GREETINGS FROM SUNNY JOHANNESBURG!
MAXMOM here...
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It feels like years since the dizzy days of the Soccer World Cup. Life in Johannesburg has returned to a semblance of normality. The reconstruction of roads around our city continues at a snails pace and the old, familiar traffic congestion prevails. Schools and Universities are back in operation and the television vacillates between the Tour de France and local news.
Our days here have been chilly and have kept us all indoors. Today however I ventured outdoors and was wonderfully surprised to see that our local weaver bird is wrapped up in the joys of Spring.
He has built not one, but three nests and is obviously more than ready for flirtations of the forthcoming season. Does he know something I don't? We still have a few months to go before the calls of the wild descend on us!
There is other evidence too of the change of seasons. Our Namaqualand daisies on our pavement are starting to open...
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They truly present a joyous colour in amazing contrast to our dark blue skies. Soon the pavements will be awash in their colour and there will be news articles of a similar spectacle in Namaqualand.
Most of our trees are still bare, but one has pledged allegiance to the weaver bird...
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Don't you just love the trees that defy the odds?!
In line with the Spring feeling, his Lordship decided to encase himself in something distinctly unpleasant which resulted in a bath...
Miss "R" has gone back to University, so the King has relocated his throne room to our bedroom too. Geesh, allegiances change fast!!!
My heart is still far away from the city...to the open plains of Mpumalanga...which I visited a couple of weeks ago...
The grass there is like a tinder box...just waiting for the flames...
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Despite the dry, grassy plains there are also definite signs of Spring there...
(The fruit budding on the wild fig tree)
(Locusts ready for action)
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(Ants opening up their Ant hills)
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(Green grass emerging from burnt fields)
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(Flowers from the wild Kipersol trees erupting in all their glory)
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(Trap door spiders laying in wait...)
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(Look carefully...you should spot him!)
While we are waiting out the chilly winter days here in our city, the machinery of our ecosystem is constantly plodding away. Spring is certainly a season of dawning hope...no wonder we love it so much!
Here at home, my Primulas are in full bloom...
Here at home, my Primulas are in full bloom...
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So TAMMY-GIRL, shall we give you a bath too???
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Sending lotsaluv to you all whilst we wait for our southern Spring...
26 comments:
Toffee knows which siede his bread is buttered on. Great photos.
What wnderful photos -- what wonderful appreciation of life's diversity and tender signs!!
Not too crazy about spiders and ants -- but respect their place in the universe!!!
Wirey love,
Joan
It's sort of mind boggling thinking that you are going into Spring while we're going the other way :)
Beautiful photos!
Your pictures are beautiful! Tammy I'd tell her no on the bath. :-)
Wags!
Mr. Nubbin'
MaxMom!
Wonderful photos again! I agree with Mr. Nubbin', Tammy just say no! :)
Woofs and Licks,
Maggie Mae
Beautiful countryside & pictures. Neeli wants Tammy Girl to know that she'd take a bath with her if Tammy needs company!
Wags,
Nadine Apples & Neeli
Its so weird how the world is so big and that you have opposite seasons as we do!!!! It really makes me stop and think about it!!! I try and sense what youre going through the cool winter as we sit in over 100 degree weather!!!! Its just amazing!!! I love your pictures of new life in your spring time!!!! Its uplifting. (I want you to know I think of Max every day!And you too!!!) Stay warm while spring unfolds!!! We love you!!! Hugs Joey and Kealani
Oh! PS I think we have those spiders here we call them funnel spiders. I took some pictures at the Botanical Gardens a while back! Love Valerie
Lovely photos...It is so hot and humid here in Southern USA=over 100, so it's important for us to stay cool while you guys are dreaming of a warm Spring!...It's especially great to see handsome King Toffee and your beautiful Tammy girl; sending them lots of kisses and big hugs to you, Caryl.
Scrappy is famous for finding the stinkiest thing and rolling in it. Then she has to have a bath.
I'm thinking that cute face on Tammy is a "no please!"
