Belladonna
March Lily, tamatiebredie, Buchu harvest, Lamberts Bay
We had rain overnight, 14 mm. At the start of March, a daily maximum of 18C. Wasn’t it 2 weeks ago that we had 38C?
Bowie and I went for a walk, with Toby turning around to go back home. Or so I thought. We’d walked past the point where I usually turn around when Toby is with us, when Bowie looked back down the road. And there was Toby! Seems he’d changed his mind about a walk.
I didn’t really have an endpoint in mind with our walk, maybe the dam so that Bowie could have a swim. Then I saw some Parasol Lily on the other side of the valley, which I felt inclined to go look at. And I found Blood Lily.
Walking back past the dam, in the distance I saw a beautiful patch of March Lily, so we went to have a look. The walk was a bit muddy, but well worth it.
Bowie likes to jump into the dam for a cooldown and short swim, followed by a few crazy ‘laps’ running up and down, shaking off the water.
It had been a nice walk with cool temperatures and a bit of rain; more than 6 km.
As we walked into the cottage, A.S. came along, coffee in hand. He was making a tamatiebredie [tomato stew]1 and we were invited. It’s not a dish that I eat often and this one was exceptional. Not that it’s only about the food, it’s also about the geselsies around the fire, telling stories, enjoying a beer or some wine. I enjoy the Namaqualand stories about family; tannies and ooms and neefs and niggies [aunts, uncles, cousins]. Some places we’ve been to, other places are going on the ‘to-visit’ list.
After our walk, the dogs were tired and enjoyed the sun. Back at the cottage, Bowie enjoyed a few of the bones.
Monday morning starts cool and slow. Dawn is a little slower, the lightness of a few weeks ago slowly trundling towards winter.
On the Tweefontein farm the harvest has been completed, and it is now time for a vacation for the permanent workers. The seasonal workers, who have been here for the picking season, will now move on. Probably to the Citrusdal and Clanwilliam regions, where the mango season has started and the citrus fruits will be ripe shortly.
Toby walks in for a cuddle and treat. It’s time for our morning walk, though Toby decides to stay at home. C.S. probably opened the kitchen door, it’s time for Toby’s morning treat.
Bowie and I walked until we found the morning sun, the koppie seeming to get higher every morning. After we’d crossed the stream and as we got a sunny spot, Bowie saw a cat. He stared for a while and then gave chase. Not far, though, Bowie’s getting a bit chubby.
Back at the cottage, it was time to do some laundry and some cleaning. However, the blommetjies were calling us to come and have a look. This time, Toby came along. It’s a short season with the March Lily, we’re going to enjoy every minute.
We’ve been talking about putting sealant on the cottage roof, and I climbed up the ladder to start cleaning2. I have a fear of heights and getting on the roof was an achievement in itself. Bowie was quite anxious until A.S. put him in a spot where he could see me. The roof is quite flat, and I was OK in the middle. However, the edges were a step too far, especially on the left of the photograph below, where there is optically quite a drop. Jy moer net een keer af! [You only need to fall off once] C.S. also climbed up to help brush off the previous paint coating; it was more work than we’d realized.
Nope, let’s get in a professional! I was pleased to be back on terra firma, as was Bowie. After a shower, A.S. and I enjoyed a nice cool beer on the stoep. It was quite hot on that roof.
Tuesday is pensioner’s day in Spar, so we were off to the dorp.
We don’t have garbage collection here on the plaas, so we drop it off in town. Recycling at the sorting centre, the ‘small bag’ in a garbage bin somewhere. I also filled up with petrol, as the price is increasing by 20 cents tonight; that’s 1% by my reckoning.
The Spar was quite busy, which meant that Bowie had to wait a little longer than usual. He was already in the navigator’s seat when I got back to the car en toe praat hy met my [and then he talked to me]. “Where were you, I was getting worried!” A calming cuddle was in order, then I let him sit in the front seat while we drove to the AgriMark to get him anti-parasite tablets. When I got back to the car, Bowie was sitting in the driver’s seat, watching the shop door. When I opened the car door, he moved over to his side, clever dog.
