Weekly Wrap-Up: Last Week of Holidays

The last week of holidays has been relaxing despite the fact that the older two have been rather sick. The weather has been really wintry and evenings have been spent around a cozy fire. Home cooked meals have been hearty and Keren has made us a few delicious puds. I am sure the kilos are piling on! I love the fact that she enjoys baking and cooking even when she is doing it for fun and not just for practicals that she has to do. 

Early in the week I enjoyed spending time at the church holiday club and observing all the fun going on there... I wished there was a holiday club for adults too! Keren had a slot where she had to teach the kids a bible verse. It was wonderful to see her enjoying teaching the little ones. 

She spent three days at a youth conference too so we saw very little of her this past week.

Zak and I had some fun with friends and enjoyed getting out to the botanical gardens to picnic and to see the dinosaur exhibition. 

Another day a friend treated us to lunch out at the seaside. Despite the cold, we enjoyed ice creams and a stroll along the beach front.

I sent all my recent knits to the Zoe project and have had fun knitting beanies for some of Keren's friends as well as this little beanie and booties for the newborn son of the the boy who was page boy at our wedding!

The holidays have been great and we are ready to face the third term...

Weekly Wrap-Up : Two Weeks into the Holidays

Holidays are in full swing and Keren and I have just returned from our mid week getaway. We had a wonderful time together and enjoyed and savored every moment. On Tuesday we headed out to Strand and had lunch at an old fashioned restaurant over looking the sea. They offered a three course meal at very reasonable prices and we thoroughly enjoyed it. Good old fashioned food!

The views out over the bay were magnificent. Just what we needed after all the pressure of exams and getting her file done for term 2.

We ambled along the beachfront before driving to my aunt and uncle just outside Stellenbosch.

 We were welcomed with tea and enjoyed catching up before taking a walk around the estate with my uncle and his dog.

The estate is beautiful and peaceful and their home like a home from home. Familiar objects, pieces of furniture from my grandparents, beautiful quilts made by my aunt and giant comfy beds and delicious home cooked food made our visit perfect. We enjoyed a log fire and long conversations reminiscing about days gone by. We slept in and didn't want to leave those comfy warm beds but eventually did to enjoy a hearty home cooked breakfast made by my uncle.

We stopped off in Stellenbosch to visit Oom Samie se Winkel , a place I have often passed by but never ventured in.

 Everything you can imagine is found in this shop from old fashioned sweets to spices, vintage clothing and dolls, memorabilia from days gone by, books, trinkets and curios. Well worth a visit even if you are not buying but just browsing. Apparently bus loads of tourists stop by on their way through the village.

We drove through the village and out the other side to climb the Helshoogte pass to our destination, Clouds Estate. With great excitement we entered the estate and made our way to reception. It deserves a post of its own so that is all for now!

Besides this wonderful getaway, holidays have been filled with friends, sleepovers, sleep ins and lots of fun. A few girlfriends joined me for a movie night. I had the wonderful privilege of joining 194 others at the prison for a prayer walk. An unforgettable experience and I cannot wait for next month's prayer walk.

 Zak has been to the movies a couple of times and to a magic show where he attempted learning to spin a plate!

 He volunteered time at church helping to prep for the holiday club for a few hours.

 We have enjoyed sunny afternoon walks.

Keren besides completing her exams, finished her oil painting and handed it in for marking.

 She cooked endless dishes for consumer studies and we all enjoyed eating them!

 Josh bought himself a car!

Tonight the youth are having a stay awake at church.

 Its been full and fun and I am thankful we have another week off!

Weekly Wrap-Up: End of Term!

It has been weeks again since I have blogged. 

Perhaps a little hibernation with the cold weather we have been experiencing.

 We have also come to the end of term 2 and now are on our winter break. It has been a busy time especially for Keren who has been writing her mid year matric exams and making sure all her relevant assignments and projects are done. She is almost done and I cant wait to have all the work marked, filed and handed in for further marking and moderation. 

