Wild flowers

A farmers cottage just outside Hopefield

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Carpets of wild flowers appear annually around the end of August on the West Coast of South Africa and provide a spectacular sight till October. This was one of the best seasons I have ever had the privilege to experience. Unfortunately this splendour cannot simply be captured in pixels. The sound of the birds, with the crisp Spring breeze and the smell of the flowers need to be experienced in person.

Hopefield flowers

 This year we attended the Hopefield Wild Flower show, with craft markets, entertainment and the most delicious home cooked meals on offer. And then there were the flowers. On every side walk, grass land, piece of veld and vlei (lower-lying area with a bit of water present), they were just everywhere and as far as the eye could see.

 

 And then there was the local graveyard, where family and friends covered graves with piles of plastic flowers, in a kaleidoscope of colour. So special.

Mother Nature inspired me to recycle a hunted Hartebeest skull into a Spring Beauty, using Cotton and Wool yarns and the age old technique of crochet.

Langebaan Yarnie News Aug/Sept'15

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Fresh eggs daily

On the 1st of December 2014, we celebrated one year of Lagoonliving and the move to the small town we always dreamt of. It is one of those dreams so many people have, but yet so little ever get the chance or summons the nerves, to do. We feel truly blessed and celebrate each day as a gift at The Lagoon.

One of the items on the bucket list, was to get our own backyard chicken flock established, with just enough indigenous hens to provide us with fresh, free range eggs every morning.

I grew up with chickens and fondly remember feeding them from my hand and the times I had to look for 'lost' eggs in the back yard. The 'indigenous mixed breed' variety seemed like the obvious choice, for low maintance and easy bird care. We found our Amber White POL (Point of Lay) chicks at Golden Egg, just outside Paarl (e-mail Lorinda on admin@goldenyolkeggs.co.za) and just after our one year Lagoonliving anniversary, we finally ticked the chicken box too. (more images on www.instagram.com/finchgifts)

Our nifty coop was made by Uli Kapff at Garden Stuff (e-mail gardenstuffsa@gmail.com) and proved to be a very good investment. Handy hubby has since added a little enclosure, but the ladies much prefer to scratch around the whole back yard. The veggie patch is ruined, but we have been harvesting three fresh eggs every morning, for the past three weeks.

We named our brood after the infamous ladies of the 70's, The Pointer Sisters (I am so excited, I just can't hide it, Jump for my love and other oldie favourites in the house) and Bonnie, Anita and Ruth are now a firm part of the family. They love being touched and the children spend hours at 'the chicken channel' as they have named it. One could easily write a soapy about the antics of chickens. Feeding them fresh fish guts have proven to be the best form of entertainment to date; with The Sisters losing all their dignity and chasing each other around the yard, screeching and clucking, with wings flapping, to protect their prized morsel. Any kitchen waste is highly appreciated and recycled into fresh eggs daily. The nest box straw with chicken litter goes into the compost heap and the new veggie patch will certainly benefit from this edition. The cycle is complete.