Lesser Striped Swallow and garden pleasures

 Dear Blogger friends. This week our area in Central Drakensberg has been much cooler with lots of rain. Fortunately Skabby and I have managed to get out for our walk once a days which is a treat for both of us.

Two weeks ago a pair of Lesser Striped Swallows started building a nest in the corner of the veranda above Ronnie's office door. 

With a good supply of mud around, the swallows have built a sturdy nest in the corner of the veranda

It's rained every day and then the sun comes out. This always means that everything grows like mad, not least the grass. John has a ride on mower and Nurse has mowed all three gardens every two days! 

Nothing as welcoming as a newly mowed lawn 

Ambrose and the other cats LOVE the garden - as he mentioned in his post last week

Ditto Skabby the dog

My first agapanthus in this garden! 

I'm linking to Saturday Critters with Eileen here 

HAPPY SATURDAY TO YOU ALL! 

Hedges KItties update

 Hello to all Mum's blogger friends; this is Ambrose after a L O N G time when I could not post. Mum has been busy and this is the first time I am able to do an update.

As always, the Hedges kitties are well cared for and happy. 

Mum photographing me, Ambrose striding across the lawn. I love being in the garden 

Skabby plodges in his big bowl of water after Mum has walked outside with him

The dog feet cooling way

Mama and Missy play a lot 

Chappie sleeps a lot! 

Mama resting after a play date with Missy

Fallen giant, little critter and White-faced Duck

 Hello dear Blogger friends. I trust you are all safe and keeping healthy. 

Here in South Africa the summer heat continues as do the summer rains. Right now we await the backlash as Cyclone Eloise hits landfall in Mozambique on the East Coast of South Africa. Today has been hot and sunny but as from Sunday heavy rains are forecast 

Two weeks ago we had strong winds followed by a downpour ; the roof of my office was damaged and water poured in down the walls. A tree in the top paddock, which provided shade for the cows,  that John, the 75 year-old-farmer remembers all his life, was buffeted by these winds, cracked and fell over. 

Majestic old giant felled in one swoop

These days Skabby and I go out early in the morning.  I wear an apron over my shorts as protection to keep me clean for work later on.

Skabby jumps into the water with great gusto every time ! 

Early morning sun over the dam

The flock of duck on the dam were  quite unperturbed  by Skabby cavorting in the water 

White-faced Whistling duck on the dam 

Very distinctive white face, overall dark color and barred flanks 

The mountains were particularly beautiful today  

Back home I photographed a praying mantis before going outside and removing it to the safety of a shrub in the garden

I'm linking to Saturday Critters here

WISHING YOU A HAPPY SATURDAY