Today is a full day at the lodge for the gathering of people from South Africa. They will have the entire facility for the day with two tents of people staying overnight. Kevin and I will assist Greg in overseeing things "from a distance." This is also a birthday party for two adult women in the group.
The men of each family will be slow cooking their meals in a cast iron pot, over an open wood fire. So around 10:00 am we build our own fire pit to act as a community fire from which the men can take live, hot coals to "quick start" their own fires.
Kevin and Greg go off to the workshop to fashion a handle for Greg's cast iron pot and I meet, and greet the first arrival. Then I attend to the fire in the upstairs room of the lodge, fix myself a cuppa tea and read some books about deer farming and gardening.
I hear the jeep come roaring up with Greg and Kevin. The emu was out of the pasture, on the loose. Oh my! Kevin handed me the cell phone and took off in the jeep while Gregg hopped on the quad, and the chase was on . . . . Five minutes later I'm tending to our campfire when guest Bernard asks me, "Is that big bird over by the chicken coop is an emu?"
I quickly call Gregg, alert him, he returns, hands me slices of bread and instructs me to run up the trail, open the gate and coax the emu inside. As I'm jogging up the incline I'm remembering warnings about an emu's feet. I open the gate and notice other animals far off in the distance. I start calling to the emu and waving the bread. Amazingly, the emu begins to walk towards me and I reward him/her with a few slices then close the gate. TaDa!
Kev and Greg return with a pot full of venison, (with a beautiful new handle) and a need for potatoes. So, Kevin and I walk out to the garden and harvest some! Beautiful, little, new red potatoes. This was a new experience for Kevin, while it brought back fond memories for me of Bonnie Brae Farm. These potatoes, plus a few onions, were added to the now simmering pot of venison.
Today was especially windy so we strung tarps around the barbecue area for added protection. We were hoping it wouldn't rain.
As more guests arrive, we inflate the bouncy pillows for the children. One American woman we meet has in-laws who live in Kensington Park, Sarasota, Fl. The world really is getting smaller.
The lodge soon becomes abuzz with activity and our Hunter's Stew is smelling delicious. I can't wait to try some. We pull a few bones out to see if the meat is falling away. It won't be long now.
The plan is to take the group out on Safari at 5:00 pm, so around 4:00 we eat. It was sure worth the wait. I filled my cup four times. The heat warmed my hands and the stew warmed my innards. Mmmmmmm good!
Brendan arrived to drive the tractor and then "All aboard." Kevin got to ride for the first time.
When we returned, Sonja had arrived and we discussed plans for tomorrow before excusing ourselves for the night. It was almost 7:00 pm when I hit the shower. Another long, fun day.
Dinner and a movie, then sweet dreams.
I hear the jeep come roaring up with Greg and Kevin. The emu was out of the pasture, on the loose. Oh my! Kevin handed me the cell phone and took off in the jeep while Gregg hopped on the quad, and the chase was on . . . . Five minutes later I'm tending to our campfire when guest Bernard asks me, "Is that big bird over by the chicken coop is an emu?"
I quickly call Gregg, alert him, he returns, hands me slices of bread and instructs me to run up the trail, open the gate and coax the emu inside. As I'm jogging up the incline I'm remembering warnings about an emu's feet. I open the gate and notice other animals far off in the distance. I start calling to the emu and waving the bread. Amazingly, the emu begins to walk towards me and I reward him/her with a few slices then close the gate. TaDa!
Kev and Greg return with a pot full of venison, (with a beautiful new handle) and a need for potatoes. So, Kevin and I walk out to the garden and harvest some! Beautiful, little, new red potatoes. This was a new experience for Kevin, while it brought back fond memories for me of Bonnie Brae Farm. These potatoes, plus a few onions, were added to the now simmering pot of venison.
Today was especially windy so we strung tarps around the barbecue area for added protection. We were hoping it wouldn't rain.
As more guests arrive, we inflate the bouncy pillows for the children. One American woman we meet has in-laws who live in Kensington Park, Sarasota, Fl. The world really is getting smaller.
The lodge soon becomes abuzz with activity and our Hunter's Stew is smelling delicious. I can't wait to try some. We pull a few bones out to see if the meat is falling away. It won't be long now.
The plan is to take the group out on Safari at 5:00 pm, so around 4:00 we eat. It was sure worth the wait. I filled my cup four times. The heat warmed my hands and the stew warmed my innards. Mmmmmmm good!
Brendan arrived to drive the tractor and then "All aboard." Kevin got to ride for the first time.
When we returned, Sonja had arrived and we discussed plans for tomorrow before excusing ourselves for the night. It was almost 7:00 pm when I hit the shower. Another long, fun day.
Dinner and a movie, then sweet dreams.
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