Virtual Africa: Zamrock

 To understand Zamrock you probably need to put it in context.

It was the 1970's.

Change and revolution were everywhere.

Even Zambia.

There were probably Zambian parents who were rolling their eyes and shaking their heads just like the US; who were bemoaning music going to hell in a handbasket when Led Zepplin, Floyd, The Beatles or the Rolling Stones were played loudly.

"Mulenga...I'm saying TURN THAT DOWN!!!! Don't make me come in there..."

I'm just saying.

Zamrock began from traditional Zambian Music.

Traditional Zambian (Mao)

https://youtu.be/ViXV9TmxeN4

Kalindula Music

Now imagine that you were listening to some traditional US song...Swanee River...for instance.  Except this time, it was being covered by AC/DC or Marilyn Manson.

Yeah...it is a bit like that.

A mix of African music with psychedelic rock, garage rock, blues and funk.

Documentary

https://youtu.be/mwzeqPFLWL0

One of the most popular Zamrock Bands was WITCH (...we are here to cause havoc...) who had a following like our Grateful Dead. People would follow WITCH from gig to gig...place to place.

WITCH Full Album

https://youtu.be/yMHlkvJbWos

ZAMROCK was popular from 1970 until 1979.

The Original Blue Vinyl Album now listed on eBay for $199.99 plus $35.00 shipping.

Of the original band only one member is surviving today...

Next time we will discover the country of Malawi 

 

 

Virtual Africa: Zambia

 

Zambia (...pronounced Zam-Bee-UH) is the crossroads of Southern, Central and East Africa. 

https://youtu.be/JZdeqUl-5Dc

https://youtu.be/ADk8gRsuYTY

To give you some idea of how huge the continent of Africa actually is...check out this map.

18 countries, including the US, Russia and
China would fit inside...with room to spare.

Zambia was formerly known as Rhodesia.

This area shows human habitation over 250,000 years ago. 

Zambia has a tropical climate with hills, mountains and plateau...crisscrossed with rivers.

It has a rainy season and a dry season.

The area is filled with flowers, plants and nearly 300 species of mammals.

Most of the people here are of Bantu descent and 90% speak Bantu.

The majority of Zambians are Christian.

Many of these are Jehovah's Witnesses.

The official language of Zambia is English and is used for all business.

There remains an HIV/AIDS epidemic here...and roughly 16% are infected.

A lot of their tourism is based on the three huge game reserves in the country.

Interestingly, they developed a musical style in the 1970's called ZAMROCK that was a mix of traditional Zambian music and early rock.

We will explore this music of Zambia next time.

 

May...Colorado and the Kids...And a Well Deserved Rest

 

Gorgeous and 74 degrees and NPB is open for business!

The scent of the month....Wrapped in Your Arms...a delightful floral mix of peony...tulips...maybe a hint of hyacinth...but predominately old rose.

I bought the lotion, body gel and light fragrance spray..and the candle might be next.

Huge caveat...the bees also think it smells wonderful...maybe not for basking.

Busy week with Brenda and Diane and brunch, morels and shopping.

I have literally gorged on morels all week and probably won't get any more now until next season.

sigh

Saw the kids and grands, Tuesday, before they flew off to Colorado...to see Nicole's side of the family and the grands to meet their great grandmother.

Nicole and Kaylee have been photographing...well..everything! 

It is wonderful to see their adventures!

Canon, Colorado.

More pictures as soon as I sort them...lol

Making "Cockscomb" (...similar to perogi...) with Grandma.

 

And a note from KB simply stating

I LOVE it here!!!!

Nicole and I shared a few things before they left.

She has been getting into herbs, medicine and making soaps, lotions and potions.

I have wonderful books to share on the subject.

She made me Pink Grapefruit and Violet Soap...also Coffee Soap...both are incredible!

My oldest son

"She's a WITCH..Mom!!!"

Exhausted today...and planning a couple weeks off from people in general.

I love everyone but after a couple weeks of non-stop socialization even the cat gets on my nerves....lol

Getting the borders and patio gardens planted...and some Spring Cleaning attended to.

Lennon called today and has his second Covid vaccine now...other than a sore arm and a few chills last night...no real reaction.

Chris and Tina are soon to celebrate their 2nd Anniversary...and plunder Pennsylvania :)

Back to Virtual Africa next week! 

Enjoy Your Weekend!!!

