Mom's Meanderings

I have changed ...

2010-09-20T08:00:00.003+02:00

I have moved my blog to a new site as I ran out of photo space ....

please visit me on .... http://momsmeanderings.wordpress.com

I still pop into my blogspot to look at the feeder as I have no idea how to do add one on the new blog !!! I find the Google Reader/Feeder 'thingie' not that easy to follow. I shall figure it all out some day but in the meantime ....

I am changing ....

2010-07-29T12:39:00.006+02:00

.... 'cos Mr Blogger says I've used up my photo quota ...

soooo ... going to try this now ...

http://momsmeanderings.wordpress.com

but that's as far as I've got .. ' me of little brain ' .. I am now stuck ! J says she will help me ... yay for clever daughters !!!

Sooo .. I will be back with all my topsy-turvy stuff and photos ! Thank goodness my anxiety levels are balanced .. !! Yoga, psychologist, amazing (and patient) family, wonderful friends, prayers have all contributed to my positive attitude which has crept back .. slowly but surely !!! I can face the world again ! :) :)

Watch this space !

Created a wordpress blog ..

2010-07-29T08:22:00.003+02:00

.. but now I'm stuck ! There are no instructions as to what to do next ? I follow instructions - I always go the 'manual first' .. there is no manual here !! Help !

Isn't blogger easier ... or is it just because I know what to do here ?

Why do I have to pay ?

2010-07-27T09:44:00.005+02:00

HELP !

Mr Blogger won't let me download anymore photos unless I pay (in American dollars) for more space? I have not ever paid for space - has anyone else?

Weekly Winners : 18 - 24 July

2010-07-25T18:33:00.005+02:00

I was so delighted to receive a gorgeous bunch of flowers from hubby's cousin when they joined our celebration for his 60th birthday last Sunday ..

... petals perfectly pink ...

... furled from the inside out ...

... with a whiter shade of green ..

... a greener shade of green .... (and must add here .. whenever Connor passes the vase of flowers he says ... "I love green flowers" .. strange child !)

... and a greener shade of white .... (lucky me .. Elaine also gave me a gorgeous bunch of St Joseph lilies !! :)

Is it spring? This yellow weaver thinks so .. one or two warmish days and the birds are busy ....

... still looking up ... I loved this delicate twirly chandelier which hung above our heads at a Winter Wine Evening ...

... back to ground level ... when boys are quiet you wonder what they're up to - I spotted Connor playing on his own in the garden ..

... lining up his cars on the garden bench ..

His cars didn't need batteries ..... but his mommy did ... Jeanette had a power failure at their house the night before a wedding where she was taking photos, so dashed over - in her jarmies -to recharge all the batteries for the camera equipment ..

Finally .. I must add this photo ... taken by a friend last Sunday at my hubby's 60th birthday ...

OUR FAMILY

For more Weekly Winners go to .... I am Lotus

A Winter Wine Evening .. ...

2010-07-24T14:38:00.000+02:00

.... where we enjoyed a delicious meal paired with wines, was organised by Elaine's workplace ..

.. and was held at the FNB Conference Centre ...

... where there were rows of coloured cushions against decorated walls outside the dining area ...

Loved this delicately twirled chandelier which was one of a few hanging from the ceiling in the dining room ....

.. where the wines for the evening were supplied by the Bartinney Wine Estate, which is situated on the steep slopes of the Helshoogte Pass overlooking the picturesque Banghoek Valley in Stellenbosch.

Three wines .. a Savignon Blanc was served with a fruit/cheese starter, a Chardonney was paired with a delicious chicken dish .....

... and an 'easy on the palate' and 'drink now, don't keep' 'Noble Savage' Cabernet Savignon, very reasonably priced ... was paired with a delicious steak and baby onion bredie topped with a dumpling (inside the little potjie pot) ... (for overseas bloggy friends, this is miniature version of the traditional potjie pot which was traditionally used/and still is used for cooking maize meal as well as stew type, yummy tasty meals and sits on an open fire or hot coals)

.. and for 'pud' .. mini cheese cakes in ramekin dishes served with chocolate truffles .... yumm!

Thank you, Sweetie Pie, for organising tickets for us .. it was a most enjoyable evening ..

Elaine and Bryan ... and hubby and me ...

Skywatch Friday :

2010-07-23T07:35:00.004+02:00

Following on from Firefly's photo ... which is far, FAR nicer than mine (!) .. I also spotted 'the extra moon' !!! I captured mine, either the following evening, or two nights after Firefly's shot of the crescent moon ...

...but mine has been 'nibbled' ....

For more spectacular skies around the world go to Skywatch

My hubby turned 60 on Sunday ...

2010-07-21T07:22:00.007+02:00

... and before the rest of our family and friends arrived, Erin helped her Grandpa open his presents ... two BIG presents ....

... oooooh ....
.. 'what is it, Erin' ..... her reply .... "a box!!" ....

... 'what's inside the box?' ..... "a pot !"

.... "Nooo ... Grandpa .. not on your head" ....

... ooooh .. another box ....

.... we gave a delighted hubby/dad/grandpa a Weber Braai/Bbq ....

Happy 60th Birthday to my wonderful hubby !!

Jeanette took more photos of his special day shared by family and friends

http://www.jeanetteverster.com/2010/07/my-dad-turned-60-today/

Skywatch Friday :

2010-07-16T07:51:00.005+02:00

It's freezing today but we do have blue sky and sunshine ... but lots of wind .. which makes it colder ! In Gauteng, it's winter so we expect to be cold ... this is a cold front that is sweeping up from the Cape ... brrrr ...

.. we do get days like this too ... grey and cloudy ... and cold of course, and on this day a week or so ago .. the sun peeped through for just a moment highlighting this copper coloured tree in the distance ... I happened to be standing at my kitchen window and grabbed the camera before the sunlight faded and turned the 'copper-coloured-tree' into just an ordinary tree ..

For even more spectacular skies around the world visit Skywatch

Wordless Wednesday :

2010-07-14T06:54:00.000+02:00

For more contributions to Wordless Wednesday .. go here and here

This is what helps Elaine's jaw ...

2010-07-11T16:06:00.006+02:00

... so I phoned Elaine's therapist, who was referred by her orthodontist to see if she could help with my anxiety. She said she could ... so I decided to give it a try.

When Elaine started her treatment with the orthodontist, which began with a silicone template on the bottom teeth, then top braces and then bottom teeth braces, she was referred to a physio who specialises in Cranial Sacral Therapy. (She needed the orthodontic treatment to release pressure in the jaw joint which caused her jaw to click and frequently dislocate.) The therapy helped her so much in the beginning, leaving her jaw relaxed enough for the treatment to work it's 'magic' ! She has been for therapy on the odd occasion when her jaw goes into a spasm .. when new wires and elastics are put on, it results in quite a bit of pain. Two weeks ago, more wires and stronger elastics were added and she was in terrible pain .... again.

A visit to the therapist worked wonders and she came back home so relaxed and spasm free! This is when I thought that I would give it try. I also came home so relaxed and slept all afternoon! This video shows the therapist working only on the head, but they start at the feet and work their way up the body, releasing trapped energy. She found I had trapped negative energy in my liver (which is a sign of stress and anxiety) and all across my upper chest and shoulders - where I get 'the alien' feelings starting. She 'worked' for a long time in this area and so releasing the energy. It's not only her doing the work, she told me to turn that negative energy into positive energy (which I have been struggling with ... thinking positively when you are in that state is hard ... very hard.)

I thought she would leave me to relax while she 'worked' but she talked most of the time putting a different perspective on what I was feeling. I now am consciously turning that negative energy into positive energy and it seems to be working !! I have changed the gender of the negative energy and given it a 'form' and she is now in my garden! Sounds a little daft .. but that's what I've done ... I have to use 'her' to work 'for' me ... and not 'against' me! Sounds weird, I know, but hey ... it's working ! I have reduced the tranquilisers by half ... and today, I haven't had any ... ok, it is Sunday and a relaxing day but it's better than any other day .. for 7 weeks !!!

Tomorrow will be a good day !!!!

BTW ... my negative energy is now positive energy and her name is ...... Gemima !!!

Cliffs of Moher, Co. Clare ...

2010-07-06T14:32:00.008+02:00

Time for a little more of Ireland to share - haven't done a post for ages on the many places hubby and I visited when we travelled around beautiful Ireland in October last year ..

.. with Liscannor in the far distance on the left ... and after parking our car in the car park .. there are paved walkways, pathways and steps ....

.... leading visitors to this most spectacular sight .... the Cliffs of Moher ...

... which stretch for 8 kilometres and 214 metres above the Atlantic Ocean .. and home to one of Ireland's largest nesting seabird colony with over 30 000 nesting seabirds ...

Unfortunately, it was a bit hazy on the day we were there ..

From the view point (above) the steps and walkway leads to the right to O'Brien's Tower which was built in 1835 by local landlord, Cornelius O'Brien as a viewing point for visitors ...

.. where the Aran Islands can be seen just to the left (dark strip in sea) and the mainland - Co. Galway - in the distance ..

Gentle sounds of a harp and the voice of an angel drifted around the cliffs ...

.. and rolling green hills, thick with emerald green grass ..

.... scattered with fat, furry cows ..

... we walked to the left of the main viewing area and came across this notice which seemed to be ignored by some .. including us! But we thought .. why not .. if they can do .. so can we ! but it is dangerous and there is also a notice warning of the deadly drop to the ocean below and how many people slipped and tumbled to their death ...

Sooo ... cautiously we walked along the cliffs edge .. it was rather scary !

... but we managed to get some awesome photographs ....

This view is from that cliff path looking across to O'Brien's Tower ...

On the way out, we stopped at the Visitor's Centre which is tucked away in the hillside. It's huge inside with coffee and tourist shop (where I bought one of Tina's CD's) and a virtual reality "Cliff Edge Experience" ..

Spectacular, isn't it?

Weekly Winners :

2010-07-03T17:23:00.012+02:00

An orange rose from a bunch I bought for the vase ...

... a 'World of Fun' was 'opened up' ....

... all pieces of wood the same size ...

... and a box of 'doubles' to add to the dimensions ....

All tumbled out onto the floor ...

... and construction began ...

... will the plane fit in the garage too ? ...

The other day I took Bradley and Connor to see our friends' puppies ... remember the Jack Russell puppies from five weeks ago when they were just two days old ...

