Holy Happy-Sweat-Bees, Batman…Go a Fisa Thata!

It is insanely hot here in the capital of South Africa. No, really. I’m pretty sure a lot of us are losing our minds under this sun! We really need some rain right now. Meanwhile my friends in America’s Carolinas and elsewhere are underwater with some kind of thousand year storm. Oy! This planet is … More Holy Happy-Sweat-Bees, Batman…Go a Fisa Thata!

Kurt’s Happy Place is the Bottom of the Pool?

A video from the bottom of the pool: Kurt’s favorite place to get rid of work stress…

Catch and Release (Tuesdays in Tshwane)

Welcome to another segment of Tuesdays in Tshwane: notes from life in the suburbs of South Africa’s capital. According to any local you ask, Spring has officially arrived in Pretoria, and with it, the flinging wide of windows and doors. Out with winter, in with spring, and in with…

Tuesdays in Tshwane: Rhino Orphanage Truck

Has another week gone by, already!? Where is 2015 going in such a hurry? Here’s a snap taken shortly after we moved to Tshwane (pka Pretoria). A tractor pulling a couple of rhinoceros statues was very attention-grabbing

Tuesdays in Tshwane: Collared Barbet

Happy Tuesday, readers! Sharing a few snaps of a couple collared barbets. These two might be a mating pair. Does this surprise you? If so, you’re probably familiar with birds, and know that many male birds have more color, or striking variation in color, than females. The generally accepted explanation for this is that males … More Tuesdays in Tshwane: Collared Barbet

In Defense of Car Guards

Some people have asked me about “car guards” in South Africa, since I’ve mentioned them a time or two. This is a group of individuals I care about, and among whom I have very good friends, so here is my answer, along with my disappointment in those who look down on them… *A “car guard” … More In Defense of Car Guards

When a Bird Challenges Your Car, You…

Welcome to another segment of “Tuesdays in Tshwane,” bits and pieces of our life living on the outskirts of South Africa’s capitol City, Pretoria (nka Tshwane.) These segments aren’t intentionally all about birds, but they certainly are abundant and varied here, so they do play a large part of our frequent encounters. We had an … More When a Bird Challenges Your Car, You…

Pardon Me, but Your Balls are the Wrong Color!

Welcome to another post on “Tuesdays in Tshwane,” where I give you a little slice of life around the capitol city of Pretoria (nka Tshwane) South Africa.

Things Unknown but Longed For Still

I don’t think after living in South Africa that I could ever keep a caged bird. They are so incredibly happy flying in the trees, and fluttering back and forth to the feeder, and eating together as a large, social unit. Lately, love birds are my most abundant visitors.

Squabs and the Strange Poets Who Write About Them

WTF is a “squab?” Who even knows such a thing, and worse…who writes about it? Do YOU know? A “squab” is: a) Traveling Marla b) a baby bird c) a cushiony place for your butt d) All of the above Did you guess (d) All of the above? Ding ding ding! You’re correct. A “squab” … More Squabs and the Strange Poets Who Write About Them