From Muden to Richmond
Since my previous entry I have moved away from MNR (a thousand sobs) and am now Overthere (whar? Over thar!). The name of this farm nestled in picturesque Byrne valley is Overthere Farm. It's a small family of four farm, not including the four Great Danes and six cats.
My last few days at MNR were spectacular. Andy and I did a long half day hike to the tallest point, rising from 500m to 1250m. From there I could see the whole of the valley and beyond from a new vantage point. We found new succulents that prefer the grasslands and rocky outcrops in higher elevations, and a termite mound as tall as I am! Nature is neat like that. For a couple of nights we slept at the visitor campsite as we completed some repairs, where I finally utilized my hammock. We enjoyed beers, boervors on rolls, and potatoes as the fire and stars entertained us. Wrapped up in my sleeping bag and blankets I stubbornly refused to acknowledge the cold, and focused on the soft sway of the hammock, stars twinkling through bare stinkwood branches, and jackals and zebra filling the void of night. As I made my final walk up the road returning to the house, a duiker stood in plain sight and allowed me to stare back at her. Up until now all I'd seen were fleeing backsides. Goodbye to you as well, lovely critter.
The python was completed before I left, apart from the massive puzzle of ribs. Measured out she was 12 feet (366cm) long! And nearly 300 vertebrae! I have a photo of me laying next to it. Totally worth the hours of peeling dry skin and cartilage from the bones. Richard drove me to Pietermaritzburg to meet the Grafs. He is practically deaf while driving so our conversations go like this: (slightly abbreviated)
Richard, how do you say 'beautiful mountains' in Zulu?
Hmm what?
Beautiful mountains, in Zulu. How do you say it?
Beautiful? Yes, they're very beautiful.
No, in Zulu, how do you say 'beautiful mountains'?
(long pause) So. You got to see lots of things during your stay, hm?
Yes. Yes I did.
I will miss the Alcock family but hope to see them and MNR when it's green.
In addition to the Graaf family there are loads of milking cow, calves, a bull named Humphrey (which I pronounce 'Hrrrumphrey' by the look he gives), 17 goats, lots of chicken and roosters, 3 pigs and 15 two-week old piglets, and some geese. The dozens of fruit trees are bearing thousands of fruit, including one massive avocado. I put my climbing gear to use as I ascended a massive avo tree and axed down a branch. Fem and I were able to collect dozens upon dozens of avocados! Already Marcella has shown me how to make cheese, and there are several cheeses of different ages in the fridge.
Nearly all the food we eat comes from what is grown in the garden or derived from the animals. Pumpkin has been a star of several meals. Homemade bread is prepared each night for tomorrow's tea and lunch. I've made 3 leaves and they're slowly getting better. There are several pounds of dates 'expired' for food stores to sell. So the Graafs cheaply buy them in massive bulk for cow, pigs, and ourselves. It's a treat since they normally cost so much!
On Tuesday another childhood dream came true since reading James Herriot books in middle school. Julia, a volunteer from Germany, also said it was something she's always wanted to do. It really began on Monday when we thought one of the pregnant cows, Snip, was going into labor. But then we all assumed extreme discomfort from constipation. Funny how the two can be confused. By the next morning, labor became evident. We could stick our hands in (yeah, you know exactly where) and feel his tiny little nose.
After he was born Snip cleaned him off and the slimy black guy turned light gray with soft, curly hair. Snip felt weak and she wouldn't stand, which would ultimately decide both of their fates. Noting how bloated she was, one of the Graafs made a joke about twins.Twins in cows I discovered is very rare. And if they're both sexes, then the female is sterile. Life knowledge. Julia and I checked later and relayed to Gerry that it seemed like the placenta was coming out. "Let it slide out and feed it to her," he responded. But as I began to pull I realized that it was a second calf coming out! She was the spitting image of her mom. I felt for a beat but could only feel my own. I ripped the sack open as told, Gerry helped me pull the rest of her out, but she was stillborn. Nobody expected to actually see a second calf born. Snip refused still to stand, so we helped her with modern technology for the win. Meanwhile the little bull, becoming hungry, tried to find out if my arms produced any milk. Both now seem more content. Little moo has his milk, and mom is grazing and standing.