.. and had cute little pink noses and paws ...

Look how they've grown ....

.. now have cute little black noses and little fat tummies ...

For more Weekly Winners to go Lotus' blog

What about love ?

2010-07-01T12:27:00.009+02:00

I have done a post a while ago, with photos, of our visit to Wimbledon .... hubby and I went there on our last day in London ... just to see it .... and visit the museum.

As the tennis championships are on at present, I was lucky enough to sit in front of the TV yesterday afternoon ... no littlies .... so I sat watching the mens quarter finals ... snug under a blanket with hot cups of tea for company .... it was lovely !!!

'Loved' this poster with the cute little girl ....

Thomas the Tank Engine is on the TV right at this very moment ... I wonder if the Connor will notice if I turn it over to the tennis and take a peek at the ladies semi finals ..... ?!!!

Wordless Wednesday :

2010-06-30T07:10:00.002+02:00

Twelve Apostles Hotel - Cape Town

For more Wordless Wednesday go here and here

Weekly Winners :

2010-06-27T13:28:00.014+02:00

Connor and Jackie ... togetherness ...

A boy and a dog ....

.. a boy giving a dog a love/a squeeze ...

.... a boy telling the dog he loves her ...

... a boy giving the dog a kiss !!!!

... then 'the boy' gets hold of camera and takes photo of his granny ... (would have been legs and feet if granny hadn't crouched :) )!!!!

Connor and I (photos above !) were in the back garden having fed the birds and not long after Connor had put the apple there, it was nibbled on by a few birds ... amongst them was this Black Collared Barbet ...

Jeanette's birthday was yesterday. I made my 'speciality chocolate cake' without the usual smarties !!!! Ohhh nooo !!! ... but sprinkled it with teeny tiny stars instead ... stars for a 'star daughter' ...

Fortunately I had made the cake earlier that morning as the power went out in the afternoon and had to cook camping style !!!! (which by the way, we don't DO camping - these are for emergency use ONLY!) We have two gas bottles with cooker tops for cooking when the electricity goes off .. which used to be frequent .. very frequent .. but we are now cut off less frequently, fortunately ... but it just happen to go off when I was cooking our dinner .. Jeanette's birthday dinner!

Sooo .. out came the gas stuff. Bryan offered his Mom's Wonder Bag to help with the cooking process - dashed home to fetch it and returned with this amazing bag ...

I had heard of them years ago but had never actually seen one. I had heard how good they were for slow cooking. It's hard to believe anything could cook in it but it does! Whatever you are cooking has to be boiled first (soup, casseroles, etc) then pop the pot into the bag ... pop the lid/cover/hat on .... tie it nice and tight ... and it cooks .... s l o w l y ....!!

It works !!!! It's amazing !!! I must get one !!!!

And here's the birthday girl ...

.. blowing out her candles ...

... and finally, must add Bradley, with chocolate smeared lips and sporting his new haircut !!!!

For more Weekly Winners visit Lotus' blog

Skywatch Friday :

2010-06-25T07:20:00.003+02:00

With Wimbledon on the go at the moment and having watched some the history making mammoth game between 'David and Goliath' with a game went to an unbelievable 68-70 !!!! .. thought I'd post a 'London sky' from our trip to England and Ireland last year ...

For more spectacular skies around the world visit Skywatch

Wordless Wednesday :

2010-06-23T12:42:00.002+02:00

Kylemore Abbey

For more Wordless Wednesday pics go here and here

Father's Day lunch at Mo-Zam-Bik

2010-06-21T15:57:00.010+02:00

Adding to Jeanette's post yesterday of our most enjoyable and special family Father's Day lunch at a new Mozambican restaurant ...

.. where our children ... Bryan included .. spoilt their Dads (and me!) .... to the most delicious food ... Mozambique style ...

... peri peri sauce in it's 'unique' bottle and roasted peanuts wrapped in brown paper on each table .....

.... although we had wine ... the Mozambican beer was more of hit !!!

... our family ....

Jeanette and Lance ...

Carl with his 'little' sister Elaine (who organised the whole the thing ... thanks so much, sweetie pie :)

Carl and Nicole ..

.... with Erin ..

..." hey ... that's my ice cream ... !!! "

... yummmmm !!

Boys will be boys .... I wonder how secure that boat is on that wall ? ... Connor testing it ... !!!!

Definitely a winner ... Mo-Zam-Bik Restaurant at Trinity Centre, Randpark Ridge

Weekly Winners :

2010-06-19T15:43:00.010+02:00

I must be feeling better ... there are lots of photos this week ... !!!!!!

.. from buzzing bees in warm winter sunshine ..

... sipping nectar ....

... and gathering pollen from Hypoestes aristata (Ribbon Bush) ...

... one bright white Namaqualand daisy ...

... an orange clivia sparkling in the sunlight ..

... all this/the above/warm winter days ... before the heavy frost appeared ....

.... not just ordinary frost ... but 'black frost' ....

.... touching the leaves and flowers, turning them black overnight ....

..... and brown ...

... and droopy and withered ...

... and sad ...

But we were warm inside the other evening ... watching our boys - Bafana Bafana - play soccer against Uruguay .... sadly they lost :(

Zakumi and Bradley seeing eye to eye ...

... with Connor preferring to cuddle the soccer mascot Zakumi, which stands at OR Tambo International Airport, here in Johannesburg ...

.. where Jeanette, the boys and I went on our first time jaunt on the newly launched Gautrain which runs from Sandton to the airport ...

Had to add these last two photos of Jeanette and her two sons while we waited for the train to take us back to Sandton .... a first world experience .. and so exciting for the boys, their first train ride ...

For more Weekly Winners visit Lotus' blog

Skywatch Friday :

2010-06-18T07:45:00.004+02:00

Not particularly a 'genuine' skywatch post, but there is a little bit of sky in each photo! - pale wintry ... very cold ... in fact freezing temperatures!!!)

Yesterday I went with Jeanette and the boys on our new express 'Gautrain', in Johannesburg, which was launched a few weeks ago ..

The initial stage is open .. from Sandton to OR Tambo International Airport and as it's school holidays at the moment and Jeanette had taken a few days off work, we decided to take the boys on their first train trip (they had never been on any sort of train before) ..

... they were in awe .. at the speed .. the view from the window ...

... the whole experience !!!!

For spectacular skies around the world visit Skywatch

Needing a little help from my friends ...

2010-06-16T16:33:00.003+02:00

... still ... but I am getting there !!!

Been to a couple of sessions with the clinical psychologist .. she says I'm doing fine .. better than most .... really really really looking forward to our holiday in August .... where are we going?

Mauritius !!!!!

Weekly Winners :

2010-06-13T17:06:00.006+02:00

Soccer fever has hit South Africa ... and at home ....

... Jeanette keeping her eye on the ball (s) ....

... watch it ... here comes a good kick from Bradley ...

.... what a great kick, Connor ...

.. G O A L !!!! ...

... mommy doesn't have a hope this time ...

Not the greatest of photos but they were having such fun !!

My hubby had his retirement lunch the other day and I was presented with a huge bunch of gorgeous flowers ..... didn't have a large enough vase so had to divide in half ...

For more Weekly Winners visit Lotus' blog

Waka Waka .... aaaya ... ay ....

2010-06-11T07:24:00.009+02:00

Haven't had a chance to put up photos of this amazing Kick Off Concert, which I took from the comfort of my lounge last night ... and only thought of taking photos towards the end and missed capturing my favourite song ... Waving Flag ... I love it !!!!!! Jeanette has downloaded the youTube video on her blog .. it was absolutely awesome !!!

Shakira and SA's local group, Freshly Ground singing and dancing to Waka Waka ... fabulous stuff !!!!!!!!!! Wow - Shakira was amazing ... she can move that body !!!

Black Eyed Peas were also amongst the fantastic line-up of artists ..

... and then the fireworks exploded ...

Can you feel it ? ..

2010-06-10T07:17:00.003+02:00

Yesterday was enormous !!! There was a huge parade in Sandton, as well as all over Gauteng, celebrating the Bafana Bafana team and a nation united. Everyone is talking about ... all over the radio this morning that's all you hear ... Jeanette was there ....

... Elaine came home from work excited .. there were thousands of revellers in town also celebrating a nation united ... and she was there !!!! .... amazing what this World Cup has done ... united a nation in celebration !!!

Wordless Wednesday :

2010-06-09T07:16:00.004+02:00

... I am getting better ... things are looking up !! :)

For more Wordless Wednesday contributions go here and here

Weekly Winners :

2010-06-06T18:00:00.012+02:00

Waving flags ...

... all along the R24 Highway ....

.. driving from O.R. Tambo International Airport ....

... to our City of Johannesburg .....

.. in celebration ...

... of the forthcoming 2010 World Cup Soccer .....

Love these two posters ...

.. and lastly .... can't resist .... the cutest little two day old Jack Russell puppies ...

... there are three puppies ... one is hiding/cuddling with proud mommy ... Pippa ....

.... aaaaawwww .... !!!!

For more Weekly Winners go to Lotus' blog

I'm still on rocky ground ..

2010-06-05T15:25:00.004+02:00

.. but feeling a lot better today.

Calming pills and a keep fit class DO NOT go together !!! I tried yesterday and found the class was better than last weeks (I go once a week on a Friday) and last week I was really in a 'dark place' - but tranquilizers and trying to make muscles work doesn't really work. But I carried on .. stopped when I had to ... and carried on. Felt so much better after that - a little more normal!

Had the boys in the afternoon ... on my own .. something I haven't done for about 2 weeks. It felt good! I felt good! It felt normal .. at last !!

I have lost weight quickly as I haven't eaten much except 'Ensure' vitamin supplement, bananas and the meals I have cooked without any enthusiasm have been as plain as plain can be!!!! But I have managed to eat a little of them!!!

The thought of not feeling normal again scared me and my son and daughter in law who have both been in this 'dark place' assured me that I WILL be normal again. They are both paramedics and the trauma that they endure is unbelievable. I didn't believe them when they told me the other evening that I WILL be normal again but I do now ... I am getting there !!

All this has been caused by anxiety and panic attacks which seem to have taken over my body and become overwhelming and uncontrollable.

