April's gifts

It can be so easy to be consumed by the pressures of life. Seeking and counting God's blessings daily has become a way of life for me. It helps me keep my eyes on the good and perfect gifts given to me in otherwise ordinary or perhaps even difficult days....

Day 3

1409) a gift surprisingly found....
 more hours to share with my precious sister as she stayed a day longer than planned

Day 4

1410) a gift in His word....
John 14:27 

Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you.

 Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.

&

1411) my kind neighbour cooking dinner for us all tonight, bringing it over for us to enjoy outdoors on a beautiful autumn evening

Day 5
1412) time spend with my dear friend
1413) a gift of pickles and chillies from my daughters friend
1414) having our sweet nephew here again tonight, such a delight

Day 6
1415) thankful for a quiet day with no agenda

Day 7
1416) blessed to see my cousin visiting from the UK today and thankful for a wonderful afternoon shared with extended family

Day 8
1417) thankful for a good first day back at school today, learning and laughing with the kids
1418) hubby bringing me a sweet treat this evening
1419) thankful for a phone call from my far away farm sister today

Five Minute Friday: After

I recently read about Five Minute Friday and thought it may be fun to take part. Though it is already Saturday, here is my first Five Minute Friday post. Each Friday a new topic is given and one simply writes for five minutes without worrying if it is perfect or profound. The only rule is to visit the person who linked up before you, and encourage them. 

After:

After my sister has visited, I have wonderful moments to cherish. I love having snippets of time with her and love seeing our beautiful children enjoy time together. The boys, growing taller and being loud as boys will. The girls , though big now too, enjoying giggles and a sort of sisterhood.

After she has gone I always pray for a safe journey home for them, as the drive is long. I am always relieved to know they are home safely on the far away farm.

After she has gone I cry, I miss her and wonder when I will see her again. I wonder when I might visit the farm again. After her visits I savour the gifts she always brings from the farm. It's like having a little bit of her still here. After she is gone I look forward to reading her blogs about her far away farm life.

Slow Living Month 3

The month of March was jam packed with much happening in our lives. It was the end of the first school term for the year and we are still enjoying our holidays. The days have become shorter and the evenings cooler. I am enjoying the sunny, yet not too hot autumn afternoons.  It is good to reflect on little achievements and link up with Christine of Slow Living Essentials again. 

NOURISH: 

With in between autumn weather, we have enjoyed fresh greens from the garden in salads at lunch or on cooler days we have enjoyed soup. I tried a French onion soup which was delicious and then the favourite butternut soup with a hint of curry. Our youngest had fun making an Irish stew and Irish soda bread as we were learning a little about Ireland.

PREPARE: 

Not much this month besides pickled red and green chillies from the garden and a second batch of pepperdews. A few beans were blanched for the freezer. 

REDUCE: 

This month our neighbour's son was collecting cans for a school recycling project so we added ours to his stock pile.

GREEN: 

Hubby made some traps for the fruit flies which tend to congregate in the kitchen. It is a simple vinegar and water solution in a glass dish and covered with cling wrap. Tiny holes are poked into the cling wrap and the once they fly in , they cannot escape. 

GROW:

Harvested and enjoyed: lettuce, spinach, pepperdews, green peppers, herbs, carrots, beetroot, tomatoes, beans and spring onions.

I planted some peas and a few have survived. Time to really pay attention to my garden before it is too late for a winter harvest!

CREATE: 

I enjoyed creating a birthday gift for my youngest God daughter.

DISCOVER: 

I have been discovering new ways of cooking and healthier eating plans for hubby in order to gain better control over his blood sugar levels.

ENHANCE: 

My youngest and I took part in the Chaeli Campaign's Walk 4 Wheels 4km fun walk. 

We took part in a mini Easter Swap through Worldwide Cultural Exchange.

ENJOY: 

It seems March has been the month of embracing moments with extended family and friends. My sister and her family have been visiting from the far away farm. Cousins have enjoyed their time together. We have visited at my dad, seen my aunt and uncle and cousins.