I am certain she will continue to do exceedingly well in all her subjects. She did very well in her midyear art exams which were written at her art school. The painting she did for term 2 has been sold and she has her first commission from one of the teachers at the art school. It is wonderful to see her being able to earn from something she is fiercely passionate about and loves to do.

She is working on two paintings at the moment and I love to watch the pieces as they develop. 

Zak finished off basketball for the term and is not keen to continue. He has decided that rock climbing is something he wants to continue with as he really enjoys his weekly climbs at City Rock. School work has been completed for the term and he is enjoying the freedom of the holidays. 

Its wonderful having Josh here on the days he doesn't need to go on site and he is working remotely. It gives me pleasure to be able to make all my kids a hot lunch, freshly squeezed juice or a hot chocolate while they are working. I love hearing the interaction between my three too. 

We have been enjoying warm fires, good wholesome home cooked meals and the company of good friends. Last weekend Zak and I enjoyed the theater. Our neighbor was performing in A Midsummer Night's Dream. A real treat enjoyed with neighborhood friends.  

Plans for the holidays include a mini trip away for Keren and me which we are both really looking forward to it. Today it has been wonderful to get up and have no agenda. Keren has been working on her painting and Zak has gone off to City Rock with his friends.

 I am already loving the break from school.....

Weekly Wrap-Up: The Overdue One

Yes, its been two weeks since a weekly wrap up post. Life has been happening. We have had days of rain and chilly temperatures as well as gorgeous sunny days with no wind. School has taken place in warm beds or under blankets on the couches. Its such a blessing to be able to let the kids sleep in a bit too on chilly mornings. 

Keren has written her first exam for matric, her art theory exam, and she has spent weeks working on her practical which she handed in today.

 An offer to purchase it was made too!

Zak got his belay license at rock climbing last week and has been attending basketball. He and I finished up his anatomy and physiology course . I wonder what course we will do next...perhaps another geography course or more science. 

I have been roping him in in the kitchen too and he has been making delicious garlic cheesy scones to accompany soup dinners, apple and cinnamon muffins and pancakes too. Its good for boys to know their way around the kitchen!

Evenings have been cozy with a fire when needed and the family gathering in the lounge. We have enjoyed watching series and I keep my hands busy knitting. I have been donated wool of all colors from friends and its been fun to knit them up into beanies and booties for a local project. The Zoe project makes mum and baby packs for new mums at the local midwife obstetric units. The mums are often from very poor homes with little for their new babes, so its a real pleasure to know that these beanies and booties will make a difference and keep these babes warm. 

Weekends have been good. Lots of rest and relaxation. I still don't have my car since the accident so I look forward to weekends and getting out a bit when hubby is home. We have enjoyed Saturday morning breakfasts at a local nursery. They have great specials on during the winter months . Yummy hot chocolate and bacon on french toast for a steal. Zak joined us this past Saturday and really enjoyed it. We had  a lovely walk in the nearby forest this weekend too.

 It was wonderful to enjoy the wide open spaces and the great outdoors. 

Weekly Wrap-Up: A Time of Connecting

This week has been a wonderful week of connecting. Connecting with loved ones. My God Father spoiled us with pizzas for dinner on Monday night and we sat chatting for hours. He is one of the most interesting people I know and is so interested in each and every one of us. He always has a wonderful story to tell and I think we could all sit and listen to him for hours. 

Wednesday morning my Dad and I had a long overdue breakfast together, another wonderful couple of hours. Ooh and the great food we enjoyed at a neighborhood restaurant deserves a mention too!

There was connect group and an outing with my friend to enjoy free lattes at Food Lovers. There were a couple of evenings where the family all sat by candle light enjoying music and chit chat while the power was out. And a lunch time heart to heart with my sweet girl in the sunshine. 

