the night before. Fortunately this time the nightwatchman had disturbed the thieves who took off without stealing any cattle. 

My traffic hold up on the farm! 

A cute calf at the back of the herd 

I'm linking to Saturday Critters with Eileen, here

I'm off to Parkrun as a volunteer today (nursing a painful hip - more on that later) So you all have a great Saturday. I know I will! 

Critters and critter (creature) comforts

This morning early I heard a buzzing on the veranda. I didn't turn the light on; instead I grabbed my camera and bent down to photograph whatever was making this sound - now in the grass beyond the veranda. 

 A bumble bee right in the middle of the photo - you have to look closely! 

 I was holding an inquisitive Missy away with one hand and shooing an excited Skabenga on the other side (sorry it's so indistinct but it is there, I promise) 

Yesterday morning I drove up to my big ten-sleeper accommodation which is situated halfway up the mountain. I went to place tea, coffee, sugar and milk in the kitchen. Then I added new loo rolls which I end with a square point and a smiley face sticker to keep it there! I also roll the towels up on the end of the beds and add a small cake of toilet soap. In the bathrooms I add a soap to the showers and on the wash hand basin.  I had a group of five Zulu ladies coming to the Berg on a ladies weekend and wanted to make sure there were all the creature comforts they would need. 

Afterwards I went outside to check on the pool ...

Can you imagine feeling stressed or overworked under these circumstances 

 The view of the mountains from the accommodation 

 The house bathed in early morning sunlight  

I can't get enough of the mountains

I'm sharing my post on Saturday Critters with Eileen here

HAPPY SATURDAY TO YOU ALL!