 

Spring Tea...Our Birthday Getaway...61 is FUN...and This Week Updates

 

Realized this morning that I have become Wanda.

My former co-worker, Wanda...whose birthday was a month long celebration. When October arrived Wanda would always announce 

"Guess what today is??? It is my birthday!!!"

Her husband always played along giving her small gifts each day of the month.

It was a month long celebration...culminating in the breakroom cake on November 1st because 

"It is NO LONGER Wanda's birthday!!!"

All of this very tongue-in-cheek, of course.

 But this month has been very Wanda-like this year.

61 ROCKS!!!

From the Quiche Brunch earlier in the week with Brenda and Diane...very HOLLYWOOD in Houndstooth and shades...lol

And bearing gifts of a blooming cactus...fig jam...cards and dark chocolate.

To John and Our Getaway...a beautiful bouquet of yellow roses...a pink teddy bear...a Happy Birthday balloon and treats for Sofi. An overnight and steak dinner out...the first sit-down eat in almost a year...and French Silk for afters!!

It was wonderful!

 

Lennon and a gift card for more steak...baked sweet potato and asparagus...and a few luxury items I'm been coveting (including a few things for NPB).

 

Chris and Tina who stole me away yesterday to Opa's for everything Greek!!! Lamb, Tzaziki, Avegolemano Soup, Saganaki...

Saganaki

Retsina

and a huge birthday surprise with a piece of Baklava with a birthday candle stuck in it...and who knew they had the entire restaurant and all its patrons stop and sing Happy Birthday...and shatter a plate while yelling "OPA" afterward!

And it is STILL not over.

 

 

Birthday Morels arriving next week and waiting for Tuesday and the arrival of EVERYONE (...all the grands...James and Nicole...Chris and Tina...) for a Pizza Fest before they all leave for their vacations-

 

James and Nicole and the kids to Colorado.

Chris and Tina for Pennsylvania.

My middle grandson (Brenden)

Now 11 years old!!!

Hard to believe.

Something else hard to believe this week was the SNOW!

Going from 70 degrees and early gardening on Monday...

to THIS by Tuesday Evening.

Of course, it is gone now...and waiting to see if my white lilies made it. 

And we all held our breath collectively this week...until Chauvin was proclaimed 

GUILTY

GUILTY

GUILTY

 and led away in handcuff to await sentencing in jail.

And held our breath again when the helicopter, Ingenuity, flew for the first time on Mars.

SEE HERE:

https://www.cnn.com/videos/business/2021/04/19/mars-helicopter-flight-video-ingenuity-orig.cnn-business/video/playlists/business-spacex/

And on both accounts there was much rejoicing!

We lost our friend Gail, this week, sadly- to Heart Failure just after her 67th birthday.

She went peacefully in her sleep...which is all anyone could ask for, I guess.

We will miss her.

The Covid numbers are slowly improving, and they estimate over 50% of all adults have now been vaccinated.

Most of our friends have had both jabs.

Life is ever so slowly returning to normal.

Even the little things seem huge now that we have lived without them for over a year.

The Book this Week:

 Sarah Penner's debut novel.

I could easily see this being made into a first rate film!

Intrigue...mixed potions and murder.

Following the tale of Caroline and James, in current times, and Nella and Eliza (and the Apothecary Shoppe) in the late 1700's. 

Potions mixed to cure all a woman's ills.

Even betrayal.

Engaging read...

 This Week's Movie:

 With a young Sinese and Malkovich.

Old film (1992) but nothing new out interesting at this time...so here we are.

I had forgotten Malkovich's ability and range. The man can do almost anything credibly.

While on a Malkovich kick...I also unearthed this gem.

SNL: Malkovich reads "The Night Before Christmas" 2017.

https://youtu.be/Vj0wzAaqzss 

(...some of these children may be traumatized for life...)

And, lastly, a birthday llama from Angie...

 Have a Great Weekend.

 ...feeling very spoiled...

 

 

 

Virtual Africa: Kwanza Sul Angola and Coffee

 

Angola...best know for Kwanza Sul and it's coffee plantations.

"Honey...I'm home!!!"

 Angola is the third largest producer of coffee in the world...and the most common crop grown here.

Coffee Cherries

From Cherry to Cup:

The coffee bean that we are used to is actually a seed. If you were to plant one that was not processed or roasted...you would be able to grow your own coffee tress.

