Breakfast

This was such a delicious bowl of fruit with the coconut and pumpkin seeds... on the less healthy side, I also ate a doughnut - alleluia! But I wolfed it down, so no picture for you. Happy Monday!

Netball and stawberries

Yesterday afternoon at the school's inter-house netball tournament... she had a blast!

Afternoon treats, chocolate strawberries and smoothie... hmmm, one is Becca's and one is mine.

Broad beans

The broad beans are in flower... delicious beans to follow shortly.

My lunch plate

Quinoa, papaya, sauerkraut, spinach stirfry & tofu

Walking and resting and thinking

" I only went out for a walk and finally concluded to stay out till sundown, for going out, I found, was really going in."
~ John Muir 1838 - 1914

Walking in nature is one of my favourite things to do.   I become calm, clear-headed and a bit Polly-anna-ish.  And yes, sometimes a bench is a welcome respite.

Beautiful orchids on Sunday afternoon

Simple beauty

Roasted red pepper hummus

This is simply divine... you just roast 1 very large or 2 smaller red peppers, cut in half, skin side up.  Once roasted place in a plastic bag (tie it) to sweat for a few minutes and the skin will then come off super easily.  Chop the peppers roughly.  Make your usual hummus recipe and add the peppers towards the end... processing to as fine a consistency as you like. Delish!

Here's to all mothers, working in or out the home

At home in Thrush Green

I have raced through this series and this is book 8 of 10 and I'm trying not to 

start because the series is almost done! I  l.o.v.e  them! There are another 3 books of shorter stories (11-13) of the various characters but I have already read some of those.

I think I will save book eight to ten for the beach this summer.  Bliss!

The best peppermint tart

My friend Anthea made Wayne (knowing his sweet tooth) the hands-down-BEST-peppermint tart we have ever had!! Simply divine... I could have eaten half the tart.  We had it for pudding after Sunday lunch and we all kept going back for another spoonful... and another... and fortunately she made a large one! Thank you!

Good weather for soup

It's been raining in Cape Town this week and boy do we need it.  So all I need to feel snugly is a pot of Veg & barley soup bubbling happily on the stove.  All afternoon activities were cancelled and we settled in with books and tea... and soup.

Everyday moments display beauty

“It is about the greatness of God, not the significance of man. God made man small and the universe big to say something about himself.”

~ John Piper

'The skies display his craftsmanship' ~ Psalm 19

A good coffee start

The best of days start this way...

Ice-cream cake

We had such a great family day on Sunday... long lazy lunch and a bit of sports and board games.

Dessert was this amazingly delicious and super easy ice-cream cake!

Almond Milk

Rebecca made us almond milk this week.  So simple and delicious!

1 cup almonds - soaked overnight in water
4 cups of spring / purified /boiled and cooled water
tiny pinch sea salt

Drain the almonds soaking water. Place the almonds, salt and the 4 cups of water in your blender. Blend for 2-3 minutes.  You can use less water (3 cups) for a thicker milk consistency.

Place a nut milk bag / muslin cloth over a large jug or bowl and pour your milk through it to strain.  I don't have a nut milk bag so Rebecca had to strain it twice as she wasn't familiar with handling the cloth - but worked out perfectly in the end.  She poured it out in two batches, gathering the cloth and twisting it carefully at the top so as to hold all the pulp inside the cloth, while straining.

Options:  add a teaspoon of honey or xylitol for a sweeter milk or a teaspoon of vanilla extract for vanilla milk

Cousins

Came across this sweet picture from Becca's birthday.

Netball

Rebecca had to play for her schools U16's team in a netball match as they were a player down for half the match.  Was so proud of her.

Wayne's banting Bolognese

He made courgette 'spaghetti' & mince...