Yesterday was really quite refreshing: it was kinda normal. And the weather was, well, to end the day, fresh.
During the course of Wednesday, we had two drops of rain. In our water scarce area, it has almost a miraculous effect: our potted spekboom (Portulacaria Afra) bursts into bud. It's totally amazing because, before the rain, there is absolutely no sign that this is going to happen.
I grew up with spekboom hegdes in the Eastern Cape (Grahamstown - now Makhanda) and the first time I saw them flower was here, in McGregor, during the drought, after a shower.
The ethereal pink, and delicacy of the flowers are such a dichotomy.
Happy heep
All good things come to those who wait. I have been wanting a proper, grown up compost heep for going on 11 years. This one will have children. If I have my way, and our gardener, I'm certain, will oblige.
Oh, and it's already beginning to work: lots of earthworms came from the composter that we have conveniently close to the house for the kitchen waste. Realistically, though, we should have our first useable compost in a couple of months. It'll be even better in a year, by which time, I suspect, this heep will have offspring.
I mentioned the weather:
It's been a week of moody, thundery threatening skies. And wind. It's that time of year when we can have four seasons in one day, and the clouds tease, only blessing the mountains with rain. The mountains share that water with us.
Post script: I am trying to participate in @traciyork's November #HiveBloPoMo. I emphasise trying because the last two months have been exactly that - trying. There have been times that I've just been too exhausted and uninspired to post, let alone write something profound. That shouldn't stop you - or anyone. Read about how to participate here.
I've made it to day 4!
Until next time, be well
Fiona
The Sandbag House
McGregor, South Africa
Photo: Selma
Post script
If this post might seem familiar, it's because I'm doing two things:
- re-vamping old recipes. As I do this, I am adding them in a file format that you can download and print. If you download recipes, buy me a coffee. Or better yet, a glass of wine....?
- and "re-capturing" nearly two years' worth of posts.
- From Wordpress, I use the Exxp Wordpress plugin. If this rocks your socks, click here or on on the image below to sign up.
- Join Hive using this link and then join us in the Silver Bloggers' community.
Original artwork: @artywink
- lastly, graphics are created using partly my own photographs, images available freely available on @hive.blog and Canva.