Around the house....

BEFORE

A couple of months ago, when hubby got an unexpected tax refund, we decided to splash out and invest in some new couches. They are really comfy and we have been enjoying them but I felt we needed to spruce things up a bit.

Today we did just that. We got some new curtains that turned out to be the wrong colour so they will be going back....but the new cushions and table runner have added a splash of colour and we love the new look! It inspired me to declutter the surfaces and go through the piles of books and papers that are inevitable in a family that lives and learns at home. I will be taking the curtains and the other cushions that did not go and getting more of those that we like tomorrow. Cant wait!

AFTER

Sunflowers and smarties

On Friday morning I was so excited to see our first sunflower open. I had tossed the seeds of a sunflower head from last summer into the flower bed and have been watching them grow ever since. It has inspired to plant some more!

Friday was also officially the end of the school term but as we are taking a our holiday later, we still have 2 weeks of learning ahead. The children and I however had a some fun seeing how many smarties they could get from one bowl to another before the sand ran out of the timer. Of course the best part was eating the smarties afterwards.

The children were all invited out to sleep overs that evening so hubby and I had an evening to ourselves. We had a lovely evening with a take out dinner and watched a movie.

The younger two were with with family friends and we were invited to join them last night for a delicious springbok roast. We had a wonderful evening with our friends and the children had fun lying outside on the grass, all snuggled under blankets, gazing up into the blackness of the night sprinkled with a magnificent display of stars.That's what memories are made of!

woodwork

Today when I fetched Josh from woodwork he had finished the two tone bowl he has been working on. It truly is beautifully made! We didn't think he would finish by the end of the term as last week he still had a way to go, and their lesson was interrupted by a baboon on the premises.

The bowl is so smooth and smells good too as it has been oiled. He is yet to decide if it will be gift for someone or if he will keep it.

FOR TODAY Tuesday 23rd June

Outside my window...The rain has not stopped today as well as gale force winds and hail.


I am thinking... Its good to be warm and snug inside mt home.


I am thankful for...My home helpers : dishwasher, washing machine, tumble dryer and heater in this cold weather!


From the learning rooms... great bible stories, geography of the earths plates and their boundaries, rounding numbers, end of a poetry unit, Kepler, Amelia Earhart and so much more before we go on holiday!


From the kitchen...a wholesome vegetable soup for lunch and then cottage pie laden with more veg and a lemon meringue pie for desert tonight. (All made with the help of my sweet daughter)


I am wearing...Layers to keep the cold out, boots and a blanket wrapped around my waist (a trick from my dear far away sister!)


I am creating...baby beanies in lemon yellow and more in baby blue to give to a friend for baby boxes given to new mums at a local clinic.


I am going...to lie in bed with my little boy who wants his mums company tonight.


I am reading... my new Your family magazine and the second book in a series of three by Ted Dekker...the craziest stuff I have ever read!


I am hoping...to get done with our geography before we go on holiday so we can start our new science book as soon as we get back.


I am hearing...the lions playing the emerging boks.


Around the house...the dishes are done, the children are getting ready for bed and so will I soon!


One of my favorite things...reading aloud to my precious children. It always leads on to such interesting discussions!


A few plans for the rest of the week: A rare treat of coffee out tomorrow morning; a special friend coming for tea on Friday; arrival of a client on Saturday.


Here is picture thought I am sharing.....


I Love and miss you Mum

xxx


Please visit Peggy's blog at http://thesimplewomansdaybook.blogspot.com/
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Fathers Day

Cape to Cuba

Today we woke Eric with breakfast in bed and some lovely cards from the children as well as gifts. He had been admiring a shirt not too long ago but could not justify buying it for himself. Thankfully I had been putting aside my commission from my little business and had enough to spoil him with that new shirt and a voucher for a trip to the barber for the "Fathers Day Special" of a hot towel shave, haircut, head massage , manicure and a session in the full body massage chair. That chair is something else!

At lunch time we joined his parents at Cape to Cuba in Kalk Bay, one of our favourite restaurants.

We just love the interesting decor and the food is great! It is a true replica of old Havana. You can shop while you dine - antiques, cigars, Che Guevara memorabilia and religious artifacts and icons. The food is peasant style as in old Havana, fused with Caribbean undertones and nouveau Miami cuisine. It always reminds us of the short time we spent on Zanzibar and of the beach restaurants in Dar es Salaam.

We enjoyed the chilli poppers which have become a firm favourite even with the children. They too love the strawberry daiquiris ( non alcoholic of course). The children each tried something different on the menu : J going for the chillli chocolate pan fried steak with sundried tomatoes, K a wrap with chicken and all sorts of other delicious ingredients and Z his favourite, calamari.

Eric and I had the seafood paella , served in a pan and a real treat for the taste buds.

We had a great time and came home to relax with a family movie before heading into another busy week.

SA Agulhas

I had heard some time ago that the S.A. Agulhas would be open to the public today. We set off to see it this morning. Before our tour, we were treated to hot chocolate and marshmallows, courtesy of the MTN Science Centre.

The S.A. Agulhas is South Africa's only Antarctic research and supply vessel. Antarctica lies approximately 4 500 km from Cape Town across some of the wildest seas in the world.

The ship has accommodation for 98 passengers and 40 crew, cargo holds, research laboratories and recreation areas. There is also a meteorological station on board from which weather observations are conducted while the vessel is at sea. The data is sent to the UK first and then to Pretoria and finally we get the information in the form of our TV weather reports. There are winches and 10 000 metres of cabling for deep sea sampling. There is a travelling deck crane for moving cargo from the holds and a large crane mounted on the bow that can lift a 25 ton tractor 20 metres onto the ice shelf of Antarctica.

There is a large hangar and flight deck on board that accommodate 2 helicopters.


The kids had fun exploring the helicopter.

All in all, it was a very informative tour of the ship and was enjoyed by all. We were all rather hungry after the tour and made the most of the sunshine by having a relaxing picnic on the lawns.

The children had great fun feeding the sea gulls our leftovers.

Karate

We received a letter this week from the karate teacher to inform us that J has been selected out of 90 students to join a group that will specialize in sport karate. They will receive extra training and take part in competitions nationally and possible internationally.

This is very exciting for him as he is passionate about his karate. We are proud of him and dedication and enthusiasm for the sport. Watch this space for news of the competitions he takes part in!