Witwater part 4

I think Witwater means White water in Afrikaans? Anyway after the caves we walked down to the smaller river bed, which is quite dry, we got to jump over big rocks. The pic of the small holes carved into the big rock is caused by a small rock caught in a place where it can't get out, over time with current it wears down the area into holes then either it wears out or gets washed out. I put a larger rock into one of those holes. I think when i am gone, it will still be twirling around every summer making a bigger and bigger depression into the rock.

This place is supposed ot also be quite child friendly. Loren plans to take nate to pilanesberg or the game reserve near sun city when it gets warmer.

Witwater part 3

The nice thing about this place is that they have a spa and we can walk through the farm, which is alot more to do than at Jaci's Lodge. Which was 3 big meals, no walking as there were large predators... and no spa. Needless to say we got treatments everyday and walks as well. One day we walked to see animal tracks, flora and fauna.

We saw alot of different type of poo. All the grazers had little pellet ones filled with grassy material. Would have made great base material for my worm farm. Didn't yet get to see a dung beetle strutting its ball rolling skills. Here is a view of a large tree where the cheetahs would hang out. We were here to spy the Rhinos.

When in the bush, if you find yourself out there at night, find a big hole dug by a warthog and crouch in it with a sharp stick, poke anything that comes too close. In a tree you can't fall asleep as you would fall out or meet the tree climbing predators. Just a little tip for those going to safari...

The next day we walked to the caves where paintings were done between 600 to 1,000 years ago. The camera takes sharper pictures than the actual paintings.

Witwater part 2

The peach orchards are starting to bloom tiny pink flowers that resemble cherry blossoms. Here is a shot of the neighbouring farm, notice the electric fence meant for the animals, some of the warthogs manage to dig holes across and make a run for it!

Sunset at Witwater... and el amigo senor loren in his poncho. Loren really prepared for this trip by bringing gloves, his ski jacket and what he calls his DJ hat. Loren in his pose in front of the entrance to the lodge. The river that runs beneath the tents... and apparently harbours... KROKODILOS.

Muchos gracias amigos for reading the blog. Buenos Dias (Espanol all learnt from Ike's toy)

Witwater Safari Game Lodge

Well I think it may be more a Game "farm". They have about 6000 hectares. The law now requires that you have 22,000 hectares of land before you can have elephant. This place has a resident leopard, some cheetahs (with collars) that were hunting the new herd of 28 antelope (22 when we got there an taking down 1 every 3 days), it reminded me of the lake shrimp that Terry and I put into our fish tank, wondering everyday how come they were getting fewer every day.

They have tents and rooms, the tents were nicer, with a shower cell and also flush toilet (of course a bed and electric blankets, suffering we were obviously not), when they zipped it up, it is really dark such that another couple woke up only at 10am.

Here is loren enjoying his unwind beer when we got there. The small town of Nabroomspruit, the name of a cactus... the sap which is used by the bushmen to put at the end of their darts. A shot of our game ranger with his gun and cheetah tracking device.

Warmer

It was warming up for a while, even the bee's are seeking out flowers. Some of the indigenous plants are flowering, we see little buds on trees waiting to pop open. Apparently the first week of september, spring just springs up!

Here is Nate with his lion tattoo on his hand. He and porpor likes to play lion roar together. Porpor is not allowed to scare him but he can roar porpor.

The red ribbon on nate's neck is the ribbon he got from his horse academy for completing another round of horse skills. His first ribbon.

The big fire is typical of winter here, either it is controlled burning or the area is so dry it catches fire very easily.

The last pic is of nate in school with Kelly and Helen, the two chinese girls in our neighbourhood before we leave on our safari. They are holding hands and like to be in each other's company. Christine took Nate to school and back while we were gone, apparently he was so well behaved and more angelic than an angel!

Ikey sick again

Took Ike to the dr today. He had 3 loose poo's, very irritable the whole day and tired, lack of appetite and a slight diaper rash. No vomiting yet but I just got a message from michelle that axel has the same symptoms but also vomiting and a bad diaper rash. poor baby. Tonite will be a long night, waking up to change diapers. I have a slight runny nose so hope I don't get sick either.

This week we are due for a cold front, probably the last of the winter season. We now get nights of about 4 deg and day time up to the 20s. With the cold front, it will only be around 15 deg. Ok thats not freezing (for those canadian readers) but when the sun sets it cools really fast.

