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.

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.

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.

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.

Eight lions spotted in our area…Guess I won’t be going for a walk…Today is our 28th wedding anniversary…

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May be an image of map
We are located in Block D, where eight lions were spotted in the past 24 hours.

Note: Sorry, we have no new photos. Due to the black worms on the veranda, I haven’t taken any photos in the past few days.

The following notice was posted last night on Facebook’s “Marloth Park Sighting Page.”

“‼️ URGENT CARNIVORE ALERT‼️
6th- 7th March 2023
The Carnivore Team has released an URGENT WARNING that eight lions have been spotted in the “D” SECTOR OF THE ATTACHED MAP! They are now moving between the houses.
The immediate alert is for BLOCK “D,” “E,” AND “F” as per the attached map. For those who are not familiar with Marloth, BLOCK “D” IS FROM RENOSTER, KINGFISHER, SEEKOEI, SWARTWITPENS, RATEL UP TO OLIFANT, BLOCK “E” IS FROM SEKELBOS, OLIFANT UP TO LUIPERD AND BLOCK “F” FROM RATEL, SWARTWITPENS, SEEKOEI, SOENIE UP TO OLIFANT! A follow-up alert will be supplied if they move out of these areas!
EVERYBODY needs to be extremely cautious, and an urgent alert for joggers, hikers, and cyclists in the morning and afternoon! Be extra careful at night, as the LIONS are a more significant threat in the dark! If you are having a braai, sit with your backs to a wall and keep the lights on!
Please do not allow children to roam around or play unsupervised – period! The lions could be extremely dangerous, especially where kids are concerned!😳
This an urgent alert for joggers, hikers, and cyclists along these areas throughout the day!
Unfortunately, the warnings are not taken seriously! The onus is on each and every one to adhere to the alerts and warn others of the dangers.
PLEASE DO NOT POST ANY CARNIVORE SIGHTING POSITIONS ON ANY SOCIAL MEDIA GROUPS FOR SAFETY REASONS! Rather contact any one of the Carnivore Team if you spot the lions, phone any of the following numbers at ANY TIME:
Rangers 082 802 5894
CPF/ Nadine 082 672 4545 Gerrie Camacho 082 353 9097,
Ernst Röhm /MTPA 083 626 6309,
April Lukhele: 082 807 1057. Jan Koekemoer 063 053 7601.
Thank you for your cooperation and understanding – Carnivore Team, Rangers, MTPA, CPF, Security, and the Vet.
Wow!. Eight lions! It certainly would be exciting to see them, but they hunt, mostly at night, and it’s too dangerous to be outdoors looking for them. Occasionally, we hear a muffled roar, but like most lions, they don’t make a lot of noise while hunting. Lions roar as follows from this site:
“Lions will use their roar to ward off potential intruders and/or protect their territory and pride. Sometimes they’ll even roar to talk with other lions, and their roars can reach up to 114 decibels—the same noise level as a chainsaw or snowmobile.
Still, only big cats, such as lions, leopards, tigers, and jaguars, can roar. This is due to their large vocal folds, which form a square shape allowing large vocal vibrations at less lung pressure, resulting in a monstrous sound that resonates for miles. 

Roaring isn’t the only way that lions communicate, either. They often make a “scratch pile” with their urine or claw trees as additional ways to mark their territory and keep a distance from other lion prides. Physical features, including the darkness of a male lion’s mane, are another way of displaying their abilities to others—generally, the older the lion, the darker the mane. However, a particularly thick, dark mane indicates an incredibly healthy and well-fed​​lion —and not an animal you’d want to mess with. 

Lions may growl, moan, groan, huff and puff, and emit gurgling growls that resemble purring because, unlike traditional purrs—which are continuous—the vibratory sounds that lions produce are only evident when they exhale. Lions also show affection to one another through actions like nuzzling and head rubbing.”

Another school holiday season is upon us soon, when more and more holidaymakers will arrive to enjoy the wonders of the bush. We hope that property managers and owners will inform the guests about the lions since we often see families walking on dirt roads at dusk when the lions begin their nightly hunt. That’s not to say the lions aren’t out wandering the bush during the day. They’ve been spotted during daylight hours on countless occasions.

Of course, we don’t like the holiday seasons due to added traffic, noise, and fewer animals coming to our garden. When the wildlife gets a taste of chips, sweets, and human foods unfit for their consumption, they prefer to visit them than come to our “healthy garden” of fruit, vegetables, and pellets. Wild animals don’t have the digestive systems to digest crisps, chips, pasta, and cookies easily. These types of foods can make them ill or even shorten their lifespan. Hmmm…it’s not a lot different for humans, is it?

