Most of the holiday homes in Marloth Park were rented this weekend due to National Women’s Day, as described in yesterday’s post at this link. As a result, there are few animals in our garden today. Sadly, as mentioned in previous posts, some visitors feed the animals foods that aren’t good for them, which they may love. It could include;  chips (fries), potato chips, leftovers from meals, and even sweets and candy, which are not suitable for any wildlife’s diet.

In that regard, they are like humans; bad-for-you foods are tasty and irresistible. And, animals don’t know that these food aren’t good for them, although humans do. And yet, they continue to feed these inappropriate foods while visiting Marloth Park.

Then, of course, those who care about the well-being of the animals have purchased pellets, Lucerne bales, apples, carrots, and fresh green suitable for the animal’s diet. The bush is so dry there is barely a leaf on a tree or bush with the vegetation the animals usually eat. It’s nearly impossible for many of us not to offer some sustenance during the drought-like months of winter.

The fire hazard is at its peak right now, with many restrictions in place regarding bonfires and open braais. We often wonder if holidaymakers correctly put out fires, even when confined to an appropriate container such as a wood-burning braai (grill). Right now, bonfires are forbidden.

Already, many animals have been killed on the road. Last night, after driving home from Jabula after a lovely dinner with Rita and Gerhard, we couldn’t help but notice the road packed with cars, many of which were exceeding the posted speed limit. As Tom drove home, there was a speeding car dangerously close to the rear of our vehicle. If Tom had to stop suddenly for an animal, he mentioned we could have been rear-ended, and an animal could have been killed in the process, let alone potential injury for us.

Not all of them are like this, but many are, and on occasion, it may be locals failing to observe the speed limit. With little police presence in Marloth Park, many ignore the laws. Multiple security vehicles may be present at night, but they aren’t able to arrest careless drivers. It’s this type of behavior that makes us suspicious of holidaymakers.

Are we fully recovered? Not quite yet. Tom is healing nicely from his tooth extractions, and his cough is minimal. Mine is still lingering with a cough and significant congestion. I don’t believe I am still contagious after, but I paid particular attention to steering clear of close contact with our friends and other diners at Jabula last night.

We’ll continue to lay low over the weekend, not only to avoid contact with the huge tourist crowd but to continue to rest and recover from this dreadful virus. This morning, albeit still weak, I made a big pan of Low Carb Cheesy Chicken, Sausage, and Mushroom Casserole, enough to last for three nights. We prepped a pot of rice for Tom and a cabbage salad for me as side dishes. Tom cleaned up after me, which reduced my time in the kitchen.

All we have to do is mix the salad and bake the casserole in the oven about an hour before we’re ready to eat. Most likely, we’ll spend the evening indoors streaming a few shows on my laptop. Right now, we’re wrapped up in an excellent British TV series on Hulu entitled, The Split. Once completed, we’ll move on to a few others we’re looking forward to, including newly added seasons of a few favorites, such as Line of Duty, Succession, and more.

Have a pleasing Saturday and be well.

Photo from one year ago today, August 7, 2020:

One year ago today, while in lockdown in Mumbai, India, on day #137, we posted photos from Versailles in Paris in 2014 during a rainstorm. Astounding view! The crane in the photo is in an area where the palace is under renovation. For more photos, please click here.

Tom caught a bad cold on the plane, improving rapidly over the past 24 hours. He took cough medicine with codeine at night, which helps for about three hours, and an antihistamine every 12 hours. With us both suffering from a severe lack of sleep from the nine-hour time difference, more than anything, we both needed a good night’s sleep.

As was the case when we arrived in Minnesota, it took three or four nights until we finally got the sleep we needed. Last night, three nights after our arrival, we could sleep for eight hours. Today, at almost 2:00 pm, 1400 hrs, we both feel a little like taking a nap, which we may do when done here. I am not one for naps, but the past few days, it’s been tempting.

