I first met Robin and Louisa years back when I contracted with a pet store company to photograph their clients and pets at Christmas.  We have kept in touch over time, and when Robin told me recently that Louisa was very ill, I suggested we take some more photos of them.  I have an aging dog myself, and I understand the bond that develops between people and their pets.  This afternoon was pretty, and we walked slowly, encouraging Louisa and stopping often to take shots as they presented themselves.  Here are a few of them – Robin, I hope you like them.
** Postscript:  Louisa passed away on April 10th, not two weeks after these were taken.**

The photograph below was taken four nights ago at a restaurant where we went to celebrate a birthday.  It was a great evening spent catching up with old family friends.  We spoke on the phone again last night and this morning I tried to call a few times to relay some information to Sue, but the phone rang and rang, finally going to voicemail.  The reason became apparent a little while later when we were told that two armed intruders had entered their home early this morning, tied them up and beaten them, and proceeded to systematically ransack their home for about 45 minutes. Sue managed to free her hands and call for help, and as the first policeman arrived in response, there ensued a gunfight which left the policeman and one intruder dead in their courtyard.  The other intruder escaped and is still at large. Their car (already loaded with stolen goods) was riddled with bullets, as was the exterior of the home. This is not an isolated incident.  This evening’s newspaper combines this violent encounter with news of another on the same day only a few miles away.  I could recount more of the horrifying details, but you get the picture.  Just another day in the life of the average South African …

We arrived at Cathedral Peak Hotel in the Drakensberg mountains muddy and wet.  It has been raining in the area for weeks it seems, and the damage is widespread.  Roads have been washed away, bridges are suspect, and everywhere there is evidence of a soaking.  On the other hand, the hills and farmlands are looking green and lush, the crops tall and healthy.  I had arranged to take a helicopter flight to do some aerial photography in the mountains, somewhat different subject matter from Charleston.  We were told that the chopper hadn’t been able to fly for quite a while due to inclement weather, but  upon pulling back the curtains the following morning I was greeted by brilliant sunshine. At 9am I presented myself for the flight.  Mum (86 years old) had driven me to the helipad and I persuaded her to sit in the chopper, just to see if she thought she would be comfortable enough for a 40 minute flight. Once wedged into her seat, she was further persuaded to come along 🙂

It was a magical tour of the Central Drakensberg area, swooping and diving through gorges, above waterfalls, skimming over meadows only to have the ground disappear from under you as the topography drops by thousands of feet.  We landed once on the top of a plateau and enjoyed a Mimosa, drinking in the incredible view.

These are just a few of the photos, and Mum had a blast!!

Well here I am back in South Africa again for a two week visit.  I arrived at Durban’s King Shaka Airport late last night and there was Mum waiting for me, waving excitedly.  Tomorrow we will head for one of my all time favorite places, the Drakensberg Mountains for a couple of days, but today was a good day for walking around the old traditional Durban markets, taking in the familiar sights and smells, and becoming acquainted with a few new ones.  After all, it has been a few years since I wandered through central Durban.  In some ways, nothing has changed and in other ways, everything has changed.

Bovine Head Cookers Market (yes, it is what it sounds like it is)

The owlet story is ongoing and their adoptive parents have put in many hours watching out for them, with the tacit endorsement of Mama and Paper Great Horned Owl.  Since their nest no longer existed, they were moved to a broad, stable nook of a live oak tree.  They seem to be very comfortable in their new digs, and for the full story, follow Dale’s blog at  here  I hope to be able to photograph them as they grow up, but right now they are just so cute.  They are even learning to pose!  The red bottom left is the unrecognizable remains of today’s breakfast, courtesy of their real parents.

A friend in my neighborhood had two Great Horned Owls build a nest in a tree outside an upstairs bedroom window. We have been following the baby chicks since they hatched and are now at the point where the nest has disintegrated and they have graduated to the “branchers” status from being “nesters”.  This has not been without some drama however, and both have fallen out of the tree and have had to be carefully rescued and returned.  The Center for Birds of Prey have been, and will continue to be an invaluable resource through this process. Here are a couple of photos taken yesterday.  It won’t be long now before they start exploring a wider world which will make it more difficult to get close-up shots.

No posts recently because I am without a camera.  It’s amazing how often
I miss it throughout the day.  I go to pick it up to take in the car,
or to record something and darn, I forgot I don’t have it. 
Unfortunately when it needs servicing or repair it has to go to Nikon in
New York and who knows when it will return.  Right now, they’re waiting
on a part and they can’t tell me how long it will take to get the part –
sigh!