Aikona

Julie/Augustus 2011

2011-09-07T22:27:00.003-05:00

'n Seuntjie!/A Boy!

2011-03-18T08:17:00.003-05:00

Vir Mabel en die ander nie-fb familie:

Die jongste toevoeging tot ons familie is vanoggend, 18 Maart, gebore. 8 pond en 2 onse.

Our second grandchild was born early this morning, weighing 8 pounds and 2 ounces.

Gesondheid In Die Rondheid!

2011-03-10T21:23:00.011-06:00

GESONDHEID IN DIE RONDHEID

I just noticed that my blog was listed as a low-carb-paleo-health blog?

http://livinlavidalowcarb.com/blog/spring-forward-with-36-low-carb-paleo-health-blogs-for-march-2011/10178

I'm not sure why, maybe because I have paleo/low-carb books on my NYR and list quite a few of the paleo/low-carb blogs I visit daily.

I've never stated my beliefs about healthy eating and exercise on my blog, but I do follow a low-carb-paleo-ish way of eating and I do believe it's the healthiest, lifestyle for me.

Maybe I should get back to blogging about the when/why/how of this way of living.

Middle daughter and I started "Bootcamp" this week, just returned from our third session and it's hard, hard work (for me, she's good) Exercise is the one thing I've carefully avoided for most of the last 10 years, and I guess now it's time to ignore my protesting muscles (and the rationalizing hamster) and see what happens.

NJV/NYR 2011

2011-01-11T16:42:00.017-06:00

NJR/NYR

NJV/NYR

NuweJaarsVoornemens/NewYearsResolutions
Om te lees en te herlees*/To read and reread*

Klaar gelees~/Read~

~The 4-Hour Body (Timothy Ferriss) = Nie beindruk nie/Not impressed
*The 4-Hour Workweek (Timothy Ferriss)
~Primal Blueprint (Mark Sisson) = Baie goed/Very good
*The Irrational Atheist (Vox Day)
*South Africa's Brave New World (R.W. Johnson)
~Why We Get Fat And What To Do About It (Gary Taubes) = Uitstekend/Excellent
*Go Ask Alice (Anonymous)
~Ignore The Awkward (Uffe Ravnskov) = Baie Goed/Very Good
*~Die Bybel
~Neris and India's Idiot-Proof Diet (India Knight & Neris Thomas) = Goed/Good
*The Book Thief (Markus Zusak)
*Atlas Shrugged (Ayn Rand) = Herlees/Reread
*How to Argue and Win Everytime (Gerry Spence) = Herlees/Reread
*~NKJV Study Bible
*My Life and Opinions (Herman Charles Bosman) = Herlees/Reread
*Mafeking Road and Other Stories (Herman Charles Bosman)
*Jacaranda in the Night (Herman Charles Bosman)
*Homecoming: Voorkamer Stories II (Herman Charles Bosman)
*My Hart Wil Afrika (Tienie Swanepoel) = Herlees/Reread
*Please Understand Me II (David Keirsey) = Probeer weer/Retry
*How Green Was My Valley (Richard Llewellyn) = Herlees/Reread

Vir die non-FB fam...

2010-10-09T10:52:00.002-05:00

Carla's Grad

2010-08-17T15:56:00.001-05:00

Fam Foto's

2010-07-29T15:53:00.008-05:00

Paint it Black

2010-06-27T10:16:00.005-05:00

Saterdag, 15 Mei 2010

2010-05-15T08:48:00.009-05:00

Dankie vir die vorige pos Carlita/Thanks for posting the previous post Carlita...

Nuwe Gastebadkamer.
New Guest Ensuite.

Takstoeltjie.
Tree branch stool.

'n Paar aandenkings van Waenhuiskrans.
Waenhuiskrans/Arniston souvenirs.

LTX draadwerk.
LTX souvenir.

Ek dink dis die "It's NOT just another bird!" badkamer...
The "It's NOT just another bird!" bathroom...

Wat ek eintlik wil weet: is hierdie voeltjiehake te kitchy? (Ek weet een knop is af, ek soek nog 'n plaasvervanger.)
Are those birds too tacky?

"Masjien in 'n Cowboy se droom?" (Ala Johannes Kerkorrel)

Fam

2010-05-12T17:57:00.003-05:00

Family in 1997.

Daughters and I

2010-05-03T22:12:00.001-05:00

Sondag, 2 Mei 2010

2010-05-02T11:13:00.001-05:00

Maandag, 22 Maart 2010

2010-03-22T15:11:00.001-05:00

Wat 'n verskil maak 28 dae!

Maandag, die 22ste Februarie 2010

2010-02-22T11:19:00.005-06:00

Moeilik om die skoonheid van "hoar frost" op film vas te vang.

Kanadese Plakkerskamp?!

Nee..."Ice-fishing" op die "Red River."

Die "Red" is bekend vir groot Babers...ew!

Bakkies, ander voertuie en "ice-fishing" hutte op die "Red."

Manlief en Carla reg om die "Red" te "ride"...

Maandag, 22 Februarie 2010

2010-02-22T11:01:00.003-06:00

Carla, onder die "get-up."

Die tyd gaan so vinnig verby...

Carla en Lala, C. se verjaarsdagete by "Infernos."

Jannie!

Nog...

2009-12-28T01:43:00.002-06:00

Foto's vir die Fam...

2009-12-28T01:29:00.003-06:00

GESEENDE KERSFEES & MERRY CHRISTMAS

2009-12-25T09:18:00.005-06:00

En BAIE DANKIE SUS, eergister het die verrassing hier aangekom!

READING...

2009-12-14T16:51:00.002-06:00

It's Baaaack...

2009-12-12T14:11:00.004-06:00

A Few Short Weeks Ago.

Today.

1977/8-ish

2009-09-13T23:40:00.007-05:00

Bo: Elma en Riana
Pouse in die Vierkant
Onder: Leana, Sandra, Edna

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Bo: Mariet, Retha, Heino, James, Robert
Geta, Elmien, Ansie, Santa, Elmien, Sandra, Rina, Leana
Annemarie, Rolana, Gerda, Erica
Leana, Rina, Wilma, Elize
Laaste Skooldag
Onder: Dalene, Desia, (Desia is totaal onbewus daarvan dat haar toekomstige manlief wie sy eers twee jaar later "amptelik" sou ontmoet, in die agtergrond is.)

Woonstel Foto's

2009-09-12T11:55:00.008-05:00

Sitkamer na kombuis.

Sitkamer na voordeur. Links by die voordeur is 'n kas, en regs (nie sigbaar nie) 'n deur na die klein waskamertjie met 'n "stacked" wasmasjien en droeer.

Gangetjie by C se badkamer, met haar "man-of-the-moment" James Dean, regs.

Alphonse Mucha se 4 seisoene.

Sitkamer/balkon.

Voordeur na eetkamer/sitkamer/kombuis.

Vanaf voordeur na kombuis en LaL se kamer regs.

Carla se kamer.

Vanaf LaLa se bed deur haar aantrekkamer(hokkie) na haar badkamer

Vanaf die voordeur geneem: sien, ons is heeltemal verkanadees met die skoenuittrekkery - 'n baie goeie idee om huiswerk te verminder.

Carla se badkamer: sy is nie mal oor die "juvenile" stortgordyn nie, ons soek nog na 'n "gesofistikeerde pienk" gordyn.

Kombuis: die swart graniet is nou nie wat ek sou kies nie, maar ons het geen keuse gehad met enigiets nie. Ek is ook nie mal oor die swart yskas nie, ek dink staal sou "ligter" gelyk het.

LaLa se kamer met Hildegard se "painting" eindelik op 'n manier teen die muur op sonder om te laat raam.

Winskopie-vloermodel TV kas van Pier1. Stoele en kussings ook van Pier1. Ons het intussen 'n groterig staal Eiffel toring by Winners gekry en links bo-op die kas gesit.

Kykie vanaf die kombuis na die eetkamer/C. se bad- en slaapkamer.

Ek is jammer die foto's is so deurmekaar, maar ek wil dit nou net geplaas kry en is bang ek verloor dit en onthou nie wat is wat as ek dit in volgorde probeer plaas nie, miskien op 'n ander keer.
Ek hoop julle kan wel iets uitmaak van hoe dit is, soos ek al gese het Sus, dis maar klein! (Maar wel baie funksioneel en maklik om skoon te hou, sal nou nie juis iets se oor netjies hou nie; hopelik kom hulle gou by die stadium van, 'n-plek-vir-elke-ding-en-elke-ding-op-sy-plek uit. Ek self is nog nie heeltemal daar nie!Ek dink nie dit sal vir Mam 'n probleem wees nie!)

Daar is nog heelwat wat gedoen moet word; oorverf van sekere mure, mooi vase, plante, ornamente en goed teen die muur, ek is maar stadig met die proses, maar hulle het alles wat hulle nodig het. Ons het ook 'n paar goedjies gekry wat ek gou opgesit het voor ek weg is, maar nie foto's van geneem het nie. Ek wou eers foto's neem as alles perfek en ge"stage" is, maar wat, dalk kom ek nooit daarby uit nie, so hier is dit nou solank.

09/09/09

2009-09-09T23:55:00.007-05:00

5 Minutes before 09/09/09 is over! My computer is soooo sloooowwww, I wonder if this will even get posted; oh no!...there's only 2 minutes of 09/09/09 left!

Whew! Glad I got that out of the way...what is it with us and dates like 09/09/09? On the radio this afternoon, they were talking about how many couples were getting married today, especially at 9 am or 9 pm, some with only 9 guests etc. Apparently the number 9 means something like forever good luck, or maybe I have it wrong, (due to the slow computer - definitely time for an Apple - I did not google) but it's something like that.

The rest of the post is in Afrikaans, it's for the family at home who cannot always receive email attachments.

Amper 4 Tande

Die soewenier kepsie van die Wittebrood pas eindelik

Lekker agteroor, voete-op-die-tafel by die Tannies se woonstel.
(Ek wil amper se in tipiese S-man houding!)

Kyk net hoe oulik is Janneman! En wat dink julle van daai doek? Wie sou kon dink babadoeke kan gesogte versamelaarsitems word?! Brianne gebruik net lapdoeke, maar dis defnitief nie die lapdoeke van ons tyd nie, aikona, dis die oulikste goed; klaar gevorm en met drukknopies of so dat 'n "snappy" gebruik kan word. Sekeres is vir slaap en ander is net plein ougat. Ek kan net dink hoe skattig 'n dogtertjie s'n kan wees. Een van sy doeke is selfs van Wihann se gunsteling hokkiespan, ek dink die "Penguins". Ek sal weer foto's neem, wens ek het vroeer daaraan gedink. Die ene op die foto lyk vir my soos 'n kameelperd "print."

Die ander foto's is van die girlkies se woonstel wat uiteindelik na my onbeplande-verlengde 10 dae lange besoek (en "liefdadigheidsbydrae") bietjie meer "homey" begin lyk. Ek het langerig terug vooruit vlugte geboek, toe dit op sg. uitverkoping was, en sowaar, hier boek ek my terugvlug vir die spesifieke besoek (J. het nie daar gaan werk die keer nie) vir 14 dae, ipv 7 dae. Is dit 'n "honest mistake" of is dit nou ouderdom of wat? Dit was langnaweek in Kanada en natuurlik was vlugte ewe skielik meer as dubbel soveel as gewoonlik en kon ek eers eergisteraand terugkom. Nie dat ek kla nie, ek het dit baie geniet daar, maar 'n paar afsprake tuis gemis. (En J. se dat die honde en katte my vreeslik gemis het...!!)

(En blogger is nog steeds besig om die "images te upload". Dis darem seker nie hulle skuld nie, ek dink hierdie rekenaar is die probleem.)

Die foto's van die woonstel is vir Sus; dis min of meer hoe groot Mam se beplande woonstel gaan wees. Is maar klein, maar sy se dis wat sy wil he. Ek se vir haar ons moet maar Kanadees gaan en 'n kelder laat grou, sodat sy al haar, um, versamelaarsitems daar kan stoor!

(Wag steeds vir die blogger upload... en dis net die eerste klomp wat ek wil laai.)
(Wag nog steeds, en ek moes al in die bed wees, ek sal more die foto's plaas. )
(Ek gaan die pos wel plaas, sal more verder hieraan werk. Wonder wat sal gebeur as ek die 'upload' "aanlos" en nie kanselleer nie?)
(En steeds is dit 'n langdradige storie om foto's gelaai te kry; ek probeer later weer.)

Beskuit

2009-08-26T13:51:00.003-05:00

Still not the same as my mom's potato yeast rusks, but getting there...

Ingredients

500g All-purpose flour (next time I'm going to add 125ml cornstarch, I read somewhere on the net that that will help with whatever is missing in the non-SA flours?)
500g Wholewheat flour (or use just white flour)
10 ml Salt
62 ml (1/4 cup) Sugar
10 g Instant yeast
45 ml (3 Tbs) Anise seeds (optional)
3/4 Can of condensed milk
+- 500 ml (2 c) Tepid water
200g Butter, melted

Method

Sift flours, salt, sugar, yeast and anise seeds.
Mix condensed milk with water and add little by little to flour mixture to make a soft dough.
Put some melted butter in hands and start kneading dough, adding more butter until dough is smooth and pliable. (Knead 10-15 minutes)
Smear some butter over the dough, cover and let rise in a warm spot until doubled.
Grease 3 bread pans. (12x22 cm/5x9")
Knock dough down lightly.
Form balls with hands and pack in pans. Cover and let rise until doubled.
Preheat oven 180C/360F.
Bake rusks 40-60 minutes until cooked and golden brown.
Turn out onto a cooling rack.
Cool completely.
Break into pieces, pack onto cookie sheets, slightly apart and dry out in a cool oven. (100C/200F)
Makes 3-4 dozen, depending on preferred size.

Sympathy

2009-08-21T12:48:00.010-05:00

OUMA

Thank You everyone, for the sympathy comments, I appreciate it very much. But, I do feel a little fraudulent/sheepish; my grandmother died exactly one month ago, yesterday. I stupidly wanted to write the perfect eulogy with the perfectly suited photos etc. Last night I decided that it's OK to just announce it.