'My' panic attack starts in my shoulders like a cold feeling under the skin .. travels up my neck and into my head ... swims around in my head so that it feels like cotton wool ... travels down my arms .. makes my hands clammy and my mouth goes so dry that I can't swallow. I am then left with a body that feels like it's been taken over by an alien.

I have tried yoga breathing, meditating, calming music, singing ... anything to take it away .. leave my body .... to ME .. it's mine !

BUT .... I am feeling better today ... better than I did yesterday !!! I do feel like 'Lucy in the sky with diamonds' for a couple of hours in the morning once I take the calming pill. My doctor says I need to take a quarter instead of half! Tomorrow I shall try a quarter and hope the alien doesn't pop in for a visit !!!

I don't want to be 'Lucy' every morning!!!!

I need to get a balance between 'Lucy' and the alien !!

I am not in a good place at the moment ..

2010-06-03T08:15:00.003+02:00

.... kind-of stuck!!!

I have needed to go and see a clinical psychologist ... yes ... me .. of all people!! The one who does yoga, gyming, caring ...

As I walked through the door .. I thought .. wow - couch .. tissues next to couch ... armchair for her .... but I was there - yesterday !

Very long story ... but all in nutshell .. she asked me whether I had written all this stuff down .. that's going on in my head.

No .. I haven't! Why not, she asked ... (It's just like the movies ... she sits ... you taught .. she takes down pages and pages of notes ...) Do I get advice on howto fix it .. a quick fix .. NO !!!

I told her, amongst so many other things about my Mum and how I have accepted the way she is and it was obviously blogging about it helped. A blog she said ? You have a blog? She was surprised!

Clinical psychologists don't talk much either (kind-of disturbing as all you want are answers!) so when the blog word came up .. her eyebrows when up and she smiled - that's good, and how does it help you.

Mmm that's another thing they say ... how does that help you, how do you feel about that ...... ..... .... I have never been asked questions like before.

So I here am .. in this dark place at the moment .. trying to be normal again and trying to find my way back - and hopefully quickly as I don't have time for all this nonsense :) .... and am writing down what I feel ... 'cos that's what she told me to do !!

Soooo ... to my lovely bloggy friends out there - bare with me .. I will be back to normal in no time !! But you may get all sorts of 'stuff' on this blog for a while (with the odd photo, of course!).

And ... you even get HOMEWORK from clinical psychologists !!! I have to right down 'stuff' (she has even given me a specific subject!) for my next session next week. Homework never ever goes away .. no matter old you get !!!!

To my hubby and my children .... MWAH ... MWAH .... I love you lots !!!

Skywatch Friday :

2010-05-28T07:11:00.003+02:00

Sunrise - Ballito, Kwa Zulu Natal a few years ago ... my favourite sunrises

For more spectacular skies around the world go to Skywatch

Wordless Wednesday :

2010-05-26T07:18:00.002+02:00

Japanese Gardens, Kew Gardens, London

For more Wordless Wednesday contributions go here and here

Not pleased !!

2010-05-25T12:34:00.004+02:00

Last week I had a head cold .. sniffles, blocked sinus etc so went off to the pharmacy to get some "Nurofen for colds and flu". I have had it once before .. last year .. and it worked well .. so thought this time it would do the trick. I needed to stop the cold before it turned into genuine flu ... I don't much like flu .. so try and avoid it !!!

It's an over-the-counter medication .. ask and you get. To put you in the picture, I have been suffering from yo-yo'ing blood pressure since the beginning of the year and my doctor - last month - increased the blood pressure tablets. I don't take a high dosage anyway, so the increased amount is still not a lot.

I didn't take many of the "Nurofen for colds and flu" - probably for two days and then only at night for about two nights after that.

Over the weekend my metabolism went wonky .. anxiety was the result .. the whole weekend. It continued yesterday so, off I toddled to the doctor, who examined me thoroughly .... again .. as he had done about a month ago. My blood was normal. I had taken a calmative which he had prescribed for me about a year ago when I was given an anti biotic for flu, by another doctor as I was 'dying' over a weekend and my doctor was off that weekend! The calmative was working, but I still felt I needed reasurrance that I was OK.

Having told him about my cold and all the rest of the 'stuff' that went with last week (hubby going in for biospy and subsequent relief that all was well) as well as the 'Nurofen for colds and flu' - he said it's the ingredient - Pseudoephedrine - that has caused the anxiety. I should never have been sold this stuff over the counter with my history of hypertension. The drug causes heart pulpitations, increased blood pressure .. and all the things that are bad for me !!!! But of course, the chappie behind the counter doesn't ask any questions like "do you suffer from hypertension etc etc" - he just wants to sell the goods.

Now it has to take time for this stuff to get out of my system ..... so I am popping calming tablets to keep me sane!!!

Went off to the dentist today (my normal 6 monthly appointment - yes, we are very good with our teeth and our bi - annual visits!!!) - was a bit of an effort but kept telling myself that "I am normal ... I am normal ... I am normal .... and .... I can do this .. I can do this ... I can do this" My dentist always asks how I am (naturally) and whether my hubby is here or away (he is usually away on business when I go for my check-ups) I told him about my problem and he said with shocked expression .. "but that stuff should never be sold over the counter - pseudoephedrine was taken off the market a while ago .... it looks like "they've" brought it back!"

How many more people have suffered like me, I wonder?

Weekly Winners :

2010-05-23T16:03:00.004+02:00

My balance has been off sometimes .... lately ...

... not sure how to get it back ... ... maybe sunshiny yellow roses ...

... maybe pretty tulips ..

... a plastic tree ? ...

.. cars on top .... and inside ..

... vroom ... vroom ...

... definitely one happy little boy always makes me smile and lifts my spirits .....

For more Weekly Winners visit Lotus here

Skywatch Friday :

2010-05-21T09:16:00.004+02:00

I feel like ringing that bell ... we have had good news today ... very good news !! Yay !! My hubby had a biopsy on Monday and he has got the 'all clear' !!

IT IS A BEAUTIFUL DAY !!!

Just like it was when I took this photo on our recent trip to the Cape ...

Bell at Dutch Reformed Church built in 1847, Franschoek, Western Cape

For more spectacular skies around the world visit Skywatch

Moments like this ...

2010-05-20T07:25:00.004+02:00

... make me smile ! ... No .. it's not the full tank of petrol !!!!!!

.. sometimes they make me just a little sad ... a milestone for my car .. but 'her' mileage (kilometres as we have here) will never be the same again .. and that makes me sad ...

.. but it always makes me smile .. kind-of a thrill in fact .. that I was watching the numbers click over at that precise time !! 011111 happened yesterday ... a moment in time !!

The other day on one of our local radio stations - 702 - the question was asked 'what gives you a thrill?' Listeners either phoned in, sent sms's or emails to the host of the programme .. one of them was that she/he watches the kilometre gauge reach 'milestones'. I do it too!!

It also made me think of all the tiny little things that give me a 'thrill' .. a 'lift' for a moment ... put a smile on my face .... I will just share one :

.. when my grandson, Bradley, was younger (before Connor was born) I used to stop on the way home from his nursery school at the empty local school's playing field, and we used run .... and run ... and twirl .... and twirl ... with arms stretched out wide .. the whole world was ours !!!

I must do it with Connor ..

What is your moment in time that gives you that little lift?

Wordless Wednesday :

2010-05-19T07:01:00.002+02:00

Uva Mira Wine Estate, Stellenbosch, Western Cape

For more Wordless Wednesday contributions go here and here

Weekly Winners :

2010-05-16T19:32:00.006+02:00

The weekend started with a grey, heavy mist on Friday morning, most unusual for our area ...

.. and then everything turned pink on Saturday ...

.. when Erin came to stay with us for the weekend ... (she just LOVES pink !)

... she was absolutely delighted when I took out two of Elaine's Barbies ...

.. perfectly posed for the photo shoot ...

.. "Barbie ... you WILL fit into the Barbie car ..."

... "B A A A R R B I E E E S" !!!

... " he he he " !!! Happy girl !!!

Then Erin got hold of my camera and started snapping away .... that's hubby and I !!

For more Weekly Winners go to Lotus' blog

Skywatch Friday :

2010-05-14T06:56:00.004+02:00

Not at all spectacular but this is what our garden is looking like right now - 7.00 am (Friday)...

... very very unusual for this area, this part of Johannesburg, to be shrouded in thick mist ...

.. put's a kind-of romantic feel to the garden that I see every single day !!!!

Photo below is taken from the dining room window toward the back garden (for those who have seen my garden photos before - look at the height of the hydrangeas - closest to camera on right .. they are mid-window height!) They never cease to amaze me .. how they grow out of their very old gnarled base into specimens of grandeur! :)

For spectacular skies around the world visit Skywatch

Wordless Wednesday : Thirsty?

2010-05-12T06:46:00.005+02:00

For more Wordless Wednesday contributions go here and here

I wish I could tell my Mum...

2010-05-11T10:29:00.005+02:00

..that the beautiful bride in this photo has recently made contact with my cousin through Rhodesian's Worldwide ... she used to work for the accounting company his Dad and my Dad used to own in Bulawayo. The company still exists today ...with our family name, but sadly no members of the family are there anymore.

She asked after our families remembering the two little boys at her wedding being the sons of one of the partners ... and also the little flower girl on the left of photo.

That's me !!! aged 5 .. in 1957 !!

It was the one and only time I have ever been a flower girl or bridesmaid and it was on the occasion of her wedding. The wedding reception was held in our beautiful garden ...

It was the one and only time I have ever been a flower girl .. or bridesmaid .. and the wedding reception was held in our garden of our beautiful home, Craigo, in Bulawayo. Our home .. built by my paternal grandfather. The photograph below is in a collage of my child/growing-up photos which my Mum put together years ago and hangs on the wall .. right in front of me as I am typing this ...

From my Mum's photograph album, where I found the wedding photo, on the same page, was this photo of me with my cousins, in the middle and my eldest brother on the right - I grew up with boys ! ... no sisters and no girl cousins close by! I always had beautifully made dresses .. all made by my Mum

I wish I could tell my Mum that this beautiful bride has made contact after so many years ... and she and her husband are well ...

