Happy St. Patrick’s Day to those who celebrate….

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Today is a memorable holiday, primarily celebrated by people of Irish descent, including the following:

“Saint Patrick’s Day is a public holiday in the Republic of Ireland, Northern Ireland, the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador (for provincial government employees), and the British Overseas Territory of Montserrat.”

Although Tom is Irish, I am not, and he doesn’t make much of a fuss about this particular holiday. In our old lives, if it fell on a day that Tom was off work, I would make the traditional corned beef and cabbage dinner which we both enjoyed. Most people would boil the corned beef in water with the vegetables.

I preferred to roast the meat, like a pot roast, covered and slow-cooked in the oven for several hours, along with the vegetables in the pan, cooking in the tasty juices. We found this method much more delicious than the typical “New England Boiled Dinner,” a favorite of some Americans. On occasion, to maintain the Irish tradition, I’d make Irish soda bread, but Tom wasn’t a big fan of the dense bread.

Gosh, my mouth is watering writing about this. At the time, I was still eating carbs (it’s been 12 years since I went keto) and loved the heavy bread, especially when some recipes called for raisins added to the dough. Tom doesn’t eat raisins in anything. I do miss each bread of any type, although I make keto bread which in no way compares to the “real deal.”

Many people celebrating St. Patrick’s Day did so in a bar, possibly drinking green-dyed beer. I’d never developed such a tradition since today is also my eldest son Richard’s birthday.

Today will be a delightful usual Friday for us when around 5:00 pm, 1700 hrs., we’ll arrive at Jabula for yet another Friday evening filled with fun and merriment with Dawn, Leon, David, and countless other locals and holidaymakers who stop by for their enjoyment as well. Tom hasn’t been to Jabula in two weeks, but I was there last weekend, as mentioned, on Friday and Saturday nights. Our friend Sindee drove me both ways, both days. We had a great time together.

This morning we went to the local meat market and loaded up on various types of meat to last us for the next ten days or more. We bought mince, short ribs, lamb neck, chicken breasts, prawns, and bacon. After having that fantastic meal at Louise and Danie’s on Monday and, for the first time, eating lamb neck, I was anxious to buy one of them to cook. Tom doesn’t eat lamb, so he’ll have pork when I make it.

On Sunday, I plan to make two stir-fry dishes, one with prawns and veggies for me and the other a beef and broccoli dish Tom loves topped with salty peanuts and served over a bed of white rice. I will make large enough batches to last for at least two nights’ dinners, as I often do, to keep cooking time to a minimum on hot, humid days.

Right now, we’re beginning to feel the weather changing. It’s not a huge difference, but we’re finding it to be slightly cooler some days with a little less humidity. Today’s dew point is in the 60s, not the 70s, which is way more comfortable.

It’s so wonderful to have Tom back with me. We’re still feeling the magical glow of being back together again. Based on how we are, this feeling will last indefinitely.

Be well.

Photo from one year ago today, March 17, 2022:

Due to a WiFi issue of some sort of WiFi issue, I cannot load the year-ago photo today. For the post, please click here.

Tom is baaaack!!!How wonderful to be together again!!!…In his words…

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Could these three female kudus be any cuter?
There are no words I can use without sounding too syrupy to have my man back in the bush with me. He arrived not much later than we’d anticipated. We hugged warmly, but he wanted to brush his teeth before planting a big smooch on me. He hadn’t had access to his toothbrush and toothpaste since he left the US almost two days earlier. I always carry a travel toothbrush and a little tube of toothpaste, just in case. But Tom hadn’t done this.
He spent a night at the City Lodge Hotel at the Tambo Airport in Johannesburg with nothing but the clothes on his back and a clean pair of underwear. His one piece of luggage was in limbo at the time, causing him some stress after recent events.
Kudus love eating bird seeds off the bird feeder ledge.
Tom had written the following to his kids and siblings when they’d asked him about his return trip:
“When I got to the airport in Minneapolis, I received a text on my phone saying my flight was delayed two hours. Apparently, the plane coming from Denver was delayed getting out of there. I was worried because my layover in Newark, NJ, was only 90 minutes, and I would miss my 16-hour flight from Newark to Johannesburg, South Africa. 
This route is only available two to three times a week. I would have been stuck in Newark until I could get on another 16-hour flight.
Also, I had booked a hotel room at the airport in Johannesburg due to a 14-hour layover to catch my last flight from Johannesburg to Nelspruit, South Africa. If I couldn’t get on this new flight, I would have to pay for the hotel room and not get there in time to use it.
Check out the width between this Big Daddy’s horns.
Quickly, I approached the airline counter, asking what I could do. They told me to go to a  different gate with an earlier flight from Minneapolis to Newark.
When I checked at the next gate (same airline), they said I might have a chance to get on that flight, but I would be on standby and have to wait until all the other booked passengers were on the plane.
I had checked my bag for the first flight, so the gate agent called about it to see if it could be moved from my booked flight to this flight. They told her they would try to get it done.
I’ve never been on a standby list before. I waited about 2½ hours.
While I was waiting there, many others were trying to do the same thing that I had done, get on the standby list I was on. Some of these passengers were getting angry and raising their voices.
After they boarded the plane with booked passengers, I was relieved when they announced that only three seats were available for standby passengers, and I was #2 on the list. When I got to my seat, I heard other passengers talking, saying this particular flight had been delayed; it was scheduled to depart several hours earlier. I was fortunate it was delayed and that I could get on it.
Then I was concerned if my checked bag made this flight. I went to the hotel without my bag, with no toiletries and only a change of underwear I’d put into the computer bag. I didn’t know until I arrived at my final location to find my bag was there. What a relief after what we’d been through recently with lost baggage.

