Happiness is ….. it’s Friday !

Skywatch Friday :

These were my first sky/moon/clouds photos I took with my new camera - 29 December 2011

For more spectacular skies around the world visit Skywatch

Je parle trés peu le français

Need to brush up on my old schooldays French from way .. way back ..   ‘cos, look where hubby and I are going in July

Picking veld flowers

It was Jeanette and Lance’s 15th wedding anniversary yesterday.   I stopped the car at the veld (greenbelt) on the way home after collecting the boys from school, for them to pick a bunch for their mom and dad …

The entire procedure was done with sucker-in-mouth!

Connor sat to watch the water, asking me to take a photo!!     ..’ it’s perfect’  he said!  (I hear undertones of mommy’s instructions here – she must have used the same spot the other day !! ) 

 

Wordless Wednesday : Erin

For more contributions to Wordless Wednesday go here and here

Veld flowers

A handful of veld flowers from the greenbelt this morning  …

Pretty !!!    The ‘grass cutting chappies’ have only cut along the river bank which makes it easier for walking dogs.  I shall make the most of the wild flowers while they are still flowering

It’s the simple things …

… like tripping over the sticking-up-corner of a doormat with a washing basket in arms … seeing yourself falling … trying to soften the blow on the hard bricked floor by stretching out one arm  .. twisting in order to avoid hitting face on low wall surrounding drains …  landing with ribs taking the full force of the fall on said ‘low wall surrounding drains’ .. that leaves you with bruises on arms, legs, side ribs and sore wrists, fingers and toes!!!!!

I can jump off 100 meter high towers and fly through the air on ziplines but I can’t bring the washing basket from the back courtyard to the kitchen !!

Hence no photographs this weekend .. and sadly no yoga for me this morning    I am a little achy this morning    Will do my own stretching of back muscles which have now stiffened.  If I had my ‘old’ yoga teacher and class, I would definitely go, but the class I now go to is tough and not relaxing at all

I did take a few photos this morning though .. we had lovely rain yesterday, starting with a terrific storm.  We are now left with a drippy, grey sky this morning which no doubt will clear later

Our patio has slight dips .. it’s not exactly level … and when there is driving rain, the dips fill with water.   The danger sign ????   That’s for the benefit of the grandchildren, who are old enough to obey rules .. holding thumbs at this point !

*Rule Number One : no-one is allowed anywhere near the swimming pool unless there is an adult present – meaning me
*Rule Number Two : if a ball or any such toy falls in or is thrown into swimming pool, it WILL NOT be retrieved by any child .. call an adult - meaning me
*Rule Number Three :  if any child wants to swim .. call an adult … meaning me

So far so good .. rules are being obeyed!!   If not, the pool net goes on permanently !!

The blue and orange cones = put there by Connor and Erin

And just to add … simple lettuce splattered with mud this morning

Rain this afternoon ..

Having had quite a storm this afternoon, the sky is still dark and gloomy which reminded me of the rainy morning we had at Leopard Mountain (forgive me for always going back to this game lodge, but I took many photos   )    The rain also reminded me of the drenching day we had in Knysna/Plettenberg Bay during our holiday in May last year. Here again, many photos taken and not blogged    Maybe on another rainy day I shall share those!

Stopped, during the game drive, for a welcome mug of coffee.   We watched the rain coming from yonder hills …

Umm .. doesn’t look wet, but we were soaking!   Rain drops were dripping from our chins and caps/hats!
Hubby watching the Impala

 

An interesting guided walk at Leopard Mountain .. Part II

Walking further up the hill to where it levelled off, Ivor pointed out a clearing which indicated that it had been inhabited long, long ago …

There are still signs of habitation on the concessions, Leopard Mountain being one,  as I mentioned in Part I and everything is left as it’s found.   Zulu tribal wars were fought in the region in the 1800′s between the Zulu Kingdom and other Zulu tribes.  Spearheads, and/or parts thereof, and other bits and pieces from that time have been found.  What is found is put back.  One such item is this part of a millstone …

.. which still has faint signs of pockmarks which are beaten into the stone to aid with grinding maize/corn …

On the other side of the clearing under some trees we found a grinding stone, which is used to grind the maize on the millstone …

Scattered stones below indicated a grave site.  When the poor unfortunate person was buried, the site is piled with stones and legend has it that if his soul goes to heaven then a tree will grow from the head of the grave, helping his soul reach the sky.   This particular one didn’t have a tree, but he was buried long long ago, maybe ’his’ tree had been knocked over by elephants or burnt in a bush fire … or …

We noticed different types of stones (I didn’t take a photo) which indicated that stones were brought in from other areas to use on graves

Gorgeous view from the clearing .. making it easy for the inhabitants to see if there were enemy approaching …

Looking for more evidence ..

We took longer than is normal for a morning guided walk.  Wesley went to fetch the vehicle to pick us up and return to the lodge for a welcoming breakfast

… and return to the Lodge for a welcoming breakfast … just for the two of us !!!!  (we were the only guests on this particular day!)

… and a siesta in/on the hammock on the deck of our bungalow before lunch and before more guests arrive in time for the afternoon/evening game drive …

Skywatch Friday :

Tawny Eagle - Leopard Mountain Game Lodge (Dec 2011)

There he sits … on the left in the tree

For more spectacular skies around the world visit Skywatch