It was at coffee one morning when two ladies were discussing the "shrieking" frogs that plagued their homes. Having been in Kitwe over two years and never having come across one, I wondered what they must look like and wished I might be so lucky as to have one visit. Well, I didn't have to wait long for my wish to be granted - a few days later Maverick came bounding into the house with a tiny squeaking object of prey in his mouth.
"He's got a mouse!" I cried to Graeme (whose duty it is to dispose of rodenty vermin).
He caught the tubby cat and prised his jaws open and out popped...
"It's a frog!" Graeme announced, surprised.
"Oh! One of the shrieking frogs!" I was simply delighted and so an anxious husband had to hold onto the terrified amphibian for a few moments so I could get a photo. They really are tiny! I'm quite convinced they travel in pairs for no sooner had Graeme lobbed my photo specimen over the hedge than one of the cats brought in his squeaking partner (who was similarly rescued and joined his mate on the other side of the hedge).
I was examining my loofahs this afternoon when I was amazed to see... my first passionflower! Honestly, this little vine was lovingly grown from granadilla pips of fruit that I ate nearly two years ago and I was beginning to think it might never flower. It struggled to grow and was prey to insect pests, but for the last few months it's been protected under the loofah vine and decided to finally blossom.
Their exotic blooms are certainly worth the wait.
And lo and behold I found a bud close by so now I can watch it unfurl!
