Frogs, mud and Grandbabies, Christmas tree and baobab tree…..

Back again at last, to Senuko in the Lowveld, where I find my summer flowering Sabi Stars in full bloom…

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Clive prepares stir fry lunch – chili noodles with chillies fresh from our garden…

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I make a white bean pate, with fresh home-grown thyme, slow cooked food at its best!

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Jade and Rayne, our grandbabies, come to our bush house, Tsavene, for the afternoon.
A found wildebeeste skull guards the rock garden where they play ……

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Playing at our waterhole, catching frogs and happily getting stuck in the mud, while the dogs encourage the fun….

cracked mud and Chiromantis foam nest

cracked mud and Chiromantis foam nest

stuck in the mud!

stuck in the mud!

latest fashion...knee high boots!

latest fashion…knee high boots!

frogs being collected....

frogs being collected….

collected frogs- a species of Grass frog we think...

collected frogs- a species of Grass frog we think…

 and a gorgeous fly embalmed in mud..

and a gorgeous fly embalmed in mud..

Jade and Rayne climb into the ‘hyena’ baobab…so called because my niece Bianca always stated that it would be a good tree to climb into if one was being pursued by a hyena! She had a point…hyenas can not jump.

the 'Hyena Baobab'

the ‘Hyena Baobab’

A hyena’s point of view!……

 from a hyena's viewpoint...

from a hyena’s viewpoint…

What lessons in life these little girls are absorbing, their passion for mud, water and frogs is a wonder, equalled only by their eagerness to dress up in finery from their ‘dress-up’ box in my house, and stage elaborate drumming and theatrical shows on our cool cement floors!

Late afternoon sees us drinking tea and eating dainty mince pies (from Lee’s Treats in Harare)

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Yum yum!

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The little girls get into the Christmas spirit by hanging their stockings on our fireplace….

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Rayne hangs Kelli’s stocking for her in her absence…

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The baobab Christmas tree gets decorated…….

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The glory grows, looking stunning!

we have one more visit to Harare, political meetings and pantomimes to attend!

then back to Senuko, where Kelli will join us for Christmas.

Hope all of our family, friends, and those special people we do not know yet but may one day know, have a VERY SPECIAL and BLESSED CHRISTMAS!

20131213-162808.jpgHAPPY HAPPY CHRISTMAS ALL!

About wineandwilddogs

Lin Barrie The Save Valley Conservancy stretches along the upper reaches of the great Save River in the south east of Zimbabwe. The Gonarezhou National Park laps against the southern banks of the Save River and between these two nestles the Malilangwe Wildlife Reserve. These three celebrated wildlife areas form part of the Greater Limpopo Transfrontier Conservation Area, (GLTFCA)- a unique wilderness jewel which is home to the “Big Five” (endangered Black and White rhinos, elephants, buffalo, lion, leopard) and the ”Little Six” (Klipspringer, Suni, Duiker, Steenbok, Sharpe's Grysbok and Oribi). Endangered African wild dogs, Cheetah, Brown hyena, Bat-eared foxes and a host of special birds and plants contribute to the immense variety of this ecosystem. Communities around the GLTFCA contribute to innovative partnerships with National Parks and the private sector, forming a sound base on which to manage social, economic and environmental issues. This is home to artist and writer Lin Barrie and her life partner, conservationist Clive Stockil. Expressing her hopes, fears and love for this special ecosystem with oil paints on canvas, Lin Barrie believes that the essence of a landscape, person or animal, can only truly be captured by direct observation. Lin Barrie states: “Through my art, and my writing, I feel an intimate connection with the natural world, and from my extensive field sketches of wild animals, people and landscapes, I create larger works on canvas. Lin's work is in various public and private collections in South Africa, Kenya, Zimbabwe, Australia, England, Canada, Sweden and the United States of America. She is represented by galleries in South Africa, Zimbabwe, England, Kenya and Florida, USA.
This entry was posted in Africa, African flora, african wildlife, beauty, childrens art, christmas, conservation, cooking, dogs, eco-tourism, education, family, food, frogs, gardens and flowers, home grown food, landscape, love, organic slow food, Save Valley Conservancy, Senuko, sharing, slow food, taste, theatre, Uncategorized, zimbabwe and tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , . Bookmark the permalink.

7 Responses to Frogs, mud and Grandbabies, Christmas tree and baobab tree…..

  1. ritabest says:

    Merry Christmas, peace and goodwill to you and yours. Loved this post. Thanks for sharing 🙂

  2. Tessa Lawson says:

    Lin, loved reading this post and seeing your beautiful pics. I can just feel the warmth and sunshine there. Its so lovely. Wishing you all a really happy Christmas and all good things for 2014. Tessa xxxx

  3. Jocelynne Lake says:

    Lovely Lin. Reminds me of my childhood in Glen Lorne where we spent our lives outdoors making zoos with any poor creatures we could find. Wonderful for kids

  4. Bart Wolffe says:

    May the stars be out for you this very special Christmas. Say hello to the Southern Cross.

  5. Dennis and Rosemary says:

    Brings back happy memories! Love to you all – Rose and Dennis.

  6. Wonderful to see the Lowveld on your blog, Lin – we have great memories of the Gonarezhou. Wishing you, and Clive a very Happy Christmas

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