Thursday, August 29, 2013

Silk Worms

 

This is so cute but also a bit of a sad story – I had these silk worm eggs given to me from last year – they have a yearly life cycle and hatch around the same time each year into pupae which you then feed mulberry leaves to or beetroot leaves to allow them to grow fully into silk worms which then spin a silk cocoon – a gorgeous project for little children – so I stored the eggs away and had it in the back of my mind to get them out – knowing that it was around this time that they hatch – well – I got the sealed plastic bag out to put them in a cardboard box and arrrghhh the bag was full of both dead and alive pupae – so just before Julias bed time I started organising a shoe box to put them in which I lined so  they couldn’t get out the holes and Julia was just SOOOOO excited, it was delightful to see – made me want to cry with joy at how excited she was to have these silk worm pupae.  She gave up her bedtime story to stay up late to watch them moving and then we were all convinced that there was a tiny egg hatching and we watched that forever convinced it was moving (but later, the next day found it was not).  We labled the box Julia’s Silk Worms and she was just estatic!  Below  are some photos.

silk worms 002silk worms 009silk worms 011

silk worms 013

 

But alas, the next morning we awoke to find that none of the pupae were moving!  Julia said “they’re just sleeping!” which was heartbreaking.  She wanted to take them to school to show Delia anyway.

But on the way to school she said to Nev on the way – “they’re moving, they’re moving”!

Then last night there weren’t any again and so nev said perhaps they sleep at night!?

But today there are none moving – I may have to look into getting some somewhere in Cape Town – will keep you posted xo

Starry, Starry Times

We had great time making paper maché dolls for our colourful wigs. G was playing with clay this weekend and made a night sky, a little snake and several other animals. She went on to change it into a top for the doll. I was absolutely amazed. There are few things that I enjoy more than watching her come up with her own original ideas. 



She got glow-in-the-dark stars and a moon that we stuck on her shelve above her bed this week (even though it pains me to put stickers on furniture). We switch off the lights and watch the stars and the moon now every night and imagine we are outside (the real deal will be nicer, but it's pretty awesome to make up our own stories).

"Dwell on the beauty of life. Watch the stars, and see yourself running with them.” Marcus Aurelius

I hope to be see the night sky in all its glory somewhere far away from the bright city lights in the distant future, hopefully when winter rolls around. 

Wednesday, August 28, 2013

The Delight in a Beautiful Sunrise

On my down the stairs this morning, I noticed the new day. There were clouds in the air, painted pink, orange, purple and blue by the sun rising on the horizon, the date palms lit up. It's almost like the sun is saying:" This is one beautiful day".

And it has been so far; a relaxing long shower, resulting in a crisp clean head of hair, slipping on a colourful purple top, interrupting my make up session for tickles and giggles on my G on my bed, imagining a house without walls, using magic wands to conjure up whatever we wish.

The sunrise has kept it's promise, it is one beautiful day.

Tuesday, August 27, 2013

Little Pink Bush Baby goes to Work

G popped her pink and grey bush baby with the huge bag into my bag as I was leaving for work. She thought I need some company at work. How sweet. The bushbaby sat next to my computer screen the whole day and I was reminded of what how lucky I am to have been blessed with that little girl in my life.

Monday, August 26, 2013

The Power of Action


You can quite clearly see what is on my mind this week; doubt and fear. And it paralyzes me, and I don't like it!

Solution: Get busy, take action, go for it, keep moving forward!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I'm letting fear move me.

Sunday, August 25, 2013

Fear

 The initial high of resigning has worn off and now I am just scared. Scared that I will stay at home and still be worried all the time. Scared that I won't be able to make of my plans work. Scared that I don't have enough self-discipline. Scared. Scared. Scared. Admitting it makes it a bit better already. I know it is up to me. Seems like self doubt is one of my biggest obstacles.

So what I am going to do? I am giving myself some credit for what I have achieved in my life so far and I am practicing gratitude. 

I am grateful for the opportunity to be scared because it presents me with the opportunity to be brave. 


