Shadows
Haiku 285
Shadows sometimes glimpsed
From the corner of my eye
Where you used to be
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Dear WordPress friends. Thank you for your kind, heartfelt comments on my last post.
The love you shared gave me strength,
And it is what makes the world a better place.
post script: The photo is of an Arum Lily by my stoep, with shadows cast on it from the sun filtering through the leaves on the grape vine above.
Dandelion Rainbow 1
Haiku 284
Today you’re not here
And all the years before me
I will face alone
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I try to keep my Blog light and entertaining, with little personal info.
But you, my friends here on WP, will be wondering about my long absence this year.
Seven months ago I lost a sister suddenly to natural causes, and two months ago, after a long illness, my husband.
Still, life goes on and you just have to pick up the pieces.
So here I am.
Red Skies 2
Haiku 282
Oh my! Omicron
Bye Bye 2021
Here’s to moving on!
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Another year that has passed as, “Meh!”
No-one in my neighbourhood could even summon up the enthusiasm to make a little noise last night! I guess after 2020 we all hoped that 2021 would be so much better. Well, it wasn’t as bad as 2020, but neither was it great. So, we’ll just have to wait to see what 2022 has in store for us.
I offer my condolences to those who have lost loved ones to Corona.
Thank you all for your continued support and friendship here on WP.
Here’s to a brand new start in 2022.
Cheers from Scifi.
Happy New Year!
Blue Sky
Haiku 281
Blue infinity
Soul-searching outer reaches
Introspective thoughts
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So, I’m sitting in the garden by the pool, under the shade of the giant Eugenia, sipping my vodka, at the end of another hard day, when I hear the sound of the ice cream van, driving past my house, playing Music Box Dancer on an infinite loop.
Instantly, memories flood my inner core, of a long, lazy afternoon in Yorkshire, when my best friend Hilary and I chased the ice cream van around the neighbourhood on our second-hand bikes, buying cheap frozen ices at each stop. I was ten and she was six months younger.
A simpler, happier, time.
post script: If you’re wondering, the leaves you see in the blue sky photo above are from my ancient apple tree, not the Eugenia. And I only include them in the shot to prove that it is indeed the sky, and not a random blue picture. Yes, our sky really is that blue.
Cape Golden Mole 1
Haiku 279
From small to smaller
They only want to survive
All life is precious
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We’d just had another of our Cape Storms, with strong winds and rain. My pool was full of leaves blown off the trees. I went round with the pool net, skimming as many of the leaves off the surface as I could.
I spotted a butterfly lying flat on the surface, wings outstretched. I thought to myself, “Well he’s gone,” but scooped him up anyway.
Cape Golden Mole 2
Then I noticed a large dark leaf, that seemed to be moving. I realised it was a mole!
The poor thing must have fallen in last night. It was exhausted, cold and barely alive, but still bravely trying to swim and survive.
I quickly scooped him up in the net also and laid it on the lawn. I made sure he was at the top so he could breathe, and went to fetch my camera.
Cape Golden Mole and Butterfly 3
When I came back, I was amazed to see that the butterfly had crawled out of the leaf mess and was wafting its wings, trying to dry off, while perching on the edge of the net.
The mole wasn’t moving at all. Poor little thing. I must have been just too late.
Still, I had an idea! Finding a small twig I pressed it gently under the mole’s forearm – and gave him CPR!
I didn’t want to actually touch him in case he sprang to life and bit me!
Cape Golden Mole and Butterfly 4
The mole was still motionless, but I don’t give up easily. I carried the net full of leaves, mole and butterfly over to a sheltered spot in my garden and emptied it out under the fir tree.
Then I tried to get the butterfly off the net. I placed the net next to the brick wall by the pool pump, and encouraged the butterfly to go onto it, but it was having none of that and turned away back to the netting. How did it even see?
So I held the net right up against a branch of the olive tree – and the butterfly stepped on to it. When I checked a short while later, he’d flown off.
Cape Golden Mole 5
Back to Mr Mole. I watched him quietly for a while, then noticed he was moving very slightly. He was still alive! Amazing!
I don’t know if you can see from the photos, but he had the most beautiful iridescent fur, with shiny colours of gold, green and violet. I think he was a Cape Golden Mole, occurring only in Sub-Saharan Africa.
