Happy St. Patrick’s Day to those who celebrate…Soon we’ll be in Ireland!…

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Mom and Baby bushbuck searching for pellets Tom tossed in the garden.

“Sighting of the Day in the Bush”

A “forkl” of kudu stopped by for some treats.  We had lettuce, celery tops and stems, and of course, plenty of pellets.

Finally, the antibiotics have begun to work on my infected legs.  I’m cautiously optimistic.  I’m able to walk a little more but certainly not back to the 40 minutes a day I’d been able to do before the infection sets in. I imagine in a few days. I’ll be able to return to the daily walking regiment and pick up where I left off, working toward 60 minutes daily.

It’s been 33 days since the surgery, with three weeks of healing in Marloth Park. In the past 24 hours, I’ve also noticed a dramatic improvement in how I feel overall. As I’m seated on the sofa in the lounge room with the fan blowing on me (hot day today), legs up on a pillow, I am almost feeling like my old self.

 No doubt, I still have a long way to go to a full recovery, but I now have a sense of an end to this process. I’ll incorporate the 60 minutes of walking each day going forward, continue eating a healthy diet, and strive to keep stress to a minimum.

Mom and Baby were joined by a male bushbuck near the cement pond.  Could this be Dad?

During the past 24 hours, both of us have been researching the next leg of our journey, Connemara, Ireland, a perfect location on the sea with plenty of opportunities for long walks and taking photos of the stunning surroundings.

Yesterday, Tom stumbled upon the following from this link:

“Dubbed a place of “savage beauty” by Oscar Wilde, the striking region of Connemara has been a landmark destination for anyone looking to experience authentic Ireland.”

“Located in the rugged west of Ireland, you could think of Connemara as a vault, where Ireland’s traditions are stored safely against the march of time. Passing through the desolate yet beautiful Doo Lough and Delphi Valleys, the landscape tumbles down to the dark waters of Killary Harbour, a stunning fjord framed by olive-colored mountains. It’s a sign that you’re somewhere extraordinary Truth be told, this romantic region, with its old stone walls, ponies, and wild landscape, is the very essence of Ireland: “Irish language, song, dance, and literature are all to be found in abundance here,” says Paula Lydon from the Connemara Heritage and History Centre. And she’s not wrong.

What makes Connemara different? That’s easy. Traditions are everywhere. Everything from the food on your plate to the music beating out of pubs is infused with a unique cultural heritage. These traditions are also reflected in the language – Connemara is a Gaeltacht (Irish-speaking) region. You can have a go yourself by practicing a few words “cupla focal”), or even doing a course, but if you don’t fancy it, don’t panic. Everyone speaks English, too.Connemara’s National Park summarises all that makes this region so unique, and a great starting point for exploration has to be the Diamond Hill Loop Walk. Described as “a savage beauty” by wordsmith Oscar Wilde, Connemara can make your heart sing and the rest of the world melt away. It’s rural Ireland at its most dramatic, so absorb it all with a walk into nature. With the Atlantic on one side and the famous peaks of the Twelve Ben Mountains on the other, be prepared to stand in awe. But that’s what Connemara – and Ireland – is all about: letting go of the mundane and filling your heart with something quite remarkable.”

This couldn’t sound more enticing while we’re spending some of our time researching Tom’s ancestral history. What a magical-sounding place to live for almost three months as we conduct the research!

The little family of three politely shared the pellets.  Buckbucks are generally gentle and easy-going.

Here is the link to the house we’ve booked from May 12th to August 9th. We couldn’t be more thrilled to have this exciting opportunity ahead of us. Also, knowing this awaits us makes my recovery all the more motivating and uplifting.


Today, we’ll enjoy a quiet day, listening to Tom’s favorite podcast, “Garage Logic,” broadcast from Minnesota while I perform little tasks around the house as I can do more and more each day.

Happy St. Patrick’s Day to those who celebrate and happy birthday to son Richard in Las Vegas, Nevada.

May your day be rich in laughter and merriment!

Photo from one year ago today, March 17, 2018:

Upon closer inspection, it was apparent. The boat trailer couldn’t fit across the Crocodile Bridge, our means of exit after a day in the park. We had taken an alternate route which took several extra hours. For more photos, please click here.

Is Plan B working?…Kissing and hugging…

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He appears well-nourished and healthy.  He doesn’t devour the pellets as quickly as the others.

“Sighting of the Day in the Bush”

Little came up on the veranda looking for me, already positioned on his knees for some treats.

How did I get so lucky to have these great doctors here in South Africa? Who would have thunk?

Yesterday when we went to see Dr. Theo check on the infected incisions in both of my legs, he greeted me with a kiss and a hug. He knows how grateful I am that he saved my life.  

I don’t recall a doctor kissing and hugging me in my old life except for an uncle who was a doctor. In the US, this could be construed as sexual harassment and considered totally inappropriate.  

It is common for men and women to greet those they like, love, or admire with the warmest of hugs and kisses. I love this! But, not here in South Africa.

Three female bushbucks are sharing pellets.

There was a time many years ago in Minnesota when my family doctor, Dr. Parsons, hugged me goodbye at my last appointment when he was retiring the next day. I was so touched by the hug that I hadn’t forgotten it two decades later.

I imagine some people prefer not to greet others with such physical warmth and affection.  Those people are easily spotted by their body language or simply tossing out a hand for a handshake. That’s OK too. That degree of affection may not be suitable for everyone.

For me, this warm greeting put me at ease. Of course, I’m concerned about the infections. Who wouldn’t be, especially after this big operation when so much can go wrong for many weeks or months following the surgery.

Dr. Theo Stronkhurst is quite a special human being and physician. He gave me his personal email and phone number, suggesting I call him with any concerns.  He gave me tremendous peace of mind, especially when he’s the man that saved my life.

After examining my legs, he felt I didn’t need to go into the hospital, but to ensure my safety, he took photos of my legs and sent them to the surgeon in Nelspruit.  

A fourth bushbuck enters the garden.  She is the one we call “Friend” since she never has a baby or a mate but hangs around with moms and babies. For all, we know she could be the grandma since her coat is littler and she looks older.

They both agreed I could be treated from here without a hospital stay but must follow all the guidelines we already had in place; the strongest antibiotics suitable for this type of infection to be taken every 12 hours, followed by a dose of prescription probiotics an hour later; a twice-daily antibacterial wash and antibiotic cream followed by the application of sterile bandages until the wounds close. Of course, this includes wearing the compression stockings until bedtime for at least the next two weeks.

