Vist with Joseph and Gemma, May 2012

 The bucolic scenery amidst which Vashti and I walked every morning, crossing the slow-moving stream, 

and pausing to record cheerful yellow wildflowers.

 Someone should remind this elephant not to even look on the wine when it is red! 

Apparently he gets too drunk to walk, and they have to put him on this truckbed. 

I'd hate to have him tip over on me. Or upchuck on me, for that matter.

 The Children';s Museum in Indy. What some individuals will do to dodge paying an entrance fee.

 Although if I worked in the ticket office, I don't think I wouldn't argue with either of them.

Over ANYTHING.

 

 The air balloon that we didn't ride. I did see a toddler in arms riding it, though. 

But he probably didn't have to pay 14 bucks for the privilege.

 A friendly Indian interpreter at Conner Farms. 

He's retired, and can devote a good bit of his time volunteering here.

 The lady's chamber in the main the house. Pretty, although the decor is a bit busy,

and I would have added some color for beauty. 

I was sorely tempted at times to give the actors a hard time;

but I restrained myself by only making jokes with them.

 The petting part of the farm. I was diligently petting a couple of bulky ewes, 

but they pushed past me and demanded that Joseph pet them instead. I felt quite dissed.

 Chicago: we wandered through Chinatown for a while, ducking into a touristy shop and buying beautiful dressing gowns for Gemma and Grace, and then we stopped for lunch. The restaurant seemed more of a locals' eatery, judging from the lack of decorations. But the Chinese lady was quite nice, and she even let me charge up my camera while we ate. There was so much food--we ordered family style--that we took home boxes for another meal.

 Posing with the Willis Tower in the background. Instead of driving closer, we walked, which probably saved both time and stress, even with GPS.

 Looking down from the SkyDeck. It takes about an hour to get from the front door to the top. 

A book would come in handy for the long lines, although it would have to be examined by security.

 They take a photo of your group, for security and for profit--around $45 for three prints. 

How did I resist??

 Standing on the balcony, Joseph is a brave soul.

 The best I could do was sit on the floor and inch backward onto the glass, not looking down. 

Well, if I went too far out, the building might tip over!!

 My man Phineas, who is less than thrilled to have a strange woman clutching him in her arms.

There, hold your nose just like that for the most flattering shot.

I know all about photography--I'm the most photographed celeb around.

Once again the center of attention with Mom and Uncle Josiah. 

Oh, and someone's lips, we aren't saying whose. The crowd had a hilarious time with Bible charades.

The Trinity Travelers take a trip to Lake Marion, in April

 Santee State Park lounge; Pastor Henry immediately pegged it a great place for an Easter sunrise service. It overlooks the lake, and is connected to the park store, where I purchased The Naked Bee lip balm and hand lotion, labeled, "All the good stuff, none of the bad stuff;" just the name is a little off-color.

 The boat we rode. It is equipped with binoculars, blankets (it gets cold out there cruising on the lake), and an alligator head, which I was delegated to carry around for the others to admire. I christened him Ferdinand.

 Our captain, who gave us a running commentary and history of the lake, the largest in the state, created by FDR's administration by damming the Santee River for hydroelectric power, thereby displacing an estimated 5,000 people and 300 cemeteries. Lake Marion is referred to as South Carolina's inland sea.

 An osprey nest atop a dead tree. Usually you'll see the mother bird on the nest, and the father on a nearby branch, either watching for fish or keeping an eye out for trespassers. One osprey's elevator didn't quite reach the top, and she built her nest on a hollow tree, resulting in an elevator fail for her nest. I inquired of the captain what the birds do to keep their nest in place, but he didn't know.

 There are many varieties of birds in Lake Marion, several of which we spotted, like the anhinga. Well, not in the lake, but you know, flying around the water. If you click on the photo and look dead center and above the wiggly shadow, you can see an alligator sunning himself, at least a leg and part of his back. The captain told of touring the lake with a toddler on board, and when the child cried, an alligator slid off the bank and swam toward the boat. The mother stilled the child, and the gator turned around; when the crying resumed, the alligator made a U-turn for the boat. If I'd been there and packing heat, there would've been a Big Bang Theory explained.

 Afterward, we drove nearby to the Lone Star Restaurant, a slightly renovated in the 1930's style ancient building that actually looks abandoned from the outside. People come from afar to dine at this Southern cuisine buffet, known for its tomato pie, which was pretty good.

This was not on our trip, but in our yard, or formerly our yard. Can you spot the white squirrel? Again, click to enlarge the picture, and he's smack dab in the middle, looking down disapprovingly at the paparazzi once again stalking him.

The Art of Fencing

INVISIBLE  fencing, to be exact. I ask you, can you see the fence?? 

Looks like you could walk right through it. Actually...you could.

 More invisible fence from the back corner. 

Look where you step, so you don't blunder into lurking poison ivy.

 Enter a mischievous, half-grown Lab, who was the motivation behind the fence. 

Here she's riding with us after church, to her new home in the Berry.

 Now the fence is no longer invisible. 

