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Saturday, November 14, 2020

Clear skies and another rescue mission

 Dearest Blogger friends; more than two weeks have elapsed since I blogged. I have been very busy at the farm office and of course, the accommodation keeps me and Thandiwe on the hop. We are eternally grateful for the guests, and have the stripping,  cleaning and sterilizing after checkouts and prepping for check-in guests, down to a fine art! 

As always Skabby and I still go out for our daily walk on the farm.


Early last Friday, it was very misty. At 8.20 that morning, when Skabby and I walked, the sun had burnt off the moisture;  the air was crisp and clear and the sky a deep blue. As I focused my camera on the majestic peaks, I realized that for the first time since I moved to the Central Drakensberg four years ago, the mountains were standing out in stark relief against the Lesotho highlands as their backdrop. 

Champagne Castle, Cathkin Peak and the Dragon's Back 
silhouetted against the mountains behind them 
I trust you all share my enthusiasm for this particular phenomena which I've not seen before  
And then it was upwards and onwards with the walk! 

I had to snap Skabby actually shaking himself in the water! 
And taking huge gulps of water 

I wanted to photograph the pivot spray in symmetry and managed another image of the mountains in the distance 
Skabby and I stopped to visit the newest born calf that day 

Back in the farmyard, Skabby and I passed the farmer. John, who was resting on his pick-up's tailgate with his shadow: little Dot at his feet. 
We spent a few minutes chatting before Skabby and I entered our garden gate 

Later that day, I was passing one of the many pet water bowls in the garden, when I saw a green movement on the surface of the water. I scooped it up; it was a little insect. As always, I wanted to photograph it. I set up my camera on my desk and held my wet finger with the little mite on it, in front of the lens. It took several attempts before I had a half-decent photo. I was also concerned I'd hurt what turned out to be a perfectly formed baby grasshopper! 
A teeny weeny, but perfectly formed, baby grasshopper

In my 67 plus years on this earth, I have never seen anything so cute 

After photographing the grasshopper, I took it into the garden and placed it on a blade of grass. I left it in peace, hoping it would hop off  to safety! 

Twelve hours after my first photo of the day (the mist over the farm) I walked outside to encounter the most beautiful sunset over the farm gate.
The perfect ending to a perfect day 


I'm linking my post to Saturday Critters with Eileen, here

HAPPY SATURDAY TO YOU ALL! 


10 comments:

  1. A truly lovely day.
    I am certain that the 'hopper will be fine - and probably busy devouring things as I type.

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  2. Your dog looks happy in the water, and I like the first photos showing the mountain and rock formations.

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  3. So nice to hear that you had a perfect day, I hope you have many more. The scenery in your area is gobsmacking.

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  4. Hi Jo, wonderful critters you captured. Nice seeing Skabby getting his usual swim. Beautifu baby calf and what a surprise to see a nice new baby grasshopper and to end it all, a glorious sunset. A perfect day for you. Thanks for sharing, take care, stay safe and have a great weekend.

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  5. A wonderful selection of photos. Love the view of the mountains. I have never seen a grasshopper so small.

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  6. That last photo of the sunset is absolutely totally spectacular! But that baby grasshopper is just about the cutest thing I've ever seen in my life and I never really thought about that grasshoppers are babies. I love the baby cow to buy the grasshopper wins by a mile! Because I have never seen one! And you know I love seeing scabby in the water and your beautiful mountains and that precious little d o t. Is adorable

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  7. Lots of beautiful images in your post. I do love the mountains silhouetted against the sky. I also love the mist in the early morning, one of my favourite things. Your Skabby is so cute and so is John's little dog. Oh how I'd love a little dog of my own. But alas I cannot have one where I live now. Only cats allowed. The baby grasshopper is so sweet too. I've never seen one in all my life.

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  8. Hello Jo,

    I do enjoy seeing your sweet Skabby! Little Dot is a cutie dog too. your mountains views are beautiful, love the sky capture! The calf is adorable too.
    It was so kind of you to rescue the baby grasshopper. Thank you for linking up and sharing your post. Take care, enjoy your new week!PS, thank you for the comment too.

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  9. How amazing to get to see and hold the baby grasshopper. The calf and little puppy are very cute too! And Skabby is a good sidekick!

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  10. I so enjoy walking with you and seeing somethings familiar and others new, like that adorable baby grasshopper.

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Thank you for visiting my blog and taking the time to leave a comment. I appreciate your feedback. Jo