Refreshing Rooibos Iced Tea

I am thoroughly enjoying my summer drink of rooibos iced tea. I make a concentrated batch and keep in the fridge and then dilute it as I use it. I add lemon and honey based on mood but most of the time I go without it. Love it, so refreshing.

Disclaimer: Nobody that I have offered it to likes it so far. Won't be selling it on the sidewalk soon.

Swimming Summer Days

It is full on summer now, the last three weeks have been more than 46 degrees Celsius. It is kind of awful. It is draining and tiring.

BUT we have many reasons to be grateful for during another scorching summer in the Arabian desert:

1. It is Ramadan, which means shorter working hours = more time at home.
2. We spend all our afternoons in the pool, at the minimum 3 hours = soothing water, tons of exercise and wild imaginary play. 
3. G has gone "goggle-less", she can now swim without goggles, opening her eyes underwater. 
4. Dreaming big = G wants to move our whole house into the swimming pool, the beds, the kitchen, the bathroom, the fridge, the computer and unfortunately the TV.

What's not to love about this summer???????

Be grateful for whatever comes....

THE GUEST HOUSE

This being human is a guest house.
Every morning a new arrival.

A joy, a depression, a meanness,
some momentary awareness comes
as an unexpected visitor.

Welcome and entertain them all!
Even if they are a crowd of sorrows,
who violently sweep your house
empty of its furniture,
still, treat each guest honorably.
He may be clearing you out
for some new delight.

The dark thought, the shame, the malice.
meet them at the door laughing and invite them in.

Be grateful for whatever comes.
because each has been sent
as a guide from beyond.

-- Jelaluddin Rumi,
    translation by Coleman Barks

Precious Moments

 

I am grateful for those heartfelt moments that are deeply etched in my mind, yet can never be recaptured ..so not only do they bring joy, they also bring the a kind of heartache too because the innocence of them or the”first times”cannot be repeated…..

Life as a mother is filled with these kinds of moments

Julia lost her first tooth today – her bottom left incisor – the tooth fairy is on its way! She reckons it is going to be dressed in a black fairy dress (because it arrives at night) with 2 pockets to carry gifts and with stars on it and sparkles.

Little Things

Little Things

Little drops of water,
Little grains of sand,
Make the mighty ocean
And the pleasant land.

Thus the little minutes,
Humble though they be,
Make the mighty ages
Of eternity.

Ebenezer Cobham Brewer (1810-1897) 

This long weekend at the ocean I appreciated many little things; 

• G's excitement before the trip, asking: "Mommy, I want to be there now. Why do you think I can't wait anymore?" Mommy;"Because you are excited?", G laughing:" Yes, it is so difficult to wait"

The Internet

 

Haven’t been on here for an age!

These days I have gratitude for the internet and the vast amount of knowledge it provides us with and can expand our minds with and provide us with eyes to see the most mind-blowing conspiracies in the world we live in – you have got to see this – can get it on u-tube.  Thanks Annie for the passion I felt to follow this stuff up and delve deeper.  I can’t believe these videos, it turns the whole history of our knowledge on wars, religion, and money upside down!

http://www.zeitgeistmovie.com/

But I also love it for the other comforting info it gives us, providing us with inspiration and joy and energy!  One discovery of late that I still want to delve into more is this. http://www.squidoo.com/watercolour-and-ink-drawing-sketching-painting-travel-sketchbook-journal

Sonja have you experimented with all the inks I gave you yet – here is some inspiration, I'm just playing with line drawings etc. now – even if they do come out all tangled up etc. – it looks kind of cool and abstract!

The Sea Taketh Away and Giveth Back

This weekend we were on the East Coast and with the first swim in the sea I lost G's goggles, her absolute favourite pair, that fits her perfectly, that allows her to swim like a little fish. I put a mask on and searched for what seemed like an eternity but couldn't find a thing. I could have kicked myself.

The next morning George went for a walk on the beach and spotted something pink. The sea gave back her favourite goggles. We were absolutely over the moon.

Surrender

Today, I am surrendering to my soul's longings, to be creative every day and to be a stay at home mom.

Today, I am going to be more loyal to my dreams than to my fears.

Today, I am going to be on my own side.

Today I am resigning my job.

Today I am moving forward.

I have a big smile on my face right now.

It is never to late

 

Well yesterday I regretted the fact that I didn’t take my camera on my little jaunt with Joe and Julia to Rondebosch Common – but it is NEVER to late to go back and do the things you regret you haven’t done.

 

Good Bye Entourage

I had a good bye entourage at the gate when I left for work this morning. Bella was in G's arms, waving and blowing flying kisses and Milo (Charmaine's Yorkie) was in Gracy's arms, doing the same. Three humans and two dogs were in very good spirits this morning. I left for work with a big smile on my face.