Weekly Winners :

2010-05-09T19:05:00.007+02:00

I always seem to be late with Weekly Winners! Being Mother's Day yesterday .. and Happy Mother's Day to all mommies/grannies out there ... we sat, with friends, at a Mother's Day picnic/concert on a beautiful autumn day .. chilling!! Something we needed to to ... we've had so much emotional strain this week we really needed it .... and I didn't take my camera along :( ... so NO PHOTOS :(

... no .. didn't find this guy at the picnic .. he was in the braai coal bag when hubby put in his hand to get a handful for a braai last Sunday !!! He's one of those awful/large/furry/spine-chilling-down-your-back-giving-you-goosebumps .. rain spider !

.. they really do give me the creeps ...

... from spiders to a delicate pink azalea ... much better to look at ...

... a pink jelly bean .. like a rose between the thorns ...

... red twirls of ribbon on a special boy's birthday prezzie ...

Bradley's 7 th birthday party was held at a ten pin bowling alley .. I don't think any of the children had ever played before and all had a 'ball' ... Jeanette's photos are far better than mine ...

... yessss ... skittles going down ... perfect bowling stance .. I would think !! (I have never played before either!)

... Bradley and Connor watching .. watching ... watching .. as Connor's ball rolled .. slowly .. slowly ... slowly down ...

... another roll of the ball .. this time Papa waiting ... waiting .. waiting .. for the ball to hit ... or miss the skittles ...

... maybe pointing helps ..

... grrrr ... being a tiger is easier than rolling that heavy ball down that lane ...

The Birthday boy !!!

For more Weekly Winners visit Lotus at sarcasticmom.com

Skywatch Friday :

2010-05-07T07:05:00.004+02:00

Hermanus, Western Cape, South Africa
We live inland - Jo'burg to be precise .. it's time to go to the sea again .. to feel the sand between the toes !!

For more spectacular skies around the world visit Skywatch

Bradley turned 7 yesterday !!!

2010-05-06T07:30:00.009+02:00

Prezzie ready and waiting ...

.. and the 'Granny's Speciality' birthday cake .. with a difference .. I hear you say !! Yep .. not the customary Smarties as Smarties have gone 'green/organic/healthy' and contain no artificial colouring which makes 'Granny Speciality' cakes rather dull! So I tried jelly beans instead ... and added a touch of sparkle !

Bradley couldn't wait to open his prezzie .. still dressed in his karate suit .. with Connor eager .. very eager .. to help with the ribbon ..

... much to Connor's disgust he decided to open the card first ... yay .. he can read ... !!!

He wrote me a list of 'Mr Men' books - to add to his collection of Mr Men books - which has been stuck on the fridge since Christmas .. so he was thrilled that I remembered !! ...

"Yay .. new Lego .." I am amazed at Lego, how they keep up with trends .. Spiderman, Ben 10 etc as well as this one ... under the sea Atlantis .. with the usual 'goodies and badies' and odd looking vehicles with arms that do all sorts of crazy things !

"..look what you do with this one! ..."

Happy Birthday to you ... happy birthday to you .... happy birthday dear Bradley ... happy birthday to you ... hip hip hooray ...

A family photo ... !!! Rare indeed ! Pity about the background ...

Eyes tightly closed ..... making a wish .. wishing .. wishing ... wishing .. .... ..... !!

Can't believe he's 7 already !

Happy Birthday Bradley ' Bear' !! :) Granny and Papa love you lots and lots ... and lots ...

Wordless Wednesday :

2010-05-05T07:00:00.001+02:00

For more Wordless Wednesday contributions go here and here

Weekly Winners :

2010-05-02T16:49:00.016+02:00

Monday - better late than never, for my Weekly Winners !!!! The heavens have opened again this morning .. it's dark and rainy ... again !!! When will it stop? Very unusual for this time of year .. lovely for the garden except some plants think it's spring or mid summer and are sprouting new leaves ... which will get zapped when the frosts come ....

One plant that should be flowering at this time of year, and is flourishing, is the indigenous yellow Cape Honeysuckle (Tecomaria capensis) ...

... the cluster of buds open up ...

.. to reveal tubular shaped flowers which die off quite quickly with others to follow ..

.. another autumn special are the roses with their last blooms for the season .. like the white Icebergs ..

Delicate pink Queen Elizabeth looks rather shy and hides her face under a patch of bright sunlight ...

Autumn blues of the hydrangea ..

A prickly aloe slipped/gate crashed into the 'autumn collection' ..

I have never grown tulips .. must give it try one year ... I have to buy them ...

.. love their perfect form and striking colour ...

Elaine and Bryan went off to a friend's wedding on Saturday where Jeanette was the wedding photographer ... I took a few of my own pics before they left .. "Ahh .. mom .. that's enough ! " says she ...

Weekly Winners without grandchildren is rather dull .. here is Bradley in his 'Soccer Friday' t'shirt ... everyone is encouraged to wear 'soccer' shirts on Friday's including the school children .. they love it .. no uniforms for one day a week !!!

.. just smile for Granny, pleeeease !!

Captured Connor counting/collecting leaves ..

"Can I put it through the window" is what he was saying ... odd child !!! No .. you cannot !

Ok .. will play tennis instead ... yikes .. great shot, Granny, did you see ? ..

"Watch this ... are you ready, Granny .. "

" Phew ... that was a good game " ..

For more Weekly Winners visit Lotus here

It's my Mum's birthday today !!

2010-05-01T13:42:00.010+02:00

My thoughts have been with her all day .. hoping she is having a good day today! The last time I visited her at the Old Aged Home in Somerset West, she wasn't having a good day and she didn't know me :(

Nostalgia time : I looked at old photos that were scanned onto CD's at the time they were developed into printed photographs (our photographic shop I used to print my photos had that service .... when digital photographs became more popular than the printed form)

I get very upset when I see my Mum as she is now but will always remember her as she was - a sparkling personality living life to the fullest, enjoying every moment of whatever she did, never sitting still for a minute .. always on the go ... always busy ...

I came across these photos taken in March 2004 when Bradley was learning to crawl, with my Mum, who had come for a holiday from Zimbabwe, giving him lots of encouragement ...

I remember this moment (below) ... Bradley had been touching his toes and my Mum was showing him that she could touch hers too ...

A happy .. and healthy time .. Mum with her grandchildren (Jeanette, Carl and Elaine) and great grandchild ... (2004)

I'm going back in time here - a previous visit from Mum (she came as often as she could!) ... this one, below, was taken in 2003 ... four generations ..

... and lastly, earlier in that year when Mum met her first great grandchild, Bradley ... a special moment ...

Happy Birthday Mummy ... I love and miss you lots

Skywatch Friday :

2010-04-30T07:00:00.004+02:00

We've had drizzly rain for days but has cleared now - thank goodness - and the sun is shining once again. I think we are in for more rain this weekend - all this rain is going to make our winter rather cold .. !! Highveld winters are bitter! :(

Anyway, the drizzly days were similar to a couple of days we had in Ireland last October .. and this is one of those days .. when we visited Croagh Patrick in County Mayo.

Croagh Patrick is a holy mountain named after St Patrick who is said to have spent 40 days fasting and praying for the Irish at it's peak in AD441. If it hadn't been so wet and slippery we would have climbed a little of the way up - 2 510 ft (772 metres) - the photo above shows the mountain shrouded in cloud and the photo below shows the view from St Patrick's statue overlooking Clew Bay. There is a chapel at the top of Croagh Patrick, built in 1905 at a cost of $100, and took 12 men six months to build with materials drawn up the mountain by donkey or horseback.

For more spectacular skies around the world visit Skywatch

Up, close and personal ...

2010-04-29T15:14:00.008+02:00

... that's what you see when on the Xstrata Treetop Walkway in Kew Gardens in London ..

... a treetop walkway is exactly what it is ... a platform walkway built at treetop height ..

One of the mum's, whose son does karate on the same day as Bradley, was saying yesterday that she and her hubby are flying off to London today .. which made me think of our last trip - to Ireland, stopping off in London for a few days on our way home. On one of the days, hubby and I visited and walked around the most beautiful Kew Gardens. I love gardens, so this was special for me!!!! On our walk around we came across the treetop walkway and climbed the steps into the tree canopy, 18 metres above the ground ..

Quite a unique experience walking at the same level as the tops of the trees ..

.. where all along are 'pausing' areas with small plaques such as this one which reads "89 million trees in England live in fields, hedges, orchards, gardens, parks and streets" ...

There is also a lift for those who cannot climb the stairs ...

At the base of the walkway is a replica of a fallen tree to show how a tree 'works' with a simple diagram and explanation for children ...

On the board is a quote by Lucy Larcom :

"He who plants a tree plants hope"

Wish we were flying off to London like the 'karate mum' and her hubby .. !!!

Wordless Wednesday : Breakfast in Ireland

2010-04-28T06:56:00.005+02:00

For more Wordless Wednesday contributions go here and here

Bunratty Folk Park ....

2010-04-26T14:27:00.012+02:00

.. at Bunratty Castle, Co. Clare, is where 19th century Irish life is recreated ... and hubby and I visited the Castle and Folk Park on a day like today ... cold, cloudy and rainy !! Today - this weather - reminded me of our visit ...

I have, some time ago, shared with you, Bunratty Castle and I do remember promising to share the Folk Park. I also remember promising to show you all the inside of the Castle but that will have to be another time ..

After visiting the Castle, hubby and I walked through the rain until we came across this cottage, the home of a farmer from the rich lands of the Golden Vale of Limerick and Tipperary Counties ..

... went inside .. and found the 'farmer's wife' preparing a huge apple pie by the warming fireside ...

The home-made apple pie was being prepared for the tea room situated behind the pink cottage ... we would have loved to have tried it with our very warming hot cup of coffee ...

After our coffee, we walked up to the village ... the rain had stopped by then, thankfully ...

Of course there has to be a pub in every village - open to the public and 'loved by visitors and locals alike' ...
Onward .... passed a very wet donkey being petted by school girls ..

.. another group of school girls were ahead of us going into the lovely little church - moved here, stone by stone from Ardcroney. I was interested that the girls wore long skirts and wondered if they were their 'outing' dress code. No .. was the reply .. "we wear them all year round!"

They seemed to enjoy their outing and all made a B-line for the Church bell's rope which was pulled by what seemed to be all of them !!!! The bell tolled continuously !!

Leaving the girls, and the church behind, we passed a small field with deer - and real antlers/horns - have never seen them before!! Real Bambi's and Daddy Bambi's !!!

