The Naked Barista 14 January 2019
We were driving as usual heavily packed to the brim with workmen and trailer. Gratitude once again to be on the road and gratitude for a great vehicle – not only our wheels – but a vehicle for success – an income generated travelling job.
We were well on our way as we needed to stop in Bloemfontein during business hours for B to purchase some tools at Adendorffs. As it were, our estimated time of arrival that night in Stoffberg were only at ten. I booked a room for our workmen as well at Die Pers Kombers to make life easier for B.
We have once again accommodation with Rykie (+2782 3383507) on their farm.
In Part 1 I shared about the recent fires on our farm. This time, it was absolutely fabulous to see – as we went over the Outeniqua pass – how the color green has once again taken over. This view makes for an interesting contrast of black sticks where trees once stood, combined with fresh new greens emerging.
It was still early as we headed out towards Stoffberg.
The clouds and mist still covered the mountains, as the sun tried it’s utmost best to peek through…creating for us a lovely show. Gratitude for such magnificent eye candy.
Around seven we saw an amazing sunset…amazing as we were driving away from the sunset into a heavy downpour of rain. So the colors ranging from deep grey were growing rapidly darker in front to pink hues disappearing ever so slowly at the back…
It has been a whirlwind December/January and B mentioned that it felt like we were going on holiday rather than off to work.
We left our farm with some friends still visiting and they will stay there for a while. Joe, our friend of many years and Nadine his girlfriend are still relaxing in the tranquility of Lochloerie (farm). Joe works in Lesotho now and it was such a pleasure having a few braais together again.
Adriaan and Blom is also still on the farm. They have been away for three years teaching English in Thailand and Vietnam. We had some really good times before we left.
The busy December started right after I came back from Cape Town.
Yes… we have a brand new handsome grandson, Maddox and I am so proud of my
daughter Maryna who handled this new blessing with so much courage and finesse. We are superblessed with such a lovely family.
Maddox’s daddy, Rico is such a proud father and it has been so amazing for me to be a part of their journey. He is also a good Dad to Alexia. (Her daddy died of cancer when she was two)
Alexia…of course is simply over the moon with excitement and I have seen 
this look before…many years ago when my daughter held my son when he was born. Such a proud big sister.
I landed in Cape Town on the 25th of November and had two amazing weeks with my daughter and her family. What an absolute blessing to have had this spending time together.
Maryna has been through a very tough time and I have so much gratitude for just being available.
It was also a busy time having to take Alexia to school…hair, teeth and lunches…
and then up and down in the Cape Town traffic to hospital, just to start all over the next day with more of the same.
Superblessed to have been to Alexia’s first ever school concert. Being entertained by my first grandchild while holding my second grandchild…so much gratitude.
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Absolutely loved having a few hours for myself on the last Sunday in Cape Town and spending this valuable time with our friend of many years, Coenie. He spoiled me as always…taking me to some wine farms nearby…
Durbanville Hills were obviously on the list and we had so much fun.
Back at home we got packing for Vortex.
This has been our annual festival since 2012. Every year we have our same camping spot.
This year has seen many changes as most of our friends who usually join us, could not be there. Our camp was filled with only a few old friends, but more new friends and it was an amazing feeling to be part of Vortex once again.
After Vortex a few of us decided to spend some more time together by visiting Caledon Spa. This was exciting for me, as I have always wanted to visit Caledon Spa. Needless to say, we had an awesome time spend together.
We told our granddaughter, Alexia, that we would go and fetch her in Cape Town as it was school holidays. Our daughter, Maryna could do with some alone time with her newborn, Maddox.
We decided to fetch Alexia the next day, but we arranged first for another night at the Caledon Spa. Then only did we drive through to Cape Town. B got to meet his grandson, Maddox, for the first time.
That afternoon we hurried back to the Spa and needless to say Alexia had the best time. We are so grateful to be able to spend time with our granddaughter.
(photos of before and after)
The next day we drove to our farm in Hoekwil/Wilderness where Alexia had even more fun as Reinhardt and Nadine were already set up for camping.
We got busy organizing a New Years party on our farm. As there were not much time left, we really had to work hard to get this organised. Our plans changed dramatically, because of the fires. We were going to have the party in the Bluegum forest, but as it were still in ashes and very smelly with smoke, we decided to have it closer to the river. This worked out extremely well. For me it was even better as Maryna and her family could be a part of the festivities. Little Maddox could be well looked after as well. We took turns and we had the most amazing time spend with our children, as well as our grandchildren.
Alexia had the best time on the farm. She is all of four and very strong willed.
Before the festivities could begin, we had weeks of working at building showers and toilets as well as making fire pits where we could cook food to feed around a hundred mouths.
Luckily we had a very good workforce, but maybe not this one in the pic. One of our partners, Reinhard and his family were there to help. Our friends, Willem and Ben were also helping as well as Malcolm (one of our Djs).
They were all camping on the farm way before the party. As we were working, day by day more helpers as well as campers (party goers) arrived.
It was absolutely amazing to be a part of our first New Years on the farm. After such a horrific experience with the fires, this was all such an overwhelming contrast. It felt as if balance to our lives were slowly being restored.
I feel that this farm has been healing in so many ways and especially to me.