Here’s the school holiday schedule for 2023:

“South African school holiday dates in 2023

  • First term break: 25 March – 11 April 2023
  • Second term break: 24 June – 18 July 2023
  • Third term break: 30 September – 10 October 2023
  • Fourth term break: 14 December 2023 – 17 January 2024″

I am thinking of you today and always with love and appreciation for our beautiful lives together. Happy Anniversary, Lover. Today is our 28th wedding anniversary. We will celebrate when Tom returns. If you are reading this from halfway around the globe…

Actually, our travel anniversary holds more significance for us since it was the beginning of a new life and a new world for the two of us that has given us more joy than we’d ever imagined we’d have in our senior years. We are very grateful for it all and for each other. I didn’t need him to be gone to realize this. I’ve known it every day.

Be well.

Photo from one year ago today, March 7, 2022:

Bossy makes sure we see she is here for a visit. “Pellets, please!” For more photos, please click here.

My first night ever…alone in the bush…

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Norman is getting fluffed up with a male kudu and male zebras near him. Females of any species don’t bother him at all. He’ll even share food with them.

Today’s weather is pure hell. The temperature is only 84F, 29C, but the humidity is 73%, and the dew point is 75. It would be more tolerable if it were raining, but no rain is predicted throughout the day. I’ve had a busy morning, doing all the household tasks. Tom usually does it in the mornings, along with my own.

I started a few loads of laundry but set up the laundry rack indoors in the lounge room. There’s no sun, and it won’t dry any faster outdoors than inside the house. The clothes may take three days to dry in this weather. But there isn’t anything there I can’t go without, and besides, half of the laundry was Tom’s clothes.

Zebras were in a scuffle over pellets, a common occurrence.

Usually, in the mornings. while I make breakfast, Tom plays the most recent podcast episode of Garage Logic, where his name and our web address are mentioned daily at the end of each podcast. It’s always fun to listen to this enjoyable show. After breakfast, Tom does the dishes while I begin the post.

It’s a lovely routine we both enjoy, but with him gone until March 15, we’ll wait and get caught up on the missed podcasts when he returns. It may seem odd that I can listen to a show while doing the posts, but I’ve found that over the years, it works well for me.

Zebras were looking for pellets.

This morning as I am typing here now, I have a split screen on my laptop, and I’m watching the TV series “Naked and Afraid.” I stop periodically to watch a particular scene in the show, but then again, I often stop watching and pay more attention to the post’s preparation.

Also, this morning, I made a double batch of keto coconut flaxseed bread from mixes I purchased in the health food section at Spar. It has no “bad” ingredients, and it is extremely low-carb.

I have two small slices every morning topped with eggs, avocado, or smoked salmon. I cut two thin slices of the small bread and place them into snack-sized ziplock bags (which I save and reuse many times), putting them into the freezer. I take out one packet at night, but if I forget to take it out, after 30 seconds in the microwave, it will defrost. This big batch will last a month.

There was my boy Norman looking for me early this morning. It was busy in the garden, so it took him a few minutes to mosey on over to his favorite spot.

This keto bread is dense and somewhat dry, so I add a little keto barbecue sauce to the bread to moisten it. Then, I pop both slices into the toaster until lightly browned. Butter, cream cheese, or other sugar-free sauces may be added. I use the sugar-free keto barbecue sauce since it has the lowest calories (and carbs), and calories count on low carb, especially when trying to lose a few kilos.

Below is a photo of the larger two loaves I made this morning. I let them cool for a few hours, making cutting them into thin slices easier. I always keep the food I am cooling covered with kitchen towels to prevent flies and insects from crawling on them. It’s always best to freeze baked goods here due to the high humidity presenting a likelihood of mildew growing very quickly.4

Keto Coconut & Flaxseed bread doesn’t look appetizing, and it’s an acquired taste. I like it.

It’s been almost 14 hours with two more to go since Tom’s flight took off from Cape Town Airport. I should hear from him shortly while he begins another long layover. He’ll have to go through immigration and customs when he arrives at Dulles Airport in Washington, DC. The lines will be long, and it could take him an hour or more to get through. It will be good to hear from him again as he makes his way on this long journey to Minneapolis, Minnesota.

In my old life, before I met Tom when my kids were grown, I spent many years living alone without an alarm system. I did OK alone overnight in the bush. I had the fan and the aircon on in the bedroom, so I didn’t hear every little sound and never felt frightened or worried. The alarm was set, and I kept the keyfob with the panic buttom under my pillow in case I heard anything unusual. But all was fine.

Oops, I had to stop when Norman showed up. I cut him some celery tops, lettuce, and apples, but suddenly, he was joined by our frequent Big Daddy visitor. I tossed some apples to Norman and in another direction to Big Daddy, and he left Norman to eat his lunch without interruption. Norman always fluffs his hair and tail when encountering male kudus, especially those with big horns like Big Daddies.

