Traditional African Food… Seswaa

We published our first book a few days ago. Forgive me for this bit of shameless self-promotion. I’m pretty blown away by the fact that the two of us (M and I) managed to figure out all the technical stuff and put together a usable product! Here’s hoping this new project will lay the foundation for more books, including some of specific interest to readers here. If you’d like to see more, our first offering is featured in the latest posts on Copymoz and Mozimaxweb.

Botswana Sunset

This fabulous recipe for an old African favorite can be found at wildmoz.com.

Storms and Flowers and Snow …

Hello Everyone,

I didn’t think I’d ever get back here; the last ten days have been fraught! Computer issues kept us on the hop and working round the clock.  All resolved now, although this site, like the others, needs some TLC.

Snow on Cape Mountain

So without further ado, here’s the report from our patch of Africa.  As I type, I can hear the stormy sea and the Cederberg Mountains to the east, about 28 miles (46 kms) are covered in snow. Yesterday was a brilliant day, and in the sunlight, the mountains were as bright as neon-lit icing on a cake. Our satellite tower is at the foot of those mountains, 11.2 miles away (18 kms), in a little village called Aurora.

A Field of Orange Daisies

All the wild squalls, the full moon and the proximity of spring has caused really high tides. The beach was non-existent yesterday as angry waves pushed kelp, mussel shells and assorted rubbish far beyond the common high tide mark into the bushes on the edge of the green belt. Despite yesterdays’ sunshine, today is back to grey skies and chilling wind, the Cape of Storms living up to its name.

White Daisies with Purple Centers

With all the rain, the flower season, which actually has started already, should be a dilly this year. Already there are flowers coming out that I haven’t seen for years. By the end of the month, we should be living in a painting, that is if we have sun! These flowers need sunlight to open and are best from about ten in the morning to four in the afternoon as they turn their faces to follow the sun. The first of the season to show themselves are these beautiful white daisies with deep purple iridescence in the centers and bright orange daisies with dark centers. We’ll try to get some more pictures up here as the different types come into flower… 

African Beauty…Taking the Mud?

An elephantine answer to the difficulties of skin care.  And I bet you thought the Spa was a luxury?

Whatcha Lookin' At?

Are they onto something here?  Go figure! Mud packs, baths and treatments were “secrets” of Egypt, Rome, the Americas, Europe, India and Africa down the ages.

 

Here in Africa, winter is getting ready to leave, maybe?  It’s been a grim one this year but you people on the other side of the world have had a really extreme summer to contend with.  Every time I check on the weather seems there’s another report of devastating wildfires or bad droughts.

Takin' a Shower

But you know that, so let’s get back to the beauty business, in a big way, Elephant style. Skin care is a huge priority in extreme climates and the elephant is an expert. They love to play in mud and water and then let the mud dry on their skin.  This makes an excellent sunscreen and also protects sensitive elephant skin from attacking insects. Plenty of water is essential for good health too; depending on air temperature and available moisture in the accessible food, elephants can drink anywhere from 190 liters to 250 liters of water a day.

We're Going to Take a Nap

Elephants know that air conditioning can be terribly dehydrating and tend to stay away from skyscrapers, shopping malls and polluted cities.  They shower often, spraying themselves with their built-in hand-held showers (err…trunks) and use natural fans (their ears) to keep cool.  After the shower, an elephant will often scoop up dirt with her trunk and spray herself with a fine coating of dust. When all else fails, an elephant knows a brief nap in the heat of the day is very revitalizing. 

Maybe Add Some Moisturizer

Elephants need water for their skincare, but more importantly, its also good for morale, yours too. So make some time to play. Enjoy your water therapy, it's not just about being as fast as possible...

Thanks to Wikipedia for additional images