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....