Monthly Archives: September 2017

Wednesday photo: Bright bourgainvillea and turquoise water 

Posted on September 27, 2017 by elliewick

We had to backtrack a bit today after a complicated morning and lots of rain yesterday.  It was totally worth it for the blue sky, beautiful flowers, turquoise water, and tortoises. The giant tortoises deserve their own post, so this … Continue reading →

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Wednesday photo: Beet harvest

Posted on September 20, 2017 by elliewick

As spring becomes more and more like summer, my garden is finally producing lots.     These were my pickings on Tuesday, plus two shopping bags full of lettuce leaves, and I successfully gave it all away (except the herbs, which … Continue reading →

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Day six: Delivering reeds to the queen mother

Posted on September 19, 2017 by elliewick

I thought to myself, “I wonder if the king is here,” and then I looked up and made eye contact with him. It was the day of reed delivery to the queen mother, and it only made sense that the … Continue reading →

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What’s cooking: Chakalaka

Posted on September 15, 2017 by elliewick

Sometimes I do not have time to prepare food to the likes of what I write about regularly in the SOJO. There are a few staples that I always have on hand for times like the months of June and … Continue reading →

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Wednesday photo: Sibhaca dance

Posted on September 13, 2017 by elliewick

On Monday I attended Swaziland’s trade fair so that I could purchase a new internet package. I have so much more data now!    While I was there, a sibhaca competition was in progress. This is the male version of … Continue reading →

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Late summer and fall gardening in Swaziland

Posted on September 9, 2017 by elliewick

I have been so far behind in updating all of you on my garden; at least I have kept good records. By May, I had quite the garden planted with onions, lettuce, beets, green pepper, hot pepper, paprika pepper, beans, … Continue reading →

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Photos from cutting reeds

Posted on September 8, 2017 by elliewick

Cutting the reeds turned out to be pretty exciting after a long wait for the day to get started. The photos below show a bit of the march, the cutting, the preparing, the tying, and the posing with the reeds. … Continue reading →

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Day four: Another long Umhlanga march

Posted on September 6, 2017 by elliewick

Friday is the day of the return march to Ludzidzini Royal Residence. When I arrived, my group was already packed and we departed for the umphakatsi within a few minutes. I thought things would be happening soon, but of course, … Continue reading →

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Day three: Cutting umhlanga

Posted on September 4, 2017 by elliewick

Cutting reeds was definitely a day for the memory books. It started with many hours of waiting, which has become a common theme. Then the group of timbali that has most adopted me disappeared after getting ready. I had realized … Continue reading →

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