A plate of prickly pears

 

Enjoying this sweet and juicy fruit as the season draws to a close.

 

 

A day off

After a busy weekend, yesterday was my day off.  Rebecca and Wayne went cycling and then shopping and I didn't leave my home once!  What a blessing.  I hung washing and then sat in the garden while a refreshing breeze blew... I nipped a few things... I chatted to a friend... I read through a few recipes and planned supper... sat in my favourite chair reading a book! And even watched a movie, from start to finish!! Bliss

While in the garden I was delighted by a few things...
This hibiscus was just a stick when I moved it to this pot and now it has 3 buds

On the other side of the bench is the miniature rose which looked pitiful last year...

Miles and miles apart, having tea together

My sister and I are in different cities.  I miss her and our long conversations over many cups of tea.  So we decided to each make a tray and show each other pictures and drink and chat, like we use to.

 

This is my tray and a picture of my full teapot as proof that I was actually having tea.

 

This is Manuela's tea tray and a picture of her filled cup.  Chatted for an hour!   



 

a tonic and a whistle

he toured the garden... a stout grove of cannas and a stand of oleander... roses out of bloom, but doing nicely, and on the fence, trumpet vine... a profusion of lacecap hydrangea...

A light breeze stole off the water and the purity of the storm-cleansed air was tonic, invigorating.
He thought he heard someone whistling as he went out the rear gate, and was amazed to find it was himself.

~ A new song  (Jan Karon)

Every walk a bequest

We went on several walks (necessary after all the big meals) in the beautiful hills around our home this weekend.  Matters make more sense out in the fresh air.

"In every walk with nature one receives far more than he seeks"  John Muir

Bougainvillea brightens up the table

Happy Easter

 

Lunch Menu:

Roast Lamb

Greek Potatoes

Tray of vegetables

Salad

 

Dessert:

Poached Pears and vanilla ice cream 

She may be getting big but who doesn't love a treasure hunt on Easter Sunday...

she had to share with all
 

 

This gave me goosebumps... Dolly Parton might not be your usual choice but I loved this - stunning!

 

http://www.godtube.com/watch/?v=0FF1CCNU

On Good Friday, I am not the greatest follower but He is the greatest deliverer

We don't worry about keeping law but about remembering faithfulness.  It is right to remember and be thankful.  Romans 1... 'For although they knew God, they neither glorified Him as God nor gave thanks to Him'. Its easy to look at my failures and focus on that but its the cowardly thing to do actually.  Because my eyes are all on self.  The brave thing is to have faith in Him.  To eat the bread of life and drink till you thirst no more.

 

We read Exodus 12. 1-30 and Luke 22.  Then bread was broken and we swallowed the wine and gave thanks because what else can we do.  Our little family together.  Gratitude is our gift.  Its the anthem of the brave and redeemed.

 

Good Friday adoration at the Colosseum... the crowds sing praises together.  The wonder of it all, He is worthy of it all!

Jesus, a friend of sinners

 

The hope of Easter is always relevant to all.

 

"I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners"  ~ Matt 9.13

Easter tradition

Every year since Rebecca was little, we build a memorial of sorts at Easter.  We have made an Easter tree, a scripture wall, a large mosaic cross, painted eggs etc.

This year we made a prayer chart of the 40 days of lent and have been praying for our dear family and friends... it has been very special for us to consider our loved ones every day.

The farm stall

 

On our way back home from the weekend we stopped for a coffee at a farm stall

which had such great bread that we ended up buying two loaves, apple turnovers

and a huge homemade slingshot for Becca.

 

 

The Raisin bread is so delicious and the second half is going to make the best toast!

Weekend in Onrus

Wayne's sister and her family are visiting from England and we met them for a weekend in Onrus.  The girls spent most of the time in the water as it was v e r y hot...

 

until the sun was setting...

 



They are enchanted

by this cute little kitty...

Set your mind

I took this Joyce Meyer book out of the library this week, 'The power of determination'.  She echo's what Lisa Bevere said this weekend, 'some of us are harvesters and some of us are reapers'.  The harvesters must be determined and steadfast and wield their machetes because the gatherers (our children and others) are coming up behind.

I love one of her opening lines, 'satan knows that if he can defeat us in our mind, he can defeat us in our experience'

It all begins in the mind.  After this weekend's awesome conference you have a mountain top experience (everything is crystal clear and beautiful)...you are sailing in the clouds but then comes Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and these days can overwhelm you with problems, just annoying situations and anxieties but that is when we need to stand our ground and take courage! It seemed that I literally rolled down the mountain into the valley this week.

You start to think there is something wrong with you but actually if our faith is never tested then what have we really got.  A fake thing.

Speak the word.  God is with us.  I needed to do that everyday this week. 
'I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me'  Phil 4.13
'Let us not lose heart and grow weary and faint in doing right, for in due time... we shall reap' Gal 6.9

Been flinging my 'machete' so to speak and I get up different from when I got down - for sure.

Lunch time reading

 

 

'Colour' weekend

My girl and I had a crazy beautiful weekend at the Colour Conference.

 

We savoured every minute of it!  Sharing it with Becca (her first conference, yah!) was the absolute best!  Brilliant speakers.  Lisa Bevere was insane! Loved it.

 

“God's Word has the power to light our way and clear the debris that has covered the path so we can walk in it. It is a sword that opens pathways and changes environments”    ~ Lisa Bevere

Grandmothers are precious

 

My mother is amazing and she just loves having Rebecca over at her house.

I have had to work this week while Rebecca has been on holiday and my mother has taken her shopping, to movies, swimming in her pool, let her dress up in her clothes (very funny),

playdates with her cousins, fed her, loved her...  the list goes on.  She is special beyond compare!!

Cover under the shadow of the Almighty

Psalm 91 is very special, its the first psalm that I hid in my heart and it never fails to build strength.

Days

 

Though the air might be chilled and the clouds heavy with rain, they love racing

and jumping about outdoors, relishing the few days of holiday!

Pomegranate, goats cheese and apple salad

 

We had honey & mustard grilled chicken, baked potatoes and salad.  Delicious!!