Trees are kept pruned down to manageable proportions on coffee plantations. When left to their own devices...coffee trees can exceed 30 feet tall.

If you were able to plant a green coffee bean you would be waiting and waiting and waiting for your first cup, though.   It takes about 4 years before the plant produces cherries.

The unripe cherries are green. The ripe turn red...then burgundy.

The cherry when ripe and opened usually contains 2 beans.

At this point they are green and alive...seeds to planted.

https://www.etsy.com/listing/719287863/100pcs-coffea-arabica-seeds-coffee-bean?

And, if you are so inclined, you can buy raw seeds here...and try growing your own.

The beans are then washed.

How the beans are washed and roasted (and the oils that are added) give us the many variations of coffee flavor.

Lightly washed with residual pulp will result in a naturally sweet cup of coffee.

Well washed and dry parchment beans tend to be more acidic.

Bean roast levels also determine the flavor.

How to Roast Your Own

https://youtu.be/x1wBsf6bCnw

(...okay...might have to try this...)

Then just grind and make your coffee...

 

If you don't have a conventional or electric coffee grinder, a blender can be used as a serviceable replacement.

Coffee Production in Angola

https://youtu.be/YHlEZxQMtyo

(...sorry for the Portuguese...)

And for those who want to try the Kwanza Sul Coffee...but don't want to wait four years for your first cup...

The African Coffee Club

https://www.africancoffeeclub.com/shop/kwanza-sul

Delivered right to your door.

The best Angola has to offer!

Enjoy...

                                                        The Life of Coffee

 

Onward to Zambia.

Radioactive spider bite...Update...Cinnamon Rolls...and The Big Monkey Movie

 Yeah...finally fully vaccinated!!!

So, why does it look like I was attacked by a radioactive spider???

Above is a stock-photo of Covid Arm.

Mine has lasted all week although significantly smaller...about the size of a quarter...red and raised about 1/8 of an inch...and itches like mad!!!

Didn't even know it was a thing until it happened to me and I googled it...because it wasn't going away.

More commonly occurs with Moderna...and is harmless.

Enjoyed catching up with the boys and Nicole this week...and planning everybody (Tina and all the grands, too) soon...in one huge squirmy pile. Going to get pizza and such and the boys are bringing their new guitars.

Can't wait!

(...not too long, anyway...James and Nicole and the Grands are off soon to see her grandmother and have a little mini-vacation in Colorado!)

Lennon has his first vaccine now...had to drive out to Longboat Key for the Pfizer...so he is half-way to safe. Called me on his way back.

Good week...lots of rain. Managed to get some Ostrich Ferns planted before it all blew in and already have spiral heads poking out of the soil!

What they look like now...

What they WILL look like when they are grown...

Doing the patio and borders in green and cream and white this year. 

Found an amazing David Austin white rose.

Pure white with a heavy old rose fragrance. Repeated blooms and does well containerized.

Also looking at some more Hostas...and can see last year's tipping already. They add so much to my borders.

My guy has been doing a lot of fishing already...

 and played Old Man and the Sea recently with a couple of sizable carp.

Not terribly edible...and released back to the pond...but they put up a good fight and are fun to catch!

He will be morel hunting in a week or so.

Since I can't enjoy the thrill of the chase, anymore...I've ordered mine already...and they will show up at my door soon!!!

Already organizing a Morel and Asparagus Spring Quiche brunch with Diane and Brenda, when they arrive.

Also got a (quick) new recipe for Cinnamon Rolls using Puff Pastry this week.

 

Can't wait to try it! Going to top them with cream cheese icing and chopped spiced pecans ala Cinnabon.

No new book this week...outdoors as much as possible with Sofi...between downpours.

An update...as my sister Tina, now has both shots...and Lisa has had her first. We are planning a Sister's Day on May 1st...

Lemon-Drop has not only survived but is thriving!

And one of the new Barred Hens is finally laying.

Her egg is the tiny new one.

This Week's Movie:

Okay...it's not War and Peace.

It is basically bubble-gum for your brain.

The Big Monkey vs The Radioactive Fire Breathing Giant Marine Iguana

(...no..I am NOT telling you who wins...)

But it is well cast...must have had a huge budget...great CGI and a lot of laughs.

Well worth the time.

You'll love it.

Finishing the laundry and dishes, here...then calling it a night.

Hoping to get back to Virtual Africa soon...completely recovered from Walking Pneumonia and slowly getting caught up.

Later...