The Restory Retreat Centre

Source: Wikipedia  There is a Hadeda Ibis nest on one of the branches of the American Ash where I park my bakkie. I wasn’t aware that the female has been busy hatching eggs for the last couple of days, constantly sitting in that one spot. It was only when I took workers home on Tuesday that I saw the results of my unfortunate parking spot. My windscreen reminded me of those old aerial pictures of bombing raids during World War II.    I was in a hurry and because I was only going to travel on a dirt road I did not bother cleaning my window. Let me put it this way, it’s not easy finding your way looking through the remnants of Hadeda meals. Going past Zaaihoek dam I had a view through the clues of Saturday’s menu. Coming back the sun sat at an angle so at times   I had to lower my head and look through the small opening of what was left of a Hadeda’s Sunday and Monday, only to quickly return to that Saturday spot at the curves in the road. Firs...

Our walled vegetable garden at the beginning of Spring. Photo by Matilda Angus To take a spade, or spading fork on a crisp fall day and without undue haste or backbreaking effort to turn over slice after slice of sweet-smelling earth can bring rich rewards to the gardener who fully understands just what he is accomplishing.    - T.H Everett (American landscaper) Being in the Southern hemisphere, Spring has just sprung. Our young Zulu gardener, Skhumbuzo, has turned over the beds and worked in some well-rotted compost and cows manure. We've sown carrots, radishes, four types of beans, pumpkins, courgettes, coriander, basil and ox heart tomatoes. Skhumbuzo, the proud gardener. The last of the winter onions and carrots are ready to harvest and will make way for seedlings of aubergine, spinach, beetroot, peppers and a new batch of onions.  This year we plan to start laying out the orchard which will be adjacent to the vegetable garden. Half a doze...