Little Max du Preez
On April 3 this year my four year old grand nephew suffered a traumatic brain injury after a tragic trampoline accident. He was immediately airlifted to Vancouver Children’s Hospital, and is still in the process of slow recovery. His parents, Frans and Danni du Preez have stayed at the Ronald McDonald House nearby since then, and continue to do so until Max completes his rehabilitation.
The good news is, their son is a very determined little boy. He’s gone from being totally dependent on a respirator for weeks, to eating blended food on his own. His vision is returning, with some impairment on the right field. He is walking with the aid of a walker, and has picked up a lot of speed and expertise with this! He scorns being in a wheelchair and has managed a couple of “escapes” outside through the automatic hospital doors. His strategy is to lurk around until another child goes out through the door in a wheelchair, then Max follows quickly on his walker.
For a great original report on Max by femmeflashpoint of flashpress, please CLICK HERE.
It helps you understand the magnitude of the family’s disaster after recently moving from South Africa to the Sunshine Coast of British Columbia. Their incredible daily expenses continue to overwhelm, but they are profoundly grateful to all the generous folks who have contributed to the go fund me page set up for them, still an ongoing project.
Equally, they are deeply touched by the emotional support they receive on a daily basis from so many caring people in their lives.
Okay, we’ve waited long enough! AAARGH!
It's been over a year now since this baby plant entered the sunroom and proceeded to live a comfortable and thoroughly pampered life! It’s now definitely reached maturity, and that's about all I can say for it! Every leaf that comes now, I hope will be the final one before the great advent of a massive flower.
So far it hasn't happened, and I'm beginning to get a bit grumpy about it. After all, a year is a long time to wait. Please CLICK HERE for my original article on this one. Then join me in fervent hopes that this stubborn but beautiful plant will realize it can't get by on looks alone. Bring on the bananas!
Ah yes, I'm still totally in love with these little creatures. They've done a beautiful job of pollination in the garden, and have become a source of interest for neighbors too, who have reported seeing them on their flowers. I've even been asked to positively identify them, when folks aren't sure whether they're are bumblies or Mason's, so it's great to see the interest in them developing.
The results of their presence in the garden have been amazing. Remember it was very chilly when they first arrived as cocoons in early spring? I couldn't find bees of any description, and really wanted to have the early apple blossoms pollinated. That was when I bought the first cocoons, 20 of them. You'd have sworn they were pedigreed - they cost a dollar each!
CLICK HERE to read how I started off with them.
When I first saw them flying off into the big wide world it was a like a moment you experience on seeing your child enter school for the first time, only maybe it was even worse, because at the same time a flock of swallows were careening around in the air just above. Ever thought why they’re called swallows? They swallow yummy little insects like my Masons, prime food as they dive around. I could practically see my investment disappear before my eyes.
But you have to trust. It was impossible to count those little bees, but I looked in on them every day, just fascinated by their activity. I examined my flowers for them, noted the differences between them and the bumble bees. I got so I knew even how they fly, and generally operate a bit differently to other bees.
They're active little things, and are said to pollinate much more efficiently than honey bees. My tiny apple tree was loaded with fruit after they'd done their work. I had to ruthlessly thin the fruit from this very young tree, otherwise next year there may be none. But those that are left are growing really well.
Now there is a downturn in their energy and probably their numbers too, with so many hungry birds around. They've filled and plugged 19 little hollow tubes, and they're still working.. By my calculations that means at least 120 new worker bees will hatch from their cocoons next year. I'm not counting the males, they don't regard pollination as being their job.
Note here for those not familiar with reading online; you'll get the most out of articles by paying attention to embedded links, usually of a different color. Click on them, and they'll often take you to some interesting and comprehensive info about the topic. This can really add to your reading enjoyment.