At the end of June, I had a root canal treatment done by fabulous Dr. Singh, the favored oral surgeon of all of our local friends. The tooth had been infected, as I thought, and Dr. Singh suggested I take antibiotics. After taking antibiotics a few times in the past year, I declined to take them and was willing to wait it out.

After having the procedure a week before we left for the US, I had pain that seemed to last for days. Finally, it tapered off, and I was only left with tenderness when I brushed my teeth. Before leaving the US to return to South Africa, I contacted Dr. Singh to ask if the ongoing pain was an issue. He suggested I come in so he could check it. That’s precisely what we did this morning.

The tooth is healing, and he suggested we wait until the pain is gone to do the crown. I have another tooth that could use a new crown, so sometime in the next month, I’ll return and have both crowns done, requiring two appointments. Dental work is so inexpensive here; it makes sense to get these done while here.

On another note, included in our missing bag was a new pair of jeans I’d purchased while in the US. At this point, I don’t have a single pair of jeans. After the dentist, we stopped at a local shop in Malalane, and I purchased one pair of jeans and two warm shirts, both suitable for cold weather.

It wasn’t easy to find a pair that fit me right. Sizing is very different here. But, after trying on several pairs, I managed to find something suitable. Also, I bought two warm tops that will be useful when we go out at night when the temperature drops, and it’s so cold.

Buildings and houses aren’t heated in South Africa since the winter season is short, and then the rest of the months are hot and humid. When we’ve been so tired over the past several days and nights and feeling especially cold, we had to bundle up with blankets to get comfortable. I’ve even worn socks to bed.

We don’t have room in our bags for bathrobes, resulting in frigid mornings when showering and getting dressed. While in the hotel overnight in Joburg on Sunday, there was no hot water, and we both had to take cold showers that morning we left. That was one chilly morning! Fortunately, I have fashioned some leggings and long-sleeved tee-shirts into what I use as pajamas.

Today, we all are pleasantly surprised with a warm day. Right now, it is 82F, 28C, and it’s perfect. No doubt, by tonight, the temperatures will drop again to a low of 59F, 15C. Although that doesn’t sound very cold, it feels very cool when there’s no heat indoors. The past several days have been 10 degrees cooler. Our teeth were chattering.

Last night, Tom fell asleep at 7:00 am, 1900 hrs. I stayed awake until 10:30 pm, 2230 hrs, or later trying to fend off the temptation to fall asleep for as long as I could. It worked; although I awoke at 1:00 am and stayed awake for 90 minutes, Tom had to wake me this morning for the dentist appointment. It is good to feel like my “old self.”

As for the missing bag, last night I called United Airlines again to hear the same report. The bag is on its way to us. But, we don’t feel confident when today is the fourth day since the bag was lost in Newark or Johannesburg. We can only wait and see what transpires.

Many more of our old animal friends have been dropping by. This morning we saw Broken Horn, many bushbucks, mongoose, and several kudus. Frank and The Misses were here eating seeds and drinking water from their little container a short while ago. We didn’t see Little or Tiny yesterday but hopefully, this late afternoon, they will return. Each day is filled with surprises!

Have a pleasant day and evening and be well.

Photo from one year ago today, July 29, 2020:

From the year-ago post on this date while on day #128 in lockdown in Mumbai, India. We were at the Kampong Cham Temple in Cambodia on this date in 2016. For more photos, please click here.

Who’s in the garden this morning?

• 8 warthogs – inc. Little, Lonely Girl, Lonely Boy, Fred, and Ethel, and Peter, Paul, and Mary,
• 9 bushbucks – inc. Chewy, Thick Neck/Bad Leg, Spikey, and others
• 6 kudus – inc. Bossy, Notches, and others
• 1 wildebeest – inc. Broken Horn
• 2 Frank and The Misses

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Over the years, we’ve mentioned we weren’t using this site to make money, and we did not, other than a few dollars each year from our ads listed on the right side of the page. But, during this past year, when our site was redone, we had to change to a costly hosting company to handle our 3200 posts and employ our current web developers to handle day-to-day issues as they occur.

