Scrapbooking as medicine

My life has been really stressful lately...every day seems so long and hard with little joy and peace.  My 'to do' list is endless and some things I just don't know what to do about, like the big crack in my bedroom wall.  It's been a really tough month, so having the Scrap Addicts around for the day on Saturday was like medicine to my wounded soul.  Having Lynn and Linda over to scrapbook and talk and laugh and relax was wonderful, just what I needed.

the dining room table ready for scrapbooking 

a Christmas in July gift for the ladies plus a 'happy half year birthday' gift for Lynn - as Capricorns, we receive all our gifts in December and January, and then nothing for the rest of the year, so Lynn and I now celebrate a half year birthday

I love my patio.  We ate lunch out here, otherwise we stayed indoors as a cold wind started to blow ahead of the cold front which hit Johannesburg this week 

Princess Ruby is also a member of the Scrap Addicts group.  She lay in her basket up against the heater for most of the day 

For lunch, I made baked crumbed chicken breasts on fresh fettucine smothered in pesto sauce and topped with toasted pine nuts, rocket and parmesan shavings - delicious!

Linda, Lynn and I - it was a beautiful day spent with special friends

Let's just go

When you don't fit in

Dancing Lipizzaners

We recently took Elizabeth and Katy to see the Lipizzaners in Midrand.  The girls are both horse crazy at the moment, so anything 'horsey' is a hit with them.  I think that they were very disappointed that they couldn't ride the Lipizzaners and the show was probably 20 minutes too long for Katy, but definitely worth a visit. 

 

 

The history of the Lipizzaners making their way from Vienna to South Africa as a result of the war is very interesting.

Disney on Ice

We took Elizabeth and Katy to see Disney on Ice...it was outstanding!  Even the adults (Robbie, Tonia and I) were impressed and loved the show.

 

 

We're trying to teach the girls that they can't have everything that they lay eyes on, so the 'rule' was that they could have ONE thing.  Of course they chose Ana and Elsa dolls from the movie Frozen, and that was also their highlight from the skaters in the show. 

Scrapbooking retreat

It's no secret, our Scrap Addicts group loves scrapbooking at the Good Shepherd Retreat.  The catholic convent sits high on a hill in Magaliesburg overlooking Hartebeespoort dam.  The views are soul-healing to me, and I love spending time with these ladies...doing what I love.

 

On a very cold June 16 public holiday, we each drove through very thick scary mist to get to Magaliesburg, where we met at Jasmyn for breakfast.  The gardens were gorgeous.

poppies...love!

With full tummies, we headed to Good Shepherd Retreat to start scrapbooking

Leonie 

Linda 

Lynn 

wearing my very happy face because I'm so happy to be here! 

There are 3 kitties at the convent and they generally seem to be reasonably well cared for.  Leonie and I always spoil them by bringing along kitty biscuits; the kitties love it when we visit 

and we walked...and walked.  I needed to keep active and log steps on my fitbit, so we did lots of quick short walks, and a few longer walks up the steep hills

 

 

We'll be back in December for our Christmas scrapbooking retreat.  Best of all, the retired 5th member of our Scrap Addicts group (Lynette) will be flying in from Cape Town to join us - yaaay!