No Folderol Here

A window at the National Library of Congress
My mom and I at the National Gallery of Art
I read that a dog's nails should be cut once a month, apparently Vuyo didn't need his nails cut, because we cut the quick on the first one and bandaged it up.
An enclosed phone booth at the National Gallery of Art (not in the gallery, but for people to use) :)

Six weeks of holiday with my parents in Maryland. My brother arrived over a week ago and so we have begun going places. Last Tuesday, we went to Washington D.C. for my Dad's work Christmas party and stopped at the National Library of Congress for an exhibit of the first map with the name America on it (1515). After the party, we went to the National Gallery of Art for a snapshot exhibit of people's snapshots from the late 1800's until the 1970's.

I have been attending the young adult Bible Study at my parent's church. I was asked to lead the group one night, we are studying John along with the church and that week was John 10-12. We looked at God as the Shepherd and as sheep knowing God's voice, God's silence leading to greater things and being generous.

Since I am on holiday (although my brother says I am destitute) and the library is just over the bridge, I am racing through books and am about to finish reading Country of My Skull by Antjie Krog. She writes of her two years as a radio journalist covering the Truth and Reconciliation Commission in South Africa, including narratives presented.

La Primera Nieve (The First Snow)

My dad on the balcony for our morning sunrise coffee
Vuyo's lookout point, no one is going to walk by the house without his notice
Snowfall in the back garden

Today was the first snowfall at my parent's house.

I arrived back in the states two weeks ago, the day before Thanksgiving. My first two mornings were lovely, sat on my parent's balcony with puppies and coffee and just talked with mom and dad.

I will be in Laurel, Maryland until January and at the moment I am trying to keep up with my mom's physical fitness, joining her for her daily jaunts to the gym.

Also reading a very interesting book - Animal, Vegetable, Miracle by Barbara Kingsolver (and family members) about the year they spent eating only local food - Mostly growing it themselves, but it is quite interesting the sidebars on food production in the United States. Unfortunately, it is winter and I am salivating for homegrown vegetables.

Luke has gone home

Luke chasing KJ
Luke along with KJ and Copper
Luke and Vuyo in Maryland in my parent's kitchen.

Luke was shipped off to Albuquerque, New Mexico on 27 November. He is living with two other dogs, just like his old place, so not much change on that point, except these two are much older.

Go Down with the Sun

Me on the train

Clouds rolling over the 12 Apostles

Sunsetting by Lion's Head

My last post from South Africa so long. Information on the pictures is in the next post. For here, just enjoy some of my last views of Cape Town.

Proteas along the Sundowners

Simon's Town - home of a naval base

Simon's Town Penguins

Guinea Fowl, they come out in the summer and run rampant

Fortunately loose ends and packing were taken care of over the weekend, so I could go out and thoroughly enjoy my last day in Cape Town. Oh, I did have to go to the traffic department first thing in the morning to give notice of change of ownership of my car and then a friend and I took the train to Simon's Town, about 40 minutes ride. The train is sometimes feet away from the shoreline.

We had lunch, walked past boulder, were the penguins stay (yes, in Africa!).

My housemates and I then had a picnic on top of Signal Hill for a sundowner. A summer activity here is to go to the beach or the mountain with drinks and/or a picnic to watch the sun set over the Atlantic.

Mmmmm, I will leave some reflections for later I think. :)

Llandudno Beach

Some people consider this the best beach. It is a small beach quite far from Cape Town. I was there last Saturday briefly and then Sunday the young adults at church went. Vuyo went as well and was so well-behaved.

Saturday night was my going away party. I had some themes thrown in - a "t" party for tory or tea or ttttt, a puppy theme - because people have to say goodbye to the dogs too and Vuyo will have passed his puppy training or nightmare before christmas - because i have to go home.

My car is sold, found people to move into my room and the dogs are at the airport about to fly to Johannesburg.

Vuyo is Certified

Vuyo passed his puppy class on Saturday. Just in time. He had to do a heel pattern, come, sit, stand, lie down and wait, as well as sit stay for one minute and lie down stay for 2 minutes. Such a great puppy dog.