Thinking of future plans for visiting family in the US…Giraffe attack in South Africa…

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Kudus are usually early morning visitors, although we’ll occasionally see them during the day and evening. 

“Sighting of the Day in the Bush”

Guess who always has the right of way?  He stopped traffic while leisurely meandering across Oliphant Drive, the paved road in Marloth Park.

As much as we strive to live in the moment, it’s hard not to think about plans, mainly when they include returning to the US to see family. With our current itinerary, we’ll land in Minnesota on April 8, 2019, staying until April 25, 2019, for a total of 17 nights.

It’s always exciting to see hippos by the river. Hippos are the most dangerous land animals on the planet, killing more humans than any other: “The hippopotamus is often cited as the most dangerous large animal in the world, killing an estimated 500 people a year in Africa.

As it turns out, we’ll be returning to Minnesota again 17 months later (in September 2020) for daughter Tammy’s 50th birthday boating trip, which Tom will attend while I spend time with son Greg and his family.

In between these two planned trips, we’ll be returning to the US again to visit son Richard in Henderson, Nevada, and sister Susan in Las Vegas, Nevada, where we’ll spend Thanksgiving 2019. It looks like I’ll be cooking the Thanksgiving dinner since Richard also follows a low-carb way of eating, and it’s fun to adapt the traditional menu items accordingly.

They all get along well when there’s plenty of food on the ground. They start pushing, shoving, and kicking one another as soon as it gets low, although not with much vigor.

After Thanksgiving, we’ll head to Apache Junction, Arizona, to see Tom’s three sisters (and two spouses) who spend their winters in the warmer weather, as opposed to “roughing it” in frigid Minnesota. We may stay a few weeks, depending on available accommodations, which are pricey in Arizona.

Female zebras often stop by with their young, all looking for pellets, carrots, and apples.

From there, we’ll be heading back to South America, which is an easy flight from the US. We’re still up in the air as to which countries we’ll visit and in which order, but we’ll decide over this next year. We’d like to see several sites we missed last time we were there.

It will be great to see family during these three US visits, which will occur between April 8, 2019, and around September 25, 2020. In total, we’ll be spending approximately 53 days in the US during this time frame. Then, we’ll be off for the next chapter of our world journey.

A new mom and baby bushbuck stopped by the first time. Bushbuck moms hide their young for the first few months while she forages during the day enabling the baby to nurse freely at night. The mom eats the baby’s feces to deter predators.  After a few months, the youngster joins the mom in her daily grazing. This was the tiniest bushbuck we’ve seen, who may have been out with mom for the first few times. 

Other than staying at son Richard’s home in Henderson, we’ll be staying in hotels for the remainder of these periods. We don’t want our grandchildren in Minnesota giving up their bedrooms for our visits and, I’m allergic to cats which two of our three kids have as pets. It will all work out.

“Elephants may spend 12-18 hours a day feeding. Adult elephants can eat between 91 kg – 272 kg (200-600 pounds) of food daily. As herbivores, elephants consume grasses, tree foliage, bark, twigs, and other vegetation daily. Elephants can also drink up to 189 liters (50 gallons) of water a day, about as much as a standard bathtub holds.”

For now, our top priority is reveling in whatever time we have left in Marloth Park, South Africa. And celebrate, we do! Again, last night we had a spectacular time at Jabula Lodge & Restaurant, constantly being made to feel so welcomed by our hosts, Dawn and Leon.  

The food, as always, is fresh, hot, and delicious, cooked perfectly for my diet. It couldn’t have been any more enjoyable, except, when we pulled out of the parking lot at the end of the evening, four giraffes were blocking the road. I tried to take a photo in the dark, but their placement made it impossible.  

During the dry season, the elephants can sustain themselves, grazing on surrounding greenery.

It’s foolhardy to get out of the car around giraffes. Only recently, we’d read a new story of a giraffe with her calf who attacked a woman and her three-year-old son while at a game reserve. Click here for the news article on this dreadful situation.  

During the upcoming rainy season, this entire area will be covered in water, providing a rich source of water and surrounding vegetation for wildlife to thrive.

The giant animals are very protective of their young, and one swift kick could be deadly. Apparently, according to this article, the giraffe and her calf are being relocated to another reserve.  

This is why when we spot giraffes on our daily drives through Marloth Park, we stay in our little car, regardless of how motivated we are for good photos.  Otherwise, locals and visitors may be on foot, on bikes, and on paths staying mindful to remain at a reasonable distance when encountering large animals.

With no rain to speak of for many months, the elephants take advantage of any water they can find on the Crocodile River.

After all, these are wild animals regardless of how attached we become to them in their frequent visits and how generously we feed them pellets, carrots, and apples.

Today, we’ll head out on yet another drive. It’s cool and cloudy and a perfect day for a drive. A pleasant Sunday dinner has been prepped to be cooked when we return, a beef roast for Tom and a chicken “flattie’ for me. It will be another good day.

May your day be good as well!

Photo from one year ago today, September 16, 2017:

We didn’t see any reason to walk on the rickety old railroad bridge in Costa Rica. For more photos of the railway station, please click here.

Recalling a post from six years ago today, September 15, 2012…Wow! Life has changed so much but have we?

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This is the same family with seven chicks we’d seen a few months ago. See how the chicks have grown by clicking here at our earlier post.

“Sighting of the Day in the Bush”

A muddy ostrich meandering down Volstruis St.  In Afrikaans, Volstruis means “Ostrich.” There are usually ostriches on this road.  Go figure.

Today, we include photos from yesterday’s two-hour drive through Marloth Park, some close to the river, others in the bush. We have many more to share over these next few days. We’ve had safari luck each time we’ve gone out, often more here by the fence than on those days we’ve visited Kruger for a self-drive photo safari.

This time we counted only six chicks, one less than our earlier sighting. Could this be a different family, or did one of the chicks not make it?

For clarification’s sake for our newer readers, whenever we use the word “safari,” it’s always about “photo safaris.” Under no circumstances would we ever participate in a safari intended to kill wild game for “trophies.” I won’t get into the politics on this topic, but it simply does not fall within the realm of our beliefs about wildlife.

Another holiday weekend has begun, and the pounding next door is earsplitting.  Often part-time Marloth Park owners/dwellers come here during the short or long holiday periods to work on their houses.  

It is pretty interesting to us as to why ostriches always hang around at this particular bush house. Nine of out ten times we drive by, there are ostriches there, including when we were here in 2013/2014.