This may sound unfeeling and weird, but we are all very happy that she's gone Home. She has been ready for quite a few years and although she was actually fairly healthy and never suffered terribly, she was bedridden. She slept most of the time, still enjoyed her meals and especially something sweet, but was literally just skin-and-bones. When she was awake she was mostly lucid, but there were times when she talked for hours on end, not sleeping and even when no one was there to listen.

She was loved dearly and for my mom and her two brothers and the grandchildren, it is the end of an era. To me it feels as if my life is a little less connected, my circle a bit smaller. God's Word does not give us too much information about the hereafter as far as our loved ones are concerned, but we know not to mourn too much because we know she was saved and is with the Lord, that she was ready to go.

"We realize how helpless then

Are all the gifts of mortal men

No words which we have power to say

Can take the sting of grief away

That Power which marks the sparrow's fall

Must comfort and sustain us all."

(Thanks for these comforting words Mariki.)

About the perfect eulogy; it sickens me to put this in writing, but I cannot find the notebook with Ouma's life-story that I wanted to use. On a visit to SA one year, I sat with her for a few hours each day to write down whatever she wanted to tell me about her life. I brought the book home with me and stored it somewhere, and now I cannot find it.
To everyone who still has a grand- or great-grandparent: go now and record their history, AND keep it safe, where you will find it again.

OUMA

2009-08-20T23:52:00.007-05:00

P.R. du Toit (nee Pringle)

1911 - 2009

1 Husband

4 Children

15 Grandchildren

29 Great-grandchildren

1 Great-great Grandson

Celebrating in heaven with her ancestors and brothers, husband, oldest son, son-in-law, oldest granddaughter, oldest grandson, another granddaughter, oldest great-granddaughter and a great-grandson.

A Note to Parents

2009-08-12T13:54:00.001-05:00

A Note to Parents

Posted using ShareThis

Study: Homeschoolers score I37 points/i higher

2009-08-12T13:50:00.001-05:00

Study: Homeschoolers score I37 points/i higher

Shared via AddThis

SKOONSKRIF

2009-07-20T21:48:00.016-05:00

Handwriting-tagged by Marelize http://huisvrou.blat.co.za/ and Sandra http://tussen-die-duine.blogspot.com/

My handwriting is nothing to "write home about," as we say in Afrikaans. I was going to write a new note but in an effort to be truthful, decided to scan today's to-do-list instead, (not even half done, so make it today-and-tomorrow's list) because as soon as I started writing the new note I was cheating, trying to write more carefully and prettily.

I don't think I even want to know what it says about me:

I am sure handwriting is an inherited trait; our son's handwriting is quite unreadable or illegible (apparently there is a difference) and so was my dad and two brother's.
The examples above are of my great-grandmother, left, my grandmother, top right and my mom, bottom right. So, maybe I'm a mixture of them all, no, not really; I missed out on my great-gran's elegant touch!

I tag:
Sister Skitter http://skitter-skitter-skitter.blogspot.com/ (Hoop jy kom by jou blog in?)
Cousin R1 http://hornhide.blogspot.com/ (Waar is jy Nig?)
Blogfriend Retha http://rethasrambles.blogspot.com/
Daughter Carla http://xstarlight.blogspot.com
and her friend Jennifer http://scrapbook-of-memories.blogspot.com/

Old, Dead Theologian says:

2009-07-20T11:59:00.005-05:00

Johannes Calvinius may be old and dead this side of heaven, but his words still ring true:

“God has declared in the gospel that whenever we come to him, we are to call upon him freely and openly as our Father, who has adopted us as his children. If we do not have this assurance, the thought of serving God will make us grind our teeth.

If, however, we are persuaded that God looks upon us favourably; if, though we are weak and can do nothing worthy of his approval, he accepts us in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, then we will surely be filled with courage.

We will be like a ship’s sail that has been stretched and filled by the breeze! Thus, our hearts will run to obey him, like a ship driven along by its sail, when we know that God delights in us and accepts our works, not wanting us to be compelled into servitude. He is happy for us to be his children, and that we desire to obey him.”

- John Calvin, Sermons on Galatians (preaching on Gal 5:1-3)

I read this on www.sliceoflaodicea.com

Youth; Giyani; Art; Framing...

2009-07-07T15:16:00.026-05:00

Muriel, the secret of my "youthful" appearance ( previous post) is: wait for it... I was youthful then! The pictures were taken 22/20/17 years ago...alas.
Mariki; Carla likes to write and has a blog so I wanted you to have a look at it, but since my last visit she has changed it and you can only view it by invitation! (What's up with that Carla?!!) Maybe she will open it up again and you can read more of her writings at: http://xstarlight.blogspot.com/

I finally re-framed some art I've had since 1990, and decided to try my hand at making a tutorial of how to not pay so much for framing, to help guide my offspring, since they have no idea how expensive custom framing is.

I bought the embroidered "lappies" (cloths) during our 1990-1-year stay in Kremetart, just outside Giyani, Gazankulu.

Son was 3 and Middle Child 1 and we were, how shall I put it: rather cash-strapped. Whatever we bought at the little town store, we put on a tab and hoped to have enough to pay it off on salary day, nevertheless, those were happy days! But I digress...

Somehow I scraped together enough money to buy the Shangaan embroidered cloths after visiting Irma van Rooyen with some friends on their Letsitele citrus farm (and lovely home; it was once featured in the "de Kat" magazine).

(The pieces I have were not very expensive then, something like 10c per certain amount of embroidery or symbol or something.)

She had just started this project, wanting to help the Shangaan farm workers' wives earn some kind of income; and I found out today, while googling her name, that it has become quite successful. Take a look at http://www.kaross.co.za/

Prepare the art piece, I had to steam some wrinkles out of the embroidered pieces of cloth.

I bought four of these after measuring (doesn't everybody carry a tape measure with them at all times?!) to see if my art would fit and it did.

The pictures were $24.99 each, just over $100.00 for four, I estimate it would cost at least $100.00 each to have it custom framed; by doing it this way, I saved over $300.00.

Remove the corner protectors, I use a screwdriver.

Sometimes a gentle tap with a hammer is needed to flatten a part of the staple that's left behind, it can be quite sharp and cause mild injury.

I used the screwdriver - a sharp utility or kitchen knife would also work, probably better - to score three sides of the paper backing. See below

Pull back the paper backing and gently bend the staples or other fasteners upward to remove the cardboard backing.

Take the cardboard and picture out and position the new art in its place.

Hold in place with one hand and lift up to see if the art is positioned correctly, here the right hand corner needs to go downslightly. When happy with the result, replace the cardboard (with "old" picture attached if wanted) and bend the fasteners down to secure.

I used packing tape to retape the paper backing.

Done!

MOTHER...

2009-07-04T11:57:00.011-05:00

I would love to relive just one day with each of my children at this age... oh, but I do get to, in a way - 8-month old grandbabyboy!

1987

1989

1992

A couple of months late, but I recently found this and have to share:
"Poems To Read Every Mother's Day" From Carla ( I think she was 11/12 at the time)
Added at the bottom:
"Please excuse the late notice!"

Then follows some poems and writings about mothers and on the last page a poem by Carla:

What is the first thought that comes to ones mind
When they hear the word Mother
I think of a person who is patient
So patient that they put all their time into raising you
Making sure that you will some day be able to fly out into the world
And leave the nest
But then as you are ready to fly away
They are not ready
They hold on

I think of the person who wipes that ice cream smudge off your shirt
Making sure that you will some day be able to wipe it off yourself
With some tide-to-go of course
But then as you are older and then make that silly mess on your shirt again
You then try and wipe it off
Then with a quick reaction,
Mother comes along an dabs some tide-to-go on the mess
With satisfaction Mother smiles and then straightens up your shirt
But of course you roll your eyes and unstraighten your shirt

I think of the person who cooks you a meal every day
Then as you get older they teach you how to cook a meal for your family someday
But then as you are cooking for your family
Mother comes along into the kitchen
And adds some salt to the soup...

But most of all
I think of the person to put the band-aid on the wound
Always there to give you a hug
Always there to talk to
And when you are older
She is always there as a friend BUT also as a Mother

And that is what I think of when I hear the word Mother.

I just had to quote this...

2009-07-03T13:10:00.002-05:00

From DJP's http://bibchr.blogspot.com/

"When our Lord and Master, Jesus Christ, said "Repent", He called for the entire life of believers to be one of repentance" (Martin Luther, thesis #1 of 95)

"Repentance means turning from as much as you know of your sin to give as much as you know of yourself to as much as you know of your God, and as our knowledge grows at these three points so our practice of repentance has to be enlarged" (Keep in Step with the Spirit [Revell: 1984], 104)

Spesiaal Vir Ons Familie Tuis:

2009-07-03T11:49:00.003-05:00

Here and There...

2009-06-05T18:52:00.003-05:00

Moedersdag/Mother's Day

2009-05-09T17:34:00.007-05:00

Geseende Moedersdag vandag en elke dag aan my Mam, Skoonma, Ouma, en al die ander Ma's oral.
A blessed Mother's Day today and every other day to my Mom, Mother-in-Law, Ouma and all Moms.

Ek hou hierdie gediggie al jare, kan nie onthou waar ek dit gekry het nie, maar dis steeds vir my mooi:

Meimaand is Ma-Maand (Maretha Maartens)

Dis Meimaand, Mammie, en oral
hoor ek woorde
wat meteens so mooi met m begin:
moeder, middelpunt, mededoe,
messelaar van my menswees.
Dis winter en die wind bly fluister:
waardeer, waardeer,
waardeer haar meer.

Geskenkpapier is geredelik
bekombaar, Ma
maar wat ek wil gee,
kan eintlik net met 'n knop in die
keel
en in die gesproke of geskrewe
woord verpak word:
al die dankies wat Ma nie
ontvang het nie
omdat ek hulle nooit
uitgespreek het nie;
al die vergewe my's waarvan
die prys
vir my destyds heeltemal
buitensporig was;
al die aanraak wat ek vermy
het,
al die liefde wat ek nie uitgeleef
het nie,
al die berou waarvan Ma nie
weet nie,
al die getuigskrifte wat ek self
vir Ma wou skryf

want in my le die neerslag van
Ma se adel en sorg;
onder my voortsnellende voete
voel ek steeds die fondament
wat Ma lank gelede met
vakmanskap gele het.

Dis Meimaand, Mammie, en ek
kniel voor God
om vandag met al die liefde van
'n dankbare dogter se hart
die keur van Sy seen oor u af te
bid.

A LOVELY SURPRISE!

2009-05-07T20:57:00.016-05:00

No, it's not me blogging that is the surprise...

Yesterday as I was getting the wall-to-wall-carpeted rooms (I am NOT a fan of wall-to-wall carpets, but that's another post) in our home ready for the professional carpet cleaners, a Fed-Ex truck drove up and delivered a nice big package with my name on it.

I was a little worried, wondering if I had ordered something and totally forgot about it, or did some company just decide to send me a package hoping I will keep and pay for it?

My name was spelled wrong and the return address an unfamiliar place in Ontario, so I decided to finish preparing the rooms and leave the opening for later; but of course the package kept calling my name, sitting there so big and "juicy" and I opened it.

After struggling a bit with the taping and cardboard and plastic wrap, a big frame with nothing but a white piece of styrofoam taped to the front was revealed.

I recognized my sister's handwriting on the styrofoam, saying she did not send the glass but will email me the dimensions. Upon tearing away the of styrofoam there was a small plastic bag with yellowed paper clippings, a card addressed to my husband and me, and a small beaded handbag taped to the front. (Another day's post.)

My first thought was that, of course, the South African Post Office somehow got the picture or whatever was in the frame lost or stolen and then it was repackaged in Canada and that's why there was no familiar return address.

After a bit of fuming and wondering how I'm going to tell my sister that whatever she had sent as a lovely surprise for me was lost, I discovered a beautiful watercolour painting of Nguni cattle, by V.J. McGill between two hardboard coverings, which looked like just one thick piece of hardboard.

The painting fits perfectly above the sitting room fireplace (which, by the way, we have not used once since moving in 15 months ago...skande) and I still can't stop admiring it! (It was painted in 1999, before Nguni cattle and hides became all the rage, at least in South Africa.)

So you think a cow is a cow is a cow? South Africa's indigenous Nguni cattle, long the mainstay of traditional Zulu culture, are possibly the most beautiful cattle in the world, with their variously patterned and multicoloured hides everywhere in demand. (I am borrowing these sentences from somewhere on the web, but I can't find the place again, in order to give credit where credit is due; anyway, it describes Nguni cattle much shorter and sweeter than I would be able to.)

The mystery of the misspelling of my name and the unknown return address was revealed after a call to Sister Skitter; her father-in-law passed away the week after Easter and one of her B-i-L's who lives in Toronto, went to South Africa for the funeral; he kindly brought the painting back to Canada and then had it Fed-Exed to me.

Thanks Sus Skitter and B-i-L!(Thank Andy for me, please.)

From Sillie Lizzie's Rock:

2009-04-10T21:16:00.007-05:00

I'm not American, but I love reading Sillie Lizzie's blog, no fuzzy feel-goodness there, just straight out telling it like it is. She's from Cuba originally, go read her interesting blog, about politics and faith. Here is her post for today:

Sillie Lizzie's Rock: A Parable of Socialism, the Nation Killer#links#links

A Parable of Socialism, the Nation Killer
No one who has spent more than 20 minutes on this blog can fail to notice that I am the enemy of socialism, communism, liberalism, collectivism, progressivism, totalitarian or anarchist, or whatever shape shifting disguises the fascist left assumes. No matter whether they masquerade as secular or religious or even Christian, its all the same vile ideology at the essential core - bankrupt, worthless and denigrating of the essential human dignity of every individual. And that's without getting into why it as an affront against the Creator who is Holy above all. If that is you, dear reader, repent, change your mind and receive mercy. Otherwise, hell can't be too hot for those who destroy nations, societies, families, and the souls of individual people."What?!" says you. "How are we guilty of all that?". Well, here is a parable of socialism, a very simple economic one that a five year old child can grasp, which is about all that today's university indoctrinated young-skulls-full-of-mush can handle. A tiny spoonful only, okay?