As for the walking program, I can begin again as soon as the pain is lessened enough to do so.  In the interim, I must sit with my legs up atop a few pillows and get up frequently for short walks around the house.  

Another thing was to stop fighting taking the non-narcotic pain pills and get on a more regular schedule to “stay ahead” of the pain. Stress and discomfort impede the healing process. The pills make me sleepy and dumb me; I tried to tough it out, which is not recommended after this massive operation. I am totally dedicated to this routine.

This morning when Louise sent a message that there would be a power outage today beginning at 9:00 am, I got up knowing I needed to take off the bandages and send the photos promptly at 10 am. Fortunately, I had enough data left on the SIM card in my phone to send the photos.

Little entered the scene, anxious for more pellets;

I waited patiently for a response after the two doctors reviewed them together. No more than 15 minutes later, Theo sent an email stating I’m good for today, and they were both optimistic I would heal without further intervention. Tomorrow at 10 am, I’ll send more photos of the progression overnight and again wait to hear if I am good to continue as is.  

Knowing these two doctors are taking time out of their own weekends, both Saturday and Sunday, means the world to me. I feel I am in good hands.

After the appointment ended at 1730 hours (5:30 pm), we drove to Jabula to meet Kathy and Don and Linda and Ken for dinner. It was my first time out to dinner since the surgery, and no words can describe how warmly we were greeted with hugs and kisses by owners Dawn and Leon, their excellent staff, Lyn and Melissa, and more, and many patrons who’d dropped in for dinner and drinks. 

Wildebeest Wille gets along with everyone as long as they don’t confront him.

After a fantastic dinner and conversation as always, we headed home to get my feet up, eat my last piece of low-carb cheese pie and watch a few shows on my laptop to definitely be repeated tonight when Tom helps me bake a new pie today. Eating a slice of this pie is helping me maintain my weight which is essential after this surgery.

Tonight Tom is making taco salads on this hot and humid day. That sounds perfect to me!

And thanks to all of our worldwide readers for bearing with me and all of these health-related posts. In time, we’ll be back on the move again, in 56 days, to be exact.

Have a great weekend, and above all, be well.

Photo from one year ago today, March 16, 2018:

This newspaper article appeared in yesterday’s local paper after we attended snake school. Tom did the snake-handling while I took notes and photos. For more details, please click here.

Today’s Plan B…Hospital or no hospital…How did this happen?…

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This morning when we opened the big wood doors, we had a dazzle of zebras waiting for breakfast.

“Sighting of the Day in the Bush”

We were thrilled to see the return of a mating pair of hornbills.

It’s never quite good enough for me to blindly accept a scenario that causes ill health and other problems in our day-to-day lives. I’ve always strived to discover the “why” in a determined attempt to avoid a similar scenario in the future.

As far as the necessity of my having to have coronary bypass surgery, I’ve been on a mission, reading (from reliable sources, not the general public) as much as I can find, listening to medical podcasts, and watching medical videos in what may be a futile attempt to answer the question, “Why me?”

In the realm of things, anyone can wonder why they experienced any problematic situation only to come up empty-handed, leaving the answer to “chance.” But over the years, I’ve learned a hard lesson, as many of us have…when it comes to unpleasant interactions among people..we have the power to avoid emotionally painful situations. We can only control how we feel, not how someone else should feel or behave.

However, when it comes to health, the “why” becomes more complex. Injuries, illness, and medical crises of most types may have been lessened or obliterated by one’s carefulness and diligence.  
Note the two youngsters with little interest in the pellets.

Get sick on a cruise? “Did I fail to wash my hands frequently enough or did I shake hands or hug someone who was carrying germs?”

 Break a leg while skiing? “Was I showing off or taking risks beyond my expertise?”

 Had a heart attack? “What lifestyle changes could I have made for a different outcome?”

 Of course, there are all those dreadful diseases one can acquire where it appears, the patient played no role in developing. Was it heredity, bad luck, or random cases of the universe playing tricks on us? No doubt, we can’t control it all.

But as I look back over the years I have to take full responsibility for my three blocked arteries and the consequences of the necessity of this enormous surgery. I knew about the hereditary factor on my mother’s side of the family, succumbing to hearts attacks, strokes, diabetes, and a myriad of other inflammatory diseases. Why didn’t I do something about that?

 I thought I was on a path to longevity when from a young age I exercised, maintained a healthy diet and weight, didn’t abuse drugs or alcohol, and quit smoking (only occasionally with a glass of wine or a cocktail) decades ago.

 But, stress which plays a role in building plaque in the arteries, typical for Type A personalities like me, was a huge contributor and I made little effort to avert it in my hectic lifestyle before we embarked on this journey.

 In the ’90s our medical plan offered a discount on a full-body arterial scan and foolishly I refused to do it thinking I couldn’t possibly have blocked arteries. Tom went ahead to discover he had zero plaque in his arteries and gained a lot of peace of mind. Did I avoid the test for fear of what may be found? 

 I thought I was exempt from heart disease based on my lifestyle. How wrong I was! Had I known this 20 years ago, would I have been able to change the progression of atherosclerosis? Possibly, to avoid what I’ve been experiencing of late.

So, the infection in both of my legs? Could I have avoided this? I showered when I was told I could. I applied sterile bandages when the wounds were weeping. I walked as directed, took all the medication as directed, and made every effort to rest and sleep.

And then, there were 12.

In the past 24 hours, it dawned on me why I most likely got the infection in my legs. The following notice was posted on Facebook on March 5 notifying local residents that the water supply, although not drinkable by our standards (we only drink purified bottled water), was finally in a safe state, fit for human use.
Here’s the post from that date from a local official:

March 5 at 12:44 PM

WATER TEST RESULTS: As you can see below the water test results of Dec 2018 showed that our water was not fit for human consumption as the coliform markers were too high, which meant fecal contamination. This marker/contamination could have made senior citizens, children, and people with low immune systems sick as per the lab scientists. BUT I had it retested now in Feb 2019 and now it is compliant and fit for human consumption. I also asked them to do ph, chlorine, etc. tests as well to see if our water could be the source of the rash and itching experienced by many owners/visitors. As can be seen, nothing in the water results points to a possible cause for rash/itch. I will, however, take samples personally at different points and have them tested personally to make double sure when I come down next week to Marloth. I will report back to all as to the results. Would I personally drink the water? No. Too much sewerage and waste are being deposited into our rivers in this day and age. But ultimately it is each owner/visitor’s prerogative if they want to drink the water or not. A Health Department representative will meet with me on Monday 11th March at the municipal boardroom in Marloth Park at 10 am to research the rash/itch situation. I will post about this shortly. I will be receiving and posting a monthly water test result for all to peruse.”