Moments later, Hoppie’s Mom and two babies arrived in the garden. They have figured out how to maneuver through the little fence, and we’ve stopped trying to hurry them away since they are here so often.

I just snapped two worms off my shirt after sitting outdoors while Zef washed the floors in the house. Yuck!

Tom’s flight to Dulles Airport in Washington, DC, was running 20 minutes late. According to the flight information online, it arrived 19 minutes ago. I should be hearing from Tom soon. I just got a text! He’s in line for immigration, and we’ll communicate more once he’s at his next gate for the flight to Minneapolis. There’s a four-hour layover and an almost four-hour flight until he arrives at his final destination.

Busy morning in the bush. All is well. I miss my man, but he’ll return before I know it.

Be well.

Photo from one year ago today, March 6, 2022:

Not our photo. The continuing rise in the cost of food in the UK was one of the key contributors to December’s consumer price inflation of 5.4% © REUTERS (An article from Financial Times, with their link here. For more details, please click here.

Tom is off to the US on Sunday…Our first time apart in 10½ years…

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The view from friend’s Karen and Rich’s home one year ago when we stayed with them in Apollo Beach, Florida.

Note: We’ve been preoccupied and haven’t taken any new photos in several days. Today’s images are from Florida, where we were one year ago.

It will feel very strange for Tom and me to be apart for ten days when he leaves for the airport in Nelspruit to start the long journey to the US. On his way there, the flight and layovers will have 31 hours of travel time. On his return on March 13, arriving on March 15, it will be much longer when he has to stay overnight in Joburg at the airport hotel to avoid driving the dangerous N4 highway in the dark.

This will be the first time we have embarked on an international flight without the other. Not only was it imperative for him to be with his family for brother Jerome’s wake and funeral service in Minneapolis, but also to spend precious time with his kids,  grandkids, and siblings. I will feel a lot better when I hear that he has arrived safely and when he walks in the door a week from Wednesday, back with me once again.

Our dear friends Karen and Rich while we were all out to dinner in Florida.

As a blended family, we’re constantly juggling and allocating time between our families when we are together in the US. It has always worked out well, but this time, he won’t have to worry about carting me around, dropping me off, and picking me up after time with my son Greg and his family.

For a minute, we may have considered having me go with him, but the more we thought about it, this made the most sense. Plus, he can sleep at his daughter Tammy’s house, where I’ve never been able to stay since I am allergic to cats. The same is the case with staying at my son Greg’s house, where they have three cats.

When it’s the two of us, we prefer to stay in a hotel, especially when we consume so much WiFi and spend so much time online doing daily posts and other research. Also, as a couple, we prefer privacy and quiet when staying in a hotel when we travel.

View of the bay from Karen and Rich’s home in Apollo Beach.

The only exception to this has been when we stay with our dear friends Karen and Rich in their huge house in Florida. The four of us are so much alike, we don’t annoy one another, and it’s always been easy for a week or more. We all like the same kind of food, and our daily habits are oddly similar. This isn’t always the case with many friends who have generously offered us to stay with them.

Tom just finished packing, considering it’s still freezing in Minnesota. When our bags were lost on our last trip, we bought sweatshirts and flannel shirts to stay warm. He now has three flannel shirts, a few new zippered sweatshirts, and plenty of jeans to keep warm. He isn’t bringing a suit when few men at the service will be wearing suits. But he will wear a newer long-sleeved black shirt and pants to the services.

This morning, we headed to Komatipoort to grocery shop for whatever I’ll need in the next ten days. Mostly, I’ll prepare easy chicken and seafood meals while he’s away, along with a salad. When he returns, I’ll make a special dinner for us to celebrate our missed 28th wedding anniversary, which is on March 7.

Us, out to dinner with Rich and Karen.

These past ten years, we have always made a bigger fuss over our travel anniversary on October 31 each year. Still, we’ve always done something special on our wedding anniversary, often going out to dinner or making a fancy meal wherever we live.

This evening, we’ll return to Jabula, the second night in a row to be with our local friends at this entertaining establishment. Last night, we had an excellent time, reliving the fun we all had at my birthday party last Saturday. It’s hard to believe that it was almost a week ago.

That’s it for today. Next time I write, I will be alone for the first time in so long I can hardly remember; although we were apart at night when I was in hospital in 2019, Tom was with me every day, well into the evening. But this is different. I am not afraid of being alone. I’ll watch for lions when I am outdoors and those disgusting slimy black worms that are still falling on our heads. Yuck.

Be well.

Photo from one year ago today, March 4, 2022:

Once again, the porcupine returned to the garden at night. For more photos, please click here.