The candy made it without being an issue. I’m happy to be back!”

Adorable Little Johnny contemplating jumping over the fence

Yesterday, we never spent a moment out of each other’s sight. We had a lot of catching up to do, along with an entire afternoon and evening filled with laughter, countless warm interactions, and smiles on our faces. After never being apart in the past over ten years (other than the nights I was in hospital), I can’t even describe how wonderful it feels to be back together again.

Today, now 24 hours later, we’re still reeling. Even breakfast tasted better than ever this morning. Last night upon Tom’s insistence, I never made the chateaubriand but instead cut the meat into sizable steaks, which we enjoyed topped with garlic mushroom, wine sauce I made just before we ate, along with a crispy green salad and rice for Tom.

He hadn’t slept well in the airport hotel and slept only about four hours in the past two days. I could tell he was tired but couldn’t doze off when he tried to take a short nap around 2:00 pm, 1400 hrs. In a funny way, he reminded me of a little kid excited to be where he was and unable to wind down long enough for his nap. It warmed my heart. I am so lucky.

Norman has visited several times already this morning but was annoyed with nearby male kudus, causing him to fluff up with his head low.

Louise wrote to me that last night I was the “happiest woman in Marloth Park.” So true, dear Louise. And I am still reeling today. They say, “absence makes the heart grow fonder.” But my heart was already pretty fond before he went away. In reality, we feel as lucky to be together today as we always feel.

Today, we’re making burgers on the braai (no buns) with bacon and the leftover garlic mushroom sauce, salad, and rice. Sundowners on the veranda on this lovely sunny day will begin at 4:00 pm, 1600 hrs., as always—dinner around 6:00 pm, 1800 hrs., and later streaming our favorite shows. Tom slept well and is experiencing no jet lag whatsoever, but surely another good night’s sleep will be worthwhile.

Be well.

Photo from one year ago today, March 16, 2022:

It didn’t take long for the wildebeest fight to commence. We knew that something would happen once they were on their knees. For more photos and a video of the battle, please click here.

Oops…forgot to upload yesterday’s post…Tom returns today!…11 year anniversary of our posts!…

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A kudu mom and her young son who will eventually become a Big Daddy.

Gee…  late last night, I started getting messages that there was no post yesterday. Then it dawned on me that I hadn’t uploaded it since I was waiting to hear from Tom since he always proofread the posts within minutes of it being uploaded so we can correct any errors.

The time slipped away when he was on the plane for 16 hours. And I became so distracted by hearing his voice when he arrived that I forgot entirely about uploading the post. Neither of us thought of it when all that was on our minds was him getting back to me in the bush. Gosh, it’s been a long ten days.

Once he got situated in his hotel room in Joburg after we’d talked, he noticed I hadn’t uploaded the post and sent me a message. By then, I was under the covers and thinking about dozing off. It had to wait until this morning. If I got up and turned my laptop back on, I’d lose the sleepiness I was feeling.

Zebras wander over to the railing for pellets.

First thing this morning, I uploaded yesterday’s post, and now I am busy doing today’s, which I will remember to upload. I am still in one piece, counting the hours until Tom returns. I can’t tell you how many readers wrote to me wondering if a lion had eaten me.

A few minutes ago, I got a message from Tom that his Airlink flight from Joburg to Nelspruit had been delayed, a rare occurrence for that airline. They are always on time, from our experience. Oh, dear, so close and yet so far away. Now, I am waiting to hear from him as to when his expected arrival will be. He still has a long drive from Nelspruit to Marloth Park, with lots of traffic and endless trucks traveling on the N4 highway during the week.

I just heard from Tom. He’s on the plane. He should be landing in about 40 minutes. Then, he’ll get his bag and the rental car to begin the drive.

Zebras continue to stop by daily.

This morning I started working on tonight’s special dinner. I’m planning to make Chateau Briand with a fine piece of beef tenderloin with a lovely red wine mushroom sauce with roasted carrots and onions. But we may decide to have fillet mignon steaks with the mushroom sauce since we both like a different degree of doneness…he prefers medium-rare, and I like rare, which is tough to do when making Chateau Briand. It’s got to be one or the other. Plus, there’s load shedding from 5:00 pm, 1700 hrs., to 7:30 pm, 1930 hrs., and we won’t be able to use the oven. This dish is best prepared in an oven as opposed to a grill.

