Farm Boys - A Trip Down Memory Lane

As our time on the farm runs out, we've been thinking and looking back to what we've done and learned. This post is dedicated to the gang of boys that has played and had fun here on the farm during our stay, who welcomed Theuns and Maarten (though shy at first), and made them temporary farm boys as well.

Every week (as far as needed/possible), Theuns and Maarten has looked after and played with Diesel on Thursdays and Fridays - we've all come to love him as a youngest brother. By all means the farthest thing from shy and quiet, Diesel, Theuns and Maarten has done everything from collecting straw for piglets, to reading, drawing, swimming, and building mudmen.

Winter floods and swimming - they were blue afterwards. 

Card-house smiles. 

Endless drawing (he makes them draw a picture then colors it in himself). 

'Working' getting straw for the piglets. 

Temporarily water drawing, with ice as a medium. 

Reading. 

We love you, Diesel. 

With plenty of hills and bikes available, racing downhill has been an adrenaline filled entertainment.

The boys are back in town...

Diesel brakes barefoot; not the others though. They aren't that tough. 

Sometimes, racing and swimming even got combined! Video - Diesel in action! 

Then there has been exploring and digging tunnels....

A Cave Weekend in April

Last month, we went on a weekend adventure worth mentioning. We  drove to Baviaanskloof through Willowmore, to a place called 'Bakkrans'. Together with the Burgers, 'tannie' Anel's brother and friends of theirs, and Kate we spent the weekend there - in a real cave!

"No loitering is allowed on this bridge."  Of course we loitered.

Antique shop/restaurant in Willowmore. 

After many a pit stop on the way, we arrived at our cave... A fire was immediately started (for cooking purposes, not scaring animals off...yet).

Lunch pit stop. 

'Bakkrans'! 

 From above.

Snack platter!

Late evening walk up the gorge. 

We could see there used to be water. 

Me playing baboon (the person is my dad). 

Flying object incoming...

The first night passed without event, and the next day we hiked up the gorge to where the stream is still actually flowing.

The 26th of April was my parents 18th wedding anniversary.

 

 Special tree.

Friendly shadows. 

Maarten and the arum lilies.

Plenty of Socializing

During the past 2 months, we've had some people come and visit us for a day or two, as well as my mom's birthday on March 21st.  So even though we stay on a farm, we are blessed by people visiting us. We have the privilege of having a separate flat where people can stay, and this has proven to be very handy.

'Tannie' Johanneke has been following my mom's website for a while and contacted my mom to hear if she and her 4 children could come and meet us one day. They've been on an amazing journey with similarities to ours, and their visit meant a lot to us.  We have now made new friends all over the  country.

Our other new friends from nearby at the Goukamma Nature Reserve also came for a visit and helped a lot with the ponies ('tannie' Louise and her eldest daughter are great horse lovers). We had fun swimming and folding origami.

Handling Arend.

Getting Valk into a small enclosed area was a mission the first few times... 

Trying join up. 

Enjoying the late evening sun.  

We also had another friend from Oudtshoorn stay over one night - 'tannie' Nanie enjoyed being so close to nature with us.

Lunch under the tree.

On my mom's birthday, people from the valley and some friends from George all came together for a braai, and despite the weather starting out cold and rainy, it cleared up later the afternoon so we could sit outside.  We laughed, star gazed, took a walk, and everyone went home stuffed and happy. The day was good, the food even better and the company the best!

Our very own photoshoot.

Thank you for reading!