My last few days at MNR were spectacular. Andy and I did a long half day hike to the tallest point, rising from 500m to 1250m. From there I could see the whole of the valley and beyond from a new vantage point. We found new succulents that prefer the grasslands and rocky outcrops in higher elevations, and a termite mound as tall as I am! Nature is neat like that. For a couple of nights we slept at the visitor campsite as we completed some repairs, where I finally utilized my hammock. We enjoyed beers, boervors on rolls, and potatoes as the fire and stars entertained us. Wrapped up in my sleeping bag and blankets I stubbornly refused to acknowledge the cold, and focused on the soft sway of the hammock, stars twinkling through bare stinkwood branches, and jackals and zebra filling the void of night. As I made my final walk up the road returning to the house, a duiker stood in plain sight and allowed me to stare back at her. Up until now all I'd seen were fleeing backsides. Goodbye to you as well, lovely critter.
The python was completed before I left, apart from the massive puzzle of ribs. Measured out she was 12 feet (366cm) long! And nearly 300 vertebrae! I have a photo of me laying next to it. Totally worth the hours of peeling dry skin and cartilage from the bones. Richard drove me to Pietermaritzburg to meet the Grafs. He is practically deaf while driving so our conversations go like this: (slightly abbreviated)
Richard, how do you say 'beautiful mountains' in Zulu?
Hmm what?
Beautiful mountains, in Zulu. How do you say it?
Beautiful? Yes, they're very beautiful.
No, in Zulu, how do you say 'beautiful mountains'?
(long pause) So. You got to see lots of things during your stay, hm?
Yes. Yes I did.
I will miss the Alcock family but hope to see them and MNR when it's green.
In addition to the Graaf family there are loads of milking cow, calves, a bull named Humphrey (which I pronounce 'Hrrrumphrey' by the look he gives), 17 goats, lots of chicken and roosters, 3 pigs and 15 two-week old piglets, and some geese. The dozens of fruit trees are bearing thousands of fruit, including one massive avocado. I put my climbing gear to use as I ascended a massive avo tree and axed down a branch. Fem and I were able to collect dozens upon dozens of avocados! Already Marcella has shown me how to make cheese, and there are several cheeses of different ages in the fridge.
Nearly all the food we eat comes from what is grown in the garden or derived from the animals. Pumpkin has been a star of several meals. Homemade bread is prepared each night for tomorrow's tea and lunch. I've made 3 leaves and they're slowly getting better. There are several pounds of dates 'expired' for food stores to sell. So the Graafs cheaply buy them in massive bulk for cow, pigs, and ourselves. It's a treat since they normally cost so much!
On Tuesday another childhood dream came true since reading James Herriot books in middle school. Julia, a volunteer from Germany, also said it was something she's always wanted to do. It really began on Monday when we thought one of the pregnant cows, Snip, was going into labor. But then we all assumed extreme discomfort from constipation. Funny how the two can be confused. By the next morning, labor became evident. We could stick our hands in (yeah, you know exactly where) and feel his tiny little nose.
 |
| Snip and Stuck |
After he was born Snip cleaned him off and the slimy black guy turned light gray with soft, curly hair. Snip felt weak and she wouldn't stand, which would ultimately decide both of their fates. Noting how bloated she was, one of the Graafs made a joke about twins.Twins in cows I discovered is very rare. And if they're both sexes, then the female is sterile. Life knowledge. Julia and I checked later and relayed to Gerry that it seemed like the placenta was coming out. "Let it slide out and feed it to her," he responded. But as I began to pull I realized that it was a second calf coming out! She was the spitting image of her mom. I felt for a beat but could only feel my own. I ripped the sack open as told, Gerry helped me pull the rest of her out, but she was stillborn. Nobody expected to actually see a second calf born. Snip refused still to stand, so we helped her with modern technology for the win. Meanwhile the little bull, becoming hungry, tried to find out if my arms produced any milk. Both now seem more content. Little moo has his milk, and mom is grazing and standing.
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