The first recipe book which I owned was given to me as a child, I think it was called Learn to Cook and would have been printed in the 60’s or 70’s. The book has long since moved on to the happy kitchen in the sky. The one recipe which endured from that book was for Peanut Butter Cookies and …
Read More »parenting
Tent burglary and Hyenas, the night when truth was stranger than fiction
It was not a dark and stormy night. It was a perfect summer evening in the African bush, which started with no hint of the chilling events which would transpire in the space of one hour of mayhem. Our luxury tent at the unfenced Mpila camp in Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park blended into the bush. Our son Fjord was four then …
Read More »Painting Clay pots – kids craft at Fjord’s 7th birthday party
Whew I’m so birthday partied out, Fjord and Acacia’s birthdays are 2 weeks apart and planning 2 parties so close together is a fair bit of work. Added to that I worry that all will go smoothly and according to plan. I still forgot to make popcorn at both parties but over all they seemed a success. What matters most …
Read More »Acacia decorated her own 4th birthday cake
Acacia’s 4th birthday was last month but this blog post on what you don’t need for a children’s birthday party, inspired me to share this. When Heath (now 23) was little, I pulled off what must have been one of my most stupid parenting blunders. I decided for his 4th or 5th birthday to give him a surprise party. When …
Read More »Hypochondria in a 7 year old
Just over two weeks ago, Fjord was part of a conversation about ruptured appendix. He heard that a person had his appendix removed because it ruptured. Over night he became a severe hypochondriac. Every day he talked about appendixes exploding and poison going into his body. He imagined tummy pains and was convinced that this had happened to him, more …
Read More »Fjord’s 7th birthday cake a stapeliad flower.
I totally love baking but I do not enjoy decorating (primarily because I suck at it). For Fjord’s 7th birthday he didn’t want a car, or superhero cake, he wanted a stapeliad flower. Through Cliff he has learned a love of plants and gardening. His favourite flowers are such boy flowers, they are stinky. Stapeliads (or carrion plants) have the …
Read More »Fabric Painted T shirts, kids craft for Acacia’s birthday party
I’m not mad about party packs for children to take home after a party and like to try to think of alternatives. Since we always have the children’s birthday parties at home it is good to have something for the children to do other than run around and play on the trampoline. Having a craft activity at the party provides …
Read More »PnP Kids Foam Blast
UPDATE : 2018, it seems that this product is no longer available Sometimes I really like to share when I find a great new product. PnP Foam Blast is my kids product of the month. A while ago my Mum told me that my nieces in Durban love the PnP Foam Blast. I had not noticed it in the Pick …
Read More »Hand painted recreation of the famous butterfly dress
Leonard Cohen had his famous blue raincoat, Acacia had her famous purple butterfly dress which was also torn at the shoulder and generally tatty after being worn day in and day out for over a year. She even slept with it next to her like some kids have a favourite soft toy. Unlike the tale of angst of the famous …
Read More »A very happy unFather’s day to Cliff
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q5FC6E5Gh4E Typical in a mad hatters home, we got father’s day wrong. During the week I asked Cliff when Fathers Day is and he informed me that it was this Sunday 8th June. Like a good Mummy of his children I set the father’s day wheels in motion. Prezzies were bought and wrapped. When I was pregnant with Fjord I …
Read More »