Where in the World are Blake and Kristin...

WARNING LONG POST 

I know I haven't caught up on my blogging but I needed to be somewhat current on my blogging. Rewinding back to Christmas day 2010 I got a HUGE surprise. Blake already knew what what going to happen, but I had no idea.  Blake said he needed to check his email.  He said come sit by me and see what Al had to say. Al is Blake's boss.  Just thinking Al was wishing us a Merry Christmas.  Blake continues reading Al's email.  Again completely shocked as I now read it. Tears came streaming down my face.  It was a gift.  This gift is one of the nicest things any one has done.  I have no idea how we will ever pay Al back.  But this gift was a trip to South Africa. Yes you read that correctly, South Africa.  It will be a trip of a lifetime.

Blake's brother Kevin said if Blake was to ever go to South AFrica, he was going too. We all set out for South Africa. Ready or not Africa here the Stoker's come.

Fast forward to July 2011.

Day 1, 2, and 3 - July 7(thurs), 8 (fri), and 9 (sat)
We set out leaving Utah at 5:30 am Thursday, 7 July and arrived in Johannesburg, South Africa 5:00 pm Friday, 8 July. I told Blake it feels like ground hog's day. It felt like the day never even changed. Finally, we left Johannesburg and arrived at Al and Margie's place 5 hours north of Johannesburg.

This place is beautiful. No words can really describe it. Nor is it anything I imagined.

Day 1, 2, and 3

Leaving SLC, UT

Getting cozy on the first flight. I don't know what it was but probably nerves, but I couldn't fall asleep.  I went to bed about 12:00 am (midnight) and had to be up at 3:30/3:45 am.  Needless to say I didn't get much sleep.  On top of that Kennedy woke up 2:30 am.  Fortunately she went back to bed and woke up my mom said at her normal time.

While on the first flight I made Blake have his picture taken. He didn't like that too much.

We had a layover in Washington D.C.  We had to change gates and ride this thing to our other gate. I thought when we were taking a corner the thing was going to tip. But we survived.

As we boarded our flight on South African Airlines there was those airline magazines. You know like the Sky Mall mgaizine trying to sell you all those crazy gadgets and what not.  Well, this one was a South African version.  We were reading the do's and don't's. Here is one of them.

Also, on the flight they said no sleeping on the floor.  Now you know they have to say that because someone must have tried it.  I would agree the thought has crossed my mind.  The floor is probably much better than those airline seats. They also said I could't have my blanket on me while taking off or landing and the shades had to be up during take off and landing. Odd.

Blake in his cool socks provided by the airline, which I thought was cool. They also provided toothpaste, toothbrush, and sleeping mask thing to cover your eyes.  The food was also delicious.  We had three full meals.  On American flights, I think we are lucky if we get a package of peanuts and half of a soda pop.

View of the clouds.

  

View from the tail of the plane.

Our stay at a Bed and Breakfast in Johannesburg Friday night.

Driving to Al and Margie's

Finally arriving at Al and Margie's. 

First off arriving at Margie's we saw what happens when a vehicle and a hippo meet.  Needless to say the truck was totaled and the hippo died.  Those on the farm said the accident happened early morning.  Something like 3:00 AM.  If some of you remember seven months after being married, Blake hit a moose.  As you know a moose isnt a small animal nor is a hippo.  But Blake can relate to the driver of the truck.  It is like hitting a brick wall.  You would think a hippo would have survived being hit since it is such a huge animal.  But the truck killed it.  They said cops came from everywhere.  In addition so did some of the local black people. Also, by the time we got there, there was nothing left but some skin and a few bones from the hippo.  Al and Margie told us people come out of the wood works for free food. 

We saw some tree frogs hibernating. You might think that is odd this time of year. But you have to reminder South Africa is in the southern hemisphere and it is their winter right now.  Lots cooler than I anticipated. 

After we got settled we had a true African dinner -- Kentucky Fried Chicken  -  KFC.  haha

After dinner James, Margie's farm manager had to do feed the baby Cape Buffalo.  Margie said it would be okay for Blake, Kevin, and me to assist in feeding the baby cape buffalo.  So far I think this has been the coolest part of the trip.  WOW! Who can say they have done that.

Kristin

Blake

Kevin

Day 4 - July 10 (sun)
Sunday was a slow day.  Nothing much happened.  We helped in the morning with James (Farm Manager)drop some grass hay and LaCern (aka alfpha/hay) to the Cape Buffalo.  Blake and Kevin did most of the work while I watched or took pictures.  Even in Africa, I don't haul hay.  Nor does Blake get out of hauling hay in Africa.  My dad usually asks him to go get a few hundred bales every now and again.  While feeding all the animals allowed us to see more of Margie's property. 

Kevin in the Back and Blake

James and Kevin

Lead Bull of the breading heard.  He has broken off

his horns (boss) in a fight.  Once then are broken, the boss

never grow back.

Kevin

Young Bull with LOTS of good breading potential.

Lone wildebeest.  It is getting older and they tend to

become a solitary animal.

 Animal heads from the hunting party the couple of

weeks before we got there.

The hydes from the hunting party.

A giraffe's foot.  It is bigger than my hand.  The animals that are harvest are cleaned and

prepared for taxidermy work.  However, they have to remain quarantined for minimum

30 days so diseases are not transfered to other places.  From there the animal go to

the taxidermist and are raw prepared for shipping, or the hunter can have the animal

finished and then shipped to the destination. 

Late afternoon Margie's son Wayne stopped by and took us out for a drive.  First we stopped by the "shooting range" to site in the rifle Blake and Kevin would be shoting if they saw anything they liked.  First off on our drive we came across about 4 giraffes.  I was sitting in the Land Crusier with Wayne while Blake, Kevin and Al were in the back. 

