We went with Dave to explore Mariepskop on Thursday last week.
On the way we found a Chamilion.
Here is a smorgsboard of what we saw and did
Some of the flowers we saw.
Mariepskop Picnic site
A little stream.
Looking up stream at the view points
Sir N enjoying the freedom to climb and explore
Paul enjoying the swinging rope :o)
Taking a moment to enjoy the sights and contemplate.
The view upstream
There are beautiful little streams all over adding to the tranquil feeling.
The view driving home after a wonderful day of memories.
It's been so wonderful watching Sir N explore and discover both himself and his surroundings. I am enjoying watching him gain confidence with his own abilities.
On Wednesday last week we decided to take a walk up the mountain to look at the waterfall / stream that feeds the house fresh stream water with Sir N.
In the beginning of the walk he complained bitterly but we persevered and had a wonderful time together. This experience taught me not to give up too soon with young kids when going on a nature walk.
Here are a few of the sights we saw
The start of our walk
I love the shapes of the trees
Sir N found this rock and wanted to sleep there for the night !
Nearly there
Sir N exploring to find the best way up
Experimenting with shutter speed while the boys explore the mountain
The sun has disappeared behind the mountain. Time to go home.
I'm thirsty Dad!
This place holds special memories for Paul and I as we courted up here. 20 years ago we used come up here with his Dad and the school groups who had come to the farm for outward bound camps. Paul and his Dad used to rig up abseiling ropes and the classes would climb up here and enjoy the day exploring.
I am in Johannesburg today visiting my sister and enjoying her internet access while she is at work.
On my merry travels around the internet I have found a really neat site called : Digital Photography School. I recommend you pop on over and poke around but be warned once you start it's addicting !!
I have been enjoying Erin's challenge so much I was wondering what I could do once the challenge was finished at the end of the month ? I think that I might just take up the dPS Weekly Photo Challenge.
One of the biggest challenges I have faced is taking a picture of a sunset with a SLR. A point and shoot has a sunset setting which makes it easy to capture the colours.
Last week we took a trip to Blyde Wildlife Estate and spent some time experimenting with the sunset.
Sir N found this spider sitting on top of a wooden post.
A lion at Moholoholo here in the Lowveld.
16 - Flowers
this one was a good challenge to get in focus.
I love the colours and shadows of this rose.
17 - Trees
This is a Maerua Angolensis.
18 - Something Rustic
This is an ostrich egg light cover.
On one of our outings we stopped to look at the curios for sale.
I love the colours of Africa.
19 - In the dark
The Southern Cross at around 8 pm at Trackers.
3 am Scorpio with the roof line in the foreground.
20 - Your favourite place to be
My favourite place is waiting for me in Australia :o)
21 - Daily Life
Our daily life here on holiday is getting up early to enjoy the beautiful sunrises over the farm.
I couldn't resist the shadows and colours here.
Thank you Erin for the ideas and inspiration I have enjoyed doing these. Don't forget to pop on over to Seven Little Australians and see the photo's of some others who have taken up Erins challenge this month.
Blessings
Over at Erin's blog she has created a little Photography Challenge for the month of May. The challenge is
to take a photograph each day and explore a new aspect of photography.
While
on holiday I have been using some of Erin's challenges during some of my
travels. Here is my second weeks attempt.
Sunset
We are currently living up on a hill and do not see any sunsets from here. Yesterday we visited an animal rehab centre and this is what I saw with the sun setting in the background. I am off to Johannesburg on Friday and will try to take a sunset photo from there.
Landscape
Paul and I walked down the hill one morning and this is looking back over the farm at Trackers where we are staying.
The Person I love
When I met Paul I discovered he loved all birds of prey and was an avid falconer. Yesterday for he got to hold a Hooded Vulture on the glove.
A Colour Scheme
Here in the bush the uniform that all the rangers and farmers wear is khaki in colour. Last week while in town I discovered a wonderful shop and had a serious lapse of self control. Here My N is in his "Ranger" uniform.
Playing with Shadows.
On Mother's Day Paul took me out for a cuppa and when we were done I saw this basket with it's shadows...
A Photo depicting motion.
This week I have had a few opportunities to capture motion. I couldn't choose one so I put them all up.
Here is some honey pouring into a bucket.
After bringing the bee's back to the house they were attracted to the light.
Here is a photo of their flight path.
A lovely fountain at the cafe.
Clouds
Clouds coming in over the mountains on the way home from our trip.
Thank you Erin I have once again enjoyed this weeks challenges. I am eagerly taking photo's for this current week.
Don't forget to pop on over to Seven Little Australians and have a look at the photo's everyone is showcasing.
I have been wondering what you have all been up to and what you have been talking about on your blogs as I have had no Internet access. The lack on Internet has certainly made me appreciate what I do have and so often take for granted. Today the internet has allowed me to access my home page here in blogger world !!
Hope you are all well and feeling encouraged. I will be traveling to Johannesburg this Friday but will be needing a lift back to Hoedspruit. Please be in prayer for me.
I have had a great past two days just sitting and reading, this is something I have not been able to do for a long time. My aim is to catch up on my 52 in 52 challenge for this year. I have managed to read four books in two days
Monkey Business (The Murder of Anni Dewani) - Mike Nicol (facebook update following book)
Blessings Chareen
Some Quotes to think about
"When you give someone a book,
you don't give him just paper, ink, and glue.
You give him the possibility of a whole new life."
-- Christopher Morley,
1890-1957, Novelist, Journalist and Poet
"The great enemy of the truth is very often not the lie--deliberate, contrived, and dishonest--but the myth: persistent, persuasive and realistic." -- John F. Kennedy
It is absurd and anti-life to be a part of a system
that compels you to
listen to a stranger reading poetry
when you want to learn to construct
buildings, o
r to sit with a stranger discussing the construction of
buildings
when you want to read poetry.
~John Taylor Gatto
How can it be a large career to
tell other people's children about
arithmetic
and a small career to tell one's own children about the
universe?
How can it be broad to be the same thing to everyone
and
narrow to be everything to someone?
No, a woman's function is laborious
because it is gigantic,
Today is Mother's Day in Australia and without my children I would not be a Mom. I am so grateful that children are a gift from His hand. Today I want to dedicate this song to my four children. (Mr T, Miss J, Sir N & One in the Fathers Arms.)
I love taking photographs and capturing memories. One of the things I desire to learn is how to use my camera more effectively to capture the precious moments that happen around me daily.
I was reading on Erin's blog the other day that she has created a little Photography Challenge for the month of May. The challenge is to a photograph each day and explore a new aspect of photography.
While on holiday I have been using some of Erin's challenges during some of my travels. Here is my first weeks attempt.
A pink rose with the sun shining on it from different angles.
Up Close
Macro photography is one of my favourite forms of photography. I love to look for the smallest flower on my travels and see if I can photograph it.
A Frangipani bud.
From a Distance.
Sammy Marks Residence near Pretoria.
Sitting on a rock at The Three Rondavels View Point.
This photograph could be for two divisions. High Angle and from a distance.
Eyes
Miss J holding an African Python at Khamai Reptile Park
Emotion
Sir N didn't want his photo taken !
Thank you Erin I had a lot of fun this past week.
Don't forget to pop on over to Seven Little Australian's Photo Challenge Showcase Blog Hop and see the photographs other friends are taking and be inspired.
Blessings
Chareen
[PS To illustrate the length of time it takes to use the Internet in Hoedspruit: It took two hours to upload these pics :) ]