Could it be that when returning from the hospital 20 days ago and taking my first shower since February 12th, the day of the surgery (when I was instructed to shower from head to toe three times with a strong anti-bacterial soap) that this dirty water here in Marloth Park entered the still open incisions to cause the infection?

It was only about three days later that I began to feel more pain in my legs. We’d even gone as far as heading to our local doctor two weeks ago when the pain had escalated in my legs since returning to Marloth Park. There was no evidence of infection at that appointment, although the wounds looked bad and felt worse.

I knew about the bad water. I should never have taken the first shower. I should have been using bottled water until the wounds closed. I knew better. Why didn’t I listen to my instincts?

They stayed in the garden for over an hour while Tom continued to toss pellets their way.

Lesson learned?  Yes, those instincts of ours tend to be in our hearts and minds for a reason.  I’ve promised myself to pay more attention, be more mindful, and stop trying to avoid facing uncomfortable facts.

That’s the problem with us “overly bubbly” types. We can easily be accused of putting our heads in the sand. By the way, ostriches do not put their heads in the sand.  Going forward, nor will I.

Plan B for today…at 1645 hours (4:45 pm) today I have an appointment with Dr. Theo (for a second opinion) to see if he thinks I need to go into the hospital. If he says I do, then I will. If not, I’ll continue with the current regimen of antibiotics, probiotics, and twice daily application of an antibiotic wash and cream as directed.  

Now that I know the “why” I can exact the “what” to put all of this behind me in due time.
               

Photo from one year ago today, March 15, 2018:
Four waterbucks were sunning on sandbars on the Crocodile River. For more river photos, please click here.

Trouble with recovery…Cautiously optimistic…Today is the 7 year anniversary of our site….

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A female duiker (notice the one little horn) and a female bushbuck sharing pellets.

“Sighting of the Day in the Bush”

It’s mating time for bushbucks, and this male is checking out his options.

I don’t know where to begin. The recovery from the triple coronary bypass surgery was going as well as could be expected. There were challenges while I was in ICU in the hospital for eight days with irregular heartbeats and blood pressure all over the place and some challenges when we returned to Marloth Park. 

 By the time we left the hospital on February 23rd, 11 days post-surgery, we were ready to tackle my round-the-clock care by my diligent husband Tom, who’s been impeccable in attending to my every need. A professional could not have done a better job.

 As mentioned in earlier posts, the power went out on the first night we were back in our holiday home in the bush. It became so hot in the bedroom, and my feet were burning. Without thinking and awakening Tom to help, I attempted to pull off the compression stockings. This was a horrible idea.

I tore a muscle in my right chest in a flash that made a recovery more difficult than I could ever have imagined. My chest was already excruciatingly painful with the huge incision, my broken sternum, and the holes from the drainage tubes. I stayed cautiously optimistic.

 This event set me back weeks. For at least a week, I couldn’t use my right arm, and it’s only in the past week the pain from the injury became a trickle, not a flood. I could finally eat with a fork. 

Little stopped by for breakfast this morning.

On top of that, the incision in my right thigh has developed a hematoma that bled whenever I moved. My thigh was throbbing and painful, eventually going to Dr. Theo’s office to see if it was infected. He was out of town, but Dr. Phillip saw me and reassured me it wasn’t infected. I kept it bandaged to keep blood from getting all over everything.

 Days later, when we returned to Nelspruit for a checkup with the surgeon, Dr. Naude, he also reassured me there was no infection, and in time, the muscle tear would heal along with everything else. I stayed cautiously optimistic.

 When the walking program escalated as required, from 20 minutes to 40 minutes a day, I noticed the incisions in my lower legs became painful and would crack, ooze, and bleed. Supposedly, this was “normal” during the healing process…the skin surrounding the incisions became very tight, perhaps a good sign of healing.

 But, when they were bleeding through the compression stockings about six days ago, I became concerned something wasn’t right when there was so much pain when walking and when wearing the compression stockings. Also, it was pure hell when Tom had to put the compression stockings on me each morning and remove them at night when the seepage stuck to the stockings. He was cautious, and yet I writhed in pain each time.

 Yesterday, around 1400 hours, Tom and I went into the bedroom for a short nap with the aircon on. My legs were hurting badly, and I couldn’t find a comfortable position for the nap. Besides, they had begun to look red and inflamed.  I left the bedroom and called the doctor, who asked I take photos of both legs and send them by email or WhatsApp.

 Within 20 minutes of sending the photo, the doctor’s office called back to tell me that both of my legs were infected. He prescribed antibiotics, probiotics, a sterile cleaning solution, and a cream. They explained if there was no improvement in 36 hours (Friday morning), we had to return to Nelspruit for me to be admitted to the hospital for intravenous antibiotics. This was nothing to play around with after this big surgery. My heart sank.

Little sharing pellets with two bushbucks.  He’s such a gentle little soul.

Tom dashed out the door to head to the pharmacy in Komatipoort. About 10 minutes later, friends Kathy and Linda stopped by to see how I was doing and kept me company while Tom was gone. 

After they left, Tom made a nice dinner of chicken flattie and vegetables. The flattie was small, and we each ate half of it, him the white meat and me the dark…a match made in heaven, in more than one way.

 Neither of us slept well. Tom finally dozed off around 2:00 am, and I did the same at about 4:00 am. I kept thinking about taking the second dose of antibiotics as prescribed 12 hours after the first dose, around 5:30 am. Plus, I needed to get up to use the other products as prescribed. I never went back to sleep. It will be a tiring day for both of us.

 Am I cautiously optimistic? Yes, but we’ll see how the next 24 hours roll out. If you don’t see a post tomorrow around this time, you’ll know we had to go to Nelspruit.  But, if we do have to go, most likely, this time, I’ll be able to continue to post.  Please keep an eye out for me.

 Ironically, today is the seventh anniversary of our first post uploaded on March 15, 2012.  It’s hard for us to believe it’s been so many years. But as long as our loyal readers/friends continue to share this journey with us, through thick and thin, we will continue to write.

 Enjoy the day!

Photo from one year ago today, March 14, 2018:

Big Daddy Kudu visits almost daily.  Last night he stopped by while we were dining outdoors. For more photos, please click here. 

Crime in Marloth Park…Sad to hear there’s “trouble in Paradise”…

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This morning, we were greeted by four zebras.

“Sighting of the Day in the Bush”

An adorable male bushbuck, a regular visitor, stopped by this morning.

