Hauntingly beautiful!
This photo was taken by Kevin at the lake near our home when it snowed the other morning.
Saturday 30 June 2007
One of my favourite photos taken by Kevin!
Hauntingly beautiful!
This photo was taken by Kevin at the lake near our home when it snowed the other morning.
Thursday 28 June 2007
freeeeezing weather!
Hi Everyone!
We had snow! Real snow. Kevin woke up and looked outside and then quickly came to call me out of my warm bed, to see the snow all over our garden. It was beautiful.
This is me - playing in the snow!
Crystal clear morning with white, soft, fluffy snow- lovely! The world was transformed into a winter wonderland. i have never been that close to snow in all my life. We had some fun throwing snow balls at one another, but it was freezing in our hands.
My daughter Loren came to play too!
I loved the snow on the conifer fir trees in our garden, and the way the snow was cupped in the leaves of the shrub plants. It looked magical and so pretty, but as a friend of mine would say: 'the reality is' I don't think they will survive that amount of frost - i can see I will be gardening from scratch again!
Our back garden!
We had snow! Real snow. Kevin woke up and looked outside and then quickly came to call me out of my warm bed, to see the snow all over our garden. It was beautiful.
This is me - playing in the snow!
Crystal clear morning with white, soft, fluffy snow- lovely! The world was transformed into a winter wonderland. i have never been that close to snow in all my life. We had some fun throwing snow balls at one another, but it was freezing in our hands.
My daughter Loren came to play too!
I loved the snow on the conifer fir trees in our garden, and the way the snow was cupped in the leaves of the shrub plants. It looked magical and so pretty, but as a friend of mine would say: 'the reality is' I don't think they will survive that amount of frost - i can see I will be gardening from scratch again!
Our back garden!
Friday 22 June 2007
Jazz and the Rock 'n Roll Blues....
Wow! What a night! Steven, Chantal, Kevin and I were treated to some great music. Jazz and Blues share a similar history way back early 1917! This music is still great today. We went to our local theatre on Thursday evening and had a few hours of fantastic music. Louis Armstrong, BB king, some Jazz greats from New Orleans stuff.
What a combination of musical instruments - clarinet, cornet, trombone, bass, banjo, drums. The 6 men became one with their instruments - great stuff! So laid back, but the music was lively and we were dancing in our seats.
After interval we were given a wake up call when young, modern hippie looking, cute (a cute dimple on his one cheek) Dan Patlansky played the blues. I have never heard or seen anything quite like it. His bass guitarist - Errol Fellows, strolled onto stage, (What a character) shook hands with the pianist who was busy bashing out a a fantastic lively piece of music, at the shiny grand piano, took off his shoes, showing BRIGHT RED socks, and with his huge white beard,
white hat and dwarf like build, started playing in time with the piano piece - wow!
We were warned it would be loud, and it mostly was. Dan is able to do something magical with those electric guitars - 3 beautiful Fender Stratocasters, his tongue darts in and out comically in concentration, and his body and head contorts as if the guitar is attached to his bones. He is passionate and plays blues and rock n roll like he means it!
He swaps guitars, effortlessly. Goose bumps traveled all over my body when he played this song that he composed when he was on tour in new Orleans and Hurricane Katrina hit. I could picture the storms and the wind, the devastation and the pain - it was an ominous moody chaotic piece of music, beautifully matched, as he created the hurricane there on stage.
I could imagine his long curly hair blowing back from his face as his Fender Stratocaster squealed, screamed and screeched, in agonizing music, competing with the voracious winds and stormy seas. It was loud, moody, different tempestuous, a music feast. Dan is brilliant, and the audience knew it, but didn't seem to appreciate it- half-hearted applause! We, and a select few from the audience, loved it and cheered -yeah! loudly and whistled for more. At times the music was soft and tuneful, with a flick of his wrist on the knobs of the strattie, he spoke to us with expressions and shades of moody music. His singing was gruff and low, sexy, reminded me of someone-MK-(when he sings that hauntingly beautiful 'Brothers in Arms'); a touch of BBKing; a little like Louis Armstrong??
http://www.danpatlansky.co.za/
http://www.southernmusic.net/1910.htm
http://www.southernmusic.net/bbking.htm
What a combination of musical instruments - clarinet, cornet, trombone, bass, banjo, drums. The 6 men became one with their instruments - great stuff! So laid back, but the music was lively and we were dancing in our seats.
After interval we were given a wake up call when young, modern hippie looking, cute (a cute dimple on his one cheek) Dan Patlansky played the blues. I have never heard or seen anything quite like it. His bass guitarist - Errol Fellows, strolled onto stage, (What a character) shook hands with the pianist who was busy bashing out a a fantastic lively piece of music, at the shiny grand piano, took off his shoes, showing BRIGHT RED socks, and with his huge white beard,
white hat and dwarf like build, started playing in time with the piano piece - wow!
We were warned it would be loud, and it mostly was. Dan is able to do something magical with those electric guitars - 3 beautiful Fender Stratocasters, his tongue darts in and out comically in concentration, and his body and head contorts as if the guitar is attached to his bones. He is passionate and plays blues and rock n roll like he means it!