There are specific rules in Marloth Park stipulating that no building work with any noise can be conducted after 1700 hours (5:00 pm) on weekdays or after 1300 hours (1:00 pm) on Saturdays and not at all on Sundays.

A Big Daddy and his harem on the side of the road.

Last night as we set up the veranda for the evening after 5:00 pm, Tom walked next door to ask the workers to cease working for the evening kindly. If we don’t ask, we have the option of “reporting” them anonymously to Field Security, who will send a security officer to the property to tell them to stop. Fines are possible if work doesn’t cease within the specified timeframes.

Marloth Park is intended to be a quiet and peaceful place without blaring music, loud talking, and rowdy social interactions. Unfortunately, not all holidaymakers and residents appreciate this concept.  

It’s always a joy to see elephants along the Crocodile River from the fence between Marloth Park and Kruger National Park.

The wildlife is often frightened off by human noises, as evidenced by the fact that we haven’t had a single visitor this morning other than much-appreciated and admired birds who are currently clamoring around our birdfeeder. Yesterday, when the holidaymakers moved in, the wildlife visits diminished exponentially.

This big girl was quietly enjoying time by the water.

We took off for our usual two-hour drive in the afternoon and found many beautiful sightings by the river, a few on the bumpy dirt roads, and in the bush. Those incredible, almost daily drives provide us with our wildlife fix during these busy weekends when few visitors make an appearance.

Last night after dark, we did see a few of our “regulars,” including Tusker and his new girlfriend; Mr. Duiker; Wildebeest Dad and Son; and our most frequent visitors, Ms. Buchbucks and Babies. Of course, Frank and The Misses. stopped by for seeds before they went off to “make their noise” at dusk.  
The elephants were many, but they were scattered about the river bank.

As we continue to write post after post, adding new photos each day, we revel in how much it means to us to share the morsels of our daily lives with all of our worldwide readers. In doing so, we are gifted with something we’ll treasure for years to come, such as being able to look at old posts from years past.

One hippo was within range for a photo.

This morning I looked up the post from the first year we’d begun to post in 2012, specifically the post from September 15, 2012, six years ago today. Looking back at these older posts certainly puts big smiles on our faces as we often read aloud to one another.

What a wonder it is that in two clicks, we can reread a story and see its photos from years past, just like that. Neatly organized in our archives on the right side of the page, you can do the same if you’ve missed older posts having joined us a few years into this journey.

There’s often a cattle egret near the elephants, partaking of their insects and scraps.

Here’s an excerpt from that September 15th post from six years ago:

“As a person entrenched in the details, it’s not unusual to me that I have six tools one could use to crack crab legs: two types of crackers, two types of crab scissors, a pick, and a small fork, service for eight. It’s not coincidental that I have service for eight. Who would want to “shell out” (couldn’t resist) enough crab legs for more than eight people? 

 This came to mind yesterday when I recklessly spent $48 for two bags of king crab legs plus $28 for the accompanying grass-fed New York strip steaks.  

 This is for three of us for Sunday night’s dinner; Tom and I and our friend Sue, who comes for dinner every Sunday night since the passing of her dear husband and our beloved friend Chip. She’s a trooper. Our hearts break for her. They were our role models as a happily retired couple. Now, we witness the depth of the loss of a beloved partner, excruciatingly sorrowful, a double whammy.

 We laugh, cry, and tell endless stories of our 26 years here on the point. (You can read about Chip in my post on June 1, 2012, found here in the archives). We three deserve steak and crab.”

A mom and her growing calf.

If you’d like to read the balance of this old post, please click here. We still talk about our friend Chip and have seen Sue each time we’ve returned to the US for a visit. We relive beautiful memories we all shared over many years as great friends and neighbors.

Hmmm…life was good then, and life is good now, just very different.  No more do we have kitchen gadgets for eating crab. No more do we eat crab legs. We don’t see them in Africa. No longer am I so “detail orientated” or…do you look up a photo of Martha Stewart and see me (an expression used by a friend in Minnesota). That life is no more and most likely will never be the same again.

This is our “new normal.” Tonight, we’ll head out to Jabula Lodge and Restaurant for yet another fine dinner, often running into friends we’ve made in this magical place. We’ll sit at the bar and commiserate with owners Dawn and Leon and chat endlessly with other friendly Marlotians.

I don’t know if we’ve earned the right to call ourselves Malothians, but for now, we’ll afford ourselves this luxury, as opposed to others.

Have a very happy weekend, wherever you may be!

Photo from one year ago today, September 15, 2017:

The blue locomotive at the train depot with a dual cab, Puente Ferrocarril Rio Grande Atenas in Costa Rica. For more photos, please click here.

A date night at our favorite spot in the bush…Fish finds…

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Impalas (male is shown here) and warthogs seem to get along well.

“Sighting of the Day in the Bush”

Mongooses are very clever in cracking eggs. They hold them in their front paws, bang them on a root or rock, and then suck out the contents.

Without a doubt, our favorite restaurant in Marloth Park or anywhere nearby is Jabula Lodge & Restaurant, about a 10-minute drive on Oliphant, the tar road.

Last night we arrived at Jabula at 1700 hours (5:00 pm) to enjoy happy hour while seated at the inviting bar in the highly appealing establishment. Four and a half years ago, we frequently dined at Jabula based on the excellent food, great prices, and good service, all provided by Dawn and Leon and their staff.

Rushing water over rocks at the Crocodile River.

This time it’s been no different other than the addition of Lyn, their assistant, who is also conscientious in providing all customers a seamless and pleasant experience.

Not only is the food excellent, but the extensive menu provides many options that work for me. When we make a reservation, I email Dawn a few days earlier. She ensures there are non-starchy, lactose-free vegetables and meat for me when many popular South African vegetable and meat dishes include dairy and starch in one form or another.

No boating or humans are allowed on the Crocodile River based on dangerous wildlife that lurks therein, including crocs, hippos, snakes, cape buffalo, elephants, and others.

Last night Tom “pigged out” and order chicken schnitzel, chips (fries), and onion rings. I cringed when I saw his huge plate of fried foods but kept my mouth shut.  

After diligently eating “my way” each day, he tends to order carb-rich foods when we dine out. He didn’t eat breakfast this morning when he still felt full. Hopefully, he’ll be hungry after I make a fabulous low-carb dinner tonight.

Warthogs spending a little time near the water at Sunset Dam.