So we shall see. He’ll have rice, and both of us will have salad which I already prepared this morning, adding the homemade dressing at the end. It’s an easy dinner to prepare, leaving us plenty of time to catch up and enjoy the remainder of the day and the evening on the veranda.

We often find ourselves rereading specific posts, often many we’ve forgotten we ever wrote. It was 11 years ago today that we uploaded our first post, which may be found here. Maybe we will reread that post together this evening during sundowners on the veranda. It’s such fun to review our lives in such detail whenever it appeals to us.

Hoppie’s Mom and piglets can’t resist breaking through the fence to get into the garden.

Also, seeing old photos is a special treat. We didn’t post many photos in the first year, but after our readership grew in leaps and bounds, we realized adding photos was a must, along with uploading a new post daily. Initially, we thought we were doing the posts to keep the family updated. Little did we know it would eventually grow in leaps and bounds to reach readers worldwide. We are very grateful to all of our readers.

Soon Vusi will be here. He’ll fill the water dispenser with water so I can make Tom a huge batch of his favorite iced tea. Then, he’ll refill the pellet bucket so Tom won’t have to do it when he arrives. Plus, Vusi will fill the birdbath with fresh water and the birdseed containers with seeds. I’ve made lots of ice using our ice cube trays, so Tom won’t have to do that either. I want his first few days back to be free of household chores so he can relax and do what he loves.

Thanks for all the love and support from so many while I’ve been alone in the bush these past ten days and nights. It’s meant so much to me that I never really felt alone.

Be well.

Photo from one year ago today, March 15, 2022:

Warthogs often photobomb! For more photos, please click here.

Fantastic evening with friends in the bush…Tom’s on his way but ran into an obstacle…An uninvited visitor in the house…

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Danie was preparing our dinner on an open fire which included slow-roasted lamb necks, roasted cauliflower, sweet potatoes, and more This was truly a South African meal. Delicious.

Note: I was so distracted by Tom returning I forgot to upload yesterday’s post!  Here you go…

The only way last night could have been better was if Tom had been with us. We all missed him and spoke of him often. That aside, we had a wonderful evening. Louise and Danie certainly know how to turn a meal into a memorable event serving fantastic food, a wide array of options, and an ambiance one would only expect in fine dining.

Most people don’t often invite half a couple for dinner. They wait until the partner has returned from wherever they may have been and then invite them as a couple. But Louise and Danie didn’t hesitate to invite me by myself, never giving it a thought that cooking for one guest may be a lot of extra work. These two special people aren’t afraid of work.

They’d been staying at the Khaya Umdani house, where my birthday party was held three weeks ago, since it has solar power, whereas their own home does not. Load shedding has been awful lately. I feel bad they put this massive inverter system in this house to ensure we are comfortable, yet they haven’t put it in their own home.

Khaya Umdani is the most upscale of all their rental properties (although all of them are very nice) and has always been our favorite. From time to time, when it’s not rented (a rarity), they use it themselves to get away from the annoyances of load shedding.

In 2014, we stayed at Khaya Umdani for about three weeks and cherished being there. We’d love to be able to rent it regularly, but it is out of the range of our budget, and we don’t expect Louise and Danie to lower the price and lose money with us staying there for so long. The price is about three times more per night than we pay for this lovely house that fulfills all of our needs and expectations.

The evening started with adult beverages and keto starters of ham, cheese, and dill pickles, perfect for my way of eating. By the time we stopped chatting long enough to eat the main course, I already felt full. But, not surprisingly, when they put that huge slow-roasted lamb neck on my plate, I dug right into it, savoring every morsel, never thinking, as the meat melted in my mouth, about how full I was getting. I wasn’t leaving a morsel behind.

This is where I sat at the table at Khaya Umdani last night at sunset when Louise and Danie prepared a fantastic meal for me. I brought my bottle of low-alcohol wine.

Yesterday, I baked two keto cream cheese pies with almond flour crusts, which I know they both love, one to bring to them and another for me. I only tried a few tastes of side dishes, which were also delicious. If I’d had more room, I’d have also piled them onto my plate. (Tom doesn’t care for it). I’d hoped to save space in my full stomach for a small piece when I got home.

They get up each day at 4:00 am and had another busy day working and prepping the lovely meal. They each had a small piece of pie and offered some to me, but I wanted to leave it all for them and also needed a little time for my food to settle down before I could enjoy the pie. Louise drove me home when  I insisted it was time to go around 9:00 pm, 2100 hrs.

The ride back was special when we saw a lot of wildlife hunkered down for the night along the dirt roads. It’s incredible how they all look out for one another. They only looked up for a few seconds when we drove by to ensure they were safe. It’s quite a sight to see.