Day 5 - July 11 (mon)
Monday life resumed.  People were back to work and life was happening much more than on sundays here.  Blake, Kevin, Al, and Margie's son Wayne (hunting guide) headed out bright and early.  They left about 6:00 AM.  In the meantime, I slept in.  If you talk to Blake or anyone else they would say I sleep a lot.  What can I say, I am fortunate to have the Lindsay sleep gene as we like to call it.  I can sleep any place, any time, and position. 

Moving on.  Monday was an eventful day.  While I was still sleeping Blake had his first harvest.  He took a Waterbuck.  Hunting here in Africa is very different.  Which I will explain in tuesday entry.  Only because I experienced it.  At 7:28 AM Blake took one shot and that is all she wrote.  When they got back to the house they measured the bull.  It scored 30 plus inches one side and 32 inches on the other side.  When Wayne was done totaling all the areas of measurements the bull scored over 71 inches.  Over here in Africa they have a different scoring system.  There is a Gold, Silver, and a Bronze.  Blake's Waterbuck scored in the Gold category.  Al said that is VERY good.  He mostly only sees the Waterbucks in the silver category. 

 Blake and Wayne (the hunting guide)

 Blake

Kevin, Al (Blake's Boss), and Blake

When I eventually rose from the dead, I got ready and had some breakfast with Margie and Pops (Reggie who is a family friend).  While I was getting ready Margie went to her LaCern field where the totaled truck was for clean up crew to remove it.  After that we headed into town. 

Going into town was really no different than going to the store for us.  Just a little longer drive.  Margie got gas first.  They have gas attendants here.  Which I think is nice.  I remember when I was a kid when we had gas attendants in the states.  Also, when we were in Brazil picking Colton up from his mission.  While in town, we stopped by some shops to see if there were any good sourenviors.  I saw some cool beaded and wired animals.  I am thinking about going back to get them.  I am a mission to find a cute doll to take back to Kennedy. 

By this time Blake and company came back with the Waterbuck to prepare it.  While they were cleaning it, the bullet did not exit and Blake got a another sourevinor.  Once they got it all done, the crew had lunch took a small break and headed back out.  After the afternoon hunt was over they came back empty handed.  Kevin however did get some great pictures. 

 Various sides of the different properties.  Giraffe in the back.

 Blake and Al just finding his Waterbuck.

 Wayne and Blake

 Blake and Wayne's Tracker Ferrison

Day 6 - July 12 (tues)
I decided to get up early and go with the guys.  It always seems that I am the only girl.  Someone could read into that wrong.  When I would pack into the backcountry with my dad and his friends I was the only girl and might I add at the time the only one under 25.  As far as being the youngest I am.  I am however moving further away from 25 not closer. 

We started the day off early.  We were suppose to be out the door about 6:15.  I think we managed to get out the door by 6:30.  Could it be because I was late?  Or was it cause Al was enojoying his morning coffee?  For those of you who know me, it must be because Al was drinking his coffee.  I am never late.  Just ask my mom, dad, or Blake.  hahaha.  Wayne took us to a farm about 10 minutes north of Margie's farm.  A farm here in Africa also means hunting preserve.  Here in Africa it seems like they really try conserve and preserve animals.  Hunting in Africa is VERY different that what is done in the states.  This may sound terrible by you drive around in a LandCrusier looking for animals.  You aren't necessarily hunting of one particular animal.  Really just whatever presents itself.  When an animal of your liking appears the guide and hunter(s) get out and the truck drives several hundred yards away.  Meanwhile the guide and hunter(s) head off to stock, shoot, and track the animal.  This seems a bit like road hunting.  The guide is very cautious in hunting.  They don't want to actually shoot the animals from the truck.  If that were the case the animals would be VERY werey of vehicles.  Hunting in at least Utah and the surrounding states you have a specific species hunt with a specified type of weapon and can only hunt one specific per year no matter the weapon. That is if I understand the basic hunting rules of Utah.

Along our Safari we came across this beautiful male giraffe.  I think this is truly the prettiest giraffe I have I ever since.  It was your normal spotted lookin giraffe, however his spots were dark brown.  Not the usually light brown.  With the male was a baby. Unfortunately, the baby was recently separated from it's mother.  These two giraffe that we saw were separated from a single female standing on the opposite side of a fence.  Recently there was a fight between this dark male giraffe and another male giraffe.  But they were fighting over the electric fence.  During their fight, they broke the fence.  When the owners fixed the fence they were unable to herd the mother and baby back together.  Now the mother giraffe and the baby hang out besides each other along the fence.  Not to worry that the baby isn't with his/her mother it is weened.  It is typically normal for a mother and her offspring to be with each other 3-4 years. 

 Nyala

 Bull Giraffe and Baby Giraffe.  This is the dark male I was talking about.

Al lost his hat.

We traveled on.  By this time it is 7:30 and from what happened the day before Blake had already taken down the waterbuck.  The animals I have decided are not early birds.  Or maybe I have jinxed Blake and Kevin not sure.  Finally about 8:30 Wayne and company spotted an impala.  A few minutes later Blake was besides the impala having his picture taken.  

Before

After

Let me tell you what.  When they are taking pictures of a hunter and an animal this is a production.  I did not know so much work went into having a photo.  I chuckled.  I said what are you doing.  Wayne replied "making the shot perfect" as his moves a blade a grass. 

Kevin set out on a zebra but missed.  He was quite frustrated with himself.  They tracked him forever to me it seemed like.  Unfortunately, zebra 1 Kevin 0.  Kevin I think tried one more time without any luck came home empty handed.  Not much happened the rest of the day.  It was quite slow.

 Look close they have no shoes.  Talk about dedication.

Wayne and Kevin

 Yes, I am cold.

 Eland

White Cow Rhino and Calf

(Since it has taken so long for me to post our Africa trip, we found out in November 2011 that

these two animals were poached.  The poachers found the calf, but they never found

the cow.  The landowners found her the next day.)

 Same White Cow Rhino

Check out how long her horn is. 

