Skimming Stones | Sula's Blog | Sula1968 A South African poet, potter and mother

Public holidays make for a very chilled vibe. Now the children are ODing on chocolate, I guess it’s one one day when this is par for the course. I made 3 batches of Hot cross buns this week. Always so much better than the shop bought ones. Domi has suggested brushing them with butter before piping on the crosses and …

I was plodding along nicely in Feb, getting back into the swing of attending to Skimming Stones, then suddenly whisked myself off to Canada. Now I return to early January 2021. If you ask me where my favorite place in South Africa is, off the top of my head the first answer will be Augrabies in the Northern Cape. I’m …

I have not shopped at Edgars for a very long time. Passing through their store in a mall I spotted shorts on sale and Cliff needed some urgently. My heart soared when I noticed that they were made in South Africa. It is a pity that the fabric comes from China. When I lived in Natal, Frame textiles was a …

Pineapple and Lime Bread machine jam I have used a bread machine (well I’m on my 3rd) for 10 years and for some reason although I have known that they can be used to make jam I just never gave that option much thought. I have never made jam, I think that not having pectin may have been a factor, …

Domi recently reminded me about the delicious stuffed bread which Duncan makes. She was asleep when I needed the recipe, I looked up a few recipes then made up my own to suit the ingredients which I had on hand. Here is the recipe Sausage and Eggplant (Brinjal) stuffed bread INGREDIENTS 500 grams bread dough 1/4 cup (60ml) finely chopped …

After my uncle gave me a big bottle of maple syrup, I am searching for ideas how to use it. My main worry is that the delicate flavour will be lost in anything where other ingredients may overwhelm it. Fjord has nut allergies which can translate to being allergic to certain honeys, depending on the source of the pollen, which …

My 3 week trip to Canada ended up being extended to almost 4 weeks. It was very special to have more time with Domi, Duncan and Paige, we had a little more time to do fun things and chill together. It’s a pity that there was an element of anxiety which overshadowed some of the time. Travel during these times …

There was a lovely sense of balance about my time with Domi and family in Canada. We had the forced chill time of quarantine then a little flurry of fun and activity at the end. It may seem odd that my primary goal of meeting my beautiful and adorable Grand daughter is not recorded in these pictures. When I started …

There is always something to do, somewhere else to be, multiple demands on attention. Quarantine for 14 days in the home of Domi, Duncan and baby Paige (who also had to isolate as soon as I arrived) has to be the most ideal time to have quiet quality time. Thankfully in 2019 I had a grand adventure visiting Montreal, New …

Eerie vibes at OR Tambo International airport In February last year I was battening down the hatches, drawing into the corral of my home and wanting nothing more than to hide from the tidal wave of an unseen enemy approaching. Before the government imprisoned us in our homes I would not allow family to visit if passing through any airport. …

Oh my goodness what a week this has been, I have been up to my eyeballs in red tape and stressed to the max. Still it ends well, I’m packing for Canada and after jumping through umpteen hoops I will meet my first Grandchild little Paige Lilly who was born on 18 December. About a month ago I was tempted …

The green kalahari like very few get to see it I could write a string of cliches about our 7 hour trip on flooded Kalahari roads during which we progressed all of 97 km toward Augrabies from Red Sands Country Lodge. It was all about the journey. The planned destination of Witsand Nature Reserve eluded us. Despite plans being thwarted …

Whew the children are back at school.  They went back on 12 January for a week, then were forced to go online again for 10 days.  They prefer physical school to online learning, they miss their friends and a measure of normality. Levan Polkka must be the worst ear worm ever, but Fjord so loved the Kiffness video that although …

I feel a little guilty writing about going on a lovely holiday to the Northern Cape, at a time when many are struggling to put food on the table.  At the end of last year Jonathan Jansen posted a question on social media.  I can’t find it now, but to paraphrase, he asked if people would be going wild Christmas …

At the children’s insistence I am reading The Kane Chronicles by Rick Riordan, the books are woven around Egyptian mythology.  Central is the concept of Ma’at (order in the universe) and Chaos. I write because I love language, word play and it is a medium through which sometimes in golden moments I feel part of something bigger and better outside …