Turned down a lane to the vertical mill ..

.. then onto the horizontal mill ..

.. to the last building, Bunratty House, a late Georgian dwelling built in 1805 the 'type occupied by minor gentry in the 19th Century'. The house below is the home belonging to the Hughes Brothers who started the dairy industry in the 1800's .. I love that one .. it's how you would draw a house ... rectangle, triangle roof, chimneys with smoke curling out, rectangle door and square windows !!

Behind Bunratty House is courtyard filled with 19th Century farm implements - Talbot Collection ...

Making our way back to the entrance/exit we passed these 'Traveller Wagons' - main type of transport used in the past by ethnic Irish folk ..

.. and then haystacks, which I have also never seen before except pictured in story books ...

I can just imagine Little Boy Blue sleeping against this one !!

A fascinating place and well worth the visit !!

Weekly Winners : 17 - 24 April

2010-04-25T19:41:00.009+02:00

Monday : Had a very busy day yesterday ... houseful of family !!! .. and wasn't able to finish putting up my Weekly Winners .. not that there are many photos .... 'cos ... the week started with lovely warm blue skies ...

... and then the wind blew ... scattering more leaves around the garden and pool ...

.. then the rain came ... and stayed ... and stayed

.... lovely weather for a good glass of Pinotage from Doolhof Wine Estates in Wellington ... "A burst of chocolate/mocha aromas, rich black cherries, coffee and almonds" .. now how can you resist ? !!! ... especially with an alluring label like this one ..

A week's worth of photos wouldn't be the same without one of our gorgeous grandchildren even though he is one tooth less !!

For more Weekly Winners visit Lotus' blog

Skywatch Friday :

2010-04-23T07:02:00.004+02:00

From our front door ... in the late afternoon, the other day ...

... I went to the front garden but can never get a whole rainbow in the picture because of the trees and house ...

... is this Noah's dove looking for dry ground ?.. I think we're in for a wet weekend !

For spectacular skies around the world visit Skywatch

Franschhoek Motor Museum #1

2010-04-22T08:03:00.012+02:00

With the magnificent backdrop of the Franschhoek Mountains, the Motor Museum is a fascinating place, where there is a private collection of about 320 cars of which about 80 are exhibited at any one time (cars are rotated to give them equal viewing) - in these four 'warehouses' on either side of the main building in the centre ...

Wandering around on your own is not permitted but they have guides taking small groups to each of the warehouses. Once inside you can walk around freely but are asked not to touch the cars or stand on the white boards under the cars.

Our guide was this very knowledgeable young man on the left ... ask him any question and he knew the answer ... and with him is the oldest car in the collection - a Ford Model A dated 1903 !!

So as not make this post too long .. I will do a couple of posts with some of the cars spanning 100 years ..

'Golden Oldies' first - I love the old vintages! This is a motorcycle from 1905 - Mars Carette

Smart little one below ... but I didn't get it's name ..

.. or the name of this Ford ... snazzy little car .. imagine bumbling along the narrow roads with the canopy down on a lovely warm summer's day, with hat tied on and scarf billowing behind ..

The famous Model T Ford ...

This one below reminded us of a programme we used to watch on TV many years ago with John Boy and family who lived in the depression years in America .. we both have forgotten the name of the series, which always ended with them going to bed and each member of the family said goodnight to each other ... does anyone remember ? ...

Bugatti : 1930 ...

Beautiful .. aren't they ? ...

Photo below - unfortunately the AC on the left is not quite in the picture because I was more interested in the cute little green car called a Dixie !!! But I should have taken a full photo of the AC as it had a fascinating story. It is a very rare car - there are only 2 or 3 (hubby would remember!) in existence and a group of car 'people'/enthusiasts came out from England recently to study the car - every inch of it - taking it's chasis number etc !! They have also asked that if ever it is sold, they would like to be told of it's whereabouts at all times! A very rare car indeed !!

Watch this space for more ...

Wordless Wednesday :

2010-04-21T07:15:00.004+02:00

For more contributions to Wordless Wednesday go here and here

As promised in a previous post ...

2010-04-19T15:42:00.007+02:00

.. would you like to stroll through part of the 6 acres of gardens of the Vineyard Hotel in the leafy suburb of Newlands, Cape Town ...

The path starts here ...

... eyes up ... peek through the trees to Table Mountain ..

... come to a clearing at the top of the ridge ...

... down we go ... following the path ..

... or shall we go up ... ?

... keeping to the lower path, it leads a bridge where there are 'cottages' (!!) on the other side .. but it's drizzling so we won't go that far !!! .... (those are self-catering cottages/houses/mansions (!) which are also part of the hotel) ...

... view from bridge ....

... another path leads to this 'cottage' (!) which has two numbers, so I suppose it's two units in one large-what-used-to-be a private house ...

... turn around and go back ... and cross the little bridge ...

... and follow the path again ...

.. stop to whisper hello to the sleeping wet tortoise ! ...

.. follow the path edged with masses of Plectranthus - this is why I need to encourage mine to grow in my garden - they were magnificent here and in Kirstenbosch! ...

... stop a while ... quiet spot on the other side of the river for meditating or reading a good book while a child swings - there is a black tyre-swing on the left, just visible ...

... off we stroll again .. following the path as it narrows towards the end ...

... where there is large shallow pond with a few Koi ...

Hope you enjoyed the stroll as much as hubby and I did :)

Weekly Winners :

2010-04-18T10:14:00.011+02:00

Lots of photos today so I hope you don't get bored before you get to the last few photos!

Last Sunday was Erin's 3rd birthday party ... such excitement written all over her sweet little face ...

She loves pink .. so in her honour .. here is the small delicate pink rose of the ground cover, Apple Blossom ..

... and another ground cover rose ... Sensation ...

.... and another, Brilliant Iceberg, catching the light of the afternoon autumn sun ...

Blooming Plectranthus of pinks, lilacs and purples, pretty and dainty - I need to encourage these plants around the garden as I was so impressed with all the plantings at Kirstenbosch Gardens on our recent visit to the Cape ...

... delicate but make a gorgeous show when massed ...

Teeny tiny pink baubles of the Polygonum capitatum .....

... and a droopy white ground cover rose ... soon to join it's mate on the right ... but there is a hope on the left of more to come ... !!

What else is coming ? .... winter bulbs and sweet peas ....

... and nectar loving birds ... (an innovative gift from Cheryl and Bob!!)

... all will be watched over by the garden fairies - who don't feel the cold, during the winter months ahead ...

... when we can cuddle up with a good glass of red wine and a wholesome beef stew ... (note to Kathy - do you see, I bought a new heat diffuser from that shop in the Mall in SW during our recent stay!) ...

... or should we arrange table settings on the newly stripped and waxed oak dining table ... yes ... I finished the job that BIL started !! I am ready for inspection when they return ...

But before I end, I have to share these gorgeous pups !!! Jeanette and family have two new additions to their family ... meet our new grandpuppies ... I just had to be there when they arrived ...

Kimo and Kitara

... aren't they just tooooo gorgeous for words ... !!

"Which way to the play area ... ?"

All the excitement of a new home with a big garden and little boys was just a little too much after a while ...

Aaaawww ... what more can I say ...

I have to say it again ... aaaaww !! 8 week old paw .. and nose .. !!

For more Weekly Winners visit Lotus' blog

Skywatch Friday :

2010-04-16T07:04:00.003+02:00

Following on Jenty's blog yesterday about the possibility of the Cape Town City Ballet Company closing down due to lack of funds (absolutely tragic) and their drive to raise the necessary funding ... I remembered I had taken a photo of the beautiful and graceful ballerina catching the sunlight on a grey, cloudy day in London last year when we were on holiday ... she stands, on point, on top of the dome of the Victoria Palace Theatre ...

... and then I thought I would show you what our sky looked like this morning at 6.20 am ... a crisp Autumn morning on the Highveld in South Africa ...

... all photos taken from my back courtyard ... there is a dove - sitting on the edge of the roof ..

.. and then looking to the East ... there is a dot above the grey puff near the centre of photo ... the dot is a plane ... but it's difficult to see (very faint .. it was a small plane!!) I didn't take the photo for the plane - I took for the sky !!!

For more spectacular skies around the world go to Skywatch

"Rub a dub dub ...

2010-04-15T13:57:00.009+02:00

.. one man needs to rub ...
with scourer ...
and liquid ....
on the old oak table ..."

Look what I get my guests to do when they visit !!!!

Hubby's sister and BIL, C and B stayed for two nights on their way through from the Cape to the Kruger National Park and we were discussing our dining room table, the top of which has gone sticky from years of a build-up of wax/polish with the added heat from serving dishes - even though I always use thick wooden mats to protect the wood. I always serve meals from serving dishes and platters on the dining room table when we are seated and never 'dish-up' in the kitchen.

My BIL, B, said he knew how to get it off, which confirmed a hint I heard on a DIY programme on the radio recently. The DIY Guru said methylated spirits and elbow grease ... lots of it ... gets it off but B said parafin works better ... sooooo ... off C and I went to the shop up the road to buy the parafin so that he could show me how ... :) :) ...

You see ... he was happy doing the job ... so with lots of encouragement, ooohing and aaahing at the fine job he was doing .... he did most of it ... leaving C and I to do finish it off - which took us most of the afternoon (!) - while he retired for a snooze on a comfy chair .... book on tummy !!

The job is not quite finished - I now have to apply a polish with added beeswax, which I have not been able to find yet but I will endeavour to buy it - and apply it before they return. They will be staying longer on their return visit so I wonder if I should get a list together of more tasks !!!!! :)

Does anyone want to come and stay with us ?? We have a garden facing guest room with comfy beds, soft fluffy towels and good wholesome meals are served daily !!

Wordless Wednesday :

2010-04-14T06:56:00.003+02:00

In the gardens of Vineyard Hotel, Cape Town

For more Wordless Wednesday contributions go here and here

Our little Princess turns 3 !!

2010-04-12T09:48:00.007+02:00

Erin had her 3rd birthday party yesterday, Sunday, at my son's home ... the first thing she showed us when Elaine and I arrived, was her new Princess vanity, complete with hairdryer, brush and comb ... (my hubby is away on business and Jeanette and family were still on holiday, so it was only Elaine and I at the party - they missed a lovely party! :)

"mirror mirror on the wall .. who's the fairest of them all" ..... ME !!!

