My Life's Winding Roads: Family Birthday Month Done and Dusted.

My Life's Winding Roads: Family Birthday Month Done and Dusted.:   Good morning family and friends from a sunny, quiet little Village by the sea in South Africa.  With all the reports of El Nino the weathe...

Family Birthday Month Done and Dusted.

 Good morning family and friends from a sunny, quiet little Village by the sea in South Africa.  With all the reports of El Nino the weather seems to be all upside down here in the Cape.  Today the air is still but cold, the sea is flat and the sun is shining.  We are swinging between really hot days and then snow up country days later, looking out of the window to gauge what to wear is just not working at the moment.  Normally we would be heading into the lovely mild days of Spring but seem to be stuck between complete opposites.  To say that I am not looking forward to summer would be the understatement of the year.

What a month we have just had, WOW.  This year truly seems to have been busier and gone much faster than normal.  As a family we started off the month with our precious little Munchkin's 2nd Birthday, yep already, can you believe it?  Mom and Dad had a super little party for him with his little buddies and friends, then on his birthday he had a little party at Playschool.  He truly brings so much life and laughter into our lives and is a continual source of joy.  He is such a gentle, appreciative little boy with a personality that absolutely sparkles.  Every present was met with delight and wonder and some unique responses.  When opening a gift we gave him all he could say was "Oh my soul", "Oh my Soul".  We have the video to prove it and none of us realised how often we say that, heart melting moments I tell you.

Life on our home front was equally busy with work coming in, in a steady stream.  I am still amazed that a chance remark by Poppet after I did an alteration for her three years ago, led to me starting a business and even more that it is still going and doing well.  Sometimes it feels as if I can't keep up, but for the most part it is steady and at a pace that I can keep up with.  God has shown His faithfulness to me in just this alone that I stand in awe.  If anyone had told me I would do sewing, mending and alterations for a living I would have laughed them away.  Special thanks must go to Big Guy for all the ripped rugby shorts and shirts that he produced during his career, that by necessity needed mending and fixing.  Also to his brother and sisters for their ongoing contributions to the mending piles over the years, who knew guys?  The knitting and crocheting seem to have quieted down somewhat ( also seasonal I guess).  I am still busy with my Big chunky blanket which I have purposely drawn out, just because it is such fun to do, I also had to wait for extra wool to be delivered.  Yesterday I started knitting a Chunky zip up Cardigan as an order for a client, this is a first for me so holding thumbs that it all works out and fits properly.  I have noticed though, a strange thing, one cannot just go into a store and buy a knitting pattern anymore, no one sells them. 

Princess is doing well and busy with her last push before finishing Uni in November.  She has done so well and is looking forward to moving back to the Cape and putting all her knowledge into action.  BigBear took part in a huge sporting even during the  middle of the month, Hyrox Cape Town, and finished with his partner in  1:26:35. Well done guys for an outstanding achievement.   Wednesday was MamaBear's Birthday and today is BigBear's birthday,  Happy Birthday to both you you.  I pray God continues to bless you both in every area for many years still to come.   . Most of the family have been down with this year's version of flu, some more than once.  Currently Jelly Bean, Poppet and Myself are trying to shake it off, it is a nasty one for sure.  I haven't had flu in years, but this is the second bout this year and I am not impressed.  When I saw the Dr last Wednesday he said that they have seen more people with this flu than they saw patients during CoVid.

Last weekend was my 70th Birthday and the whole family came together for the weekend, except for my little Princess.  BigGuy flew down and we all spent a wonderful weekend with the Bears in Hout Bay.  MamaBear had organised everything to a T, thank you precious for all the planning and preparation and thank you family for showing up and all you did, for all the spoils and love and just being present.  At one point on Saturday night during the Rugby match we were watching, I was sitting slightly apart from the group and looked at all of the people I love most in the world (minus Princess), and I just thanked God for the privilege of being here to see my family all together, shouting at the TV just the way they did when they still lived at home, interacting with each other and just being .. FAMILY.  It was a moment that touched me deeply as a privilege and honour to be here and share this time with them.  I love you guys and being your Mom and Granny / AmAm is the greatest honour I have been given and what I dreamt of as a child growing up.

Hubby is inundated with clocks at the moment, with some very special and even rare clocks that are in for repair and or service.  I can't keep track of what comes in and what goes out and, again, it is all thanks to the Lord because it is all word of mouth and his clients come from the other side of Cape Town to bring their clocks (or, more normally he collects the clocks) .  After a couple of extended power failures recently here he has decided to upgrade our Inverter and Solar system.  To that end he is busy gathering the needed upgrades and preparing to install it all.  There are a lot of people upgrading their systems and so some of what we need he has been able to buy from people he knows, which is a huge help cost wise.  Our current Inverter is small and just enough to charge phones and keep the fridge running, when we have sun.  We had a period not long ago when we were without power for  close to eleven days and most of those were wet and cold. The Electrical and Plumbing infrastructure in our three Villages is old and was not designed to carry the load that the influx of people has caused.  also the weather plays a big part, poles get blown over and then Substations blow up and we then sit in darkness, so, every step individuals can take to get off the grid is important all round.

