Virtual graduation during Lockdown

Good evening to my dear Blogger friends. I'm so thrilled I am online this evening and able to post an extra post before joining Eileen at Saturday Critters tomorrow. And of course, on Sunday, Ambrose annexes my blog page. 

As the sign of the times, today I attended a Virtual Graduation Ceremony followed by a delicious lunch. I was the official photographer, using my Canon Camera although the Smartphone cameras owned by family were clicking around me too. 

Derryn, daughter of the younger farmer and his wife, has graduated cum lauda with a Bachelor of Education. 

 The D for Derryn who passed with Distinction - cake . Sweet little mortar board on the tip of the letter 

 Times are certainly different. If you graduated during Lockdown 2020, caused by Covid-19, you had a virtual graduation Ceremony - at home! 

 Congratulations Derryn! 

 11001 students graduated this year. Derryn, one of these, poses her with her pup, Blue

 Beautiful and brainy, Derryn poses with a bouquet from her boyfriend, Jeremy's parents 

 Derryn and Jeremy

 John and Ronnie, proud grandparents, pose with Derryn

 Derryn with her proud parents, Janine and Gavin

 Janine, newly appointed head of the Winterton Primary School, with Derryn 

Derryn was determined to perform the victory throw which students do together. She tossed her home crafted mortar board into the air several times while Jeremy (using her phone) and I with my Canon on sports mode, tried to get the perfect shot. This was my effort. 

 The victory throw! 

 The table setting was exquisite depicting a graduation dinner, right down to the Ferrero Roch chocolates wearing motar boards 

Jenna played a recording of Gaudeamus Igitur, which she, Derryn and Mom Janine sang word perfect while Derryn cut the celebration cake. 

Derryn cuts the graduation cake 

What a wonderful family I live with! 

Hedges kitties sleeping and drinking habits

Hello to Mum's blog readers; this is Ambrose posting from the beeeeg mountain area where we live. 

Mum is still at home A LOT which we love. I have taken to sleeping on her bed now and Missy sleeps next to me. Mama sleeps on Mum's pillow. As always Chappie has her own place in the lounge nearby. 

 Me and Missy sleep on Mom's bed these day! 

 I am also teaching Missy to be careful of the dogs next door

She's taking note- if the dogs start barking, Missy dashes back into the house! 

I hear Mum saying even though there are many water bowls in the house, we kitties like to drink from any of Skabby's dishes outside.

Chappie drinking from a bowl under the tap in the garden

Missy which I posted about last week drinking from Skabbys beeeg bowl 

Earlier I also posted about Mama drinking from Skabby's beeeg bowl

As always Skabby and Mum go for many walks and he swims in the dam (we kitties don't go along it's faaaaar away!) 

TO ALL THE DOGGIES AND KITTIES OUT THERE IN THE WORLD LISTEN TO YOUR  YOOMENS,  TO BE SAFE AND KEEP HEALTHY 

Farm critters, birds and moon shots

Hi everyone. Again a whole week has passed before I got back to blogging. The Internet was a big bugbear this week but I was also very busy with wages in the farm office and monthend tallies and figures for my Virtual Weigh-Less Groups.

However, Skabby and I have managed at least two walks a day - and the days are beautiful. Such a pleasure to be able to move freely around the farm. 

 I loved these reflections in the dam

 As always Skabby dives into the dam and has a swim

 The newest calf on the farm having a drink...

... then waiting patiently while Mama is milked in the shed

First quarter moon taken at 16h14 on the 1st May 2020 

 Cattle egret on the lawn outside my farm office seen on Friday morning

 The Amethyst Sunbird male seen from my outdoor home office that afternoon 

 then... my 

pièce de résistance

On Friday morning I heard a bird call in the lane between my house and that of Janine and Gavin (the young farmers) I went out with my camera but couldn't see anything. As I realized I was hearing a tree frog's call, a bird whizzed quietly past my right shoulder, and landed in the bole of a tree a few meters in front of me. 

Redirecting my camera, I focused and snapped. And twice more. 

It was a female Cardinal Woodpecker. Even though I have posted many times about the woodpeckers we saw in Tanzania and recently about the Cardinal Woodpecker male I snapped here in Ronnie's garden, this was the first time I caught the bird in repose. Finally a CLEAR picture - or three! 

 Cardinal Woodpecker, female 

 Clear as a bell! 

I'm linking to Saturday Critters with Eileen, here

Everyone out there, please take care and stay safe!