There were quite a few painting on display. This is the kind of art we put on our walls and is more popular than any van Gogh.
Most of the time I do not like paintings as there are so many artists and few few of them can paint the animals in proportion. I did like this scene of the lion laying on the edge of the desert.
My favorite was this one of the zebra. It is a scene which one so often sees in the game reserve.
Now I know you are all asking yourself what on earth this is. :) We call it a "potjie" which is the Afrikaans name for a pot. However, this is not just any kind of pot. We have hundreds of recipes for things like stews and bread we bake in it. Basically the ingredients are up un layers into the pot, those which take longer to cook like carrots, at the bottom. Once this is done, the potjie is placed over a wood fire and left for 3-5 hours to cook depending on what you have put inside it. Somehow these caste iron pots make everything taste different and we all have our "secret" recipe for our best potjie. :) The come in various sizes and I do not think there is a household in SA which does not have at least one. A potjie and a barbeque is our favorite way to prepare meals.
SA has a lot of hunting areas and most men go at least once a year to shoot, with the result, taxidermy is huge here. These were some of the buck on display from one firm.
The Eland on the right is our largest buck and can weigh as much as a bull.
All in all, our life here is very different but I know of many people who have come here to retire because of it and others who come here regularly to visit our sunny country. The living is maybe primitive in some way and simple but it is a wonderful life and I would not easily change it. A trip to Africa is a must on everyones list of things to do in their lifetime. We have the best of everything here and if the Africa bug bites you, there is no place like it on earth. Just ask people like
Jose and
Andrea. :)
Most of the time I do not like paintings as there are so many artists and few few of them can paint the animals in proportion. I did like this scene of the lion laying on the edge of the desert.
My favorite was this one of the zebra. It is a scene which one so often sees in the game reserve.
Now I know you are all asking yourself what on earth this is. :) We call it a "potjie" which is the Afrikaans name for a pot. However, this is not just any kind of pot. We have hundreds of recipes for things like stews and bread we bake in it. Basically the ingredients are up un layers into the pot, those which take longer to cook like carrots, at the bottom. Once this is done, the potjie is placed over a wood fire and left for 3-5 hours to cook depending on what you have put inside it. Somehow these caste iron pots make everything taste different and we all have our "secret" recipe for our best potjie. :) The come in various sizes and I do not think there is a household in SA which does not have at least one. A potjie and a barbeque is our favorite way to prepare meals.
SA has a lot of hunting areas and most men go at least once a year to shoot, with the result, taxidermy is huge here. These were some of the buck on display from one firm.
The Eland on the right is our largest buck and can weigh as much as a bull.
All in all, our life here is very different but I know of many people who have come here to retire because of it and others who come here regularly to visit our sunny country. The living is maybe primitive in some way and simple but it is a wonderful life and I would not easily change it. A trip to Africa is a must on everyones list of things to do in their lifetime. We have the best of everything here and if the Africa bug bites you, there is no place like it on earth. Just ask people like Jose and Andrea. :)
28 comments:
My favourite SA wildlife artist is Edmund Barton. I have five of his paintings, I love them all equally and they are all in my lounge in France so I feel very at home there. Diane
this is my favorite kind of art. love all the ones i see here. i much prefer this over van gogh for sure. I would so love to come and see you and your country, but it will not happen because i get sick on boats and planes, instantly. i can only drive, and unless they build a very long bridge I will have to make do with your photographs. there is a doctor office here who has african art liek this on every wall, they are paintings that look real and cost thousands of dollars, one of them is zebras and i could sit n stare at it for hours.
I certainly don't need any convincing on this point. I do count on Joan for vicarious viewing of nature at its best in beautiful South Africa.
Hi Joan
Not sure why but I am off your bloglist. Anyway it is good to see you so busy - such variety with the blogposts.
Interesting art post - no recipes for the pot?
It's true that all should see ZA, such a diverse and beautiful country. And if you keep your eyes open the animals in the paintings can be seen for real. But I want to know where your pootjie was packed and why we never ate one of these delicacies.
