Flower Power

“I hope some day to meet God, because I want to thank Him for the flowers.” ~Robert Brault

I am still on the subject of high and low, happy and sad.

What does that have to do with flowers? – I hear you ask.

Well, quite a lot, from where I’m standing. Look at the past 2 – 3 weeks, for instance. Nearly 3 weeks ago, we received quite a few bouquets of flowers from friends and family, and even from business associates in sympathy for the death of Bernd’s son. Some were sent from florists, some were simply given as a bunch of flowers. They were all given with some kind of emotion attached to them – love, empathy, sympathy, sadness…

Which is what happened last weekend, but sort of very differently. There were flowers at the wedding. A flower in Xan’s hair, a wedding bouquet put together quickly with daisies, her favourite flower, some flowers at the picnic – all there to convey some kind of message or emotion – this time though, different kinds of emotions like happiness, celebration, love…

Oh wait! You see what happened there? LOVE. Love and flowers where people are sad, love and flowers where people are gathered together in happiness.

I love flowers. All flowers. I know most people do, even if the pretend they couldn’t care less. Flowers have the power to lift you up when you’re down and to brighten a dull day or a dreary room.

I have a few pictures of flowers for you, to maybe brighten up your day, it it needs a bit of brightening! Some are from the sad event in our lives, some are from the happy event, but does it really matter which is which? They all make us feel better, and loved…

A lily, up close!

Pink carnation.

Tiny little daisy.

Gerbera in blue bottle.

Gerbera, up close.

 

Flowers whisper “Beauty!” to the world, even as they fade, wilt, fall.  ~Dr. SunWolf,

 

 I feel better, even just looking at pictures of pretty flowers!

Have a great weekend, friends!!! I don’t know what you are going to do, but I’ll be packing for our trip to Europe… !!!!

 

 

 

Vitamins, please!

This year is/was CRAZY.

First off, a huge move at the very end of last year, from a place I’ve lived for the last 25 years, to a place where I know hardly any people. Coping with kids in the house again (a constant headache for me…), and especially a very difficult child, who had no worries to make life as complicated and as unpleasant as he possibly could for everyone around him…

Then, becoming a ‘farmer’, learning to handle cattle and falling head over heels in love with them.

The next issue was the hardest bit, as weird as it may sound…hearing from my daughter that they are planning to move to Canada, and it becoming a reality…  And then immediately after that the fact that they are also planning to get married before they move. (Less difficult to get my head around then the Canada news…)

In the last couple of weeks we’ve had a death in the family and a memorial service for the boy that most people will remember as amazingly difficult, and then this weekend, a wedding. The lowest, and the highest one can go emotionally.

I’ve got some pics from this past (HAPPY!!!) weekend for you. Actually only an appetizer, but something to set the mood and the scene of the wedding. I didn’t take photographs of the actual wedding, as I wanted to experience every moment first hand. And there were photographers to take pictures from all sides and angles, so for the ‘real’ wedding photo’s, you’ll have to wait a bit longer. As do I…

The couple had their own, very clear ideas of what they wanted for this special day. In short, a relaxed, casual day, out in the open, with all the close friends and family having fun.

Xandré busy with preparations the day before the wedding, and she still has enough energy left to be her normal, fun self.

The couple at the end of the day – very tired and ready to go rest up for the big day.

Wedding day…Xan being pampered.

The pretty, sexy heels for the wedding ceremony.

The cute and colourful flats for the reception.

And that’s all you’re getting from me at the moment. (To be honest, that’s all I’ve got at the moment…  )

 

Now I can admit to being tired myself, and now I can allow myself to get excited about our trip to Europe coming up. I’m so very, very grateful for my SO* that he made the decision earlier that we should go away for Christmas, because we both need a break and a change of scenery… I need to get my mind ready for the big ‘goodbye’ at the end of the year…

 

*Significant Other

 

 

 

 

 

A week later…

 

I know life in this household won’t ever be the same again.

I pray that I have the strength and patience to support through this time of grief and pain, and to wait until thing get back as close to normal as it’s going to get. (Remember my lack of patience?)

I believe (I have to…) that the way life will be different, will be something we can all live with.

We are still in the first stage of grief, with a few more to come. The clever people say anger is the next stage…

God give me strength, and wisdom, to say and do the right things at the right time. Amen.

