Floral nostalgia

 Good morning, dear Blogger friends. Earlier this week one of my Weigh-Less members arrived at our meeting and presented me with a bouquet of orange gladioli. 

Back home I placed them in a jar of water and displayed them in my kitchen area.  And took a photo...

The gladioli made a vibrant splash of color in my display

When I messaged the member, expressing my gratitude for her thoughtfulness, I mentioned to her that the flowers were the exact shade of my wedding bouquet, 52 years ago!  This, in turn, got me reaching up on a cupboard shelf to fetch down my wedding album. 

HERES WISHING YOU ALL A GREAT SUNDAY!

A brown hopper

 Good morning Blogger friends. It's been a while since I posted on Saturday Critters.

Yesterday, as I closed the bathroom window, I saw a grasshopper crouching on the sill. I whipped out my phone and took several photos. Then I guided the critter towards the other open window and eased it out into the garden below. 

The common field grasshopper against an oldish bar of laundry soap. I loved the beady eye!

I'm linking to Saturday Critters with Eileen, here

HAPPY SATURDAY TO YOU ALL! 

Great weekend event

Good morning Blogger friends. This weekend an international polo event took place on the outskirts of our town. It was organized by the head of a family of longstanding in our church parish. Outhouses and stables were built, offices constructed, fields cleared, and paddocks and grounds prepared for all equestrians to enjoy. During the week, he also runs his construction business from this site. 

Our church has a fundraising committee and the innovative ladies in charge, tendered and got the job of catering for the weekend. 

Congregants cheerfully and generously donated cash; hot rolls, hamburger buns; ingredients such as the national sausage, boerewors, ground beef, salad ingredients and cheese. A local lodge brought their pizza oven with staff to run it. 

What an asset this team was to our endeavors and absolutely instrumental to the overall success of the weekend.

Here our parish priest is being taught how to roll out a thin pizza base!

Our two holy men and church organist demonstrate the serving of tea!

Our church parish boasts several talented ladies who always see to the floral arrangements for the Sunday service. Here, their talents abounded creating beautiful seating area for the spectators to enjoy refreshments while watching the polo game

We, the ladies of the congregation had a tea, coffee, cake and sandwiches table. A roster was drawn up for teams of three ladies; one to sell tickets and the other two to serve the beverages. My turn with two friends, was on Sunday from 11am. 

Friday at midday, I stopped off at the event to drop my hot dog rolls. The portable credit card had just been brought to the table and as the only techno savvy septuagenarian, I offered to man (woman!) the sales. I ended up staying until 4pm!

Here I am with friends, Bets (center) and Meri, wearing a cutesy hat (whom I refer to as my Dr Platzhund *)

On Sunday after church, we three ladies arrived at the tent at 10.45 for 11am. I immediately sat down in front of the cash box and card machine. There was already a veritable queue of spectators wanting to buy tickets for tea and cake! 

In between rushes of thirsty people, Meri, whose SIL played polo every weekend in a neighboring province, explained the machinations of the game. She said that polo was known as the second most dangerous sport (motor racing being the most dangerous). I love listening to her and Bets who intersperses Meri's statements with "really?".  Meri was explaining that if a horse sustained a serious injury, it normally had to be shot. Bets, by now, openmouthed, gushed "really, is the rider shot?" To which an exasperated Meri replied: "NOOOO, Bets, the horse is!"

I really had a great weekend and especially enjoyed meeting the horsey fraternity of our community. 

Blogger's note: * I refer to Meri as my Dr Platzhund because she is my go-to person regarding anything to do with my pets. She belongs to the Animal Anti-cruelty league in South Africa and apart from knowing all the rules and regulations, she is so knowledgeable about the psychology of animals. She was instrumental in me getting  Skabby on a strict regime to lose weight and improve his health. One of the biggest compliments I have ever had was recently, when Meri saw a photo of Skabby,  ( as posted in yesterday's blog) she said that I had probably added at least two quality years onto my dog's life. 

HAVE A GREAT WEDNESDAY!

 

Skabby back at Parkrun

 Good morning, dear Blogger friends. Thank you for your kindness in visiting and commenting on my blog even though I'm challenged to getting to visit you all. I will get there. Promise!

