In the Santa Rosa Valley..

I wandered lonely as a cloud

that floats on high o'er vales and hills

When all at once I saw a crowd

A host of greenish/aubergine-ish artichokes

beneath the hills, beside the trees

barely swaying their heavy heads in the breeze..

(borrowed with kind permission from

William Wordsworth)

oOo

stepping into sage

as the clouds scudded briskly overhead

I gathered you in my arms

your strong scent filled my senses

and restored my balance

Picture Perfect ~ Lookalike ~

The theme this week is

'Lookalike'

post your links here: Picture Perfect

When first I set my eyes on you

I thought you must be me

a second sniff a stranger whiff

another whirl around

With pounding heart my senses reeled

as I realized with relief

you werent a bit like me

not a replica at all..

just a cheap washed out 'Lookalike'

trying to be me!

Senga meets Fergusson

oOo

10 things I love today

1. The Pride of India tree next door

2. The hummingbirds at my feeder on the balcony off my bedroom

3. The way the sun glances off the water and caresses the hills each morning on my way home from work.

4. That I have 3 nights off..

5. Tonight is BOOKCLUB and I get to spend the whole evening with a bunch of people I really love

6. I get to have a glass of wine and relax and laugh til I cry

7. This time next month I will hear my daughter breathe as she sleeps

8. We have tickets to see Bob Dylan, and we have amazing seats.. first terrace right in the middle

9. My mum comes home from the UK on Tuesday..yayy

10. Hairy Legs is feeling better today..so my bedside vigil is over..whew!! (I so hate being a nurse on my days off)

Movement (pictures to words)

a weekly creative writing challenge, hosted by my friend Shirley, click on the link below should you wish to participate...

Pictures to Words

Movement

She stood watching the early morning sun

rise over the square, startled pigeons flew in confused

circles their shapes silhouetted against the sky

trying to escape the vibrations of the church bells.

She stood making stories in her head

of the people and their lives as they crossed the street

far below moving silently through her world briefly

at the same time each day.

Today the bars across the windows left deep indentations

across her forehead as she strained to see the last black

shadows leave the church yard

she thought she heard the big black car door slam

saw her mothers grief stricken face

but she was too far away, she reasoned.

She felt the warm breeze on her cheek, knowing even

now while her body's movements were so restricted

she was more free

than she had ever been before that rain

of bullets which had buried themselves deep within her

fathers flesh,

emanating in short bursts from her calm and steady hand

as her heart screamed wildly with pain...

And stilled her soul.

oOo

Yippeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!!

Next month my daughter is

packing her and across the

to

to visit

meeeeeeee

Now how cool is that!???

South Africa ~ my heart

Those of us who have left the country over the past few years have done so with our own personal motives and for a variety of life experiences, but for each of us its been one of the most difficult thing we have ever done.

While working in the Middle East I lived and worked with a variety of people from other countries..none had a longing or an ache for their countries like South Africans did, a yearning for their culture a craving for the roots set so deeply in African soil.

Terribly homesick for all things familiar I have found these lesser known facts of South Africa, some astounding and some less so, some I knew growing up there, some newly learned. I thought I would share them, give you a glimpse into the South Africa of my birth ~ a country filled with diversity, enthusiasm, confusion, frustration but above all, hope...

