Here and there

Once again we find ourselves facing a new week and the rapid closing of June, I can hardly believe that we are just about half way through this year, where oh where has the time gone? Last week was a relatively quiet 'normal' week for us with no major happenings, we have had some rain and a few windless days but winter has definitely arrived, very late but here non the less. As I sit and type this the wind is blowing a literal gale, earlier trying to hang up the washing felt like trying to tame a hyperactive octopus and driving Jelly Bean to work was also an interesting exercise with the wind battering the little car from side to side. We've had a fire going for days now which was one of our biggest dreams during the build up to the move, it is such a joy to sit warm and cozy with a hot mug of tea/coffee in hand, all the animals curls up sleeping and a beautiful fire, sheer bliss.

A friend of mine who lives in BB and is a very keen gardener, she calls it fynbos therapy, has been on the lookout for a couple of weeks for a suitable piece of wood which we, Hubby dearest, can turn into a cat condo and has been sending photos of possible contestants. Last week after the storm she discovered that her beautiful tree had been blown down, she has an eye that can see beyond a horizontal felled tree and quickly got to work stripping the leaves and lots of the branches. I got a very excited call about the newest 'contestant' and so Hubby and I made a quick trip and left there with our car looking like we had a moose's antlers tied to the roof, what a beautiful tree this precious friend blessed us with. Now it's up to my very clever Hubby to incorporate it into a new cat condo where we can put in a couple of shelves and maybe a hammock, with all the climbing, playing space the cats could need, watch this space....

I am still busy experimenting with sourdough recipes and have so far had really good success with salted crackers and pull apart dinner rolls, I definitely foresee many more experiments coming out of this oven. For someone who many, many years ago tried her hand at bread making / baking and failed miserably every time I am thoroughly enjoying making almost all of our baked goods - breads, crackers, rolls, pizza, biscuits and rusks. We have become fairly self sufficient as far as that kind of thing is concerned and we are still enjoying and trying out new and different vegetarian dishes. Jasper takes a very keen interest in the baking side of things as he is quite unashamedly addicted to yoghurt and butter and the minute I start he is front and centre checking into all the bowls etc.

Folks I want to end off this week's Blog with an encouragement, so many people I know are right at this moment really battling with circumstances and situations that they have no 'physical' control over, with discouragement and exhaustion. I want to say to all of us is that it is perfectly normal to want to throw our toys out of the cot, to just loose the plot as it were. I saw something last week which I shared with a family member who was struggling with something, it read : "It's ok to loose 'the plot' and be upset but, it's not ok to build a tent and camp there." In other words be kind to yourself, recognise that this is just a season and no amount of worry and stress is going to change a thing, take some time out for yourself and do something that feeds your spirit. There are so many times when the fight just seems too much, too exhausting, no light at the end of the tunnel, try to just take a step back and look at all the times you've fought a battle and at the end of every battle there was and always will be a light at the end of the tunnel. Keep looking for that light and know that so far your survival rate is 100%, hang in there friend you've got this, God will never let you down He has brought you this far in life and is not about to abandon you now.

Wishing each of you dear friends a fantastic week ahead, stay safe please.

Gemma enjoying the fire



Sourdough salted crackers



Our potential cat condo (you have to imagine the end product) lol