Tuesday 31 August 2010 - Sun in a Coral Tree

Last Thursday I posted a photo of the sun stuck in a bush in our garden. Tonight we had to go to a meeting and as we went up Circular Drive we discovered the sun was stuck in a Coral Tree! It looks as if it's on fire.

Monday 30 August 2010 - Sparrow's back!

Earlier this year I watched a family of Cape Sparrows as they brought their fledglings to the feeder. The babies went through the process of learning to eat from the feeder as I watched. It was very entertaining and I spent a lot of time in the late afternoons watching them. Shortly after that the doves and pigeons began rocking the feeder until it fell to the ground so that they could get to the food. I gave up and put the feeder away for a few months. Now that the sparrows have returned after the winter months I've taken the feeder out again and the afternoon ritual of watching the birds in the garden has begun. We recently seem to have a greater variety of birds so I'm really enjoying my feathered friends.

Sunday 29 August - Aloe Striata

Today Mark and I went to the Addo Elephant Park and then went to see my Dad who lives in the Sunday's River Valley. On the way home we were amazed at the spectacle of fields of Aloe Striata. At their best they are a vibrant orange and in a mass like this they make an awesome picture. Aloes as far as the eye can see - and this is only one small area....

Saturday 28 August 2010 - Wagtail Wonder

This is a view from our kitchen window. The boundary wall is less than a meter away and it's covered with a this creeper that dies off in winter. Well, Spring has sprung and we've been noticing some wagtails building not one, but two nests in the creeper. Here is a shot of one of the wagtails showing her about to go into her hidden nest. They are still in the construction phase so we are being very careful not to intrude because they might go elsewhere. I am so excited and feel so privileged to be able to watch these little birds.

Friday 27 August 2010 - Lazy Afternoon in the Sun

It's a beautiful warm, sunny afternoon in PE. I spent about an hour lying on the grass waiting for something interesting like a butterfly to photograph. I didn't see many insects, mostly bees. But I enjoyed the warmth of the sun, the blue sky and plants around me. Summer's coming soon.....

Thursday 26 August - Sun in a Bush

Today I left my camera behind in the computer lab at school. When I arrived home with no camera and no photo of the day I had to take my phone and go looking for a subject. There wasn't much to see but I did find the sun caught in this bush in my garden. Someone should take it out before it starts a fire.......

Wednesday 25 August 2010 - First Poppy

Every year around this time a patch of our garden is covered with these happy Flanders poppies. They seed themselves and have done since we bought the house. This morning I noticed the first one had opened. A true harbinger of Spring for us. Keep popping poppies! Welcome back.

Tuesday 24 August 2010 - Full Moon

Tonight is full moon here (and everywhere else I hope). Mark and I took time before dinner to go down to the beachfront where I took a whole bunch of photos. These were taken from a different vantage point than my usual place and I'm pleased with the results. I especially love the reflection of the sunset on the clouds.

Monday 23 August - OB's on a chilly day

Today was definitely chilly. The cold wind was the worst and I decided not to hang around outside looking for a photo. Whilst cooking a vegetable curry for super I poured myself a glass of Old Brown Sherry to keep warm - nothing like it on an evening like this.

Sunday 22 August - Ruffled Feathers

This afternoon I took a drive down to the beachfront in the hope of finding something interesting to photograph. It was quite windy and just as I arrived light rain began falling. I saw this cold little chap trying to stay on his feet as the wind battered him. Talk about ruffled feathers....

Saturday 21 August - Fynbos Flowers

It's really chilly in PE today. I bought this bunch of gorgeous fynbos flowers from a vendor today. They were so reasonable and I'm feeling so blessed by them. Here we sit in front of the fire enjoying our flowers and of course the rugby..... Go Boks!

Friday 20 August - Trees in early light

I caught these trees in the early morning sunlight shortly before I left for work. I love the way the sunlight lights up the leaves in this way. It's so vibrant.

Thursday 19 August - Rosemary and bark

This tree bark made an interesting texture for a photo with the delicate rosemary flowers in the foreground. It was only after I'd uploaded the photo to my laptop that I noticed the lizard in the background. It was a great bonus in the picture.

Wednesday 18 August - Patriotic Milk Tart

Wednesdays is Cell Group night. There was no time for baking today - or any Wednesday. It's usually a packet of biscuits and coffee. This afternoon I went into Spar and saw this delicious looking milk tart a la SA flag. Guess what we're having with our coffee tonight?

Tuesday 17 August - Blooming Garden

I took about 35 photos of blooms in our garden today. Surprisingly we are blessed with lots of beauty around us even though Spring hasn't yet fully sprung.

I chose to upload this one as my photo of the day. I love these lilies. I call them "varklelies". they are indigenous and just come up on their own. This is a particularly pure looking bloom.

Monday 16 August - Flowers and shadows

I was standing next to the security gate late this afternoon. The sun was casting an image of the bars on the wall of the porch behind this geranium. The boom is particularly pretty and it makes a lovely contrast to the "bars" in the shadow. The added presence of the dracena leaves bring further interest. It is a bit muddled but I enjoyed the effect.

Sunday 15 August - Yellow succulent.

Lovely bright flowers on the plant in our front garden. I took a close up of the flowers on 5 August. This is the whole plant. It looks like an aloe but I was told it wasn't one. Some of my friends are looking it up for me. Watch this space.....

