Wednesday, December 26, 2012

Christmas Time

I hope you had a blessed Christmas!!!

Rebecca and Anastacia singing carols in the dark, enchanted by the fairy lights.


Christmas Eve... the children love it!

The aftermath.

Christmas Baking


Wednesday, December 19, 2012

Social Holiness

Jesus was and is, a social revolutionary.  When he healed the sick he did more than cure diseases: he healed the sickness in a society that would cast these people aside.  When he pronounced his beatitudes upon the people, he was taking up those classes and categories that society deemed to be unblessed and unblessable.  He told these 'sat upon, spat upon, ratted on' people that they were precious in the kingdom of God.  He blessed the children, he spoke to an outcast woman, he hob-nobbed with a wealthy crook.
We are to do likewise.

~ Richard Foster


This time of year should remind us not just of those who are dear and precious to us but those who are alone and forsaken. Where we have opportunity to pray, smile, offer kindness or hospitality, the love of God compels us to do so.


Tuesday, December 18, 2012

At the Cherry Farm


Walking around the farm

 
Cherries = Christmas
 
 
 
After a long day, a nap on the way back home.

Friday, December 14, 2012

Loquats

This is the first time we have seen fruit on the tree.  A rather large sized loquat cluster. This tree arrived in our garden by accident as a seed and survived much neglect.  Loquats remind my so much of my childhood.  My mother loves them. 




And now for the best part, eating! Sweet and soft.



Thursday, December 13, 2012

The brightest season

 
The shopping is done and the house is festive but the baking is not complete...
will don an apron over the weekend and enjoy the kitchen fragrance.

 
Becca is faithful to happily do the countdown.

Wednesday, December 12, 2012

Unexpected timing

My hens were broody for a long time.  Finally we put some fertile eggs under them... might as well make use of their disposition. 


Henny-Penny is clearly agitated that I have come to check up on her newly born babies.

The unexpected part was that they all decided to hatch early and arrived the same week of Becca's burn.  What a week it was!  I was running back and forth.  Like Becca, they have grown stronger (& bigger) over the last few weeks.

This was taken this afternoon.  I think Wayne is enjoying them the most.  He has a soft spot for babies.

Tuesday, December 11, 2012

Time to heal

Its a day like any other.  The phone rings and I can't really make out the words but my limbs feel like jelly as I try to piece the loud words and cries.  I get the unpleasant ones, they seem real clear, 'come', 'hospital'.  I leave everything around me as is, and drive not really knowing what I will find. 

The hospital staff were so great.

I ring back and she whispers through her pain and tears "Mommy, speak words of comfort over me."  I don't know what I said but I know that I told her everything would somehow be okay. 

It's almost three weeks now and everything is going to be okay.  What was a raw square of burnt flesh from the top of her chest to past her belly button, is now new pink skin, thin and sensitive but flexible and no longer sore.

Its all under wraps beneath the green vest.
 
'Keep walking the walk one step at a time' ~ Joyce Meyer
That's how its been, one step at a time.  On one doctor's visit he said 'This might take longer than we thought'.  I told my friend that I would probably cancel our holiday.  She looked straight at me and said "You will not, she will be well" and then she prayed for the healing to quicken.  We have to walk with people of faith.  The next time we saw the doctor he said that her chest looked 'wonderful'.  We are moving forward. 
 
God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. ~ Ps 46:1
 


Monday, November 26, 2012

Blue Moon

These roses are giving a lovely show in the garden this year and the lavender colour is even prettier as they age...



'When the rose is faded
Memory may still dwell on'

~  When the rose is faded by Walter de la Mare


 
 

Friday, November 23, 2012

Lately

The evidence...
 

 
Still more garden trimmings to chop up and stick into bags...
 
 
We have been swamped by Garden Spring Cleaning and trying to set a tranquil climate at home conducive to exam studies.  We will begin over the next few days to come up for air - yippee - and will be starting to enjoy the summer, meeting friends and planning our seaside trip... and hopefully a lot more blogging.

Friday, November 16, 2012

A determined pursuit



 
"Stubbornly persist, and you will find that the limits of your stubbornness
go well beyond the stubbornness of your limits."
~  R. Brault

Wednesday, November 14, 2012

My daughter the baker



She is coming along in the kitchen.  It was made from scratch, she covered her bowl with dough delicately with a blanket and let it rise in a warm, happy place... and it was delicious!

Thursday, November 8, 2012

The things children say

Rebecca:  'I have to do an oral with a boy'
Me: 'Who?'
Rebecca: 'The new kid.  He is short and his tongue hangs out.'
Me, trying not to laugh: 'God put you together for a reason, I'm sure you'll make a great team.'
Rebecca: 'Urrgg... Grizzly Bear!'
Me:  'Why would you call him a Grizzly Bear?'
Rebecca, indignantly: 'Me not him!'