Above all, the pleasures of dining at Jabula Lodge & Restaurant is the magical way Dawn and Leon always make us and all their customers feel welcomed and special.  Not all owners/managers have the personalities and attentiveness that Dawn and Leon bestow upon each of their guests.

Back home by 2000 hours (8:00 pm), we spend the remainder of the evening researching plans for the future. At the moment, we’re on a mission to fill in some gaps in our itinerary (last posted here), which, once accomplished, we’ll share here.

Giraffe crossing the tar road in Kruger National Park.

After chopping and dicing for tonight’s dinner and vegetables for the wildlife, this morning, we headed to two of the three shopping centers in Marloth Park for a few grocery items, the Bush Centre and Marlothi.  

Upon pulling into the Marlothi center, we noticed a refrigerated truck. I was so excited to see it was the “fish guy” we’d heard so much about. Keeping in mind, Tom doesn’t eat fish. I had to consider a few factors when deciding on what I’d purchase; one, I’d be eating it alone, and two, that the power could go out while we’re gone beginning in 12 days.

Many different species do well together while grazing.

Power outages are common in Africa, and if one occurs for more than a few hours while we’re gone, the contents of our freezer could be lost. As a result, I only purchased two boxes of frozen fish; Norwegian salmon and the popular South Africa kingklip.

Kingklip is described as follows from this website: “The Kingklip is one of many eel-like fishes enjoyed around the globe. It is endemic to the whole Southern Hemisphere and is, predictably, one of the most important commercial fish in South Africa. They are fished from deep ocean waters, up to 1000 meters deep, and can grow to be as long as two meters.”

This elephant was moving toward us, so we backed away.

Although I’d never tried this fish since it is often breaded in restaurants, I decided to give it a try after hearing many great comments about it. I’m sure I’ll like the well-filleted boneless fish since I like almost all varieties of wild-caught fish.  

Although I’d already prepared my dinner for tonight consisting of a seafood stew with mussels, prawn tails, hake, and vegetables, I’ll be having the kingklip tomorrow night while Tom has leftover short ribs pot roast with carrots, whole mushrooms, and onions. We’ll both have a side salad with homemade dressing.

Each time we visit Kruger, we’re gifted with spotting elephants.

Let’s face it, many of our lives are about food, whether we like that fact or not.  Planning, prepping, and preparing good meals is an integral part of our lives, especially when we get the opportunity to try some local favorites from time to time.

Today, it’s outrageously windy. We’re outside on the veranda, but it’s tempting to spend the remainder of the day indoors, something we rarely have done. The animals don’t like the wind, so we’ve only had one visitor so far today, a lone female bushbuck who we enthusiastically fed lettuce, carrots, apples, and pellets.

We take a few photos through the car’s windscreen (windshield) when other options are possible. Tom washes all the car’s windows before we explore Marloth and Kruger Parks.

Tomorrow, we have some new and exciting photos to share. Please stop back and share the day with us! Happy day to all!

Photo from one year ago today, August 4, 2017:

A church across the valley in Atenas, Costa Rica, where we stayed for almost four months. For more photos, please click here.

Fabulous goodbye-for-awhile birthday party in the bush…An appreciated addition to the veranda…

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This space heater will keep up warm as we spend each night outdoors during the cool winter nights. See the details in the story. 

“Sighting of the Day in the Bush”

A hornbill sitting in the top section of the bird feeder. From this site: “Most are arboreal birds, but the large ground hornbills (Bucorvus), as their name implies, are terrestrial birds of open savanna. Of the 24 species found in Africa, 13 are birds of the more open woodlands and savanna, and some occur even in highly arid environments; the remaining species are found in dense forests.”

I had promised food photos from last night, but I fail to live up to my promise. Sorry about that! We just had too much fun and, other than the few we’ve included here today, I was just too busy and engaged in the festivities to think about taking many photos.

Aloe Vera is known to be one of the most healing plants on the planet. They grow wild here in the bush. We took this photo yesterday at the brick overlook in Marloth Park on the Crocodile River when we drove around the park looking for the lions.

Nonetheless, here’s the menu from the birthday dinner, overall, an all-American feast:

  • Cheese sticks
  • Moist less-fat biltong (amazing jerky found in South Africa)
  • Marinated grilled pork chops on the braai
  • Marinated grilled pork tenderloin on the braai
  • Roasted vegetables
  • Sweet corn cooked on the braai
  • Garlic mashed potatoes
  • “Par 30 Salad” (a recipe from our old lives given to me by a chef at a golf club)
  • Ciabatta garlic bread, dusted with Parmesan cheese and broiled to a light brown
  • Homemade gluten-free apple crisp served warm and topped with a dollop of vanilla ice cream.
Our guests, Kathy and Don and Linda and Ken, arrived with heavy coats, not knowing we had the heater.  It kept all of us comfortable all evening.

Actually, this was an easy dinner to make. The only time-consuming items were peeling the apples for the apple crisp and then peeling the potatoes. I hadn’t made either of these items in seven years since I began my way of eating. 

Instead of birthday cake for Kathy’s birthday, I made gluten-free apple crisp, served warm and topped with a dollop of vanilla ice cream. I didn’t eat it due to the sugar content, but everyone said it was delicious. 

My potato peeler that travels with us finally bit the dust, and the one in the kitchen was equally dull. Thus, I had to use a paring knife which was slow and cumbersome. In my old life, I had an electric peeler that worked fabulously.  But, this isn’t my old life, and the trade-offs are worth it. 

On the 4th of July, this past week was Ken’s birthday, yesterday was Kathy’s, and on the 16th was Linda’s. We celebrated all the birthdays with champagne, gifts, and merriment.

Last night, Ken walked out to the pond and took this photo of the noisy frog we’ve heard each night.  It’s actually tiny, as shown while it’s leaning on a leaf, next to a Helmeted Guinea Fowl feather.

It was a fantastic evening for all. All the food came out as we’d hoped, and the drinks flowed, starting with Pina Colada’s, then to champagne (sparking brut), and then to each of our own preferred wine and cocktails. I drank my usual low-alcohol red wine, and Tom had his usual brandy and Sprite Zero.

Tom backing away from the band of mongoose after he sets down the bowl of eggs.

In Marloth Park, it’s a tradition that dinner guests bring their own preferred beverages such as wine, beer, or liquor. It’s a great tradition since it keeps the cost and convenience of entertaining within reach for everyone. In some cases, hosts will start the evening with a special celebratory beverage, such as the Long Island Ice Teas, at Kathy and Don’s home on the 4th of July.