A Love for Nature

 

I went for a walk this afternoon with Julia and Joe in Rondebosch Common – it was so awesome – we took a large yoghurt container along with us as Julia wanted to inspect the tadpoles in the ponds filled by heavy winter rain.  She wanted to go straight to the ponds but Joe was really needing his walk first – I thought I would have a ‘I want to go the ponds now” voice on my hands, but instead she was just so absorbed in the different coloured little flowers along the way, pink little trumpet shaped ones,violet ones, arum lilies, we also were absorbed in finding dandelions and blowing as many wishes as we could.  We found a massive pinecone (that Joe really wanted and I had to hide under my jacket so he couldn’t get it), we also spotted mushrooms and finally came to the ponds and collected and returned numerous tadpoles just for the sheer pleasure of it – it was such a beautiful afternoon – I really wish I had taken my camera for a picture of Julia in her blue sleeveless puffer jacket, pink Wema beanie and gypsy trousers blowing dandelions and picking them! Ahhh a mothers love…and it just keeps growing.  And in addition we came home and with my guidance she cooked a prawn risotto for supper  - she really did – it was the best risotto I have tasted in a long time.

Ear Plugs

Oh how grateful I am for ear plugs. The night before last I had a good sleep, the first in a while, and it is definitely because of the earplugs. For me it just takes the edge off. It felt so good that I decided to wear my ear plugs PLUS ear phones today at work! It was absolute bliss. Think I might do it more often!

Strong Gifted Women

More women featured on the The Reconstructionists. Love the pencil and watercolours almost as much as what these women stood for.

Don't tell God we killed a wasp

A huge wasp surprised us in G's room just as we went in to get ready for bed. It caused quite a consternation. G wouldn't get ready for bed unless I could rid of the wasp. It took me forever but eventually I got it (killed it). I felt a bit bad afterwards about killing it. I told her we should not have killed it but next time we come across one we should catch-and-release it.

The next night just before we said our prayers G said:" Don't tell God we killed a wasp!" I had a good chuckle at that. 

"Bonsie" the little Springbok

Far far away, in the Kalahari desert in southern Africa, there is a little springbok named Bonsie. He is a bundle of energy and loves playing, running and jumping all over the place. His curiosity and creativity know no bounds so he loves learning new things and discovering new places. Most of all he loves to bounce-bounce-bounce all over the vast Kalahari plains.

Visit from a Butterfly

Just as we were making our way to the swimming pool ladder to get out of the swimming pool a beautiful butterfly came sitting on the top step on the ladder. It looked like it was drinking water (don't know if that is possible) on the step. We were completely mesmerized watching it stretching out this long thin "tongue" and then rolling it up, repeating the process again and again. I have never seen a butterfly's tongue in action (to be honest I never knew they had one, didn't know how the the heck they got the nectar.

Eventually it flew off but continued to stay close to us for the longest time. G was in my arms, we were so quiet, now and again whispering, just thoroughly enjoying the visit from the butterfly. I'm grateful for such simple but so incredibly special moments.

Klaasvakie

Klaasvakie is the Afrikaans version of the Sandman. Not sure if the Sandman came to New Zealand or not so I'll tell you about him anyway. Klaasvakie brings good dreams to children by sprinkling magical sand into the eyes of children while they sleep at night. The "sleep" in the corners of one's eyes when waking is the result of his work the previous night.

Time

 

I'm grateful for time….when you don’t have it, you realise how precious it is!  How important it is not to waste it.  Funny how time goes so quickly when you don't’ want it to and slow when you wanting/waiting/needing something to happen.

Time is an opportunity to practice patience and to take action.

Read a lot of stories, listen to a lot of music.....

"As we grow older, we encounter more and more complex stories — in literature, film, visual art, music — that give us a richer and more subtle grasp of human emotions and of our own inner world. So my second piece of advice, closely related to the first, is: 

Read a lot of stories, listen to a lot of music, and think about what the stories you encounter mean for your own life and lives of those you love. In that way, you will not be alone with an empty self; you will have a newly rich life with yourself, and enhanced possibilities of real communication with others." Advice from philosopher Martha Nussbaum. 

Wise & Inspirational Women

More inspiration from The Reconstructionists. Fascinating to read the essays on these women.

Does your face light up when your child enters the room?

I can still remember when I saw Toni Morrison on the Oprah book club years ago and she asked the question: " Does your face light up when your child enters the room?"

"If it does, it allows your face to speak how your heart feels......." 

It was long before I had G and I never forgot it. It was one of those goose-bump moments. I knew I would never forget it, it really struck a core in my heart. I knew I wanted my child to be validated every time he/she walked into a room. I knew I wanted my child to see the love on my face, not criticism, not just caring, not a question mark, but LOVE - every time they walk into the room. 

Thank you for the valuable lesson Mrs. Morrison.

 

Bobby Pins & Up Styles

 I am having so much fun trying out different ways to tie my hair up as it is just the easiest, quickest and coolest way to wear it during summer. Bobby pins are crucial for this, the ones I am using now used to be my mother's (I am getting more and more sentimental as I am growing older :-)). I got quite a bit of inspiration from the internet and this morning I even made up my own style! Lots of fun. Great to be a woman!!!!!!

A Woman's Role in the Reconstruction of the World

Love this site The Reconstructionists. An illustrator Lisa Congdon and a writer Maria Popova came together to celebrate remarkable women by publishing a weekly illustrated portrait with a hand-lettered quote by the featured woman along with a short essay about her. There are artists, writers, scientists and unsung heroes. Very informative and inspiring.

Of course, one of my favourite women, showed up there.......

Let go

image from http://www.sarajofrieden.com/