An economics professor at Texas Tech said he had never failed a single student before but had, once, failed an entire class. The class had insisted that socialism worked because it's a great equalizer ... No one would be poor and no one would be rich.
The professor then said, "OK, we will have an experiment in this class on socialism. All grades would be averaged." Everyone would receive the same grade, so no one would fail and no one would receive an A.
After the first test, the grades were averaged and everyone got a B. The students who studied hard were upset and the students who studied little were happy.
But, as the second test rolled around, the students who studied little had studied even less and the ones who studied hard decided they wanted a free ride too; so they studied little. The second test average was a D ... No one was happy.
When the third test rolled around, the average was an F. The scores never increased as bickering, blame , and name calling all resulted in hard feelings; no one would study for anyone else.
All failed to their great surprise and the professor told them that socialism would ultimately fail because the harder you work to succeed the greater the reward, but when a government takes all the reward away; no one will try or succeed.

Okay, Smarty Pants College Student. Don't think it could happen here? Let's put it to the test on you. Cash your pay check, or the check that Mom and Dad mailed you for support. Go down to the projects in your city and give it to the first welfare recipient you see. No? Well, then why did you agree to let the government take it FROM ME to give it to them, unless you are willing to take it out of your own pocket? And you, Aunt Welfare Check. Take your food stamps and go down to the mobile home camp where the lottery players live and give it to them. No? Then why are you willing to let the government take it FROM ME to give to you for food stamps, unless you are willing to take it out of your own pocket? And you, Lottery Queen. Did you hit the Fantasy Five this week? Take a lump sum distribution and come to my house and GIVE ME MY DAMN MONEY BACK. No? Well, guess what. I'm not working anymore. I'm not producing anything that your Liberal Masters can tax, spend and give to you. So, LET'S ALL GO HUNGRY, OKAY?
Labels: Communism, Marxism, Socialism

Tuesday

2009-04-07T12:56:00.014-05:00

Should have been spring, but it's still a winter wonderland.

View from the computer desk.

2009 Maybe-Flood.

This is why we have not yet replaced the Family Room furniture.

Floored

2009-03-09T20:19:00.013-05:00

During the last two weeks we were either out, or holed up upstairs, with the dogs and the cats, because we had the downstairs tile floor redone. (http://www.klassenconcrete.com/)

BEFORE

First, a base- or adhesive coat of thin cement was troweled and smoothed over the old tiles. Then another layer of cement was smoothed over that, but there was "shadowing" and another layer had to be added.

"Tiles" were cut - 2'x2', all done by hand.

Staining the cement; it was supposed to look somewhat like the slate tiles on the coffee table below...Husband hated it and I was disappointed too...
After a weekend of not-enjoying-the-new-floor, a darker colour was spray-painted on, sealed and finally we have a new floor!

Granted, it's not for everyone, and many prefer the old 1980's tiles. I always tend to like a darker floor.

AFTER
(please ignore the dust on the stairs)

Sorry...just boring recent family photos.

2009-02-20T00:28:00.006-06:00

Meat Crock Loaf

2009-02-12T13:10:00.004-06:00

Sandra over at http://familycorner.blogspot.com/ has a regular Thursday Slow Cooking post, asking others to join in. Check out her blog for other good reads and recipes.

Go here Aikona: Meat Crock Loaf for my favourite, previously posted, slow cooker recipe.

We also like this soup, adapted from Better Homes and Gardens Biggest Book of Slow Cooker Recipes:

Thai-Style Coconut-Chicken Soup
(Makes 6 servings)

1 pound/0.5 kg skinless, boneless chicken breasts or thighs, rinsed and cut into 3/4-inch pieces. (I usually use the chicken pieces without cutting it up and it comes out just fine for soup, or stew, if it turns out too thick!)
4 cups chicken broth
2 cups sliced carrots
1 large onion, chopped
2 tablespoons grated fresh ginger
3 cloves garlic, minced
2 stalks lemongrass, cut into 1-inch pieces, or 1 teaspoon finely shredded lemon peel. Optional (I have only ever used lemon peel, if I had some on hand)
1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper (cayenne)
1 15-ounce can unsweetened coconut milk (Not sure how much that is, I use a 400ml can of coconut milk)
1 medium red, yellow, and/or green sweet peppers, cut into 1/2-inch pieces
2 4-ounce cans straw or button mushrooms, drained (I have never added mushrooms, kids don't eat them)
1/4 cup snipped fresh cilantro (I usually use parsley, fresh or dried)
1/3 cup chopped roasted peanuts (The recipe says to sprinkle these over each serving, I usually just add 2-3 tablespoons of chunky peanut butter to the soup towards the end of the cooking time)

Combine chicken, broth, carrots, onion, ginger, garlic, lemon grass and crushed red pepper in a 3.5-5-quart slow cooker. (I don't even know how big that is, I just use the one I have, it's probably about that size!)
Cover; cook on low-heat setting for 6-7 hours or on high-heat setting (that's how I do it) for 3-3.5 hours. (I cook mine for at least 4 hours, because I generally use whole thighs or breasts)
If necessary, skim off fat. Stir in coconut milk, sweet pepper, mushrooms and cilantro. (This is where I add the peanut butter) Cover and let stand for 5-10 minutes.
Remove and discard lemongrass, if using.
Ladle soup into bowls and sprinkle peanuts over each serving

WHAT A DRAG IT IS GETTING OLD

2009-02-09T13:49:00.004-06:00

I've had these thoughts on aging (having not made peace with the physical aspects of growing older- especially those deep naso-labial folds giving my face a permanent disapproving look - I even keep ads for Restylane, Botox, mini face lifts, etc. around) mulling around in my head for a few months now; composing a post about it often just before I fall asleep, and then of course often dreaming about being ugly and old! (How very, very vain... I know. However, in my defense, I must add, that I do NOT want to look like a "hot babe"or whatever at all, I just want to look "nice" and friendly, I really don't mind looking like the grandmother I am. I just wish my face ages a little more friendlier or something!)

Whew! Good thing I did not write down that cynical, negative view I too often suffer from (ha! how's that for passing the blame? I "suffer" from cynicism rather than owning up to it just being me.)
Reading the following today, brought me back to the right perspective.
http://ingridschlueter.wordpress.com/2009/02/06/all-grown-up-and-nowhere-to-go/#comments

Extreme Weather?

2009-02-09T09:39:00.005-06:00

Yesterday we heard an "extreme weather" warning for Winnipeg and area, so first thing this morning I checked outside to see the extreme weather - where is it? The sun's not shining, but the temperature is a positively "hot" 0C!

Husband just came down and told me he is not going into work today, because all the roads are blocked: surgeries are canceled and many patients who were going in for surgery this afternoon landed in the ditches! (At 0Celsius and freezing rain the roads become extremely slippery and slick.) So OK, I learned a new factoid today: extreme weather can look and feel pretty normal.

The paper is here, so at least the paperboy/girl/person could drive out. Front page says:
"Hope you had fun Sunday...Because it could get ugly today." Ice rain and regular rain, happens only once every 20 years or so around here.

Husband's cousin down under http://strumfie.blogspot.com/ has a whole different weather story to tell.

Middle Child is now leaving for work, luckily it's just 5 minutes away from home, not in the city. I pray she drives very slowly and carefully.

Oops! How did this lovely pic get in here?

Meat Crock Loaf

2009-01-22T11:12:00.007-06:00

A recipe from the "Body Clutter Menu-Mailer" (www.savingdinner.com) that everyone in my family likes. I often double the recipe.

MEAT CROCK LOAF

Ingredients: (Serves 4-6)

6 oz tomato sauce ( I use about a cup of any pasta sauce I have on hand - not sure how much 6 oz is!)
1.5 teaspoons Italian seasoning (When using Italian tomato sauce I omit)
1 egg, slightly beaten
1 small onion, chopped
1 small green bell pepper, chopped
1/4 cup Italian bread crumbs (I use any bread I have on hand)
1 clove garlic, pressed
Salt and pepper to taste
1 pound extra-lean ground beef (about 0.5 kg)
0.5 cup Mozzarella cheese, shredded
Aluminum ("aluminium" for some of us) foil

Cooking Instructions:

Combine tomato sauce and seasoning, reserve 1/3 cup and set aside, covered, in fridge
Mix remaining sauce, egg, onion, pepper, breadcrumbs, garlic and salt an pepper.
Mix well and then add ground beef; blend well.
Take two strips of foil, each about 15 inches (33 cm) long and place in slow cooker in and"x".
Form meat mixture into a round and place on foil, being careful to NOT let the meatloaf touch the sides of the slow cooker.
Cover and cook on low heat setting for 8-10 hours, or high for 4-5 hours.
During the last 10 minutes of cooking time, pour preserved tomato sauce on top of meat loaf and sprinkle with cheese.
Cover and cook for 10 minutes.
Using the foil strips, slowly and carefully pull meatloaf from slow cooker and onto serving plate. Gently pull strips out from under meatloaf.
Allow loaf to sit for about 10 minutes before slicing.
Serving suggestions:
Serve with mashed potatoes
Low Carb: Serve with steamed broccoli and "Faux tay toes." (Steam cauliflower until tender; drain and mash with butter, cream cheese and salt and pepper to taste till you get a mashed potato texture.) I like this, but not the other family members.

Why I'm not Blogging:

2009-01-17T00:31:00.006-06:00

The Gusta-Grandfather-Son-Grandson painting team left Wednesday after two weeks of scraping off 1980's wallpaper, filling nail holes, sanding and finally painting. During this time, our stuff mysteriously multiplied. I don't know what to do with all of it. Where did it all go before?

No, I'm just indecisive and a little bit lazy (so early in the new year too) about finding a place for everything. Do I want to move the armoire with our CD collection and some table linens to the Sitting Room and move the sideboard (buffet) back to the Dining Room, where it traditionally belongs? Do I box up the older books, or should I buy more bookcases? And where do I put those? And who will assemble them for me? I used to be so handy with an electric drill and a hammer and those little thingamajigs that come with the assembly instructions, but now I just want to buy furniture that's already assembled - hard to find these days. (If you are trying to be frugal.) And where do I want to hang the paintings? I have to be sure, at least in the beginning try not to spoil the new hole-less walls. And where to with all the magazines I NEED to keep?

We chose neutral (a little bit boring, actually) colours. I'm going to try the "add colour with decorating accents"- approach, I guess.

I will get back later with some photos...don't hold your breath, it may be quite a while.

In other news: Son joined the Military as a reservist and is on the second weekend of basic training. (Two weekends of training, one weekend off and so on) He was all kitted out when he left today and looked so handsome. Unfortunately the camera card was in the printer and not in the camera and all the pictures we took will have to be printed off the camera at Walmart or Costco.

And of course, it is COLD here: -51/-45 Celsius with the windchill, and then the prediction for Sunday is 0 degrees?? Go figure. Again, there may be areas where global warming is happening, that place is not here.

Makes you think...

2009-01-03T18:37:00.000-06:00

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7JHS8adO3hM

In the year of 2008...

2009-01-01T10:10:00.016-06:00

For future reference, a quick recap of our 2008:

(This is a post I'll be working on a while - I think - finding and uploading pictures takes me forever.)

(Update: I've just been over at Wilna's http://www.wilnaf.blogspot.com/ and now feel quite inadequate - she has such a lovely photo blog about their year, mine pales, totally, in comparison.)

January: we return from a month-long visit to South Africa; probably the last one that all five of us five will visit SA together.

Son asks his girlfriend to marry him!

February:

Move to the acreage.

Charlie joins the family.

March: Spring, where are you?

April: Planning for the wedding - on our side, not so much planning, just deciding on and buying wedding outfits.

May: Another successful year of homeschooling (Grade 10) comes to an end.

WEDDING!

June: Summer was slow in coming this year.

July: So much for global warming, summer was cool this year. We used the hot tub every day.

August: Lady dies in her sleep. According to the vet's chart, she was at least 110 (human) years old.
September: Youngest starts Grade 11, home schooling.

October: Our first GRANDCHILD born, a beautiful, blonde, blue-eyed boy! Daugher-in-law is a very good mother!

November: Ouma Phyllis turns 97.

Bella joins the family.

December: Husband's uncle Rassie murdered in his home, just before Christmas.

I "met" new blog friends, I appreciate all of them, especially the ones who blog in Afrikaans; it's wonderful to read the "taal" all over the blogosphere.

I started serving on the planning committee of the Far South Christian Women's Club of Winnipeg.

I regained the pounds I lost...ugh.

My cousin Andre married Charlene, one of my children's cousins! (Husband's niece) And they have the other great grandchild, a girl. (I'm still waiting for photo-updates, someone?)

Husband still a workaholic, but plans to work less this year...?

A rare moment: Husband and Carla taking the dogs for a walk.

We planted a successful veggie garden - everything grew and was edible!

We had apples...many, many, many apples.

Son started aviation lessons and applied to become a reservist in/of/for(?) the Canadian Army.

Middle Child developed a slight interest in cooking...may it " grow in strength"! She worked at a plant-nursery-/gift-/decor shop/little bistro/little post office, close to home. She applied at the University (of Saskatchewan) for fall 2009.
Youngest actually made surprise breakfasts some days and tried out other recipes...may this too "grow in strength"!
In-Laws went through a very scary week of being house/yard bound while their farm was being searched for two murderers, one who had recently worked for them, and was, according to others, on their way to their house after the first murders. The murderers were caught...In-Laws are still on the farm.

In-Laws farm.

One of Husband's sisters and two daughters (and Penny of course) are in the process of emigrating...to Canada. We hope it happens this year!

Husband's cousin Hans and his family emigrated to Australia... it should have been Canada, Hans!
I made contact with some old, lost friends (or their children) on Facebook.
Ginger is diagnosed with diabetes - insulin needles twice a day - "good" thing it's not Tinkie, she would not be so good about the needles.