At times, we have dozens in the yard.  Yesterday, only about 25 mongooses were clamoring around the bowl of raw eggs.

I don’t consume any mixed beverages of any type (due to sugar), nor was I able to eat anything on the above menu except for the pork and roasted vegetables. The remainder had too many carbs or included dairy, not befitting my diet. I didn’t mind a bit. As the proverbial hostess, I always love seeing our guests enjoy our offerings.

Let’s backtrack a bit. Earlier in the day, while on our daily drive searching for the lions currently in the park, I had an idea about the cold nights we’ve been experiencing on the veranda. There’s no way we want to have to be indoors in the evenings.  What if we could find some space heater or outdoor heater? After all, winter has only just begun, and it’s very cool at night.

Even after the bowl is empty, they lick the bowl, trying to get the very last drop of the eggs.

We stopped at a few places while we were out yesterday but couldn’t find a thing that would work for us last night and, in the future, certainly not in Marloth Park shops. There wasn’t enough time to drive to Komatipoort or Malelane with the busy day to see what we could find.

We resigned ourselves that our dinner party would require warm jackets once the sun was set around 17:30 (5:30 pm). As we often do when we have questions, I sent Louise a message asking where she’d recommend we go on Monday to purchase some outdoor heater.

We were busy inside the house preparing for last night’s dinner party.  But, we knew the mongooses had arrived by the high-pitched cackling and squeals.  Tom always drops a few uncracked raw eggs on the ground to keep them around while we make up the bowl of six to eight eggs (depending on the size of the “band”).

Within seconds, she replied, “Hahaha, I’ve got one for you.  Just wait and see.” “What???” I asked in a state of total shock.

Zef and Vusi showed up in the “bakkie” (truck) within ten minutes, with one of those fabulous gas heaters seen in some outdoor restaurants on a chilly night, as shown in today’s main photo. We had a bottle of gas on hand, and in a manner of minutes, it was all set up and ready to use. 

How did we get so lucky to have Louise and Danie as our friends and our “landlords?” Their kindness, attention-to-detail, and generosity are like none we’ve seen anywhere in the world. 

Oh, don’t get me wrong, we’ve had nothing but wonderful landlords over these past years of world travel, many of whom we still stay in touch with. But, these two? Over-the-top, all the way around. If you’re looking for a property to rent or build in Marloth Park, these are the people to see. The friendship and socializing with them is such a bonus. We’ll always treasure it.

The heater kept us all warm and comfortable, and tonight while we dine on leftovers, we’ll be right here on the veranda as we are now, lapping up every moment of life in the bush.

Have a spectacular weekend wherever you may be!

Photo from one year ago today, July 7, 2017:
There was no post on July 7th, the date we flew from Minnesota to Nevada, where we spent three weeks with son Richard at his home in Henderson.  More will follow.

Restaurant review…Aamazing River View in Marloth Park…

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The sunset changed second by second, each scene more beautiful than the last while at Aamazing River View Restaurant last night.

“Sighting of the Day in the Bush”

Ms. Bushbuck and her baby stop by every day, sometimes on several occasions.  The baby certainly has grown over these past months.

Before we begin our review of Aamazing River View Restaurant overlooking the Crocodile River and Kruger National Park, it’s important to mention the word “amazing” is spelled with two “a’s”.  Secondly, we must mention we were not “comped” or provided with any special pricing for this review and story.

We’d been to this restaurant a few times since we returned to Marloth Park on February 11th but had only stayed for drinks, later heading home after the sunset to make our own dinner. 

The reserved table was beautifully set.

Aamazing River View has the best views of the Crocodile River and the tall banks along the river in Kruger National Park to be found anywhere in Marloth Park.  Plus, after last’s night dining experience we will undoubtedly return on many more occasions during our remaining months in the park.

Comfortable indoor and outdoor dining is available on two levels.

With a guaranteed stunning sunset on clear or partially clear evenings and the potential to see big game or even the Big 5 if patient and diligent, there’s nothing quite like this special location.

Tom’s pork ribs and chips which he thoroughly enjoyed.

Over these past few months, we’ve noticed some negative comments about this dining establishment posted on Facebook, some actually “hateful” and disarming.  This always shocks us.  If one doesn’t care for a restaurant why not address the issues with the owner and/or management, sharing one’s concerns.

Why bash a restaurant even if you’ve had a few less than desirable experiences?  It’s our responsibility as consumers to let a purveyor know we aren’t satisfied with the quality of their products and services, rather than spewing hateful comments online for everyone to see.

My plate of succulent grilled calamari steak with a vinaigrette dipping sauce was delicious.  I’d definitely order this again.

Doing so ultimately has the tendency to reduce the number of customers and in the process makes it more difficult and costly for management to make necessary changes to improve the quality of their food and services, if…that’s the case.

We were thrilled to be seated at a comfortable booth with excellent views of the Crocodile River.  When staying to dine, guests can reserve a table with views.

But, at Aamazing River View, last night, without a doubt we had an excellent meal; hot and delicious with the freshest ingredients with exemplary service comparable to any we’ve experienced in Marloth Park or in any dining establishments we’ve experienced throughout the world.  Literally, nothing was wrong nor could we even suggest a change or two.

The restaurants in Marloth Park are all casual.  No fancy attire required!

However, in speaking with management (Elaine) and the owner (Andre), they expressed genuine and heartfelt appreciation of their customers and are open to suggestions if a situation occurs that requires attention.  This should be the case with all restaurants and often is.

However, there’s a faction of people out there in cyberspace that prefer to spew their negative comments online rather than deal with their concerns face-to-face to the appropriate management.  This may damage the future success of a business with the potential to steer other customers away. 

A sunset is always more stunning with a few clouds on the horizon.

Last night’s experience at Aamazing River View only spurred us on to get the word out that local Marlothians need to band together to support local businesses. 

Holiday rentals, restaurants and shops are vital to the financial success of this special community.  In essence, property values are enhanced by the success of every aspect of Marloth Park; the success and harmony of restaurants and shops; the management of holiday rental; the health and well being of wildlife; the removal of alien invasive plants; the control of speeding on paved Oliphant Street and all dirt roads for the safety of the wildlife and humans; the ability to maintain a peaceful and quiet environment to enrich the quality of life for the animals and the humans who reside herein.

What a sight to see while looking toward Kruger National Park across the Crocodile River.

