Thursday 14 March 2019

New Hanover Bass Competition


This past weekend Garren took part in the New Hanover Prep Bass Competition. 

I unfortunately did not crack the nod for an invitation - it could be because our wee girl is still so small and 3am wake up sessions just wouldn't fare us well. This year so far all fishing has been done with Rob while us girls go about on our own for the day. 

This was his second year participating in the competition and he did well yet again. Last year he won the Junior Angler biggest bass for Dam 17 and this year he won at Dam 8.

He was so excited and we are so proud. The prizes were phenomenal again!

His trophies will be mounted soon on his bedroom wall to be admired and inspire.


Tuesday 12 March 2019

Postcards from Karridene



We recently made our way down the south coast of Kwa Zulu Natal to the beautiful coastline of Karridene

Although overcast for most of our stay at the Caravan Park and Beach we made good use of our few days there. 

Sandcastles were built, bodies were splashed about the waves and our evenings were filled with so much banter with family friends who shared in our deep soulful belly laughter.

Such a blessed weekend away with special humans.

Wednesday 6 March 2019

Knits For February


Hello there friends,

I have finally had a chance to add my February knits to Ravelry. We have been so super busy with home school lessons and preparing for the term end projects and tests. We were away, for a much needed break, at the coast of Karridene for the weekend too. I will get to posting a few pics a little later on the blog.

This month I was given the privilege of knitting for Norah of Fox and Folk again. I so love her patterns and they are a pleasure to knit up. The first test knit was for a Slipped Stitch Tam which I knit up in a soft Rose Elle Pure Gold Double Knit - perfect sizing for Danika. The second was a Shooting Stars Cap, I loved Elle Pure Gold for the first that I used it again for this one but in a Plum 4ply. I was so pleased with the end result that I have decided to keep this one for me. Both beautiful patterns are up for purchase on her website and on her Ravelry shop too. 

This month I had planned to just knit a few more wash cloths for the children but when Norah added her next test knit I just couldn't help but grab at the opportunity. 

Daisy Chain Socks! 

Now enough rambling on here and to get cracking at casting on for them.


Love as always
♥  Angela

Thursday 28 February 2019

February

Hello there,

What a month it has been. Daylight hours have noticeably started lessening. I see it every morning while I go about my chores before the rest of my tribe awakens. There Sun only starts peeking its face around 6ish every morning. With that so do the small children. I have always wanted a life where we rise with the sun and head on indoors when the darkness falls at the end of the day. Although my internal clock knows this will never happen for me, I can see this manifesting with Danika and Garren. Obviously things are a little different for Rob and Josh as they spend their days away from the home at work and school.


February also blesssed us with a visit from Tristan. Although a short stay - everyday was a blessing for me to have him home. It took Danika all of 5 minutes to remember him and then for the whole two weeks she would not leave his side. He makes his way back to his home in Jilin City this weekend and although we chat constantly (or rather when he can get a free moment from his busy schedule) he will be so sorely missed.


This month all five of us made our way to New Hanover to apply for our passports. That in itself took up much of our day. I dont want to say too many bad things about this experience as we in actual fact had an easier time applying than most other humans who are on this same path. Danika proved to show such patience (more than most adults in the queue) and so I most certainly counted my blessings in that regard.


Although the daylight hours are slowly darkening the heat has not let up. This week we hit highs of close to 40 degrees Celsius. So although Autumn is eminent the temps are still in Summer. I am not sure how I feel about saying goodbye to Summer, my feelings are rather mixed this year. I long for more cooler hours of finishing off knitted projects and casseroles with homemade bread yet I am still very much in Summer mode were gloriously fresh summer salads and sipping on ice teas are a joy.

I hope your month was blessed and that the new month will bring you all your hearts desires.

Love as always,
♥  Angela

Tuesday 26 February 2019

Chocolate Chip Muffins

Hello there,

I am in the kitchen again! (as always) and I thought since I haven't shared a recipe for a long while, this one was certainly one to get up on the blog for saving.

I am by no means a baker or chef but I am a mama who loves to dabble in all things homemade. Store bought bakes just dont make my heart sing. As the months have gone by I have been adding recipes to my small note book that are simple and quick to whip together and really dont ask for those ugly preservatives that get laden in store bought bakes. I hope to share them here soon! (and as I go along). I had such lovely feedback from you all a few posts back about sharing more here that I know it is really something I want to do more of. I really do read each and every comment and message sent privately. I love connecting with you all. Thank you.

I didn't get a chance to photograph more than what I have here - these delicious Chocolate Chip Muffins didn't really stand a chance as with most homemade bakes in our home. I hope you love them as much as my tribe do.

Now to go and make another batch to freeze for our weekend away.

