Saturday, October 31, 2009

Day of leisure

Sunshine, a school friend, a passage littered with Barbies and empty yoghurt tubs, half coloured in pictures, a patio table filled from corner to corner with bowls containing garden specimens (gravel, rose petals, various leaves, sand, twigs etc), bouncing, laughing. Wonderful lazy day. Little planning... lots of joy.



I usually make a double batch of biscuit dough and freeze half for later. I got this out of the freezer yesterday. It removes all effort second time round. I have to write the instructions on it as I never remember which recipe I used (you think you'll remember but you don't - well, I don't)



Its like something out of an Enid Blyton novel when you have milk and cookies in the afternoon.

Monday, October 26, 2009

Here's my cup

Today I've been counting my blessings - this is a most beneficial exercise! When you lift your face up its amazing what you see. My list is pretty lengthy and I bet yours would be too.

Isaiah 51.22 applies... "see, I have taken out of your hand the cup of trembling" (Thank You - after last weeks escapades) and moving swiftly along to claim Psalm 23.5... "You anoint my head with oil (symbolic of soothing / refreshing) and my cup runs over (blessings)"

Sunday, October 25, 2009

Cry Baby

My world this week held a lot of tears... some days go like that. In fact earlier this week I was reflecting that it had been a while since I had a good sob (now I see it was most certainly the Holy Spirit telling me to brace myself).

So many many things went awry...
- Rebecca had a crazy high fever on and off all week
- I injured my back, was in pain and had to sleep half sitting - not easy to do
- Wayne was away for 2 days
- I broke Rebecca's favourite alice band by mistake (yes, even such a silly thing made us
both cry)
- she had a concert that Wayne could not attend (we were both so sad)
- a metal pipe squashed my middle finger (can't even describe the agony and had no ice nearby)
- my new bank card didn't work (why would you issue a card when the equipment to use it is
not available?) so I had to leave a trolley full of shopping
- I have had hay fever in the worst way, my red eyes bulged like that hamster's in Bedtime
Stories

Some week's you would rather just see the back of!
But there is always an 'up' side... you really appreciate all the little things and when you husband arrives you sob again just because you are so extremely happy to see him. Also, when you are poured out, it does something to your soul... it seems to enlarge your capacity for compassion.

Friday, October 23, 2009

Values

This morning I was listening to Gary Thomas talk about his book 'Sacred Parenting' and he noted, rightly so, that character is more important than achievement. If you gain the whole world but have no patience, faithfulness, self-control etc or are unethical, what have you really gained?

I need to remember that the building of character is not an overnight incident, but the steady, consistent application and demonstration over time.

'Education without values as useful as it is, seems rather to make man a more clever devil.'
C S Lewis

Monday, October 19, 2009

all things american

Lately I've been gung-ho about American-style food, eg Cornbread, Southern Beans etc. All the blogs I read have them celebrating Fall (Autumn) at the moment, so as a tribute and because it sounded wonderful, I made Applesauce Spice Cake and boy was it good! My sister and I agreed that we will definitely be making this again and again, especially since we don't have a Starbucks here where we can have Pumpkin Spice Lattes. Fortunately we are only beginning our Spring and we can have an ice cold 'Gemmer Biertjie' instead.

So yum!~

It was such fab weather this weekend that we went visiting a couple of spots along the east coast... the glamour girls in the back...

So cool!~

Saturday, October 17, 2009

Gardening: up and down

Things are beginning to bloom in the garden, happiness is...






But, happiness is not... can you see the trail through my garden, a mole has joined our clan.



I'm off to deal with the intruder. May your cup of joy overflow this weekend!

Thursday, October 15, 2009

Penetrating Kindness

Last night I was worn out and a little hormonal. After supper and putting Rebecca to bed, I had whittled my sentences down to mere syllables. Wayne had lots of work to do, so my plan was just to have a bath and get under a blanket... but he noticed my mood. Instead of staying at his computer, he came downstairs with a big smile, made us mugs of tea and stayed with me for about half a hour.

It was such a simple yet grand act of kindness that it surrounded me just like my woolly covering... and I really had a most excellent night's sleep.

Tuesday, October 13, 2009

The divine exchange

A wonderful passage...

'The spirit of the Lord is upon me, because the Lord has anointed and qualified me... to grant joy to those who mourn in Zion, to give them an ornament (garland or crown) of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment (expression) of praise instead of a heavy, burdened spirit - that they may be called Oaks of righteousness (strong, magnificent for uprightness, justice and right-standing with God) the planting of the Lord that He may be glorified"

Isn't it great to know that He qualifies us (He is enough and I don't have to rely on my all too evident weaknesses but on Him)
Isaiah 61. 1a + 3 The Amplified Bible

Monday, October 12, 2009

Ball skill

I have no ball skills but Rebecca loves playing ball so most evenings we try to shoot a few hoops or related games but today was hard as I spent the better half of the weekend hacking (er... trimming) trees and some of them hacked back and now I have sore arms. So today I asked her to make up simple games that we could play. This is what you get for asking a 7 year old to make up a game, we did some peculiar bouncing games, left handed throwing and a game where we were not allowed to look at the ball! Go figure?

Now she is sleeping, I've just had a lovely mug of hot chocolate and am watching 'The Amazing Race', then I'll be starting a new book. Happy Day.
Have a good week!

Friday, October 9, 2009

Butternut and Corn Soup

This is yummy, my family loved it and its very easy.



1-2 leeks (depending on size), thinly sliced
1 onion, finely chopped
+-4 cups vegetable stock
1 clove garlic, finely chopped
1 butternut, peel and cube
1 can creamed corn
feta (for the topping)

Gently cook leeks and onion on a med heat with a little (1-2 tablespoons) oil. Once softened add the garlic, stock and butternut and simmer for about 20 minutes. Season as necessary. Add the corn and cook for a few more minutes.

If you want a smooth soup, blend it now and then reheat for a minute or two with a good drizzle of cream or milk (I had buttermilk so I used that). Serve into bowls and top with a little crumbled feta.

Enjoy!

Thursday, October 8, 2009

Manners

'Good manners are similar to good grammar - neither stands out except when they are lacking on the one extreme or pretentious on the other. Etiquette is really just a structured way of letting people know you care about them' J. Otis

Tuesday, October 6, 2009

Playpark

She skipped through the gates on Sunday...



Click on pic to view larger image

Saturday, October 3, 2009

Farmer Boy and Spring

We are getting to the end of the book and they have just celebrated a wonderful Christmas so naturally we get talking about our favourite time of year and all the traditions that we enjoy...
the November baking, the Christmas cards that we send out, decorating the house, setting up the the tree and lights in the first week of December - which we always do with Christmas carols, chocolate, mugs of tea and red santa caps (all part of the jolly mood). Rebecca also gets random small gifts throughout December to stay in the spirit of giving and she in turn must think of ways to give to others.

Yesterday we went to the Baxter to see 'Little red riding hood'. Then a little picnic under the trees nearby for the four girls. Tomorrow its Ratanga (weather permitting as it's just too hot today) and Monday back to school... Spring break sure has flown but we had a good time and actually we like a little structure around here, so we are looking forward to the last quarter of the year.

Little choices

When God's Word fills your heart, you won't be able to wait to pass on the most important thing in the world to your little ones. As you fall more in love with God's Word, you'll want your children to do the same. So be sure the first little choice on your to-do list each day is your own heart-filling, soul-refreshing, strength-producing time with your Bible.

from 'A mom after God's own heart' by Elizabeth George


Joshua 24.15 "As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord"