Wednesday, March 31, 2010

To knit or not to knit

Modelling the scarf that she knitted (mentioned last week). She can now begin to wear it, as the weather is getting cooler... its not perfect but it is cute.




The doll's pillow and blanket... last week's project.



She loves to start things. I'm trying to get her to finish them - its character building.

Tuesday, March 30, 2010

The kitchen

"The kitchen and dining area, where food is prepared and meals are celebrated, has always been the heart of the home. It is where we first face the day, and where we re-group at day's end. Here is where practicality merges with our sentiments about what constitutes a home - a family gathered around the table, the bounty of the garden or shopping expeditions transformed into a feast for the senses, leisurely Sunday mornings spent lingering over coffee and the newspaper or watching the birds outside the window. Even at a formal dinner party, guests always seem to migrate to the kitchen, drawn to its nurturing warmth and conviviality."

The natural home by Tricia Foley

Thursday, March 25, 2010

Home time

At the last ballet lesson of each term, parents are invited to watch. Today was the day and Ruby was so excited when she woke up this morning. They looked so darling... like little pink marshmallows. Mine is the second marshmallow.



After that we spent a hour on the couch under a blanket, wrapping up the second book in the Tumtum & Nutmeg series. Rebecca loves their adventure but I love their teatime...
"How about a little snack, Nutmeg dear?" he said, for he never liked proposing things on an empty stomach. Nutmeg scurried about the kitchen and laid the table with a dainty blue and white teapot, and homemade gingerbread, and macaroons, and cucumber sandwiches, and scones with butter and jam; but she was feeling too upset to eat more than a couple of mouthfuls. "Oh, if only we could help them, Tumtum!" she groaned hopelessly, watching him eat.

Now its knitting time. Rebecca has learnt a new stitch so she's got the bug again. Last year she made a scarf but at the moment she is trying her hand at doll's items. She has made them a little blanket and is busy with the pillow. Will post a picture this weekend once its complete and stuffed.

Happy home time!

Tuesday, March 23, 2010

Of late...

We have been clearing, trimming, giving, building, breaking all the necessary bits around our property before winter. If you arrive on our doorstep, you will see no difference at all - its all the stuff lurking in corners, cluttering the garage, aggressive shrubs covering up my other plants, clothes that have been out of date for decades etc. Clearing your piece of earth clears the head. I feel lighter.

We have also been out for nourishment, pancakes for breakfast - Rebecca sat in the Captain's chair



and we were in Durban and it was unbearably hot, but our hotel was good and look at the view from our room (and I had the best oysters ever in Durban)



and we visited our neighbourhood Farmer's Market, I got a few pantry items and I had a jaffle (I have not had one since junior school) while Rebecca was more taken with the rides. She goes from being 'Plaas apie' to being...




'City Slicker'... her little feet trying on ladies shoes. We had a girls only shopping day. Fun!

Sunday, March 21, 2010

Slowing down

Weekends are for slow mornings... (cereal and blankies, with Disney)



and if guests arrive for tea, a super speedy Apple & raisin strudel... (I love the scent of cinnamon in my kitchen)

Thursday, March 11, 2010

It doesn't exist?

My wonderful husband is organising me a new cellular phone, but he just phoned to tell me that my phone doesn't exist but he'll keep on looking. What? I'm sure he is kidding...

My criteria was simple:

1. Must be cute

2. Must be very very very easy to operate, not a NASA computer - seriously, if someone was teleported from 1920 to now, he should be able to figure it out

3. Buttons must suit human fingers not Tinkerbell's hands

4. May not be heavy

5. May not be large

6. Must be cute

I know its out there... somewhere!

Wednesday, March 10, 2010

Vegetables for dinner

Even though I've neglected my patch of late (I've always loved summer but I've really battled with the heat lately... maybe age... nah) it's still producing, less but enough for us.

Courgettes and cucumbers picked last night.

Tuesday, March 9, 2010

Baking day

Today for the first time in months I felt like baking, but I didn't want to bake something I would later regret (when my baking finds its way to my thighs) so I opted for Rusks, which I love (and these are packed with goodness). Most mornings I have a rusk with my tea during my quiet time.

A little (rusks are easy baking) work...



The reward...

Thursday, March 4, 2010

Inspired faith

"The barbarian call confronts us with all we love and all we fear. We resist love to avoid pain and squelch our dreams out of fear of failure.... Every dream born of God is fueled by love. Every conversation to be had with God challenges the boundaries of our imagination. When we turn to God, His love transforms us and ignites a new passion within us.... We discover the power and force of love in its purest form.

Fear hold us captive... but when we fear God only, we are no longer bound by all of the other fears that hold us captive... this makes the barbarian an entirely different species.
This may be the most extraordinary mark of the Spirit of God within the heart of humanity:
the freedom to live out dreams greater than ourselves."

Erwin R McManus from 'The barbarian Way'

(We need to be reminded to live large and stay inspired, no life is meaningless, we all have purpose and destiny stamped into us)

Wednesday, March 3, 2010

Mammoth humour

Ruby and I are watching Ice Age 3.
How's this for subtle -

The mammoth says to Sid the Sloth, "You will also have a family of your own one day... you will meet a nice girl with low standards, with no real options or sense of smell." Poor Sid.

Later his wife (lady Mammoth) says, "Do you think my ankles look fat?"
Mammoth answered,"What ankles." Very funny!