Also another sad note to the poached rhinos, is the poachers shot another pair of cow and calf rhinos a couple of days later.  In addition, the cow rhino was pregnant.  The landowner lost a total of 5 rhinos to poaching.  

Day 7 - July 13 (wed)
Wayne was taking Blake and Kevin to a new place.  This hunting preserve was closer to his house in Hoedspruit.  Wayne asked Al if he could meet his at one of local gas stations.  I was on the fence of whether or not to go.  I did not want to be a pain.  I don't love hunting.  I support it yes, but hunting myself is a BIG NO.  I decided to go.  How many times does one get to go on African safaris?  Not  many.  The leaving time for today was 6:00 am.  Getting up this early for me has been rough, which I think it somewhat odd since that is about the time I get up for work every day.  It must be hard because I know I have the option of sleeping in.

We meet up with Wayne and headed off into the sun rise.  I didn't see much of it.  My eyes were more generally focused on the backside of my eyelids in true Lindsay fashion.   Today Blake was a mission for Kudo and a Wildabeast.  Kevin was on a mission for a warthog, zebra, or impala.  Lucky for Kevin it was his day.   We finally had saw a kudo.  To bad for Blake because they were females.  At least we knew they existed.  One of a the groups of kudos that we saw was a mother and it's baby.  We figured the baby to be only a few months old.  All baby animals are so cute.  After that about an hour and a half into the safari, Wayne spotted a warthog.  Kevin was on that.  Next thing I know I heard a gunshot and the truck was off to pick up Wayne, Kevin, and Blake.  The posing of the warthog for the photoshot was set.  Pictures all around.

 Female Kudo and baby

The tree took Wayne out 

 Proud Kevin and Wayne just after he got the warthog.

 Al, Kevin, Blake, and Kristin

We were headed back to the lodge area to have the warthog processed why the guys continued hunting.  On our way pay Wayne spotted a nice impala.  Wayne, Blake, and Kevin were off.  This time instead of Kevin being the photographer, Blake was.  A few minutes later the shot sounded and a photoshoot all over again. 

Now Blake is still searching out his Kudo.  We took the warthog and impala to be processed.  We made no additional stops along the way. We dropped them off and back out we went.  It wasnt too long into the ride we finally saw some zebras on this trip.  The zebras though were not shooting quaility.  It was females with their babies.  As they were running away it looked like one of the babies just barely got away from a leporard or a lion.  It has some fresh marks on it.  I felt bad.  But I guess that is what happens in the wild animal kingdom.  Survival of the fitness.  Not to long after that finally a male kudo presented itself.  I was sitting inside the cab of the truck.  I can only image the grin on Blake's face.  It probably even wrapped around a could of times.  Wayne, Blake, and Kevin got out and the truck headed down the road.  We waited for the signal and a the kudo was down.  This kudo was not normal.  The horns on these animals usually have a tight spiral.  Well this one the right side was tight but the left was a loose spiral.  The kudo was a good first kudo as Al likes to put it.  Which worries me.  That means there is a possibility of another one in the future.  Oh no...hahaha.  After the photoshoot was over we headed back to where the game is proceed.  It started to rain and I had just had about enough fun.

 This little guy was lucky.  Look close something had a taste test.

 Kudo before

 Wayne and Blake during

Kristin and Blake after 

 This is the one animal Blake wanted most.  This Kudo is what a hunter would consider as non-typical.  The Right spiral is tightly wrapped and the left spiral is loose.  Because of this Al was set out to have Wayne find Blake another one.  I am so glad we only saw this one.  I didn't need two of these in my right now.  I dont even know where we will put the first one. 

Wildebeest on the run.

Margie was headed into town and wanted to know if I wanted to be picked up.  I said yes.  We went to the grocery store and then back home.  The hunting party stayed out.

While the hunting party was out, Margie was preparing a great meal.  You would think that one would be happy with all the animals already taken.  Al wanted Blake to get a wildebeest.  Well, Blake got him alright along with some ticks.  The hunting party though was way late for dinner.  Blake shot the wildebeest, but didn't take it down in one shot.  He had to shoot it again.  By the time the thing stopped and they tracked it, it was well after dark.  In the dark they took their photos again.  But in the background Blake said he could hear the lion sounding off.  Which if I was there, I think I would have peed my pants.  Since all the bullets Wayne and Blake were carrying were used on the wildebeest no other bullets were available for just in case.  They moved rather quickly getting things cleaned up.  The most important thing is the wildebeest was not left nor did it suffer. 

Just another day hunting in Africa.

Day 8 - July 14 (thurs)
Today we all took it easy.  The guys decided to do an afternoon hunt since they got back so late last night and yesterday was such a long day for them.  Al wanted to take us to their rehabitation center called Monholalo.  This is a center where the nurse back to health posioned, hurt, and raised animals in homes.  In Africa the people fight the same things we do in the states poaching, posioning, etc.  I often forget that everyone lives in a bubble.  I don't mean the bubble in Utah of not being exposed to other cultures.  Cause we do.  But when I mean bubble, I am talking about how life exists outside our daily lives.  People wake up go to work and do the whole rigamore but it is somewhere else, New York, Japan, South Africa, Brazil, etc.  Going to the rehabitation center reminded me of just that.

When you go to the rehabitation center they take you on a tour.  You get up close, personal, and educated with all the animals. First, on our tour we saw a cheetcha.  This cheetcha came to the rehabitation center as a baby.  Because of it's close contact with humans which in most cases with all the animals we saw, it can not be fully rehabiliated into the wild.  We got to pet the cheetcha and get our picture taken.

 Blake and Kristin

Kevin

Next we saw the hyena.  Not to be mean these are one ugly creature.  Since this animal is SO wild we didn't not pet or get our picture taken with it.  The female was the only one to survive out of a 13 that were poisioned.  Hyenas are obvisously viewed as pest.  The center does have a male and female in hope to bread the two. 

