Squirmy, hairy and cute critters

This week I have some squidgy and hairy critters; I'll also end my post with the cutest little [human] critter I saw last week. 

I'd been given two mielies (corn on the cob) by a farmer friend. I left these on the kitchen table overnight. Next morning as the sunlight poured in on our kitchen floor, Grant called to me to bring my camera. 

The smallest mielie-worm that I've ever seen

It moved like an inch-worm and threw a long shadow behind it!

If it weren't for the shadow, I'd not have seen the worm

 Out on the patio, I picked up one of the many mulberry leaves that had fallen to the ground

And photographed it!

On Sunday Rina spotted this hairy worm - also on our patio

Using a sheet of paper, I placed it on the table - and photographed it! 

Skabenga, who is terrified of a vehicle had to be lifted bodily into a pickup. I took him to the vet to have "the" operation. He also had a piece of his tail lopped off - it had got damaged in a slammed door when he was a pup 

John, my gardener is amazing with Skabenga. He sat in the back with him all the way to the nearby town of Ladybrand (these above are "before" photos)

Back home the poor boy was in great pain and still suffering from the effects of anesthetic

Not a happy camper

Here he stares at me in despair - mama , I'm in pain and I don't know why! 

The vet had bandaged the tail (after stitching the wound) but Skabenga tried to bite it off. John and I bound it with tape - which Skabenga chewed off during the night. His tail is now open and doing well!

Then finally, my piece d'resistance! At the clinic last week, a mother arrived: a baby on her back. In her wake came her little girl, her baby on her back! 

I carry my baby (teddy) on my back 

The pretty young mum posed with her toddler 

I'm linking to Eileen's Saturday Critters here

Misty sunrise this week

I'm linking to Skywatch Friday here

Going on a tour!

Today as this post is aired, we'll be on our way. We're going on a bike tour to the East Coast of South Africa. It's only 600-odd kilometers but we're meeting up with several [hundred] other bikers - some from as far as the US and Canada - and spending the weekend at the sea. (more about this tour and get-together later)

Our riding boots and helmets lined up in the pool room (mine are the one nearest the camera) 

The bike waiting for it's rider and pillion

I'm going to take many photos and will be interviewing people at the gathering. I'm going to do an article about the weekend. Grant's brother, who lives just north of Durban, will meet up with us at our destination. 

Here's wishing you all a wonderful weekend. I know I'm going to enjoy mine. It's the first bike tour we've taken in more than a year! 

Good fences, great misty morning

Over the weekend, Grant accompanied me and the dogs on our walk. The sun was trying to make its appearance through a thick mist hanging over the golf course. Rather eerily, the cattle stood at the fence waiting for me and the dogs to approach. 

This lad is my fan - he always pushes his nose up against the camera lens and ...

...licks it! 

Skabenga greets the cattle

A little way up the paddock I saw the lone horse with the full moon above it in the sky

I whistled and the horse looked up!

Sepia misty tones 

This was what we actually saw and I was thrilled to have captured it

I'm linking to Good Fences Thursday here

HAPPY THURSDAY TO YOU ALL!

Greater-striped Swallows

The Greater-striped Swallow is a locally common breeding intra-African migrant, present July/ August until May. 

This past weekend was the first time (this year) that I've managed to capture these pretty birds.

The Greater-striped Swallow is larger in size than the Lesser-striped Swallow (not found in my part of South Africa) and more finely striped below than the Lesser-Striped Swallow

I'm linking to Wild Bird Wednesday here

My world these days

Since the tribute for my dear neighbor Pienkie appeared in the newspaper, I'm contacted regularly to take photos for the next happening in our town. 

Last week I had to photograph the elderly residents of the MGO (retirement center where MIL and now, Rina live). A retirement center in Durban (540km south on the East Coast of SA) had heard about the severe drought in the Free State. They decided to start a collection and subsequently bought and sent water to the MGO. 

I received a photo of the center, Tuinsig (which ironically, MIL almost moved to but then decided to come to Marquard) with the water and then of our residents standing before the water bottle stack. 

Tuinsig, Durban residents with the water they were sending to MGO, Marquard 

I arrived in the MGO dining room just after their weekly church service. The two sisters and Rina started to help the oldies into a group. It's just like getting children to line up and pose for a photo! 

Finally they were ready and I snapped away. This photo and the story will appear in the Provincial newspaper on Friday 

I'm linking to Our World Tuesday here

The moon

The above photos show the moon as Waxing Gibbous, visibility 82%; age 11 days

This photo shows the moon as Waxing Gibbous visibility 88%; age 12 days

Since coming home to South Africa I've been photographing the moon most nights, early morning and when visible, during the day. 

HAPPY WEEK TO YOU ALL! 

The Marquard Moggies

Hi Bozo and Mum's blog readers; this is Ambrose. This week I still only have photos of Dad Ginger, Unca Shadow and I, Ambrose. 

My Dad Ginger loves to bathe me 

Unca Shadow sits on a chair in the doorway 

For more cute pet posts, please click here

Mixed critters

As the days become shorter and colder, the dogs and I don't get to the golf course all that regularly. However, last weekend we did and I spotted interesting wildlife, a pair of duck on the dam and photographed the flora and grasses. 

A hare had been asleep in a copse in the middle of the fairway. It jumped up and hared off (excuse the pun!) into the distance

Fortunately Eddy was a little way to the right and didn't see this critter!

A pair of Yellow-billed duck create a serene scene

A stalk of wild grass made an interesting subject - taken against the early morning light

From my office I look out on several plants and their shadows

Ambrose snuggles up to Dad Ginger in a sunny spot

Ginger often sleeps with his tongue out - as does his son, Ambrose

Ambrose and Ginger eventually woke up.

 Ambrose went out into the garden - to sleep! 

Then it was Shadow's turn to sleep in the sun puddle

I'm linking my post to Viewing Nature with Eileen, here

HAPPY SATURDAY EVERYONE!