Here is some pic of the weekend, we went to Moyo at zoo lake which was really nice. Good buffet breakfast, nice outdoor area. Ike was passed out after all that.

Another pic is of the kids at today's art class. I do like the new art teacher, she is a lot more strict and the kids are alot more focused and disciplined. The last teacher was very nice but the kids were alot less disciplined. Christine made lovely soup mochi balls and egg pancakes. Needless to say the vultures devoured every piece.

My wormery does not seem to be a popular topic. I found two new worm farms that I would like to get... That would get me up to 3 worm powers (vs horse powers... get it?), 1 worm power can handle about 1 household full of waste, I am thinking about the stuff my garden will produce in summer. Am already getting a good yield of worm pee for my general fertilization. Hands up to anyone who wants a unit for their birthdays? hannuka? christmas?

Am also planning my herb garden in preparation for spring and I need to think about the main garden as well. Just to finish the harping of my worms, they will start to multiply fast. They produce an egg each per week.

Olive and wine show

Saturdays are dada and nate days (soon dada and the boys?). Nate went with lucas and uncle erik and dada to the olive and wine show at Casalinga. Unfortunately as they were below 18, they could only hang out outside and bounce on the trampoline. Nate just really loves olives.

Casalinga grows their own fresh herbs and veges. One day, maybe I will have a vege plot like that and my worms working their magic.

I took porpor to a yoga class at Virgin active and we are both sore still. She says too bad I have no daughters to torture me. hmmm.

Here's a tree on our walks, it has no leaves but only some purple like flowers. Must figure out the name of the tree.

The springbok at Nde bushe restaurant. They walk up real close and they look healthy and yummy....

Nate on Friday got a spider drawn on his hand by his class teacher. The ballet teacher eager to have boys in her class made an exception for him (his age group) and caused a bit of a ruckus with other parents who want their girls in ballet... when the time came for him to go observe the class, he refused! and instead wanted to play with his friends. So much for me listening to him wanting to go ballet with Jade.

Our walks

Here are some pics of our walks, nate is at the early stages of being able to ride a bike. He still likes pushing his stroller and sometimes with pistol in it.

Clamber Club

I finally managed to sign Ike up for a gymboree type class, its called clamber club here, the mascot is Jog the Frog. i didn't get any shots of the inside activities where the moms have to bounce the kids up and down and run around in circles etc... its a big workout. The first two pics are of Ike at the outside play area. There are definitely alot of things to keep him busy there.

Have been taking Ike to the sand box as well, tho he enjoys sampling the sand and seems to like the flavour, its really hard to catch him before he tosses it onto his tongue. Here is is distracted by a new girl friend.

Ike on a walk with porpor. Porpors hat comes in handy for his not full head of hair yet.

Nate the Builder

I wonder how nate can remember all the name's to the characters in cars, then to all the names of the characters in Bob the builder and then also the trains in thomas the trains... now if I can just channel that interest and energy into chinese classics... ot maybe I have more hope through osmosis, playing the tape over an over again in his sleep?

We were at Rosebank this weekend (the rosebank musician buskers), I spend som eof Bubbi's money buying more shabbat useful utensils. This weekend, loren and nate will go to the Olive and Wine show and eat a lunch full of olives.

Ike has more awake hours these days and I have finally been able to track down the gymboree equivalent (the clamber club) and will be taking him tomorrow. I also spoke to the ballet teacher at nate's school, she is very encouraging for him to join and will look out for teasing and if he doesn't like it he can drop out, she also waived the pink tights and shoes... he can wear black track pants and shirt. Keep posted on the teachers review... As for nate and teasing he seems really thick skinned or oblivious to it. His school term has restarted and he seems happy to see all his friends again.

Here is the bin home of my wormery. Its winter here and there seems to be not much activity going on there. They don't seem to be multiplying fast enough for me to name them.

Kiasu, Kiasi and blueberry guitars

ok I got a lot of response from my posting of being a "kiasu" mom, well actually i thought about it and i think its more a case of "kiasi", as in if the kids have no activities, it is Si-liau-liau for any mom.

For those who know Fonfeder and wondering what he is up to or for those who need to buy a beautiful guitar for a loved one, he just launched a line of guitars, www.blueberryguitars.com. Sigh, I have yet to find a music teacher and complete my kiasu (I mean kiasi) mom-ness.