The third animals were the wild dogs.  I learned that most often people confuse the wild dog with hyena.  They only have males in the center since they bread very rapidly in quantity.  They have roughly 13 - 16 babies per litter.  I would die if I having them all at one time.  I am glad I have only one at a time.  While as far as I know.  I guess one could always have multiples.  I keep my fingers crossed I don't.  (also this is not considered a hint in any way shape or form).  These animals are expensive to keep at the center.  Their diet requires fresh meat every 2-3 days.  They can't eat rotten meat like the lions, hyenas, and etc.  These dogs are on the move.  They travel quite the distant in one day. 

The fourth animal we got to visit was a 17 month old baby black rhino.  She was so cute at a whopping 1000 lbs.  She came to the center because she got stuck in a mud bog in Krueger National Park.  Since rhinos can't crasp their arms around each other the mother was unable to retrieve the baby.  The baby was stuck for 3 days.  The staff said if she was coming your way to get out of the road.  They really cannot zigzag very well.  They only move is a straight line.  Al had quite the close encounter. He was talking with a gentleman from the US from New York.  Al said he eyes got really big and the next thing he knew the rhino was at his feet.  She took a jab at him.  It was kinda scary at the moment, but funny later on.  It just goes to show you how wild they still are. 

 Kristin and Blake

Kevin

The fifith animal we saw was the honey badger.  They were funny.  They were dancing and twirling around doing all kinds of tricks.  I am guessing this enclosure had a cement bottom since they burrow.  Badgers typically are a noctural animal.  Both of these came to the center because people were raising them as pets.  I don't think those people were in their right mind or never read a book on badgers, or watched Discovery Channel.  The center put electric wiring around the tops of the enclosure because they would push and pile rocks that were in the enclosure in order to escape.  As they piled the rocks in order to climb over the wall and get out.  Our guide said he put the male badger back in 5 times in one day.

The next two animals we saw were the Caracul and another spotted cat.  Again these two were raised by humans, being feed the wrong diet, and then the humans so learned these animals could not be domesticated.  The spotted cat the center has a breading program.  They have the cat raise the baby like it would as if they lived in the wild. 

Caracul

The next few pens we saw were various eagles and a black ground hornbill.  Several of the eagles had hurt their wings from flying into electric wiring that carry power or other human causes that the eagle have not yet and probably will not adjust to.

Ground Hornbill

Vulture

Finally we got to the last couple of enclosures.  We were maybe 3 feet away from a female and male lion.  The female got caught in a snare and the male once a again humans were trying to raise a wild animal.  The female was spaded becaue the center would not be able to afford to pay to feed a litter of lions.  She even showed us her big smile. The male is about 13 years old.  The last lion they had at the center they had to put down for old age.  He lived to be about 24.  The typical wild male lion lives to somewhere of the age of 7-15.  The last lion by far out lived his life expectancy. 

The last animal we saw was the lepard.  Man are those pretty.  This lepard was roughly 13 years old and the center expects him to leave till about 25. 

I have learned so much on this trip.  It has been very educational.  The Hoogle Zoo will be quite boring when we go to take Kennedy.  Being so close where here in the rehabilitation center or driving around on the hunting safaris.  It will never compare.  This trip has been TRULY AMAZING.  I am so thankful for the great people that I am able to experience this with.  I am only missing one person and that is Miss Kennedy.  Hopefully we can save our pennies and bring her back one day.

The guys all went back out the hunt in the afternoon.  I stayed back.  This is what they saw.

 Al giving Kevin an atta boy.  Kevin harvested the second thing he wanted to get the most on the trip. 

A zebra.  I refused to let Blake shoot one.  They remind me too much of a horse. 

But he says the next trip he will be getting one.  We shall see. 

 Don't get got by this bush.

 Preparing the Zebra for the photo shoot.

 Blake, Kevin, and Al

 Wayne and Kevin

After hunting Wayne took Blake and Kevin to the lodge where normally the guests stay.  

Randon Pictures at Margie's House

This is a camelon.  This little fellow we never got to see turn to green.  He must have been quite mad is what we were thinking. 

Day 9 - July 15 (fri)
This is one day Blake and Kevin did not hunt.  Al and Margie took us for a drive to Margie's daughter's house 3 hours south of Margie.  The trip took longer than 3 hours because they wanted to take us to some cool tourist attraction places.

Before we left we were able to see about 50 yards from us a pod of hippos.

Headed to Syliva's place.

First on our stop was sourenvior shopping.  Since Blake and Kevin have been hunting there hasn't been much time for it.  When we have gone to town there have not been many things that are good reminders of sourveniors. Margie was our negotiator.  She did a fantastic job.  We got our stuff for 50% off.  We should have probably gone lower.  But we got some cool stuff.

The next several places were stops that are not your typical tourist attractions.  There are a few little shops from some of the local black Africans but nothing else.  No restrurants, no big sourvenior store, no information booth just the sites.

The next stop on our travels was the beautiful view of 3 round top mountains and a man made reservior.  The water was so blue.  The canyon there the river entered into the damn was so cool.  It is beyond words to describe.  I was quite surprised of the lack of guard rails.  The trail that we went on there were only 2 guard rails.  There should have been more.  Everything in between over the edge was straight down.  I am a bit afarid of heights.  I stayed back.  Kevin got some great pictures.

 Kristin and Blake

 Kevin

I know I am such a rebel.  Can you believe there were

no guards rails really to be found around all these cliffs?

Next on our stop was a place called Potholes.  Before we entered we did some more sovenior shopping.  This stop they did have a little place were you go buy some snacks, but not much more than that.  Potholes is a place were two rivers converg.  The canyon formations are so cool.  From over all the years of water coming in and out it has craved some cool crevaous.  This was in one river.  The other river has some natural pools and the river seemed quite low this time of year.  Which it probably should since it winter here.  I wonder what it looks like when it the wet season.  The landscape probably totally changes.  As the two rivers come together there are a couple of waterfalls and looks like mysterious cavers where the water goes.

