Out of Africa and a Crying Baby

Karen Blixen Home

Ngong Hills, view from Blixen Home

"I had a farm in Africa, at the foot of the Ngong Hills." That's how the movie "Out of Africa" begins. I love this movie, and I know that it has some questionable scenes. But I think that this is probably one of the most romantic movies that has ever been made. The scene when Robert Redford washes Meryl Streep's hair will make any woman swoon! I was so excited to finally be able to go and see this home. The view of the Ngong hills is breath taking! I still can't believe that I saw it in person.

You are probably wondering why I put crying baby in the title. This movie has some of the most beautiful music in it, so I bought the soundtrack. When our daughter Ashley was a baby, she would always cry during her bath time. One day, however, I decided that I would try something different. I put on the soundtrack to Out of Africa, and voila, no more crying! So from then on, I always played that music when I was giving her a bath, and it soothed her and Mommy. So, I have sweet memories of the movie and the music!

Birds of Kenya

Superb Starling

Sunbird

Grey backed Fiscal

Maribou Stork

Superb Starling

Grey Heron

Rosy- Breasted Lonclaw

Crested Crowned Crane

Maribou Stork

Blacksmith Plover

White Headed Buffalo Weaver

Grey Flycatcher

African Pied Wagtail



Anyone that knows me really well, knows that I love birds! I guess you could say that I am a fledgling ornithologist. So when I visited Kenya recently it was a veritable treasure trove of birds! I wasn't able to get a picture of all of the beautiful birds that I saw, some flew away before I could capture them with a picture. The reference book which I purchased, " Birds of East Africa" lists 1293 species of birds for the region- approximately 15 percent of the world's bird species! Wow, that is a lot of birds! Needless to say, I was in "bird" heaven!