It is said when the Jakaranda tree loses its flowers, Christmas is on its way. Though it is getting warmer with each day, the purple flowers that are shed, resemble a brilliantly colored snow cover. The overwhelmingly sweet smell they leave lingering as they fall, at times seems to cover the smell of poverty. And poverty does smell. And even at times, they cover the sight of poverty. They cover the dust and litter, leaving only a majestic landscape of lilac. Together with a sunset at night makes a picture perfect enough to send as a postcard. The rains have just begun as well. They are noted to be short, warm rains, but at night they bring a chill to the body. It is not so cold like a winter shower might be, but if your blanket slips off your shoulder, you are sure to feel your skin tighten with the breeze.
Hectares of corn are no longer standing. Though in some places, they may be able to grow year round, if you get close enough to the bush, they are at a loss for rain. The crops in July suffered harshly from the lack of the long rains. The long rains failed to stay for very long and people sighed knowing famine would soon be on its way. Though the short rains have come early, it is difficult to predict how long they will stay.
The grass in the plains is getting shorter making it an ideal time to spot big cats; lions, cheetah, and leopards. But with little water in the savannah and plenty of sunshine, the animals find it best to keep hidden during the days’ hottest hours. The wildebeest have migrated, mostly crossing the Serengeti into Kenya during July. There are always a few groups which are either slower than the rest, or are able to stay as residents of the parks while their competition leaves to seek more land.
Around town it looks to be Spring, though in actuality it is really onto Summer now. The streets are filled with puppies, some tan, some brown, and some black. All muts. At the house we have six day old puppies…eight of them. Baby chicks run around the villages searching for bits of food along side the houses and roads. A mother cow gives birth to her calf only a few houses away. And it seems all of the tadpoles have evolved into frogs, for when it rains there is an overwhelming harmonious sound in the swampy grass next to the garden. As the seasons change from dry to rainy, life is replaced with another life.
An excerpt from Adventures in Africa; Blog 2006