He swaps guitars, effortlessly. Goose bumps traveled all over my body when he played this song that he composed when he was on tour in new Orleans and Hurricane Katrina hit. I could picture the storms and the wind, the devastation and the pain - it was an ominous moody chaotic piece of music, beautifully matched, as he created the hurricane there on stage.
I could imagine his long curly hair blowing back from his face as his Fender Stratocaster squealed, screamed and screeched, in agonizing music, competing with the voracious winds and stormy seas. It was loud, moody, different tempestuous, a music feast. Dan is brilliant, and the audience knew it, but didn't seem to appreciate it- half-hearted applause! We, and a select few from the audience, loved it and cheered -yeah! loudly and whistled for more. At times the music was soft and tuneful, with a flick of his wrist on the knobs of the strattie, he spoke to us with expressions and shades of moody music. His singing was gruff and low, sexy, reminded me of someone-MK-(when he sings that hauntingly beautiful 'Brothers in Arms'); a touch of BBKing; a little like Louis Armstrong??
http://www.danpatlansky.co.za/
http://www.southernmusic.net/1910.htm
http://www.southernmusic.net/bbking.htm
| "What Dan Patlansky can do with a six-string Fender Stratocaster at the age of twenty five, most critically acclaimed guitarists will never quite achieve in a lifetime" |
Thursday 14 June 2007
Up duck days, and down duck days!
I had a coffee mug once with a duck on the one side facing head up and waddling across the porcelain, and another duck on the other side with his head down .
I was going through a difficult patch in my life at the time, and warned my friends and family that if the mug was facing the up duck side on the shelf, I was fine, but if it had the down duck side facing, then watch out, don't come near me, I am really down.
But then I just had to laugh one day when I had it facing the down duck side, and my sister came to visit. She stared at the mug for a while and then she said, "you know, even though this duck's face is down, his bum is still pointing high up into the air!" - :)
I was going through a difficult patch in my life at the time, and warned my friends and family that if the mug was facing the up duck side on the shelf, I was fine, but if it had the down duck side facing, then watch out, don't come near me, I am really down.
But then I just had to laugh one day when I had it facing the down duck side, and my sister came to visit. She stared at the mug for a while and then she said, "you know, even though this duck's face is down, his bum is still pointing high up into the air!" - :)
Saturday 9 June 2007
Global warming and fashion shows.. I feel a blog coming on...
Hi
This morning has been incredible already and its very early in the morning still! Firstly, It is a stunning beautiful day, the sun is shining and it is a little chilly, but not demotivatingly cold, just jersey cool. It is a clear day, and the sky is spectacular, a vibrant lovely fresh shade of blue.
My two gorgeous dogs were really very friendly and loving this morning, and so full of energy and bounce. I will have to take them for a walk today, despite being quite busy with lots of work to do in preparation for a busy week next week.
My precious hubby brought me a fabulous cup of coffee, just the way I like it, with a piece of homemade marmalade toast, without me even asking, and read me some very funny jokes from his forum.
My daughter and I have decided that we do not know enough about current affairs, and so we realise that we need to become more aware, and know more about what is going in the world. (Kev even knew that there is a global warming summit happening somewhere... could be because it is winter here and everyone has a heater on!)
What started that was that we were talking about being self-aware, and we said that you cannot change your basic personality, but you can change your behaviours, and attitudes and approaches. We spent far too long on the phone talking about this, but discussing major important issues about things does take time. :)
We have so much still to learn - Miss South Africa , was quoted as an example: She is stunning on the outside, but also on the inside and is so confident and poised, and she radiates great real inner beauty. She is elegant, and gentle, and holds herself so upright with good posture.
Also, what about Ed Jordan? He was talking on 3-talk apparently and when it was his turn to discuss the Sun City event about art, international chefs, fashion and celebrities he was so articulate and spoke eloquently, he exudes confidence too. He used powerful words, like " You will be bombarded by an explosion of international cuisine from renowned chefs" Another guy on that same program did not really articulate himself so well, and the more effective person was Ed Jordan. Two more people came on to discuss about the fashion and one was smiling and friendly, and one was not.
So, what profound stuff have I learned today from my daughter?
1. Finish your sentences!
2. Be eloquent and project your voice
3. Confidence sets you apart!
4. Smile, it looks better
5. Stunning is 50% on the inside!
6. Who Ed Jordan and John Legend is.
7. You can try to fix a broken vase by gluing it together but it will never be the same again
8. In the words of Megan Coleman: 'Have a vision for your future. Be focused. Know who you are and where you are going. Vision is what gives us the motivation to achieve our goals.'
Some of which i knew already!! :) thanks my precious kid, it was a great conversation!!
Who could ask for more?
Love, Shirley
This morning has been incredible already and its very early in the morning still! Firstly, It is a stunning beautiful day, the sun is shining and it is a little chilly, but not demotivatingly cold, just jersey cool. It is a clear day, and the sky is spectacular, a vibrant lovely fresh shade of blue.