oOo

Strange Nature and History

• South Africa has the oldest meteor scar in the world, just across the Vaal River near Parys, called the Vredefort Dome. The meteor plummeted to Earth nearly two billion years ago (Earth is said to be 4,5 billion years old), predating the heady days of oxygen and multi-celled life.
• The rocks around Barberton in Mpumalanga are some of the most ancient in the world - over three billion years old. Because they are also the most accessible such formations, NASA scientists come here to gain an idea of how life might form on distant planets.
• The Tugela Falls is the second highest waterfall in the world, where the water tumbles down 850 metres. First place goes to the Angel Falls in Venezuela at 979 metres.
• There are 18 000 indigenous vascular plant species in South Africa of which 80% are uniquely South African.
• Blyde River Canyon is the third largest canyon in the world - and the largest green one. The Grand Canyon in the US is the biggest, and the Fish River Canyon in Namibia the second, but both are dry as bones.
• South African grasslands have 30 species per square kilometre, greater than the biodiversity of rainforests.
• Can mountains be folded? Yes they can, and you can see such wonders in the Western Cape at the Cederberg and the Swartberg mountains.
• South Africa and its neighbours are some of the most generously endowed geographic solar hotspots in the world, soaking up just over half of the world’s highest category of solar wattage per square metre of land.
• Therapsids are the true ancestors of mammals, and lived over 200 million years ago, long before the upstart dinosaurs of the Jurassic Age (which ended abruptly 65 million years ago). Most of the world’s proto-mammalian fossils are found in the Karoo - along with a 280 million year old fossilized shark.
• According to recent studies, the star-watching town of Sutherland in the Northern Cape is one of the most geologically stable places on Earth, yet it has a 66-million year old volcano, not yet officially extinct.
• Kimberley may have the biggest man-made hole in the world, but did you know that the southern Free State town of Jagersfontein has the deepest vertical man-made hole (and that a pair of Verreaux’s Eagles breed in it?
• South Africa is home to the world’s smallest succulent plants (less than 10 mm) and the largest (the baobab).
• Lake Fundudzi in Venda is possibly the world’s only inland freshwater lake formed by a landslide.
• The only street in the world to house two Nobel Peace prize winners is in Soweto. Nelson Mandela and Archbishop Desmond Tutu both have houses in Vilakazi Street in Soweto.

Food and Wine

• Walt Disney serves South African wine exclusively at its 73-acre Animal Kingdom Lodge in the United States.
• South Africa has the longest wine route in the world, the R62 wine route
• South Africa is the world’s largest producer of macadamia nuts and the nuts and oils are exported to countries across the world.
• South Africa is the only country in the world where you can order something called monkey gland steak at a restaurant without the risk of a real internal organ being placed before you. It was invented many decades ago by overseas chefs as a pointed insult, aimed at the brash inhabitants of Johannesburg who poured Worcestershire and tomato sauce over everything.
• No other country eats as much kingklip as South Africans do (also known as Congrio, Ling and Rockling in other parts of the southern hemisphere).

Medicine and Science

• The world’s first heart transplant was done in South Africa in 1967 by South African Dr Chris Barnard, at Groote Schuur Hospital in Cape Town. (above)
• South Africa’s Dr Percy Amolis invented the Retinal Cryoprobe used successfully on former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher to repair a detached retina. He also removed a cataract from Nelson Mandela’s eye that enabled the former president to, for the first time, read a speech without glasses.
• Where else is an entirely new species being recreated from scratch? The quagga vanished in a frenzy of hunting in the 1800s, but after finding that the DNA is almost identical to the common Burchell’s zebra, the species is being brought back from beyond the brink by careful breeding of stripe-challenged zebras.

Water and conservation

• There are only 12 countries in the world that supply tap water that is fit to drink, and South Africa is one of them. Our tap water quality is third best overall in the world.
• South Africa also has the world’s most progressive and admired water legislation, and it is making a real difference on the ground. Since 1998 when the so-called “Blue Revolution” began, four million more poor people have access to clean water.
• South Africa, Zimbabwe and Mozambique are tearing down fences between the countries’ game parks to create a 35 000km2 game park which will become the largest conservation area in the world. It will be bigger than Switzerland, Belgium or Taiwan.
• South Africa is ranked number one in the world for its floral kingdom
• South Africa’s Coastal Management policy is one of the best in the world with the country being the first outside Europe to gain Blue Flag status for its coastal management.
• South Africa has the third highest level of biodiversity in the world

Innovation and Industry

• South Africa is the sole producer of the Mercedes Benz, C Class, right hand drive vehicles
• General Motors South Africa will be the only manufacturing site outside of the United States to build the Hummer H3 vehicle.
• South Africans are natural inventors, giving the world those breakwater dolosse and the automatic pool cleaner.
• We also came up with the first, largest and most viable oil-from-coal refinery (which supplies 40% of our petrol). And did you know that a South African physicist co-developed the CAT-scan, that South Africa makes the seats for Concorde, and also designs and creates flight control technology for Britain’s fighter jets.

But more importantly its the place my heart calls home.....

Quick Draw

Set in the heart of the old stagecoach route, amidst premier wine country and fine art galleries, is the small town charm of Los Olivos.

Each year this historic community is host to the annual Quick Draw! Sound like a scene right out of the Old West doesn't it? The image is close, but imagine instead the flash of paint, brushes, pencil, pastel, or molding of clay. Add the element of a 45-minute time frame for completion, and a live auction at high noon, this is Quick Draw!

