November News...

The last month has been so beautiful at Wyndford, I wish more of you could have been here to enjoy it.  The roses obviously enjoyed the really cold dry months before, as they came out dressed to impress for the Spring show. Along with Lupins, Foxgloves, one ranunculi (ok, so we didn’t get it all right) and beautiful peonys! Sitting in the gardens is a restoring and calming pastime, listening to the singing of the many birds and bees activity.

Talking of that, we have welcomed six piglets to the fold and two beautiful calves, one a little girl named Yogi (thinking ahead).  The Geese are sitting on nests and if they increase the population much more, we might have to look into making them into duvets. One chap who passed on recently was Peter, our Vulturine Guineafowl – we think from old age – as he was about 12 years old.  I was tempted to ask Joseph to pluck him for New Year – for his beautiful feathers that is….sorry, that sounded wrong – but decided to let him RIP!

Our new Piggly Wiggly Bench situated overlooking the horse and pig paddock, leads you through the vegetable garden, which is looking good, and the bunnies had a party when we did a thinning out of carrots.  The produce of carrots, beets, beans, tomatoes, marrow, pumpkin, spinach, rhubarb has taken off as well as the rocket and we look forward to serving home grown, organic vegetables and herbs!  We have once again (episode 6 at least) planted the gardens at the gate (note to self…. the vegie gardener cannot scatter seeds – they are all coming up in straight rows) and the ongoing saga of the Dassies vs the Dame continues….!

As I write this we have had a few days of amazing rains, 68.5mm and counting. The Caledon rivers are flowing but not deep enough yet to go tubing!  The rains have popped the leaves out on my Pecan nut tree – a good sign as we thought we had lost it – but am I the only gardener whose tree is shorter a year after planting? The only one not enjoying the rain seems to be Charlotte the tortoise but then I might also, if my house had openings back and front.

Well, we are well into Cherry time, Asparagus abounds on the menu and the veld is looking greener after the dreadful fires earlier in the year.  Tractors are up and down as the farmers plant…. and the Bowling Green is just that, green! - ready for the fun tournament at the end of the month. Come and visit to experience the beauty that is the Eastern Free State.

Congratulations to our monthly draw winner of a two night stay out of season for two people, Tessa Rice!  Head off to the website to enter on www.wyndford.co.za or keep up to date on www.facebook.com/WyndfordHolidayFarm

Greetings from us all, the Wyndford Team… Yes, a picture at last!

The Piggly (Giggly) Wiggly Bench

A natural anti-depressant! A few minutes spent watching the antics of these irascible critters will lighten your heart and bring forth a chuckle!  You can now sit quietly on our new bench in the veggie garden and watch the pigs as well as the horses and cows, play! 

Oops can't seem to get video to work, view on https://www.facebook.com/WyndfordHolidayFarm

It would appear that we may not have a black sheep but we do have a black pig!

The Spiderman came!

Thanks to Peter Webb (yes, it really is his name) who came last weekend and had our guests peering under stones and over bushes for anything creepy or crawly! A great weekend was had by all and he is coming back so watch out for future dates....

At last we caught the Sunbirds on film...

October news...

Sitting in the evening, with full moon shining down on the farm, not another light in sight was a special moment. Nothing stirring, no noise other than the occasional (very insistent) cricket chirping. I think it is a good time to take our guests on a night walk and maybe find our elusive owl.

The sun birds have been very busy and visible and it seems a cacophony of birdsong is the daytime melody. Unfortunately the one bird we all wait to hear, the Piet-my-vrou, is still very quiet.  We would love to hear him herald the coming of rain…

The three baby Emu’s have been running time trials and seem well on their way to keeping up with mom’s longer legs.  Their early spots have turned to stripes and they are now tall enough to pop their heads over the edge of the water trough. This time of year sees us all on garden watch.  The horses and cows (and Charlotte the tortoise…) all try to get a bite of the new growth of flowers and grass and there was a shout recently that there was a cow (fortunately one not two!) near the Ark - I had visions of squashed roses, irises and hoof marked grass.

After such a cold winter, interestingly, many of the indigenous plants were burnt with the cold wind.  Spring seems a little late but we eagerly look forward to the green after the brown. Our local specialties - Asparagus and Cherries are due in the near future and look forward to having them on our menu.  Remember the Cherry Festival is the weekend of the 21^st November, book soon so as not to be disappointed. November is also a good time for all the over sixty’s to take advantage of the 30% senior discount before the December school holidays.