Our last stop in the dorp is often the Crazy Cat Coffee Shop, where Bowie lies on the cool floor, usually falling asleep. He’s quite calm, Pa is now with him and within sight. I gave him a bowl with water and some biscuits as a treat. He’ll drink but rarely eats when we’ve been to the dorp. I had a bagel and cappuccino, listening to farmers talking about a herbicide they’d been using and its rather negative effects on crop yields.
I got some fruit tartlets to share with A. & C. over a coffee back at the plaas. Toby and Bowie got a biscuit, and then Bowie fell asleep under the table.
It was buchu-harvesting day on Wednesday, and the air was filled with a wonderful aromatic perfume.
The buchu is processed by a neighbouring farm and a team of buchu cutters was dropped off early morning. Each team member gets hessian bags and stickers; they each get paid by weight, so they were wikkeling [moving]. Scythes were used to cut the whole buchu plant, with the root stem then regrowing for next year’s harvest.
I will only go onto a farm with the farmer’s permission and found a farm map online3 to check the farm borders.
Bowie was all excited by the people on the plaas, especially after the day started with him herding guinea fowl that were too stupid to fly away. Headless chickens! On our walk, I saw termites adding to their “high-rise building”. If only termites were in charge of social housing.
After the arrival of the buchu planters, we also had Fagan, Albert and Vossie coming to waterproof the cottage roof. None of them has a fear of heights, but Albert doesn’t like spiders. I’m the opposite. Within a few hours, two coats of paint were down. There’s no way that I could’ve done it as quick or as well.
I’ve been reading up on the biological link between fynbos and fire4. So far, I’ve found evidence of resprouting, reseeding, and dispersal and burial of seeds by ants. “The seeds have a sweet, nutritious treat on them (an elaiosome), which the ants takedown into their nests for the colony to eat. The seeds are now effectively planted, and protected, until the next fire comes along.”5
Some plants, such as the fire lily (Cyrtanthus ventricosus)6, only produce flowers after fires triggered by chemicals in the smoke. I haven’t seen the fire lily yet and went for a walk to have a look. I didn’t see any, though there are sprouts of lily-like plants coming up. Maybe in a week or two?
Last night, Bowie joined me on the bed, going into human mode. Lying on his back, feet in the air, hardly space for me, hogging the duvet. I loved every minute!
Thursday morning, Toby has sniffled his way into the kitchen, which is my treats alarm. While I enjoy a coffee, Bowie and Toby lie outside on the stoep on a cool cloudy morning. After a shower, Bowie and I went for a walk while Toby stayed with his Ma.
A few chores at the cottage, and then Bowie and I were off to visit the Ouma and her clan in Lamberts Bay. This time, I didn’t take the coastal route but rather the N7 via Clanwilliam. I wanted to get mango fresh off the farm at De Kleine Stoor.
They’ve been broadening and re-tarring the N7, which has previously meant plenty of stop & go’s but not this time, though it was single lanes north of Piketberg. They’re fixing the roads, I’m not complaining.
Bowie has a fan club at De Kleine Stoor, which he thoroughly enjoys. He’s also got a bit of a feather-duster fetish, and I thus have to keep him on the leash in the store. It’s a nice place for a short leg-stretcher walk.
They had mango, and I got two trays - while I was there, the mango were flying out the store7. I also got a ham and cheese toastie to go. On jalapeno sourdough bread which gives it a nice kick, dit gaan wit brand [it’ll clear your exhaust].