We encourage all of our local readers to give Aamazing River View another try or visit them for the first time. You’ll be pleasantly surprised by the view, the food, and the service. And then, if something isn’t quite as you’d expected, quietly and respectfully express your concerns to management.

We’re disappointed to see Facebook become such a place for vitriol and hatred by some individuals. We use it to stay in touch with family and friends while we’re so far away. But, over these past few years, we’ve seen it become a resource for bashing, hating and hurting others.  Why?

What a sunset.  This looked like a bird to me.  Do you see that?

I’d love to see more cute and outrageous animal videos, along with photos of family and friends, and recommendations for the good, the great and the excellent.

Today, we’ll post excellent comments about Aamazing River View on Facebook and TripAdvisor.  Give it a try and you may also do the same.

Happy day!
                       __________________________________

Photo from one year ago today, June 29, 2017:

Our waiter took this photo of us on our 26th anniversary of the day we met at this same location, now a different restaurant.  For more photos, please click here.

A delicious and entertaining dinner in Marloth Park…See “Sighting of the Day in the Bush”…Language barriers and adapting…

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For the first time, last night at Jabula Restaurant, we saw a Thick-Tailed Bushbaby. These are huge compared to the tiny bushbabies, the “Lesser Bushbaby,” which we see each night on the little stand where we place the little cup of fruity yogurt.

“Sighting of the Day in the Bush”

From this site: “Thick-tailed Bushbabies have caused alarm for many visitors to the wilderness areas of Africa with their child-like screams during the night with some visitors complaining of child abuse among staff members at lodges. The Afrikaans name for bushbabies is nagapies which mean small night apes.”

Last night’s dinner at Jabula Lodge and Restaurant couldn’t have been more fun.  Sitting at the bar, Tom having his usual brandy and Sprite Zero on the rocks while I had my new favorite low alcohol red wine I’ve been enjoying lately (South Africa’s Four Cousins Skinny Red).

The environment at Jabula Restaurant is comfortable and inviting. We usually dine outdoors on the veranda, but we had fun with owners Dawn and Leon last night. We ate sitting at the bar for the first time.

This wine tastes great (now that I’ve acquired a taste for it), and with its low alcohol, low carb content with reduced tannins, it doesn’t cause the potential for aftereffects some of us suffer from when consuming a few glasses of red wine in an evening.

We both perused Jabula‘s expansive menu for quite a while as we sat at the bar, chatting back and forth with Dawn, Leon, and their assistant Lyn. The bar was packed when we arrived, while the locals enthusiastically watched a rugby game on the flat-screen TV, which ended, unfortunately, with South Africa losing to moans and groans in the audience.

The bar at Jabula Restaurant where Dawn and Leon chat with their guests.  It was an enjoyable evening.

Suddenly, we heard a commotion on the veranda. Guests dining outdoors had spotted a Thick-Tailed Bushbaby on the thatched roof. We’d heard a lot about these huge bushbabies but had yet to see one in our “garden” at night. I couldn’t grab the camera quickly enough and was thrilled to get these photos in the dark of night.

Speaking of “garden,” I will stop using the word “yard” in our posts. Here in Marloth Park and South Africa, they don’t use the word “yard” or “backyard” about their lot included with their home. Also, in South Africa, they don’t call a piece of land a “lot.” It’s called a “stand.”

Tom ordered Eisbein, a fried pork knuckle that is unbelievably delicious (I always take a few bites of this monstrous item).  We brought the bone home for the warthogs. They don’t like the meat, just the bone. Tom splurged and ordered the “chips.” The food and ambiance were exceptional as always.

Henceforth, when writing our posts and in speaking with others locally, we’ll use the local verbiage as a “garden” instead of a “yard” and of a “stand” instead of a “lot.”  We try to fit in. 

It’s bad enough that the locals have to speak English when around us when most native Caucasian South Africans speak the Afrikaans language. It amazes us how well they speak English as a second language, even in conjugating verbs and understanding slang and euphemisms.

But then, he splurged further and ordered a giant plate of fried onion rings. I didn’t complain. He eats healthy meals when I cook and splurges when we dine out.

As a result, we need to make every effort to blend in, not only in our behavior and interests but also in our acceptance of words they’ve incorporated in their use of the English language.

When we return to the US for a visit in nine and a half months, we can re-do our language to fit into the expectations of conversing in our native language.  There are always adjustments such as these when we live in a country for several months.

My grilled chicken breast, steamed spinach, and carrots.

And such was the case last night at Jabula. The bar, filled with locals, chatting to other locals in their Afrikaans language, never made us feel “left out” of the conversation. On a dime, any one of them would quickly revert to speaking English for our benefit.

But, this is how it is here in Marloth Park, friendly, open, and easy to make friends with. I should qualify this and state that not all locals in Marloth Park are from South Africa. Many homeowners here in the park are from many other parts of the world, including the UK, Germany, the Netherlands, and other parts of Europe.

Tom gave me his salad which we ordered without the feta cheese when I no longer eat dairy products.

The only Americans we’ve met in Marloth are friends Kathy and Don.  Kathy grew up in California like me, and Don was born and raised in Kenya. They have homes in other parts of the world, including Hawaii and South Africa, spending part of the year here. Other than the two of them, we’ve yet to meet anyone here from the US.

Today is another perfect weather day, sunny, comfortably warm. After we upload the post, we’ll head out to see what we can find, again, hoping to spot the lioness. It will undoubtedly be a good day.

May you have a good day as well.

Photo from one year ago today, June 24, 2017:

Last year on this date, Tom and son TJ hung out together at the Minnesota State Fairgrounds, where TJ had his 1954 Buick Special on display next to his canopy set-up at the “Back to the 50’s” annual event.  For more photos, please click here.

Pizza night in the bush…Finding ingredients isn’t easy…

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We were thrilled to have spotted these elephants on the Crocodile River from the Marloth Park side of the fence separating us from Kruger.

“Sighting of the Day in the Bush”

Our goal is to take a photo of increasing numbers of bushbabies on the platform at night as they gently share the little cup of yogurt.  We’ve seen as many as a dozen flying through the trees, and this photo of four on the platform is our record so far. We’ll continue to try for more.

As much as dinner guests enjoy eating traditional South Africa food, we’ve found our guests like experiencing something new and different. As a result of most of our dinner parties, we tend to make more traditional American dishes. 

Last night’s guests of Kathy, Don, Linda, and Ken especially found the prospect of eating Americanized pizza appealing. Although we still made it low carb, grain, sugar, and starch free, we made our usual pizzas with a bit of a twist which including three pizzas:

We counted 30 to 35 elephants.