David, our friend (and now also a farm partner) who always decorates our camps when we are at festivals, were once again a master at decorating for us. He thought about everything and were running around in the shops, even buying storage bins with lids for our toilet rolls in our open air toilets.
After all the rush to ready ourselves for the party…this is what happened on New Years…
I am still getting goosebumps as I am writing this. New Years eve, I stood on the dance floor and soaked in the glorious beauty surrounding me.
By this, I do not mean just the decor or the natural beauty of nature…the indigenous trees surrounding us…the stunning dream catchers,
made by Katja…the tranquility of our river running past…no…it was all of that and so much more…more because we could share all of this with our handpicked friends…the most beautiful souls we share our life with…
This was the epitome of happiness.
Most definitely my best New Year of my life until now and here is wishing for an even happier 2020.
We are superblessed to be planning the next exciting gathering on our stunning farm, Lochloerie in March. Our son, Juan and his fiance, Katja, is having their wedding ceremony.
I would like to thank all our friends who volunteered to help with our New Years party as well as all our party goers. Gratitude for such amazing friends. Gratitude for all our gifts…even home made cookies…delicious. Thank you very much beautiful Rhodi-Anne.
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The weather changes very quickly in Stoffberg. One day it was extremely hot, but by midday a very loud crack of thunder could be heard and then a huge downpour of rain fell from the sky which turned immediately to an ominous dark grey. All of a sudden hail rained down. The lightning also took out the electricity. It felt strange to have four seasons in a day.
That evening Rykie told me that the weather were so bad the previous week that the farmers suffered…crops were destroyed as well as roofs of homes.
We are quite used to not having electricity on our own farm, so we were totally prepared with our own headlamp and torch.
Thankful to be able to get back into my morning yoga sessions. So grateful to have time to gift to myself. Such an important message to take time for oneself. I even sneak a ten minute meditation in after. For me it is so much easier to get on my yoga mat in the morning before I talk myself out of it. Afterwards I cannot believe why I would want to talk myself out of feeling so good. Even B is back on the mat and feeling so much better for it.
One day after B took the workmen to site, I went with him to inspect another site near Nebo.
Interesting to see the economy blossoming, with little businesses popping up en route between somewhere and nowhere.
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On a weekend, our friend Jannelie had a 40th birthday party and we drove more than three hours to get to Koedoeskop where it was held on one of their beautiful family farms.
We partied under the most stunning trees and danced on a carpet of lush green grass…
So many of our friends were with, some all the way from Cape Town.
The band also came all the way from Cape Town and is called Willem Welsyn. So much fun to meet them and become acquainted.
The weather all through the weekend were stunning and that evening most of us could not resist sleeping under this enchanted canopy of lush green trees.
Earlier Dean, who lives on this beautiful land, drove us up in his vehicle to show us the view from the ‘koppie’. We could hear the band perfectly from up there and we had a lot of fun…
Back at Stoffberg, we had to check out from Die Pers Kombers for the next weekend as they had a previous booking for a wedding.
We booked in at The Lighthouse and were very well received by Kobus and Mellinda Botha. Inside the beautiful cottage scented with fresh flowers, were a personalised welcoming note.
The cottage overlooks a most stunning dam and to add to the serenity, horses were grazing and sheep were being herded into camp as we arrived.
All of this and situated in the loveliest garden. Complete, with cats and dogs making us feel right at home.
B had to be on site as I nestled in as the sun were setting…
walking in the garden and getting a few lovely pics.
I can definitely recommend staying here and as a bonus, we received a lovely breakfast on the ‘stoep’ the next morning. After breakfast, we had a tough time leaving as we got to talking with the lovely owners. As they have had the farm for more than 23 years, everything were neatly in its place.
Our next stop not too far from there were a little town, (actually smaller than a town and called a little hamlet) Tonteldoos. As we found out that a village were supposed to have shops and Tonteldoos has a pub, a tiny shop, a restaurant and The Barn which boasts some books, plants and antiques. The closest town is Dullstroom some 20 km away.
A storm were expected and we booked The Silver Kudu…a little church which over time were converted into accommodation. This stone building were perfect for the stormy weather and we were ready armed with all the necessary.
Donkeys welcomed us and surrounded our accommodation over the course of the weekend.
We had such a relaxing time even standing on the biggest rock watching as the storm rolled in. What a sight to behold as we could see and feel the stormy weather rolling down the mountains towards us until it was so close that we just had to run indoors. Magazines kept us busy as we chilled under a blanket with a glass of red wine. It was just perfect…
Sunday we ventured into the town of Tonteldoos for lunch, but we were a little late as everything closed around two. Luckily, we always have some provisions and I could whip up a quick pasta with red wine.
But first we visited The Barn where the Botha family raised ten children. We were told that there were some graves on the farm as well, even some dating from the Boereoorlog.
The owner told me that her folks bought the farm around forty years ago. We also had the pleasure of meeting her eldest brother, John.
Tonteldoos has its own registry of births and a published book about the history of Tonteldoos also exists.
While we were visiting The Barn, our friend, Johan, who has a farm close by, also popped in for a quick coffee. We visited Johan and Karen the previous week and they were the ones who told us about The Silver Kudu and Tonteldoos.
Tonteldoos is known for Arum lilies growing in abundance, especially the yellow one as in the pic.
Superblessed as Tonteldoos were for us such an awesome experience,
more in Part 3…