The next stop was lunch.  We had some yummy pancakes.  These are not your normal pancakes.  There about the size of a plate that are rolled up with something in the middle.  I a one with chicken in it, Blake has one curry of some sort, and Al has one with mince (hamburger).  Margie had what I was eating and Kevin ordered an omelet. 

The final tourist pit stop was was called Pilgrims Rest.  It was little town that African Pilgrims would rest along their travels.  This town was only about 1/2 a mile long.  They still had some of the original out building.  Reminded me of pioneer times when they would settle a city.  At least what I picture in my mind of when the pilgrims came across from east to west in the United States.

The only bad part so far is I have got car sick several times.  Needless to say I have slept the entire time while we have been driving.  I feel bad cause I have missed out on the cool scenery and landscape.  But for everyone's sake I think they appreciate me feeling good so I dont ahve any problems if you know what I mean.

Finally we arrived at Matthew and Sylvia's place.  We had a very warm greeting and were shown to our room.  We freshed up a bit and then had an amazing dinner.  Sylvia is a WONDERFUL chef.  Matthew also has a hunting and a photo safaris business.  Syliva is the chef  and Matthew is the guide for all their clients.  We had sable lasgana.  Not sure how it would taste but the sable tasted pretty much just like hamburger.  I could not tell a different.  We  also a a side of garlic bread.  It was super yummy.  The way she made is was put some butter on the butter with fresh garlic and parlsey for garnish.  If you are not a garlic lover probably not good.  I think I will be trying something new the next time I make gatllic bread at home.  For dessert we had a carrot cake with some cream.  Not the biggest fan of carrot cake.  This was delicisous.  Margie's "neighbor" made it for her.  She baked it in the microwave.  Now I neew more receipes like this. I am suppose to be getting the receipe.  Yum...

After dinner we called it a night so we good get some shut eye for another day of hunting.

Day 10 - July 16 (sat)
We didn't have to wake up quite as early.  The animals here are a little slower in getting started.  Reason being is we are now in the mountains.  This area reminds me very mch little home.  The trees and grasses are obviously different.

Before we started we had some hot chocolate and toast.  While we were loading a few things Kevin and I feed the baby kudu that Matthew rescued from the bush in February this year.  Cute little fellow.  They are hoping that one day he will follow a herd or eventually go off on his own.  They bottled feed him for a while, now he is just eating the natural grasses and leaves.

 Kevin and Matthew

We all finally left to go hunting.  Kevin shot all that he wanted to.  So Blake was the only one hunting.  We saw some wildebeest, blesbuck, moutain rebuck, clipspringer, dinker, and some bushbuck.  Blake took a bushbuck.  From the point he started hunting he basically shot whatever Al said to shoot.  Not sure how that will all workout in the end, but it will get figured out.

 Blake sighting in Matthew rifle.

A view from the top of a mountain of the truck.

Matthew, Kristin, Blake, Al and Kevin

When we came back from hunting we had a yummy breakfast.  Omelet with toast, a yummy mushroon and tomato dish, fruit, and pancakes.

The little houses below is where all the hunting guest stay.

The pool, but July was too cold to swim. 

It was winter while we were there.

Blake shot his bushbuck.  This makes the fifth animal he has taken.  Yeah, more new decoration. 

Blake and Matthew

For dinner we had some lamb curry with rice, and some cooling agents - cucumbers, tomato and onion, bananas, and fruit chutney.  For dessert we had a citrus and custard. 

Man Sylvia is hired for my house.  But little ole Clinton is quite the distance to travel for a chef.  Maybe she will share her receipes. 

Saturday night was a long night.  I think I must have eaten something that did not agree with me.  The bathroom was my friend for part of the night.  All was well in the morning.  Blake was fine.  But as fast as it hit, I would think food poisioning, but nobody else got sick.  So I figured the lamb curry must not have agreed with me. 

While Sylvia was preparing to bring out the dessert she had us come out and look at the moon and the clouds.  This is one of the coolest views I have ever since of the moon with clouds.  Kevin took some more great and amazing pictures.

Day 11 - July 17 (sun)

I got up and took the morning a bit slow since the night time I didnt sleep so well.  Sylvia cooked us some more breakfast.  We had some scrambled eggs, toast, avocado, fruit, bacon, and sausage.  I only ate a bit since we were headed back in a just a bit and did not want to have an incidents along the way home. 

Again I slept the whole way back.  We made a pit stop.  At the pit stop we finally found a doll for Kennedy for her souvenior.  We made it back home had a quiet dinner and then watched the movie Grown ups.

Preparing for another day in the Africa Bush.

Day 12 - July 18 (mon)

Margie and her son Wayne have been raising Cape Buffalo as part of a group to re-introduce disease free Cape Buffalo back into the "wild".  The previous wild herds were all carrying diseases so the African began to getting rid of the species.  However,  people did not like the idea of completely getting rid of the Cape Buffalo, so the Government started this program that takes a diseased herd and then takes all the offspring to make a disease free herd.  As part of this process the animals have to been tested every quarter.  We just so happened to be here for the testing process. 

Setting up for the tests

The vet getting the tranquilizer ready

Vials for all the Cape Buffalo that will have their blood drawn.

Blake holding the head of a Cape Buffal0 so it face is

out of the dirt to breathe.

Kevin

Rest in betweeh shifts.  The would sadate only

four Cape Buffalo at a time in the pens.

This is the gun used to shoot

the tranquilizer at the Cape Buffalo.

It reminded me of a paint ball gun.

Margie's daughter Syliva.

Kristin

Margie's grand-daughter spraying

all the entrances where the tranquilizer dart

was.  The spray is to prevent infection.

Cape Buffalo are very suspetible to infection.

Blake and Kevin

Margie

Not so sure how many vets you konw who carry a gun.

Sylvia and Amber

Al and Sylvia taking all the notes of which

Cape Buffalo have and have not been tested.

