Happiness Is Right Under Your Nose

I've just come back from a bitterly cold weekend up the West Coast in Namaqualand. Howling winds, rain, icy temperatures and dramatic landscapes (some of what you can see on my instagram shots). But the most visual fun I had was with the smallest of things, and a new lens that allowed me get up really close and personal.

Stained Glass Window

Window at Oude Molen.

Every week I pass this beautiful chapel like window as I climb a set of narrow concrete stairs to the pottery studio and it never ceases to make me think of growth, fairy tales and prayers.

If You've Got It, Flaunt It.

Sunset Beach - Cape Town

Between a rock & a hard place

A friend of mine who hails from the Karoo, has like me, an obsession with rocks. Her garden reflects this curiosity and passion beautifully.

Not surprisingly this goes hand in hand with a passion for the fauna and flora of this vast area.

The 'Sabi Star' or 'Impala Lily'

When you look at these you can understand why.

Herbs, Worms, Sunnyskies & Breakfast (and not necessarily in that order)

don't these just look fabulous?!

I paid a visit to the Waldorf School organic market just outside Stellenbosch this weekend. We got there a bit late but still in time to buy the first of my herbs for restocking.

I bought thyme. But I spent a heavenly few minutes just rubbing leaves and inhaling the devine fragrances! Heaven.



Much to my delight the 'herb man' also does worm bins! So the investigation continues and I will keep you updated...

M is for...Malagas

I've always been interested by the marks & signs of our passing on our world. How ironic that the scar is the bit that has the bark left on this tree.

Malagas is on the banks of the Breede river near Swellendam.

This is where we spent our last weekend. These Milkwoods have always facinated me. They speak of age, dignity and shelter.


One day I'm going to take the perfect picture.

Veld School

Nature School for those of you not from here, something I grew up with as a kid and I think it's rubbed off on me. Maybe this trail we went on will do the same for our little folk.

With tales of snakes and cattle thieves Trevor and his second in command had them eating out of their hands. According to them these are some of the more interesting and unusual facts about some of our flora.

"Wild Cucumber": Xhosa tradition has it that a snake can replenish it's poison from this fruit only once it has turned red. This article on Page 4 is interesting.

"River Naboom": The name actually means like a tree or after a tree and as you can see it's actually a succulant with a milk sap that's extremely potent.
In Xhosa it's called a twin bush and is planted next a hut with twins in the family.

The San used it to stun fish in river pools.

Cattle thieves rubbed it on the hides of cattle. The hair would fall out and grow back a different colour, making the cattle impossible to identify. Click here for even more.

"Knob Tree": The bark of which is used for loads of things ranging from tooth ache to stomach ailments. But my favourite fact is that the Xhosa name for it is "European Titties"

If you ever find yourdelf in the Trennerys area on the Wild Coast I would highly recommend Trevors Trails. I enjoyed it so much I went back with the kids and they certainly had fun.

A long time coming

At last a moments respite. We've had a 2 day week here, which is ridiculous by any measurement, but the pressure it puts on work gets balanced out by the pleasure of good company and rest. I often remember my trips by the colours, textures and patterns of the things I found there so I'll leave you with some images of my last big trip before leaving for the loong weekend.

Paul Smith would be proud of a stripe like this.

I just love the dainty twirl in liquorice red against that tree snake green.

Same composition different plants

A Strelizia

Next week it's back to the grindstone but I'll finally be able to share with you some of the cool plants I came accross on the Wild Coast and the local take on them. Look forward to seeing you then.