May Fest

Family sailing in San Diego in 2013 ... last time we were all together

May was always very festive around our house back in the old US of A.

Not only are Vince's and my birthdays in May, we had so many friends and family whose birthdays were also in May that it had become a nonstop month of festive celebrations.

Plus May Day. Cinco de Mayo. The Derby. Garden shows. Designer Showhouses.

May Babies

Then there was Mother's Day. And finally the month was finished off with Memorial Day weekend at the shore - the unofficial start of summer in the US - with more festivities and season openings.

This year we do not have our family here at Valley Lodge for Mother's Day nor for our birthdays. None of our "May baby" friends and family are here with us either to share their month-long celebrations. Memorial Day this year will instead be heralding in the unofficial start of winter in South Africa. But this May marks the first anniversary of my first full year living abroad in South Africa and that is something to celebrate.

At least it still looks and feels like May in Johannesburg. Warm during the day with a slight chill in the air at night. Flowers are blooming everywhere. Not the May flowers I am used to and adore - like lilies of the valley, peonies, wisteria and lilacs - but flowers nonetheless. We decided to celebrate the month of May by taking in a couple of festivals over the weekend. Johannesburg - and South Africa in general - loves its festivals. Wine festivals. Food festivals. Music festivals. Art festivals and air shows. We chose the Jozi Craft Beer Fest and the Nirox Winter Sculpture Fair for our weekend May Fest.






Yesterday ... Saturday ... beer. It was Vince's second Jozi Craft Beer Fest but my first.

And today on Sunday, the Nirox Winter Sculpture Fair in the Cradle of Humankind. What's not to love? Art in a garden featuring a food and wine fair showcasing the finest chefs and winemakers from Franschhoek.

Happy May, Jozi!