Monday's Multitudes

These last few weeks have been some of the most trying times we have ever faced as a family. Family changes and a very sick girl. And sometimes we are given more than we think we can handle or endure but we have One who can handle anything! In the midst of pain, sorrow or sadness, He is near and somehow He makes things good.

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relaxed evening with my connect group
my sweet little nephew here for the afternoon
orders coming in
finding the perfect birthday gift for hubby
grocery shopping with vouchers
wonderful morning walk
unexpectedly meeting up with a friend
eggs from my brother's chickens
lunch with a dear friend
a free facial, wonderful treat
free samples of facial products
family braai using hubby's new gas braai
another early morning walk with my girl, so good for the soul
a day out with friends
comfort of a friend
good medical care for my girl when she was so very ill
kind nurses
thankful to be allowed to sit with my girl day and night at the hospital
relief and eternal gratefulness that her complications were not permanent
prayers of faithful friends and family
thankful my boy was not as ill as his sister
well wishes and caring calls from family and friends
my sweetie regaining strength daily
whispered prayers at bedtime
hubby's homemade pizza
flowers brightening the room
visit from a caring friend
birthday celebrations with friends despite the chaos, good to feel normal
lunch with my three kiddos

"Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus"

Loaded Cauliflower

I mentioned this tasty dish in one of my previous posts and a reader asked me to share the recipe. I originally found the recipe on Facebook of all places! 

Hubby who is not a fan of cauliflower ate a little of it and said it was ok but for those who love cauliflower and cheese, this is winner. As its "loaded",  it can be enjoyed on its own as a meal, or if you prefer, as a tasty side dish. 

Ingredients:

large head of cauliflower

bacon

mushrooms

onions

chopped chives

mayonnaise 1/2 cup

sour cream 1/2 cup

shredded cheese 2 cups

Directions:

Heat oven to 180 degrees C

boil cauliflower for 8 to 10 minutes

drain,  cool and chop

in a bowl combine fried bacon pieces, mushrooms, chives and onion

add 1 cup of cheese, mayonnaise and sour cream

combine with cauliflower

place in a baking dish, top with cheese

bake for 15 to 20 minutes

garnish with more chives and serve

five minute friday: still

Be Still (Psalm 46:10)

Be still your anxious thoughts of mind;
Be still when answers you fail to find.
Be still impatient, questioning heart,
For I've held the answers from the start.

"Be still and know..."
Know that every need I will provide;
Know that I will never leave your side.
Know that your times are in My hands,
As in your life I work to fulfill My plans.

"Be still and know that I am..."
I am He who sees your every tear;
I am He who calms your deepest fear.
I am He who gives peace within life's storms,
While those tempests I use to strengthen and form.

"Be still and know that I am God..."
God, who sent My only Son;
God Almighty, Omniscient One.
God, who loved you enough to die,
So trust Me, my child; stop asking why.

"BE STILL and KNOW that I AM GOD."

(c) 2001 Holly L. Schmidtbleicher

Thanks for the link up Kate

Monday's Multitudes

connect group fun making up Christmas boxes for underprivileged kids
friends treating us to lunch on hubby's birthday
family dinner to celebrate his birthday
sun warming my back
spring showers for my garden
leftovers for dinner
ice cream and cookies with the kids
a sincere apology
playing scrabble with the kids
a new iron bought with vouchers
another prize, a lovely hamper of facial products
freshly mowed lawn
a much needed nap
good counsel
gift of a new pot from hubby, my 22 year old one broke
relaxed evening having dinner and listening to music with hubby
an excellent read
Sunday's service
a friend popping in to visit
hubby sharing his birthday treats

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Slow Living Monthly 9 : September and October

“If the sight of the blue skies fills you with joy, If a blade of grass springing up in the fields has power to move you, If the simple things of nature have a message that you understand, Rejoice, for your soul is alive.” - Eleonora Duse

NOURISH: 

I have had a bit of fun in the kitchen recently. My aim is to try new recipes often and we have enjoyed a few new favorites more than once.