The day began with a introduction of the artists at 10:30 am, and Quick Draw at 11 am. The Quick Draw is immediately followed by a live Auction at noon.

Prices ranged from$500 to $2500 for an individual picture..the auctioneer was hilarious as was Jim Farnum the master of ceremonies, he had us in howling with laughter.

It was a fast paced creative challenge which attracts hoards of folk from all over California each year, the money goes towards the artist community is the valley and really gives the community as a whole a chance to own a valuable piece of art at a very reasonable price.

We walked around and watched each piece grow...

and then settled down in the shade for the auction

all in all a wonderful day!!

Picture Perfect ~ Ten Minutes

Welcome to

PICTURE PERFECT

~ Each week a theme will be posted up on Wednesday, and you are invited to put up your best picture with that theme in mind, it should be just

ONE and ORIGINAL,

i.e not off the internet,

Then come back and post a comment on this page
so that everyone can link to your blog and see your pic.

By all means mention your camera and lens used, and if the picture has been altered or enhanced in anyway! Out of the box thinking is encouraged!!

Please open your page for viewing for all for that day...and then visit as many others as you can! Try and post a decent size pic on your blog page, so much is lost if the pic is too small or too big.

The entries will close at midnight on Friday

oOo

This week's theme is a little unusual... a challenge, if you will.

The International Photography Walk is taking place this week. I decided we could all take part in a small way.

Your challenge is to walk, run, cycle, fly, jump, drive for 10 minutes and take a photo at that point. I'm sure we can all spare 10 minutes : )

oOo

Ten Minutes is all I ask for...

after a walk

or a days work

Ten Minutes with no children to feed

no dog to walk

no man calling my name

wanting my opinion

on some obscure subject

Just give me Ten Minutes to sink

slowly into a bath of steaming water

right up to my ears

Ten Minutes to soak

and stay put until the damp tendrils fall about my face

and my skin becomes wrinkly

if I feel like it

Ten minutes to sip wine, or coffee

or a tall glass of iced tea

to put my feet up on the wall and trail my fingers over the edge..

Just give me

Ten Freaking Minutes

wont you?

For Alan ~

My son-in law, who at the tender age of 34 has had a cataract removed from his eye...

..luckily the parts that really matter are more in keeping with your age group Al...

Wherein we learn about The Maxillary Sinus ~

In spite of missing much of the tissue on the front of his or her face, this person looks happy. Maybe it's the toothy grin..

Am well and living in the land of seeping sinuses and inflamed throats. The land of uncomfortable naps on the couch, overdosing on Motrin, and staring into space. Of realizing the awesome benefits of tea, or anything hot and steamy (butnotinthatway), of watching movies on a weekday morning, and more more Olympics please. Of appreciating the caloric density of peanut butter, and of how easily one can eat it out of the jar with a spoon. So smooth, so simple.

Now what?

A trip to the Doctor a CAT scan, antibiotics and when the infection is gone...Sinus Surgery, is what!

Im so excited (butnotinthatway) I can barely stand it...

Gimme the Gold

I must confess to just loving the Olympics, from opening ceremony through the gymnastics and swim heats, the soccer and beach volley ball, the water polo and synchronized diving..there is very little I have missed..certainly not Basson's (South Africa) win in the heats last night. I'm not feeling well (fighting some kind of flu virus) which helps build on the notion that I really shouldn't leave my bed anytime soon....

The dog is wearing the wrong colours totally, but I'm not too worried she is easily distracted, every time I yell with excitement (as loudly as my sore throat will allow) she thinks its the cat next door...

Living Without

* my asthma meds

* knowing how my children are doing daily

* talking to my grandchildren as often as possible

* laughter

* love and loving

* music

* my paint and paintbrushes

* a pile of books on my bedside table

* deep friendships

* my cellphone..a lifeline to my children

* coffee

* diet coke

* the occasional glass of merlot

* a breath of fresh air

* my passport

* Italian food and Nando's chicken

* my dog...who NEVER sulks

apart from two of these I probably would live, but my oh my it would be in a halfhearted fashion without the rest of the list....

oOo
As I started this list my thoughts were frivolous thoughtless and without direction. I glanced over the list a little later and I couldn't help but wonder how little we need to survive, how little it takes to be comfortable..and how much we surround ourselves with things and stuff we don't need at all.
As I've travelled over the past few years Ive truly learnt the meaning of downsizing, and how draining it is to have to cart your belongings all over the world because you've got emotionally attached to them.
I've come to realize how important it is to not buy things on a whim or just because they're on sale, about not buying a huge meal just because you get two for the price of one!
Waste really irks me Ive discovered, and greed is just so unattractive...