Saturday, August 24, 2013

I Love to Watch you Play

I love to watch G play, on her own and with other children. I appreciate her kindness, creativity, resourcefulness and imagination.

How I love to see her play.....

Thursday, August 22, 2013

Muesli and health

 

When I am reminded of my health’s limitations and obstacles, I notice that I have been neglecting my body and mind.  This kick starts me into a health giving nurturing lifestyle that of course has to happen all at once, no bread, no sugar or preserved foods, lots of fresh fruit, some juicing thrown in, very limited alcohol and coffee intake (1 proper brewed a day, NOT up to 3 as I was having!) – so my new favourites are green tea, and my old newly discovered favourites (Cointreau) have to take a back seat.  The exercise regime I am so longing to do is also on pause while my lower back and knee problems are being attended to by physio.

I’ve been meaning to make my own muesli for awhile and found a site with Dr Bircher-Benners recipes on, can’t wait to try them out www.wikihow.com/make-muesli

PS warm fires are the bomb but wet firewood SOOO isn’t!

Wednesday, August 21, 2013

No Feeling is Final

Just got up because I couldn't sleep. I went looking for Pema Chödron's book on Fear, couldn't find any with a preview, so I watched a few videos about her teachings instead. Had an a-ha moment in this one; "Smile at Fear - A Reservoir of Trust".

A bit of a rude awakening in the sense that she says we are all looking for hope and a feeling of grounding (I know I am), which is causing us to hang on to life and be fearful. Hope and fear according to her are two sides of the same coin. Which is why trust and joy only comes from the the fact that the world will always respond to us, that's it. It might be good, it might be bad, it might be mediocre, it might be what we want, it might not be what we want, but it will respond. I suppose that is the ultimate trust and acceptance (I can safely say that I am not there yet).

She also says success and failure is the path of awakening, which is the fearless approach. When we have "undesirable feelings" we should be with that feeling fully, (in my case today - feel the fear), be with it, even when it is damn uncomfortable.

From this talk I got the quote for my painting.



I'm waiting for the tide to change, but will I create while I'm waiting.  

Energy

 

When you just don’t have it you realise how much you love it!…oh and yes…our internet is finally back up – no thanks to Telkom either – just us deciding to go the dongle option again versus relying on Telkoms wireless failures!

Saturday, August 17, 2013

Being on Planet Earth

Today I am grateful just being here, on planet earth, being alive.

There is nothing that scares me more than not being on this planet till G is an adult. However, there is absolutely nothing I can do about ensuring that outcome. Instead I can only take the opportunity to enjoy every moment I have with her. Easier said than done, as I am sure most parents will know. Somehow, I am managing to be grateful more often now, even in the "I'm-too-tired-I'm-not-in-the-mood-for-this-irritated-mode". When I remind myself of what I have to be grateful for, even in the "not so picture perfect moments",  it creates more room for finding joy in the simple things; her playing games in the kitchen while I am cooking, the chat we had last night while she was on the loo, the silly games (pretend I don't know she is on the couch or bed and then sit or lay on top of her), her telling me about her day, when she says thank you and please automatically, reading the bedtime stories.

Just being here today, enjoying most of the times that we spend together, is enough, more than enough.


Wednesday, August 14, 2013

Pink Funky Chicken

Of course G likes anything PINK. Last night in bed I referred to a my favourite beach in Jebel Ali with white sand and turquoise water . She wasted no time telling that her favourite beach and the ocean is pink.

No surprise really that I got her a PINK wig this weekend (so much for minimalism and anti-consumerism). I have been eyeing it for a while. In fact I got two wigs a PINK one for her and a purple one for me.

With no further ado, I present to you, MISS PINK!





Looking forward to many rock concerts in our living room.



Tuesday, August 13, 2013

Playing with colour


When G and I paint I usually say: "Let's play with colour!"


I absolutely love the intuitive aspect of it. There is no pressure, there is only the tremendous joy of creating. I have learned so much from G while watching her paint because she has no rules or uncertainty, she just dives in, picking up one colour after the other, mixing new ones as she goes along (oh she loves that - we are fortunately at the point where she remembers to take new brushes when mixing so that we don't just end up with brown murky paint!).She usually starts of with a brush and end up painting with her hands. I did the same this week and it felt good to really end the painting by getting in there and getting my hands so dirty.

