An Unwelcome Welcome Damp Day

The cooler mornings mean that our Martin couple huddle more than snuggle in their morning spot. Yesterday's overcast morning was supposed to clear; washing was in the machine. Because we "lost" our tumble drier when we moved here, I rely on the Weather Channel app. Yesterday, it's regular reliability failed and rather than the clouds clearing, they became progressively more heavy and began losing their load.

Cold and miserable, one doesn't think that petty crime might happen. Well, it can. From my desk, through the window, I saw a movement and found a known and habitual petty thief in climbing out of the fence behind our irrigation dam.

I called her out. She claimed to be retrieving her ball, suddenly produced from her pocket.

I didn't buy it and looked more critically at the picture in front of me. The owls were missing. On moving closer, I saw them lying in the long grass outside the fence. Again, I challenged her. Again, denial.

Why am I so confident that this individual is guilty? About two or so years ago, I saw her go into, and steal from, the property across the road. The police called, she was caught in possession, pleaded guilty and sat in jail. She steals to feed her meth habit which has also seen her have two children (that I know of) removed from her. The youngest must be three or four, now.

The upshot: the incident was reported to the police and the photo above placed in our crime alert group to illustrate the tyical scale of items she steals. Then she goes door to door selling on to unsuspecting neighbours and visitors to the village.

Incidentally, those owls were made by a talented sculptor in the village. We have another larger owl which he made for us. And other work.

The day's excitement over, it just got colder and wetter, so the chicken salad supper became chicken and garden mushroom with rustic mash and a picking of beans.

This makes a great filling for pot pies. Planned for Friday.

Finally, about that rain. Notwithstanding my irritation, it is welcome. So far, we have had a very dry year and autumn. Just the other day, The Husband expressed concern about the lack of rain, saying that he is worried thay we may not have our usual winter rain.

Here's to hoping that yesterday's rain is a good sign.

Until next time, be well
Fiona
The Sandbag House
McGregor, South Africa

Post Script

• Twice a year Traci York hosts a challenge to bloggers to post daily for a month. I've participated (or tried) for three years I've known her via the blockchain. Twice I've succeeded. It's that time of the year again, and I'm giving it a go - on the Hive blockchain. Wordpress bloggers are also invited to participate.

Source: Traci York

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• If this post might seem familiar, it's because I'm doing two things:
• re-vamping old recipes. As I do this, I plan to add them in a file format that you can download and print. If you download recipes, buy me a coffee. Or better yet, a glass of wine....?
• and "re-capturing" nearly two years' worth of posts.
• I blog to the Hive blockchain using a number of decentralised appplications. From Wordpress, I use the Exxp Wordpress plugin. If this rocks your socks, click on the image below to sign up -

Image: @traciyork

• I also share my occasional instagram posts to the crypto blockchain using the really nifty phone app, Dapplr. On your phone, click the icon below, and give it a go.

Posted using Dapplr