There was rock climbing at City Rock on Monday, I don't usually get to go as I have to do the art run in the afternoon but this week I got to see what Zak does there. It was great to see him enjoying himself and learning new skills as well as overcoming a fear of heights. 

As well as climbing, he has learned to belay too. That's him at the top!

 It was great for me to hang out and chat with some of the other home schooling moms as now that the kids are older there aren't so many outings anymore.

Besides the usual work, there is always art for Keren. She has been spending hours on her term practical, She is enjoying the space she has with the art table hubby made for her. 

On Saturday morning hubby and I visited Arderne Gardens. Definitely a place to visit again. I have always wanted to visit there and can't believe I never have. It would have been a wonderful place to take the kids when they were small. There are beautiful lawns, ponds with ducks, beautiful tall trees and one of the two biggest trees in Africa! Well worth a visit!

Weekly Wrap-Up: Life's Ups and Downs

Where does one even begin when the week has been touched with something one does not expect to happen. That phone call no mother wants to get. Our dear son had a terrible accident on Tuesday evening. A pedestrian ran in front of the car and there was no way of missing him. The victim badly hurt. Hubby rushed out to the scene. Police and ambulances and tow trucks surrounded the scene. Our son was badly shaken up but not hurt. Thank God for seat-belts. The first policeman on the scene was the uncle of one of our son's friends and the tow truck driver, off duty, was from a panel shop next door to hubby's work. 

We received the most amazing support from family, friends and couples from the church who came over to pray and offer any help needed. Our son was given time off work and he is doing ok. His friends rallied around him and have been there for him. 

The kids have got on with their work and Keren had a full day at her art school doing her practical for the term. There has been basketball and indoor rock climbing.There have been great results for both Josh and Keren... It all seems so insignificant in the greater scheme of things. I have really been struck by the reality of how life can change in a split second and how important it is to really love one another. Its just too easy to take it all for granted...

The week ended with my girl spoiling me and my mum in law and treating us to lunch. 

It was lovely.

 Here's to a peaceful weekend. 

Weekly Wrap-Up:Full and Fabulous

A full week with beautiful autumn weather....

There were exams for Josh, a new experience for Zak, wonderful mom and daughter time and lots of work put in....

Zak enjoyed his first session at City Rock, an indoor climbing adventure...he said it was tough and challenged him physically but loads of fun and of course all the more so when it's done with a buddy! Hopefully his twice a week basketball sessions will help build muscle strength so the climbing becomes less challenging.

He and I have been focusing on anatomy and physiology for the last while so it's great for him to have a good understanding of what physical activity does for the body and the great benefits in disease prevention etc. 

Keren had to do English and Afrikaans orals this week as part of her formal assessments. A dear teacher friend came to listen and mark her orals. These get sent in to our curriculum provider and form part of her marks for the year. 

She and I also visited a local school and spent a wonderful hour with the Consumer Studies teacher who gave her great tips for exams and showed us the set up of the kitchen. I had been a bit wary of what she may think due to the fact that Keren is home educated but she was incredibly welcoming and has invited Keren back to observe practical exam sessions. This will be an enormous help to Keren to prepare her for her final exams in a few months time.

Keren cooked dinner twice this week as she has 8 practical sessions to complete this term. She made a delicious cottage pie and a beef stew. Its great for me to get a night off! 

She and I enjoyed a wonderful afternoon together midweek. I had a voucher from my last birthday and I invited her to join me for a facial treatment. This girl works so hard and I figured she deserved a little pampering! It was her first facial and she thoroughly enjoyed it. Afterwards we did a little shopping and she found herself a great pair of jeans and some boots. She was even more thrilled when the jeans were marked down to half price at the till point. 

At the same time we found cream cheese marked down to R5 a tub! Apparently the store had bought too much stock. We stocked up and came home to make a delicious cheesecake using freshly picked granadillas from the garden. 