She was soooo excited !! ... Doesn't that face just make your heart melt !!!

Gorgeous Princess Barbie cake made by Nicole (her mom .. our DIL) ... which I might add was delicious and completely demolished by all!! I have never been to a party where the whole cake is eaten .. well, this one was !

Sharing sweets with her best .. BEST friend from school in this gorgeous tent .... which was a hit with all the little friends .... a special place for sharing sweets ... stories ... and secrets !!!

Erin is a miracle baby ... my son and daughter in law were told they would never be able to have children .... well ... 'they' were wrong .... three years ago, on Easter Sunday, Erin came into this world ...

Happy 3rd Birthday special little Princess ...

Weekly Winners :

2010-04-10T23:46:00.009+02:00

Not many photos this week ... I seemed to have been busy doing other 'stuff' ....

... just a carpet of autumn leaves ...

.. crispy and crunchy ..

... yellow, orange and brown ...

"There's a hole in the mushroom/bucket, dear Liza, dear Liza .... there's a hole in the mushroom/bucket, dear Liza, a hole .... " fairies must have got a little wet sheltering under this one !!! ...

There better not be a hole in these buckets !!!! Littlies off on their Easter Egg hunting expedition ...

.... looking here .... looking there ....

... and looking everywhere ... "how many you got, Erin?" ...

All the stash was collected ... piled together .. and then divided equally ... Bradley did the honours ...

... nyum .. nyumm ...nyummm!!

... tastes goooood !!

"Happy Eeeeeaaaster" ...

... "mmm ... yum yumm !!

For more Weekly Winners visit Lotus here

Skywatch Friday :

2010-04-09T06:49:00.004+02:00

Blue sky ... a fountain ... and a drake facing the morning sun ...

.. "excuse me ... this is my better side !"

Erinvale Country Estate and Spa, Somerset West, Western Cape

For more spectacular skies around the world visit Skywatch

This is especially for you ... Mr T and P ....

2010-04-08T06:30:00.000+02:00

... 'cos you couldn't be with us on 'our' holiday in the Cape :(

Soooo ... come with me and I'll show you what you missed/share some of our photos from the Vineyard Hotel in the leafy, quiet suburb of Newlands, Cape Town ...

Built in 1800, "Paradise" was the residence of Lady Anne Barnard and her husband Andrew, the secretary of the first British Governor of the Cape. It was the first English style home to be built in the Cape. In each of the rooms there is a very interesting book with the story of those early beginnings but I sadly didn't have time to read the whole book. It has of course, been added onto ... this being one of the more modern blocks of beautifully appointed rooms overlooking the gardens. Ours was the one in the gap in the trees with the window open (closed umbrella under it) ...

But let's start at the entrance which is on the other side !!!! Small cannons guard the front door ...

... inside the foyer, and indeed, all over the entire hotel, there are antiques and treasures from bygone days ... this is a huge consomme pot from the old Carlton Hotel in Johannesburg ...

... take a peek down the original main passage ...

.. which takes you into the gardens ...

... passing the old staircase and a gallery of drawings and paintings done by Lady Anne ... a painting of her is in the oval frame ...

... a corner in one of the lounges ...

Let's go up this staircase to our floor ...

.. down the passage lined with old pieces of Afrikaaner furniture and prints of well known artist Jacobus Hendrik Pierneef ... another very interesting website is www.gbu.co.za/trees/jacobhendrikpierneef.htm ...

I am sure this - below - is original. It's a Christmas greeting card to the now deceased owner of the hotel, Henry and May Patousis .. (but it is still in the family as the sons now own it) ...

... on we go ... into our room with a panoramic view of Table Mountain (the 'table top' is round to the right) ...

... and the beautiful lush gardens below ..

The dining area is in an old courtyard linking the old building on the left to the newer part ...

.. with a beautiful mosaic fountain inscribed "Family Patousis .. Vineyard" ..

If you need a workout or a little pampering, there is a gym and spa nestled in the gardens ...

I shall take you for a stroll around the gardens next ... so watch this space !!

Wordless Wednesday :

2010-04-07T06:49:00.004+02:00

In the garden of the Vineyard Hotel, Cape Town

For more Wordless Wednesday contributions go here and here

Snippets from the Cape ..

2010-04-04T19:02:00.000+02:00

Tuesday - I have been trying to finish this post since Sunday! Have been busy since our return from our trip to the Cape. Choosing a few photos was very difficult as we seemed to be on the go the whole time .. and it was suppose to have been a relaxing few days away !

So here are just a few photos .. I shall do separate posts on some of the places we visited as they are worth sharing in more detail

This old fellow is one of the resident tortoises at the Vineyard Hotel in Cape Town

...which has a stunning view from the front patio which is part of the original building built in 1800 ...

... a large lush garden ...

... interesting corridors (in the newer part of the hotel) as though one was looking through mirrors ...

... and a dining area set out in rows ..

We strolled around the beautiful Kirstenbosch Gardens filled with indigenous plants .. (Kirstenbosch Gardens are the representatives every year at the Chelsea Flower Show in London and all the plant specimens come from these gardens) ...

The Cycads are amazing ...... some are huge in height and width !!

Wine estates in the Constantia Valley were another stop but being a Sunday some were closed like this one - Buitenverwachting ..

Hubby and I then spent some time in Stellenbosch whilst staying at the Erinvale Estate Hotel .. quite different from the Vineyard but equally as comfortable. From the vast picture window of the Vineyard hotel room, our Erinvale room was quaint !! ...

The buildings are also very old but I couldn't get any info from the chappie at the front desk. He just said it was 'steeped in history' and used to belong to 'an Irish guy' !!! I am hoping I have set him a task by telling him that there must more people like me who are interested in the history of a place !!

Strolling through the courtyard we came across a these cuties huddled in the morning sunshine ...

Morgenster Wine Estate is close by ..... soooo naturally we popped in for a tasting !!! We've been there before but it's well worth a second visit .. or third ... or .... !!!

Something different was the olive oils and olive tastings. Found the oil tasting quite weird as I had to warm the little glass in the palm of my hand and sip the oil! I managed ... actually it wasn't that bad .. I certainly got the flavours but the third one was a white truffle essence oil ... oh yuk!! The smell was fowl and the taste even worse!!! Apparently the overseas visitors love it and often buy bottles of the stuff to take back home !

Back to wine tasting ... this time a gem of a place ... Hidden Valley

... and whilst in the Hermanus area we popped into the old farm building of the Hamilton Russell vineyards. Took Hubby's Mum for a change of scenery from the Old Aged Home where she now lives .. well into her 80's, she is looking well but getting frail

Picnic anyone? ... Well worth a visit is the Franschhoek Motor Museum which is well signposted on the main road to Franschhoek ...

.. where there is a magnificent personal collection of about 350 cars spanning 100 years, of which 80 are displayed at any one time (they rotate the cars all the time so all can be viewed if you keep popping in to the museum) - we'll definitely be back - it was amazing (shall do a separate post on this outstanding museum) ...

A little wine tasting at La Motte in Franschhoek ..

... where I could peep into an oak wine vat ..

A Bistro lunch on the main street in Franschhoek which was bustling with tourists but I managed to captured these three tables at a moment when no-one was there ...

Perfect setting for a snack lunch ... beautiful mountains and buskers' music!!

Must add this ... that's one HUGE plane!!! It had just landed at OR Tambo airport ... I don't know what it's called but hubby says it holds about 600 passengers or so!! It's mighty large !!

And finally .. from the window of our 'ordinary' aeroplane ... the gorgeous False Bay with part of Strand Beach and mountains passed Gordons Bay up the coast ... the coastline where my Dad's ashes are scattered ...

Spent a little time with my Mum .... she didn't know me this time :(

Skywatch Friday :

2010-04-02T12:55:00.002+02:00

Hubby and I returned yesterday from a couple of days in the Cape ... this was the evening sky last Saturday in Kalk Bay - a small town along the False Bay coastline, Cape Town - the sea was flat and calm with soft watercolour shades ...

For more spectacular skies around the world go to Skywatch

Feeling a little jaded ...

2010-03-27T07:00:00.000+02:00

.. hubby and I are taking a few days break to the Cape :)

Skywatch Friday :

2010-03-26T06:55:00.004+02:00

While waiting for our hired car on our last visit to Cape Town about a month ago this is what the clouds looked like ...

... and travelling from Cape Town International Airport to the City Centre, this was the cloud cover over Table Mountain (side view) ...

I notice the street lights are on in this photo above .. there is so much reconstruction of highways and byways in all our city centres ... I suppose 'they' forgot to turn them off !! or maybe the lights were being tested ?!

Hubby and I are off to the Cape tomorrow (Sat) ... again .. until Thursday next week .. sooo

.... bye for now

For more spectacular skies around the world visit Skywatch

Barges,canals and locks ..

2010-03-25T06:57:00.006+02:00

... the likes of which I found so fascinating when hubby and I were holidaying in England two years ago. I had never seen a barge before, or for that matter, canals and locks ... I am from Africa .. we don't have such things !!

My previous post with photos of barges and the relaxed lifestyle it portayed ... although, I would hate imagine what it's like during the winter months ... brought back memories of our visit and in particular the Kennet and Avon Locks in the quaint town of Bradford-on-Avon , near Bath, Southern England ...

Hubby and I watched the process or whatever it's called .. of a barge going through the locks from the one canal to the other. Friends of ours have done a barging holiday and they said it was glorious but going through the locks is tough going, especially if there is no Lock Key Keeper - he is the chappie in the photo above wearing the red T-shirt.

His 'special key' unlocks the gate .. and the gate has to be cranked open - he on the wide side and one person from the barge, on the other side ... if there is no Lock Keeper then it really is tough!! That 'chosen one' from the barge has to run from one side to the other (one gate to the other) and crank each one open a little bit at a time ...

Once the barge is within the two sets of gates water gushes through the small gap between the gates ... raising the water level to the height of the next canal ...

... and 'Bob's your uncle' as they say in the classics ... the 'chosen one'-from-the-barge, in this case, the lady with the white shorts and pale blue T'shirt, pops back onto the barge ...

... and off they go ... ready for the next barge to come along .. in this case it's that red one on the left side of the photo below ...

... and so the procedure continues .. in reverse ...

... the barge is safely tucked into the lock while water gushes out ...