A quick and easy wrap filled with mince and marinated courgettes is a winner. Fully loaded cauliflower is another firm favorite. It is packed with mushrooms, bacon and cheese in a sour cream sauce.

Our lemons have been used in a variety of puddings that my daughter has made. The best being a lemon meringue pie. Rooibos and lemon iced tea is enjoyed on warmer days.

PREPARE:

Our daughter prepared  a tomato jam and an apple chutney.

REDUCE: 

I collected a broken mirror from a friend so I can reuse it in my mosaics. An occupational therapist was also throwing out a number of her clients half finished projects and I have claimed them to rescue the tiles for my own mosaic projects too.

GREEN: 

Lemon balm tea is a soothing refreshing drink I have been enjoying.

GROW: 

I love this time of year in the garden. It's so exciting to see the new growth. My California Poppies and sweet-peas are looking gorgeous. Seedling are peeping through the soil and there are first fruits of tomatoes, chilies, passion fruit and peppers. Carrots and beetroot are ready for harvesting, corn is knee high, beans are climbing the tripods and squash are putting out leaves.

I have planted aubergine, lettuce, peppers, basil, spring onions as well as numerous different seeds. It is going to be fun to see what does well.

CREATE: 

Beanies galore have been knitted from the tiniest prem baby beanies to slouch beanies for teens and a lovely new "tea cosy" style fitted beanie for my daughter, niece and dear sister. 

This little guy is a month old and the tiny prem beanie is still way too big!

I adapted the baby pattern for the adult sizes and the recipients all love them. 

I have made some baby jerseys and booties too.

It was fun to put together the blue set, adding colours as I went along. 

Its a great way to use up even the smallest scraps of wool. 

It was lovely to create some mosaic projects again. 

My nephew loves his new mirror.

The blue one will go up in my son's room and the neutral one is for my sister. 

DISCOVER: 

I have been enjoying quick reads on blogs and in magazines. A recent win of a recipe book also makes great reading.

ENHANCE:

I joined a pay-forward initiative for the fun of it. My recipients will receive a surprise from me at some point during this calendar year- anything from a book, a ticket, something home-grown, homemade, a postcard, absolutely any surprise! There will be no warning and it will happen when the mood comes over me and I find something that I believe would suit them and make them happy. 

ENJOY: 

Hubby and I had a rare weekend away on the West Coast. Wide open spaces, spring flowers and freedom. 

My sister visited from the farm and we enjoyed her daughter's photography exhibition.

'Beach and forest walks fed the soul.

My siblings and I visited the Oranjezicht City Farm and market. 

We celebrated the birthdays of my niece, daughter and hubby.

Weekly Wrap-Up: One With a Birthday

It seems the week flew by in a flurry of activity. 

Over last weekend I had the joy of going to watch my sweet nephew in concert. It was the cutest thing to watch these little people singing their hearts out with all the accompanying actions.

That's my cutie pie touching the floor and the little girl next to him spent the entire time covering her ears! Poor little thing! I am really not sure how the teachers managed to keep them all so calm and still for so long! 

This week kids got on with their work and kept on track most of the time. 

Zak has been enjoying a story about Joan of Arc and learning about Medieval times. We have decided to prepare a low key Medieval dinner next week some time. A number of years ago we had a wonderful Medieval feast with dear friends. The kids were much younger, we all dressed up, had a castle backdrop and a wonderful evening of fun. I don't think any of us will ever forget that evening! This time around we will keep it simple.

Zak had a long awaited haircut this week and is looking so good!

It was hubby's birthday midweek and our best-man and his wife treated us to a relaxed lunch out.

 We also enjoyed a lovely dinner together as a family and spent some time playing bananagram, a word game, after dinner.

Talking about word games, we have discovered online "words with friends" and scrabble. All week various members of the family have been challenging one another to games. It's great fun as one can play when you have a moment and a game does not need to be played in one sitting, a word or two played here and there. 

Zak and I have also been enjoying CNN Student News which is delivered to my in box daily. It's a great way to keep up with current affairs.

The week ended with art lessons and youth where Keren was running the night. It is wonderful to see her growing in her ministry to the youth.