I spent, am spending, too much time here...
Ouma Phyllis went to a nursing home in Sannieshof. She is well-taken care of.

I'm late, I'm Late...

2008-12-26T10:04:00.007-06:00

I was busy wishing my blog friends a very merry, blessed Christmas earlier this week, when I was interrupted and never got back to visiting every one.

I hope you had a wonderful Christmas day and may the rest of the festive season be ... festive!

For 2009, for you and your loved ones, may...

The Lord bless you and keep you;
The Lord make His face shine upon you;
And be gracious to you;
The Lord lift up His countenance upon you,
And give you peace.
(Numbers 6:24-26)

Just Another Monday

2008-12-22T10:38:00.006-06:00

Ginger cat has finally gained some weight! That is good because he was quite skinny.

My little grandson. Isn't his outfit cute? His mum dresses him up very stylishly. I wonder if he'll keep the style up when he's older!?

Merry Christmas and have a Happy Christmas Holiday!

A Great Read

2008-12-13T11:29:00.004-06:00

I just spent part of the morning reading this post and some others of the blogger. It is encouraging to encounter others who are also Biblical and politically conservative, as am I. It is however, humbling to read how eloquent they are at expressing that, which I am unfortunately not!

http://sillielizziesrock.blogspot.com/2005/01/my-experience-in-new-age-movement.html

Across the Miles...

2008-12-01T16:40:00.005-06:00

Husband finally got our new Christmas tree up and not leaning to one side! Last night Carla and I started decorating; we just need a star for the top, a tree skirt and then we're done.

Tagged!

2008-11-20T15:52:00.014-06:00

Sandra at http://www.tussen-die-duine.blogspot.com/ tagged me:

What are your nicknames :
Lizzie

What TV game show or reality show would you like to be on:
That (non-existing) one where I look fabulous, know all the answers and definitely win $1 000 000.00 (US$ NOT Ca$ right now!)

What was the first movie you bought in VHS or DVD:
Can't remember at all...

What is your favourite scent:
To wear: Estee Lauder's "Pleasures" (I think that's what it's called, my daughters buy it for me whenever I run out). Others:
My Grandbabyson, puppies, the sea, when it starts to rain in South Africa, fresh coffee, cinnamon buns, etc!

If you had one million dollars to spend only on yourself, what would you spend it on?
Plastic surgery?! Just kidding, a little house by the sea would be perfect.

What is one place you've visited, can't forget and want to go back to:
The Eastern Transvaal; no wait, there are more than one, I cannot choose.

Do you trust easily?
Except God? No, not any more, used to.

Do you generally think before your act, or act before you think?
I fall into both categories, I would say 50/50!

Is there anything that had made you unhappy these days?
Weight gain. (Mine)

What is your favourite fruit?
Red Grapes

What websites do you visit daily?
Too many, the ones listed on my "I Visit" list and many more.

What have you been seriously addicted to lately?
Egg Nog.

What's the last song that got stuck in you head?
10 CC's "Dreadlock Holiday."

What is your favourite thing to wear?
See the photo above and wait for the groans from my family: a 9 year old big, comfy, soft, covers all bumps, leopard print shirt.

Do you think Rice Krispies are yummy?
Vanilla Rice Krispies are OK, not yummy.

What would you do if you saw $100 lying on the ground?
Like Sandra, I would also wonder and feel sorry for the person who lost it. Then I would pick it up and spend it I suppose. (Sounds terrible, eh!?)

What items couldn't you be without during the day?
Coffee, Internet.

What should you be doing right now?
Financial paper work, ughh...

I tag:
Carla http://xstarlight.blogspot.com/
Skitter http://skitter-skitter-skitter.blogspot.com/ (She should be posting, the exams ended last week, no?!)
Blou http://hornhide.blogspot.com/
Retha http://rethasrambles.blogspot./ (When she feels better)

Christmas Cookies

2008-11-17T20:59:00.006-06:00

We tried this recipe over the weekend and like it enough to try again. Decorating them is the fun but time-consuming part. (We would probably be good at it in 20 years time, if we do it every year!)

Christmas Cutout Cookies

2.5 cups Flour
1 teaspoon Baking soda
1 teaspoon Cream of tartar
1.5 cups Icing sugar
1 cup Butter, at room temperature
1 Egg
1 teaspoon Almond extract

Sift dry ingredients together.
Beat icing sugar, butter, egg and almond extract together for about 2 minutes until well blended.
Gradually add sifted ingredients and beat until blended.
Cover and let rest in fridge for 3-24 hours.
Preheat oven 375F/190C.
Lightly grease baking sheets.
On a lightly floured surface, roll out 1/3 of the dough to 1/8 " thickness. (3mm)
Cut with Christmas shaped cookie cutters and place on baking sheet.
Repeat with remaining dough, re-rolling scraps.
Bake 7-8 minutes until edges are golden.
Let cool on sheet a few minutes and then on cooling rack.

Icing
Blend 1-2 cups of icing sugar with a few drops of almond extract and just enough water to make it spreadable. (Repeat as needed)
Color icing with food coloring as needed.
Decorate cookies with icing, sprinkles, etc as desired.
Let the icing harden for a few hours until set before storing.

My Very Own Springbok in Canada!

2008-11-14T11:05:00.005-06:00

Spotted and purchased at Winners earlier this week...the real thing.

SOUTH AFRICA CAGED?

2008-11-13T13:36:00.008-06:00

Another oldie but goldie that's been doing the rounds for years.

YOU ARE PROUDLY SOUTH AFRICAN WHEN:

You call a bathing suit a 'swimming costume'.

You call a traffic light a 'robot'.

You call an elevator a 'lift'.

You call a hood a 'bonnet'.

You call a trunk a 'boot'.

You call a pickup truck a 'bakkie'.

You call a Barbecue a 'Braai'.

The employees dance in front of the building to show how unhappy they are.

The SABC advertises and shows highlights of the programme you just finished watching.

You get cold easily. Anything below 16 degrees Celsius is Arctic weather.

You know what Rooibos Tea is, even if you've never had any.

You can sing your national anthem in four languages, and you have no idea what it means in any of them.

You know someone who knows someone who has met Nelson Mandela.

You go to braais regularly, where you eat boerewors and swim, sometimes simultaneously.

You produce a R100 note instead of your driver's licence when stopped by a traffic officer.

You can do your monthly shopping on the pavement.

You have to hire a security guard whenever you park your car.

When you are a victim of crime and say: 'At least I'm still alive'.

You know a taxi can move twice it's certified number of people in one trip.

You travel 100's of kilometres to see snow.

You know the rules of Rugby better than any referee.

To get free electricity you have to pay a connection fee of R750.

More people vote in a local reality TV show than in a local election.

People have the most wonderful names: Christmas, Goodwill, Pretty, Wednesday, Blessing, Brilliant, Gift, Precious, Innocence, Given, Patience, Portion, Coronation.

'Now-now' or 'just now' can mean anything from a minute to a month. (My Canadian friends, see! It's not just me who say that!)

You continue to wait after a traffic light has turned to green to make way for taxis travelling in the opposite direction.

Travelling at 120 km/h you're the slowest vehicle on the highway/freeway.

You're genuinely and pleasantly surprised whenever you find your car parked where you left it.

A bullet train is being introduced, but we can't fix potholes.

The last time you visited the coast you paid more in speeding fines and toll fees than you did for the entire holiday.

You paint your car's registration on the roof. (Only one that may not be true?)

You have to take your own linen with you if you are admitted to a government hospital.

You have to prove that you don't need a loan to get one.

Prisoners go on strike.

You don't stop at a red traffic light, in case somebody hijacks your car.

You consider it a good month if you only get mugged once.

Rwandan refugees start leaving the country because the crime rate is too high. (True?)

You consider a high crime rate as normal.

You actually get these jokes and pass them on to other friends from SA. VIVA !!!!!

It was bound to happen...

2008-11-08T19:39:00.007-06:00

Friday morning we woke up to this:

Husband having fun with his new toy:

In other news:

We have a new puppy! Husband was working in Saskatoon last week and called the day before his return saying he's bringing a BIG surprise with him. (I knew right away what the big surprise was going to be.) She's a Collie-German Shepherd/Chocolate Labrador mix and only six weeks old. He decided to take her unseen, just told the owner to choose a female for him. She brought her to the airport just before he left! He doped her with some Gravol but she was still whiny, I'm sure the airplane ride affects their ears just like babies and toddlers.

She's very cute, and will be good company for Charlie who suffers from a little bit of separation anxiety when we have to leave him alone. He is just making sure she understands that he's the main man around here, but otherwise seems to like her. (She's going to grow up to be 3-4 times his size, so he had better establish whose the boss now!) The cats are not too bad this time, they tolerate her and we have none of the hissing and other strange sounds they uttered when we brought Charlie home 11 months ago.

We cannot agree on a name for her, so far she's just "Puppy".

Death

2008-11-06T22:56:00.001-06:00

Yesterday I visited Mariki's blog http://fluitjiesriet.blogspot.com/2008/11/ons-vader-maak-nie-n-fout-nie-maar-eina.html ; a young family friend (20) died in a car crash.

Tonight I'm remembering my Dad, niece Tanya, nephew Theo and brother Tom. The only way I can make sense of the tragedy of their deaths is by God's Word:
Psalm 139:16b
All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.

I actually remember very little of my dad, he died (heart) at 32 when I was 6, Tom was 4, Sister 3 and Baby Brother was born a month later. Thank God for photos and a loving family that kept his memory alive.

Tanya would have turned 22 this past October, she was just 2 years old when she died in a car crash. Theo would have turned 19 this past May, he was 11 years old when he fell off a horse and died. They were Tom's oldest children and he was reunited with them, and my Dad, when he died last year (April 2007) at 44.

Tom wrote this poem after Tanya's death, it is in Afrikaans:

TANYA

God het haar uit my arms gepluk.

So ru, so hard en met soveel pyn

My siel, my alles tot stilstand geruk

Om my hart vir Hom as woning te rein.

Maar die pyn bly altyd vas in my,

Klop hunkerend en dof teen die glas om my.

Maar God, genadiglik is U Gees binne my,

Hy, wat my siel na rustige water ly.

My kind rus nou by U, O God.

Vir my, in U tuin, 'n bloeisel vir God.

Maar die gemis is soms so groot, O Heer,

Die wonde oop, rou en teer.

Skenk my dan vannaand die krag, Heilige Gees,

Om God altyd trou en opreg te dien

Sodat Hy eendag my naam hardop kan lees

En ek weer my kind vir altyd kan sien.

Growing Out.

2008-11-04T19:52:00.007-06:00

Melanie, www.dietnakedblog.com says just what I wanted to say, only, she expresses it SO MUCH better than I could ever dream...

http://www.dietnakedblog.com/the_diet_naked_blog/2008/11/thirty-pounds.html

"Thirty Pounds

Thirty pounds and my bras don't fit right.

Thirty pounds and I zip up size 16 rather than size 12.

Thirty pounds and my hips hurt when I wake up in the mornings.

Thirty pounds pad my middle and eliminate my waist.

Thirty pounds puff up my face.

Thirty pounds equal three 10-pound bags of potatoes. (Could I even lift three bags?)

Thirty pounds isolate me and tempt me to crawl into a cave for a season of hibernation.

Thirty pounds crept upon me while I was busy eating Cinnamon Life Cereal directly out of the box and indulging in French fries because who cares anyways.

Thirty pounds weigh me down, mess me up, throw me off balance. And yet, widen the frame and you'll see that in the overall picture, thirty pounds are just a little more of me. I am not totally disfigured or disabled by thirty pounds. I am disgusted, embarrassed, but I am still all right. In the landscape of my life, weight barely warrants a second glance.

I am okay. I am wearing bigger pants, but I am still myself. I still have hope, love and a really amazing husband.

Thirty pounds is thirty pounds. Thirty pounds is not me. Thirty pounds is not the end."

The photo is not of Youngest growing "out" but rather a picture of the youthful figure we once had and too often still aspire to!

Beloved ones...

2008-10-31T00:34:00.015-05:00

Ginger has diabetes.

I spent Wednesday morning at the vet while Ging was undergoing all kinds of tests. We took him in because he felt so bony, he looked sad, and he also drank an unusual amount of water; with the accompanying results of a very stinky litter box.

Poor thing, now it's two needles of insulin a day and a special diet, for the rest of his life. And he is only 11 years old - the nice young vet said that's still young for a cat, they had a cat once that was 27 when it died, unusual he admits, but still...

While waiting, I noticed a chart of dog- and cat years versus human years, and saw that Lady was at least 110 human years old when she died. We still miss her so much. Why can't they live as long as we do?

Love, and treat well, your beloveds, human, dog or cat, while they are still around.

Baby Shower

2008-10-29T23:11:00.014-05:00

Yes, I apologize, my mind is still filled with (and will be forever) my new grandson! We had an impromptu baby shower Monday night, while "the other grandma" was still here. New mom and baby boy received some nice necessities. (and luxuries)

I wish we had more time to do a good job of the planning and decorating, there are so many lovely things out there to use! (Where were you when I needed you, great-aunt-and-first-time-grandmother-too Julene? I needed a pro! I heard all about the absolute bash you threw for Charlene!)

It went well, even the games we played and I am so a non-game playing kind of person. We had prizes too, good ones, chosen by youngest new auntie, Carla.

And the piece de resistance: (not really, it was done by this amateur new grandmother who has never been very artsy or crafty) the diaper cake! (And where were you, great-aunt Skitter with your veteran cake decorating skills?)

The diaper cakes one can buy online look so pretty and perfect (and pricey too)... If you've never seen these, google "diaper cakes." (Enlightening!)
Those things (facecloths) on top are supposed to resemble roses... somewhat...oh dear.

Recipes

2008-10-26T13:56:00.005-05:00

The new parents and the visiting grandparents joined us for dinner last night and I made this quick and easy Chilled Chai-Spiced Pumpkin Souffle for the first time. It turned out very good!
Middle Child made some lovely Herbed Cheese Scones, and we also had bobotie, yellow rice, a Baked Cabbage-Tomato Dish and tossed salad.

