We have had some very bad thunderstorms and very heavy rains lately. Last Saturday, after a heavy downpour, I took this photo of our garden. The water just could not run off quicker than it was falling. If you have never lived in a dry region you will not understand the joy that this sight gave me. What a blessing!
On our way to work, we travel through the Nylsvlei Foodplain every day. This is one of the two major floodplains in South Africa and one of the most popular destinations for bird lovers from all over the globe. Once a year (if we are lucky and enough rain falls) it turns into a 7 kilometer wide "river" just outside my home town, until all the water runs off into the Mokgalakwena river that eventually empties into the Limpopo river, many hundreds of kilometers away. The floodplain stretches over a distance of approximately 60 kilometers. We have all been watching and waiting for it to start flooding and when we came home yesterday, this is the sight that greeted us. Beautiful, isn't it?
If the good rains continue, even the grass will soon be covered. The photo does not do justice to the colours. The green of the grass and the blue and white of the sky reflected in the water.
-oOo-
It was not possible for us at work to celebrate HIV/AIDS day on Monday, 1 December, but we held our celebrations yesterday. The incidence of HIV/AIDS in my country and especially in our region, is extremely high and every year we lose a number of friends and family to this dreadful disease. That is why this day plays such a major role in our community. The day was started with a play created and performed by a group of our workers and it was a big success. Although it carried a serious message, it was mostly hilarious with very serious and sad scenes thrown in. It was followed by a performance of our choir as well as a group of young boys from local church who performed a gumboot dance. The last act for the day, before the candle lighting ceremony (which is always rather sad as we remember all those who have passed on during the year as well as those suffering from full blown AIDS) two of our young guys sang a duet. They just sang the words "For Thine is the Kingdom, the power and the glory, Hallelujah, Amen" in English and in Sotho, but they did it in the true African way, repeating it several times in different voices and keys... so beautiful that I had to hunt for a tissue to save my dignity. All in all a very enjoyable, beautiful and moving experience. This photo is of the candles for the ceremony looking down on it from the stage.
-oOo-
Last, but not least, Dogmatix asked if she and the pups could be part of this post just to show off how beautiful and cute they are.
The smallest now weighs 210 grams and the biggest weighs 230 grams.
Oh dear, how am I going to get myself to give them away?
8 comments:
Rain in the desert brings the magic of life which is shown well in the contrast of green and blue in your images.
Your ceremony has a sad reason yet brings people together to share and remember those afflicted.
Dogmatix should be proud of those adorable little pups. I like how they are bonding to the computer. ;-)
We've had a lot of rain in England lately with floods in the north washing away bridges and ruining homes and businesses. Mother Nature is still very much in charge around here. You pics were lovely though and the dogs are just adorable.
Verdant Beauty and a reminder of the story "Where the elephant got his trunk" The great, grey-green Limpopo River. How marvelous that you have a landmark and legend all in one. (If I got it all wrong feel free to correct me)
"Nylsvlei Foodplain" - Oh my soul! Shows you what my priorities is, hey?
Gaelyn, it is not quite desert but we do not have a very high annual rainfall normally. "Bonding to the computer" - lol!
Argent, I just hope it was not any of those beautiful old bridges. My daughter always brings photos home of river scenes in the Uk and those bridges are fascinating.
Rider, now I must confess (blush) I do not know the story of the elephant's trunk. Please tell.
"Nylsvlei Foodplain" - Oh my soul! Shows you what my priorities is, hey?
Gaelyn, it is not quite desert but we do not have a very high annual rainfall normally. "Bonding to the computer" - lol!
Argent, I just hope it was not any of those beautiful old bridges. My daughter always brings photos home of river scenes in the Uk and those bridges are fascinating.
Rider, now I must confess (blush) I do not know the story of the elephant's trunk. Please tell.
In Rudyard Kipling's Just So Stories is one called "The Elephant's Child.
The young elephant was always being spanked for his "satiable curiosities". One of his questions was "What does the crocodile have for dinner?" He traveled to the banks of the great grey-green, greasy Limpopo River, all set about with fever trees, to find out.He gets tricked into kneeling down to talk to the crocodile. The crocodile caught him by the nose, which up until that very week, day, hour and minute, had been no bigger than a boot, though much more useful, etc. etc. and so his nose became a long trunk with which he returned to the herd and spanked all the others. You must read the whole story one day.
oh they are so cute dogmatix!
i am glad that you convinced your mama to post these baby pictures.
just me, can i ask you if you are any where near zambia?
when we were nine kids living out in western canada, there was a girl who used to pick us up every sunday for sunday school. she drove 33 miles to get us,33 miles to take us. 33 miles to bring us back and then 33 miles to bring herself back..132 miles all together!
she wanted so much to be a missionary but she asked the lord if he would send someone to take the responsibly to pick up the golden children first, before she went.
the lord sent someone right to our town to do just that and you know what? marion ronald went to zambia to serve the lord just me.
she is a nurse and where she serves is in the hospitals where they look after hiv/aids patients.
i was just wondering if you are near there.
you pictures are so great just me.
south africa looks like a beautiful place.....love terry
Hi Terry, no we are not anywhere near Zambia, it is much more to the North of us. I always admire people who have the conviction to give up their own lives to serve those in need, like your friend looking after HIV/AIDS victims. Yes, South Africa is a beautiful place, probably the most beautiful in the world, but then again, I might just be a little prejudiced (lol).
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