I thought the best thing I could do for him, was to cover him with a few leaves, for camouflage and warmth, and just leave him be.
When I checked on him later, he’d also gone home.
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Waking up on Saturday morning, I never dreamed that a few hours later I would be giving CPR to a mole! It just goes to show; you never know what each day will bring.
Red Rose 1
Haiku 275
Start the week brightly
Magnificent creation
A red rose for you
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Red Rose 2
This is the first rose to open in my garden this early summer.
However, it may be the only bloom that I get from this “rose bush”, because it is actually just one lone stalk!
Still, it is magnificent; large and beautifully scented.
One is enough.
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I dedicate this rose to all my loyal readers. Thank you for your support, comments and likes. They are always most welcome, but especially over the last years of Lockdown and isolation, which have been harsh here in South Africa.
Background bokeh effect
Haiku 269
Not in the limelight
Never underestimate
Your background power
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While looking through my photos, I came across a few with lovely bokeh effects. This one in particular stood out.
And it made me think!
The object I was focusing on only shone because of the amazing blur, or bokeh, behind it.
Just like life!
If it weren’t for those of us in the background, no-one would be seen to shine!
So here’s in celebration of all of you out there, who, like me, are a Mr Spock and not a Captain Kirk!
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post script: So what is the photo? Surprisingly, this was in the background when I was taking a close up of a freesia. It is dappled sunlight filtering through the leaves of a honeysuckle behind the freesia. No I’m not going to show you the whole photo, because today is the turn for those in the shade to shine!
Cloud Rainbow
Haiku 260
I guess it figures
The pandemic affects all.
Colourless rainbow!
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As this pandemic drags on and on and on, it stands to reason that eventually even rainbows would give up the ghost and lose their colour!
Yes, it is only an unusual cloud formation; still, just saying!
Spiky Red Flower
Haiku 241
A New Hope – Because
Not all spiky balls are the
Corona Virus
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I spotted this unusual flower at Kirstenbosch Botanical gardens, Cape Town, South Africa.
After a year spent mostly at home, I ventured out one morning to wander round this most beautiful of places.
It did not disappoint.
Sparky 1 Says Hi
Haiku 240
Hello there my friends
Just popping by to say Hi
It has been a while
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So you might have been wondering where I’ve been?
My old laptop suddenly had serious issues and it’s taken me many, many hours to back everything up and sort things out. I had to revert to an even older laptop. Then I pestered my husband to upload the stuff I use, and generally get the computer up and running how I like.
Yesterday I finally got my act together and was ready to blog.
On top of my laptop problem, we suddenly had power cuts again; up to 3 in 24 hours, meaning no electricity for up to 7 and 1/2 hours in one day. I have no idea how my milk survived without turning sour, but was very thankful that it did.
Then our refuse was not collected; for days. There is only one collection a week, now that we all have big wheelie bins. Not ideal in a hot country! Apparently, there were truck repair problems. They do work extra hours and weekends to make up the backlog, and they are always cheerful, but it still meant the rubbish was piling up. Though we ourselves have very little actual refuse, I’d filled our bin up with garden clippings, and was wondering if I’d have to remove some of this to make space for actual rubbish; but then they came. I was surprised how happy this made me!
Sparky 2 Wassup?
South Africa also continues with Lockdown; now at day 306! During that time, we have moved from the severest restrictions, when not even allowed to walk your dog, to less severe and now back to somewhere in the middle. Alcohol sales are once again banned; the final nail in the coffin for the wine, beer and restaurant industries. There is a curfew from 9pm to 5am and we are not allowed access to parks – or the beaches. You can imagine how hard that has been during our very hottest summer months. SA also seems to have a second more serious Corona variant, though I am sure many countries will have more than one variety.
With the constant underlying Corona stress and all the rest, it is no wonder I find myself walking round with a clenched jaw!
Dealing with the following:
Corona virus, special edition
No power
Rubbish piling up
No alcohol
No laptop
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Sparky 3 Hanging in there!
But like Sparky clinging on to the grape vine with two little paws, I’m still hanging in here!
And I hope you are too!
Mad Cap Dog 