Last night was my first social outing since the coronary bypass surgery four weeks ago. We had a lovely dinner and evening at Lynne and Mick’s bush home with Kathy, Don, Linda, and Ken. It felt good to get out, and we managed to stay until the others decided to call it a night. 

The only discomfort I experienced was my legs which I propped up on our chill box near me. The ride on the bumpy dirt road wasn’t too bad, especially since I had a soft pillow to hold close to my chest as we encountered one pothole after another.

They anxiously await pellets but then fight with one another over them.

I’d hoped to take photos, but it was dar,k, and everyone was already engaged in lively conversation when we arrived. Kathy, Don, Linda, and Ken had arrived earlier in the day from a five-day raptor course in Kruger National Park, and we all listened intently to their story and adventure. I didn’t feel like interrupting the flow of the conversation to take photos. That’s how it goes sometimes.

 Lynne and Mick are the most avid “birders” we’ve met, and it was fun to hear all of them gushing over the wide array of raptors there are in South Africa. This truly is a wildlife haven, one of the best in the world. 

A handsome male bushbuck by the cement pond.

Our love of wildlife is a commonality we all share, and there’s never a moment’s silence when we all get together and share our stories of various sightings, among many other topics of conversation. Each day brings new surprises and sightings for each of us.

For many of us living in Marloth Park, we often mistake the serene beauty of the park for being a remote and safe location. But beauty and reverence for wildlife have nothing to do with the unpredictability of humans who perpetrate crimes with little to no regard for human life.

With ample vegetation after many days and nights of soaking rain, the zebras still love pellets.

Each week stats are posted on the Facebook page entitled “Marloth Park…Friends of Marloth Park” by Nadine, the head of CPF (Community Police Forum). It was startling to read the post making me more diligent than ever. Please read the post below:

“Good evening, everyone. Apologies for not posting stats last week as I did not attend the Polsec meeting as I was in Nelspruit.

Stats from 25 February to 10 March 2019
Raasblaar – Malicious damage by tenants. They were evicted.
Klipspringer – Burglary – TV, Alarm not set.
Swartwitpens – Burglary – TV,
Sekelbos – Murder due to a domestic dispute. I cannot give any more info—current Serious case 1. Arrest made. Thank you to Field and Securicon Paramedics as well as Saps for all your assistance. To Securicon for your quick response to your client. They are much appreciated. The witness and family thank you for all you did to assist.
We also had a fire on the 3rd of March as there were no injuries or death. Saps do not open the case due to it being Natural Causes. (Lighting)
Burglary on Kudu shed broken into. Goods recovered by Field Security. (Well done)
We want to warn owners to please lock their possessions away. Join a security company and set your alarm when you are not home. Set your alarm at night when you go to bed.
More cases have been reported to Saps on Sunday, but no case numbers as yet.
We sadly had a person pass away from a possible heart attack in Spinnekop on Wednesday. Again we thank Field and Securicon Paramedics for responding so quickly and Graeme Altenkirk for applying CPR until Paramedics arrived.
To the families that tragically lost loved ones, on behalf of the whole community of Marloth, we are so sorry for your loss and our Sincere Condolences to you.
Many other call-outs came over the past week for CPF and Law Enforcement. We were kept very busy with fights, domestic violence, theft by staff. Thank you, team, for the hours you spent running around all times of day and night.

Have a good week all. Be vigilant and report suspicious activity immediately to your security.”Soon, we’ll be facing yet another holiday period in South Africa, beginning on March 18th and ending on April 1st.  During these periods, we must be extra diligent in securing our belongings, turning on the alarm system (which we always do), and reporting any suspicious behavior of any tourists or residents.

During holiday periods, we see fewer animals that have been plentiful these past weeks.  Some, not all, tourists feed the animals toxic human foods, which can be fatal. Animals’ digestive systems are unlike humans, and foods such as corn, sweets, and chips may cause serious illness or death.
It’s fun to watch them interact.

Plus, Oliphant, speeding on the paved road is often responsible for killing a dozen or more animals during any holiday season. Animals are constantly walking or running across dirt roads as well. Safe driving is a must.

We often see (as we’ve mentioned in the past) young children driving cars, trucks, and SUVs while sitting on the parent’s lap in the driver’s seat. Children’s reflexes aren’t as quick as an adult’s, and they are not qualified or experienced to be driving, which is dangerous to both wildlife and humans alike.

We can only hope and pray this upcoming holiday period will be safe.  As we see from the above report, even non-holiday periods pose risks to residents in many ways.

We thank the volunteers such as Nadine, Patty, and other CPF members who donate their time, gas, and efforts to ensure safety in the park, along with the security companies who are fastidious in their response to any incidents.

Have a safe day!

Photo from one year ago today, March 13, 2018:

From Part 2, snake school: When “capturing” the Black Mamba, it is imperative to immobilize the head close to the ground and raise the tail. Tom managed to do this while it was desperately attempting to escape. The Black Mamba is the fastest snake on the planet. For more photos, please click here.

Out to dinner at friend’s bush home for first time since surgery…A little self-conscientious about the scars…

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Nyala was thrilled we had more pellets for him.

“Sighting of the Day in the Bush”

We don’t usually see a lot of young male bushbucks. But, this adorable fellow with his budding horns was a sight to see.

Tonight, Lynne and Mick are hosting a dinner party at their bush home for a total of eight to include; Kathy, Don, Linda, Ken and Tom, and me. This will be my first time out socializing since returning (to Marloth Park) from the hospital on Saturday, February 23, a mere 20 days ago.

When Lynne stopped by a few days ago to loan me some pajama bottoms and a few other loose-fitting clothes, she tentatively invited us to hers and Mick’s home for tonight’s dinner party.

She was tentative based on her desire to keep me from feeling obligated to join the evening’s festivities if I wasn’t quite up to it yet and that we could let her know at the last minute if I wasn’t feeling well enough to attend.  I thought for a minute and said, “No, we can commit now. We will be there!”

He and this duiker got along well while eating pellets.

This gave me a goal to work toward for a few days since there were a few factors I needed to consider, such as what I’d wear, and I could put myself together well enough to feel like being out and about?

 Now, keep in mind, these are all close friends, and how I look, what I wear, and whether or not I drink wine is irrelevant to them. I know this. But, I’m “me,” and no surgery, no looking tired is going to keep me from being myself. I decided to give it a go.

 Since we have a dinner reservation for Jabula for Friday night, this would be a good “trial run.” Sure, as Tom says with a smile on his face, “There’s some vanity in that equation.” I know this and accept this as who I am and who I’ve always been…a bit vain, always striving to look and feel my very best.  