Back at the house, no more than a minute after Louise dropped me off, I ducked when a huge bat flew over my head when I was in the lounge room. I thought I’d better quickly cut my little piece of pie and head off for the bedroom, knowing I’d never open the bedroom door again until morning.

Once I was settled with my pajamas on, I noticed a message coming in from Tom that his flight from Newark (where he was) had been delayed, which would cause him to miss the 16-hour flight to Joburg, which ultimately could delay him by as much as a day. He texted me at 2:00 am to let me know he’d be in the air before too long when the airline booked him on an earlier flight so he’d make his connection.

Louise had made cole slaw, salad, and creamed spinach, all of which were delicious. I ate an entire lamb neck, but a little of the sides since the meat was so large and delicious. I took bones and scraps for the mongooses I hadn’t seen in days.

With that flight often taking 16½ hours, plus going through customs and immigration in Joburg, most likely, he won’t arrive at the airport hotel until around  10:00 pm, 2200 hrs., or later tonight, where hopefully he can get some sleep and recover for his morning flight from Joburg to Nelspruit on Airlink. He still should arrive here by 1:00 pm, 1300 hrs., at the latest. Whew! What an ordeal!

Vusi is here now and hasn’t seen the bat anywhere, either. I suppose it will appear tonight when it’s dark. With the lions in the area, I don’t feel safe leaving the doors open after dark, plus doing so would invite more nocturnal creatures into the house. We’ll see how it goes. I am not panicking. I just don’t like bats flying around the room.

Anyway, that’s it for today. folks. Thank you for sharing these past long days and nights alone in the bush without my lover, partner, husband, and travel companion. Soon, he’ll be home. I am in the process of planning a special dinner for him. I will post the menu tomorrow.

Be well.

Two “Go-Away” birds are enjoying the birdbath in our garden. Photo from one year ago today, March 14, 2022:

For more photos, please click here.

Cooler day…Two days and counting…

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Our beautiful Delilah, a duiker, the smallest of the antelope in Marloth Park, visits us several times a day. Her mate, Derek, isn’t as daring as Delilah and seldom jumps the little fence.

Yes, I am counting the hours until Tom returns, let alone the days. In about 48 hours, he’ll surely walk in the door with a wide grin on his face. He appreciated the time he spent with family, especially those spent with his kids, alone without me. We’ve both always felt that some alone time with our adult children is good, especially since we are a blended family and fully understand that our children may enjoy time alone with their parent, instead of the two of us.

No offense is taken by this fact by either of us. When we go to Minnesota, we spend some time together with my son Greg and his three children, but I spend time with them on my own while Tom is busy with his kids and grandkids. We make a point of spending any holidays that occur while we’re together, perhaps at different times of the day.

We’ll be back in the US in September, which is a mere six months from now, and again, we’ll shuffle around to see everyone. We’ll be staying a total of three weeks in the US, one week in Nevada with son Richard and renewing our driver’s licenses, and then fly to Minnesota to see our three other children, grandchildren, and other family members and friends.

The bush is lush and green after all of the rain these past few months.

In the past few years, we’ve spent more time in the US than we had in the first five or six years of world travel, which has proven good for us all. No doubt, living away from grown children and their families is not easy, but many seniors move to warmer climates and are away from their families for extended periods. We’re trying to coordinate our travels to allow more time with family as we continue on our journey.

We’d never have stayed in Minnesota if we hadn’t decided to travel the world. With the cold, ice, and snow, we, too, would have sought warmer and safer climates as so many people do as they age. Many seniors break bones, including hips (especially women), from falling on the icy roads and pavement. Walking out to one’s car in a parking lot was terrifying when walking on glare ice. Even young people often fell and hit the icy ground with a thud.

It’s been snowing quite a bit while Tom has been in Minnesota, but soon, he’ll return to upcoming fall weather in South Africa, when it will begin to cool down on days like today. It’s heavenly with lowered temperatures and humidity with a high of only 84F, 29C.

Bossy is so pretty.

Tom suggested that perhaps our readers may not be interested in the weather in Africa. But recently, many have written that it’s interesting to them to see how our weather compares to theirs and how different it is across the world.

This evening, I am invited to Louise and Danie‘s home for the lamb braai. Soon, after load shedding ends (when I can use the oven with the inverter system), I am making them a keto cheese pie which they both love. I always make an extra pie for me which I savor in small pieces each evening after dinner. It keeps well for several days in the refrigerator. Tom doesn’t care for it, so I won’t concern myself with saving some for him. I offered to bake something for him for his return, but he said he had donuts left in the freezer and that he’ll enjoy those with his coffee each morning.

I am planning a special dinner for the night he returns. I imagine it will be an early night since he’ll arrive here around 1:00 pm, 1300 hours. He may take a short nap to be able to enjoy the evening with me. It only takes us one good night’s sleep to recover after not sleeping for two days, and I am sure that will be the case for him this time too.