Thank you, too for the kind enquiries about my dearest Skabby. He is ultra healthy and back to his normal self.  I constantly have a chuckle. Many other vintage ladies like me, are asked about the health of their spouses. I am asked Jo, how is your dog? Most people ask: Jo, how is Skabby?

He is hail and hearty AND the weather is cooling down rapidly now as autumn eases into the South African winter. 

Last Saturday, we had late rains and normally I would not venture onto the 5km track. But thinking this was a great opportunity to get Skabby back into a walk without the vicious Africa sun which has plagued us this summer past. 

From the start to the end it rained. A steady drizzle. I walk in my top and running skipants or shorts, winter and summer. The body seems to heat up within the first 200m, and I don't relish having to remove a windcheater and tie it around my waist.

This day I did warm up within the first half kilometer, but by then I was soaked to the skin. Skabby was lapping up the coolth and damp on his newly groomed and shaved body. He has also lost weight since I started him on a strict regime (diet is a four-letter word in my business, LOL!). The day he was discharged from hospital in early March, he had lost 8.2kg. (18lbs in imperial measure)

I didn't have photos of him at Parkrun. At the end, I loaded Skabby into the car and came straight. He rolled around blissfully on the sodden lawn at home. 

Skabby rolling around on the lawn after his first Parkrun this year!

The above is a screenshot of a video. Often, I will hear chortling sounds and going outside, I see Skabby rolling around on his back, obviously saying in doggie talk: oooh, life is sooo good!

 Me? That day, I ran a hot bubble bath and wallowed until I thawed. 

Skabby enjoying a drink from his monster plodging bowl!

One friend remarked on the size of Skabby's bowl. I explained that he has two other (much smaller) water bowls just to the right of this mammoth receptical. He uses this to cool down after walks by stepping in with his front feet, dipping his head under the surface, blowing bubbles and drinking water at the same time. Clowning about is obviously the sign of a happy, healthy dog! (IMHO - in my humble opinion!)

From this deplorable state in early March...

...to this healthy pooch off to enjoy his bone on the lawn

Now...

😆

before I bore everyone to tears, I will sign off with:

HAPPY TUESDAY TO YOU ALL!

Hey ho!

 Good morning, dear Blogger friends. Every time I post, I seem to apologize. 

Once again, I have been flat out working and, yes, walking!

Recently I posted this image below on my Virtual Weigh-Less WhatsApp group, saying this is what your Group Leader is doing (among other things) when she's not motivating the members!

Daisy Mop or Betty Swab! 

Over the Easter weekend,  Thandi and I worked on Good Friday, cleaning after guests who had checked out and preparing for guests checking in that afternoon. 

My fear is always that I will pinch my fingers in the workings of these folding beds

On Easter Monday, I had told Thandi to stay home (a public holiday, called Family Day). The weekend guests had checked out at 10am and I was expecting guests that afternoon.  I was alone at The Bunker, cleaning and making up extra beds for the family due to arrive later that day. 

Fortunately, no injury that day! 

On Thursday last week, it was back up at The Bunker for me and Thandi. Cleaning after the two businessmen had occupied. They are always easier, attending conferences during the day and going out at night, these guests often don't cook and they definitely don't braai (BBQ). We are always grateful that we're spared cleaning one of the two outdoor grills.  

While wiping the kitchen countertops, Thandi found a nut and bolt. 

Mmm...

Turning over the chairs, I discovered one of these little objects missing from a chair. I am NOT maintenance orientated. Nevertheless, I do always have a star and a flat screwdriver in the bag with the linen. So...

Handywoman on the job! 

The finished product for our weekend guests

A dear vintage couple arrived on Friday to occupy The Bunker. I gave an itinerary of events in the Valley and Winterton, over the weekend. There was a special concert at the world-famous Drakensberg Boys Choir school on Saturday morning. The guests have just phoned me now to let them out of the gate (I am still busy in the farm office where I work every morning) They thanked me effusively for the heads up about the concert. They were blown away by the performance and atmosphere. This is a given of anyone who experiences these talented young lads. 

Now, its back up to The Bunker to clean and prepare for the next guests. I close up my office here, collect Thandi from my cottage next door and it's...

HEY HO, HEY HO. OFF TO WORK WE GO!

HAVE A WONDERFUL MONDAY!