Homemade Chocolate Chip Muffins Recipe 
  • 2 cups all purpose flour
  • 1 tablespoon baking powder
  • 1/2 a teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 cup of soft butter
  • 1/4 cup of brown sugar
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla essence
  • 1 egg
  • 1 1/2 cups of milk
  • 1 box of chocolate chips (approximately 250grams) 
Sift the flour baking powder and salt together
Cream together butter sugar and vanilla essence until light and fluffy 
Whisk the egg and milk until combined
Fold in the dry ingredients and add the chocolate chips
Spoon the batter into a 12 cup muffin pan until 3/4 full 

Bake for 20-25 minutes at 180 degrees celcius.

Enjoy!
♥ always - Angela

Wednesday 13 February 2019

They're All Together Again


 
It's absolutely wonderful having all my children together all at once. 
It has been over a year since they last meandered and played and spent time together in our backyard.

Tristan is home for just a week to renew his visa and then he heads back to his home in Jilin City.

This right here, all rounded up are my Simple Pleasures.

Monday 11 February 2019

Saying Farewell

I woke this morning to my usual chores of getting the laundry on the go and washing up of the last of the dinner dishes. There are always more to do even though most of them get done after dinner in the evening. I opened the kitchen curtains and my heart broke a little more. My morning view of our feathered egg laying friends that greet me daily had changed. Instead there was an empty coop. It had finally hit home that they had been re-homed. Our girls have been part of our family since 2014 and have delighted us in so many ways. But, with all things (that are happening in our lives at the moment) it was time to send them back to their original home "Bits n Pieces Farm.
It was a sad day. Saying goodbye brought back so many memories of their time with us. Our very first egg, our first hatching and the umpteen memories of cleaning and feeding and chit chatting away with them. I know that they will be much happier now. As soon as they are settled they will slowly be integrated with the others and will free range as we had always hoped they would. They will make new friends and be part of a community that will give them the life that we wanted to give them but could not because of our monkey neighbours and scary predatory bird life. 

They have been so very special and I hope that in our future we will once again share new memories with a new flock.

Thursday 31 January 2019

January

Happy New Year friends of our blog!

I almost decided not to make an appearance here this year and rather post updates on Instagram but I knew that in time that I would regret that. I go through phases where I log out of all social media platforms and often delete or deactivate accounts yet I always come back to the blog. So, my intention for this year is to update at least once a month and if time permits maybe more but most certainly a monthly update. That way I have all our memories here too. We have set a slow and steady pace this year and I hope to carry that through the year. Slow + Steady. There is always so much happening all around us that we often get too caught up in the rush and forget to stop and breathe. This year that will be different. Yes, we have plans and those have been set in motion but I still believe that we can plan and do and be without being catapulted into the midst of chaos. Does that make any sense at all?
 
I started my knitting year with a sweet Helena's Bonnet I have been meaning to knit up for ages. I found it on ravelry some time back but never actually got around to casting on. The initial plan was to make one for Danika - this one is for my nephew (he arrives in May). I had the honour of test knitting Northwinds Mittens for Nora of Fox & Folk this month. I have never participated in a test knit and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Nora's patterns have always caught my eye and I loved learning to Latvian Braid. I'm sure the pattern will be up on her website soon so keep checking back for it.
We have kept with Clonard Distance Education for our home school curriculum for Garren this year. We flew through it in grade 4 last year and it follows the same principles and layout as he experienced when he was at Merchiston Prep. It makes sense to him and if ever the need should arise we can whip him back into the schooling system without a hitch. He has enjoyed the various themes set for this term so far with History's "Hunters-gatherers and herders of Southern Africa" being his favourite. We have painted on rocks and Oupie has regaled tales of his army days when he befriended a San and this person taught him a few secrets to living out in the wild and bush!  Fridays I spend a little more craft time with Danika. We craft up an activity from the theme we have set for the week. Garren climbs in and enjoys it too even though it's a little on the "baby" side for him. This month we focused on All About Me and Pets. Joshua is in his last year of school, I cant believe it. He has been proudly wearing his new blazer with new trimming to show his colours achieved and he feels confident he is on the road to where his heart wants to be. He also received his ID document book so that adds to the whole feeling of being quite grown up - right? This also means that he gets to register to vote with us this year.
It really hasn't been a good start to the year in our vegetable garden. The weather has been a little bipolar! We have had days were the heat would debilitate and with highs of over 40 degrees Celsius we would hide out inside until the cool afternoon and swim away until late in the evening. Then wild winds would blow in and knock down our veggie tee-pees and then bring in rain for days. Dont get me wrong... we have had a good harvest of carrots and tomatoes and lettuce and bush beans but our spinach hasn't fared well at all. We will keep at it. Rob added a new row of carrots, spinach and coriander. I love that stuff I add coriander to everything!
In conclusion January has been a good month all round. 

Not excellent - Not outstanding  - Just Good  - Just Satisfying - Just Beautifully Slow + Steady!

Exactly the way we hoped and planned it would be. 

I for one am ready for February and all the simple pleasures and sweet moments that will come with it. 


this post was shared with Ginny's Yarn Along link up.