We took the Tradouw Pass through Heidelberg to Barrydale a while back. It was so pretty and Barrydale is an unusual little town with the highway running right through it. There are lots of places to stop to eat and shop. Many Vaalies have moved there to get away from the rat race. Worth a visit.
We stopped for a picnic at the bottom of the pass at Max's insistence. Half way up would have been better.

Our newest family member has reminded me of how much a person learns in their first few years of life. And of how important "life" is. Not just to exist, because is there really a reason for living, but the amazing thing that new life is. Toni came from the SPCA in Mossel Bay and is not the Lab mix I had planned. In fact all I can recognise is a bit of German Shepard in her flopped over ears, the rest I don't know. Max is still a bit uncertain that when she jumps on him, she is not trying to bite him. Wonder where his fear of dogs came from.

She is very sweet, clever and has been very good. So far, no shoes have been chewed! She will be a medium-sized dog and we will still look for that lab as a friend for her. Soon. Can anyone sleep as well as a puppy?

Also new to our brood is Prunes- a calico cat which has been living on the farm. Perhaps we should have called her Hoover with the way she sucks down food. She is healthy and really doesn't seem to have the ticks & fleas one would expect from an unattended farm cat. She is loving and doesn't seem too phased by the other cats, puppy or Max. BTW, she too is named after a character in one of Max's books.

Next on my list of adoptees will be a few chickens. I am planning a chicken tractor to move around the farm but first off the bat will probably be just 3 and a small movable ark. I want them in the orchard first to manage any bugs as the fruit grows. The trees are so small, they need all the help they can get.

We still await the police clearance to continue with adopting our human family member.

Have you ever wondered about life?

I have been thinking so much lately about how we humans think we are so important. How clever we are! And yet if you go outside and look around at nature, you can instantly see we are irrelevant (mostly harmful).
We think we can own land. Now really think about that concept. Pah! What a joke! All we are, is stewards. Best we each start behaving as stewards. Each day I will make a conscious decision to do or not do something which will only make an ounce of difference. That's enough.

Friendship

Things are getting exciting!

We will finally be moving to the farm at the end of this month. I cannot wait to get out of this crummy rented house and start getting dirty.

While we have been here, we have been growing a compost heap and will have to figure out how to take it with us. I am sure it will be seen by the owners -and especially the letting agents- as a rubbish heap instead of what it is- a kajillion little happy and very valuable microbes. Now how exactly does one go about moving a not-quite-ready compost heap?
I think perhaps the older stuff will go into the worm boxes and the newer stuff into an old kitty food bag. Should work.

Speaking of kitties- these 5 are not going to be happy with me again. At least it's a positive move to lots of space. Enough for all of them to claim a spot and still be at home and safe.
We go for walks with Max around the neighbourhood here and almost always end up with a trail of little black cats following us down the street. Now I won't have to worry about cars- just ticks and snakes!

And about those snakes... This is definitely puff adder territory so I have been doing some research about what plants repel snakes. The consensus seems to be that anything with a strong smell will work as the Jacobson's Organ snakes use for smell is very sensitive. This means my permanent herb garden will be nice and close to the house for a good reason. Other than for how pretty it looks. Lemon grass, mint, rosemary, lemon thyme, garlic chives, penny royal.
The cats are a help too as they eat the rats & mice which would be a snake's food. No food = no snakes.
And it's time for Max to get a dog. He is so scared of dogs and we just don't know why. On the beach, I run towards dogs and he runs away. This will be an interesting choice to make.
We need something which won't grow too big- Lab or smaller- but not an excuse for a dog. Something which won't chase our livestock or the wild things. Something which will be Max's best friend. I have to say that a Staffie springs to mind. We will see.

And so to packing- again!

Dew drops

I have tried to start this blog several times- without success in my eyes. So here goes again with the REAL blog.

Today we visited Eureka Mill near Heidelberg (that's in the Cape!). I used to sell a lot of their flour in Foxglove- especially when Penny Zeffert did her amazing natural bread courses.
We met Nico- the passionate miller (and everything else man). He took us on a tour and explained how they do things at Eureka.
I wasn't sure how to approach this, so this is what I decided on- I'll give you the facts and then my opinion.
Eureka does not use GM seed wheat. They do not grow organically (yet, as they can't afford to loose their crop). They stone grind all the wheat. They don't add anything (preservatives, bleaches, fortification- anything).
They collect, clean, sort, soak, mill, grade, seperate, pack, ship, build, bake- just everything- themselves.

If you hear Nico's explanation of what Eureka doesn't do, you will never use "large name brand" flour again. Why do you need to process wheat so far, that you remove the protein and good fats and then have to add vitamins for it to have any food value? That is not logical and in my mind should be illegal. The big guys should not be allowed to do what they do without disclosing it on their label. At least we can then choose for ourselves.

I suggest we all ask more questions. I am a strong proponent of READING THE LABEL but how about you try? Next time you buy something- anything- you try.