I am not fond of paintings Diane but some of these were stunning. I am sure seeing them in your home make you long for Africa.
Good to see you are up and running again after your move.
I have to agree Sandra. I just do not see anything to my taste in those old paintings and much prefer these.
Oh what a pity you cannot fly!! It is one of the things I really love doing. To sail above the clouds is something special but the smaller planes and helicopter is amazing. The world looks so different from up there. I have even done a few hot air balloon flights and loved it.
That zebra shot is so typical of Africa. I have a similar picture coming up soon which you might enjoy.
You are most welcome Ray. I am pleased I am able to show you my world.
Hi Zane. It was good to have a break back in the bush again and as summer is just starting, I am hoping to find lots more this season.
Well I DID have a recipe for an elephant stew but as most people would not be able to find a whole elephant to put in it, I decided not to put it on. LOL!!
Those scenes are so typical of Africa Gaelyn. Oh dear!! I forgot to pack the pootjie!! LOL!! Never mind, there is always next time. :)
I would rather see all those animals in the wild instead of hanging on a wall!... Killing for fun is beyond my understanding.
I wish I had some extra money to aquire one or two paintings like those, but I will have to frame some of my pictures instead. I'm not too keen on the animal heads though.
Hello, blog colleague! You have very, very beautiful pictures. I allowed myself to put your link at my link-list. I too have a blog in which I post nature photos taken in my country. The pictures are not professional, I an an amateur, but they contain a great variety of features. If you like, you can visit my page. I would be very thankful. Anyway, thanks for being an inspiration!
Godd luck!
I like the paintings! How interesting about the potjie. I imagine it tastes realy good when done cooking!
I agree Jose. Most of these are hunted for the pot and they make biltong out of the meat.
They are quite expensive Jonker, but well worth it if one can afford them.
Thanks for visiting and commenting AllArounArt. I am not a professional photographer either, I just love taking pictures of all the beautiful things in nature I see around me.
There were some excellent painting there Mary. The potjie is basically just another way of doing a stew but it does taste different and of course we always eat it outside, sitting around the fire while it is cooking. It all makes for a wonderful atmosphere.
I am so happy that changing the blog settings help Joan...I would have written me off...LOL..I had a little bug crawl into my jacket sleeve this morning. I think it wanted to warm up..I am trying to ID it, but the photo is fuzzy..I may post it anyway....Once he warmed up, he went on his way....Michelle
I also own a small pootje:a present from my Guide,Mr Liebenberg.
I never used it to cook,but maybe I will try.
I agree with you:your Country is a wonderful Country.
And if we think to the whole area,South Africa together with Namibia and Botswana,we could say a whole life could not be enough to see everything.
They say the same about German Beers:a lifetime is not enough to taste all of them :)))
I enjoy your blog so much it encourages me to keep trying, and I enjoy the sound of the camera when it "Goes CLICK"
Thanksfor sharing.
You are welcome Snapper11. :)
Try it Andrea. The thing is that it should be on a wood fire so it can slow cook for a few hours but put whatever you want in it as far as ingredients and spices are concerned. It makes the most wonderful pot bread too.
Beer? Hmmm!! Sounds good!! :)
You are right, what is there that we dont have in this region? I cant think of anything. Sea, desert, everything is here.
I am pleased you changed back too Michelle. Thanks.
Yeah, post it. As you see I sometimes post fuzzy ones too. :)
I love those pictures. I like the Zebra the best,
I also love that pot. I could cook just fine in that. We cooked so many meals over the open fire when we camped, and I for one would be right home in SA!
B.
I think you would be too Becky. From what I have gathered, we both like the outdoors and guess what, if you lived here, NO SNOW!! LOL!!
Oh dear..I don't like to see animals on people's walls unless they are a photo or painting...so interesting about the pot...
They are not my favorite either but are a very big thing here in SA with a lot of people going hunting every year.
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