He’s less shy around us now, coming close to the veranda.

I’m 71 years old. There’s no changing me now!  So, kindly keep this in mind as I continue with this very personal, revealing story. Many, if not most of you, would handle this differently. That’s great. But that’s not me. That’s OK. We’re all different, and that’s what makes us so fascinating to one another.

 Thus the issues were wrapped around two things:
1.  What would I wear when all the pants I have are in the jeans category in one way or another? At this point, jeans rub against the painful incisions and cause them to bleed. I’m not a “dress” person, so I have no comfy flowing dress that would fit the bill.
2.  I don’t want the ugly scar on my chest that comes up to that little circle at the base of one’s throat. To me, it’s pretty ugly, still swollen and red.  Perhaps over time, it will improve, but I’m realistic in acknowledging that its appearance is here to stay. I can live with this…good grief. I’m alive! But, I don’t want this showing when we go out and about in the world.
3.  The oozing bleeding scars on both of my legs were running from my ankle to my upper thigh (actually two incisions) and the other on the opposite leg from ankle to knee. They look terrible right now as they struggle to heal, and the pain can be fierce and throbbing. If it weren’t for these incisions in my legs, I’d feel perfect.  The chest incision is healing rapidly at this point, four weeks today from the date of surgery.

We can’t get over how handsome he is.

Bottom line? Why don’t I want these showing when I’m out and about, often meeting new people? I don’t want people who are curious (nosey) by nature asking me, “what happened?” I don’t feel I have to get into this with people I don’t know.  Hiding the scars seems to be an excellent solution to this concern.

 How do I hide my legs when all the pants I have are either short to the knee or Capri length, except for a few insect repellent safari pants?  I don’t think that the embedded repellent should be touching these open wounds at this time.  Plus, I prefer not to dress as if I’m going on a safari when I’m not.

 It’s not as easy as heading to a local clothing shop and purchasing a few new items.  I’ve checked out these shops on many occasions, and all I’ve seen are clothes entirely unsuitable for my long legs and my age.

Tom broke up a raw carrot and tossed out pieces to him.  He loved it!

Fortunately, Lynne loaned me a pair of “harem” type pants which I’ll wear tonight and maybe again on Friday evening. These pants have an elasticized waistline, and thus I can adjust them for length (I’m taller than Lynne), fully covering the compression stockings (two more weeks for these) and, therefore, the leg scars.

 What to wear on the top? The pants are deep red and black. I have a black tee-shirt that I love in stretchy cotton, but it’s a “v” neckline, leaving the raised red scar prominent. I considered purchasing some infinity scarves, but I’m not a scarf person as much as I’ve tried to be one. I’m terrible at tying proper knots on regular scarves.

 The black tee-shirt is my only option. But I had a plan. What if I wear the tee-shirt backward, which in doing so, will entirely hide the scar? You know how, on occasion, you put a tee-shirt on backward and feel as if you’re choking? Well, I decided that if I could get used to a scarf, I could get used to wearing a backward tee-shirt.

It was beautiful to see him three out of four days.

This morning when I dressed, I put on a blue tee-shirt backward. It looked perfect, like a round neck tee-shirt instead of a “v” or scoop neck. I can do this.

 Now, several hours later, I’ve already forgotten about my backward tee-shirt, and now going forward, I’ll do this when we go out, not when we’re staying in. This made me jump for joy.

 One more issue I have to figure out by tonight is the “bra” thing. I only have three identical VS underwire bras, same size, exact fit. Whenever we get to the US, I replace these for three more, tossing the old ones. Amazingly, they hold up very well, showing little to no signs of wear and tear, especially since they never go into a clothes dryer (we rarely have one of these).

 I haven’t tried putting on a bra yet. But I will tonight. I’m not entirely comfortable going out bra-less. I may have done this in the ’70s, but not so much since then. It’s not trendy for us older women to go bra-less in public, and I doubt it will ever be.  Right?

When he was done visiting us, he headed back to the bush to continue with his day.

I didn’t feel like giving the bra a trial run this morning, but I guess I’ll see how it goes when I dress for tonight. If the bra is not comfortable on the deep and long incision in my chest, I’ll forgo the bra. Plus, I’ve lost several kilos (pounds), and it won’t be as noticeable as it would have been a few months ago.

So, there’s my immediate and long-term plan. Of course, when purchasing new clothing in the future, I’ll simply have to see what makes me feel comfortable and like my old self depending on how the scars look by the next time we’re in the US, and I shop, sometime in November 2019.

 The hair, the makeup? That’s easy. I’ve always been quick in putting myself together, especially now that I can raise my arms over my head which was difficult if not impossible a few weeks ago.

 Maybe tonight I’ll be ambitious and we’ll take a few photos to share in tomorrow’s post. It’s about time we make an appearance even if it’s off from photos of a few months ago.

 Be well. Be happy.

      Photo from one year ago today, March 12, 2018:

One year ago, we attended a snake-handling school. Tom is preparing to capture a puff adder. Although puff adders have a reputation for moving slowly, generally,  they won’t bite unless agitated as is the case with most venomous snakes. Often people are bitten from accidentally stepping on them or encountering them unexpectedly…or foolishly trying to handle them without proper knowledge. For more such photos, please click here.

Close encounters of the human kind…How did we get so lucky?…Monday morning mongoose mania…

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A mongoose is sitting on a step while waiting for eggs.

“Sighting of the Day in the Bush”

Mom and three babies…the fourth baby warthog has been missing for a week.  It’s sad to think about what has happened to her.
We returned from the hospital to Marloth Park on February 23rd, 16 days ago.  During that first week, I was a mess, and we didn’t see many friends while I was struggling so much, other than Louise and Danie and Kathy and Linda.


 Over this past week, we’ve had a steady stream of friends stopping by to see how I’m doing. No words express how grateful we are to have made such wonderful friends here in Marloth Park.

 Tomorrow night, Tuesday, we’re invited to dinner at Lynne and Mick’s home along with Kathy, Don, Linda, and Ken. This will be the first time out socializing since the surgery on February 12th.

This particular band of mongooses has been here many times.  They knew exactly where to wait for Tom to deliver the eggs.

We’ve been out before this when we had to return to Nelspruit for an appointment with the surgeon on March 1st. The long drive surprised me as tolerable when Tom drove like a champion keeping the little red car as steady as possible.  