R.I.P

Just a quick few words to explain my absence over the last week or so.

My SO’s eldest son passed away on Sunday after a week in hospital, at the age of 18.

You can imagine the turmoil in the house at the moment. The hurt, the pain, the people calling and wanting to stop by, etc. It’s been a very difficult time, most of all for this man of mine, as he was the sole provider to this boy in all senses – emotionally and physically. Christiaan’s passing is going to leave a huge hole in Bernd’s life, and this is going to take a very, very long time to come to terms with, if ever.

I sort of feel the need to try and explain this boy’s life to you guys, but I don’t think words would be able to do it. He was a troubled boy, a difficult young man to cope with – always against the stream, against authority, against discipline, sometimes it seemed, against life. But because of this, Bernd needed to be there 24/7 for this child. And he was. Always. He needed to coax, and prod, and plead, and cajole, and shout. Mostly to no avail, but he would never, ever have stopped trying. Now he’s gone, and it is something indescribable. I do believe he is at peace at last, as I’ve had the feeling for some time now that he is not for this world.

So, excuse me if I’m scarce, I’ll be back more regularly soon. Tomorrow is the memorial service, and after that, we can try and put life together again, as best we can.

The Cow post

Cattle. Cows. Calves.

Oh, and creche!

I love the alliteration there! Bulls have no place in this specific post – Adam will have a chance next time.

I’m tempted to say: ‘Halleluya!’, because another beautiful calf was born yesterday morning, which brings the current total to eleven!!! Five heifers, and six bull babies. And a few more to come. I am smiling broadly at the moment. I do realize that something will go wrong again somewhere down the line, but I’m thoroughly enjoying our blessings and good fortune for now.

(I’m disappointed – I was going to post just a short video of the babies, but I can’t unless I buy space?!!!! ) So, not as cute but some pictures of the babes…

The Creche – Six of the babies relaxing with moms.

Babies a couple of weeks ago.

 

 

Yesterday we had to move our cattle to another camp, as they’ve munched off all the grass in the old camp. It was so funny to watch! They jogged through the gate, saw the green, green grass on the other side and dived in! Then after a few minutes, they realized it’s a whole camp of  new, green grass and they started skipping and jumping and chasing each other around. It was so cool to watch!

This cow was sick a short while ago, and when she saw the juicy grass, she stuck her head in it, and hardly came up for air! I had to laugh at the way she was just about ‘mowing’ the grass!!! I managed to draw her attention enough for her to lift her head so I could take a picture.

Ooooooh YUM!!!!

 

 Nearly weekend, friends, hope you’ve got wonderful plans for it!!!!  :)

 

 

 

 

 

Color Crazy

I don’t know why this is, but I feel compelled to post this picture.

It is one of those ‘nothing’ pictures. Really, just a picture I took because …I don’t know why. I had breakfast with my daughter and a few of her friends in this very charming place called Isabella’s. Both Xan and I loved the decor – a cross between French and funky, modern and vintage. And at one point, after I finished eating, I looked down … and had to take the picture! And now I have to post it. It just won’t go away…

It is weird, because the colors are just crazy! They don’t match, but somehow, in the big picture of the place, it works.

Crazy colors.

 

I’m feeling a bit schizophrenic at the moment, with all the excitement of the wedding (their excitement, my sadness and excitement), the wonderful expectation of the upcoming holiday in Europe, the torn and sad feeling of knowing my daughter is leaving, etc. And I’ve said all of this before, and I probably will a few times more. Please excuse my rambling on the subject, and my continuous mulling over of the same stuff – I’ll get over it eventually, I promise!!! And I am happy and excited for the young couple too, even if it doesn’t sound that way!

Double O status…

It is the end of another week.

My goodness, but time is flying! I cannot believe that this year is already nearing its end. I’m not crazy about how this last couple of months have flown past, but there’s no stopping it, is there? And always the torn feelings – glad that our trip to Europe is coming up soon, but definitely not glad that the end of December is rushing up and that means saying goodbye…

But, at the moment I’m working ‘undercover’ as I’m busy with a very special project…  ;)  I’ll give you some clues…

 

Some special shiny stuff…

 

 

Have a wonderful week, friends!!!!