Ok, my sister-in-law, Jill has identified it at bulbina natalensis. Not an aloe - but a succulent. Thanks Jill.

Saturday 14 August - Glass ball

I saw this fascinating glass ball at the home where my Dad lives. It's a glass ball that appears to move in a wire spiral. They come in different colours and they're great to watch. It's actually the spiral that moves giving the impression that the ball moves up and down the spiral.

I took the photo because I love the way the world is upside-down in the reflection. I want one!!!

Friday 13 August - Fishy Supper

I found a forgotten recipe book in a cupboard today - Mediterranean recipes. Yum. I used my breaks at school to browse for something different for dinner tonight and came up with Hake in White Wine. Well, not so different but I haven't done fish for a while.

So, here are the ingredients all ready to be cooked. Now I just need someone to do the cooking......

Thursday 12 August - Back garden

This is a picture of our back garden. The neighbour behind us came to ask if he could raise the height of the wall because he has plans to erect a car port. He did the brickwork and plastering and we get a more protected, more private corner in our garden. Watch this space. In the coming weeks we will be painting and developing the garden in this area.

Wednesday 11 August - To Bee or not to Bee

I was in bed with bronchitis all day today and didn't get outside for a photo. I took this one late yesterday afternoon but I already had a photo for yesterday so I'm doing a cheat and using it today. I love the striped detail on this little bee's eyes and the daisies always look good when they're fresh.

Tuesday 10 August - Squash Factory

This is a squash plant growing in our veg patch. It's not one that I planted - it just grew from the compost that we make for the garden. I love the flowers of the pumpkin family. I call this the squash factory.

Monday 9 August - Leaf me

When I was growing up my Dad used to quote an actress by the name of Greta Garbo who's famous words were, "I vont to be alone!" It turns out she was a recluse. I have taken a bit of poetic license here and I say, "Leaf me. I vont to be alone!"

There is the contrast between the spotlight (surrounding the leaf) and the dark leaf that curls up on itself.

Sunday 8 August - Southern Cape Mountains

This morning as we left the Tstitsikamma National Park we saw this awesome view ahead of us. It was about 10am and the light on the mountains was so clear. It was a breathtaking sight which I couldn't resist for my photo of the day.

Saturday 7 August - Sea Gifts

We spent the weekend at Storm's River mouth in the Tsitsikamma National Park. This is a beautiful area of our southern Cape including indigenous forests and a marine reserve. Mark and I spotted a Southern Right Whale blowing and breaching off shore. See  the whale on the right.

It's not easy to capture a whale on camera so I just pointed in his direction and shot one photo after another. When I downloaded this photo there was our whale. Even more exciting is the school of dolphins in the bottom left of the photo surfing in the breakers. What a joy!

Friday 6 August - Sunset through a windscreen.

We were on our way to the Tsitsikamma National Park at Storm's River mouth when we saw this sunset. I really wanted Mark to stop so I could take a good shot but there was too much traffic so I had to be content with shooting this through the windscreen. I'm quite pleased with the result.

Thursday 5 August - Yellow Fluff

This is another lovely plant in my garden. It looks rather like an aloe but I've been told it isn't. When it flowers it gets a long shoot - rather like a red-hot poker flower and then these little fluffy flowers open from the bottom up. The flowers are such a cheerful, pretty yellow. I couldn't resist using them as my subject today.

Wednesday 4 August - Painted Tree

It's amazing what draws my attention since doing this photo challenge. This afternoon I went to the local mall and parked in an area where I have often parked before - but I've never noticed this tree before. I just sat in the car for a while enjoying the variety of colours and the way the light was reflected off it. So beautiful! God just took a paint brush and daubed the colours on. Such fun! I wish I had been there to play with that paint too....... :-)

Tuesday 3 August - Pansy Face

Today's photo isn't a great one. I didn't get the settings right but I consider it part of my learning curve. I love Pansys and this one is in a plant box on our outside table. I sat at the table looking for inspiration for my daily photo but just nothing..... Then I saw this little face peering at me and here it is. 

Monday 2 August - Doo Doo, the lost comforter

I know Sammi will love this story. This is Doo Doo who belongs Ryley, the two year old daughter of Sam's old school friend Peta. Peta and her husband and two little girls spent last night with us here in PE. Doo Doo is a must have at bedtime and don't we all remember how traumatic it was when Sam's blanket (called Nosey) got lost.

Well sadly Doo Doo missed the plane to Durban this morning. He was catching forty winks on our couch when the family left without him. Oh dear.... Well it was Aunty Brenda to the rescue. I went to the post office and managed to get him into the Speed Services bag and he should be with his little friend, Ryley in Zimbali some time tomorrow. Hang in there Ryley! Doo Doo is on his way.....

1 August 2010 - Butterfly

This is my first successful butterfly photo. This "painted lady" or Vanessa cardui hung around our garden all day. I tried to take a photo this morning but it wasn't very clear. Later I was lying in the sun with a magazine and I noticed it sitting on this pelargonium flower. The colours kind of clash but I'm delighted with the shot. At last!

31 July 2010 - Aloes at sunset

I went to visit my Dad who lives in the Sunday's River Valley, not far from the Addo Elephant Park. I was blown away by the varieties in bloom. It's not easy to stop along the road to take photos but I did get this shot. I love the way the light is reflected on the orange.