Observance for fallen soldiers on Memorial Day in the US…Filling in the blanks…While the world spins around us…

We moved the bird feeder further from the veranda, which has attracted birds at last without our looming presence. Our prize of the day was this hornbill who stopped by for some seeds.

“Sighting of the Day in the Bush”

Nothing like a croc to pique one’s interest when wildlife spotting on the aptly named Crocodile River.

Today is Memorial Day in the US, a special day for observance for fallen soldiers in any wars as described here from this site:

Memorial Day
Graves at Arlington on Memorial Day.JPG
The gravestones at Arlington National Cemetery are decorated by U.S. flags on Memorial Day weekend in 2008.
Official name Memorial Day
Observed by United States
Type National
Observances Remembrance of American soldiers who have died in military service
Date Last Monday in May
2017 date May 29
2018 date May 28
2019 date May 27
2020 date May 25
Frequency Annual
“Memorial Day or Decoration Day is a federal holiday in the United States for remembering the people who died while serving in the country’s armed forces.[1] The holiday, which is observed every year on the last Monday of May, will be held on May 28, 2018. The holiday was born on May 30 from 1868 to 1970. It marks the unofficial start of the summer vacation season, while Labor Day marks its end.
Many people visit cemeteries and memorials, particularly to honor those who have died in military service. Many volunteers place an American flag on each grave in national cemeteries.
Memorial Day is not to be confused with Veterans Day – Memorial Day is a day of remembering the men and women who died while serving. In contrast, Veterans Day celebrates the service of all U.S. military veterans. It is also not to be confused with Armed Forces Day; a minor U.S. remembrance celebrated earlier in May, which specifically honors those currently serving in the U.S. military.”

We offer love and prayer for those who lost loved ones during wars, not only in the US but also worldwide. 

Although we are far from our home country, we still hold this special day in high regard for those who served our country.

Most on photo safaris long to see the “cats.” But sightings aren’t all that common. While in Kruger last week, we spotted this cheetah at quite a distance, too far for a good photo.

In the US, this is a national holiday where all public businesses and buildings are closed, yet many stores remain open for big spring sales of clothing and merchandise.  Most often, citizens celebrate by holding barbecues, picnics, and traveling to other locations to visit family members and friends.

Sometimes we scramble the eggs and place them in a bowl.  Tom sets a half dozen or so on the ground at other times, letting them figure out how they’re distributed. It’s funny to watch them pick up the egg and bang it on the ground or on a tree root to crack it.

Camping, boating, and fishing are common in many states during the three-day weekend, especially in our original home state of Minnesota. This is also when traffic accidents (and other incidences) are prevalent with the high volume of vehicles on the road.

May everyone observing this special day have a safe and stress-free experience while many take advantage of this time off work or school. One can never be too careful during these high-risk times.

This is a Hadada ibis. It’s a boisterous bird we hear overhead each night at dusk.

Here in South Africa, it’s another Monday. Last night’s massive rainstorm, miraculously without any power outages in Marloth Park, was a much-needed blessing for wildlife. Water holes, ponds, and rivers are replenished with much-needed sources for the wildlife and locals.

Even our small cement pond in the yard is replenished today from the heavy stream of rainwater last night.  This morning the sun is shining, although a bit overcast, and the birds are singing their unique tunes.

Between the helmeted guinea fowl, the dozens of mongoose, and much more, we can hardly keep up! 

We’ve had many visitors all morning, including kudus, guinea fowl, mongoose, and bushbucks, keeping us busy until a while ago when I needed to sit down to get to work on today’s post.

“Wildebeest live in large herds, composed of animals of both sex and their offspring. Life in the herd protects predators. The main predators of wildebeest are lions, hyenas, cheetahs, and African wild dogs. During mating season, breeding groups composed of around 150 animals will be created.”

This morning, we had a human visitor, our friend Kathy, who dropped off some grocery items we hadn’t been able to find at the Spar or other supermarkets in Komatipoort. 

She and her husband Don, both great friends of ours, just returned from their home in Pretoria. Thanks, Kathy, for shopping for us! She shopped for me in the much more well-equipped markets in this bigger city with a population of over 2 million.

“The heaviest land mammal has a weight up to 6 short tons (5.4 t), the African elephant. This enormous mammal measures approximately 24 feet (7.3 m), and eats 500 pounds (230 kg) of vegetation like grasses and leaves a day.”

We reimbursed Kathy for the expenditures, chatted for a bit, and she was on her way. Soon, we’ll be planning some social time together while they spend a few weeks back here in Marloth Park.

We were watching elephants from the Marloth Park side of the Crocodile River.

In an hour, we’ll be off to Komatipoort for my final doctor appointment for vaccinations. We’ll stop to purchase more pellets, visit the pharmacy for a few items and return to Marloth Park to spend the remainder of the afternoon on our usual drive searching for more wonders of this spectacular area.

To our friends, family, and readers in the US, have a safe Memorial Day and stay well and happy.

Photo from one year ago today, May 28, 2017:

It was raining in sheets in Minnesota during the drive back to our hotel around 8:00 pm, typical for this time of year. For more details, please click here.

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