For those who know (or not know) Bruce Freedman, he is trying to get a book published and is quite funny. www.brucefreedman.com. This is the guy (I am convinced, that he is the cause of nate always announcing, "mom I farted" and then adding, "it was a small/big one") who when nate was about 18 months old, tooted a SBD, and put the blame on nate. Later bruce confessed, but ever since nate could talk, he is bent on telling us the truth about the origin of the wind instrument toot (in some cases a flute, in some cases a tuba. Sigh, I must really get the music class going before the kids decide to make their own music).

Nde Bushe

Nde Bushe is a restaurant/lodge less than 5 minutes from Dainfern. They have a number of animals roaming free, we saw springbok walk right up to us. Porpor and Nomsa took Ike for a walk and saw a herd of over 100 springbok and another type of antelope/deer. I am not sure why I did not take more pictures! Maybe its from making sure porpor and nomsa didn't hunt down any for dinner. I swear I saw "springbok curry" in the pupil of their eyes.

Ike and Nate were quite happy on the trampoline, then nate's friends came and they were all over the jungle gym and jumping castles. Ike had a great time laughing and screaming as he bounced around. Then we watched the great big sun, set into the horizon, another lovely african sunset, then once the sun set, it got really chilly.

My wormery arrived, it is a worm farm. Initially i was squirmish about the worms as they popped out of the bin when i opened it, must have moved around during transport. After putting on gardening gloves and reorganizing their new home, I think I am getting quite attached to them have given them names. There is Anna, tommy, lincoln, jupiter... (I did think of naming them after all the rude and annoying investment bankers I know but then I seem to have forgotten them and their names), even osama the terrorist worm is looking cuddly to me. I can't wait to get my first load of worm compost and fertilizer. Hmm, my brother, Terry's birthday is coming up, how do I convince porpor to bring back a wormery for him??

Although food and worms should not be in the same posting, here is a great recipe from charmain on the muesli bars that she made and we all chomped down like the vultures that we are.

MUSELI BARS

125g Butter
100g Firmly packed Brown Sugar
1 Tablespoon Honey
180g Rolled Oats
35g Sesame Seeds, toasted
40g Sunflower Seeds, chopped finely
20g Desiccated Coconut, toasted
30g finely chopped Pecans or Walnuts (or a tropical mix with fruit and nuts)
30g Sultanas
2 Tablespoons Unprocessed Bran
1 Teaspoon Ground Cinnamon

Grease a 20cm x 30cm lamington pan (any square or rectangle dish will do – just don’t spread the mixture too thickly or the muesli bars will be too hard to eat).

Combine Butter, Sugar and Honey in medium pan; stir over low heat until sugar dissolves. Stir in remaining ingredients. Press mixture into prepared pan; bake in moderate oven (180 Degrees) for about 25 minutes or until browned lightly.

Whilst still warm, cut through bar into desired sized pieces; cool in the pan. Storage – Airtight container for up to 4 days.

p.s. for those who heard about the fire at the wondercaves, the pic of the office with the lhapa roof on the last post, burned down 20 mins after we left. I don't think it was our boys, more likely the smoking tourists that we saw?

Rhino & Lion Park + Wondercaves

We went to explore the other cave in the cradle of humankind that is open to the public, the wondercaves... it was first discovered by italians about 119 years ago in search of diamonds or gold, instead they found limestone and then mined that. We had to descend a steep 45 degree staircase and a total of 84 steps then take a lift down a shaft. Poor nate seemed scared of the caves this time and wanted to get out!

The park was nice, its like a mini safari for those who may not get the chance to go on a real one and we get to stay in the comforts of our own car as opposed to the safari truck and the elements. The park has ostriches, warthogs (that came quite close to where we were before going down tot he caves), zebra's, kudu's, springbok, lions and a whole host of other animals that we did not spot.

Their restaurant wasn't great though. We will pack ourselves a picnic next time. We did have enough food too, Charmaine brought banana's, home baked raisin shortcake, veggie mite biscuits and we had some oranges and cookies. The kids area though had 3 jumping castles (covered), large climbing area, a sand pit, a little zip line, wooden airplanes and trampolines built into the ground.

We also found a directory of stuff to do in our 30min radius and boy are there alot of things to do! I think i want to go to the Walter Sisulu botanical gardens next. For those who have not seen an ethnic roof, this is a Lhapa roof.