Kevin and Blake

When we got to the farm, Margie has a cow cape buffalo that they had been watching for the last month because by their calculations was getting ready to cav.  Finally, the last day we were there she finally had her baby.  This baby they figure is about 8 hours old.  Man are they strong.  They let the mom and baby bond for about 8 - 12 hours and then take the calf away to bottle feed it for the next few months.  This is because the cape buffalo is such an aggressive animal. Also, I believe I mentioned before, they are taking new calves from a disease herd to a disease free herd to elimited the spread of the disease.

Blake helping give the calf a bath to remove any disease
 that the mother may have passed after the delivery.

Taking the calf to be with all the other babies.  They do

keep the smaller ones separated for about 1 month.

Croc entering the river.

Croc sunbathing

Croc swimming.

Crocs sunbathing.

Looking down the river.

Al, Kristin, and Blake

They call him Stumpy.  Look at the end of his tail.  Part of it is missing.

This croc was resting near the bank of the river.  From the truck to this

croc we were about 10-15 feet away.  I am glad I was in the truck.

Herd of Waterbuck.  

Family of Baboons.

Finally, the END!

By the time this post is making it onto the blog, it will almost be a year.  What a wonderful trip and very thankful I had the opportunity to go.  Al is a great man that Blake works for.  I am in trouble because Kennedy is already talking about the next time we go to Africa that she is coming too.  I hope we are able to go again and take her.

July 2011

The time has come for our trip to Africa.  Man it seems like a long time coming.  But it is finally here.  From those of you who don't know, but Blake's boss for Christmas 2010 gave us a trip to South Africa.  I have a whole post about the trip.  That will be in a separate post.  I tried to keep an accurate entry for each day we were there, since as you can see I have not been very good about posting very timely.  But we are getting there.

We had some help packing, in fact I think she would have tried to stow-away if she could.  We tried to get as packed as much as we could before leaving on 7 July.  With the 4th of July so close and both families liking to do so much we tried not to spread ourselves too thin.  We managed and were able to go to the cabin and have a day in the sun.

POTTY TRAINING UPDATE
Potty training is going okay for the most part.  I finally was brave enough to make the switch from pull-ups to panties during the day.  Time wise she will have been in panties 2 weeks prior to us leaving.  I hope it goes well.  Kennedy in reality hasn't had too many accidents.  Only 1 or 2 maybe a week.  Hope she keeps doing good.

Since we packed as much as we could we went to the cabin for a couple of nights. 

Kennedy with her helmet.  She didn't cry 

this time.  BONUS.  Snowmobiling she

didn't like it too much.  It is so big.  Helmets 

start at the age of 3.  Utah law requires anyone

under 18 to wear a helmet while riding on an ATV, etc. 

 Riding Mr. B.  Kennedy still doesn't quite love them enough

to go on a ride out of the drive of the cabin.  Maybe next year.

Earlier in the morning after breakfast my dad and Blake saddled the horses up.  I rode Mr. B since last September we put Chance down.  It is a bit weird without him.  I now understand when people lose just that little bit of enjoyment when their pride and joy isn't around any more.  Still love riding.  Wish I had more time.  I look back and wonder how my parents ran my brother and me around while still making time for the horses.  They are a 24/7 operation.  Not like an ATV that you only have to feed when you use them.

The horses were saddled and we ready to hit the trail.  I really wanted Kennedy to come, but by the time the horses were saddled she had fallen asleep.  Which in hindsight was a good thing.  My dad was leading and he was riding Blackjack.  He has been working with her for about 2 years now training her to be a mountain horse.  Blake rode Bobby Jo, I rode Mr. B while leading Maudie.  Usually my dad rides and leads another horse.  But today he wanted me too.  We got off the rode and went on the trail that my dad has taken me on since I was a kid.  No surprises right.  Well, along the trail a tree got Blake's hat.  He was at the end of the horse train.  So we sat and waited.  I was in front.  The trail here is cut into the side hill of the mountain.  The slope is not gradual slope, it slope probably 20% grade.  It is steep in other words.  As my dad and I are waiting for Blake, next thing I know his horse has stumbled, lost her balance I am not sure.  But I can tell you there was not enough room on the trail to stand side-by-side.  My dad grabs my horses lead rope and down the hill Blackjack and he slide.  (just a bit scary.)  They land just about 3 - 5 feet below me.  My dad gets to a point so he doesn't keep going with her, has his feet out of the stirrups and tries to step uphill.  Just then Blackjack tries to stand up and steps on my dad's lower leg.  (not finding this out till we got back to the cabin.)  As Blackjack stands she gets into goes down the hill further into a willow bush.  My dad has her lead rope or some reins.  She looked as if she was ready to give up and just roll down the mountain.  Just then my dad says, "DON'T YOU ROLL! Because if you do, you ain't coming out."  The reason she wouldn't probably be coming out is that she was only about 5 feet from the creek.  If she would have rolled, she could have hurt her back and possibly as she came a round broke one or more of her legs.  If her one or more of her legs were broke no getting her up to move.  Fortunately, she did not roll and needless to say it was a bit edgy and scary.  Blackjack got her whits about herself and managed to walked to the creek.  My dad walked down to her and got her lead ropes and walked her back up the trail.

Meanwhile, Mr. B and Maudie are getting a bit antsy.  And since I am leading Maudie she should be behind me right, nope.  In all of this she managed to get in front of me.  As I look ahead a tree has fallen right on the trail.  The tree trunk is too big for the the horses to step over.  My dad had handed Blackjack off to Blake and he came and grabbed Maudie.  Me being used to Chance didn't keep good head control of Mr. B, which was very bad.  Because as my dad was walking up leading Maudie, Mr. B decided to follow very closely.  The tension in the air is tight because of what just happened.  I remember my dad saying you want to get me killed.  I pulled my head out and got serious.  As Mr. B started going up, Blake brought his horse forward.  Well since I wasn't suppose to go and just waiting on the hill wasn't a good idea, Mr. B ended up sliding down the mountain into the horses below.  I then I had back Mr. B up VERY quickly so Blake and his horses didn't do the same thing down the mountain into the creek.  We had to go about about 20-30 feet of this tree trunk to get around.  After we got around we took a breather for the horses and us (sigh.)  