The sheep are feeling lighter on their feet after Joseph gave them all haircuts (we did recommend that he doesn’t give up his day job for barbering!) Keith and Michelle are settling in well – Roland, you will have company at Christmas time on a long walk – Keith did the Frog and all the way to Queen Victoria and back on Sunday afternoon.

Congratulations to our monthly draw winner of a two night stay out of season for two people,  Alida Kelfkens!  Head off to the website to enter on www.wyndford.co.za or keep up to date on www.facebook.com/WyndfordHolidayFarm

 We wish all ‘our’ kids (big and small) preparing for exams well, and parents extra energy for the year end windup! Giddy-up….now that might be a clue to our New Years theme…..

Greetings from us all, the Wyndford Family  .  

Knock Knock.....

KNOCK KNOCK....
Your morning tea, coffee or Milo arrives at your door. You amble down to breakfast and the room is tidied on return. The bell rings at 11..... scones with jam and cream? A quiet read until lunch time with homemade soup and bread, Babotie and finishing with creme caramel and locally roasted coffee. A walk, tennis or a swim until 4 when tea and biscuits appear in the summerhouse. A mellow sundown until dinner of  Roast Pork & Apple Sauce and Baked Ginger pudding or maybe something from the Cheese board! Then action cricket for the young at heart. NO dishes, NO laundry or cleaning NO shopping for food or planning the menu..... IT IS NO JOKE......THIS could be you AND there is a special on offer for OCTOBER! 10 for 10 for 10 - call the girls on 058 2230274 or email reception@wyndford.co.za

September news...

Mary, Little Lamb and Rambo are taking strain.  Woolie winter coats are fantastic at minus 11 but our weather seems to have decided to skip Spring and go straight to Summer, and as much as we are all desperate for some rain, I fear the sheep will have a huge problem should they get wet.  They will become so heavy their legs might disappear… maybe I should turn them into jerseys…

We have a group of ladies here who have never ridden horses before and there is much laughter and chatter along the road. After 25 led rides Zazu and the boys are looking a little weary – in fact Maluti was starting to look mulish and Starlight definitely seemed a little dimmer!

We are getting additional weight lifting exercise removing Charlotte, our tortoise, from getting embedded in the few spring flowers that are out and walking all over the newly shooting Peonies. She and I are going to come to blows – don’t you just hate it when someone withdraws when you are having a serious discussion with them!

There is great debate among us as to whether M is the Dad or the Mom looking after the baby Emu’s – but whoever, they are fiercely protective.  E has been banished so many times she is now sharing accommodation with Peter – our vulturine guinea fowl and the ducks in the farmyard. U unfortunately had a heart attack from the banishment and is no more.

It seems hard to believe that it is only three months to the New Year and we have a few specials up our sleeves to ensure that you are able to take a well earned breather, before the run up to end of year madness. Don’t forget our Spiderman cometh in October from the 10 – 12^th to enlighten us about Spiders, bugs, creepy crawlies and macro photography. There is still place available on the tours in November, give the girls in the office a call to check dates or email us and we can send you all the information. Also a reminder that the Cherry Festival takes place in November.

Our October special is 10 for 10 for 10!  The first ten days of the tenth month, during the school holidays, all kids get a 10% discount !J  If you stay for longer than four nights the whole family gets a 10% discount!

Our monthly draw winner this month is Jessica Gounden! (Some asked… so what do they win? A two night stay out of season for two people!)  So head off to the website to enter on www.wyndford.co.za

Team news is that the Smith’s had a wonderful adventure in the Okavango Delta, Moremi, Victoria Falls and Hwange (once again… thank goodness for George’s well known driving skills!) Always wonderful though, to arrive at the Wyndford entrance and realize what a wonderful place we live in. On our return we have been joined by Keith (seen here, becoming acquainted with the Rock Rabbit Ramble…) and Michelle Roth. They certainly had a baptism of fire… fighting fires the first week on staff – we did warn them that the job description is flexible, unusual and never boring!

We leave you with this delightful picture of the Jordaan family who celebrated a 10^th birthday with seven boys for the weekend….well done Mom and Dad!!

Greetings from us all, the Wyndford Family.