I'm posting the recipes here, before I lose them; the "Other Grandmother" (Hi Louise!) was also asking about the Cabbage bake, so I will translate the recipe here as well.

Chilled Chai-Spiced Pumpkin Souffle

1 Envelope (0.25 oz) unflavoured gelatin
2 Tablespoons water
2 Cups milk
2 Cups pumpkin puree
0.5 Cup sugar
1.5 teaspoon chai spice blend

In a small bowl, sprinkle the gelatin over the water.
Let sit one minute in medium saucepan over medium high heat.
Combine the rest of the ingredient in a saucepan and bring to simmer.
Whisk in gelatin until blended.
Divide mixture evenly among 6-8 ramekins.
Refrigerate 4 hours or overnight.
Serve with whipped cream.

(I just followed the instructions on the gelatin package I had on hand; it differed from the method used above, slightly, but worked well. I also used canned sweet potato (which I pureed in the blender; Yes, Sister Skitter, canned sweet potato; and you thought you'd heard it all with canned pumpkin!) and a little bit of leftover pumpkin puree from a previous recipe. I do not have a chai spice blend, so I made up my own: 0.5-1 tsp. each of ground coriander seed, cinnamon, turmeric and a pinch of salt and black pepper.)

Herbed Cheese Scones
(From the Lower Fort Garry Nursery's Cafe)

2 cups flour
1 tablespoon sugar
4 teaspoons baking powder
0.25 teaspoon salt
herbs to taste: she used fresh dill and parsley(and I think some oregano and basil)
(I thought a pinch of cayenne pepper would be nice, but she didn't!)
1.5 cups grated cheddar
1 cup skim milk
2 tablespoons cooking oil

Preheat Oven 425F
Grease a cookie sheet
Sift dry ingredients together, add grated cheese.
Stir in milk and oil, mix lightly.
Drop spoonfuls of dough on the sheet and bake for 15 minutes.
Best served slightly warm

Baked Cabbage-Tomato Dish

400 g (4 cups) shredded cabbage
1 large onion, diced
1 large green pepper, diced
50g (4 Tbs) butter (I usually pour a little bit of olive oil in the pan before warming the butter)
1 can (400g/28 fl.oz/796ml) diced tomatoes
50 ml (+- 0.25 cup) flour
15 ml (1 Tbs) sugar
5 ml (1 tsp) salt
a pinch of pepper
50 ml (0.25 cup)
30 ml (2 Tbs) crushed corn flakes

Grease a 1.5 Liter ( 6 Cup) ovenproof dish
Boil cabbage in a little bit of water for about 7 minutes and drain.
Saute onion and green pepper in oil until soft.
Puree tomatoes with its juice, flour, sugar, salt and pepper together.
Add to onion mixture and stir-cook until thickened.
Put 1/3 of cooked cabbage in prepared dish; spoon 1/2 of onion-tomato mixture over, repeat layers and end with a cabbage layer.
Mix cheese and corn flakes and sprinkle on top.
Broil in oven until warm and cheese is melted.

Bybelstudie 1

2008-10-23T23:03:00.003-05:00

(Ek doen alles nou in een aand, vanaand; soos dit gewoonlik gaan met my - uitstel is my tweede naam.)

Dag 1: Psalm 139: 1-4
Die feit dat God alles van my weet is "humbling" om die minste te se, maar ook 'n verligting; daar is Iemand wat my beter ken as ekself en vir wie ek niks kan wegsteek nie, al sou ek ook hoe graag; ek kan nie verwoord presies hoekom dit 'n verligting is nie, maar dit is!
Dag 2: Psalm 139: 13-16
Ek kan se dat ek aanpasbaar is en redelik geduldig is, maar eintlik het ek absoluut niks om op te roem nie. Maar die feit dat die Here my ook gekies het om Hom te ken en dien is vir my baie wonderlik, en as dit nie te voorbarig klink nie, dit maak my spesifiek wonderlik.
Dag 3: Jakobus 2:8
Die vers neem aan mens ken die wet van God, ken die Skrif??? Die regte manier om jouself lief te he is om jou naaste net so ook lief te he. (Makliker gese as gedoen; dis makliker om daai ver "naastes" lief te he eerder as die "in-your-face" naastes hier om jou.)
Dag 4: Efesiers 4:22-24
Leef as die nuwe mens wat jy deur Christus is, breek met die ou sondige mens en sondige begeertes, vernuwe die gees en gedagtes en leef volgens die wil van God, wees heilig.
Dag 5: 1 Korintiers 6:20
Hy het my gekoop en die duur prys betaal. As die Skepper my as waardevol genoeg sien om Sy Seun die prys te laat betaal om my vry te laat word, sjoe, wat het ek om oor te kla?
Dag 6: Psalm 8
Weer eens maak dit my nederig, maar ook trots (in die goeie sin van die woord) dat ook ek van waarde is vir Hom.

Wat van jouself hou jy van?
Ek weet nie eintlik nie! Ek sal seker oor weke eers 'n antwoord vir die een he. Ek is bly ek is 'n geredde Kind van die Here. Soos ek reeds genoem het is ek redelik lankmoedig en geduldig en aanpasbaar en dis seker iets om van te hou, maar ek het nie iets "profounds" wat ek kan noem nie.

Hoekom dink jy het God jou gemaak wat jy is?
Met die risiko om "facetious" te klink: ek is nie aldag seker nie?
Ek glo daar is aardse doel vir my en dat ek nie noodwendig die kant van die graf gaan uitvind wat dit alles behels nie. Al lyk dit of ek nie juis vir veel meer as die gewone vrou/ma/dogter/suster/vriendin/tannie/en nou OUMA! geskape is nie, is daar selfs ook 'n doel aan, om voort te lewe in gehoorsaamheid aan Sy wil en nie altyd te wil weet hoekom en waarvoor is ek soos ek is en nie meer talentvol/gasvry/vriendelik/geestelik/slim/oulik/skeppend/atleties/watookal nie.

Ek pos die so lank. Ek gaan nou digitale "scrapping" takel, hopelik kom daar iets plaasbaar uit.

New parents

2008-10-23T20:55:00.002-05:00

Baby Baby, I'll love you forever...

2008-10-23T19:31:00.004-05:00

Oupa

Unplugged

Plugged - future hockey player with his mouthguard?

Oupa

Baby, Baby...

2008-10-22T18:20:00.005-05:00

Adoring parents, grandparents and aunties

NewMom and Baby

The other Grandmother

The Best Birthday Gift Ever!

2008-10-22T00:05:00.004-05:00

JWS the 4th, born 21:30 on his paternal grandmother's (that's me!) birthday, weighing 7.5 pounds and 54 cm long!
Blue eyes, light hair and fair complexion. (To be expected, with two blonde blue-eyed parents.)

Old Life/New Life/Some Life

2008-10-19T23:46:00.017-05:00

(STILL NO BABY...)

Kremetart/Baobab

Blue spruces; old house in Saskatoon

Sometimes I am so ...

sad/angry/exasperated/bitter/aggressive/disappointed/enraged/frustrated/depressed/fearful/faithless/etc. about South Africa, my home country that I want to rush out and scream about it. (OK, I want to rush to the computer and write about it.) I hoped, I would resist ever mentioning anything about it, well, never say never, some things have to be said.

Every day I read one of the SA papers online, and every day I'm sorry I did; I won't go into details, but some of the things happening there are too horrible to write about.
Today, I started reading an online book, written by another Canadian expat Afrikaner. I've just read the intro and epilogue so far, and the anonymous author does a good job of articulating my and many other expats' feelings: http://members.shaw.ca/loerie/Loerie_US1.pdf

When The Loerie Sings Again

One of the true Sounds of Africa is the call of the Rainbird, the Loerie, which is hardly ever seen, but always heard when the sun comes out after the rain. This call is imprinted on any person who has lived there and has cared to listen.

It is the sound of the sun after the rain…
The sound of calm after the storm
The sound of hope after all has been lost...
I have known the sound of the Loerie since I can remember.

(The Song of the Loerie)

PROLOGUE

And so it came to be that a British friend of mine commented that he seemed to be meeting an awful lot of emigrant South Africans in England in recent times. To a man they were expressing horror at what was happening in that tortured country. This caused him some confusion, as he had been under the impression that South Africa’s “Rainbow Revolution” had been such a dramatic success in the name of Democracy. He did note that there did not seem to be all that much news from there any more, but that things in neighbouring Zimbabwe had clearly turned into an abject nightmare under the hand of the despotic Robert Mugabe. A number of white farmers had even been killed by Mugabe’s gangsters, who stole their farms. They knew this in Britain.

My American friends, being generally hugely uninformed on the matter of Africa, other than watching TV Host Oprah Winfrey on TV with AIDS orphans in South Africa, only knew that there was once a policy of Apartheid in that country, maintained by, what they understood to be, a “terrible and evil minority of white people”. They rejoiced at these people being removed from power when Nelson Mandela became the first democratically elected president. They generally confessed ignorance about the place. They had been told that Mandela had been wrongfully imprisoned and that he was therefore a hero and martyr.

They had heard absolutely nothing about events there since then, beyond Oprah’s efforts. In fact, they expressed some confusion at hearing that Oscar-winning actress Charlize Theron and golfers Ernie Els and Retief Goosen, all of whom seem like decent ordinary folks, were all members of a nation called Afrikaners…. the very people whose ancestors had implemented Apartheid. This caused them some confusion.

When they then heard that by mid-2005 as many South African farmers had been torture-murdered in attacks on farms as the number of US soldiers that had died in the War in Iraq, they were horrified and wanted to know more. Some, with leanings toward the more liberal end of the spectrum, quoted from Alan Paton’s “Cry the Beloved Country”. When pointed toward the subsequent letter written by that author’s wife, in which she announced her departure from South Africa and expressed her gratitude that her husband had not lived to see what was now happening in that country, they were at a loss for words. This question has prompted me to put pen to paper and summarize the story of South Africa, as seen through my eyes…. a white kid who grew up in South Africa to be a fairly Liberal Afrikaner, and how I came to leave the country of my birth after a bloodline there of more than 340 years.

Personally, I believe there were a few pivotal moments in South African history, and a couple of key decisions...some good, some bad. I do not truly know exactly what went wrong, but I have some ideas. I elect to start right at the beginning of European arrival, because if the last seventy years is “a background painting” behind the current excesses, as some say, then that in turn has a "canvas" behind it that needs to be equally appreciated.

I shall not try to sketch history through the eyes of a black South African, as I do not believe I can do it justice. Culturally they look at life differently and they have suffered misery upon misery. I also think great care should be taken in accepting the views of any white man or woman in this regard; particularly from Europe or North America, there being more than enough black people in Africa to make any point to be made. It is a great and enduring truth that the Western World has heard their story extensively since 1950, as sketched by an extremely sympathetic Western establishment news media complex that played by far the biggest role in bringing Nelson Mandela and his black nationalist ANC liberation movement to power.

This author would also like to point out that there are many upon the face of our planet who have violent and destructive agendas. I abhor all of these ideas. To the extent that this document clearly addresses what has gone wrong in South Africa, this author wishes to reiterate his support for the democratic elections of 1994 and the mandate the world gave South Africa at that time to devise a non-racist country.

The tragedy is in how that international mandate, together with the goodwill of millions who had sought a New South Africa free of racism, have been abused and trampled asunder. Hope for a truly non-racist future has all but disappeared in South Africa. An estimated one fifth of all white people have left, taking with them the skills that created one of the most “can-do” technocratic countries ever. As of the date of writing of these words more than 2,000 farmers have been killed.

Very many of them are brutally tortured before being killed, most of them being white Judeo-Christian Afrikaans people. It is brutally evident that they are targeted. The UN accredited Genocide Watch has already deemed it a genocide and nothing on the horizon provides hope of any form of improvement. In the workplace the black nationalist ANC government has formulated policy after policy to construct what is today the largest edifice of brazenly racist policy in the world, much of it pointedly ensuring the active economic destruction of white people. In the international domain, the government openly supports the starkly racist regime of the despotic Robert Mugabe, who receives standing ovations in the South African Houses of Parliament. So far has sunk the dream.

During the time of Apartheid, millions in the West rightly expressed outrage. Where is the outrage now? Why so silent?

Here then is my attempt at the canvas of South African history and the painting upon it….and the story of South Africa through rather different eyes from those of the regular news media whose silence on the tragedy unfolding in South Africa is utterly deafening.

Deep Cove, BC
1 April 2007

----------------------------------------

EPILOGUE

The dream of the New South Africa is today comprehensively lost.

FW de Klerk is universally reviled in South Africa for having sold his own people down the river, his old party having ignominiously dissolved. Mandela has all but disappeared from public life, having served his purpose as the “acceptable front man” of the Marxist inspired ANC. Several old Soviet-style communists are in the Cabinet under President Thabo Mbeki, himself a Soviet aparatchik type. The Minister of Intelligence is Ronnie Kasrils, a classic Cold War-style Lithiuanian Jewish hard line Communist trained to Brigadier by the Soviet Army. He is a token white man in Cabinet, but an enemy of true freedom.

Mbeki openly supports the black racist tyrant Mugabe, who proudly calls himself “Hitler” in next- door Zimbabwe. He does this because it gives him a Fear Factor to use on whites, implying that they had better do what he wants so that he does not do what Mugabe does. At the same time that wins him points with the more radical elements in his own party who still want “whites driven into the sea” according to Nongquwasi's prophecy.

More than 2,000 white, mostly Afrikaans, farmers (Boere) have been brutally murdered since Mandela took over power. This is usually accompanied by the most mind-boggling torture. This includes raping the women, covering them in cooking oil and then assaulting them with hot clothes irons. Men are shot execution style or slowly choked to death with lead wire. Some have been executed and their Bibles pointedly thrown on their bodies. This has caused the UN-accredited Genocide Watch to issue a genocide warning on the subject of “Boer Genocide” in South Africa. And yet one does not see it in the Western media. It has not once graced the screen on CNN! This is incomprehensible.