Boy, did I laugh... my daughter the Grizzly...

Wednesday, November 7, 2012

Thinking about Christmas

It's time to begin thinking about Christmas ideas... we love this time of year.  This
is the yummiest cheesy Christmas tree I have seen!

I simply have to make this Chocolate Pie for dessert, real soon!


Rebecca will love this.  A very cute Christmas gift.

Tuesday, November 6, 2012

Amid whatever failure, believe!

'Every one on this earth should believe, amid whatever madness or moral failure, that his life and temperament have some object on the earth. Every one on the earth should believe that he has something to give to the world which cannot otherwise be given.'


~ G K Chesterton

Friday, November 2, 2012

Scones with my mother

She baked scones and made the chunky fig jam... figs are quintessentially summer fruit, so it was warm sunshine in my mouth!

Monday, October 29, 2012

Franschhoek

Spent a lovely Sunday strolling through Franschhoek, breathing in all the spectacular blooms and then ate a good but really overpriced lunch there.


 
 
Rebecca loves water...

 
 
The ladies sit down to lunch...

Thursday, October 25, 2012

Thursday word of strength

"he who has My Word, let him speak it faithfully... Is not my Word like a
fire says the Lord, like a hammer that breaks the rock in pieces?

Jer 23. 28-29

It says it all!

Wednesday, October 24, 2012

A day in Cape Town

It's a gorgeous day in Cape Town...

The sun is shining and the two whales are playing...



 

Tuesday, October 23, 2012

Oat & Raisin Cookies

3/4 cup brown sugar
150 g butter, room temperature
1 egg, beaten
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup flour
2 1/4 cups oats
1 teaspoon baking powder
pinch salt
3/4 cup raisins

Preheat the oven to 180 deg Cel.  Line the baking trays.  Cream the butter and sugar.  Add the egg and extract and mix.  Add the remaining ingredients.

Roll into balls (about a tablespoon at a time) and flatten slightly.  Bake for 20 - 22 minutes. Remove and cool in tray for 5 minutes.  Remove onto cooling rack and let cool completely.  So lovely with tea or dunked into a glass of milk.  (Opt:  replace raisins with dried cherries / cranberries)

Monday, October 22, 2012

Weekends are for

BAKING... Oat & Choc Chip Cookies... for the chocolate-crazy fans in my home...



and my FAVOURITE...  Oat and Raisin Cookies... OH MY hat!

Thursday, October 18, 2012

Tuesday, October 16, 2012

Stars of 2012

My little star was on stage last night and even though the stage coordinator forgot to call her and she was  a little teary as she ran up... she handled it beautifully and none were any the wiser.  Afterwards though she fell into my arms looking for comfort.  An honoured spot indeed, and I held her like when she was a bitty thing until all was calm.



A kind and thankful gesture...  her love talk is often gifts.  Since little she would wrap up her food, toys, stones, my own things and present them to me.  She's a treat!


 
 

Saturday, October 13, 2012

Azalea's in bloom

This must be one of the prettiest flowers.  Fortunately there is a garden bench close by.

Monday, October 8, 2012

Back home!!

He was gone for quite a few days... Becca made him a bright banner to welcome him home and then wouldn't leave his side.


Can you guess where he travelled to... from his delicious gifts?

Thursday, October 4, 2012

Clean

My friend and I were talking this morning about walking everyday without offense, which is hard... if you live on this planet, with all these people, then honestly... bottom line is that it is going to happen. 

It's your response that matters.  She was saying that she makes a daily choice when she gets up not to be offended today and to choose joyMay we have the wisdom and revelation not to harbour bitterness and a bruised heart but cast our cares on Him and trust Him, because the alternative is no alternative at all.

I love this simple scripture... it always reminds me that the decision to remain clean lies with me -
good mental health 101:

In Acts 24.16 Paul says "So I strive always (practice) to keep my conscience clear (blameless, empty) before God and man"



Wednesday, October 3, 2012

The last few days


Outside church... sadly minus our guy.
Wayne has been away for a few days so we needed consoling... off to our favourite noodles place... (and on the cold days there were movies, pictionary, card games, card making, Portuguese lessons with gran and lots of reading)


Rebecca and our neighbour always take over my kitchen with their creations... this one was quite good, who wouldn't enjoy an ice-cream pie?


Outside grandpa's house...

Friday, September 28, 2012

Hope is the thing with feathers

Hope is the thing with feathers
That perches in the soul
and sings the tune without the words
and never stops at all
And sweetest in the gale is heard
and sore must be the storm
that could abash the little bird
that kept so many warm.
I've heard it in the chillest land
and on the strangest sea
Yet, never, in extremity,
It asked a crumb of me.

~ Emily Dickinson