 Tomorrow, I am heading to Lynne and Mick’s home, although only two minutes “as the crow flies,” will require some driving on the outrageously bumpy dirt roads in Marloth Park. I’ll bring along a pillow to hold against my chest to soften the blows of the ruts and potholes in the road.  

 Then, on Friday night, Kathy, Don, Linda, Ken, and the two of us are meeting at Jabula for dinner before Linda and Ken head back to their home in Johannesburg.  

The baby mongooses are not quite sure about the eggs in the bowl.

Most likely, we won’t see Linda and Ken again before we leave for Ireland. They have a tremendously busy travel schedule, visiting family in the US and Australia over the next few months. Kathy and Don will come and go between their homes in Pretoria and Marloth Park, so most likely, we’ll have several more opportunities to spend time with them.

 Lynne and Mick stopped by on Saturday for a pleasant visit. It was great to see them.  Had we left for Kenya as planned, we wouldn’t have seen them here again due to their month-long self-drive and tour of Namibia on a major bird-watching adventure.

 When Lynne read in a previous post that I only had two pairs of pants to wear now as I recover, both of which are very hot and uncomfortable, yesterday she returned with a stack of comfy, soft cotton pajama bottoms, pants, and a dress I can wear until I can start wearing jeans again. How thoughtful and generous is that?

They went as far as beginning to climb the veranda’s steps to get our attention.

And Kathy, good grief! She’s gone over the top during this entire ordeal of ensuring I had everything I could need or want while providing, along with Linda, an enormous dose of emotional support, friendship, and love.

 Uschi and Evan stopped by between the angiogram and the surgery to say goodbye before embarking on their month-long holiday. But surely, we’ll see them again when they return.

 Today, Lesley and Andrew surprised us with a thoughtful visit to offer their love, support, and offer to help in any way possible. It was beautiful to see them as well.

They came to the garden from all directions.

As busy as they are, Dawn and Leon from Jabula never faltered in their love and support during this challenging period.

Then, of course, there’s Louise and Danie who’s thoughtfulness extends well beyond their role as our property managers, who’ve become loving and dear friends. The flowers they had waiting for me when we returned from the hospital, the impeccable house, the grocery shopping, and literally every possible need covered in one way or another. Currently, they are on holiday in Cape Town, and we look forward to their return. 

Once the bowl of eggs is licked clean, they start looking at us for more. This time Tom complied, bringing out some whole eggs.

How did we get so lucky to have so many kind and caring people in our lives? Add the fabulous people who’ve stayed in touch, some daily like our dear girl Okey Dokey, who’s texted me daily to offer words of encouragement and who sent me the adorable stuffed “Jessica the Hippo,” which I’ve used over and over again to support my chest as I moved about, coughed or sneezed.

And then, there’s been the endless stream of messages from our dear readers/friends from all over the world who remained steadfast in their prayers and well wishes.

They scattered about, looking for more eggs.

Of course, my family has been there for me, along with many members of Tom’s large family offering prayers and good wishes for a speedy recovery. It goes on and on. I’m in awe of the kindness and generosity of spirit that so many have freely offered during this trying time.  

Merely saying “thank you” doesn’t express the depth of appreciation both Tom and I feel over the outpouring of prayers and warm wishes by so many special people. 

 Although not a story in itself, today’s post provides me with an opportunity to let all these amazing people know how much they are appreciated and how much they all mean to us.

Photo from one year ago today, March 11, 2017:

Jonas, a youthful-looking 40-year old owns several businesses and has done well in his life considering many hardships. Many years ago, he was attacked by a lion in Marloth Park and lived to tell the story. For the complete account of this frightening event, please click here.

 

In the long run…

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When we spotted this female kudu lying in the garden today, we wondered if she was in labor.

“Sighting of the Day in the Bush”

Adorable Ms. Bushbuck (one of many Ms. Bushbucks) standing by the cement pond.

Please, dear readers, don’t be concerned that our site will become a medium to moan about my medical woes.  I’m as anxious as all of you to get back to the matters at hand…world travel.

It’s exciting and highly motivating to know that in 62 days, we’ll be on our way to Ireland. Of course, it’s perfectly normal for me to have looked up possible cardiologists in the area of Connemara, Ireland. The closest I found was in Galway, about a one-hour drive.

Most likely, I’ll have to have a check-up by a cardiologist during the three months in Ireland as I would have done if we stayed in South Africa or any other country. 

Apparently, such an exam is crucial at the six-month mark, post-surgery, in August.  

We watched her, noticing her swollen udder, and wondered what was going on.  As we watched, we realized she wasn’t in labor but was relaxing in the shade on a hot, humid day.

We leave Ireland on August 9th, spend two days in Amsterdam, and then we’re off to a Baltic cruise for 12 nights. After the Baltic cruise, we have a 62-day gap we’ve yet to fill, hoping to stay somewhere near Cornwall in England.  

We realize we need to get on the ball and figure out this gap, but at this point, we’d feel better waiting a month to book something. If we have to move around a bit, we will, since booking in this popular area will be challenging last minute. But, we have no doubt we’ll figure it out, one way or another.

We won’t be heading to the US until November, during which we’ll visit family in Minnesota, Nevada, and Arizona. It will be wonderful to see everyone at that time.  Had this heart surgery not occurred, we’d have been in Minnesota on April 8th, less than a month from now.

Another photo of the nyala who visited us for the first time on Friday along with kudus and Ms. Buchbuck…three types of antelope in the garden simultaneously.

We couldn’t bear another financial loss of canceling the holiday home in Ireland, so we’ll pick back up there and continue with our itinerary. Based on our current scenario, we’ve decided not to book two years out in the future.  

As we age (or at any age for that matter), we can’t predict what may transpire preventing us from meeting our commitments for holiday homes, flights, hotels, cruises, and tours. This is a harsh reality of non-stop world travel without a home base.

Do we regret not having a home base when the necessity of this surgery rolled out?  No. South Africa and our proximity to Mediclinic Nelspruit proved to be one of the best places in the world. This could have occurred for a few reasons (see below photo):

The two young male bushbucks arrived together.

1.  We had an available holiday house that happened to be available where we’d been living over the past year. We didn’t have to move…a huge bonus.
2.  The cost of the surgery, although high at ZAR 700000, US $48,477, was nothing compared to the cost of this surgery in the US, which easily could have been seven or eight times higher.
3.  Our international insurance policy doesn’t cover us. At the same time, in the US, plus the minimal Medicare coverage we have in the US could easily have resulted in ZAR 1443981, US $100,000 in co-payments we’d have to pay.
4.  There was no better place on earth to recover than here in Marloth Park, surrounded by an endless stream of wildlife and many wonderful friends.