We did this painting this weekend and it is really growing on me, the vibrant colours, the feel of windows of some sort, the dark corners (was even thinking I should turn it upside down and see what it will look like with the darker parts at the bottom).

She painted alone the first day and just painted a little bit at the top, which we partly painted over again. I really wish I could have videotaped her that day while she was painting, she was singing, making up the words as she went along while almost dancing with the paintbrush in her hand, completely in her own world. It was one of those moments that I would like to remember forever.

We are real recession painters - we are still painting with regular water based emulsion wall paint while also painting over older paintings. I think if I have to use more expensive paint I will be less inclined to allow both of us so much freedom while painting. This also fits in well with my growing awareness of minimalism. I get a kick out of using paint that I have had forever (and seem to be bottomless) and not having lots of paintings that I have to find room for. I now take a picture and move on.

I LOVE PLAYING WITH COLOUR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Monday, August 12, 2013

Silence is more Musical than any Song



For me, SILENCE has been my preferred music most of my adult life. And now I understand better why. I really thought there was something wrong with me preferring silence to music. 

I don't like labels but sometimes labels help us to find validation for some aspect of ourselves that we might have been struggling with. 

A label that I fit into well is that of a hypersensitive person (HSP).

Sunday, August 11, 2013

Joy and imagination

I am convinced we learn as much from our children as they learn from us. When it comes to pure spontaneous, unedited joy and being in the moment, there can hardly be a better teacher than a preschooler. 

This long Eid weekend we traveled the world, we exceeded the speed limit many times while doing it, we were locked up in the ocean jail, mermaids acted cute and wicked, people were wearing shark suits and sharks were wearing people suits while having tons of laughs on the adventures. 

G also build a house in the living room and moved half her playroom in there. She mixed magic potions and concocted food experiments which of course mom had to taste. It has been a whirlwind of adventure every single day and it has been magical. I just love seeing what she comes up with next. A child's imagination is a beautiful thing.  I am grateful to be a witness.

Friday, August 9, 2013

My Only To Do List

My to do to list is really short now.


I am grateful for days when I tick off all 5 on my list. 

Thursday, August 8, 2013

Stepping where butterflies and fairies do.....

My life as I knew it is changing, and it is scary, very very scary at times.

I am grateful that I can find inspiration around me and believe that it will be worth it.


Wednesday, August 7, 2013

Miso Soup and Tofu

 

We have the Wagamama Cookbook and being vegetarian 6 out of 7 days a week has meant getting more creative and exciting vege dishes in the kitchen….Last night I made a miso soup (the dashi stock from scratch, not instant) served with tofu (firm) steaks (tofu chunks spread on top with miso paste, then griddled until heated through with a crispy base).

This was served over noodles with some raw mushrooms.

The Miso Soup recipe used was:

1 Tbspn dried wakame (a textured seaweed) soaked in cold wate for 5 minutes

1 Litre dashi (made using vege stock (homemade), konbu (kelp seaweed) and bonito flakes (fermented and dried bonito fish flakes)

3 Tbspn miso paste (made from fermented soya beans and other ingredients)

3 spring onions, trimmed and finely sliced

Drain the soaked wakame and roughly chop.  Bring the dashi to the boil and whisk in the miso paste

Divide the wakame and spring onions between 2 bowls and pour over the miso soup.

For smaller portions use only 500ml of dashi.

DELICIOUS!  …and the little one liked it too – great source of protein.

Monday, August 5, 2013

Young love

 

We went on a play date at the Oudemolen Eco village with old school friends from Rainbow – it was for a photo shoot for one of the mums kids clothing business but after 10 mins Julia stripped off her model dress and refused to play – instead she chose to play with another rebel in her own dress– both of whom had their own agenda – check out that body language….Arrrghhhh a sign of things to come.

20130802_161919_resizedoudemolen and oscar