So after showing you pics of my making flapjacks, its only fair I show you the results

As a child, my parents used to take us here, and its somewhere I hope to be able to take my kids too one day.

The squirrels are so comfortable around humans, they will climb up your legs to get their treats haha. But do be careful, dont tease them and always feed the peanuts with an open palm, not by your fingers, because they (the squirrels) do get a little nippy in the rush. Oh, and they might pee on you

Eating from my hand

They got very ballsy and kept trying to accost the bag of peanuts if we took too long!

Pigeons!

We met a German woman (the one in white) who had never fed squirrels before

Weeeee!!

Omnomnom

As everyone knows, yesterday was Valentine’s Day. As a treat and partial surprise to the boyfriend, I bought tickets to see The Parlotone’s live at D’Aria Winery in Durbanville. It was a picnic-friendly event so we packed some crackers and cheese, rolls, chicken mayo, chips and dip and some non-alcoholic drinks (wine and other alcohol was sold at the event only) and myself, the bf and my mom (dad was supposed to make it, but couldnt) meandered off at 2pm to get a good seat. When we got there, it was already almost half full, and the concert only started at 6pm, so we were glad for our (albeit old and manky) umbrella and cold cooler bags.

As the day wore on, we found ourselves battling to keep the space for the other family who were still coming. While I dont think its entirely fair to keep spaces, I do also believe its not viable for everyone to come and sit from 2-6pm for their seats, so the three of us tried our best. Eventually all ended well, the rest of the family turned up, and I went in search of a better spot to photograph the band.

I’ve learnt somewhat to be more pushy when it comes to getting decent shots. While before I might have stood back and not wanted to get in anyone’s way or chance moving closer, this time I scootched forward and got right up there at the front. I apologised to the people who moved out the way for me, and promised to only be a few minutes, which I stuck to. When I got my shots, I thanked those who had made space and made my way back to my seat.

I am so thankful to my bf who stayed patient the whole day despite us having to battle with strangers over our grassy area and despite me disappearing into the crowd to take photos. He is simply amazing and I love him more and more each day (ok ok /soppy haha).

Ok, so without further ado: photos!

The umbrella couldnt fully stick into the ground, so the bf was the official umbrella-holder for the day, bless him!

The crowd

The paparazzi taking a photo of me taking a photo of him haha

The Parlotones

Some of the people on the edge of the crowd

D’Aria Winery

Self-portrait of myself and the bf hehe

My mom and aunt enjoying the music, and some guys behind us having a jol

Mom dancing to the music!

The Parlotones

The Parlotones

The Parlotones

The Parlotones

Twas a great day and evening, and I was really happy with the pics I got!

So Iso was one of the first names that popped into my head, and I like it because it sounds nothing like a normal name. Iso was taken from ISO which is film speed in relation to photography. She’s a Burmese Self.

Next is Vignette. This is pronounced Vin-yet and relates to the dark (or white, in some gaudy cases) corners that one sees on photos, either done purposefully in post processing or done by a lens adapter or lens hood (usually on a wide angle lens).

Wirenth has not been as horrible to them as Orly was to her and Ramoth, but she’s doing her fair share of nipping and kicking which is difficult to watch, but is natural. Rule of thumb, no blood, no foul. However I do keep the spray bottle well filled and Wormy does get her fair share of spritzes. At the moment, if I have the all on the couch together, they’re fine but if I put the girls in Wormy’s house, she hunts them down and bites them. So now they’re all in the babies’ house together, which is not Wormy’s territory so she’s behaving…for now. At the moment, the worst she’s doing is giving me doe eyes to let her out of this cage thats “not big enough to swing a cat, mom!” Poor thing looks so claustrophobic.

Anyway, without further ado! Tons of pics!

Meet Vignette and Iso!

Iso – this pic rocks in high res!

Fishing for rats! I almost caught one!

Almost caught another!

Wormy showing em who’s Top Rat around here

Peeping over the couch: Vignette, Iso and Wirenth

It’s Iso!

It’s Vignette!

Later, when the girls were all tuckered out, this is where Iso thought was a nice place to sleep…in the food bowl!

And Wormy slept on the couch with me just behind my legs…

And then moved on to my waistline, legs a-danglin’

Behbeh rat feet!!

And finally, I gave em a chicken bone and I thought this was a very cute face to photograph…

Eventually we moved out onto my patio under the Blue Moon and watched the cars go by. After seeing so many security company cars go by, we decided to turn it into a drinking game. Drink a shot for every security car you see.

Needless to say after we had our shots at the ready, no security cars were to be seen! So after waiting for a loooong time, we decided to drink for any car we saw! This helped hehe. We even saw someone get pulled over by a police car (this was worthy of two shots!).

Midnight was counted down and while we wished each other, the sounds of fireworks could be heard in the distance and people were cheering in the street. In fact, some people we couldnt see called out, to no one in particular, “Happy New Year!” and we all called back the same, to which they replied with a “Whoop whoop!” so the cheer was infectuous. Our neighbour brought his kid outside to shout Happy New Year and they blew their whistles and noise makers, so I ran inside and got a noise maker too (one of my Nano toys hehe) and the night was filled with squawking and shweeeee’ing and laughter.

At 3am another family came home and made their way past my flat and we wished them and while most of the group went on to their own flat, a very friendly German man stayed with us to chat so we poured him a shot of Woman’s Revenge and one for ourselves and toasted the New Year.

It was a relaxed party, and spent with people I love which was perfect. And so, 2010 is here, new beginnings, a fresh start, and all that jazz.

May 2010 be YOUR year. The year good things happen and may it be prosperous for you and yours. Happy New Year!

Chillaxing waiting for the braai to be ready

The Vegetarian “drooling” over the meat haha

Me!

Nom nom nom!

Our table ready and waiting (with the rattles in the background hehe)

“Liquid Cocaine” or “Smurfettes” or “Trashy Smurf”

The “tattoo” I gave V haha

Jay’s creepy eyes I drew on his eyelids haha!

Our shots of Woman’s Revenge hehe