My two gorgeous dogs were really very friendly and loving this morning, and so full of energy and bounce. I will have to take them for a walk today, despite being quite busy with lots of work to do in preparation for a busy week next week.
My precious hubby brought me a fabulous cup of coffee, just the way I like it, with a piece of homemade marmalade toast, without me even asking, and read me some very funny jokes from his forum.
My daughter and I have decided that we do not know enough about current affairs, and so we realise that we need to become more aware, and know more about what is going in the world. (Kev even knew that there is a global warming summit happening somewhere... could be because it is winter here and everyone has a heater on!)
What started that was that we were talking about being self-aware, and we said that you cannot change your basic personality, but you can change your behaviours, and attitudes and approaches. We spent far too long on the phone talking about this, but discussing major important issues about things does take time. :)
We have so much still to learn - Miss South Africa , was quoted as an example: She is stunning on the outside, but also on the inside and is so confident and poised, and she radiates great real inner beauty. She is elegant, and gentle, and holds herself so upright with good posture.
Also, what about Ed Jordan? He was talking on 3-talk apparently and when it was his turn to discuss the Sun City event about art, international chefs, fashion and celebrities he was so articulate and spoke eloquently, he exudes confidence too. He used powerful words, like " You will be bombarded by an explosion of international cuisine from renowned chefs" Another guy on that same program did not really articulate himself so well, and the more effective person was Ed Jordan. Two more people came on to discuss about the fashion and one was smiling and friendly, and one was not.
So, what profound stuff have I learned today from my daughter?
1. Finish your sentences!
2. Be eloquent and project your voice
3. Confidence sets you apart!
4. Smile, it looks better
5. Stunning is 50% on the inside!
6. Who Ed Jordan and John Legend is.
7. You can try to fix a broken vase by gluing it together but it will never be the same again
8. In the words of Megan Coleman: 'Have a vision for your future. Be focused. Know who you are and where you are going. Vision is what gives us the motivation to achieve our goals.'
Some of which i knew already!! :) thanks my precious kid, it was a great conversation!!
Who could ask for more?
Love, Shirley
Friday 1 June 2007
Kruger Trip for the Satara webcam community!
Us, looking at Satara waterhole!
My daughter is doing a rural trip at a hospital in a really remote spot called Glen Cowie because she is 4th year OT, and is doing a practical session. We had to take her some food and warm blankets. From there we went on and had a wonderful trip to the Kruger over this last weekend, and had some amazing sightings to talk about. It is the first time i have stayed in the Kruger, and it was special.
The pools are full of hippos, and the bird life is fantastic. to give you an idea, we saw A HUGE giant eagle owl perched in a tree right close to Satara camp. He was so clear and so close to us.
this giant eagle owl was perched in a tree right above our car. he was huge and so lovely.
There was a pied fish eagle on a river bridge over the Letaba River, where you are allowed to get out and walk around a bit, and he perched so close to us and didn't even fly away when we came right up to him, we got a photo which i will post soon, then he dived into the letaba river and caught a fish in front of our eyes - it was a spectacular sight.
Us eating at Satara - i could see the waterhole from here!
The one morning we came around a corner very slowly looking for game and as we rounded the bend there was a very cross male elephant. He was walking at a great speed and very agitated,
see how big he is! next to this combi, he looks huge.we had to reverse quickly and were quite
scared. He was HUGE. The little VW Mk1 golf we were in didn't stand a chance, so we just got out of his way!
this is the angry elephant! he may not look cross in the photo, but he was!
He was swaying his feet as if doing a dance and had such a mean look in his eyes, and he kept coming. A vw combi came up too and after we warned them about the elephant, they drove up to him and even their combi looked small in comparison to him! After a long while we were able to go past him as he moved off into the bush. I wonder what upset him?
Another highlight for us was two impala males fighting, clashing horns and really jousting. It was the first time I have seen that.
We aslo saw many lazy crocodiles, monkeys, baboons, giraffes, buffalo, wildebeest, lion - a mating pair! It was lovely. Also, there were a few lilac breasted rollers around too and lots of hornbills - oh and i saw a hammerkop for the first time! Their nests are unbelievable, i saw the nests in Waterberg, but now I have seen the bird! It is very funny how birds do exactly what the book says they will be doing - you know: " usually perched on a tree stump in savannah type grassland" - and there he is just as the book said! Or "a wading bird, walking slowly in shallow water near to bushveld..." sure thing - there he is, doing exactly that!! these birds must have read the book!!
Our camp was great too and the rondavel we stayed in was very comfortable. There were bat towers where bats perch, and so many elephants- I did not want t come home.
This is Kori Bustard big bird! It is fascinating, and we saw quite a few of them. they are bigger than turkeys!
These were ground hornbills! We were quite proud of ourselves for spotting them because we had to put our name in a book if you spotted one, and we saw 3 that day. Not sure why the fuss about them, but they look like turkeys too, pitch black with bright red parts around their beaks.
How about this terrapin we saw in the Letaba River! I have never seen a wild one. There were several in this river, putting on a nice display for us, and swimming with huge fish!
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