1.  Sausage, mushrooms, olives, onions, and cheese – Tom’s favorite
2.  Pepperoni, mushroom, onions, olives, and cheese
3.  Chicken Thai pizza, a copycat recipe from California Pizza Kitchen, a favorite of mine and Kathy’s.

 We made three large pizzas, enough for everyone to try some of each if they so chose. The first problem we had was a lack of the proper type of a third pan. The second problem was,  where would we find pepperoni? The third problem was, where would we find the necessary ingredients to make the copycat recipe located here? 

It’s interesting to watch their interactions.

Keep in mind. I made a loose version of the above recipe to make it suitable for gluten-free for several of us in the group.  Plus, the sugary additions as shown in the recipe were modified to suit the wheat-free, sugar-free, and starch-free options. It was a bit complicated. But, somehow, I figured it out.

As for the pan, we headed to Marlothi Center yesterday morning and found an excellent pan at the hardware store that even included a rack for future use. That was quite a find.  

 As for the pepperoni, we headed to the Butchery in the same little shopping center and found salami that tasted somewhat like pepperoni, although the sliced rounds were much larger.

There were numerous babies in the parade.

Surprisingly, I found a combination of four ingredients at the Bush Center mini-mart to compensate for making the sauce. After tasting proved to be perfect, tasting precise as spicy peanut sauce should taste. I couldn’t have been more thrilled.

The chopping and dicing and cheese grating all by hand took almost all day. In my old life, I had a food processor and could have shredded the imported mozzarella cheese and vegetables in a matter of minutes, not hours. But that was then, and this is now.

 Tom grated all the cheeses while I cut the vegetables, cooked and diced the chicken, and sliced the three different types of sausages. Then, I cut everything for the side salad. 

Had we arrived a short while earlier, most likely we’d have seen them enter the Crocodile River.

On Friday, I made the dessert.  Knowing none of our guests were into big desserts after a big meal, I made low carb fudge and low carb almond bark, a nice little treat after a big dinner with coffee or a glass of wine. 

As it turned out, recently, I’d given up dairy in an attempt to improve my gastrointestinal issue. After three days without any form of dairy, I’m greatly improved. We’ll see if this continues to improve. Wouldn’t that be something if, all along, my issue was exacerbated by a dairy intolerance?

After a while, they began moving back up the hill in Kruger National Park and out of sight.

As a result, last night, I ate no pizza. Instead, I made myself a plate with all the toppings on the Thai pizza with only a tiny portion of that tasty sauce on a bed of steamed cauliflower and green beans. Wow! That was almost as good as the pizza would have been.

We had a wonderful evening as expected. Tomorrow, Monday, we’re meeting up with the four of them for what Don describes as a “special surprise in the bush.” It will be fun to see what he has in store for all of us! We’ll all bring our favorite “happy hour” beverages when we meet before dark.

A lone elephant grazing in the bush.

This morning, our new friend Kerstine (pronounced cast-teen) stopped by for an enjoyable visit, having walked on this beautiful day from her home many blocks away. It was nice to see her again.

 Marta returned from her one-week holiday, and we welcomed her with many hugs and warm welcomes. It was nice to have her back. She lives on the property in a little house in the side yard. 

The ages of many of the elephants varied from months-old infants to decades-old matriarchs.

She offered to clean today, but we’d done a great job cleaning up after last night. She insisted on making the bed which, with the busy morning, I hadn’t yet tackled.

 Today will be a low-key day. Tom will have his leftover sausage pizza while I make chicken liver and onion stuffed portabella mushrooms with roasted vegetables on the side for my dinner. Of course, on this perfect weather day, we’ll be on the veranda, well into the evening.

Soon, they began their ascent up the hill.

In our old lives, we have headed to Costco to purchase a new laptop. Tom is still having trouble with his monitor but has figured out a workaround, for now, a vice grip at the edge of the monitor, which makes it stay on. We’ll see how that goes over the long haul.

 But, like making the pizza, particular adaptations must be made in this life.

May your day be uncomplicated!

Photo from one year ago today, June 3, 2017:

One year ago, we celebrated grandson Vincent’s grade school graduation at Benihana, a popular local Asian Teppanyaki restaurant in Minneapolis. It was a fun day. More photos coming will follow with our other grandchildren as we spent six weeks in Minnesota last year at this time. For more details, please click here.

Mating season in the bush…A memorable dinner party at the bush house…

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Wait until you see how many animals came to call last night in this video, including Wart Face, who’s pictured here.

“Sighting of the Day in the Bush”

Tom set up our new bushbaby stand on a tree close to the veranda.  We purchased a Daisy’s Den for ZAR 100 (US $8). Now they’re sufficiently close for better photos. 

There’s never a day that passes without something magical occurring in our surroundings, whether it’s the appearance of a bird we’ve never seen before, a visit from our favorite wildlife friends, making new friends, or spending time with old friends. It all matters to us.

Yesterday and last night fit right into this premise when we had a mind-blowing day and early evening in the bush, later topped off by the warmth and love we felt at our hosted six-person dinner party.

Warthogs make a train-like noise when they approach a female during the mating season.

Meeting Louise‘s parents, Estelle and Johan, was as easy as it could have been. This kindly couple who live near Cape Town felt like old friends. Not only did they already have a nickname for us, even before they met us face-to-face of “Tom and Jerry,” they easily slipped into the comfort zone of playful banter and teasing.

As shown in today’s photo, Estelle had beautifully crocheted a sweater vest for me, having never met me, and it was perfect. Tom called it “sexy” when I tried it on, wearing it for the remainder of the evening. I sometimes forget how old I am, and being called “sexy” is all a girl can ask for from her beloved mate.

It’s evident when male warthogs are ready to mate.

Sometimes it’s easy to forget about how meaningful and precious a little love and attention from friends we make along the way can have such a profound of our psyche. 

It was quite a night. We all enjoyed the meal we prepared but more than anything, the easy laughter, the rich-flowing conversations, and the warmth toward one another set my heart spinning as it always does when we spend time with our friends here in Marloth Park and, in other parts of the world as we continue on our journey.

Yesterday morning, four “Big Daddy” kudus stopped with one female, all vying for her attention. They were more interested in her than pellets.

And then, them…the animals, they came in droves as if to say, “We’re here to dine but also to gaze into your eyes,” hoping to show whatever morsel of connection one can glean from a wild animal, maybe more than we can ever imagine.