We didn't think the canines would fall for the emperor's new clothes trick, 

so we had Jacob's Fencing install one, and an excellent job they did, too!

 It only took me a week to be able to put the two dogs together, 

without Ariela threatening to tear her new compatriot from limb to limb. 

It still too early to predict who will win the coup, but my bet is on the older, wiser Carolina Dog 

to be the next dictator, er, pack leader. Under me, of course. But the decision will not be unanimous.

My two gorgeous debutantes--may I present Ariela and Sapphire?

My friend's dad's funeral

 Before the service, which was very good. Robert is at the front, of course. But his spirit is in Heaven!

 The family, seated, during the graveside service. If you look very closely under the tree, 

you may see a bagpiper, whose haunting melodies drifted across the field.

 Here is the released white dove, flying heavenward. 

The sky looks overcast, because thunderstorms were in the forecast, but the Lord kept even the rain away.

 The ladies preparing a meal afterward: Randy's daughter, Jean, Janice, and Julia. 

Oops, I cut Randy almost out of the picture. Sorry.

 Tim and Rhonda.

 I'd watched for deer on my visits, but never saw any until this day--there were five of them in the back yard. 

Perhaps looking for Robert, someone suggested.

Three lovely ladies--Jean, Janice, and Jean. My friends.

House on Yarmouth St.

 The new house from the street. Good to have a streetlight right beside it. Muizenberg Mt. is in the near distance.

 Inside the wall--no weeding needed here. The wall comes complete with climbing deterrent atop it.

 Gloria standing inside the kitchen, admiring the handiness of the design.

 In the living room, speaking with current renter. I forget what country this family is originally from. Too bad the gorgeous sofa doesn't come with it. But then you'd be scared to sit on it for fear of messing it up.

 One of the two bathrooms, or toilets, as one says there in South Africa. Well, I guess there is an actual toilet (as compared to a theoretical one *grins*). I just don't see it in the picture for sure.

 

 One of the three bedrooms. If you can see them, the built-in cabinets run up to the ceiling.

 Looking down the hall. The tiled floors are very nice--easy to clean, and no bacteria hiding inside, as with carpeting. Bet there won't be another television next month, at least one that picks up stations.

 Looking out toward the street. Great space for storage. Interesting that the neighboring house is connected. Wonder why?

 On the other side of the picket fence, there is a small alleyway between the house and the wall that can be used for hanging laundry or for other things.

 The back yard. Easy to envision flowers or a vegetable garden!

 The neighbors' bougainvillea peeking over the back fence at Evangel

I just took this to show the pretty door. It's a nice house, and possession is March. Soon!

Last week in Muizenberg

 You never know what you might find at the once-a-month boot sale. Vicki found this birdie in the intense heat of that Saturday morning, and rescued him for a price--isn't he adorable?

 Paul and James solving the world's problems on a beach walk. Or perhaps James is describing the Arizona fashion show sponsored by Maricopa County's Uncle Joe again. Hope the water doesn't tip out of the ocean because of my careless angle here.

 Frontline's birthday luncheon for Paul.  Peter Hammond sat at our table (the other side of Paul).

 Paul was asked to give the devotional after lunch. He preached on Psalm 126--the dry desert, desert storm, and the blooming desert. Our dead lives can live again!

Waiting patiently at the gate to leave Joburg. A problem with passengers who were to join us at Dakar, or perhaps those to leave us at Dakar, had the South African Airways redoing all of our tickets.  No one had a hissy over it, that I could tell, fortunately. I had just polished off one and a half bottles of water and a can of juice that the security agent told me I couldn't bring on board, so I eventually segued into crisis mode, the toilets/restrooms being off limits. Finally I returned to the checkpoint and craved permission to visit the toilets; the agent on duty permitted me, but those on duty when I returned hadn't noticed my defecting. However, you'll be relieved (did I just say that?) to know that I did make it onto the plane and many, many hours later--at least it seemed so--arrived at the Columbia airport to be picked up by Grace and Ariela, the latter of which went crazy upon spotting me. Well, Grace may have, too, but she kept her composure outwardly.

Outings with Mrs. Ross

 Mrs. Ross was a good excuse to visit new places, such as new or used bookstores, and restaurants. The restaurants were the kind that we wouldn't have frequented otherwise, due to their ambiance and elegance. Not to mention something so tawdry as prices.

 Take a gander at this dessert--chocolate mousse.

 Dining at Casa Labia, a landmark "recently restored to its former glory" on Main Rd. in Muizenberg/ St. James, it is indeed elegant. We chose simple foods, such as quiche, which were delicious.

 Upstairs in the Cultural Centre, where African works of art are displayed, presumably for sale.

 Looking out the window toward the Pavilion on the beach. The Pavilion is where the New Year's Day outreach was centered.

 The gardens beside Casa Labia. Very beautiful, picturesque setting.

On Mrs. Ross' wall--I admired a handcrafted Bible verse with seashells adorning it. Purple is Mrs. Ross' color, and she even had purple orchids. She is a delightful person to know. She used to be a Young.