Scrapbook retreat in the bushveld

What's not to love - a bushveld getaway plus scrapbooking.  I arranged a scrapbooking retreat for 9 ladies to Zaagkuilsdrift Lodge last weekend and it was heavenly.  The food was excellent, the weather was perfect and the company was outstanding.  I definitely scrapbooked a lot slower than usual because of all the chats and idea sharing...I loved it!

 

Arina, Linda and I 

Lara teaches us the 'camera pout' -  put your tongue up against your palate...nah, not for me

the reception room became our scrap room 

 Lynn and I

aaah...sunset in Africa - gorgeous!

wild kudu near the lodge

I saw a cardinal woodpecker making a nest 

Leonie and I

Meet Elvis, a hand-reared kudu bull.  Soon after birth, he got stuck in deep mud so his mom was forced to abandon him.  He now lives in the bird sanctuary

Lara and Karen 

I got home on Sunday afternoon totally exhausted but very happy. 

Must do this again soon.

 

Art

I've lived in my home for 4 years and many of the walls are still very bare.  I love beautiful art, so I started looking at art online, in galleries and at some of the monthly 'art in the part' events.  I was determined to only buy art that I loved, and after months of looking, I eventually found 4 painting that I love in the space of 2 weeks.  I then commissioned a 5th painting by one of the artists. 

 

The 3 new flower paintings are in my dining room, next to 2 paintings which I did many years ago

These beauties are in my bedroom

Spring garden

It's spring in South Africa, and even though we have not yet had any rain, all the plants are waking up from the winter slumber.  I've been watering and pruning and feeding my garden, and have put in a few new plants.  I love spring, it's my all time favourite season of the year.

 

I work, she watches 

my beloved salvia hotlips are about to bloom, the rain gauge is waiting to measure the spring rains

the last of the winter pansies 

A new arrangement of pots at the front door

The little pink bicycle

Miss Katy has discovered wheels and she's a crazy one on her bicycle!

My neighbor gave me this little pink bicycle when his daughter outgrew it, Elizabeth used it until she needed a bigger bicycle and now the littlest biker chick owns it.  We'll pass it on when Katy outgrows it.

Turning 7

Miss Elizabeth turned 7 on 25 August, and her choice was a party at Spur with all her school friends.

The calm before the storm!

Elizabeth with her best friend Jane Grace

Katy with her best friend from nursery school - Maleeya

 

Big Chief Elizabeth Pope

 

Elizabeth has always wanted a camera, so she inherited her late Aunty Rosie's digital camera.  If she loves photos as much as I do, this will be the first of many cameras for her.