Another 80 km to Lamberts Bay, where Ouma was all dressed up ready for a lunch date at the Mad Hatter’s Coffee Shop. The whole clan came along, including Ravi, and we had a lekker lunch, with lots of jokes and laughs. I had the ‘smiley face’ bobotie broodjie, and afterwards we all enjoyed some chocolate cake Afterwards, the klong [boy] and Ravi went to the beach with us where the dogs had a nice frolic. Crazy cold water along the weskus. Sometimes the klong goes for a swim, followed by the dogs; not yesterday, he’s got the man-flu.
On the way back to the cottage, we dropped off some mango at B&M in the dorp and then a short catch-up with C.S. at the cottage. She’s been cleaning their house, her parents are visiting over the weekend. A.S. is in theUSA for a week or so at a conference.
On Friday there was a light rain all day, enough to wet the soil but not wash us away.
I walked up the tar road with Bowie, which gives him a different stimulus that included guinea fowl. As we were walking pasted the stoor [barn] of ‘daai vrou’, here dog rushed us. Not pleasant! Fortunately, a farm worker called the dog and then checked on us, which was nice.
After last weekend’s fantastic tamatie bredie [tomato stew] cooked by A.S., I decided to do a Jaapie version. No recipe as such, a gevoel [a feeling], with paprika, garlic and ginger. I cook for myself only, it was OK.
The dogs and I went looking for the Fire Lily on our evening walk, to no avail. The Marh Lily and Blood Lily are still beautiful, with more and more still coming up, especially of the Blood Lily.
My friend’s daughter forgot the word “dandelion” so she described it as “the one that explodes into wishes.”8
The local Post Office is only open twice a month, on a Saturday morning, and I had letter to post to Germany. Let’s see if the letter gets there!? Unusually, that’s a second trip to the dorp for us this week.
First, though, Toby walked in for his morning cuddle and treat (I think Ma knows!) and then we went for a walk, the three of us. Bowie saw the guinea fowl, but they were too far away for a chase-&-herd manoeuvre. Toby couldn’t care less.
Our first stop was at the Post Office, which had opened at 8 am. Only me and the “postman”, who’s only there to accept mail and sort mail for the dorp and mailboxes. No services, cash only. A friendly chap who explained the setup to me; he takes the mail to Malmesbury Post Office, which is still fully functional, where it gets processed and sent off. At least we still have a Post Office, it’s closed down in Moorreesburg, which is the next bigger dorp. Anyway, my letter has been posted to Germany at less than R200; a courier country quoted me R1,000 - R2,000. Will it get there, though, is my concern.
I didn’t have cash and Mr Postman suggested cashback at the Spar. A good idea, as I could get some walkies (chicken feet) for Bowie.
Afterwards, a bederfie [treat] at the Crazy Cat coffee shop, where Bowie was initially a bit restless and then settled down for a snooze.
Toby usually comes to meet us at the plaashek [farm gate] and then walks with us to the cottage, probably in the hope of getting a treat. He wasn’t keen on joining us for a short walk up the koppie. Some of the march Lily are starting to fade, but new ones are still coming up. I think we’ve missed the Fire Lily, if it is found around here.
I was sitting in the kitchen when a mongoose skittled past, carrying one of Bowie’s bones. Unfortunately, Bowie must’ve smelled it, as he was out the door in a flash. Bone dropped, mongoose escaped and will be back. I sometimes hear footsteps in the kitchen at night, while at other times Bowie will rush outside.
Ai, then the dogs had rumble about nothing, and I had to do the Pa thing. They settled quickly, both coming to me for re-assurance that I still loved them, which they duly got. A few minutes later, they were lying next to each on the stoep, next to me.
Easy like Sunday morning9 - I’m taking the dogs for a walk. Enjoy!
I was wearing an overall, air filter mask and goggles as it’s an asbestos roof.
Fynbos & fire [Cape Hike & Climb]
Ants - friends of the fynbos [journals.co.za]
Meet the Fire Lily [In Defense of Plants]
R120 a tray, who’s going to argue with that price?
You can read more about buchu and it's processing here: https://piquetbuchu.co.za/
“the one that explodes into wishes.” Really nice.