Out of the Jurisdiction: Carved Animals

A longtime family friend visited Susie in April.  Janet came away with a six inch long hippo.

Susie came away with a 200 pound wooden hippo for the baby's room.

The inventory is different every time I visit.  These rhinos and elephants were pretty good, 

but I already have an elephant and a rhino.  I am still trying to find
the perfect leopard to complete my collection.
No luck this time.

Back to Naples tomorrow for one day, for the City Daily Photo theme day.

Out of the Jurisdiction: Some People Don't Like Having Their Picture Taken

This is a favorite market with wooden, stone, metal and bead animals.

Some are small enough to fit in a hand, others tower over me.

Maybe I should have bought something from him.

Out of the Jurisdiction: Michelle

Michelle works in a stylish Johannesburg home furnishings store, Vendange ("grape harvest").  

They sell "shabby chic" wares, much of it related to wine.  Michelle hopes to save up enough
money to start her own floral decor business -- making flower arrangements for
weddings, parties, corporate events and other special occasions.

Out of the Jurisdiction: Peter

Peter was a farmer in Malawi, raising millet, maize, nuts and tobacco.  Malawi is a poor country.
His brother was doing well in South Africa, so Peter emigrated two years ago.

In Sun Valley Peter works as a gardener and helps with other yard chores.
He sends money home to his wife and children and visits when he can.

Out of the Jurisdiction: Diana

Diana is 83.  She had a table at the Bryanston Organic Market where she was selling polished stones.
She also had a few copies of her memoir, telling the tale of her birth in Africa, being sent to live with her grandparents on a gloomy estate in Ireland as a child when her parents split up,
and returning to live an adventurous life in Africa as an adult.  

I bought a copy.

And, at the other end of the age spectrum, here is wonderful Willa this morning.  
It is astonishing how alert she is at 17 days.

  

Out of the Jurisdiction: Good night

Good night, valley.

Good night, acacias.

Out of the Jurisdiction: Late Afternoon in Sun Valley

Yes, I know this shot into the waning sun across a field of grass has many flaws.  But, I like it.

A little bit further in the walk, the sun was falling behind the hills.

Out of the Jurisdiction: Susie's Flowers

Did I mention that daughter Susie is a fanatical gardener?  Five more years and her place will be one of the mainstays of the Sun Valley garden tours.  

It is now the start of winter, and many plantings are calling it quits 

for the season, but there are still plenty of beautiful flowers.

In addition to thousands of flowers, vegetables and herbs, Susie has planted dozens of trees,

shrubs and bushes.  Here are a couple.  More some other day.  Or some other trip.

Out of the Jurisdiction: Cafe

We went to a cafe for lunch.  Even in winter, South African days are comfortable for al fresco dining.  

This cafe features well spaced tables and excellent food, much of it organic.

Out of the Jurisdiction: Encountered on Our Walks

At the start of the day, grooms lead horses to the fields.  At the end, to the stables.  Behind them, a worker in a bucket truck is doing repairs on the very unreliable electric distribution system.

Sometimes trail riders from a nearby stable pass us.

Lola and Sequoia are usually good when riders pass.

Out of the Jurisdiction: Dogs

In Johannesburg, everyone has barking dogs behind electrified fences for security.
I heard that in this area a typical property has seven dogs.  Susie and Wes have two weimaraners.

On the dogs' daily races walks, the greatest joy of Susie's older weimaraner -- Lola -- is racing sprinting up and down outside the fences, spurring the inside dogs into loud barking frenzies.

What could be more fun?

Out of the Jurisdiction: Guinea Fowl

I have been observing a flock (currently seven) of domesticated guinea fowl that share the farm

with Susie, Wessel and Willa.  (And the dogs and the sheep and . . . you get the idea.)  

The guinea fowl scuttle around in a pack and show up

near the chicken coop when it is dinner time.

There were numerous questions about the masks on yesterday's horses.  Yes, they are to keep flies away.  When it gets cold, they also wear blankets and leggings.  These are coddled horses.

Out of the Jurisdiction: Horses

Sun Valley is in the northern suburbs of Johannesburg,
with many horse farms and conservation land.

Susie's and Wessel's small farm has stables and paddocks that they rent out.  So, they

get to enjoy the sight of horses grazing and training, but without the work and expense.

The horses on the leased land are champion show horses and jumpers.

Out of the Jurisdiction: Willa

One week ago -- on Mothers Day -- daughter Susie produced a perfect baby.  Willa is a long,
thin, beautiful, blue-eyed blonde girl, living with mother Susie and father Wessel
in the horse country outside Johannesburg.

Until early June, I will be spoiling visiting granddaughter Willa and her proud parents.
If the power stays on and the wifi works, I will continue to post daily,
but limitations of time (and the unreliable power and wifi)
will probably mean I can't visit others.  (Sorry.)

Portraits of the Wild

I met A. E. London in February at the Naples Art Festival.

Anne is a fine artist and a devoted advocate for protecting African wildlife.

Two days with an African subtext.  What's up?  I am in Johannesburg, South Africa, in the early days of my visit to Susie, Wes and brand new baby Willa, whom you will meet tomorrow.

Nicola

Nicola manages Native Visions Galleries on Naples' Fifth Avenue South.
The gallery features wildlife and environmental art.

Nicola came to the USA from Zimbabwe seven years ago. It will not surprise you that tall and statuesque Nicola is a former model.  Two visits.  Two different looks.  Both gorgeous.

Ana

Ana was born in Portugal and came to the USA when she was eight.  She grew up 

in Massachusetts and raised her children in Edmonton, Alberta, before moving to Naples.  

These days Ana works in a women's clothing store.

Weekend Reflections.

Chandelier

A few days ago I was in Sarasota to see the Ringling Museum of Art and the Circus Museum,

which you have seen before here, here, here and here.  

I also toured the Ringling family's home on Sarasota Bay. 

 Lots of fine things to photograph, but I especially liked the way this 

ornate crystal chandelier stood out against the dark walls and ceiling.

Sunset at Naples Pier II

Low tide makes the foreground more interesting.

And this is an iPhone photo taken ten minutes before the top DSLR photo.
Why do we try so hard with fancy cameras when iPhone photos are so good?

Sunset at Naples Pier I

This construction worker was not happy when mother told him it was time to go.

Matlacha Post Office

The U.S. Post Office building in Matlacha has a pretty nice fish mural on the side.
I like the image of a huge fish supporting the whole fishing village.

See Monday Mural for more photographs of murals.

Royal Poinciana

The royal poinciana trees flower in southwest Florida in May and June.

The trees have showy orange-red clusters about the size of footballs above feathery fern-like foliage.

Beauties

 As I said earlier, I don't know much about cars, but I do know beauty.  How do you like these?

Delahaye 1937 Type 135 MS Special Roadster



This is a BMW 328 (1936 - 1940)

1934 Tipo 8C 2300 Corto, Touring Alpha Romeo
I have no idea what all of that means.  It was on a plaque.

This baby is a 1995 McLaren F1 with a carbon fiber hull.  It has a top speed of 240 mph
and goes from zero to 60 mph in 3.4 seconds.  

Mercedes-Benz W196 (1955 - 1956)

This gorgeous car has a magnesium alloy body.  Unfortunately, an MB W196 was in an accident at Le Mans and ignited.  The pit crew mechanics poured water on the fire, intensifying the fire.
82 spectators died, the worst accident in racing history, leading Mercedes to end
its participation in racing for three decades.