parenting

Hiking is one of the first things that Cliff and I had in common and it is so good to get out, stretch legs and commune with nature.  With children however we have had a few hiking blunders.  This time we took a child not fully recovered from a viral infection on a hike which took us 6 hours.  (The …

Ahh after the lightning strike my week in pics took a down turn but here’s the latest. Not only will the chickens have a lovely new home soon but it was very special to watch Cliff and Fjord working together on this.  So much gained.  Watch this space for the finished product. The source of marital unimpressedness.  I was so …

This year we had a lot of fun over Halloween.  On Saturday night we went to Jo’burg Zoo for Halloween fun.  I don’t know if this is an annual event, I stumbled across an advert for it on twitter and booked.  The crowds of people were dressed up.  We dressed Fjord as a mummy, wrapped in bandages, so many people …

Tis the season to feel grumpy.  Drowning in a tinsel tsunami, every shop is decked in obscene materialism, shouting blasphemy, I don’t picture baby Jesus in a manger, I envisage a furious Jesus, upending merchants tables in the temple.  Tons of shitty plastic toys will end up as litter. Just as festive season dread invoked rising bile, along came the …

For many years a feral cat has lived in our garden.  It was not welcome, I love birds.  Cat’s and birds are a recipe for tragedy.  This year when we realized that cat is not going to leave, we started to feed it.  This cat is a very wild animal, we have never in all the years been able to …

Five servings of fruit and veg a day is an ideal theory and one which I constantly strive to meet.  but it is near impossible to achieve.  Cereal is the children’s standard start to the day.  For lunch I’m doing well if cucumber or a fruit is on the plate.  Supper generally includes 2 veg but the tally remains below …

There are many simple financial cuts which make it possible for me to be a SAHM.  Our cars (Hyundai and Kia) are 11 & 9 years old.  We don’t need expensive cell phones, my basic Samsung Galaxy Fame does what is needed (R750 at Pep cellular and is on pre-paid not contract).  I’m actually grateful not to have a more …

At the Kids Emporium Bloggers breakfast, Pamela Power was one of the speakers.  I loved her humour and frank manner.  After jumping a few technological mental block hurdles I bought her e-book MS Conception (also available in paper) on Takealot. Modern motherhood is cloaked in misconceptions.  Social media generally projects motherhood in rose tinted hues.  Most mothers present the painted face of …

  The bloggers breakfast at Emoyeni Estate, hosted by Kids Emporium was a lovely extension of my birthday the day before.  The thoughtful, meticulous attention to every detail by Lauren and her team reflected an organization based on the right foundation. The 3 speakers inspired respect and admiration.  Lauren spoke of her vision and fulfilment in founding and leading Kids Emporium.  …

Fjord outgrew the dressing gown which I made for him a few years ago.  It was so hard to find a pattern for a boy over the age of 8.  This one was the only one which I could find.  I’m not mad about the top and nightdress with the pattern as they seem to have a funny pleat down …