Although we’ve talked a lot on the phone since he’s been gone, we’ll have plenty to catch up on. The time can’t come quickly enough for me. I’ve realized as I’ve aged not to wish for time to fly quickly and to savor every moment of our lives. But, this time apart leaves less opportunity for savoring life, although I’ve had some very fun times with our friends while he was away enjoying every moment.

Be well.

Photo from one year ago today, March 13, 2022:

This is Little Imposter. He pretends to be Little by mimicking Little’s behavior, but the differences in their appearance make it easy for us to determine who is who. For more photos, please click here.

Little Johnny and his mom Jasmine…Bye, bye, slimy black worms!!!…Errors on posts…

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Look at this adorable little boy bushbuck, whom we named Little Johnny. His mother is Jasmine. We name all female bushbucks after flowers and plants.

It’s so exciting that the slimy, black worm infestation is finally over. I can now sit outdoors without worms falling on me and without carrying them into the house on my shoes. Nor do I have to worry about going to the kitchen barefoot at night, stepping on stray worms that wandered into the house with the doors open. What a relief!

This morning I was lazy and lounged in the bedroom later than usual. There was no urgency to get up, especially with no animals in the garden. I watched a few episodes of Naked and Afraid on my phone until I finally got up to begin my day. After showering, dressing, and getting ready for the day, doing my usual routine, I was ready to make my mug of iced coffee and breakfast.

It feels odd that it’s Sunday. I’ve never liked Sundays since I associate them with going to school on Mondays when I was a kid and later as an adult, facing the responsibilities of owning/running a business all of those years when I worked so hard. Somehow, I’ve never been able to totally shake that feeling, even though I retired many moons ago.

Now, with Tom still in the US, with only three days until he returns, I’m a little out of sorts, wondering what today will bring. I expect it to be a very quiet day without transportation and no plans whatsoever.  Louise and Danie invited me tomorrow for a “lamb on the braai” dinner at their lovely home down the road. As much as I’m sure I’ll enjoy the lamb, their companionship will be the biggest attraction.

With the camera next to my laptop, I’m hoping more wildlife will stop by, enabling me to take more photos. The only other wildlife I’ve seen this morning, besides Jasmine and Little Johnny, are Hoppie’s Mom and her two pesky piglets. There are always a few impalas here and there, but I seldom take their photos with them being so prolific.

Yesterday, Tom and I spoke twice, once before Sindee picked me up to go to Jabula and then again after I returned to the house in the evening. He’s been proofreading the posts each day but had been busy with family and hadn’t had time to read yesterday’s post. In the previous days, we’d been able to go over the corrections together while I made the adjustments accordingly.

Jasmine and Little Johnny stopped by this morning.

When we talked last night after I returned to the house, he pointed out some errors, and one particular error made us laugh out loud. I meant to say “as” at the beginning of a paragraph, and instead, I typed “ass.” We giggled over my gross error as well as the countless other errors I’d made.

It’s funny how I will read and reread each day’s post before publishing it. I use a spell-checking and grammar app, Grammarly, to review each post and make the suggested corrections. Invariably, it misses at least six errors each day, errors I also missed after reading and rereading it several times. It’s the nature of the beast. (No pun intended).

Somehow, Tom manages to pick up most of the errors when he reads it after I post it online. But, as good as he is at this, he, too, can miss a few remaining errors. Often, when I look back at posts, I see new errors. I often wonder if old errors magically reappear.

As it turns out, over the years of writing a new post daily, I resigned myself to this reality…errors will remain on some posts. I dare anyone to write a new story 365 days a year for over ten years without leaving some errors in their wake. If I were to spend more time preparing the posts, I suppose I could post them in near-perfect condition. But, I already spend a half of each day working on posts, including photos, so I don’t know if I’d be able to maintain my level of passion for doing this. It’s the price I must pay.

I kindly ask each of our readers to understand my position and bear with some missed errors on posts, knowing that we wish they could be perfect. For us, perfection comes in the desire to continue to share our lives with those who choose to continue to read about our lives, whether it is interesting or mundane or anything in the middle. Thank you, dear readers, for accepting our realities, whatever they may be.

Be well.

Photo from one year ago today, March 12, 2022:

We never sailed on Cunard Queen Mary 2, a fully prepaid transatlantic cruise, when, while on another cruise, we both got Covid in April 2022. For more, please click here.

Baboon invasion…Fun night at Jabula…Conflicting opinions but peaceful conversation…

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Selfie: Me, Sindee, and Leon having fun on “hat night” at Jabula. I wonder what the occasion will be tonight??? It was really hot and humid, and I had light red wine on my teeth.

It’s a little busy here this morning, surprising for a Saturday when soon the official three-week holiday begins, and holidaymakers have begun to filter into Marloth Park. There were several kudus, bushbucks, and impalas and, of course, the usual, Hoppie’s Mom and her two annoying piglets who always break the little fence to get into the garden closest to the house.