Well folks, I think I have rambled on long enough and brought you all up to date, more or less, on what is going on in my life.  As we bring August to a close and start the last quarter of 2026 I pray that it will be a kind season for us all, a healthy season and a peaceful  journey to the end of the year.  Stay well and stay safe wherever you are.  Ciao Ciao.

2nd Birthday Party treats.

Hout Bay.

My Life's Winding Roads: This year has flown July is history.

My Life's Winding Roads: This year has flown July is history.:   Good morning all, I trust that this finds everyone well and carrying on with life.  I know that there are speed bumps in all of our lives ...

This year has flown July is history.

 Good morning all, I trust that this finds everyone well and carrying on with life.  I know that there are speed bumps in all of our lives and sometimes negotiating them takes a lot of fortitude, strength and wisdom.  What I try and remember everytime I hit one is that so far I have overcome every single one, some more successfully than others, but, I am still here to tell the story.  I'm not sure how I got onto this subject but for those who need it, chin up, prayer line busy, and keep going. 🙏🏻

It feels very odd that we are in August and that July just seemed to evaporate.  It was busy as usual but a different kind of busy.  I may have mentioned that there is a Wool Shop who is now stocking my Octopuses, and crochet toys.  They also requested some Beanies which I delivered. Some sold and now there is an order for more.  Eeek. I have been knitting beanies that I almost know the pattern out of my head.  There was one that totally messed with my brain. I tried crocheting it thinking it would be quicker, it wasnt. So I frogged it and started again trying a different pattern.  Oh my goodness, truly Sharon just stick with what works.  I think I frogged (unwound) that one beanie about 5 times. It is now finished, there is another one which I should get finished today and I will try and squeeze in a third one. I have to deliver on Tuesday.  This has lead to some expansions on my original range of just baby toys.  I am also trying to finish a blanket that will become part of the Hooked_in_Luv range.

In between the crazy knitting I still have mending work coming is.  Some are really straightforward and some are mind benders of note. See pic at the bottom.  I can't explain why I find mending fulfilling, but I do and for the most part really enjoy it.

JB and I went through to Hout Bay as BigBear was overseas on business for 10 days. We had a wonderful time exploring somewhere new every day and keeping his busy.  One of the places we went to was the Rondebosch Library which is housed in what used to be the Town Hall.  This was an emotion morning for me, because I the '80's my late husband and I had our Church in this building. I was taking photos and the Librarian told me I couldn't.  When I told her my history with the building she gave me free reign and even let me go back to the offices where we had our Admin Centre.  Wow what a trip down memory lane 42 years later and apart from becoming a library it is still the same and a glorious old building. We also went Clay Paid the f which was so much fun. Our precious little Prince is growing so fast, that it is hard to keep up.  He is a total little parrot and copies every word.  He has a lisp and so some words don't quite come out the way they should, which has caused some shock and then great laughter.  This little angel has settled in his mind that I am called "AmAm", his version of gramgram I think. JB is and always has been "NeyNey" we have no idea how that originated.  Prince is an absolute joy to be around and every day becomes more independent and lovable. mommy started potty training the week we left as he would complain when his nappy was wet, and is doing so well with it that I am amazed.  We're not 100% there but he is well on his way.

The family are all well. Everyone either getting over the flu or fighting off round two of it including JB and I.  Princess is busy with her second last project before she finishes her degree in November and, after having been home last month is finding it a difficult adjustment to be back for a short time.  You are nearly there Princess, keep pushing, you will be home soon. Big Guy will be in Cape Town in 19 days Yippeeee. He is coming down for my Birthday, I cannot wait to see him and spend some time catching up and visiting. As some of you might remember, August In our family is Birthday Month with four of us, in our direct family, celebrating birthdays. Whoop whoop, I love it.

Weather wise it has been, for the most part, a mild winter.  The storms we've had have been epic and vicious but our rainfall figures for July are way down on what they should be.  We really need a lot  more rain, hopefully without the damage and destruction. The temperatures are also slightly higher and are in the mild side. Cold at night but generally comfortable during the day. I could have these temperatures all the time and am dreading the onslaught of summer, especially with all the warnings and predictions of El Nino. I'm already trying to think of cooking solutions.

Folks that is about all my news for now. I wish you all a good month, stay safe and well. Ciao ciao.

The first batch of Beanies

A repair project.

My Life's Winding Roads: June ? What June ?

My Life's Winding Roads: June ? What June ?:   Good morning everybody, today's Blog comes to you from a very cold Hout Bay.  We have had a good number of cold fronts so far and  eac...

June ? What June ?