... lowering the level of the water to the height of the next canal ..

... and off they go ... " cruising down the river ... on a Sunday afternoon .... with the one that I do love ... la la la la la la ... "

Another thing that was fascinating were the aquaducts where the canals are carried along bridges over other canals and rivers .. !!! Mind boggling!! Of course, I've seen them in photos and read about them in cultural history books .. Romans etc .. - as we had to do at school - but to actually see them is amazing!! Mmm .. another post in the future !!

Wordless Wednesday :

2010-03-24T06:37:00.003+02:00

Avon River near Bath, England

For more Wordless Wednesday contributions to here and here

Not quite a felt-tipped pen ..

2010-03-23T14:13:00.009+02:00

... but have had a spa pedicure today ...

.. where my feet were wrapped in hot paraffin wax ... oiled and massaged ... filed and buffed ... and finally prettied up with polish !!!

I also had a hot stone head and neck massage .... ooooh ... h e a v e n l y !!!!!

... and ... just when I thought she ... Lexi, the therapist from Body Therapy at the Lifestyle Garden Centre .... was finished ... she ... Lexi ... smeared my already-relaxed-oiled-back-and-neck with exfoliating scrub .... oooohh .. aaaahhh !!!

I stepped off the planet for two hours today ...

.... thank you soooo much Jeanette and Lance for an amazingly unforgettable birthday prezzie ... mwah !! x x x

Weekly Winners :

2010-03-21T15:23:00.010+02:00

A mix of photos this week .... as I seem to do every week :) !

From autumn shades in a fruit basket ..

... to two Grey Louries against a dark stormy sky one evening ..

.. to more autumn colours of one of the plectranthus plants in my garden ...

... "er, excuse me ... don't photograph us beautiful creatures from underneath (thro' windows).."

... "that's better ... from above .. but I'm keeping my beedy eye on you .. " (see the little black dot of his right eye!!)

.. and from triangles on wings ...

.. to circles ...

.. GO Bradley .. GO ...

.. how l..o..w can you go ?...

... " not fair .. I can't do it like that :( "

Promise ... no influence here !!! ... Yesterday, I was sitting in the garden while the boys were playing .. Bradley plonked himself on one of the logs and sat in the meditating pose ...

me .. "what are you doing?

Brad ... meditating

me .. where did you learn that?

Brad .. Master Yoda !!

me .. who is Master Yoda?

Brad .. He's in Star Wars .. meditating makes him strong !"

What can I say ... go Bradley go ... !! or should I say .. om .. om ... om !!

... and bless his little socks .. Connor tried too .. :) !!

For more Weekly Winners go to Lotus' blog here

Skywatch Friday :

2010-03-19T07:22:00.002+02:00

After my ordeal yesterday with the 'sky falling down on me' .. I spotted this silver lining in the late afternoon sky ....

For more spectacular skies around the world go to Skywatch

"The sky fell down today ..

2010-03-18T12:59:00.006+02:00

.. and I must go and tell the King .... "

... just like Chicken Licken ... an acorn fell on Chicken Licken and he went on his way to tell the King that the sky was falling down.

I was shaken! Still am !!

A ceiling board fell on my mat at pilates this morning ... square onto the mat .. with a thud ... dust and bits and pieces from inside the ceiling fell with it. We were doing leg stretches ... lying on the back, one leg up, stretching the hamstring muscle ... and then I saw it start to fall above my body!

In a split second I rolled over to my left and the entire piece fell ... with a thud .. onto my mat .. where I had been lying .. just a second earlier!

Nobody else saw it .. it happened that fast!! The other ladies all said they heard a noise and saw me sitting .. upright ... in a cloud of dust !!

I was lucky ... very lucky ... I could have been badly hurt - it could have done a lot of damage to my nose, eyes, face and body ... I was lying on my back ...

.. and .. as luck would have it .. the chappie who was up in the ceiling ... and whose leg dangled out through the gaping whole ... didn't fall with it! He would have landed on me too !!! Iwas so shaken I didn't realise there was anyone up in the ceiling or for that matter, saw the dangling leg!

We carried on with the pilates class after I recovered a bit from the shock of knowing that I was in one piece, but I moved well away from all the debris and kept my eye on the ceiling in case anymore bits came down !

I have had apologies from several people in Management of the gym - Virgin Active, Roodepoort - as repairs to the airconditioning should NOT have been carried out while there was a class in progress.

All 'things' happen in three's ... this, I am hoping is the third.

A couple of years ago, Elaine and I were driving on a public road which goes under part of building which connects two buildings of the Cresta Shopping Centre. A long piece of metal casing used for covering wires came away from the building and dropped onto the bonnet of my car, narrowly missing the windscreen and Elaine. We were not hurt.

Two years ago, the whole ceiling in our lounge fell down. The first section fell while I was in the bath. My hubby came to tell me what the tremendous noise was, at which I left out of the bath and with towel wrapped around, I gazed in disbelief at the mess and the gaping whole, when the rest of the ceiling gave way, covering us in a cloud of dust. We were not hurt.

I think this is no. 3 ... I was not hurt .. I was sooo lucky !

I have just bought a lottery ticket! :)

Wordless Wednesday :

2010-03-17T06:43:00.002+02:00

Guinness Storehouse, Dublin, Ireland

For more Wordless Wednesday contributions go here and here

Photographing a family ..

2010-03-15T14:17:00.007+02:00

.. with two boys who would not co-operate ... at the same time - Bradley with thumbs in ears! - Connor smiling ...

... it was not easy - Mom and Dad smiling .. boys messing about!

Mom and Dad still smiling .... boys making silly faces ...

.. smile ... say cheeeeese ... look at the camera, pleeese !!

... nearly got it right this time ...

... nope .. still not ...

...the photo session all went pear-shaped and I gave up !

The occasion ? ... Lance's 40th Birthday ...!

Weekly Winners :

2010-03-14T08:33:00.012+02:00

There was a little girl
who had a little curl ...

... that wasn't on the dollies in a 'barrow ...

She ate icecream in a house ...

.... and watched Ariel swim about ...

... ummmm . .. is he going to 'kiss de girl' ?? (Erin watching The Little Mermaid!)

A Lourie basking in the morning sunshine ...

... "I won't look at you if you won't look at me ... "

Football is on everyone's lips .. er .. shirts .. with the World Cup Soccer looming in a few months ...

... with the South African flag on the back ...

... and on ... ???? ...

... her 'ears' ... !!!

Oh .. hum ... roses from my garden again ...

... thisIceberg rose is called Brilliant ....

... and this Iceberg rose is called Burgundy .. a rich deep velvety burgundy colour ...

And what's this ? ... Smarties ... but take note ... 'No artificial colours' ... which make Smarties rather dull ...

... and what do I do with Smarties .. dull or not ... ??

... put them on a 'Granny's Speciality birthday cake' !!!!

Happy 40th Birthday to our SIL, Lance !

For more Weekly Winners please visit Lotus' blog

Skywatch Friday :

2010-03-12T07:11:00.003+02:00

I love this photo which my hubby took at the Cliffs of Moher in Ireland on our holiday last year. The sun was shining ... a wishy-washy sunshine ... and the sky and sea rippled in the same way ..

For more spectacular skies around the world go to Skywatch

Tug o' war ...

2010-03-11T07:29:00.005+02:00

"Naughty Jackie has the hosepipe ... let's take away from her ...

... let go, Jackie ...

.. shake it ... shake it ....

... shake it some more ...

.. and really pull hard .... "

This was late yesterday afternoon so the photos are not that great. Jackie is obsessed with the hosepipe and will bite it and shake it as if she needs to 'kill her prey'!! She eventually bites a hole in the pipe, if she gets the chance! Naughty little girl !

Wordless Wednesday :

2010-03-10T07:03:00.003+02:00

Kew Gardens, London

For more Wordless Wednesday posts go here and here

Monmouthshire in Wales ...

2010-03-09T08:21:00.012+02:00

.... is where the Hairy Bikers were based on last night's foodie programme ..... and hubby and I have been there!!!! I was so excited watching their programme on DSTV - BBC Lifestyle Channel - Food Tour of Britain ... I have not travelled far and wide but this is one area I have been to.

Hubby and I went to England in June 2008 - my first overseas trip - and we took a day's outing from Bath where we were staying, to cross the bridge over the Severn River into Monmouthshire, Southern Wales ...

Our first stop .. after travelling along the beautiful Welsh country roads through forests and green hills and valleys ... was Tintern Abbey in the Wye Valley (as did the Hairy Bikers - who then proceeded to show the vineyard at the Abbey and makings of a honey wine - which was referred to as a wine and not mead) ... the Abbey dates back to 1131 and was occupied by monks ...

We ... and not the 'bikers' ... stopped off at Monmouth where there is Monnow Bridge - the oldest surviving medieval bridge in the UK ...

The biker's .. as did we ... headed towards Abergavenny ... a lovely place which dates back to Roman times (57/58 AD) ...

.. we stopped at a bakery for a bite to eat and all the locals in the queue thought I was a bit odd taking a photo of their delicious looking bread - which we didn't try :( - until I said I was from South Africa and had never seen bread like before ... lots of smiles from the friendly people ..

We walked around the grounds of the Abergavenny Castle - sadly in ruins - which dates back to 1175 ...

We made our way back to Bath through the Forest of Dean ... into Gloucester and back down to our hotel in the tiny tiny village of Limpley Stoke near Bath !!! Another post ? !

We loved Wales so much we went back on another day and made our way through the countryside popping in to see various interesting places including Raglan Castle ...

... where we explored the ruined buildings ...

... and marvelled at the breathtaking Welsh countryside from highest point in the castle ...

Our last stop in Wales was Chepstow .. the Hairy Bikers rode through this Town Wall Gate .... and proceeded to do a cooking demonstration near the River Wye close by ...

The Gate is part of the outer wall which surrounds the Chepstow Castle - the oldest stone building in Britain which guards one of the main river crossings - River Wye - from England to Wales ...

Through the doorway ...

... into the inner garden/courtyard of this magnificent castle is a campside where the Historic Society of Wales sets up living quarters as they used to be in the medieval times. This they do every weekend in the summer ... they live their the whole weekend .. cook with old pots over an open fire etc etc ... don't know what happens when it rains .. I suppose they cuddle in their tents !!!!!