AIDS has sky-rocketed to the point where South Africa has major areas with 40-50% of women HIV positive. This seems to be the only issue attracting international media attention. Whites cynically believe that this is the case because blacks are dying. They believe their own deaths, however cruel, are condoned by the West. I have absolutely zero evidence that they are wrong. Mbeki tries to address this crisis with concoctions of garlic and beetroot, denying the link to HIV.

With Affirmative Action against the minority whites not having got enough of his supporters enough riches fast enough, Mbeki embarked on Black Economic Empowerment. By this policy larger companies must provide evidence of their “blackness” in order to qualify for BEE-points. This gives them access to government tenders. Others lose out. As part of this process, they get BEE-points for buying from other “black” businesses. This forces very small businesses to literally give away major shareholding to a black man who has to do nothing to get hordes of money, and the white man works to keep two families in money. This has led to a mind-boggling Culture of Entitlement among young blacks who now only have to be black to get a job. They do not actually have to do the job they get. Some white person is put under pressure to keep them looking good.

It is simple to see how white people are being constantly planned out of the economy and into serfdom. With Afrikaners forming the bulk of the white working class, they are particularly hard hit by this brazen racial discrimination. Since this leads to enormous personnel dead weight, efficiency is suffering. The unavoidable competence problems have led to key systems breaking down, such as the Koeberg nuclear power station. The Air Traffic control system in Johannesburg was also threatened. Some whites actually went back from Canada to support it!

The fact is that, in attempting to get jobs for the 35 million black people by stealing them from the 4 million white people, the ANC is not truthfully growing the economy. With blacks outnumbering whites by 9:1, forcing a 10% racial minority out of its jobs cannot be the way to success for the 90% majority. This mathematical truth appears to elude the ANC. One is forced assume they have ulterior motives relating to this abuse of white people. They could have tried using the 10% minority as a multiplicative factor, leveraging the economy and building jobs. However, they opted for coercion and what is effectively disguised grand larceny in the form of BEE.

Leading industrialists and money bosses have tried various industrial and economic arrangements with Mbeki, taking up the AA and BEE policies “enthusiastically” and selling out their white employees in the process. Naturally this boils down to them basically paying Mbeki off like the Mafia in order to try and keep their profit streams going....often to London; this while many whites are systematically reduced in life with no hope for the future for their children.

To make matters worse, whatever has been taken from whites has consistently ended up in the hands of the same small cadre of ANC sycophants. This has hugely angered the broader mass of black people, who are little better off than under Apartheid, and, in very many cases, worse off. They suffer under the highest crime rate and murder rate on Earth. They look at this new corrupt black overnight elite in their Mercedes sedans, and “sharpen their assegaais”.

As one black street beggar pointed out: “The rich blacks swear at us; the whites give money”. The ANC, desperate to deflect this criticism, since it knows what black-on-black brutality can be like, constantly tells the ignorant and illiterate voters that whites and Apartheid are to blame for their predicament, 17 years after the demise of that equally sterile policy. This sets these people off to raid white property and kill whites. Ignorance is a terrible disease and forms the cornerstone of so-called “Democracy” in Africa.

As I write these words, major cracks have begun to show in the bulging “church tent” of the ANC, with Jacob Zuma, a hard line radical African Nationalist Zulu and Deputy President of the country, openly going up publicly against Mbeki. Barring a miracle, Zuma will be elected as leader of the ANC next year, and will thereby pretty much automatically become South Africa's next president. The future for whites under such a man looks even worse than under Mbeki, who is only killing them slowly while he bleeds them for all they have.

A recent high level report showed that around 20% of the white population, mostly from among the intelligentsia, has left the country. The ANC government has gone on a drive to try and draw people back, but no-one basically believes them anymore. The trickle that flows back is more akin to evidence of a strategic failure and a political insult. Indian people are now leaving, fearing the same consequences as under Idi Amin, Kenyata and Nyerere in East Africa.

The manifesto of the expatriate South Africans basically says: If you want us back, you will:

1. dispose of Mugabe in Zimbabwe so you cannot scare us with your bogeyman
2. stop the racially discriminatory Black Economic Empowerment program
3. stop the racially discriminatory Affirmative Action program
4. stop the farm murders and address the staggering crime spree immediately
5. seriously address AIDS and stop making a mockery of the issue

Short of these 5 demands being addressed, whites will keep leaving South Africa, no matter how wonderful the climate, beautiful the country or friendly the people. Meanwhile, the white youth is starting to rise on the basis of the discrimination against them. The 23-year old white job-seekers today were 10 years old when Mandela came to power. They know nothing of Apartheid and they are angry about this injustice to them. They are rediscovering their history, and they are proud of it. At the same time the World Wide Web and YouTube have created for them a way to get their message out, bypassing the anti-white biased Western Media with its aging Left Wing Liberals who have overstayed their welcome on the conscience of an increasingly insecure West.

Deep Cove,
April 2007

Pumpkin Cheesecake

2008-10-14T23:21:00.003-05:00

(No news of baby yet...)

We had the last of our Thanksgiving Pumpkin Cheesecake tonight.

Pumpkin Cheesecake

Crust:

2 cups gingersnap cookie crumbs (about 32)

1/3 cup butter, melted

Filling:

4 packages (8oz each) cream cheese, softened
1.5 cups sugar
4 eggs
1 cup canned pumpkin (not pumpkin pie mix)
1.5 teaspoon ginger
1 teaspoon cinnamon
0.5 teaspoon ground nutmeg

Heat oven to 300F. Grease a 9-inch springform pan, place on cookie sheet to catch drips. Mix cookie crumbs and butter and press in bottom and 1 inch up side of pan. Bake 8-10 minutes or until set. Cool 5 minutes.
Beat cream cheese in a large bowl until just smooth and creamy. Gradually beat in sugar and then beat in eggs one by one. Spoon 3 cups of the cream cheese mixture into pan and spread evenly.
Stir pumpkin and spices into remaining mixture and spoon over white mixture in pan.
Bake 1.5 hours, turn oven off and leave cake in oven for another 30 minutes. Remove from oven and place on cooling rack. Do not release side of pan but run a knife around the edge to loosen cake. Cool another 30 minutes, cover loosely and refrigerate at least 6 hours ( I had it in the fridge for only about 1.5 hours and it tasted good) but not more than 24 hours.
Remove from fridge and run knife along edge to loosen again, remove side and place cake on serving plate. (Store covered in fridge) We decorated the cake with whipped cream and butterscotch chips and caramel chips.
16 servings

Thanksgiving

2008-10-12T23:57:00.007-05:00

We had our Thanksgiving dinner today (tomorrow is the actual Canadian Thanksgiving Day) and had turkey - only a stuffed breast this time, not the whole bird, which didn't please the traditionalist in our midst (Youngest), ham, cranberry sauce, apple sauce (home grown and canned, proud to say), pickles (home-canned) mash potatoes (our OWN potatoes), gravy, corn, string beans and baby carrots, garlic buns and pumpkin cheesecake for dessert. Afterwards, Son and DiL went to her aunt's for another Thanksgiving dinner and I don't pretend that my dinner was anything special; the Canadians do a really big dinner with rutabagas and stuff like that!

Middle Child flew to Flin-Flon to visit the hockey playing BF. She was going to go on a Greyhound bus (would have taken more than 12 hours to get there) but we feel it's safer on a plane, even if it's one of those small ones (and they did have Thanksgiving specials) after the recent happenings on that other Greyhound bus.

We're waiting for baby to come, but he/she seems to have no plans of emerging just yet.

Television is the first truly democratic culture - the first culture available to everybody and entirely governed by what the people want. The most terrifying thing is what people do want. - Clive Barnes

Youngest is watching Cat on a Hot Tin Roof and waiting for me to join her. (If she wasn't here, I probably would not watch any movies or TV, although I enjoy it when I do.) This weekend alone we've watched a lot of Paul Newman movies already, some in colour, most black and white. Now it's Paul Newman again, joined by Elizabeth Taylor! Youngest recently blogged about Paul Newman, before he died, http://xstarlight.blogspot.com/2008/09/dont-worry-i-only-did-this-once.html

-and now that his movies are showing in tribute, we have to watch of course. Luckily tomorrow is a holiday. Husband is watching rugby on the other TV, in case anyone is wondering whether he also enjoys the marathon Paul Newman movies!

May all Canadians have a blessed Thanksgiving day tomorrow! (and then, do remember to go and vote on Tuesday.)

Tagged!

2008-10-09T23:08:00.001-05:00

Tagged by my daughter at http://xstarlight.blogspot.com/ !

Six Random Things About Me: (myself and I?)

1. I have NO ball sense = I'm not athletic. (And not all that interested in sport either.)

(Above is an old picture of my kids playing ball with little cousins).

2. I would love to live by the ocean.

3. I've become quite old-fashioned during the last few years.

4. Sometimes I spend too much time on the Internet.

5. We have three pets, one little dog and two cats.

6. I love interior design.

Music

2008-10-08T23:22:00.004-05:00

http://view.playlist.com/11010185739/standalone

Olden Days

2008-09-27T21:28:00.019-05:00

Universiteit van die Oranje Vrystaat

(University of the Orange Free State)

Huis Olienhout

I was a ......student (Old Kovsies would know)

Our student cards; they look more like police mug shots

Formal at Huis Olienhout

Huis Madelief and friends

Huis Madelief Function

An Oldie But Goodie...

2008-09-26T21:37:00.003-05:00

I'm sure most people with an email address has received this or something similar at least once; call me juvenile, but I still find it funny:

Q: I've heard that cardiovascular exercise can prolong life; is this true?

A: Your heart is only good for so many beats, and that's it . .. . Don't waste them on exercise. Everything wears out eventually. Speeding up your heart will not make you live longer; that's like saying you can extend the life of your car by driving it faster. Want to live longer? Take a nap.

Q: Should I cut down on meat and eat more fruits and vegetables?

A: You must grasp logistical efficiencies. What does a cow eat? Hay and corn. And what are these? Vegetables. So a steak is nothing more than an efficient mechanism of delivering vegetables to your system. Need grain? Eat chicken. Beef is also a good source of field grass (green leafy vegetable). And a pork chop can give you 100% of your recommended daily allowance of vegetable products.

Q: Should I reduce my alcohol intake?

A: No, not at all. Wine is made from fruit. Brandy is distilled wine, that means they take the water out of the fruity bit so you get even more of the goodness that way. Beer is also made out of grain. Bottoms up!

Q: How can I calculate my body/fat ratio?

A: Well, if you have a body and you have fat your ratio is one to one. If you have two bodies, your ratio is two to one, etc.

Q: What are some of the advantages of participating in a regular exercise program?

A: Can't think of a single one, sorry. My philosophy is: No Pain...Good!

Q: Aren't fried foods bad for you?

A: YOU'RE NOT LISTENING!!! . . . . Foods are fried these days in vegetable oil. In fact, they're permeated in it. How could getting more vegetables be bad for you?

Q: Will sit-ups help prevent me from getting a little soft around the middle?

A: Definitely not! When you exercise a muscle, it gets bigger. You should only be doing sit-ups if you want a bigger stomach.

Q: Is chocolate bad for me?

A: Are you crazy? HELLO Cocoa beans! Another vegetable!!! It's the best feel-good food around!

Q: Is swimming good for your figure?

A: If swimming is good for your figure, explain whales to me.

Well, I hope this has cleared up any misconceptions you may have had about food and diets. And remember: "Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways - Chardonnay in one hand - chocolate in the other - body thoroughly used up, totally worn out and screaming "WOO HOO, What a Ride!" AND . . . .. . ..

For those of you who watch what you eat, here's the final word on nutrition and health. It's a relief to know the truth after all those conflicting nutritional studies.

1. The Japanese eat very little fat and suffer fewer heart attacks than Americans.

2. The Mexicans eat a lot of fat and suffer fewer heart attacks than Americans.

3. The Chinese drink very little red wine and suffer fewer heart attacks than Americans.

4. The Italians drink a lot of red wine and suffer fewer heart attacks than Americans.

5. The Germans drink a lot of beers and eat lots of sausages and fats and suffer fewer heart attacks than Americans.

CONCLUSION: Eat and drink what you like.

Just About 30 Years Ago.

2008-09-23T17:03:00.017-05:00

Posing in this "scarred" photo, taken nearly 30 years ago, are my high school best friend (the blonde on the left) and I. This was the last official school day for us, the 1978 Standard 10's (Grade 12's). Very soon we would be writing our final Matriculation exams. (I can't remember if we already had our "Matric Farewell.")

We were so "kewl" that day, wearing our school shirts OVER our uniforms and having all the other matriculants sign it. (Hair was still tied up per the regulations though!)

What inspired me to write this was a post by my cousin, about why she married again, it's in Afrikaans, sorry. (A very touching story)
(See: http://hornhide.blogspot.com/2008/09/daarom-het-ek-weer-getrou.html )

Unintentionally posing in the background is my husband! (and others) At that point all I knew about him was his name; never gave him another thought or ever talked to him. Our school was fairly big, just over 1000 Grade 8-12 students and I think about 7 separate Grade 12 classes. We did not share any classes or anything else.

Fast forward 2 years and a few months, we meet at university away from our hometown and as it is said; the rest is history. (We celebrated our 25th wedding anniversary earlier this year - no, we haven't formally celebrated it yet, hopefully on a cruise or Hawai or something later on!?)

I always joke about this to my two daughters; be friendly (never TOO friendly) to all the boys in your grade...you just may end up marrying one of them! (Their brother is already married to one of his classmates, although they have known each other since Grade 7 and dated since Grade 12 - obviously they HAVE spoken during their high school years, especially since there were only 7 girls and 7 boys in their graduation class...

So, what's your story? How did you meet your husband?

Red or Green?

2008-09-22T20:42:00.006-05:00

Due to my undecisive (is that even a word!? Indecisive is probably the correct word, but the un- sounds more appropriate here, to me.) nature, I cannot decide which colour looks best. I think the red does, but the green is quite nice too, maybe if it's a little darker green? My architect-SIL in SA suggested avocado green, but I just used the leftover paint in the paint tray after painting Middle Child's room. Not the right green eh?
I have to decide before it becomes too cold to be painting outside.

