Joy Dare November week 4

Day 20

(3 gifts of traditions)

1108) birthday mornings when all the kids pile onto our bed.....

a tradition from my childhood home and carried on with my own dear ones

1109) a new tradition begun in our home last year and moving next door this year....

neighbourhood Thanksgiving dinner....

last year we were 8, this year it will be 15!

1110) a steaming cup of coffee after dinner, made by hubby or our oldest son

Day 21

( gifts family)

1111) family....blessed to have them all....near or far

1112) unexpected calls from them....always wonderful to hear their voices

1113) friends who have become family

Day 22

1114) blessed to celebrate a wonderful Thanksgiving dinner with family and neighbours tonight...

sharing heartfelt thanks and counting blessings.....

 laughter, tears of joy, good food and more....

   treasured memories created 

Day 23

(  gifts only in Christ )

1115) every good gift and every perfect gift

1116) undeserved grace and forgiveness

Day 24

1117) thankful for breakfast shared with dear friends we had met in Dar es Salaam... 

they are leaving for another city.....

a "so long breakfast" instead of goodbye as I am sure we will meet again someday

1118) chit chat with my cheery niece this morning

Day 25

1119) first magnificent sunflower gracing my garden

1120) a surprise early birthday gift from my sweet daughter, something she knew I would really enjoy

1121) messages, photos and voice notes from a sweet child and her mamma in Nigeria.... 

thankful to know all is well with them

Day 26

1122) thankful for a day that was not too demanding

Hollywood 50's Fun

Over the last two weeks K has spent some time enjoying being creative and working for the owner of Sweetarts, Jacki. She is learning some amazing new skills "on the job" and making herself some pocket money too. These gorgeous 50's Hollywood cupcakes were made for Planet Productions for Cavendish Square's year end function.

The cute polar bear and penguin cupcakes were made for a function sponsored by Sea Harvest and Knight's Catering Company for Red Cross Children's Hospital.  

I am so thrilled that she is able to enjoy her natural creative talent and learn from someone as talented as Jacki!

Joy Dare November week 3

Unlocking the fullness of life in thanksgiving....

Day 13

( 2 gifts behind a door)

1092) my son getting much needed r & r and sleeping in really late today

1093) a rest for myself this afternoon in the quiet of my room

&

1094) sharing dinner and laughs with the neighbours and a friend visiting from the UK

Day 14

( a gift silent)

1095) strong silent hugs from my hubby

&

1096) wonderful work out again today....have missed regular exercise classes

1097) paid work for my daughter today, enjoying something she loves: creating edible art

Day 15

(a gift golden)

1098) brilliant golden yellow squash flowers greeting me each morning

&

1099) sparkling fairy lights...a gift from my friend

Day 16

1100) thankful for a good workout again this morning

1101) thankful for the long drive out to exams today, giving my oldest son and me an opportunity to catch up and chat....thankful too that his exams are over 

1102) thankful for a great evening with friends & teens going to youth tonight

Day 17

( gift of laughter)

1103) loads of fun and laughter today

Day 18

( a gift shared )

1104) a beautiful day with friends

Day 19

1105) thankful that our daughter was accepted to art school for next year

1106) thankful for great times enjoyed over the past week with a friend visiting from the UK....

thankful for all the gym classes he did with us too

1107) thankful for a visit from my sister in law and her sweet baby today

Joy Dare November week 2

The past week has flown by, so much happening in this journey we call life. 

So much to be grateful for...

Day 6

1074) thankful that supper was prepared early and waiting for us after the long trek out to exams again

1075) tomato plants, gift from a friend

Day 7

1076) kind friend who ferried us around to the doctor and pathologist for my eldest who has not been well for a while

Day 8

1077) thankful for my daughter waking me in the night to see to the youngest who was not feeling well

1078) awesome gym 24 class this morning at the neighbour, 

given by her friend who is a trained gym instructor

1079) gift of a cooked chicken and some cream cheese

1080) chats with family

Day 9

1081) wonderful informative outing with my younger two this morning

1082) better news than expected from the doctor regarding our eldest's health

1083) visit from my sweet friend, 

sweetened even more by the gift of a jar of honey

1084) relaxed evening having dinner at the neighbours

Day 10

1085) a morning enjoyed in the garden,

 compost from our heap and seeds shared and sown

Day 11

1086) chats with my farm sister

1087) growth in the garden

1088) a quiet day enjoyed with family 

Day 12

1089) thankful for meaningful discussions with my teens and tween each morning when we read the Word

1090) beautiful drenching summer rains today

1091) my cheerful daughter helping me bake and prepare dinner tonight

Mealie Bread

As part of his hands on activities in his SA History studies, our youngest has been baking mealie bread recently. We were pleasantly surprised at how delicious this bread is. 

Here is the recipe:

1 cup mealie meal

1 cup flour

4 teaspoons baking powder

3 teaspoons sugar

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 egg

375ml milk

60ml butter melted

* heat the oven to 220 degrees C

* sift dry ingredients

* beat egg and milk together and add to dry ingredients to make a stiff batter

* add butter and beat until light and well mixed

* pour into greased bread tin

* bake for about 25 minutes

* eat and enjoy while warm

Though the texture is somewhat crumbly, each time he bakes this bread, it is devoured within minutes and thoroughly enjoyed! The proud little baker has also made a variation of the bread by adding freshly picked mixed herbs to the batter and it is just as good!

Joy Dare, last of October and into November

Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos to order, confusion to clarity. It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a friend. ~~ Melody Beattie

Day 30

1053) despite heavy traffic and more than an hours drive, 

I am thankful I got my son to his exam with time to spare

1054) thankful he said it went well

1055) thankful for a delicious left over dinner after a really busy day

Day 31

1056) first flower on the granadilla vine

1057) first onion harvested

1058) marathon bake and chit chat in the kitchen with my daughter....

orange cake, pecan nut and carrot muffins, corn and chili bread and feta and spinach quiche

1059) surprise pack filled with all sorts of goodies to try out from Home Tester Club

Day 1

1060) brisk early morning walk with my daughter

1061) surprise gifts from a friend who recently travelled to New York 

Day 2

1062) full and fun day out with my younger two....

discovering new things at the zoology department of the university and then the dairy expo with friends

1063) my sweet toddler nephew sleeping here for the night again....

him running to greet me with arms outstretched,

him playing with the boys skateboards,

 screeching, laughing and splashing in the bath,

 high fiving the boys goodnight and kisses for the girls,

 him falling asleep next to me making sweet baby noises

Day 3
1064) feeding my nephew freshly picked strawberries in the garden at breakfast and him asking for more
1065) a much needed nap
1066) laughing, chatting and catching up with my daughter
1067) long overdue chat with my mum

Day 4
(a gift gathered, given, good)
1068) gathered....fresh garden greens for our meals
1069) given....a wonderful variety of seeds from my sister
1070) good....weather perfect for spending time in the garden today and a dinner time braai with neighbours and friends

Day 5
1071) happy laughter from my daughter
1072) a dear friend popping in for tea
1073) taking the kids out to see fireworks tonight, and despite the fact the fireworks were banned in that area, enjoying a beautiful evening on the  beach