Wyndford' Autumn news...

Guests were on the edge this morning, literally! It’s been a busy week with abseiling and zip lining as well as covering nearly all the Wyndford walks. We are into that wonderful time of year, with crisp clear days and chilly evenings – perfect for hot chocolate round the fire.

 The Autumn palette this year has been particularly spectacular, with the Liquid Ambers along the drive looking stunning. It unfortunately doesn’t always stay around for long, as one stiff puff of wind and all the leaves end up in a pile on the ground!

 …….and those blue suede shoes? … have to keep a lookout for them!!

Rambo, it would appear, has once again been busy as we are expecting another little lamb at some stage – it has to have been achieved before black jack season as they would otherwise still be attached. Close attachments were also formed in our pig family as we have another five babies – great fun to watch their antics! Dandy did himself an injury to his forehead – a horse with a headache is a sorry sight indeed!

Wyndford will shortly have a new generator which will run the whole farm and not just the main kitchen block – an unexpected upgrade… but one we felt necessary for our guests continued comfort (and stress levels!). The lounge is slowly taking shape, with the new stained glass lampshades and some of the upholstery back.

With temperatures already down low, we have had our first frost, the garden is slowing down with the last of the summer carrots finding their way to the rabbits instead of into the kitchen, thanks to young Cassidy, Sebastion and cousin Hannah!  Ooops…

May sees the Spiderman (he does Butterflies too!) here on the weekend of the 15 – 17 May – well worth a trip down with the kids to learn and enjoy.  Remember also, that June, July and August school holidays are out of season for families so a 20% discount applies to all four night or longer reservations.

Congratulations to Helen Berriman - our monthly draw winner of a two night stay out of season for two people!   Head off to the website to enter on www.wyndford.co.za and we will keep you up to date on www.facebook.com/WyndfordHolidayFarm with all the news.

Warm greetings from the Wyndford Team!

PS I’ll leave you with some extra pictures …

March News....

Rambo works….. we were worried there for a moment! Mary safely delivered Little Lamb II on Monday and so brings our flock up to a grand total of four!  Actually I always thought that lambs usually arrived in Spring but we are very definitely into Autumn here in the Eastern Free State.  The poplars are turning golden and the cosmos is beginning to bloom.  A photographers dream…

Looking heavenward…. Join us on the 10 – 12 April for the Stargazing weekend with the Faltemeirers and the possibility of some scouting tips along the way from Robert – wonderful for the kids.

We also have a last minute special running!

How would you like a FREE day.....? (Yes really!) Between the 19 - 24 April BOOK for 4 nights PAY for 3!!                         

 Call us on 058 223 074 now so as not to miss out!

We have had a good crop of porcini mushrooms this year, adding extra flavor to meals. Celvin continues to tweak our menu with the latest addition being basil pesto and mozzarella filled chicken breasts coated with almond flour and parmesan cheese – Yum!

The lounge has just begun it’s overhaul, a slow process, waiting for upholstery and curtains to be made, but exciting none the less. We are also hoping to renovate and upgrade Crystal Palace and Den & Cabin sometime this year but more about that later.

Charlotte (our tortoise) is still out and about – so no hibernation hole as yet! In fact, she has taken to parking on the verandah along with Dodge, our husky, and the three cats. I did also wonder what the hail we had yesterday sounds like from inside a tortoises shell?!  Oh, ok Ponty… he has just hurrumphed from the paddock to send his greetings to you all.

Our monthly draw winner of a two night stay out of season for two people, Ryan Gaskin!   Head off to the website to enter on www.wyndford.co.za and we will keep you up to date on www.facebook.com/WyndfordHolidayFarm with all the news.

Happy hugs from the Wyndford Team!

February News....

Well, although the Smith’s have been on leave, things on the farm carry on as usual – much like the last 90 years.  Guests come and go, meals prepared and enjoyed, animals arrive and depart, staff move on and we are joined by new members… and the sun shines and shines and shines and occasionally we get rain – YAY!

Heading to Ibis Gorge – one of our favorite parts of the farm

No tubing at the moment as the river is particularly low, and the garden has also been taking strain.  A water leak under Camelot had us perplexed for a long time and some new pipes were discovered in the maze that is the Wyndford waterworks!  The fruit trees are giving up their bounty with pears, apples and grapes the next in line for preserving and jamming.  Another plan for the garden this year, apart from digging things up for pipes…. is to hopefully start a scented garden at the end of the bowling green, using mostly roses.

Brave…? Cyclists from the Lesotho High Altitude Challenge to raise money for various charities, will be joining us before they head up the Moteng pass ending up at Katse Dam. We wish them oodles of energy and safe travel.

