Changing seasons

It's Autumn in South Africa and the temperatures are dropping.  The first cold front of the season is expected to hit Johannesburg this weekend.  I'm wearing my boots for the first time this year - I love warm socks and boots in winter.  Goodbye summer...

 

The early morning view from my office in Sandton.  Just a few hours to go and then it's weekend - yesss!

 

Have a great weekend everyone!

 

Randomness

Pizza Hut used to be in South Africa years ago, and then disappeared for several years.  It reopened recently so for old times' sake, I tried out a pizza over the Easter weekend.  Dis-gus-ting!!  It was very expensive for a soggy mess, I couldn't differentiate the taste of the mushroom, peperoni and pineapple, and the tomato base was so strong and very acid - it overpowered everything.  Awful.  I won't do that again.

I'm loving this little book of prayers; it focuses my monkey brain when I want to pray and my mind is too busy

I'm totally in love with Salvia Hotlips - it makes me so happy to see this plant in my garden and the name is perfect for it!

Easter Sunday

Despite heavy rain overnight, we bravely headed to Walter Sisulu Botanical Gardens for a walk and breakfast on Easter Sunday.  The mist was thick when we arrived and it was very cold, but we did 2 brisk circuit walks up the steep hill and down again - Lynn's Jawbone pedometer indicated that we did over 5 000 steps.  We definitely earned a sit down and breakfast under the trees after our walk!

 

 I love this place!

with Lynn 

my sister Caron 

 

 

Easter weekend

I had all sorts of grand plans for the 4 day Easter weekend, but it went by far too quickly!  I attended the Maundy Thursday Service at Ridgecrest Church in Honeydew at the start of the long weekend, and then spent the day at Soulstice Spa on Friday with my friend Cathy.

 

On Saturday, Lynette and I spent the day scrapbooking in Pretoria at Leonie's home.  It was a lovely gentle day which included some shopping (the Doringkloof Mall kids party shop and the Creative Talents shops are great!) and we got quite a lot of scrapping done.  Leonie made a delicious Mexican lunch.

 

 

 I gave this mug to Leonie for her birthday - it has a built-in mesh filter to make the perfect cup of filter coffee.  How clever is that?!  Perfect for our upcoming trip to Alaska.  I bought it at Chefs 'n Icers in Sandton City

a gorgeous travel layout, ready for photos of Alaska!

Leonie is a very talented gardener, and her garden is totally gorgeous

Family time

After turning 50 in January, I'm saying yes to more last minute things than I usually do, so when my cousin Bev called on Friday to invite me to tea on Saturday, I said yes.  We were both surprised that I had a 'free' day, because I usually over-book my weekends (I'm type A personality with OCD!) to get as much done as possible. 

 

With my heart and prayers with the family and friends and pets of the plane that was deliberately crashed in the Alps, flight MH370 still missing and many people still missing from the AirAsia crash, I breathe a prayer of deep gratitude to be able to spend time with my family.  I travel a lot and have several long-haul flights coming up in May and June, so these air tragedies are always on my mind.   

My cousin Bev is 6 months older than me.  She has started painting classes recently and painted this picture of Cosmos for my sister Caron as a birthday gift.  I love it when people get passionate about hobbies.  Everyone needs a hobby, no matter what it is

 

My cousin Owen (Bev's brother) is 6 months younger than me.  I haven't seen him in a long time so it was awesome to spend time at his home.  He's part mad professor and part IT genius (he's actually a chartered accountant who owns a furniture business!).  He is delightfully scatterbrained and very chilled.  Love you Owen!

 

 

my Aunty May (Bev and Owen's mom) has not been well so it was great to see her.  Like my mother, she is battling the beginning stages of dementia.  Although she owns her own home, she lives with Owen; he has hired several helpers to look after her.  Owen looks after her so well and he has endless patience with her - I really admire him. 

Bev with her daughter Amy

 

   

late in the day and after having consumed far too many sugary tea-time treats, Bev started jiving and even did some ballet - you go girl!!

He died and rose again

"For we believe that Jesus died and rose again"   1 Thessalonians 4:14

 

"They will flog Him and kill Him. On the third day He will rise again”  Luke 18:33

Passover

I attended the Passover supper (seder) hosted by Jews for Jesus at Honeyridge Baptist Church last weekend.  It was amazing and so meaningful as we enter the most important week of the year for Christians.  I learnt so much and was so grateful to be able to attend, and to go deeper with God.

 

  

Cathy is a wonderful Christian friend and we share many similar struggles (and looong conversations) as we grow in faith