We continued on our ride because my dad didn't want Blackjack to think it was acceptable to act like that and then her reward be to turnaround and go home.  We got to the top and started to work our way down the mountain.  My dad did not want to deal with the down tree on the way back, so we took another trail.  My dad was leading with Blackjack, Blake on Bobby Jo leading Maudie, and me bringing up the end.  I thought it seemed weird and we got half way down the mountain and my dad says "I'm getting off and going to walk Blackjack."  Blake was like I better get off too.  So I asked "do I need to get off?"  It wasn't that steep in my mind.  My dad has taken me into some harry stuff and this would not be one of those times.  Mostly because of where he has taken me, I never know how bad it is until I told someone what happen or where we went on a ride.  Plus I have come off this mountain this way many times before.  Next, thing I know Blackjack has lost her balance and began sliding down the hill.  I want to say she even rolled once.  Away she went and my dad let go of the lead rope.  Fortunately there was a tree that stopped her.  When she stood up, she was shaking like a scared dog with it tail between it legs.  As she did this my dad was just starting to switch back down the hill so we didn't go just straight down.  Blake was actually closer to Blackjack. He threw my dad the two horses leads he had and he went to get Blackjack.  I started my switch back and my dad his.  Just then he unhooked Maudie's lead rope and let her pick her way down the trail.  I past my dad, as I did he also let Bobby Jo go.  Blake started making his way to the bottom with Blackjack and were down first.  Again we took a slight break.  As we were waiting I asked my dad if he could tell she was going to something weird again.  He said "her breathing started to change and didn't want anything bad to happen to either one of them."  Also the few weeks prior to this when I went with my dad riding I was leading while riding Mr. B.  But I just wasn't leading one horse, but two.  I then said "this is why you had me lead last time to because you haven't been to trusting of Blackjack."  He said "yup."

We got back to the cabin in one piece considering all that happened on our adventurous ride.  Now after all this I am glad Kennedy fell asleep.  She would have made the situations worse because she would have been crying and scaring the horses or we could have had some people seriously hurt.  

Getting ready for a ATV ride. 

Kennedy being the photographer. 

Maybe we should invest a kid tough camera.

 Grandpa and Grandma

 Aunt Sharon and Uncle Lew 

Kennedy "wanting" help with the laundry. 

Playing in the closet.

The morning of the 4th of July we headed down the Stoker's for a party.  We had some brunch and then the kids played on the trampoline and in the water.



 Kennedy, Cousin Mason, Cousin Ellie, and Cousin Jordan

 Majority of all the grand kids

Brooke, Brayden, MaKayla, Kamryn, (Sarah) Ellie,

Brinley, Mason, Kennedy, Kaitlyn, and Jordyn.
Sarah was lucky to be in the picture.  Kamryn
wasn't being too cooperative.

All the 2 year old cousins.

Mason (July 2009), Kennedy (May 2009),

Avery (March 2009), Tyler (Dec 2008)

Kennedy is the size of the 1 year old cousins. 

The ones her age tower over her. 

Good things come in small packages.  Right?

 Kennedy taking more pictures.

 Kennedy watching fireworks.

Kennedy's first sparkler.

I don't have lots in between of what took place in the month since we were gone.  But we brought Kennedy a couple of souvenirs.  This is her baby.  Let me tell you what in trying to find a baby in Africa.  Not easy. 

But she loves her new baby.

Just as we got home we were just in time for the Stoker Family reunion.  Glad it was only in Salt Lake or we would not have attended I don't think.

 Kennedy at the Living Aquarium

Kennedy playing at the park.

 Kennedy the size of a new baby penguin.

Kennedy taking another picture. 

Me next to a mommy penguin.

Pretty Scarlet birds.

Kennedy at the Tracy Aviary Bird Refugee. 

 Kennedy and Me

Kennedy downing the dessert with the Blue frosting. 

Jordan, Brooke, Kennedy, and Kaitlyn picking raspberries at Stoker's. 

June 2011

The first of June didn't start out too well.  Kennedy for just over a week had been fighting a fever, really seems since her 2 year old checkup appointment.  Over the past week she would fever, but the fever usually broke.  The highest that it had got was roughly 100.0.  Not anything to rush to the doctor.  Just some meds to help break and she is good right?   Finally, it spiked to 102.5 degrees.  I was a bit worried.  I called the doc first thing in the morning and waited for them to call since it was before they opened.  In the meantime what does one do to help a fever go down, but give their child ice cream in a cool bath.  (Hey, I am a first time mom.)  Kennedy's cheeks were so rosie and you could tell that she did not feel the best. 

We got to the doctor and he did a rapid strep test.  As the doc was asking all her symptoms and such I said I was concerned since her temperature spiked to 102.5.  His reply was "oh, we usually don't get too concerned until it reaches 103.0."  In my simple mind it was only half a degree off.  But I learned something new.  As we waited for the results Kennedy decided to check in the exam table.



The doctor came back in told me that the rapid test came back negative.  But also he said that there was another little boy in his office with some of the same symptoms that Kennedy had and his test came back negative as well.  They would culture the swabs over the weekend and I could call back Monday to get the results.