My life is a ...joke?

A skilled nurse died and arrived before St. Peter, who explained, "We have this little policy of allowing you to choose whether you want to spend eternity in heaven or in hell." "How do I know which to choose?" She asked. "That's easy," said St. Peter. "you have to spend a day in each place before making a decision."

With that, he put the nurse on an elevator and sent her down to hell. The elevator doors opened and the nurse found herself in a sunny garden, where many former friends and colleagues warmly greeted her. She had a great time all day laughing and talking about old times. That night, she had an excellent supper in a fantastic restaurant. She even met the devil, who turned out to be a pretty nice guy. Before she knew it, her day in hell was over and she returned to heaven.

The day in heaven was okay. She lounged around on clouds, sang, and played the harp. At the end of the day, St. Peter came and asked for her decision. "Well, heaven was great and all," the nurse said, "but I had abetter time in hell. I know it sounds strange, but I choose hell." With that, she got in the elevator and went back down.

When the doors opened, she saw a desolate wasteland covered in garbage and filth. Her friends, dressed in rags, were picking up garbage and putting it in sacks. When the devil walked over, she said to him, "I don't understand. Yesterday, this place was beautiful. We had a delicious meal and a wonderful time laughing and talking." The devil smiled and said, "Yesterday we were recruiting you. Today you're staff."

Tail Flukes and Puke

We set out early in the morning so we would have plenty of time to stop and smell the roses and take a million pictures.

We drove up Route 1 along the coast, stopped at Pismo at the craft market..some friendly dogs invited Senga to play so we watched her chase the dogs and not the ball all over the park.

The market was amazing, so many talented folk it blows my mind. We were way over budget within 3mins...

Senga and two chatty littlies from Texas managed to keep one another entertained while the Grownups had deep and meaningful adult conversation..(yeah right!)

We took our time, meandered around the mountains, had a late lunch at Big Sur and arrived in Monterey early evening. We met John for breakfast, it was cold and misty so we huddled around the fire and chatted, then he kindly baby sat Senga while we visited the aquarium. I loved the Jellies as much as before..but found a new one that was quite a mess.

The Egg Yolk Jelly!! (really!!) And this time got some great shots of the otters asleep..aren't they adorable!!?

By the time we met John and collected Senga, we were dead on our feet, but still managed a walk around The Wharf and did some serious shopping. I bought a new fleecy jacket, little did I know how much comfort it would give me. Then we shared a bread bowl of clam chowder at the waters edge..and fought off the pelicans!

We were in bed before the sun set...I kept looking out the window muttering 'we cant go to sleep before it sets', but it was still light outside the last I looked..sad but true!

The next day we headed off to the wharf and a whale watching trip.

This truly is a blog all of its own I know, but I have a feeling this day will be blogged on another blog in its entirety..here is the short version. Sick.. very sick, heaving waters...deep breathing, eyes on the horizon. Some whales..some dolphins some seals, lots of gulls and pelicans and even an albatross i believe. It was a very long 5 hours at sea,

Senga and Long John-Silver enjoyed it far more than I! I spent much of it hanging over the side, or huddled miserably in my new jacket (now spattered with sea swept sick.) it was freezing.

Eventually I found a spot at the back of the boat where there wasn't much movement, and I was sheltered from the wind..but not the sun as the 3rd degree burns on my nose go to prove!

more pictures will be posted HERE

Road Trip!

I will be away for a few days..we are driving up to Monterey to check up on JohnO and visit the Monterey Aquarium....plan to sleep lots, eat more and take some great pictures!

See you next week

lotsa love Hx

Picture Perfect ~ Admins competition

Admins Picture Perfect Competition

The theme is 'Black and White'

Link to view other entries:

Picture Perfect

My eye sees only black and white

as you fill my frame with contrast,

I watch you strum in dark and light

your dappled melancholy

For while my eye sees depth and detail

and a different grey perspective

the tune which drifts up misty dunes

are hues with subtle blends

From your practiced hand to my soft soul

the sounds are bravely altered

once monochrome now a painters palette

which bleeds with vibrant colour

A loving melody alights in waves

in a curve of rainbowed arches

it fills the gash once bland and raw

and permeates my senses

Hx 2008