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On another note, the past week, our photo ops in the garden have been fewer, not due to fewer animals but only due to my failing to take many photos. When photos appear to be blatant repeats, I tend to avoid taking them. As of the next few days, when the rain stops, our goal will be to find more exciting photos to share here.

Also, we will strive to take plenty of photos while in the US, in Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Nevada. However, to respect our family member’s privacy, we won’t burden them with posing for photos too often. Also, some prefer not to have their photos posted online, which we always respect and honor.

Today, with the rain, we’ll stay put until it’s time to head to Jabula Lodge and Restaurant for our usual, always delightful weekend dinner with dear friends Rita and Gerhard. We do not doubt that owner/friend Dawn and her excellent assistant Lyn will seat us at a table out of the rain, should it continue.

We continue to count down the days until we depart Marloth Park, now with only 10 to go. We can’t believe how quickly it’s coming up. Bit by bit, I’m packing in preparation for the departure date of June 29th.

Be well.

Photo from one year ago today, June 19, 2020:

In the 300-year-old stone house we rented in 2013, the authentic Tuscan kitchen in Boveglio, Tuscany, Italy. Unfortunately, there was no dishwasher, microwave, small appliances, or electric coffee pot in the otherwise well-stocked kitchen with items used to make pasta, bread, and sauces. For more photos, please click here.

Who’s in the garden this morning?

• 20 warthogs – inc. Tiny, Lonely Girl, Fred, and Ethel, Peter, Paul and Mary, 2 sets Mom and Babies and others
• 7 bushbucks – inc. Chewy, Thick Neck/Bad Leg, Spikey, and others
• 12 kudus – inc. Bossy, Big Daddy, Notches, Little Daddy, Mom and Baby, and others
• 21 helmeted guinea-fowl
• One wildebeest – inc. Broken Horn
• 1 female duiker
• 12 mongoose
• 2 Frank and The Misses

When I entered the house to refresh my glass of ice tea, I nearly fell over laughing. Frank was wandering about the kitchen, perhaps looking for bits of food on the floor. Fearful of scaring him off, I quickly grabbed the camera to take the two photos included here today. Please excuse the blur in the photos caused by my laughter and inability to hold the camera still.

After taking the photos I wandered into the kitchen to find him quite “at home” to see me there. I didn’t have to do a thing. Also, he had no issue or confusion in finding his way out the door. After a few minutes, he wandered toward the veranda door and “saw himself out.”

Every day, it’s something new that piques our interest, leaving us in awe of nature and the world around us. Whether it is a laugh-worthy experience or a tender or disappointing moment, we can’t help but notice little details. These “little things” make our time in Marloth Park and elsewhere in our world travels that make life so fascinating.

While seated at the table on the veranda, Little appeared as he often does, multiple times each day. But, this morning was slightly different. His right eye was oozing blood, not from the eyeball but the corner of his eye. We wondered what had happened to him, concerned for his well-being.

Could he have been in a fight with another animal? Could he have incurred the injury while walking through the spiked branches of trees and brush in the bush as he continues on his daily tour of the park? We’ll never know. The injury doesn’t look life-threatening. Warthogs are sturdy animals, and most likely, in time, they will heal on their own.

With so many warthogs in Marloth Park, few with injuries are attended to by the rangers and local vets who oversee the well-being of the animals. The attitude is to “let nature take its course.” When an animal is caught in a snare or suffering significantly, the vet may work with the rangers to treat the animal properly.

But if it’s a warthog, which many consider annoying and less “important,” they may be “put down” if they suffer from a disabling or life-threatening condition. This is a reality in the bush that all of us animal lovers must face. One day, a favorite “visitor” may not appear in the garden, leaving residents wondering what happened to that animal when in fact, they may have been killed on the road, died in a fight, or died from natural causes.

