... a nice muddy puddle to wallow in after a four kilometre walk on a hot afternoon.
Click to enlarge.
The big dog is Jess my landlords dog, she is the same X breed, Alsation x Rotweiler, as my old dog Rambo. I posted about him early last year, "Death of a gentleman". Tombi and Lady had literally wallowed in the water. Sissy at the back just splashed around a bit. Bruno is not in the picture as he hates getting his feet wet, it's quite a comedy to watch in the morning when he answers the call of nature, tip toeing through the dew wet grass.
I've been neglecting my blog lately, been reading a lot, plus my exercises take up a lot of time. Decided I need to get fit and into shape so that I can fight off illnesses better. Lots of walking is part of my exercise regime and the camera goes along.
Click to enlarge.
Enjoying the wide open veld. Bruno left front, Sissy on the right and Tombi at a more sedate pace.
Just a another weed, but what beautiful flowers. This photo needs to be enlarged, the low angle of the setting sun lit up all the detail perfectly.
Last light, just a golden sky to show that the sun was here today.
I have been a bit under the weather for several weeks. Also been away and am busy doing a post on that, should be up tomorrow.
Click to enlarge.
Photo by the Italian leprechaun, aka Enrico Bucceri.
The intrepid photographer, with his faithful dog.
Some humour to end with.
The things we fear usually aren't as dangerous as we imagine.
A view of myself that I never get to see.
Photo by E Bucceri, AKA the Italian leprechaun.
Click to enlarge.
Sissy between my feet, Tombi wanting to know if I'm going to take all day tying those laces, Bruno on the couch quivering with impatience, and Lady just visible in the left hand corner. Putting on my hiking boots means walking, and the dogs think if they get right on top of my feet that will hurry things along.
Intrepid photographer at work.
Click to enlarge.
The three females in my life, Lady on the left, Tombi in the middle and Sissy far right.
Who says females can't live together in peace, (at least some times).
Life's tough in the Marais household, three of us have to share a couch.
If there ever was any doubt about Smokey making himself right at home and becoming part of the family, these photos show just how at home he has made himself.
Click to enlarge.
Lying between Tombi and Sissy on the couch.
Snuggled up against Tombi's hip, soft and warm.
When I take my hiking boots out of the cupboard my dogs know now we're going walking or fishing, and their joy knows no bounds.
Took my 6 weight rod with a foam popper and tried my luck on some bass. There's something so relaxing about casting a fly line, the rhythm, the timing, the whole process, is a bit like meditating. You loose yourself in the action of casting.
Click on photos to enlarge.
The boots that make my dogs so happy.
Lady can't contain herself, "come on, come on, get those boots on," if she could she would put them on for me. Sissy gets a bit of grooming in.
At last, we're on our way.
This White-faced duck seemed to think it was well hidden.
A heron settling down for the night.
While I was photographing the heron above, this small bass took my motionless popper and basically hooked himself. I caught several more bass among the reeds and water grass.
Walking home we were rewarded with this sunset.
.
Living in the country can be tough.
All that swimming you have to do.
All that relaxing.
You even have to taste the water.
On our daily walks around the farm we pass three ponds/dams, and the dogs make full use of the opportunity to have a swim. Tombi and Sissy might have one swim but Lady has several in each of the three ponds. It was so hot yesterday at 5:30pm that I felt like joining them.
A very happy Lady.
Nothing my dogs love more than going for a walk, and swimming in the three different ponds on our route.
Sissy always charges the water as if it might escape before she gets in. In the process she always gets water in her ears. Sometimes she gets in too deep and does her floating brick impersonation with just her tail sticking out like a periscope. Either way, back home Dad has to massage the water out of the convoluted Daschhund ear channels, while she lies on her side groaning with doggy pleasure.
Lady is a born water dog, never misses a chance for a swim with at least four dips on a typical afternoon walk. Winter water temperatures of 7 or 8 degrees Celsius are just as good as summer temperatures of 24 degrees Celsius.
The look seems to say, "Not another photo!"
Mother and daughter investigating a very interesting smell.
Maybe it's the tottering pile of fly fishing magazines on the table, the fly rods leaning against the wing backed chair. Dogs totally at ease or the pair of rubber boots against the curtain.
Tombi watching me, only time her eyes are not on me is when she's sleeping. Sissie and Lady at ease on the chair.
Sissie later decided she needed to get more comfortable.
Tombi decided she'll snooze on Dad's chair.
I'm still having lots of fun with my new toy.
Still waters.
Lady enjoying herself in the long grass.
The long tail which gives the pin tailed wydah it's name.
This little bird did the broken wing imitation down the path before us, leading us away from it's nest somewhere in the grass. I'm going to have to brush up on my bird identification. Looks like it could be one of the Thrush family, but don't take that as gospel.
Tombi.
New babies in the neighbourhood, proud Mum watching over her brood. Found a pair of Egyptian geese and their new goslings in the smallest pond on the farm, tucked away in a grove of willow trees. In spite of possible danger to themselves, from myself and the three dogs, these parents don't leave their offspring, ready to protect them with their lives.
Molten silver. Actually a Canidae mayfly hatch taking place, also known as the anglers curse here in SA. During a hatch fish target these and if you don't have a match, especially the correct size, (and these flies are small) you don't stand a chance.
Got my new camera today and tested it out with a few shots.
Photo: Orms Direct.co.za.
Click on photos to enlarge.
Bougainvilla flowers just outside my front door. The rain that had been falling all day had just stopped so you can see the raindrops on the petals and leaves. Flowers within flowers.
Sissy in a pensive mood.
Lady in red. Maria, my housekeeper dressed and ready to go. Africans go nowhere without dressing smartly.
You also get a tour of most of my cottage. Far left door to the bathroom, left door with wet washing hanging over, (low energy dryer, very green, might get mould growing on the door)) door to the spare room. Door behind Maria, my bedroom, and I'm standing in the lounge/dining room. The kitchen is a sharp U turn to the left.
My cottage could be described as a shotgun shack, only there's no back door.
Pin tailed wydah. As I walked out the door he came and sat on this branch not 2 meters from me, thought he could convince me to provide supper as well as breakfast. (This is a strictly B&B accommodation pal). He turned his head to adjust his Tuxedo as I took this photo.
Foraging in the grass for insects. The grass is short, was cut last week, and the hosepipe in the background is 3/4 in. This gives you some idea of how small this bird is.
The bird is like quick silver does not stop in one place for a second, hard to photograph.
One of the ladies in his harem. This year I've only seen three with him, last year he had at least five. The boy is losing his mojo methinks. The male packs his tuxedo away for the winter, then he looks much like the ladies except for his beak. Summer over, romancing over, tuxedo's not needed to enhance his looks.
These birds are parasitic, they lay their eggs in other bird nest.
One last indoor shot shows the absolute clarity of the photos. This photo was taken with flash.
This weekend I'll be studying the camera manual. After the rain we had the streams will be raging torrents so there will be no trout fishing.
