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Aaaaaah! December!!!! Winding down and loving it!
A quick hello ....
Malcolm and team are full steam ahead with the new show house build, and it's looking awesome so far! Pics below :)
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Birding is one of the many things to do here in Clarens, and we always get excited about special little sightings on the Estate and surrounds. Thanks Murray and Darryl for spotting this little guy!! The Drakensburg Rockjumper!
The Drakensberg Rockjumper or orange-breasted rockjumper (Chaetops aurantius) is a medium-sized insectivorous passerine bird endemic to the alpine grasslands and rock outcrops of the Drakensberg Mountains of southeastern South Africa and Lesotho.
It is sometimes included with the allopatric Cape Rockjumper in C.frenatus; the two are the only living species of the Chaetopidae (rockjumper family) if this is not merged with the Picathartidae (rockfowl).
This Rockjumper is 23–25 cm long with a long black tail and strong legs. The male has a dark grey head with a thin white supercilium and a broad white moustache. The back and wings are dark grey.
The underparts are orange and the rump is rufous red. The female and juvenile have a paler grey head, upperparts and wings, a duller head pattern, an orange rump, and buff underparts. The call is a loud wheeoo. The Cape Rockjumper male has rufous red underparts, and the female and young are darker buff below than in C. aurantius.
This is a ground-nesting species which forages on rocky slopes and scree. It frequently perches on rocks. The Cape Rockjumper uses one or two additional individuals, usually a pair's offspring of the preceding breeding season, to assist the parents in territorial defense and alarm calling, and in the feeding of nestlings and fledglings. Given the great similarities between the species, it is likely that Drakensberg Rockjumper uses a similar strategy.
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Wondering where to take your kids for the holidays!?
City Kidz School in the inner city of Jhb has a very special place in our hearts and with many, many thanks to "Will Scarlet" aka Bongi Mthombeni and Bernard Jay, 394 of our little learners were treated to a magical afternoon out at the Joburg Theatre to watch Robin Hood and The Babes In The Wood!
It is SUCH an incredible show and the children, most who have never been to a theatre before, absolutely loved it!!!
It comes highly recommended and is running until the 30th December 2016! Well worth taking the kids, and yourselves to see it! You will be thoroughly entertained!!
Click here for more info and to book! And enjoy!!
http://www.joburgtheatre.com/robin-hood-and-the-babes-in-the-wood/
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Christmas Trees! Christmas Trees!!
The Clarens Village Conservancy is selling Christmas Trees! All freshly harvested and insupport of the removal of alien and invasive Aleppo pine from the Clarens Nature Reserve. Please contact Damien on 076 833 8910 to place your orders! Prices range from R100 to R200!
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When: Friday 23rd December
Where: Kooperasie Restaurant, 280 Main Street, Clarens, Free State
Time: 7pm
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Experience the MAGIC this New Years!
29th, 30th and 31st December 2016
The SMOKING DRAGON FESTIVAL is a New Year's celebration unlike any other! Situated at the foothills of one of the most beautiful mountain ranges in the world, overlooking the Tugela Falls, it is 3 days of unbelievable music, non-stop adventure and a beautiful crowd of like-minded music-lovers. Hosted byAMPHITHEATRE BACKPACKERS LODGE please join us for our 6th New Year's celebration!
For only R 695 your Festival Ticket gives you access to the full weekend, over 40 acts, 4 different stages and THREE days free access
to the festival camping grounds with basic ablutions.
The Northern Drakensberg Panorama stretches across the lawn with the
Amphitheatre as its centerpiece, home of the highest waterfall in Africa. Fantastic activities are available in and around the festival area.
SMOKING DRAGON warmly welcomes all South Africans (and our many foreign travelers) to join us.
Click here for more info on ticket sales and festival times :)
http://www.smokingdragon.org/
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Spicy Cocktail Pecans
Ingredients
1 stick unsalted butter
4 tsp. Tabasco sauce
2 tsp. Worcestershire sauce
2 tsp. Sea Salt
1 tsp. garlic powder
6 c. pecan halves
Directions
1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees F with racks set in the top and middle positions. Meanwhile, in a small bowl, stir together all ingredients except pecans.
2. Place pecans in a large bowl. Pour butter mixture over pecans, tossing to combine. Spread pecans evenly on 2 baking pans and bake until toasted and fragrant, 12 to 15 minutes, rotating pans halfway through. Transfer to a paper-towel-lined baking pan and let cool completely, 20 minutes. To package, place 1 1/2 cups pecans in each of 4 lined kraft paper bags.
Tip: To avoid oily stains, choose lined paper bags for buttery treats
http://www.countryliving.com/food-drinks/recipes/a4284/spicy-cocktail-pecans-recipe-clv1212/
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Fun Facts About Christmas!
- Christmas trees are evergreen trees, usually either a fir tree, pine tree or spruce tree.
- The tradition of naughty children getting a lump of coal in their stocking comes from Italy.
- Did you know that tinsel was once made of real silver! It was invented in Germany in 1610.
- Santa Claus 8 eight reindeer are named: Comet, Cupid, Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Donder Blitzen.
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JUST FOR FUN :)
Q Which Russian Author wrote "War and Peace" and "Anna Karenina"?
a) Boris Pasternak
b) Henrik Ibsen
c) Leo Tolstoy
d) Yuri Gagarin
Answer to last month's question: What is the rhino's horn made of? b) Hair
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Enjoy the upcoming break! The festivities! Be safe if traveling! Hoping there is time to re-charge the batteries!
And here's to bringing in the new year with excitement and swagger!!
Until 2017 then :)
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