A LOST MEMORY

This picture reminds me of something I don't even know what it could be ! It  feels like looking at a lost memory of something that happened earlier and not in this life and that I can not retrieve at this moment. It feels like tapping into the collective memory.

A POLKA DOT DRESS

There was this super cool beetle moving along in my garden.

wearing a high end fashion yellow polka dotted Designer dress

 

on the way to the catwalk he got entangled  in all sorts of stuff

but I want to make a dress like that. Simply have to!

BABY CHICKS

A friend of mine asked me if I could take care of her chicken while she was on holiday with her husband

                  

It felt like managing a small maternity ward

with 5 hens 

       

and eleven baby chicks of all sorts and colors talking to each other

learning about chicken life

while hiding under their mother's wings 

or resting on her back

THE SKY WAS BLUE

The sky was so blue

when he came along

with a fiery red tail

to ride the wind like a wild horse in the West

shameless with no fear and no mercy

until justice was done

cause he was only a kite all on his own

SURF'S UP

This is my favorite surfing spot

and one of the best in South Africa - Nahoon Beach

Right in front of my door !

the beach break has softer more gentle waves

and yesterday was a perfect day

with warm water and no wind

intense and bright colors

when you start young most things are easy

In the back  the Nahoon Reef is visible - that is for the ones who really know what they are doing.

And I don't count myself amongst them

but there is space and place for everybody who loves the sea

OUTSPAN

Outspan

Outspan is a word used in South African language and it is a partial translation from the Afrikaans " uitspan" which has been formed from the words uit (out) and spannen ( to stretch).  According to the dictionary it means:

1. an area on a farm kept available for travelers to rest and refresh animals

2. the act of unharnessing or unyoking

3.to unharness or unyoke (animals)

I have found these old photographs a while ago and they date back to the late 1800's and the beginning of the early 1900's and were taken in East London. They show not the actual OUTSPAN but a place where the ox-wagons that came to town, came to a halt, and were a market was.

Some of these ox-wagons had 12 oxen spanned in. Remember this was a time in Africa when automobiles had only appeared in very scarce numbers on the continent. Fresh vegetables grown on the farms and other products were sold in town. 
Although not of the best quality I find these pictures amazing.They show us a vague glimpse of a time when the first settlers had come to the Eastern Cape, when life was equal to hardship, and when cars and Landrovers did not exist to ease.
They show the lives of the ones who had left their continents in search of whatever it was to come and live somewhere else. 

THE YEAR OF THE RABBIT

The Accusation

                                                        
I couple of weeks ago I have taken a picture named  " The Accusation ".

It is a simple but somehow very expressive installation that I have made with a vintage rabbit doll head that I have found  in a junk shop. I never thought it would become so popular that it would be featured over and over again in Etsy treasuries.

The conference

                                                                    
This is another one of my installations with a little rabbit called holding a conference with two garden gnomes.

I have never had a lot of contact with rabbits in my life - until now. The last year has definitely become the year of the rabbit for me.

In September while visiting a tiny farmers market in the region I saw a black rabbit in a cage and his sight lying in the heat, looking pretty sick, led me to a spontaneous and undoubtedly emotional purchase. Additionally he had told me in rabbit language that his name was Aladin. I love Aladin and the 40 robbers. But may be I have imagined this. I am not so sure about it right now.

In the picture you see him, in great condition and in full health. But as I always love to say and can not say it often enough: This is an inclusive universe and one thing leads to another. ALWAYS !

He got fat ! But stayed sad !

And I learned rabbits do not like to live alone ! 

I am unable to look at something or someone sad. It seems wrong to me. So there we go again.

He was added and he was called Simsalabim.

Names are important and I thought this was an appropriate one having to grow up with a big brother called Aladin. I wanted to keep the magic in the family.

After haven given him a little cute brother, who has been much more expensive than himself by the way, Aladin escaped! Yes that right! Ungratefulness in person! He did not only escape once but several times. I know now that he was simply meant to live on higher planes than in my garden.

But being faithful to the saying of my grandmother: What was paid for has to be used - we did our best to make him stay and take care of his tiny brother. Here you see him in Quarantine for a couple of hours. 

And you can see in his naughty face that he knows where he is gonna go.

And now he is roaming free in the bush and living the life he deserves.

Simsalabim was alone however.

A replacement was found quickly ! Cause nobody can watch a small sad rabbit. It is even worse than a big fat sad rabbit.

  Chilli

and Pepper !

 I had enough of magicians.

With enormous feet.! 

My brother used to ask them the question: Is it nice with such big feet ?

But the story is getting even worth.  Both died within a week because they have been taken away from their mother too soon and could not survive.

But to put you at ease: Simsalabim is fine and big now. The picture shows it and he does always this thing with his ear.

After Aladin ran away and little Chilli and Pepper were bought, and then died, and were then buried on the new installed rabbit graveyard in the garden, we did not give up and Pauline joined the family. And both  Simsa and Pauline( the black spot in the background) are not living happily after.

And Remember this is an inclusive universe which has lots of challenges in stock for you!
And tons of inspirations!

Portrait Of A Little Sunbird

SUNDAY AT THE BEACH

All pictures are shot on film with a vintage Kodak Retinette 14.