Monday, June 30, 2014

Sunday, June 29, 2014

Hello Durban

My happy flyer... excited to get there.

And her new thrill... skateboarding, due to Ryan.

Thursday, June 26, 2014

He is with

'HE IS WITH and mighty to save, quietens with love, rejoices over us' - the Lord, Your God. Every single day. Every single moment. I, like David, like it real - I would have lost hope unless I believed that I would see the goodness of God in the land of the living.  Nothing in all of life can compare to life in God.

Thank you Lord for Your kindness and faithfulness this week... I am so grateful.

Wednesday, June 25, 2014

A full dozen

What an busy week... but in the middle was something special.

My girl turned 12 and I can't even explain what a blessing this child has been to me!


 
We baked two enormous sheet cakes for school and took her for a surprise birthday dinner (and she was very surprised) with more cupcakes to finish!

 
She received so many wonderful presents, among them these two - and they kind of match. Look at this - a Union Jack frother (how cool is that) from Anthea and a Keep Calm mug (and CD which she hasn't stopped listening to) from Bernadette and Jenna, both of which she loves!
 
Wayne and I took her on a shopping trip as part of her gift and this is our coffee and hot chocolate pit stop! 
 
 
The years do go by so fast but you have to hold the moments.  Just this morning she did the usual... woke up and walked slowly to find me in my morning chair, hair messy and eyes still half-closed.  She then climbed on my lap and I encircled her with my robe.  We have been doing this for years and she is big now but we still find a way to make it work.  Then we just hold each other till she is properly awake.  I could bust every single morning, I love it so much!

Wednesday, June 18, 2014

Peach and blueberry crumble


 
I haven't made this recipe in years... why - where has my mind been?

Tuesday, June 17, 2014

I am really intrigued




What I love about this book is that you can relate... its not a traditional farming family.  It is the story of a city family who have a passion to grown their own food on a very small scale in the city (like a lot of us) and then make this transition to rural life... who give up the industrial vending machine and fast food for a year of home grown.  And its not all dreamy... like when they stay up well into the night to finish planting.  The story is warm and inspiring and I especially liked the children's perspective in that year.  Even though moving to a farm is not possible for the most part there are so many other ways to eat more seasonally.

"This is the story of a year in which we made every attempt to feed ourselves animals and vegetables whose provenance we really knew . . . and of how our family was changed by our first year of deliberately eating food produced from the same place where we worked, went to school, loved our neighbors, drank the water, and breathed the air."   ~ Barbara Kingsolver

Friday, June 13, 2014

Loving Autumn

On my walk... the changing vineyard.
 
I loved summer when I was younger but over the last few years I have begun to
favour Autumn!  Its a respite from the intense heat and I love the warm tones
and the shedding of the leaves, it has a calming effect.

Thursday, June 12, 2014

He is fighting for me

Lend your ear to this short, heartening word... John Piper's passion is contagious!  Makes you feel like this...



http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=8gugZqxURVg

Jeremiah 32.40 - 41

Wednesday, June 11, 2014

All things English

Rebecca's cousins visited from England over the summer... and she just loved it.  Since they left she has been rather smitten with the UK... the British accent is used in general communication, the union jack shows up often and she is desperate to go visit. 

The three amigos
They are older now so they have kept in contact.

Becca's storage box

Tuesday, June 10, 2014

Acts 17.28

I was listening to a podcast by Steven Furtick and one of the things really stuck:  'If you live off the affirmation of others, you will die from the absence of the same'

We are called to build each other up but we cannot live off this.  I cannot tell how many times I have placed unrealistic weights on others and myself in this regard.  There is not one perfect one among us that can meet all our needs.  We are meant to live Acts 17. 28 'For in Him we live and move and have our being'

Monday, June 9, 2014

In the autumn garden

Oranges... 
 
and Lemons...
 
 
"Oranges and lemons, say the Bells of St Clements" - I loved this strange nursery rhyme when I was little.  Back to the garden... the citrus fruit look beautiful - almost ripe!
 
 
The branches on my White Karee looked magical this morning, with little
shimmering raindrops hanging from every leaf (after a stormy night).

Thursday, June 5, 2014

What? 30 and a day

My  b a b y  sister is all grown up! This amazing lady had a birthday yesterday!! Happy Birthday! xx


Tuesday, June 3, 2014

Can you tell...

that exams are over?  The pace is much slower.