First light

My favourite time of day... all is still, my family sleeps, my tea is hot, the day is full of promise.

Weekend time

Our annual cherry day began with rain... but quickly cleared to a beautiful crisp day.

Follow the sign and pick away.



While the others lingered by the trees we returned to the tea.

Charlotte's web

Every now and then we find a fantastic web hiding all of her spider 'treasures', lurking in the remotest spots in the garden. Look at the size of that thing - a fantastic work of art.

The 8 year old's chocolate cake

We've been glued to Masterchef Australia over the last couple of weeks and Rebecca has been so inspired in the kitchen lately... this morning she made me a fruit salad and freshly squeezed orange juice. This afternoon she wanted to make a chocolate cake. Due to the heat I wanted a quick mix and bake recipe... enter 'Can't go wrong Chocolate Cake'



It was fast but it didn't compromise the taste. The cake was baked in a square tin and it was moist, dark and delicious, with a dark chocolate glaze. Hmmm.

The organiser

She just fell in love with this bedding. We were out looking for bedding and even though I prefer a more "cottage" style in kids room, I let her pick it. The first night that it was on, I think it was on Saturday, she had a hard time climbing into bed and creasing the look. The benefit is that she doesn't need to be told to make her bed... awesome! She is, in fact, keeping the whole room in better shape, even labelling her wardrobe. Hope it lasts!

For the love of it

However you serve your family this weekend, keep the motive in mind!

"Love is a better master than duty"
~ Albert Einstein

Mud + pie

This gal just loves mud... when it rains she relishes the pools of water as her stomping ground... in the heat she pours her own rain on the soil with her watering can and bakes her mud pies in the sun. Then she gets herself in the tub while I attempt to soak the stains out of her clothes...


While she makes pies outdoors, I make a pie indoors. A rustic and generous meaty pie for tonight's supper.



I usually have a pile of vegetables and the odd bit of meat, but today I just felt like this hearty slice all on its own!

Chocolate Swiss Roll

Feeling inspired to bake, I made this Chocolate Swiss Roll filled with banana and caramel, for friends last night. Swiss Roll is hands down the fastest thing to knock together and feel like a Baker.

Not quite Mrs Beaver's marmalade cake (previous post) but I think better for dessert.

There is a single piece left in the fridge, I wonder who will remember first?
Happy Sunday!

Cherry Cake and other things kids love to eat

This is a brilliant book, 'Cherry Cake and Ginger Beer' by Jane Brocket. Each chapter has an excerpt from a children's book (like 'What Katy did", "Famous Five", "Chronicles of Narnia") and then a few recipes from that book. It has so many of the classics - takes you back to your childhood, real reading pleasure!!



It reminds me of warm summer days building forts and then enjoying "stolen" bits from our kitchen, in our shabby castle.

as we have received

... as you have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him (daily keeping in step with Him), rooted and built up (can't grow strong, i.e built up without the rooting) and established (then comes the testimony of time.. established...sturdy) in the faith as you have been taught, abounding in thanksgiving (this makes all the difference... an attitude of thanks for all great and little things... an attitude of joy - people want to be around someone like that)...

Colossians 2

May your weekend be one of walking, rooting and establishing with a good side portion of infectious thanks to Him and all those who surround you!

A little time in the shade

This has been a highlight of my week. Out under the trees, birds singing, good book and a flask of hot tea! The two cyclists are out and about while my sister and I decided to join them in a wooded area near our home... but not to cycle.




Got home as the sun was setting!

To braai or not to braai

Some of our friends braai every weekend but we don't really braai all that often, even though it is so delicious! But today's stunning weather drew us outdoors... so here is our first braai of the summer...



and Rebecca did the table, complete with place settings...

A simple supper

Salmon all prepared and ready for the oven. Beautiful! All this needed was a lovely green salad.