Goose pimples in the spring sunshine

Today was one of those beautiful days - sunny, blue-skied and filled with music. It was also serendipitous in the most delightful way. What now feels like a long, long time ago, I blogged about Alwyn Hewson. I think about him and his family often. Even now, two years later, one of them will pop into my thoughts. I've continued to wonder how his wife and kids were doing... and today was the day I found out. We were picnicing at the Walter Sisulu Gardens when I noticed a red-headed boy running past me clutching a dirty, stuffed toy dog by the ear. Boyfriend Ben's son (also a red head) ran off with him. When none of them returned, I went looking for the boys. The teenage girl taking care of the red-head turned out to be Alwyn's daughter and Liam was the baby I'd last seen three years ago. Alwyn's wife, Daryl, was nearby and we had a goose-pimple, warm hugging reunion. That was when she told me that the post I'd written so long ago had been discovered by her brother who lived in the States and distributed through their family. She thanked me because it meant so much to them all. This left me trying to swallow the huge lump in my throat. Standing there in the warm spring sunshine I was filled with goose bumps. Boyfriend Ben poined out how something I'd written had touched people, some of which I don't even know.

This made me realise the power of writing. That sometimes you just have to write, the reason you're doing it is less important.

yearning for spring

I have roses blooming outside my front door.
It's still really bone-achingly cold.
I'm hoping it'll be over soon...
The delicate fragrance of these flowers
suggest the promise of spring

Butterfly surprise

This is just a guess, but I'd probably be a better photographer if I took the time to read my camera's manual! A big part of me enjoys the delight and surprise of the 'happy accident,' as opposed the the 'happy snap.' Happy snaps are, to me, of the mindless point-and-shoot persuasion. I try to capture interesting angles and compositions; expressions and poses. When I'm called on to the the point and shoot thing, I try to make the pics look as interesting as possible.

I noticed this beautiful butterfly clinging to an old vegetable rack beneath the garden table. It snuck into the corner of my vision as I was on my way to the kitchen. I ran for my camera, got back, and it was still there. Gingerly, I pulled the rack out from under the table, hoping not to disturb this winged visitor. I'm guessing the poor butterfly felt threatened and exposed. Without calling too much attention to it, lest Jax or Jo decide to eat it, I zoomed in, closer and closer, until I got this shot. I love the juxtaposition of the grid's shadows superimposed over the velvety colours of the wings! And, the fact that I caught it, super sharp!

Such a delight, this butterfly was huge, biggest one I think I've ever seen.I pushed the rack back under the table and left him there. When I checked later, he was gone. What a lovely gift of spring. Lucky me!

S P R I N G! at last!

Thank ye gods of pretty flowers! My favourite time of the year has arrived, and I'm hoping that'll be the end of the cold. Yes I know, there's usually a couple of cold snaps to get through before summer is well under way and I'm bitching about the horrendous heat.

I love driving through Jo'burg's oldest suburbs - seeing the trees turn, suddenly bursting into bright-green-bud. The sudden surprise of the blossoms languishing over a wall; grateful for the change in the sky, have you noticed how, as the seasons change, it deepens it's blue?

I love this crazy city in spring!