It’s as if the three of them lie in wait for me to toss pellets to other animals and then come charging toward the house, hoping to partake in the bounty. Invariably, they scare off some of the smaller antelopes, but Big Daddies and Norman take no flack from them, often tipping their massive horns to show them who’s boss.

It’s no wonder that warthogs, pigs that they are, end up with heinous injuries from being stabbed with those massive horns by the larger antelopes in the park. It’s always sad to see those gaping holes, often oozing blood and filled with maggots, but surprisingly, warthogs are quite sturdy with strong immune systems, and they survive.

As I sit here now at the table on the veranda, I am reminded that last night just when I was walking out the door to get into Sindee’s car to head to Jabula, a half dozen baboons hit the veranda. There was nothing out there they could harm, and since they don’t respond to women chasing them off, I could do nothing.

Every Friday and Saturday night, Tom orders Jabula’s amazing creamed spinach. with his meal. He only takes a bite or two, if any, and piles the remainder onto my plate. I never order it myself, always saying it’s too fattening. Well, last night, without him there, I ordered creamed spinach as a side and ate the entire plate. I sent him the photo,,, and he laughed out loud. I also sent him the above photo of the three of us with hats.

With the lions nearby, I didn’t want to go out onto the veranda in the dark when I returned from Jabula. This morning I faced a mess on the table. The baboons had actually peed on the table, and it wore off the varnish, right where I usually sit. I got some hot soapy paper towels and washed it over and over again, cringing all the while.

Yesterday, when Danie stopped by, he told me that nine lions had a “kill” a few mornings ago, at the far end of this property. I didn’t hear anything unusual, but it could have been while I was in the shower.

Besides, it’s common to hear shrieks, barking (mostly impalas), and screaming noises in the bush, most of which we’ve become used to. Animals get into scuffles and make lots of noise at times. As quickly as a lion could grab a bushbuck or an impala by the neck, we wouldn’t necessarily hear a thing, even if it was nearby.

As for last night’s visit to Jabula would only have been more fun if Tom had been there. Sindee and I sat at the bar chatting and laughing while Leon spent most of the evening entertaining us on “hat night,” when he brought out more than a dozen fun hats for guests and staff to wear. We all laughed out loud as he entertained the group of us, filling all of the seats at the bar.

Our friend Vimpy (nope, not Wimpy) said hi to Tom in the court jester hat.

Seated to my left were three Americans who’d come to South Africa to hunt. She showed me a photo of a golden wildebeest she’d shot. Of course, I have distinct opinions about hunting these wild animals, many of whom we interact with on a daily basis. To spend over three years in Marloth Park watching animal behavior on a daily basis and reveling in the stunning means of communicating we have with them, it breaks my heart to think people would kill them for sport.

I fully understand the necessity for animals to be bred as a food sources. Let’s face it, every carnivore on the planet eats other species for survival. Most likely, that is why the variety of edible species exist. But, to kill animals for “fun,” even though the hunters donate the meat to the locals, is a little hard for me to accept.

Also, I understand the necessity of culling to preserve a richer environment for a remaining species and to avoid starvation when natural resources have been depleted by other animals or even humans. Ah, it’s a sensitive topic, and I understand and try to respect the choices made by certain factions who view wildlife very differently than we do.

Spend three years of your life “talking to the animals” to fully understand my perspective. Please don’t send me negative comments on this topic. As in many areas of life, we all have varying opinions, and all we can do is try to have an open mind to the fact that we may disagree on many topics. That’s why we avoid discussing politics on this site.

What would be the point of getting into a heated discussion when neither of the participants can change the other’s mind on many topics. Over the years, we’ve found ourselves avoiding discussions with others, centering around politics when we aren’t interested in getting into a heated debate. It may be stimulating for some, but it is not for us.

As both Tom and I have learned, the only benefit from heated discussion is when compromise is reached to solve a problem that can’t be resolved in calm conversation. However, I tend to avoid conflict; it only raises my blood pressure, not my awareness or knowledge. Subsequently, both of us have learned to speak calmly after a short cooling-off period (if needed) in an attempt to avoid conflict.

As far as I’m concerned, “fighting isn’t healthy,” as some claim to be the sign of a strong and loving relationship. Compassion, compromise, and a willingness to accept alternate views creates strong and loving relationships. No, we don’t always agree, but somehow, we always manage to make a fair and reasonable case for our point of view as we strive for a logical solution and ultimate decision.

Life is too short to spend it angry. No one is ever going to be lying on their deathbed, saying, “Gee, I’m glad I fought so hard to make a point.” instead, they could say, “Gee, I’m glad I loved so hard to make a peaceful life.”

Be well, my friends.

