the sky's on fire . . .

. . . is what I was saying to Marieke as I walked into the office and back out again to snap this shot, before its glory had finished setting :-)

what remains

This is what remains of the evening's visit by a hungry lion. What does not remain is one not-quite-fast-enough Puku, or so reported the Zambians who told me about the prints and the marks of the struggle.

flushing froggy

As is customary, I took my morning walk from my room to the Bush Camp shower and toilet house I use. As is also customary, I then used the toilet before hopping in the shower. The bathhouse being dimly lit, I do not generally peer very closely into the toilet bowl, but this time I noticed something there after flushing. I guess the last visitor left a little something here . . . I thought, slightly amused. So I waited a moment and flushed again. Still there. And again. Still there. That’s odd, I thought. This time I bent down and looked closely into the toilet bowl.
Then I laughed.
There looking up at me was a good size bullfrog, toes gripping the sides tightly and an expression of what I perceived as annoyance on his froggy face. Rightly so, for sure. I apologized out loud to him then, for showering him with such a rude morning awakening.
Leaving the toilet cover up this time [it is generally left shut], I was relieved to see that he had left his post by the time I finished my shower, presumably to a more sanitary and suitable habitat.
I was, however, amused to learn later that this does happen regularly, not because they jump into the toilet bowl but rather because they come up through the pipes themselves . . . so maybe he did not escape to such a sanitary abode after all ☺

a birthday "card"

Happy Birthday Helen!
with lots of love, and creative energies, from:
Lara, Eva, Ellen, Annie, & Anna
[in other words, the entire crew of my little one-room-schoolhouse :-)]

weekend visiting

A friend and her little one, during a Sunday spent visiting with her at her home in the village.

for the sake of the blog

You should know that I risked my life for the sake of you blog-readers today . . . this shot led to a charging hippo and to a nearby shout to me of "Just run!!!" I then sheepishly apologized to folks here for ignorance as to the speed capacities of these lumbering creatures, and for causing some quickened heartbeats :-)

another setting

I warned you not to mind multiple sunset shots, did I not? :-) When the school day lasts until around 5:30 these days, I'm afraid a captured sunset is generally all that time remains for. But I dare say, when it looks like this, one could do worse than capturing a setting sun!

the day's greeting

As a way of sending out a festive greeting to you all in my little blogger's world, here is one of the projects from the day's themed art class. It went over well, and prompted a discussion, that warmed my teacher's heart, as to which was each student's favorite out of all our art projects thus far :-)

beautiful relief

Another long and tiring day of teaching is done, and I am intensely grateful for this beautiful close of the day . . . so you will have to have patience with yet another captured sunset :-)

Kimba's first Zambian birthday

Kimba and friends celebrate with the birthday girl. And I learned Ngili Ngindo Maama, Mbela Mbela. Ieee! . . . ["Happy Birthday" in Nyanja].

the setting sun

Another evening of an on-fire sunset I had to capture, after my jaw un-dropped itself :-)

in a while, crocodile

My first croc-in-the-wild sighting since I was a child . . . I was intrigued to discover that my chiildhood fear has not seemed to dissipate with age, as my heartbeat quickened noticeably and I drew a sharp, quick breath when I saw this one :-)

rainy days and mondays

A[nother] day of rain has left me considering how easily things that used to be taken for granted have now become luxury items . . .
Dry clothes and shoes, for instance: the combination of constant rain plus no machine washers or dryers equals an all-pervasive dampness, and occasionally outright drenchedness.
Hot showers are another. My cold shower this morning very nearly didn't phase me; a fact that left me rather proud of myself, as the first few cold showers were quite difficult.
It is a blessing to realize that when life demands adjustments, the grace is given with which to adjust . . . I pray, that is, that I am adjusting gracefully :-)

safari sunset

Last night I went on my first game drive for this time in Zambia. Few of the animals I remembered from childhood drives were out, though we did see several elephants, plenty of kudu and impala, and a Spotted Eagle owl. The highlight of the evening, however, was this view of the waning rainy season sun.

i think that i shall never see . . .

. . . a sight so lovely as a tree . . .
This Baobab has become my favorite nearby tree and I have finally taken the occasion of a free Saturday morning to take a camera-walk.

inadequate expressions

Not having my camera, this is my feeble attempt this evening to capture the peaceful sunset moment I am looking at . . . thanks to Mac photobooth. After an intense day of classroom discipline, time outs, the relief of a return to peace, an intricate science experiment, and all-around adventure of a day, I am intensely grateful for a moment of peaceful African sunset. I also am struck by the deep joy of loving children enough to discipline; it was indescribably meaningful to know today that I was playing a role in the education of these sweet youngsters, and a relief to see that when I am consistent in my firm love for them, they recognize that and respond with great affection . . . the highlight of my day was an apology that came in the form of a tearful hug. At the moment, I was so relieved and so proud of her that it was all I could do to keep from crying myself.