Officially the first day of Autumn

2008-09-22T11:17:00.008-05:00

And proud to say: NO apple-y pictures! (Although there's still no shortage of them around here.)

Suid Afrika

2008-09-14T13:53:00.006-05:00

Praat kos niks; is jy bereid om die daad by jou goedkoop woorde te voeg?
Geskryf deur Johan Combrinck (www.praag.co.za)
Vrydag, 12 September 2008
09:12:23 "Gedurende apartheid het ons ons eie landsburgers opvoeding en menseregte ontneem en baie van hulle uit baie beroepe gehou en hulle is stelselmatig afgetakel. Ons skuld die land baie, maar ons waai omdat dit ons nie pas nie. Waar is ons gewete, waar is ons menseliefde, waar is ons geloof?"
Bostaande woorde is dié van die bekende mode-ontwerper Marianne Fassler in Sarie van Oktober 2008.
Geagte Marianne,

Ek wonder of jy al nagedink het oor wat dít jy so gladdebek tussen die glansblaaie kwytraak? Dit is maklik om te praat as jy nie die daad hoef te doen nie, maar is jy een van die mense wat die daad by die woord voeg?

Uit wat voorheen oor jou in tydskrifte publiseer is, is dit duidelik dat jy 'n baie bevoorregte jeug en kleintyd gehad het.

Daar is vele van ons wat nie die voorreg gesmaak het van onderrig by 'n Hongaarse kleremaakster nie. En nog baie meer van ons wat nie weet wat dit beteken om oorsee te gaan nie, anders as jy, wat verkies om na Mosambiek en die Seychelle te gaan omdat die water heerlik warm is daar. En ons kanse om dié voorregte te geniet, is seker nou nog minder nadat jy en jou soort die land op 'n skinkbord aan onopgevoede barbare oorhandig het.

Al wat ons vra, is 'n regverdige kans in die lewe, maar ons word dit nie gegun nie omdat ons blank is, en nie onbeholpe swartes nie.

Jou woorde getuig van iemand wat in absolute onkunde leef, iemand met rooskleurige brillense wat die lelik uit ons alledaagse lewe filtreer. En duidelik lewe jy die lewe van een van die bevoorregtes in ons die land, nie saam met ons wat moet spartel net om te bestaan nie.

Ek wil graag so paar goedjies vir jou uitlig:

Wat die ontneming van menseregte betref, glo ek dat baie van die swartmense in die apartheidsjare 'n heelwat beter en baie veiliger lewe gelei het as nou, al is hulle volksgenote aan die stuur van sake. Ek sê nie dat alles reg was nie, maar ek stel dit wel dat die meeste swartmense nou baie minder het om oor te lag as jare terug.

Jy moet dalk meer spesifiek wees oor watter menseregte hulle ontneem is, want een reg wat hulle wel gehad het, was die reg op veiligheid, en 'n doeltreffende polisiemag wat hulle beskerm het. Dit is meer as wat hulle nou kan sê. En ek kan byvoeg dat dit dié keer swartes is wat swartes van regte ontneem. Soos ook ’n doeltreffende regstelsel en howe. Hul foute ten spyt, het die gereg en die howe destyds die werk gedoen gekry.

As die apartheidsregering die swartmense wou ontneem het van onderrig, sou daar geen swart skole gewees het nie. Eintlik het die regering destyds uit sy pad gegaan om hulle van onderrig te voorsien. Blanke onderwysers is tydens die onluste met gepantserde voertuie na die skole in die townships aangery. Swart onderwysers het geskitter in hul afwesigheid, maar die blanke onderwysers het uit pligsbesef steeds elke dag skoolgehou. Moet dus nie praat oor onderwys wat die swartmense ontneem is nie.

En wie dink jy was die onnoseles wat elke keer as swartmense 'n skool – waarvoor hulle nie betaal het nie – afgebrand het, die ding weer gaan bou het? Verseker nie die swartes nie. Dit was ons blankes wat so onnosel was om hulle te bederf met iets wat hulle nie verdien het nie.

Misdaad is buite beheer, gesondheidsorg is in sy peetjie en elektrisiteitsvoorsiening en onderwys al op die afdraande pad. (Natuurlik sal dit jou nie pla nie, want jou kleinkinders sal niks anders as die beste privaatskole besoek nie.) En jy dink dat die swartmense goed gedoen het sover? Dalk behoort jy ook aan ander dinge te dink.

Die staatsdiens wat destyds die land se paaie en ander infrastruktuur redelik goed in stand gehou het, is ten gronde. Dink jy dis die blankes se skuld? Jy mag reg wees, maar dis julle bloeiende liberale harte wat dit veroorsaak het, nie ons rassiste nie.

Want ons het probeer balans handhaaf, waar julle alles oorboord gegooi en die swartman net ingestop het, sy onvermoë om die taak te doen ten spyt. Julle liberale elemente het presies geweet waar dinge gaan eindig, maar hou julle nou blind vir wat nou aan die gang is. En nou is julle blaamvry en pak julle die skuld op ons, wat wel 'n werkende stelsel probeer behou het.

Wat het ons nou? Totale wanorde en anargie, wat nog net nie op ’n volskaalse gewapende stryd uitgeloop het nie. En dan het julle die skaamteloosheid om ons Afrikaners te beskuldig?

Het jy al besluit wanneer "ons" genoeg betaal het en het jy al besluit watter deel van die "skuld" joune is om te betaal?

Wel, hier is so paar voorstelle om jou skuld te betaal.

1) Jy kan saam met jou familie (of sonder hulle) 'n Marianne Fassler Akademie, soortgelyk aan dié van Oprah Winfrey, stig. Dan kan jy gratis onderrig gee aan swart kinders, wat wel die potensiaal het om volgens jou beskeie mening êrens te kom in die lewe.

2) Jy kan jou pa ompraat om altyd gratis mediese sorg aan die swartmense te lewer.

3) Jy kan 'n mode-akademie stig wat swart mans en vroue gratis as mode-ontwerpers oplei, let wel, gratis. (Ek dink dit is iets wat jy dalk sou wou vermy, want hulle sal jou vinnig verbysteek met geldmaak omdat hulle velkleur tot hul voordeel sal wees.)

4) Jy kan dalk jou ma ompraat om gratis kunsklasse aan die arme agtergeblewe swartes te gee, om te help regstel vir wat jy aan hulle (die swartes) gedoen het.

Die feit dat jy as Marianne Fassler werk aan mense verskaf, maak verseker nie van jou 'n redder van die volk nie, en dit gee jou nie die reg om my as Afrikaner te beskuldig nie. Daar is blankes wat ondernemings het wat baie swartmense in diens het. Hulle lewer hulle bydrae om die sogenaamde "sosiale" skuld te betaal.

Wanneer sal jy tevrede wees dat ons en jou skuld betaal sal wees? Vertel tog asseblief sodat dat ons blanke Afrikaners kan leer wat om te doen.

Die feit dat jy sê mense vlug omdat hulle nie wil "betaal" nie, is sprekend van die arrogansie wat die geldstatus aan jou verleen. Daardie mense wat wel die land verlaat, het dalk baie meer betaal as wat jy ooit kan besef: met die verlies van lewens, besittings, verkragtings, aanrandings ...

Hulle het besluit om te gaan omdat die prys te hoog is, en ek neem hulle nie 'n oomblik kwalik nie. Want dit kos moed om jou land agter te laat – dalk sal jy nog vorentoe uitvind presies hoeveel.

Jy matig jou regte aan waarop jy nie geregtig is nie, soos om mense te beskuldig van dinge waarvan jy niks weet nie. Dit is oningeligte, naïewe martelaars soos jy wat die land grootliks in die gemors gedompel het waarin ons nou is, en wat, as dinge te erg word, op die eerste die beste vliegtuig sal klim na groener weivelde en ’n veiliger lewe.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Weird.

2008-09-10T22:59:00.007-05:00

My sister gave these hats, crocheted with plastic bags, to my girls during a visit to South Africa a few years ago.

It's the weirdest thing, as one of my friends will say, but has anyone else started -dare I say this out loud?- MISSING plastic bags?!
I've probably recycled or thrown away thousands of plastic bags through the years, but since using my own bags for grocery shopping etc. I seem to be missing the "good old days" when there was an abundance of them after a shopping trip. I used them in garbage cans, daily in the kitchen (doubled or even tripled, because they are so thin) and now find that I actually have to BUY plastic liners designed for the purpose! So...

Little Saturday

2008-09-10T22:42:00.004-05:00

A quick walk through the garden, and though tempting, no pictures of apples!

Exactly Twelve Years Ago

2008-09-02T21:24:00.003-05:00

Visiting the Canadian Rockies with Ouma Lottie and Tannie Sylvia.

Aah...to be a cat...

2008-09-01T22:16:00.007-05:00

Today was the first day of spring, "Lentedag" in South-Africa and I read it was pretty cold? In all my 33 years of growing up and living in SA it was never anything but cold on Spring Day!

I just noticed that September 22nd is the first day of Autumn here. That nip in the early morning/night air is already present.

Manitoba schools start tomorrow and Youngest and I will probably head out to Carmen to choose and buy her Grade 11 curriculum later this week. She's actually looking forward to getting back to schooling! (Where DOES she come from?!)

And finally...

we're not done yet!

A-Apple-Z

2008-08-28T14:14:00.009-05:00

If you see me coming, RUN! I just may be bearing a gift of something apple-y!

I thought we had just a few apple trees, but it turns out there are at least 20. 5 would have been plenty. So, although I'm blogging about apples, right now I have had my fill of them, I don't want to see a fresh apple, thank you very much.

We have apples coming out of our ears here. I never thought that I would ever complain about having to many freshly picked, juicy, healthy and from-our-own-trees apples!

Apples are the reason I have not been calling, emailing, blogging, facebooking, tending the house, the paperwork, etc.

(I also spent a day at a friend's canning dill pickles, with some of our own dill.)

Apple Butter: Delicious, my recipe says to freeze the jars.
Apple Caramel Jam: My favourite so far!
Apple Cake: Spicy, moist, very good, has to be refrigerated.
Apple Chutney: Nice, Husband loves chutney and approves this recipe.
Apple Cider: Haven't attempted yet, the juice disappears too quickly.
Apple Delight: Tried a recipe yesterday, didn't work out.
Apple Dried: My Mom suggested that, haven't looked into it yet.
Apple E
Apple Frozen: Does the oxidation matter? It's going to be baked/cooked...
Apple G
Apple H
Apple I
Apple Jam: Good.
Apple Jelly: Pretty, very sweet, nice colour for a Christmas gift.
Apple Juice: A lot of work, but surprisingly tasty.
Apple K
Apple L
Apple Muesli: Probably needs dried apples.
Apple N
Apple O's: Oh wait, that's a breakfast cereal, isn't it? Something like that...
Apple Pancakes: Found an easy, tasty recipe.
Apple Pie: Always good.
Apple Puree: Mmm, organic with nothing added - Baby's first solid food?
Apple Questions: We have a few...
Apple Recipes: There are lots.
Apple Salad: I like to add chopped apple to many savoury salads.
Apple Sauce: Easy to make, and not too sweet. Made a lot of that.
Apple Tart: Got one in the freezer.
Apple Upside down cake: Ther has to be a recipe out there?
Apple Vinegar: Will maybe attempt if there's leftover juice.
Apple Wine: There must be a recipe somewhere?
Apple X
Apple Yogurt: Never seen nor heard of that, is it a possibility?
Apple Z: I'm sure I had a Z figured out last night before I fell asleep!

Monday Night/Tuesday Morning

2008-08-05T00:34:00.009-05:00

Today was a civic holiday in Canada and we had a lovely time.
D-i-L's parents are visiting our city for a family reunion and we all went to Pineridge Hollow for lunch. http://www.pineridgehollow.com/ Their sweet potato fries are delicious!
Also; the only herbal tea I really like is good old plain South African Rooibos, but the "Almond Rocker" Rooibos they serve is wonderful. I bought a small packet of it, loose leaf, but quite expensive; maybe I can find out what goes in it to make it taste so good.

Early evening Husband, I and an expat SA couple we met recently, went for a long bike ride along the river - 10 km's there and 10 back. Of course we stopped at "Halfmoon Cafe" for ice cream!
...I don't want to sound "glass half full," but the sun is already setting an hour earlier; just the other day it was still light at 22:30.

Lady is gone. She left the way she came, out of nowhere, we thought at first when we couldn't find her. Friday afternoon the neighbour came over to tell us he found her: hidden under his rhubarb plants. She must have been wanting to hide there when she knew she was going to die. It is very sad, we had her, or I should say she chose to stay with us, for 11 years, but it is a relief to know she died peacefully in her sleep. Not lying in a ditch, dying of thirst and hunger and pain, or run over by a car because she was so deaf.

Beskuit/Rusks

2008-07-12T16:38:00.000-05:00

Today I tried a new recipe for "beskuit" or rusks. I'm missing my mom's wonderful, wonderfully delicious home made white rusks.

This is a far cry from the ones she makes, but it turned out better than I expected. I've never tried making the "mosbeskuit/-bolletjies" because of the need for a specific type of yeast and then the kneading and letting it rise and then kneading again, etc.My bilingual dictionary says "mosbeskuit" is "must rusks" in English. Sounds very weird, but it's meaning the rusks are made with the "must" or "stum", the stuff that's leftover from wine making...or something like that. But no one in South Africa uses that word for "mos beskuit", as far as I know, even if they're not Afrikaans speaking.

I've mentioned before that rusks are a staple in most South African homes, and there are tons of different recipes. This one is called a mock "mosbeskuit" because of not using the traditional raisin-yeast, but quick instant yeast. It looks similar and tastes similar, but of course the real thing is THE BEST! One day I will try that.