 Good morning everybody, today's Blog comes to you from a very cold Hout Bay.  We have had a good number of cold fronts so far and  each one seems a little colder than the last.  June was kind  of a blur of activity, all good but so much that it feels like it just evaporated. 

For me the month started off with the usual annual slew of medical tests. From Blood tests to MRI, CT Scan, Ultrasound and then finally an appointment with my Surgeon.  The really good news is that at the five year mark I am officially cancer free. All Glory to God for having brought me through this journey successfully. 🙏🏼

We did a quick trip to GB, to actually visit with Mom, Dad and our little Prince, all at the same time. This very seldom happens and was a true blessing. It was also good for little Munchkin to know we don't only visit when Daddy or Mommy go away. He is so very cute and growing cuter by the day.  The words are flowing , he hears it once and that's it he has a new word.  On the way home whilst on the highway, which is nicknamed " the hell run" because of all the criminal activities that take place on it, we noticed that the car was overheating. Seriously ???  I turned off as soon as I could and instead of finding a close garage faced a long road between off and onramps. I pulled over and couldn't see any steam but the needle was in the red. Eventually I called BigBear who was in Noordhoek (far away) for advice and he insisted in driving through to us.  A very kind elderly gent stopped his bakkie and tried to help. The radiator was full and not boiling. So grrr 🤦🏼‍♀️.  He wouldn't leave us there and followed us to the next onramp.  From there it was a couple of kilometers to the nearest garage. When they opened the radiator there very little water.  BigBear arrived with extra water and I decided to carry on. We did a location share and JB and I drive home at 40 Kph.  It took over four hours but we got there and didn't seize the engine. Turns out the thermostat was faulty and jammed.  Hubby fixed it that week and has also replaced the "O ring" .  Look at me and all my mechanical jargon 🤣🤣

Back home work came in and I was also quite busy making knitted beanies for the Wool shop that is stocking my Octopuses.  Things have become super busy with it all.  I have been very patiently waiting to finish all the "orders" to start making chunky blankets.  I got happily all set up on Saturday only to very quickly realise I dont have enough wool 🤦🏼‍♀️🥺 .  Therefore,  said blanket is waiting for me to get back home to get wool at the shop. It is so frustrating seeing the partly finished blanket and having time on my hands to do it. 😂

As I said at the beginning JB and I are in Hout Bay, house sitting whilst the family are having a well deserved holiday. It is very strange being here and not having our little treasure to look after. Although, the geyser element packed up on Friday evening and despite the cold front we could only get it repaired this morning.  Oh how I love hot water 🤣On Friday JB and I went adventuring in this side of time. We drive over Chapman's Peak and through to Kommetjie where we drove around looking at the beach, a little Bay and the Slangkop Lighthouse which was built in 1919. The wind was howling so from there we drove back to Noordhoek and went to browse the Noordhoek Farm Village and enjoyed a yummy coffee.  The most had started rolling in as we went from the Farm to the beach.  It was so absolutely beautiful and peaceful with the must coming in 😍.  We should have taken our scenic photos on the way out because with the most we couldn't see beyond the edge of the road. Getting back to GB and the Sun was shining, that's the Cape for you, but oh what a wonderful day.

The rest of the family are doing well, the girls are both recovering from the flu. Princess flew down earlier in the month on Uni holiday. She is also doing a three week Internship (down here) as part of her final year, and thoroughly loving every minute.  First Poppet came down with flu and then Princess - playing tag. Thankfully they are both much better and back to normal   Big guy is busy as usual and staying well 🙏🏼.  Hubby has done a fine job of eliminating most of our leaks. The clocks are keeping him on the run as they seem to be coming from all over Cape Town  and the Overstrand. Óur neighbour eventually managed to have all the storm debris cut away and removed. He is still planning on fixing the fence and we are both working on flower beds from  both sides.  For some reason Jasper our very huge and unpredictable tuxedo cat has become very loving towards me.  He is really a bully and scared of his own shadow. He is BIG, and weighs about 8kgs despite eating exactly the same as little Zeepha.  He has, historically, always loved me but very quick to bite me as well.  Anyway at the moment he is this huge, purring shadow and attachment to me. Mama bear has a saying in Afrikaans which translates means "like a mussel in a rock".  I, am somewhat cautious as he caused my last two Tetanus shots and many scars. Hmmm I feel a bit like a cameleon when I'm with him. Charlie's nose gets a bit out of joint as well when it comes to lap space. 

Well folks, that was what the calendar called June 🤣 in my life it was a busy blur.  I pray you (and I) all have a wonderful July. Please stay safe and well. Ciao ciao.

Some pics from our day trip. The iconic Noordhoek Beach and a look down one of the gorges along Chapman's Peak 

My Life's Winding Roads: Look at this, it is not even June yet

My Life's Winding Roads: Look at this, it is not even June yet: Good afternoon friends and family, I trust today's post finds everyone well and hopefully enjoying a wonderful Sunday.  Wow what a month...