This morning my neighbor and I had a long overdue coffee date. It's really great that I can leave the kids for an hour or two and know that they will get on with their work while I am gone. We visited a local nursery and enjoyed delicious chicken mayo and avo sandwiches out in the autumn sunshine.

Another highlight of the week was getting my new phone. A highlight for Zak too as it meant he got my old one. I am so grateful for savvy kids who laugh at me but who know how to teach their mom how to use this new technology!

So at the end of a full week, there is youth as usual tonight and time to just relax for hubby and me!

Weekly Wrap-Up: Another Short One

With public holidays on Monday and Friday this past week it really did go fast!

The high-lite of the week was my nephew's visit on his birthday. He is such a delight and it was lovely to have him here. 

We ate the most delicious chocolate cake and he had fun helping me smash some tiles. 

School went well despite the short week and Zak resumed basketball lessons. He was a bit reluctant but I could see he really enjoyed it once he got back into it.

Keren had consumer study practical work to do which meant I got a night off cooking dinner. She made a spaghetti bolognaise and a molded cucumber salad, both really tasty. All her prescribed recipes seem to be suitable for dinner so that means a regular night off for me.

 She had fun making cake toppers for my nephew's party too. Poor little guy's party had to be postponed though as he got sick.

My niece came around to take some photos of Zak for her photography assignments.

She really is talented and captures her subjects well.

Zak was really happy that one of his best friends returned after being away for some time and they got to spend the day together on Friday and enjoyed youth group too. Keren missed youth for the first time in months as she is not feeling well. 

We enjoyed a family dinner at hubby's parents during the week as his cousin and her son were visiting from Holland. A lovely evening.

How was your week? 

Weekly Wrap-Up : Back To Work

The weeks have flown by since our peaceful Easter holiday break.

 Full of deadlines and hours of work....essays, assignments, projects and tests. We thought Keren had a little more time to hand these in. On the one hand I am glad they had to be done now so they are in on time for the external moderators to mark, but it was really rather stressful for her to have the deadlines moved forward. I am hoping that things will run a little more smoothly for her now. High school done this way is certainly very much more demanding than the way Josh did it. 

Zak was not well in the first week of term and we didn't even attempt any school. He slept in and read and that was about it. It did make things a little easier for me as it meant I could dedicate my time to Keren. This week he has been a lot better and we got back into the swing of things. 

There have been plenty of evening hours where we have sat in the dark due to load-shedding. I don't mind it too much as I love candle light but I do feel sorry for the kids when they have assignments due and they have to work by candlelight. 

We visited Keren's art school to attend the career expo for tertiary fine art and design institutions. Keren had already gathered information from the institutions that she may be interested in as part of her life orientation project in term 1. It was still an enjoyable morning and there were all sorts of tasty treats on sale as well as arts and crafts. 

I enjoyed the wonderful treat of a morning off getting my hair done. My sweet girl blessed me with a voucher as she regularly gets her done through the academy that she does hair modelling for. This week I also enjoyed a morning birthday celebration of a dear friend. I do love that the kids are big enough to get on with their work on their own for a bit.

 There has been a steady demand for pre cut mosaic tiles for kits so I have spent hours cutting tiles. I am grateful to be able to do it in my own time between helping the kids with their schooling.

We have a long weekend this weekend and I am looking forward to spending time with the family and relaxing. 

Weekly Wrap-Up: The Holiday One

Holidays...a wonderful week of relaxing and enjoying no deadlines or commitments. 

Easter Sunday lunch was spent with hubby, my sister, her hubby and my brother enjoying the best fresh fish and chips at one of my sister's favorite spots.

A walk along the seaside and dipping our toes in the ocean completed the perfect afternoon.

Monday brought tired and happy campers safely home from their amazing weekend away.

Keren was thrilled to discover that hubby had completed making her art table and had it set up in her room.

Holidays meant I had time to do some of the things I love.

 Italian tomato sauce and beetroot chutney were made. 

My friend and I worked on this beautiful mosaic table top.