When Tom’s “Little Girl” bushbuck shows up daily at the edge of the veranda, we both feel a special affinity with her, in the same way when “My Girl” kudu stops by several times each day. Sure, they’re motivated by food.  Aren’t we all?

Kudus sniff the female to ensure she’s ready to mate.

Isn’t that, in essence, why we plan a dinner party, an evening event centered around a good meal? But it doesn’t end there. It’s really just the beginning of the connection, and we don’t believe for a minute that it’s a whole lot different with the wildlife. 

They, too, share some magical connections with us, humans, not only revolving around the food. Sure, we respect they are wild animals and must be treated as such, but who’s to say we can’t embrace a special connection?

This male was the “kingpin” and kept the three other mature males away. Check out the size of his neck, which enlarges during mating season.

Dreamer, that I am some may say I’m a fool for nurturing such a belief. It takes living in an animal kingdom, such as this, grasping the full meaning while accepting such a premise. I’m not the only one around here.

This was particularly the case when last evening, shortly before our lovely dinner guests arrived, that we had 13 warthogs, 30 helmeted guinea fowl, a handful of mongoose, and a mating pair of francolins, whom we affectionately call “Frank and Mrs. Frank” all in the yard simultaneously.

Even Frank and Mrs. Frank have been working at building a nest in the bush in our yard.

We were excited by the display, some of it centering on mating, some of it celebrating our handfuls of tossed pellets, seeds, carrots, and apples, and some of it, just for fun. 

I must admit, I took the above very jittery video. I don’t have the steady hand required for great videos, mainly for emotional reasons instead of physical limitations. I get so enthused I can hardly focus on my subjects. So be it. It’s been almost six years, and I’m still struggling with videos.

Louise’s dear mom Estelle crocheted this lovely vest for me. I couldn’t love it more.  It will look great with a safari shirt or a tee shirt and jeans! Thanks, Estelle! You’re the best!

However, I keep making them. I can’t help it. Occasionally, I get lucky as I did with the horns-stuck-together video from a few days ago in Kruger National Park. Click here for that post. 

As a matter of fact, Kruger National Park, SanParks (South Africa National Parks) contacted me to post our video on their site. Once it’s live this upcoming week, we’ll post a link here.

This adorable male duiker visits, eats a little and hunkers down for the night in the dark.

For today? Feeding the seemingly endless flow of visitors, working on Tom’s computer that’s having monitor issues, enjoying some delicious leftovers from last night, and, if it doesn’t rain, a drive in the park searching for more and more and more.

May your day also be filled with wonders!

Photo from one year ago today, May 27, 2017:

Historical government building in Victoria, British Columbia. What a beautiful city! For more details, please click here.

Week in Zambia continues with many surprises…Dinner at a popular local pub…The local culture…

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The Victoria Falls Bridge was crossing the Zambezi River from Zambia to Zimbabwe. We drove across this bridge and were mesmerized by its beauty.

“Sighting of the Day in the Bush”

Many baboons surrounded the immigration area in Zambia. They didn’t hesitate to approach visitors for food.

Today’s photos are a collection of various places we’ve seen in the past three days since we arrived in Zambia on May 11th. As we perused them, we’re amazed how the culture in these countries we’re visiting has remained etched in many years of history.

When Tom reached the end of the trail on the Zimbabwe side of the falls, he shot a few photos of this platform for use to strapping people into a harness and suspending them for a photo op kwacha 100 (US $10) a customer.

The people are friendly and accommodating. After all, we’re in a tourist business area where most of the working locals are involved in the tourism business in one way or another. 

As expected at many tourist destinations worldwide, vendors are hawking their wares, approaching cars, and pleading for a sale.

We’re amazed by the hard-working people who continue, after many years and possibly generations, to continue to serve visitors with such grace, kindness, and dignity. Sure, there’s a high crime rate, but it’s certainly not as high as in many other African nations or other nations throughout the world. See this chart for details.

Upon entering Victoria Falls National Park in Zimbabwe, a vendor sold handmade wooden masks, a popular tourist purchase.

For logical safety concerns, we don’t walk the streets after dark in any city. With reasonable taxi fares at about kwacha 100 (US $10) roundtrip, we can go just about anywhere in the town of Livingstone, Zambia, population under 140,000.

A variety of statues were for sale near the railroad tracks in Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe.
Africa has a wide array of colorful jewelry and clothing they sell in tourists areas.

We feel safe here but never take that feeling for granted wherever we may travel. And Saturday night, when we entered the most unusual restaurant we’ve visited in a long time, Zest Bar & Restaurant, rated #10 out of 25 and well-reviewed at TripAdvisor at this link, we were a little stunned. 

With only 1% of the population of Zambia as caucasian, it wasn’t surprising to find the entire clientele at Zest Bar & Restaurant last night filled with black customers.

The restaurant is primarily outdoors. One must walk through a modest entry area which is unappealing for dining. We walked around the back of the entry area to the general grounds of the property, which is covered in loose rock. The bar area appears to be a platform placed atop the rocks and is partially indoors. But, there are no doors, no windows. It’s hard to explain. 

US dollars are almost exactly 10% of kwacha in Zambia. Thus, my glass of red wine was US $2, and Tom’s mixed cocktail was US $1.35!
We were both hungry and preferred to order something we thought we’d like. We considered ordering a bun-less croc burger but decided against it. Note the Kudu Burger…there’s no way we’ll eat kudu. We love kudus and have no plans to eat them.

We could have chosen to eat at picnic tables, and chairs placed on the rocks or dine at a table in an area in the bar. We opted for the bar, which was packed with locals, drinking, watching sports, and having a generally great time. When we arrived at about 6:30 pm, I was the only female in the entire establishment.

My Tom, smiling as usual. 

Was I worried? Not at all. We felt right at home. The lively atmosphere was friendly, the service welcoming, the food smelled great, and the prices on the menu were outrageously reasonable. 

Tom was pleased when he traded his salad and veg for my chips to enjoy with his beef tenderloin espetada.

As shown in the photos, we were served plenty of hot, fresh, made-to-order food we both thoroughly enjoyed. I had two small glasses of red wine, and Tom had a few cocktails. The bill for everything, including tax and tip, was under kwacha 290 (US $29). 

The lighting was poor, but this was my boneless chicken thigh espetada. It was delicious with lots of peppers and onions between the perfectly cooked pieces of chicken.