Photo from one year ago today, March 11, 2022:

I dumped four medications for six months in this pile on the bed to illustrate how inexpensive drugs are in South Africa. For more info, please click here.

Few animals stopping by…Photos from seven years ago…Boredom…

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A single beautiful lily in the lily pad pot in the yard in New Plymouth, New Zealand, in 2016.

Note; Due to a lack of photos right now, today’s photos are from a post on March 10, 2016, when we lived in New Plymouth, New Zealand, for three months on an alpaca farm. See the post here.

I think the black worm invasion is over. I sat at the table on the veranda this morning, and not a single worm fell on me. A few nights ago, when I got into bed, I felt something on the top of my foot. It was a black worm! I let out a little startled scream. I don’t usually scream when I see insects or even snakes. But, a hairy, slimy, black worm slithering on my foot surpassed my level of calmness.

I must have picked it up when I’d gone into the kitchen to turn on the little lamp, close the blinds and turn off the overhead light. Yuck. I’ve had it with them. This morning, when I didn’t see a single worm on the floor in the house or the veranda, I sighed in relief. They are gone. Finally. They were here for about four weeks.

Similar to Australia, many of the beaches in New Zealand are uneven and rocky.

As a result, I was able to sit at the table on the veranda to eat my breakfast of smoked salmon and two eggs atop two thin slices of homemade keto bread. What a treat! There’s no breakfast I could enjoy more. The only addition I could use is having breakfast outdoors with Tom. Gee…these next five days can’t pass quickly enough.

His absence has created a feeling of boredom I haven’t experienced in over ten years. I’m never bored when he is here. If a thought pops into my head, I need only to approach him, and he immediately stops whatever he is doing to pay 100% attention to me. Who does that? Of course, I’m not a pest, and when he’s engrossed in something, I can leave him alone until he’s done.

The nights are easier than the days. I’ve been binge-watching a TV series….911 Lone Star with Rob Lowe, and although it’s totally unrealistic, it’s entertaining enough for me to watch it while I play games on my phone. I should be done with it by the time Tom returns.

We often stopped at this favorite spot for photos of Mount Taranaki.

But, during the day with Tom away, when I’ve completed the post, usually by 1:00 or 2:00 pm, 1300 or 1400 hrs., is when I find myself feeling like a lion in a cage, practically pacing the house with nothing to do. In my old life, I would call a friend or family member, run an errand, work out at the health club, or work on a project around the house. I was never bored then.

But now, with the house always clean, the bed always made, and dinner prepared early in the day due to the heat, I find myself watching mindless drivel on a streaming service on my laptop to ward off my feelings of boredom, perhaps interspersed with profound feelings of missing my partner, my lover, my friend.

I may sound like I am complaining. I am not. It’s more of an observation I’ve experienced these past five days. It’s not as if we spend every moment in each other’s presence when he is here. It’s the calming and comforting sense that this delightful human being, my husband, is available to me at a moment’s notice to make me laugh, smile or feel loved. I am so grateful for him, as he is for me. We never take each other for granted.

The beach on a cloudy evening.

On occasion, Tom asks me, “Are you bored?’

I always say,  “No, are you bored? I am never bored”

His answer is the same. This life we’ve chosen to live, however peculiar it may be to some, never leaves us feeling bored. At any given turn, there is something that attracts our attention, often inspiring us to take photos or “write about it.” The anticipation of that fact alone prevents either of us from ever becoming bored. Even something as simple as each other attracting our attention is sufficient to keep us entertained, wherever we may be at any given time. We are very blessed to have one another.

Tonight, I will be entertained going to Jabula when my friend Sindee picks me up at 5:00 pm, 1700 hours, and bring me back to the house later in the evening. I haven’t decided if I’ll return to Jabula on Saturday night as we always do.

Be well.

Photo from one year ago today, March 10, 2022:

Helmeted guinea-fowl chicks have yet to develop the blue and red facial features shown on the adult on the far left. For more photos, please click here.

No food police for Tom in the USA…

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Those spice drops and the black licorice would be those I liked the least. Then again, the others aren’t very appetizing.

It’s not that I give Tom dirty looks when he chooses to eat unhealthy foods. He knows how I feel, and he’s adopted some healthy eating habits over the years.

But, when certain foods he can’t find when we’re living in certain countries, he can’t resist buying some of his favorites, like donuts and candy, which is the case while he is in the US right now.

It’s not that he’s out dining in restaurants eating unhealthy foods. His choices mostly revolve around certain snack foods, including candy and donuts. Mainly, the meals he eats are relatively healthy and nutritious. Whatever he consumes in these ten days away won’t harm him in the long run. He takes no medications and has no dietary restrictions.

Norman continues to stop by several times a day. It was fun for my sundowner guests to see him.

During our first conversation after he arrived in Minnesota, he said he stopped at a Fleet Farm store, his favorite spot to buy candy, none of which ever appealed to me at any point in my life, including childhood.

