The scent of apples

This bowl of apples has given such a delicate apple fragrance to the dining room!

A sense of the beautiful

A man should hear a little music, read a little poetry, and see a fine picture every day of his life, in order that worldly cares may not obliterate the sense of the beautiful which God has implanted in the human soul.

~ Johann W Von Goethe

Heritage Day

We spent part of the day going for a long walk on the beach (I don't know what was so funny, but we laughed often) and then a braai - naturally!

A thoughtful cup of tea

I love this teacup and it has a cute matching teapot.  Thanks, Joanne!  It has gardening pictures on it... so it deals with two of my fetishes in one, tea drinking and gardening!  Christmas shopping is coming up and I need to remember to do considerate buying not just rushing to get it done.  A thoughtful gift, made or bought is such a blessing.

It's hard to process

but my baby sister is... yes... ENGAGED!!  Two amazing people - Congratulations Ryan and Manuela!

Ain't it funny, the things that bring connection...

I crave this fiery chicken & cashew Thai dish when Wayne is out of town... oddly, I hardly ever order it when he is home.  He does, it's his favourite.  Oh how interesting - when you feel lost, you reach for things that re-connect you. 

Small graces

I was at the sink washing eggs and thinking about what Ann had written about washing her eggs.  She said that she was thankful for it.  I was not.  Not.  At.  All.  That's the truth.

I thought, 'Lord, there must be something to be grateful for here and now... surely?'  I looked up from the washing and the sky was wide open blue and beautiful.  I saw a small flock of four birds sail smoothly across my view.  It looked so pretty and I breathed deep and thought Yes, I am grateful.  I couldn't believe how sudden it was and what a pure pleasure it brought.  Perspective is so important:  if I had not been standing just here doing this job I would not have seen that little group of birds and it reminded me of my little group, still sleeping in their beds and I was thankful, very thankful.

"Holy joy lies in the habit of murmuring thanks to God for the smallest graces."
~ A. Voskamp

Grand Essentials

'Three grand essentials to happiness in this life are something to do,

something to love and something to hope for'

 

~  Joseph Addison

 

 

 

Keep the home fires burning

 

Winter still has a hand in Cape Town... we have a few more storms coming up

so we will need extra firewood. 

Ah well, its gives me a excuse to stay near the fire and read on... and its Summer in Fairacre!

Starting with fireworks

I've decided that throughout the spring and summer we will do 'Home economics' of sorts, so we are making / studying a handful of things: a little sewing, cooking, baking, budgeting, recycling & cleaning techniques and seasonal thinking about menu's and lifestyle.

Rebecca has a special book where she is making notes in... its very basic and I hoping that some of it sticks.  At the very least we should spend some quality time together and have a laugh. I remember getting married and realising that I knew nothing about domestic ways and it was quite an uphill climb.  People who are natural in this area will never know what an overwhelming task it can be.

Since we had an abundance of strawberries and eggs... we started with the simple but spectacular!
A Pavlova lesson! A fireworks beginning...

Laugh and sob

Maureen's voice crept under the silence: 'I've been thinking of when we first met.'

'I beg your pardon?'

'It was at a dance in Woolwich.  You touched my neck. Then you said something funny.

We laughed and laughed.'

He frowned with the effort of trying to picture it.  He recalled a dance, but all he could see beyond that was how beautiful she had been, and how delicate.  He remembered dancing like an idiot, and he remembered too her dark, long hair falling like velvet either side of her face.  But it seemed unlikely that he had been bold enough to walk across a crowded room and claim her.  It seemed unlikely he had made her laugh and laugh.  He wondered if she was mistaking him for someone else.

... For the rest of the day, his mind was full of remembering...

~ The unlikely pilgrimage of Harold Fry

Finished this book this morning, with many pauses for reflection, it was moving and acutely honest. You will laugh and cry!!

My girl makes Schnitzel

All on her own!!! She took organic chicken breasts, set up her plates with her ingredients and then  baked them! Sooooooo good! I'm a happy mama. 

Happy Friday!!

What is it for?

"The scriptures are given not to increase our knowledge,

but to change our lives."

 

~  Dwight L. Moody

 

 

the roses finally get pruned... better late than not at all

Pruning is a cleaning, a removing of what has become thin and weak... 'every branch that bears fruit He prunes that it may bear more fruit.'   ~ John 15

Yesterday, I had an opportunity to think, Am I really thankful for every moment even the pruning ones... if we say Yes to God, we say Yes to this, to the cleaning of the unsightly, for the strengthening of a life.  It must be Yes, if we want to live the fullest life.

Easy, No Way! But what does bring comfort is knowing God's motive of love and beauty and true restoration by the gentle tweaking of the unnecessary.

A covenant sign

The tumult and the shouting dies

The Captains and the Kings depart -

Still stands Thine ancient sacrifice,

An humble and a contrite heart.

Lord God of Hosts, be with us yet,

Lest we forget - lest we forget!

~ Rudyard Kipling

 

This morning's banner over our city, so large and beautiful... lest we forget... "This is the sign of the covenant - I set my bow in the cloud."

What a sight, on a grey blanket day - the colours sing like victory song!  A covenant of faithfulness unto us.

Supper and 'Lazer beam' challenge

I have been sluggish with flu for the past week... which led to the duo preparing meals - I was only asked where the vegetable peeler had gotten to. 

Later there was a 'lazer beam' and obstacle course challenge...

I always notice flowers...

There isn't much in the garden at the moment, save the lilies. And they are enough.

"I always notice flowers"  ~ Andy Warhol

A Frittata Souffle

6 eggs
1/4 cup Parmesan grated
a splash of cream (+- 4-5 tablespoons)
a packet of bacon (I chop it up and cook in the oven so fat drains off but anyhow is good)
a small package of Brie cheese

So easy and good. 

Preheat oven to broil setting.

In medium size bowl, using a fork, blend together eggs yolks, Parmesan, cream and season to taste. Whisk the whites separately and add to the yolk mixture.  Add a little butter or olive oil to a large pan (which can also go in the oven) and add the egg mixture to the pan.  Cook for 4 minutes moving around at first and then let it settle.  The mixture will set on the bottom and begins to set up on top. Add the bacon and slices of Brie Cheese.

(Lots of other options for fillings: Bacon & mushroom, Asparagus, Spinach & feta, Spicy butternut)

Place pan into oven and broil for 3 to 4 minutes, until lightly browned and fluffy. Remove from pan and cut into wedges. Serve immediately.

Be amazed

Wayne and I were talking about libraries and those endless rows of index card drawers that Melvil Dewey developed to help us find our books at the library, and how today, you just go on the Internet and do research in seconds.  (Rebecca and I do still visit our library but its never for research and most of our books are bought online because she devours books).  But as much as I love the convenience of our electronic devices, I do love the feel and smell of a book so much more.

This got us talking about libraries and history and I wondered why we never visit the libraries of places that we travel to.  Its almost romantic to visit a beautiful old library and be transported back in time.

So after a quick search on the Internet I was amazed at how many magnificent libraries there are around the world... so next time I will add this to my list of things to do when on holiday. 

This is one of the finds:

http://twistedsifter.com/2011/10/beautiful-libraries-around-the-world/

Spring Birthdays

Yesterday was my mother's birthday, today is Wayne's mothers birthday... yes hours apart (actually years apart too)

Their birthdays herald Spring and both their personalities concur... they are two special ladies. Happy Birthday!