We’d return one more time to Zest, but with many other great restaurants on TripAdvisor’s top ten list and only four more nights to dine out (possibly five nights), we’d prefer to work our way toward the top of the list if possible. (We aren’t sure yet about the food served on Wednesday’s Zambezi River sunset cruise, but we’ll find out soon).

My plate of spinach and aubergine was flavorful.

Last night, we dined at another popular local restaurant, Café Zambezi, rated #4 on TripAdvisor’s list. In the next few days, we’ll post photos and comments as to dining at this establishment. There’s so much more to share in these few days.

Today’s tour beginning at 7:00 am, will undoubtedly match the excitement of our visit to Victoria Falls on both the Zambia and Zimbabwe sides. We’re looking forward to sharing photos and the details of today’s adventures with all of you in tomorrow’s post.

Have a fabulous day and evening!

Photo from one year ago today, May 14, 2017:

Tom’s photo of this unreal scene of sailboats in Seattle.  Wow!  From Seattle, we took a private shuttle to Vancouver to board the ship to Alaska. For more details, please click here.

A memorable evening…The finest food and conversation!…How did we get so lucky?…

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This gorgeous feta, onion, and lettuce salad served by Louise and Danie were enhanced with edible flowers, indicative of the attention to detail and creativity these two fine hosts possess.

“Sighting of the Day in the Bush”

A wildebeest mom and baby resting in the bush.

When Louise sent a text on Thursday, inquiring if we could come to dinner on Friday night at their exceptional holiday home, Khaya Umdani, where we stayed for a few weeks four years ago, we couldn’t say “yes” quickly enough.

A snook (fish) salad as a starter that was fabulous.  Even Tom, not so fond of fish, loved this.

With social plans in place for tonight, Saturday night, the timing worked perfectly. This will have been one busy social week with four social events with wonderful friends, old and new, delicious food, and lively conversation.

Food for our meal was cooking over the open fire, a traditional South African braai.

Never for a moment do we take the friends we’ve made in Marloth Park for granted. Each time we’re included in dinner, a party, or any gathering, we feel so fortunate, often asking ourselves, “How did we get so lucky?”

Stunning African-themed place settings.

Last night, among the others this past week, was exceptional.  When Louise mentioned there would be no fussing about our invitation, we assumed they’d throw some chicken on the braai with a salad on the side. Ha! No fussing? Hardly!

The smells coming from the fire set our taste buds into a frenzy.

We knew they’ve been ultra busy these past weeks with many holidays and an endless stream of holidaymakers, each with their own particular needs and expectations. And, do these two deliver!  Never have we known any two people so dedicated to providing an over-the-top experience at every event they provide for their clientele and then, again, last night for us.

Danie was busy setting up the rack for the ostrich steaks.

No fuss, she’d said!  Are you kidding me? We know how much effort and time went into preparing that gourmet and unique meal. It was truly over the top. The only disappointment we felt was that we ran out of room in our tummies to have seconds of any of the many mind-boggling items on the menu.

He placed ostrich steaks over the hot coals, a mixture of wood and charcoal.

From the edible flowers in the feta lettuce salad to the snook starter salad to the grilled ostrich steak, the heavenly eggplant dish, to the stuffed cabbage rolls, our taste buds were truly overwhelmed with deliciousness. There wasn’t one item Tom didn’t like, which surprised him and me as well!

It took our breath away to see Louise and Danie place all of the beautifully prepared foods in front of us.

For me, knowing I could eat everything served (except Tom’s potatoes) was purely delightful. Although, all of our Marloth Park friends have made delicious meals suitable for my way of eating, for which I’m very grateful. We haven’t appreciated such attention to detail for my diet, even in the finest of restaurants worldwide.

Another salad was available, a crispy and delicious coleslaw.

The evening went far beyond the great food and ambiance. Being at Khaya Umdani, where we stayed for 10 nights beginning on January 30, 2014, brought back memories we’ll always treasure. Seeing the stunning house so well maintained with no signs of wear and tear after all these years warmed our hearts. 

These mince-stuffed cabbage rolls were heavenly.

Of course, that’s what Louise and Danie do…perfection with ease, grace, and enthusiasm. What more could anyone ask for?

The finished, tender, and delicious ostrich steaks. By the way, ostrich meat is farmed, not taken from Marloth or Kruger National Parks.

Then add in the candid conversations, with no stones unturned, the laughter, and the endless storytelling. We couldn’t have had a better time. By 10:30 pm, we were back “home,” stuffed, satisfied, and reeling from another great night with friends. 

Tom, who usually turns up his nose at aubergine (eggplant), loved this fabulous item.

We fell into bed hoping to watch a one-hour series we’d downloaded but, alas, contrary to the usual; Tom nodded off after about 15 minutes into the show. I put my computer away for the night, knowing we’d watch the balance of the show another night, and was fast asleep by 11:00 pm.

Not only are Louise and Danie expert chefs, but they are also thoughtful in making Tom potatoes when everything else we ate was low carb and suitable for my way of eating. They, too, follow a low-carb diet referred to as the Banting Diet here in South Africa.

Awakening at 5:00, I couldn’t wait to get outdoors to see if we had any visitors. Other than Frank and The Misses and a few guinea fowl, no one had yet stopped by. As the day has progressed, we’ve had 11 kudus stop by.

With a little of everything, our plates were filled and ready for us to dig in. Amazing food and equally amazing hostess and host.

Frank sings a little tune while pecking at the seeds that always makes us laugh. It’s got to be a “happiness” song. If I were a francolin, I’d have been singing that tune last night! I tossed some birdseed on the ground, and they scampered to get their fair share.

At first, when Louise asked if we noticed anything unusual in this mask, we couldn’t see a thing in the dim light. Once I took this photo, we could see the frog in its mouth.

Tonight we’re off for yet another social event, which we’ll share tomorrow, and on Sunday morning, a brunch-type braai in Lionspruit at Frikkie’s Dam, which Louise and Danie kindly invited us to attend to meet many more of their friends.

This tree frog sits in the mouth of a decorative mask on the wall of the veranda.

How did we get so lucky? We’ll never know the answer. However, we’re content to accept the good fortune in the same category as “safari luck” and continue appreciating and cherishing every moment.

May you cherish something wonderful in your life today and always.

Photo from one year ago today, May 5, 2017:

Rows upon rows of pine trees line the beach near the coral reef on Mystery Island in the South Pacific. For more photos, please click here.