Hello MaxMom,
We believe we have not thanked you for taking us to the fun and exciting World Cup through your coverage, posts and of course, Unity in Diversity!
We are happy to see the flowers are all abloom there as Spring arrives in SA. We may only have 2 seasons here in the Philippines and the rainy season has already arrived but we have seen and learned to appreciate all the 4 seasons through the eyes of our wonderful friends like you in bloggie land. The world indeed is a beautiful place.
Love,
Piappies Fudgie, Princess, Frappie, Mocha, Sugar, Wai-Pai & Wai-Max
Beautiful photos, as always! Well, except for the spider. Yeech!
I wish I could give Tammy a kiss. She has such a sweet face.
Such a lovely post, as usual. And nice to remember it will be cool again as you look forward to warmth.
Gosh, those are wonderful photos of all the little things trying to come alive. You really did a super job of taking the photos of all the plants and loved seeing King Toffee and Tammy. We are cooking over here in the states with 100 degree days so we are looking forward to fall.
Hope you have a great rest of the week.
Seems like just yesterday we were enjoying your beautiful fall season.
Where does the time go?
Have you started the new job?
Hugs and belly rubs to pups,
~K
Mum and I are waiting for spring too, but our only hint is in her tulip bulbs where the green leaf shoots are just 3cm out of the soil. We both want the days to get longer and warmer so we can spend more time outside, but my dad would be happy if winter lasted all year because he loves going on road trips to go skiing!
Thanks for the photos of your travels - it's always interesting to read about other part of the world and to see new things.
Woofs,
Riley
What beautiful pictures!! You are heading into spring and we are in the middle of summer with hot and humid temperatures! Spring sounds much better!! Tammy said she doesn't want a bath yet..she called Holly! Lots of love, Debbie and Holly
A beautiful post. It's wonderful to see the dawning of spring for you.
I think that Tammy is saying "no" to the bath!
I cleaned my dogs' ears last night and neither of them has forgiven me yet! I hope that your dogs are more forgiving.
Wonderful photos again! As always truely a beautiful post, pictures and words!
As far as the King goes, thats a Maltie!
I think that Tammy is saying wait until it really is Spring!
Hugs, Tessa
Seems odd to think of spring so early. Doing my conversion to Northern Hemisphere, this is the equivalent of late January and we would still have loooooong ways to go until we saw the end of snow, ice, sleet, etc.
It sure looks a lot prettier than our winter here! Well, I should say, more floral. Winter here is cold, bleak and snowy! Pine trees are the only green we see around here beneath the snow.
King T you have returned to your throne we hear. Thatnks for shring those cool photos
Benny & Lily
Why does it seem that fall and winter was just beginning in South Africa-at your house?
I cannot believe that now spring is coming? You must have a short winter.
Your photos are amazing- the type of photos that I dream about capturing.
And yes, we can relate to what you said- your mind is still far away to where you were two weeks ago.
Thank you for sharing mother earth with us, clear across the world.
love
tweedles
Beautiful photos again. Here in Scotland, we are still waiting for summer...Although the climate just down the road at St Andrews seems to have suited one particular South African last weekend!
Since the World Cup I have seen several comments in our press to the effect that the one thing most people learned about South Africa is that the weather is not always as good as they had imagined!
Cheers, Gail.
Tammy girl has the sweetest face and I'm sure she wouldn't mind a bath -after all, she's a waterdog, right?
I enjoyed your post today, learning about your environment. Here you are looking forward to spring and I can't wait for autumn to get some relief from this relentless heat this year!
Caryl, you celebrate your spring and share it with us in the States as we eek out the last weeks of summer waiting for fall to descend upon us. Just yesterday as I was gardening I stood up and noticed the sound of the leaves as the wind was moving them about. There's a different sound to our leaves when fall is around the corner. Almost a sad sound - a sound of steadfast resolution that they will hang on to their branch until the very last minute before the cold and winds force them to the earth. Next month - at the end - up here our leaves will begin to change color, not many, but some and then I will know that another year is closing in on it's last months.
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