In essence, Tom considers that we were in South Africa, under the above conditions was “safari luck” in its truest form. I happen to agree, especially now as I continue to improve with our wildlife friends at our doorstep.

No, it’s not easy, nor will I imply that having this type of surgery anywhere in the world is easy. In some ways, it may be a little more complicated here with the high heat and humidity during Africa’s summer months and the power outages, which aren’t too bad right now.

A young male bushbuck with horns just beginning to appear.

Like most patients after a big procedure or surgery, they want to be “home,” not in some strange big city in a hotel as some family members and friends had suggested with the best of intentions. For now and the next 62 days and, for this past year, the “Orange…More than just a colour“… house has been our home.  

We’re very grateful for many reasons… 

                   
                            Photo from one year ago today, March 10, 2018:

We stopped at a covered brick structure overlooking the Crocodile River with bleacher-type tiered seating, perfect for viewing wildlife. Click here for more photos.

Update on recovery process…Baby steps or with gusto?…Nyala stops by again today…

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He seems to be following a small forkl of kudus consisting of two boys and their mom. It appears he’s taking a liking to the mom.

“Sighting of the Day in the Bush”

The nyala seems very interested in this female kudu. Since there are no female nyalas in Marloth Park, one never knows what could transpire.

The number of readers who wrote to wish both Tom and me the very best as we worked together through my healing process after triple coronary bypass surgery less than four weeks ago was astounding. Thank you, dear readers/friends, throughout the world. Your words of encouragement definitely had a positive impact.

Generally, recovery from any type of surgery, illness, or injury is a highly individual process. Each patient is recovering at their own pace with the aid of physical therapy, a good diet, and plenty of rest with a gradual return to everyday activities.

A vital aspect of recovery is having the love and support of those family members and friends who can offer emotional support and aid in performing day-to-day activities.

Anxious to get back to myself again, I’m steadfast in following doctor’s orders, however vague they may be, and doing as much for myself as possible. At this point, I can get in and out of any chair, the bed, off the low sofa, and in and out of the car on my own.

Do I still have pain 25 days post-surgery? Yes, I do. As a matter of fact, each time I move, all four areas of my body with incisions (three in my legs, one in my chest) scream out as a reminder of how careful I must be.  

On top of that, other areas continue to be painful. My arms, closely related to the chest muscles, struggle to perform small tasks such as cutting food on my plate, chopping, dicing, and reaching for items above chest level.  

Preparing a meal is still cumbersome especially opening and reaching into the refrigerator, opening the vegetable drawer, and pulling items out of the freezer. After tearing a muscle in my chest wall three weeks ago today in the middle of the night, in the dark when the power had gone out, I’m cautious knowing how much of a setback this can be. This injury set me back for several weeks.

But, I try to think in terms of what I can do. I can shower, dress, fix my face and hair, brush my teeth, and put on my clothes. Now, I can do some light food prep in the kitchen, fold laundry and carry my own plate of food to the table, impossible only two weeks ago. These small tasks are encouraging.

Such a handsome creature.

Today, I started week three of the walking program which consists of 20 minutes twice a day. This morning I used the breathing machine and then proceeded to do the first 20-minutes of walking around the house, non-stop, at a comfortable pace.

Oddly, the 20-minute walk seemed no harder than the 15-minute walks as of yesterday. Boredom is a huge factor for me, so I’ve been listening to podcasts on my laptop while I walk. The clothes I’ve been wearing have no pockets or place or place for my cellphone to use for the podcasts.

No, I’m not ready to walk on the roads here in Marloth Park, and I can’t imagine when this could be practical on the bumpy dirt roads in our remaining two months in the park. It would be so easy to fall and that I want to avoid at all costs.

How am I holding up emotionally? It’s hard to tame an “overly bubbly” type such as me. Although I’m not gushing with enthusiasm, as usual, I am in good spirits, not whining, not irritable, and definitely not self-pitying.

However, I do ask the question several times a day to Tom and often to myself, “How in the world did this happen to me, of all people?” I spent my entire life attempting to be healthy and fit. I went as far as asking the two cardiac physicians how this could happen to me?

In both cases, they responded,  “Your lifetime efforts were not lost. Heredity brought this on, and had you not strived for good health all these years, you wouldn’t be here asking this question. You survived despite it.”

That provides me with a little comfort, but now I am madly searching for answers on how I can prevent this from happening again in the future should I be blessed to live many more years. There don’t seem to be any obvious lifestyle changes I can incorporate into my future wellness program.

If necessary, I won’t ever drink a glass of low alcohol red wine again, but the doctors insist a few glasses are fine, if not good. At this point, the thought of drinking anything with alcohol makes me queasy. Even Tom has avoided having a drink since this mess began in early February.

At this point, I don’t believe we’ll be back to our old selves while we’re still here in Marloth Park. The upcoming three months in Ireland by the sea will most likely further escalate the healing process with level roads and sandy beaches on which to walk, cool air day and night, and most likely, few, if any power outages.

It’s not that I’m anxious to leave Marloth Park, even with its frequent power outages, high heat, humidity, and biting insects.  It’s simply a fact that a little easier day to day might be highly beneficial.   

I’m still wearing those hot compression stockings, and when the heat is at 40C, 104F, and the humidity is at 85%, it’s a bit uncomfortable. The only clothes I can wear right now are tee shirts and leggings since shorts and jeans aren’t comfortable near the incisions. I only have one pair of loose black pajama bottoms and one navy blue tight leggings, both of which are scorching. 

But, I am making good progress, am down to only a few low dose pain pills per day, and overall eating normally, albeit smaller portions than usual due to lack of appetite, which is normal after this type of operation. The result is baby steps…not my usual “go for it” mentality. I want to do this right to continue on our worldwide journey with renewed health and renewed hope for the future in two months.

Be well.

Photo from one year ago, March 9, 2018:

A waterbuck resting on a sandbar in the Crocodile River. For more photos from one year ago, please click here.

Safari luck!…A sighting we’ve awaited for 13 months…What a way to start a new day!…

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When friends Lois and Tom visited for three weeks in October, we spotted the nyala crossing the road from a distance but never were able to get a decent photo. From there, we searched daily, hoping to spot it again.

“Sighting of the Day in the Bush”

Once the kudus began to walk away, the nyala followed behind. Perhaps, he’s spending a lot of time with them.

A short time after we arrived in Marloth Park last year, on February 11, 2018, we’d heard a lot about the lone nyala in the park from our friends. Some had lived here 10 years or more and had never seen it, and others had seen it more than once.