I called back to the doctor's office Monday morning.  It took awhile for them to call me back.  I asked the nurse if I could get the results of Kennedy's culture and she said she was a bit confused.  I recapped what happened Friday.  Then she said she was confused because they usually don't culture a POSITIVE (yes, POSITIVE) rapid strep test.  I asked so you are telling me that her test came back positive on Friday and I am just finding out Kennedy does have strep.  The nurse apologized and IMMEDIATELY called in a prescription.  I had strep back in March and if Kennedy's throat felt like sharp pieces of glass in her throat all weekend - poor girl.  The nurse also told me that the little boy that also was tested for strep that his culture came back positive too.  I wonder if there was some unfortunate human mistake that someone looked at the wrong test results of Kennedy and the little boy's.  Life happens.  But this is the second time this year I have left a doctor's office of Kennedy have strep.  Also in March she has test positive for strep but I was never informed.  Glad she was okay. 

Kennedy likes to help "clean" the house with me.  This is her idea of vacuuming. 

Kennedy has started to like playing dress up.  Well, she found some "dress-up" clothes alright.  And she tried them all on.  And when I mean all I mean all.  Let your imagination wonder, but not too far...



Needless to say I have moved them.  But then a few weeks later she found them again.  Again, I have since moved them .  She has not found them since. 

Also this month Kennedy went back to the doctor.  Since May from her 2 year old checkup she has been 3 times.  This time she had some going on with her foot.  We play softball on Thursday nights.  My friend Kenzie is an RN.  I showed her Kennedy's foot and was like what do I do.  She said when I get home put some peroxide on it and draw a line with a marker on to see if the infection is spreading.  I did just that when we got home.  The next morning the infection had spread.  I called the doc and they got her in.  My mom took her cause the last two Fridays I have had off I have made plans to go riding horses with my dad.  Now, it being literally 2 weeks since her last visit.  The doc was unsure what it was on her foot.  It was a bacteria of some sort, possiblely staph.  He didn't write a prescription right away cause  their computers were down and didn't want to give Kennedy the same prescription for her strep.  Her last dose was only the day before. I had to call the doctor' when I got back and they called in a prescription.  The infection went away.  Again, another learning point for Kristin.  Very educational month as far as health goes. 

One night we had some friends Jeremy and Connie with their kids over for dinner.  (BTW - Jeremy is the man who lined Blake and I up.)  After dinner the kids wanted to play outside.  We took Kennedy's new car and trailer outside.  Brooklyn wanted to drive and that left the open spot of the trailer.  Glad Kennedy's small.



Towards the end of the month Blake's buddy Rick asked him to fish in a fishing tournament with him at Strawberry Reservoir.  They did okay, but we had more fun with us all fishing all together.

 Kennedy on our way to Strawberry.  It is so fun now that she faces forward.

 Rick and Kennedy

 Blake and Kennedy getting ready to fish from the deck

at the lodge we stayed at.

 Kennedy's first time sleeping in her new sleeping back.

She is getting to be such a big girl.

 Rick and his wife Kaily have a little girl that is

almost 3 months old. I guess not only can a

stroller be used to carry the baby, but all

your fishing gear too.  A little redneck.  We had

a good laugh.

 Kennedy and Dad fishing.

 Kennedy lost interest real quick.  Fishing from

the shore was a bit rough.  It was really windy.

We got skunked. 

Dad and Kennedy headed back to head home.

May 2011

Sometime ago back in November I posted about Kennedy wanted to potty train.  I was thinking she was going to get this.  I was like WOW!  This is too good to be true.  I was talking with my sister-in-law Liz telling her how Kennedy was doing.  She said her niece did the same thing.  But she ended up taking 10 months.  I was like "oh, no Kennedy has got it."  I think I jinxed myself.  We are now to May, 6 months later.  The only thing is 18 months is rather young in Kennedy's defense to be completely potty trained.  She was on a good track of understanding what needed to take place. 

Now we are to May.  Around Kennedy's birthday she finally decided she wanted to wear "panties".   I was not ready for the mess so I just had her in pull-ups.  Since she was going to daycare too, I didn't feel comfortable if Kennedy had accidents very often at the sitters.  The first week went great.  If I remember correctly I think she had really only about 3-4 accidents for the whole week.  However, the next week was a different story.  She treated her pull-ups like she was in a diaper.  Kennedy and I had a talk.  I told her if she was going to treat her pull-ups like a diaper, then I was going to put diapers back on.  She said that she wanted  her "panties".  So we tried it again.  We are now wearing "panties".  Hopefully in no time she will be wearing really panties. 

My question to you are pull-ups good or bad?  I have decided they are definitely more of a convenience for the parents.  That way if the child had an accident you don't have to clean up too much.  But does the child to begin to understand what they are suppose to do if they are wet?  Or should a parent just skip the whole pull-up scene and go straight to panties/underwear?  I think it really depend on what kinda time you have to dedicate to potty training with your child.  I felt with Kennedy it wasn't too bad using pull-ups.  My work day is a 9 hour day.  Stay at home moms have an advantage in this department of the potty training going very smooth and quick.  After I thought about it, she may have got a bit confused.  But she day by day she did a little bit better. 

Any thoughts?

Kennedy had her 2nd birthday.  I posted those pictures already.

We just went up for the afternoon to the cabin for Memorial Day, since it was cold.  And when we got there this is what we saw. 

SNOW

This is SPRING, not WINTER.  But we had fun.  It was also VERY pretty with just the light dusting on top. 

 Kennedy and Jordyn

 Me and Jordyn

My DORKIE brother Colton

We also went to Blake's parents for his dad's birthday.  After the festivities, Brooke decided to pull the kids around on a blanket on the floor. 

Brooke pulling the kids - Kaitlyn, Kennedy, and Jordan.

They giggled and laughed so much.  

My car also during the month of May needed a little tender loving car.  I was quite upset because that meant I had to get the back of my car repainted and detailed.  However, the guy that did my detail work has since past away.  So I had to have the paint shop locate a person that still free paints on vehicles verses using the vinyl stripping. 

Because the paint repair shop did not know if the paint would continue to flake as they fixed it, their suggestion was to start from scratch.  So that is what they did.  The gentleman that did my detail did a great job.  There are some things that I can tell are different, but at first glance all is well.