Mock "mosbeskuit"

1 kg all purpose flour
5 ml salt (I'll use 10 ml next time)
125 ml (0.5 cup) sugar (I'll use only 62 ml/0.25 cup next time)
10 g instant yeast
45 ml/3 Tbsp anise seed
3/4 can of condensed milk
about 500 ml/2 cups of tepid water
200 g butter, melted
Sift flour and salt together, stir in sugar, yeast and anise seed.
Mix condensed milk with water and add just enough to flour mixture to make a soft dough.
Put some melted butter in hand palms and knead dough, adding more water as needed. Use more melted butter as you knead the dough, about 10-15 minutes until it is smooth and elastic.
Smear the rest of the butter over the dough, cover lightly with plastic wrap and let rise in a warm spot until doubled in size.
Grease 3-4 bread pans.
Knock down dough lightly, form balls and pack in pans. Cover and let rise until doubled.
Preheat oven 180C/350F and bake rusks about 1 hour until golden brown on top.
Cool down slightly in pans, then turn out onto cooling racks and cool completely.
Break into pieces and dry out in a cool oven 100c/200F until completely dried out.
Makes 3-6 dozen, depending on the size of rusk you like.
Store in an airtight container. Dunk in coffee or tea for a quick breakfast or any time you like!

Thursday

2008-07-10T20:15:00.010-05:00

Youngest just came by and saw me sitting here reading online, and quite sternly asked why I wasn't blogging.
Short one today; Youngest, DiL (daughter in law) and I went to "town" today to place an order for: new mattress for Husband and I, sleigh type of bed for Youngest and bedroom furniture for DiL - our wedding gift to them.
Well, things didn't work out as we planned and we ended up at McNally Robinson, a large Canadian bookstore. DiL found a baby name book which both Youngest and she loved and I found a NEW No.1 Ladies' Detective Agency book: The Miracle At Speedy Motors (Alexander McCall Smith) Yay!

Read about it here:

http://www.amazon.com/Miracle-Speedy-Motors-Ladies-Detective/dp/0375424482

I can't wait to read it, and hope I won't be disappointed; sometimes books in a series can become too "formulated." No, I know that's not the right word, but "you know what I mean, eh?!"

2008-07-09T15:38:00.007-05:00

Let's start with something beautiful:

First picture: lovely peonies from the garden. Please ignore the torn piece of wallpaper in the background.
Second picture: for my mom, showing our vegetable garden/boxes. Please ignore the weeds in beween.

Now look at those two innocent creatures above; Charlie, the equivalent of about 7 human years old (6 months) and Ginger; 11 years old, 60 in cat years.
Well, last night the innocent old cat caught a rabbit, not a baby, but probably a teenage-rabbit, and proceeded to eat it. When he had enough Charlie had a go at it.
It's true that we have too many rabbits around here, the previous owner actually poisoned them, because they eat the apple trees' bark and then the trees die. But still, we all found it a little gruesome and very sad to witness these lovely tame pets of ours showing their true nature!

A Loooong Photo-Essay

2008-07-07T18:44:00.016-05:00

I've been catching up on my favourite blogs and was tagged by Songbirdy at http://songbirdy.wordpress.com/

This photo-essay is also for the family and especially the sisters-in-law who've been nagging to see more of where we live.

If you came to our house you would see:
An old big blonde dog quietly "lying" watch next to the front door.

Once inside the red door... (I painted the doors with the leftover entry paint, it will have to be redone with proper exterior paint, as well as the wood siding on top, as well as the black posts...and the number has to be replaced and the nice knocker we received as a gift about 9 years ago may finally find a place to be useful...)
you will be "attacked" with love and joy by a little black dog; who will be an "it"dog next week this time...

we will try and get you out of his paws and take your coat. You can keep your shoes on.

We have a "proper" entry hall with closets, it looks so neat! (But! Don't you dare open the closet by yourself - I have to do it, OK?!) I painted the walls a lovely deep red - my favourite wall colour for more than 10 years now. Mmm...I see the two South-African flower pictures still needs to be properly framed and hung with my super-duper new "hang&level". http://www.hangandlevel.com/)

They are sitting/standing(?) on an old chair I've never found a proper placement for, but I love it! I bought it at an auction years ago, one of the first furniture pieces I bought in Canada. The auction was for a lady who was a keeper, a keeper of everything: old margarine and what-not-all containers, all kinds of REGAL stuff and just lots and lots of stuff. I went into her house the night before the auction and it was one of those places that was packed from floor to ceiling, there was hardly a path through all the stuff, from the back door through the kitchen, the dining room, the sitting room and back to the back door, the front door was not even visible.

We go past the French Doors, into the hallway; staircase (those walls need some colour) to the right and sitting room to the left:

Oops, can't let you sit in the sitting room, I have been moving furniture around - one of my pastimes - and it's a little unfinished and bare and just not done (paint/flooring/furniture) in there right now. OK, let's go sit outside on the deck. Down the hallway past the kitchen and powder room, through the TV/sun room onto the deck. There's a lovely view of the garden and the river.
We'd probably feed you:
If I had warning you were coming, I would have made some dessert/cake/pie/etc. (I usually can't keep anything like that on hand, because I will eat it! And I'm trying to loose 20 of the 30 pounds I lost last year and unfortunately found again these last 4-5 months.)

What will I feed you if there's nothing prepared? Oh, there's some M&M Meatshop mini-quiches in the freezer that my appetite has forgotten about.

And offer you this to drink:
Hope you like coffee? We also have Rooibos tea, lemon water, diet ginger ale, water, milk and sometimes ice tea.

We'd undoubtedly ask if you'd read:
Something in today's paper. I haven't read any fiction or really anything serious lately. And I do love getting lost in a book.

We'd want to play this music for you:
I will usually not play anything for you, since the local teenager has taken over the "music department". She will play something she downloaded recently, could be a new song or a golden oldie or something strange/obscure. (But not immoral/bad, as far as I hear and understand the words!)

We'd want to tell you the latest about:
Our pets, our newly-wed son and daughter-in-law and other daughter not living at home, what renovations/changes we'd like to make here, what's going on in our country of birth, what (hopefully interesting) things we've read on the Internet or seen in our neighbourhood lately. And we'd love to find out all about you and yours!

We'd probably suggest a game of:
I hate most board games, except Scrabble, so I would leave that up to the other family members and will maybe join in a card-game, which I will promptly forget how to play. Oh, actually Mad Gab is not too bad, I've played that and didn't dislike it...

We might show off:
Our lovely garden and the many different trees and shrubs and other plants. The different views of the river.

We might get on the computer and show you:
The wedding pictures of course. And pictures of our last holiday in South Africa. It reminds me, we better back all those up, a friend recently lost all her stuff when her computer just stopped working!

If it was a long enough visit, we might watch:
Old movies such as "Gone With The Wind/Breakfast at Tiffany's/My Fair Lady/black-and-white oldies/older Disney movies or TV programs like "Jon and Kate Plus Eight" or some home/garden show. We do have some season's collections too: guilty pleasures such as "Smallville/Gilmore Girls/Quantum Leap. Husband will want to watch sport.

This was a fun post to do, but I don't even want to think how many hours I've been at it! Trying to find pictures and actually getting up to take more appropriate photos and downloading them and not finding them!

What to Blog About?

2008-06-28T12:30:00.004-05:00

Sorry about my lack of blogging. I can't seem to think of anything to write about. But remember that blogging is not my career or first priority in life!

Today I will post some pictures that were taken recently. Lately all my blogging has been is pictures! I think that is the thing to do when you can't think of anything to blog about.

Thursday

2008-06-18T22:22:00.008-05:00

Here are some more wedding pictures from my son's wedding; these ones were taken by the professional photographer.

Enjoy!

Monday

2008-06-16T09:47:00.005-05:00

Here are some pictures of our backyard. I took a few and so did my youngest daughter.

More Wedding Pictures

2008-06-10T16:35:00.007-05:00

Middle Child and Youngest waiting to pose for the photographer...the professional one.
The beautiful couple. The bride's bouquet contained roses and quite a few varieties of South African flowers: Calla lilies, yellow Freesias and Ericas. ("Heide")
The whole family, both sides.
Some of the flowers Mother-of-the-bride and I bought at Costco to arrange for the church service.

Middle Child and her hockey playing "friend."

Tuesday

2008-06-10T16:06:00.005-05:00

We have lovely apple trees in the yard, and apparently the apples will be delicious! Our next door neighbour advised me to buy a juicer, and I did! Come fall, I will need recipes for apple butter and apple jelly and how to can apples and how to preserve the juice. (Hopefully...)

Youngest in the hot tub on the deck, looking towards the river. I never thought I would like or use a hot tub, but we use it most days!

There's supposed to be a deer in this picture, but obviously I wasn't quick enough! Some of the apple trees can be seen on the right hand side of the photo.

"I Do"

2008-05-20T22:02:00.010-05:00

Well my son's wedding (which was on Saturday in Saskatoon) is now over. Him and his new wife left for Hawaii (for their honeymoon) today with our camera. So I unfortunately only have a few pics to post right now. And they are only of the ceremony plus taken by someone else just to let you know.

Enjoy!

more to come next week!

Announcement!

2008-05-08T16:57:00.002-05:00

Well, as you can see on the top right of my page, we are expecting our first grandchild sometime in October!

Happy Birthday To My Daughter-In-Law

2008-05-05T09:24:00.007-05:00

Yesterday was my son's fiance's 21st birthday. Here are some pictures.

Charlie and Ginger pics.

Melktert/Milktart(?)

2008-04-20T14:44:00.007-05:00

Another traditional Afrikaner recipe: "melktert" or milktart, (or is it milk pie?). Again, a lot of different recipes, the one I use is adapted from my Mom's old "Kook en Geniet".

Traditionally milk tarts were baked in red copper pie tins, the kind that had little feet; hot coal were placed under the tin and more hot coal or ashes placed on the lid.

This recipe makes two:

Preheat oven 200C/425F

Crust: I use

Defrost on the counter for about 10 minutes, prick the bottom and sides and bake for 10 minutes. Let cool. (Puff pastry is traditionally used, and tastes the best, but I don't usually have it on hand and haven't tried to make my own.)

1 liter (4 cups) milk

2 cinnamon sticks

60 ml (0.25 cup) butter

250 ml (1 cup) flour

60 ml (0.25 cup) cornflour

125 ml (0.5 cup) sugar

2 ml (0.5 teaspoon) salt

4 eggs

2.5-5 ml (0.5-1 teaspoon) almond essence = optional. (I like this, not traditional I think)

cinnamon sugar

Pour 750 ml (3 cups) of the milk in a largish saucepan, add the butter and cinnamon sticks and bring to a boil.

Mix the rest of the milk with the flour, cornflour, sugar and salt to make a paste and quickly add to the boiling milk while stirring so that it doesn't become lumpy. Remove from the heat when the mixture thickens and set aside.

Beat eggs and almond essence well and add to slightly cooled milk mixture while stirring vigorously. (If milk mixture is too hot, the egg starts cooking and makes the tart a bit lumpy etc.)

Pour into pie shells, sprinkle cinnamon sugar on top.

Bake for 10 minutes, then lower oven temperature to 180C/350F and bake another 10 minutes or until it sets. (I usually leave the pies in the oven as it cools, so all-in-all a baking time of 20-40 minutes.)

Remove from oven and let cool, it's delicious slightly warm or cold. Add extra cinnamon sugar if you desire.

Keep leftovers wrapped with foil in fridge.
It also works well for milk tartlets; adjust baking time accordingly.

All About Nothing...

2008-04-20T14:12:00.008-05:00

Thank You Youngest Daughter for posting for me, about the wedding invite!

I'll explain the third picture below in a later post.
The story following the pictures is something niece C in SA sent; I hope you enjoy it too:

Our dogs

One of our resident "leopards"

A wealthy old Gentleman decides to go on a hunting safari in Africa , taking his faithful, elderly Jack Russell named Killer, along for the company.

One day the old Jack Russell starts chasing rabbits and before long, discovers that he's lost. Wandering about, he notices a leopard heading rapidly in his direction with the intention of having lunch. The old Jack Russell thinks, "Oh, oh! I'm in deep doo-doo now!" Noticing some bones on the ground close by, he immediately settles down to chew on the bones with his back to the approaching cat. Just as the leopard is about to leap, the old Jack Russell exclaims loudly, "Boy, that was one delicious leopard! I wonder if there are any more around here?" Hearing this, the young leopard halts his attack in mid-strike, a look of terror comes over him and he slinks away into the trees. "Whew!" says the leopard, "That was close! That old Jack Russell nearly had me!"

Meanwhile, a monkey who had been watching the whole scene from a nearby tree, figures he can put this knowledge to good use and trade it for protection from the leopard. So off he goes, but the old Jack Russell sees him heading after the leopard with great speed, and figures that something must be up. The monkey soon catches up with the leopard, spills the beans and strikes a deal for himself with the leopard. The young leopard is furious at being made a fool of and says, "Here, monkey, hop on my back and see what's going to happen to that conniving canine!

Now, the old Jack Russell sees the leopard coming with the monkey on his back and thinks, "What am I going to do now?" but instead of running, the dog sits down with his back to his attackers, pretending he hasn't seen them yet, and just when they get close enough to hear, the old Jack Russell says... "Where's that damn monkey? I sent him off an hour ago to bring me another leopard!"

Moral of this story.... Don't mess with the old dogs...age and skill will always overcome youth and treachery! BS and brilliance only come with age and experience.

If you don't send this to five "old" friends right away there will be five fewer people laughing in the world. Of course, I am in no way insinuating that any of you are old, some are just more "youthfully challenged." You did notice the size of the print, didn't you?

The Wedding Invitation

2008-04-18T14:39:00.003-05:00

Here is a scanned copy of my son's and and his fiancee's wedding invitation. Of course it does not look as pretty when scanned and also because I had to block out the names (so that it would be okay to show on the web).
Now that you all know where the wedding will be, don't think your invited (no offense)! Unfortunately you can only attend if you recieved this in the mail. I just wanted to show the family in SA what the invites look like. What do you think?

2008-04-08T20:52:00.012-05:00

Today, a year ago, on Resurrection Sunday, my brother died. He was only 44 and left behind his wife, 4 children and one on the way. I will never understand why it was his time to die, (there's my 96-year old grandmother, being ready and wanting desperately, to "go home" for many, many years?) but the pain of loss for me has deminished somewhat, something I thought would never happen.