 A wonderful time of re-connecting all round!

The weather has been good enough for beach and forest walks too.

The kids and I enjoyed Body Worlds exhibition, my Dad's art in the park exhibition at Groot Constantia, and a visit to one of the oldest Cape Dutch farms, Babylonstoren.

Our youngest took part in the Junior Argus Cycle tour and hubby and I had the pleasure of watching a rugby match between the Stormers and the Brumbies at Newlands.

March marked our 21st wedding anniversary too!

We celebrated St Patrick's day with a fun neighbourhood get together.

Easter weekend was celebrated with family and friends.

Last of March

              This past week has been filled with the gift of family and friendship.

Day 26

1389) precious moments and heart to hearts with my sister who arrived from the farm last night

1390) our children, all so grown, laughing and reminiscing of days gone by...

1391) delicious gifts from the farm...her home-made cheese and her apricot jam, gem squash freshly picked from the fields and walnuts from the trees and sweet honey from her husband's hives 

1392) calling our mum and chatting to her and our other sister who is visiting her

1393) delicious meal shared with extended family tonight

Day 27

1394) a house-full of boy cousins today

1395) my sweet daughter making them all pancakes at lunch time

1396) her wonderful report for her 1st term of art

Day 28

1397) treated to lunch out today by my kind friend

1398) gift of forgiveness and moving forward 

Day 29

1399) beautiful worship and communion shared with believers this Good Friday in remembrance of Him

1400) encouragement from my dear sweet sister 

1401) fresh crisp mountain air, cousins young and old catching up as we walked and talked

Day 30

1402) a day of just being....resting and relaxing

1403) wonderful evening of family togetherness at my dad, crazy cousins, good food and fun had by all

Day 31

1404) a gift heard : Easter celebration service hearing again the good news that He is risen indeed

1405) a gift held...in my heart the message that I am His beloved

&

1406) wonderful relaxed lunch with hubby's parents 

April 

Day 2

1407) spending time with my sister today, each moment precious as her time to leave draws closer

1408) crazy, loud, happy, beautiful young people filling our home until late this evening as my teens entertained their friends

Babylonstoren

Recently our nature club organised a visit to Babylonstoren. Most of the members could not make it but we decided to go anyway and it was a wonderful treat, despite being delayed for about 2 hours due to traffic!

 It is one of the oldest Cape Dutch farms located in the Drakenstein Valley which was originally inhabited by the Khoisan people. After the arrival of the French Huguenots, and the expansion of the Cape Colony, the farm was granted to the burger Pieter van der Byl in 1692. He laid out the first vineyards on the farm.

Guests are free to stroll around the farm and explore. We explored a tiny part of it, as the farm is 200 hectares. The fruit and vegetable garden (8 hectares) is where we spent most of our time.

 I stopped to ask one of the gardeners if they sell the produce and he informed me that the produce is used in the two restaurants on the farm. My little veg garden is so small and produces so little in comparison to this wonderful garden!

I was amazed to see Sunflowers in full bloom as mine have long since been dead and dried out for next years planting. I will certainly sow more seeds later in the season next year. 

This garden has a formal structure and over 300 varieties of plants are grown, all edible. The children were delighted to receive a map of the garden and set about exploring and finding different areas.

We caught up with them after they sped off and found them playing hide and seek in the prickly pear orchard. 

 Water is fed into waterways that run through the garden. This was a great relief for me as my shoes broke not long after we arrived. I could walk in the water channels or on the raised walls, instead of the paths which really hurt my feet!

We stopped to watch some beautiful birds flitting around and the children discovered nests of their own.

I could certainly do with a nest of my own.... a quiet spot to relax in!

The farm shop was a delight to explore too. One can purchase wines from Babylonstoren as well as surrounding wine cellars. Hand-crafted cheeses and delicious cold meats alongside freshly baked artisan breads would be perfect for any picnic! Freshly picked fruit from the farm was available too. Various preserves and handmade soaps and so much more to delight the senses. The kids enjoyed the dried pumpkin sprinkled with castor sugar.