I knitted my first pair of bed-socks! 

Something I have wanted to do for a long time but could never find the right pattern to use. 

The kids made the most of the week off ....

sleeping in, sleeping out at friends and generally having a good time.

 Keren had fun doing some modelling for her cousin's photography project.

Zak and his friend spent days hanging out.

Yesterday they enjoyed a trip to one of the township areas where they helped to put up a sign at a community center and had fun interacting with the kiddies at the center.

It has been a good week!

Weekly Wrap-Up: 1000 paper cranes

It's been a busy two weeks. Wrapping up the term and completing assignments. It's wonderful to know that we can breathe easy for a bit and enjoy the Easter weekend and holidays next week.

There has been a flurry of activity with paper crane decorating and making. Keren is working on her new art assignment, a monument to herself, inspired by the works of South African artist Penny Siopis. She has a few weeks before the assignment is due which is a good thing as she aims to make 1000 paper cranes....

Japanese legend claims that the one who makes 1000 paper cranes will be granted a wish. Each crane has significance and friends and family have been decorating papers endlessly. Keren then folds each one into a crane. So if you happen to be visiting in the next few weeks, I am certain you will be asked to join in!

Even the littlest visitor got to make a contribution!

Besides finishing up the work for the term, it has been a very social time in the last week. The kids had a bunch of friends over for a bring and braai last weekend. The fun continued all week with friends and cousins visiting and playing card games into the wee hours of the morning. Lovely to have all my kids home and to see them enjoying entertaining their friends in our home.

And now, after all the activity.....it is silent around here!

After church this morning, the kids and their cousins left for the long awaited church camp.

 Tired but happy campers will be home on Monday afternoon.

Wishing you a blessed Easter!

Weekly Wrap-Up: A Cultural One

The weather has been getting a little cooler and long sleeves and cardigans have made their way out of the cupboards this week. I love the subtle changes as we head into autumn. 

School days have been full with loads of learning taking place. On Monday Keren had an outing to the National Gallery with her art class. The focus of the outing was the exhibition "Time and Again" by a South African artist, Penny Siopis. 

They had studied this artist and her works. Her works speak of personal and collective history, trauma, shame and loss. This exhibition is a retrospective look at three and a half decades of her work.

 Keren enjoyed the exhibition so much that we took the morning off on Friday and went with a friend to see the exhibition again. Keren was able to guide us around the exhibition and tell us what she had learned. This time the artist was there too and it was great to hear her speak of her works. 

I found some of her works very disturbing, especially the shame series. 

Term projects have taken priority for Keren this week. She had to create and come up with a business plan for a small entrepreneurial business for Consumer Studies. She made this cute, classic, crocheted sock monkey out of donated wool and recycled stuffing. 

Her brand name is ' Monkess". 

I love the handmade label which instructs the purchaser to snuggle the monkey lots!

We were blessed with tickets to the Paulo Nutini concert at Kirstenbosch this week. 

He was unknown to us but it was great to pack up a picnic to enjoy in the botanical gardens midweek. Sadly before the main act began, Zak wasn't feeling too well and we had to bring him home.

 Thankfully some friends were there and could bring Keren home after the concert. She thoroughly enjoyed it and has been playing his music ever since. 

There was some mosaic work this week. Hours of cutting tiles for kits that had been ordered. Zak lent a hand too by picking and cleaning tiles for a larger project.

Thursday was a pj day as both Zak and I were not well. I was thankful when hubby came home and took over making supper and ordered me to bed early. 

Another highlight of the week was an afternoon visit with my sister who is visiting Cape Town. Wonderful to enjoy coffee, milk tart and afternoon conversations in the shade of a great tree. Great for cousins to connect too. 

Oh! And Keren received her mark for her practical and came top of her class with the highest mark she has ever attained for an art practical!

 We are so happy for her and all her hours of hard work certainly paid off. 

How was your week?