Some of these animals are old. Tiny is one of them. Warthogs can live 15 to 18 years, although the average lifespan in the wild is 7 to 11 years due to stats when they are killed by apex predators. But, here in Marloth Park, where they rarely face a lion, cheetah, leopard, or other apex predators, they can live many more years.

We consider the reality that when we return from the US at the end of July, having been gone for 28 days, some of our favorite animals, including Tiny, Little, Frank, and others, may never be seen by us again. They could easily be killed or lose interest in returning here when we’ve been gone so long.

The only encouragement I have is the fact that almost two years after we left Marloth Park in 2019, Little found us once again and visits every single day. We’ll hang onto the hope that we’ll see them all again, maybe not immediately upon our return, but in the days and weeks to come.

May your day bring you joy in the little things…

Photo from one year ago today, June 16, 2020:

We highlighted Venice, Italy, one year ago. Check out the crowds! For more photos, please click here.

Who’s in the garden this morning?

• 4 warthogs – inc One Wart, The Imposter, Lonely Girl, Lonely Boy
• 6 bushbucks – inc. Thick Neck, Chewy, Bad Leg, Spikey
• 7 kudus – inc. Bossy, Notches
• 4 wildebeest – inc. Broken Horn, Crooked Face
• 2 hornbills
• 13 helmeted guinea-fowl
• 4 Frank and The Misses – they got into a fight. No one was injured.

It’s very cool this morning. With the water out since Sunday and finally fully restored late yesterday, I started doing several loads of laundry, including the warm pullover sweatshirt of Tom’s that I wore every day I was sick. It needed a wash, and it’s currently outside, drying in the breeze. Unfortunately, it’s so cool and humid; it may not dry today.

This morning, I went through all of my clothes and couldn’t find anything warm to wear other than a long-sleeved tee-shirt. A jacket over it is not comfortable to wear all day. The wind is whipping around us right now while we’re seated on the veranda.

Vusi and Zef are in the process of getting the house ready for winter. Yesterday, Vusi cut down several large branches hanging over the braai (the firepit). Unfortunately, the dried-out branches above the braai created a fire hazard, preventing us from making a bonfire. Fire hazard is huge in Marloth Park, especially during the dry winter months. However, he did a fantastic job, enabling us to enjoy a bonfire while seated on the benches, especially when guests.

Whenever we’ve gone to Kathy and Don’s house overlooking the Crocodile River, they’ve built a fire. We all pulled up camping chairs around the fire, staying warm and comfortable for hours on end, engaged in lively conversation. Also, Tom and I can enjoy a fire for the two of us on cold nights.

Don will be arriving in Marloth Park next week, and Kathy will come in July. We are looking forward to seeing them both and having many fun social events with them as well. As we’ve often mentioned, one of the joys of living in Marloth Park is the social life as well as the immeasurable pleasure of seeing the wildlife.

Also, this morning, Vusi and Zef brought the outdoor gas heater over after getting it ready for us to use over for the winter. We used that same heater when we were at the Orange House in 2018/2019, and we look forward to using it again to stay warm on the veranda.

Next week, Rita and I are going shopping in Komatipoort to see if I can find a few warm hoodies to get me through the winter. It will be pretty unusual for me to shop with another female instead of the rushed feeling I have when Tom is waiting in the car, outside the shop, while I try to find something in a hurry. Of course, he doesn’t rush me, but I feel bad leaving him waiting.

As mentioned, I don’t drive here in South Africa (or many other countries) with only manual transmission rental cars, which would require me to shift using my left hand while driving on the left side of the road. I am not coordinated by any means, and this would be an accident waiting to happen.

This morning, I spent time reorganizing some of the kitchen cabinets. Rita motivated me when I noticed how tidy her cupboards were at the Hornbill house. In my old life, I never had messy cupboards and drawers. But, when we left our former lives behind, I also left behind my obsession for tidiness.