Sadly, we lost Wynza, our biggest horse and a gentle giant recently, as well as another large emu - we are left with three little ones and M. Our nutty hen is once again sitting on eggs, in the fork of the tree – 3 metres up!  Although we do have a (very long) ladder up to the roost it does make for worrying first steps for chicks!!

There is just something special about horses!

We are hoping for an exciting year ahead (apart from the fact that our son is getting married!) with upgrades and new ideas.  Join us on the 10 – 12 April during the school holiday for the Stargazing weekend with the Faltemeirers and the possibility of some scouting tips along the way from Robert!

Our monthly draw winner of a two night stay out of season for two people, Janet Ginsburg!   Head off to the website to enter on www.wyndford.co.za and we will keep you up to date on www.facebook.com/WyndfordHolidayFarm with all the news.

Greetings from the Wyndford Team!

February Weekend Special....

Stay for 3 nights pay for 2 nights!!    

20^th February departing 23^rd February 2015. If you missed out on doing something special for Valentines…. here is your opportunity to escape to the country and relax. Three meals a day…no cooking, beautiful surroundings in which to chill, great walking, cycling - and so much more.  Call us now on 058 2230274 or email reception@wyndford.co.za

Happy 2015....

Employee of the Month goes to…

… the Reindeers on standby - although it would appear that tired reindeers weren’t the problem…. it was Santa who all our kids found snoozing on the couch!  Woken suddenly, he managed to dish out good cheer- and lots of presents!

 

We were appreciative of great weather over the holiday season and the pool and jumping castle did overtime.  Apologies to the kids on the last weekend….. the motor wiped its brow and gave up the ghost!

The kitchen did us proud, producing a Christmas tree Pavlova, Rudolf and Elf Dessert, Beef Wellingtons, Snoek Pate among others – so well done Celvin and all his ladies! (Who are all now brightly attired in Turquoise Schwe Schwe – their uniform of choice for this year)  New Year saw us heading to the Chuck wagon and the Wild West as we barn danced the evening away at a foot tapping Pow Wow under the Willow Tree at the Moon Rising under Tortoise Mountain!! (OK so you had to be there……) Maybe next year?

 

The Faltermeiers were the first up for the buffet breakfast in the summerhouse! Book now and join us and them for the Stargazing weekend or… watch out the Spiderman cometh (yes again!) Dates viewed on our activities page on the website on www.wyndford.co.za/activities

I mentioned once before that although you supposedly can’t teach an old dog new tricks, apparently you can with an old horse! Maluti was seen in training (in the over 25 category) going through his jumping training… I can now understand what parents feel like when the kids attempt the abseil rock.

Charlotte and I have come to an understanding – she gets to eat as many daisies in the grass as she likes and avoids my Peonies and Roses! I also think she has been around the farm too long, when on hearing a scraping sound….there she was rubbing an itch back and forth along a low branch….? The pigs do the same on the water trough!

We had six four legged guests for a few days (much to Ponty’s displeasure!) as the border police horses came to stay.  Great to see them having fun up and down the paddock, although I could not persuade them that apples were supposed to be a treat.

A good start for New Year goes to our monthly draw winner of a two night stay out of season for two people, Irma Rodd!   Head off to the website to enter on www.wyndford.co.za and we will keep you up to date on www.facebook.com/WyndfordHolidayFarm with all the news.

Well friends (you know there are no strangers at Wyndford), we would wish you a 2015 that is filled with promise and good surprises!

Wherever you are – the Wyndford Team sends you warm greetings!

PS… I leave you with this beautiful picture – I think they were maybe discussing shampoo for blondes?

 

Reindeer on Standby....

We have it on good authority, that Father Christmas has the Wyndford co-ordinates.  He has visited us faithfully over the years and we always send him a list of little people who are with us and not at home. This year we have reindeer on standby just in case Rudolf and friends need a rest (Some ‘assistants’ are more keen than others…!)

The jumping castle is ready and waiting at the poolside, the menus are all planned – so far the weather is behaving – hot beautiful days and rainy evenings, and the power – well…  that is harder to predict than our wayward sheep! (Note to self….bring a torch on holiday!)

As 2014 draws to a close, we would take this opportunity of thanking everyone who has joined us this year and trusted us with your holidays!  If you didn’t make it – we look forward to welcoming you in 2015.

An early Christmas present goes to our monthly draw winner of a two night stay out of season for two people, Lisa Hendrikse!  Head off to the website to enter on www.wyndford.co.za and we will keep you up to date on www.facebook.com/WyndfordHolidayFarm with all the fun happenings at Wyndford over the holiday period.

Travel safe if you are on the move, stay safe if you are at home!

Wherever you are – the Wyndford Team (ok, reindeers, quit jingling your bells – that includes you) sends you warm greetings!

Extreme Sports - Wyndford Style!

It is an awful long way down....

Right, lets decide who is going first...

or we could bungi jump - no strings attached

You can do it - don't be chicken!!