With our usual safari luck, we expected to see it and take a decent photo to share here. But, as time went on, we decided it would be unlikely we’d see one animal among so many based on the massive size of Marloth Park at 3000 hectares, 7413 acres.

When friends Lois and Tom stayed with us for three weeks in October, we’d hoped to spot it while they were here. We almost accomplished this when we saw him at a distance, crossing a dirt road near the Crocodile River. 

Tom opened the big doors to the house this morning to find this stunning surprise, the elusive Marloth Park male Nyala hanging out with two male kudus, one female kudu, and one female bushbuck.  What a fabulous surprise! 

We all jumped out of the car, hoping to take a photo as he made his way deep into the bush, but alas, he disappeared in seconds. Friend Tom scrambled directly into the bush to attempt a photo but no such luck.

 We resigned ourselves to the fact that it would be unlikely we’d see it again during our remaining time in the bush. Had my recent bypass surgery not transpired, we’d never have had today’s sighting. We would have been long gone.

 But now, as I recover a little more each day, this morning’s sighting in our garden, we were overcome with joy and gratefulness. Plus, for some odd reason, this felt like a good omen for health and healing, for which we’ve become more optimistic each day.  

We’ve spent endless hours driving through Marloth Park in search of this stunning member of the antelope family. 

Finally, two weeks after returning from the hospital, I’m beginning to notice improvements each day.  Yesterday, on our 24th wedding anniversary, I made Tom an apple crumble, one of his favorite desserts, warmed and served with an ample dollop of vanilla ice cream.  

 Based on its sugar content, I didn’t have any of the crumble but continued to savor one of the last few pieces of low-carb cheesecake. Tom peeled the apples (we saved the peels for the kudus they love) while I put together the remaining ingredients. It made me smile to see him practically moaning over each bite.

 Since my surgery, Tom had lost five kgs (11 pounds) and deserved a sweet treat.  Ironically, he lost more weight than my measly two kgs (4.2 pounds). Surely, the stress and loss of appetite have impacted both of us.  

There are some similarities in appearance between the nyala and the kudu. But, the coloration of the hair, the long beard, and the pattern on the legs are unique. Females do not have horns and are much smaller.

We would avoid losing more weight by making the low-carb pie for me and the apple crisp for Tom. Finally, I stopped losing, and now, with this dessert, Tom will do the same. It feels so good to have a dessert in the evening, comforting especially after all of our attention has been focused on me getting well.

 Anyway, back to the nyala…when opening the two massive wooden doors this morning while I was up, showered, and dressed, Tom whispered, “Hurry, get the camera. It’s the nyala.”

 And indeed it was. I positioned myself at a chair by the table to steady myself since my arms are still too weak the hold the camera up in the air, positioning my elbows for steadiness and accuracy. In my usual overly enthusiastic manner, I struggled to keep from shaking while I took the photos. I did the best I could and wasn’t unhappy with the results.

From left to right, two kudus, one bushbuck (by the cement pond), and the elusive nyala to the far right.

The scene before our eyes of the lone nyala, three kudus (two males, one female), and the single pretty bushbuck was a scene we’ll never forget…pure heaven, here on Earth.

 Here are some nyala facts from this Kruger National Park site:

“Name

Nyala [Nyala angasii or Tragelaphus angasii]

Appearance

The handsome slate-brown shaggy coat is marked with white vertical stripes and spots on the flanks. Rams appear more charcoal-grey in color. The rams have long inward curved horns (650 mm) and a white chevroned face. They have a ridge of long hairs along the underparts, from behind the chin to between the hind legs. They also have a mane of thick, black hair from the head along the spine to the rump. Rams weigh 115 Kg and measure 1.05 m at shoulders. Ewes are much smaller, do not have horns, and weigh 59 Kg and stand 900mm at shoulders. Ewes are chestnut-coated with even more prominent white stripes on the flanks.

He looked healthy and well-fed. Surely, when he occasionally visits the garden of a bush home with residents aware of his arrival, he is fed plenty of pellets along with the lush greenery, since the rains, in Marloth Park.

Diet
This antelope feeds by grazing and browsing and readily feeds on leaves, fruit, and flowers. This variety in their diet is one of the factors ensuring their successful survival.

Breeding

They breed throughout the year but mating peaks in autumn and spring. Single calves are born after a gestation period of 220 days. Twins are not uncommon. Ewes first conceive between 14 to 18 months. The average interval between births is 297 days. Mating opportunities for rams are decided through dominant behavior.

Behavior

An interesting fact is that juvenile males look like females. It is thought that this camouflages the young males and protects them from the jealous eyes of the dominant bulls. The young males are therefore allowed to grow up peacefully under the protection of the herd.

They appeared to get along quite well with the kudus as they shared pellets we’d tossed.

Habitat
This rather large antelope inhabits dense woodlands and thickets along permanent water. It is very secretive and more easily seen at night. Nyala is non-territorial, but both sexes have overlapping home ranges. The home ranges of ewes are twice the size of that of rams.

Where they are found

As a result of translocation, nyalas are found in several game reserves and private farms throughout South Africa. They are most numerous in the Kruger National Park.

 Vital Statistics

Latin Name
Tragelaphus Angasii
Weight (Female)
55 – 68 kg weight (Male)
92 – 126 gestation Period
8 months of Young
1 calf
Birth Weight
5 kg order
Artiodactyla
Family
Bovidae
Horns
64 cm (record – 84 cm)
Breeding
A single young is born anytime during the year (peaks in August – December), gestation period ± 7 months.

Spoor Description

The fore-feet of the males are relatively broader than those of the females. Adult males are also larger than and shared females.”

Ms. Bushbuck kept a close eye on the pellets, wondering if she could squeeze in for a few.  We made sure she had plenty as well.

What a great start to our day! What’s on the agenda for today?  More rest, more walking, more good food, and more of the loving care that has been so instrumental in my continuing recovery. 

Thanks to our readers for your ongoing love and support, anniversary wishes, and wise experience from those who’ve been where I am now and have healed and gone on to live a full and fulfilling life.

He ate a few pellets but didn’t seem that interested in them.  Most likely, he’s getting plenty of nourishment from the lush bush.

Happy day!

Photo from one year ago, March 8, 2018:

In the yard, there’s a fenced-in garden intended to protect some vegetation. Ha! the monkeys have no trouble crawling inside and making a mess.  These vervet monkeys are fun to watch with their playful antics but annoying and destructive.  For more photos, please click here.