 I was thankful to leave with belated birthday gift for my sister (rhubarb and plum preserve and some dried pumpkin) as well as a loaf of bread that had an entire garlic bulb baked into the middle of it. My friend chose the cheese and spring onion bread as well as a Merlot sour dough bread....all delicious!

There is plenty to do at Babylonstoren. One can stay overnight at the farm hotel and guests can make use of the spa, gym and swimming pool. There are daily guided tours of the garden, guided cellar tours that take one through the wine making process from the vineyards to the bottle, and then wine tasting. Guests can canoe on the farm dam, hike up the koppie or cycle through the vineyards. It is also a birdwatchers and photographers paradise. Something I know I would truly enjoy is a return visit to enjoy a meal at one of their restaurants.This is certainly a wonderful piece of paradise worth visiting if you have never been. Linger a little or perhaps a lot longer.....

WCS Easter Mini Swap

Recently Worldwide Culture Swap announced another mini swap, this time for Easter. We so enjoy taking part in these swaps and were matched up with a family in USA. After discovering they have 3 sweet little ones, I asked my daughter to make some finger puppets for them.

We included some stickers, chocolates and cute little bunny masks for the children to make.

Though Easter for us is not all about chocolate bunnies and eggs, we still enjoy eating them of course!

We sent an Easter card, explaining how we celebrate Easter, and packaged it all into an African animal themed bag.

We are thankful for our risen Lord and Saviour and the enormity of His sacrifice for us. 

Joyfully counting on

Counting His blessings in my life....

Day 19

 gifts eaten

1373) last piece of delicious bread baked by my youngest yesterday , thankful the kids hadn't finished it

1374) meal shared with hubby over looking the ocean

Day 20

 gift that made me laugh

1375) laughter shared with friends as we enjoyed a simple meal together under the stars tonight

Day 21

1376) thankful that our daughter arrived safely at youth camp

1377) and a gift just right .....surrounded by friends and family today

Day 22

gifts found in His word

1378) Psalm 139: 1-5

O Lord, you have examined my heart

    and know everything about me.

² 

You know when I sit down or stand up.

    You know my thoughts even when I'm far away.

³ 

You see me when I travel

    and when I rest at home.

    You know everything I do.

⁴ 

You know what I am going to say

    even before I say it, Lord.

⁵ 

You go before me and follow me.

    You place your hand of blessing on my head.

⁶ 

Such knowledge is too wonderful for me,

    too great for me to understand!

1379) Psalm 23

The Lord is my shepherd;

    I have all that I need.

² 

He lets me rest in green meadows;

    he leads me beside peaceful streams.
He renews my strength.
He guides me along right paths,
bringing honour to His name.

³ 

    

⁴ 

Even when I walk

    through the darkest valley,

I will not be afraid,

    for you are close beside me.

Your rod and your staff

    protect and comfort me.

⁵ 

You prepare a feast for me

    in the presence of my enemies.

You honour me by anointing my head with oil.

    My cup overflows with blessings.

⁶ 

Surely your goodness and unfailing love will pursue me

    all the days of my life,

and I will live in the house of the Lord

    forever.

&

1380) a wonder-filled day exploring Babylonstoren 

Day 23

3 gifts found in women today

1381) thankful for a brief chat with my mum

1382) blessed to see my longest standing friend from my childhood days

1383) blessed to sit and chat with my aunt, such a gentle soul

Day 24

3 gifts spoken

1384) thankful that hubby asked me for help

1385) thankful for conversations with my friend

1386) thankful to hear my daughter's happy chatter again after her safe return from camp

Day 25

1387) knowing this....."His goodness and mercy pursues me all the days of my life"

1388) thankful for my dear neighbour who cooked a turkey for us today when my day was overflowing.