The men do a demonstration of the various weapons used in those days including archery ...

I spoke to this little guy who said, in his beautiful sing-song Welsh accent, that he loves spending weekends there!

Oh yes .. and all the clothes were made by one of the women there .. all sewn by hand as they would have done long, long ago !!!

A fascinating and breathtaking country !!!

A little people weekend ...

2010-03-08T06:57:00.009+02:00

We have been looking after Erin this weekend as her mommy and daddy have had to 'do grown-up stuff' as part of their degrees. She has missed mommy and daddy. I had the boys as often as I could which helped so much .. she went to bed exhausted !!!

She was introduced to Bakugan ...

... and was shown how they 'worked' ...

... did roly poly's down the hill ...

... and when Bradley came back after his party looking like a tiger .. the two little ones ran screaming and laughing around the garden ..

I find it very difficult to photograph all three grandchildren together, let alone the two littlest littlies but managed to capture their laughter when hubby was doing 'grandpa' antics with blocks ....

She's a very independent little soul ... explores the garden and plays contentedly on her own ...

... is very chatty and curious about everything around her ..

She's been a 'perfect princess' ... but now it's day four ... time to go home .... I think I'm in for a 'bad day' !!! .. lots of negotiating and bribery !! To be so little and be away from home for so long .. she's been an angel and pleasure to have here!

... and it's been lovely having 'girly' things around again ... dresses .. dollies ... alice bands ... and everything pink !!

Skywatch Friday :

2010-03-05T07:04:00.004+02:00

Blue sky ... puff of cloud ... Pincushion proteas ... (one of the many proteas found here - protea being South Africa's national flower)

Somerset West, Western Cape (my brother's garden to be exact!)

For more spectacular skies around the world visit Skywatch

A rainy day in Ireland ...

2010-03-04T07:04:00.010+02:00

.. of which we only had two ... but that didn't dampen our exploration of this beautiful country of green fields, castles and much more ... no time to waste ... we spent a couple of hours at Bunratty Castle, one of Ireland's major tourist attractions ...

... but before we walked through the castle gate set in the thick outer walls ...

... and were confronted with large cannons ..

.. and walked along the drawbridge to an unusual first floor entrance (designed to deter invaders) ...

.. we wandered about in the castle grounds ... in the rain ... getting soaked ... where there are farmers and fisherman's cottages from 'way back when' reconstructed ... (this one's thatch is roped down to protect it against the Atlantic gales) ..

... furnished as they were in those early days ... cute and cosy bed .. no wonder there's a baby's crib nearby .. which I'm sure was never empty !!!!!

Humans have got a bigger as generations passed. This is a salmon fisherman's home with a rammed clay floor ...

Every village had to have a blacksmith's forge ...

A poorer farmer's house typically found in Limerick and Kerry ....

.. which has a wooden outbuilding next door to house the loom of the weaver ....

.. it now houses a dinky woollen shop ... heaped with yarns of wool and woollen jerseys, scarfs etc ... all so beautifully made .. soft and warm ... but rather costly for our Rand exchange rate ... and the proprietor of the shop had a fascinating theory that if it stopped raining by midday then the next day would be perfect ... she was right !

Here is it .. Bunratty Castle .. in the rain ... !!

Will do two further posts - so watch this space .. the Castle interior - which was difficult to photograph as no flashes were allowed except in the Main Guard, which is now used for medieval-style banquets ... and the Bunratty Folk Park .. a fascinating walk ... in the rain .... but clearing ... through a time and age when life was simple.

And the lady in the weaver's shop was right ... we had perfect weather after this day !!

Wordless Wednesday :

2010-03-03T07:03:00.004+02:00

Bunratty Folk Park, Bunratty Castle : Rainy day

For more Wordless Wednesday contributions go here and here

Jackie Paper and Puff !

2010-03-02T09:52:00.005+02:00

.. and there it is .. the LP (long playing) record .. Puff the Magic Dragon ... which Connor sings on Jeanette's blog ... she has a 'modern' CD for her car - so the boys have heard a recorded version - and not just mommy singing from memory !! ...

.. always a favourite with Jeanette and Carl ... played to 'death' and is probably rather scratched ...

Nice is nice !!

2010-03-01T07:25:00.007+02:00

Hubby still away ... Elaine and I had lunch yesterday .. somewhere different ... Nice on 4th, Parkhurst, an old suburb of Johannesburg. Old houses bought by younger people bringing a vibe back ... this street used to be full of antique shops .. now 'hip and happening' restaurants and coffee shops have taken over ... still one or two antique shops .. but other very interesting places ..

.. a definite re-visit !! There are contemporary decor and design studios and all sorts of foodie places .. 'I love Cup Cake ' is one them ... really really need to pop into that place !!! It was closed by the time we left ..

Anyway .. back to 'Nice' which was ever so nice ... such friendly service .. makes you want to go back again .. and again ..

Menu on blackboards .. kitchen behind counter ... which stocked the most delicious looking desserts/cakes which Elaine was eyeing-but-didn't-have-space-for-any! Next time!

..decor old and funky ..

.. table decor .. simple ..

.. food ... oh sooo delectable !! Elaine had a chicken, avo, parmesan panini drizzled with a tasty balsamic dressing ... I had a salmon, avo and tomato relish salad. To drink, E had fresh watermelon juice and me ... chilled Fat Bastard Chardonney !!

Old books scattered about .. this one was on the sideboard which caught my eye having a large rose on the cover .... 'I recognise that style of painting roses ..

... I have placemats at home with same ' .. !!!!!

Must take hubby there ...

"Raindrops on roses .."

2010-02-27T15:54:00.014+02:00

.. and whiskers on kittens ... "....

No kittens .. no whiskers ... only raindrops on roses ...

.. same rose .. different angle ..

... another angle ..

.. and another ...

An opening bud ....

... from a different angle ..

A tighter bud ...

.. from a different angle ..

.. one more bud .. all from the one rose bush : Queen Elizabeth

I planted a 'Queen Elizabeth' rose bush in my garden 30 years ago .. as time passed, trees grew, the shade changed and I eventually had to take out the original roses. This is a 'newish' bush - it's in it's second season ... flourishing nicely ...

Have two rose bushes (name unknown) with these red tight-open flowers ...

... they show up orangey in photo but they're red .. believe me !!! The first bush was grown from a cutting brought from the grounds of the complex where my Mum and Dad lived for a while ... I then grew another bush from another cutting .. successfully !!! Transplanted both bushes two years ago and they are now also flourishing !!

Bradley ... deep in thought ... 'what are you doing .. ?'

"... 'ta daa' .... a tower .. nearly as tall as my brother ..."

Not much photographic variety for my contributions to Weekly Winners ...

... sooo ... I'll add the wine I've been drinking this week .. from the Lourensford Wine Estate on the slopes of the Helderberg Mountains, Somerset West .. which I happen to have a photo of ... taken during my December trip last year ..

Their flagship cab/shiraz blend ... "black cherry, hint tobacco, classy feel and flavours with supportive oak for fine-grained dry finish" !!! It's rather yummy ... !! Photo taken yesterday .. on my garden bench !!

For more Weekly Winners visit Lotus .. sarcasticmom.com

Skywatch Friday :

2010-02-26T06:31:00.003+02:00

Boo !!

First impressions of the dark shadowy 'ghost' faded fast .. when I got out the camera to take his photo, his arm on the left of pic, was quickly disappearing ... I suppose that's what ghosts do .. they come and then 'poof' ... they go !!

For more spectacular skies around the world visit Skywatch

Wordless Wednesday :

2010-02-24T07:08:00.003+02:00

For more Wordless Wednesday's go here and here

Oh-so civilized ...

2010-02-22T08:09:00.006+02:00

... that's business class .... which is normally seen from this angle by the 'masses' who travel in 'cattle class' .. but my hubby, like most business people, travel business class .. so they arrive refreshed after a good nights sleep, or a pleasant days journey ... ready for work !

He left over the weekend on another business trip and .. once again ... experienced the comfort of this way of travel ...

I have been very very fortunate to have experienced it too .. twice !!! Using voyager miles he has accumulated over the years enabled us to upgrade our tickets for our overseas flights so that I too could 'travel in comfort' ... ahhhh .. what a pleasure !!!!

Look, hubby says ... a place for your shoes !!! And those little cubbie holes are for the toiletry bags provided by the airline

.... comfy little cushion awaits ... with water and the menu for the flight ... :)

.. little night lights ....

... a chilled glass of bubbly before the flight gets underway ...

... 'comfort buttons' !!! ... for the already comfortable .. large ... chair ... like a little space module !!! Especially when the foot rest goes up and the back rest goes down !! .... and the duvet is unfolded and handed to you from a smiley air hostess !!!!

Flight under way ... and orders are taken from the menu .. by another smiley cabin chappie/steward !!!

.. and just look at that ... little table cloth ... WHITE and crisp linen !!! ... equally white, crisp linen napkin in serviette ring (a paper one, but they are forgiven for that!) ... real knives and forks are folded inside the said napkin ... and this is only the starter !!!!

... munch .. munch ... food on little trays attached to your own chair .. not the seat in front ... and legroom .. enough to 'swing a cat' !!! That little round tube looking thing near the water bottle and my yummy glass of wine is the TV screen which slides up and around ... which I didn't take out at all .. so busy watching what everyone else was doing !!! well .. and I had a book !!!

OOoooh yessss !!!

Cheers ... to more travels ... more comfort travels would be good too !!!

Weekly Winners :

2010-02-21T08:09:00.013+02:00

Measuring .. sifting .. mixing ....

.. add some Smarties ..

... and some candles ...

... add a birthday boy ...

.. and a little mind that says .. when I can dig into this cake !! ...

... add a birthday prezzie ...

... a mommy who can guide and teach ...

... and a big brother to look over your shoulder ...

... makes one happy face !!! (Mommy got the best photo - from the front!)

Add some flowers ...

... indigenous Nerine's like pink spiders dancing in the breeze ...

.. and sparkling crystal ....

... of my exquisitely, beautiful bud vase from Waterford Crystal in Ireland ...

.. catching the sunlight .... ping !!!!

Add one of our resident froggies which hopped around last night under the watchful eye .. and nose .. of Jackie ...

Add a glorious sunset ....

... and you have my Weekly Winners for this week !!!

For more WW visit Lotus ...