He loves jelly-type candies (not gummy candies), which he hasn’t found anywhere in Africa. A trip to Fleet Farm, a farm and supply store in Minnesota, has always been his favorite place to go for the candies, as shown in today’s main photo.

It’s been wonderful talking to him. Hearing his voice over the phone is odd since we are always together. It reminds me of many years ago when we spoke on the phone before we lived together.

Many impalas have been visiting.

Everything is going as planned in Minnesota. The wake and funeral are over, and the burial at Fort Snelling has yet to be scheduled, as far as I know. If the burial occurs after Tom is supposed to leave, he won’t stay and will return to the bush as planned.

If I think about it, being alone in the bush is quite an adventure. There are snakes, spiders, scorpions, and countless insects surrounding us. Add the eight lions hunting in our area, along with leopards, hyenas, and other potentially dangerous wild animals in Marloth Park, and a person living alone could easily become frightened.

This impala, we call Chevy, is often here.

Oddly, I am not afraid. The only apprehension I may have is human intervention. Occasionally, there are break-ins, burglaries, and violent crimes in Marloth Park. Our alarm system is tied to a local alarm company only minutes from here, which gives me peace of mind, but I never leave doors unlocked and unattended, even when I go to the bathroom.

I keep the keyfob in my jeans pocket and can hit the panic button in seconds. Hopefully, the loud blaring alarm would keep any potential predators at bay. In any case, I spend no time worrying, instead focusing on safety measures, which Tom and I observe when we are together.

Norman makes close eye contact with me when he’s here.

Yesterday afternoon, Dawn, Leon, and Louise stopped by for sundowners. I appreciated the companionship, and the four of us had an excellent time together. It meant the world to me that they came to visit.

To my lover… enjoy your candy and your remaining time in Minnesota with family, and know that I am looking forward to seeing you in six days.

Be well.

Photo from one year ago today, March 9, 2022:

Rapids near the bridge at the Sabie River. For more photos, please click here.

Cooking for one…This is what a single life would be like…

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A warthog mom with lovely tusks.

There’s never a day that passes that I don’t appreciate having Tom in my life. Now that he has gone away for ten days, it’s become more evident to me how much he does daily, not only around the house but to enrich the quality of my days and nights. He is a fun and loving husband and partner who also shares equally in the running of the household and its daily tasks.

Aside from all of that, his companionship, laughter, and countless warm and loving interactions are sorely missing right now. We chatted on Whatsapp at length yesterday, but with our sleeping times opposite, talking on the phone at will is a little more complicated.

Today, he’ll be busy prepping for the eulogy at Jerome’s funeral and mingling with his huge family and many friends who will attend. The immediate family alone is well over 100 people. Chatty and friendly as he is, I expect I may not hear from him today, which is fine.

Dawn and Leon gave me these thorny cactus plants that hopefully will keep the baboons away.

He’ll spend the remainder of the week with his kids, grandkids, siblings, and other relatives. If time allows, he may visit a few old friends. He’ll have plenty of stories to share when he returns a week from today, and the time can’t pass quickly enough as far as I’m concerned.

I thought I might spend some time in the evenings talking on the phone to some of my old friends in the US, but after a poor connection last night with my friend Chere, I may not do so. I use Whatsapp and Facebook Messenger, which are excellent free services with normally a good WiFi signal. The signal here is very poor at night, with many people in Marloth Park online streaming shows.

Calling using my cellphone’s Google Fi service is too expensive, especially when calls to friends can easily last for an hour or more after not speaking for a while. In any case, I’m not one to talk on the phone much. I prefer in person conversation.

Big Daddy was on a prance in the garden.

It’s surprising how well I’ve slept alone the past three nights, although I wake up when I reach for Tom, and he’s not there. That’s weird. I am still waking up at the same time as always and listening to podcasts when I awaken each day. It’s easy to maintain my usual routine.

Living this way reminds me of what it must be like for single seniors and those who have lost a spouse or are divorced. At times, it’s lonely and unsettling, especially since I have no transportation and can’t jump in the car to shop or meet friends for lunch or dinner. I can’t tell you how much I look forward to going to Jabula on Friday and Saturday nights. My friend Sindee will be picking me up and driving me home.

Our large braai broke, so we now have this smaller version which should serve us well.

It was terrific when Louise stopped by for sundowners on Monday night. Those few hours we sat together on the veranda chatting up a storm and sipping on wine were delightful. I’m sure I’ll be getting together with her and Danie before Tom returns a week from today.

There’s not much on the horizon today. I cooked enough chicken yesterday for another round for tonight’s dinner. All I have left to do is make a salad to go with it, which I will do shortly. The meals for one person have been easy, requiring little prep time.

That’s it for today, folks. Have a great day, and be well.

Photo from one year ago today, March 8, 2022:

It’s a rare occasion that Tom has a milkshake, but yesterday’s anniversary was the perfect day to indulge. For more photos, please click here.