Lately, I noticed how hard it was to find anything in the kitchen cupboards, of which there are few.  So today, I tackled the long-overdue task. I’m still a cleanliness freak, but tidiness has not been a priority, although our vacation homes are always reasonably organized. Both of us are tidy in cleaning up after ourselves.

It’s been a good and productive morning.  We hope you have a meaningful day as well.

Photo from one year ago today, June 3, 2020:

The weather map of the anticipated course of Cyclone Nisagra. As you can see, Mumbai is located on the map in the dark green area indicated as the cyclone’s path. For more, please click here.

Who’s in the garden this morning?

• 10 warthogs – inc. Little, Tiny, Fred and Ethel, Benny, Henny, Lenny, and Penny, Lonely Girl
• 6 bushbucks – inc. Thick Neck, Chewy, Bad Leg, Spikey
• 1 wildebeest – Broken Horn
• 4 hornbills
• Frank and The Misses

Ah, relief! The water is now coming into the lines. The reservoir is full, and the water is gradually filling all of the lines throughout the area. There are still many air sounds coming through our pipes, but we should have water by the end of the day. So the first thing we’ll do is to take showers, then turn on the dishwasher and later the washing machine.

We didn’t accumulate much laundry since we wore the same clothes, only changing underwear and any odorous tee shirts. So far, all we’ve been able to do is flush the two toilets, which we’ve been flushing a few times a day using the pool water. They flushed, but as yet, we don’t hear the tanks refilling. So we’ll be patient and wait.

Hopefully, by the time we return from grocery shopping in Komatipoort today, we’ll be able to run the dishwasher and the washing machine. It will feel great to shower before we head to bed tonight. It wasn’t as awful as it would have been in our old lives. Then, we probably would have whined and complained to the water company. But, not here. It’s different.

This morning, we received an email from the dentist in Komati to tell us our 11:00 am cleaning appointments have been moved to two weeks from now. This is because there’s been a resurgence of Covid-19 in Komati, and getting our teeth cleaned right now is not a priority. We totally agree.

I hesitate to go to Komati to shop today, but we are totally out of food. We haven’t shopped in 15 days due to my illness which continues to improve each day. Last night, I barely coughed all night long, resulting in a better night’s rest. However, I was so tired I fell asleep with my spectacles on, and the battery died on my phone, still in my hand. It was a good sign.

I don’t know what’s happened, but my keyboard isn’t working correctly. This morning I looked up instructions for resetting my Chromebook’s keyboard so all of the letters will work. It seemed to have worked overall, but there still is a problem with m’s and n’s. So another reset will be necessary before I start working on the corrections this afternoon after returning from shopping and putting everything away.

Now, with the dentist appointment canceled, I have time to finish and upload today’s post before heading to Komati. Speaking of our posts, we had a glitch yesterday, and our site was down for many readers worldwide. We received more messages than we could respond to. So please know, we saw all your messages and appreciate you letting us know. I notified our web people to resolve it promptly, and everything was up and running in a short period.

In an email yesterday, a kind reader pointed out that I have been misspelling Ethel’s name. Without giving it a thought, I spelled it Ethyl, like to fuel, not the person. Thank you for your input and correction, Linda. I never take offense to our reader’s suggestions and corrections. But, unfortunately, when writing 365 posts a year, it’s so easy to become oblivious to a repeated spelling error that spell check fails to note.

Last night, after delightful conversation and sundowners with Rita and Gerhard, who left as darkness fell, it rained in buckets. We stood at the veranda door, watching the rain in awe of the power of the storm, the thunder, and the lightning. But, of course, we were thrilled we didn’t lose power or WiFi in the process and ended up having a lovely evening indoors.

We are grateful for the rain that always helps the wildlife, but it would take a lot more to make up for the months of no rain, lacking the green vegetation they can eat. So we’ll continue to feed them consistently.

Have a fantastic day!

Photo from one year ago today, June 2, 2020:

There were no photos posted one year ago today due to a pending hurricane in Mumbai, India, on this date.