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

I am the baker in the house, and my baked goods are pretty awesome but when my husband puts his mind to creating something special there are not many top restaurants that can top what he pulls out of the hat.  Long ago Woolworths used to sell millionaires shortbread but that version is no longer available and he had a …

I’m loving sewing dresses using the Vogue V9199 pattern.  I don’t like having to use zips and buttons and this dress simply pulls over the head.  The drawback is that I’m restricted to stretch fabrics, but so far I’ve been happy with the ones that I’ve used. https://www.instagram.com/p/BXi0AcFg2q7/?taken-by=sulaskimmingstones https://www.instagram.com/p/BVaE4abAQjr/?taken-by=sulaskimmingstones

If you are reading this after doing a search along the lines of “drone stuck in tree”  “how to get a drone down from a tree”  this is what worked for us.  I felt just a teeny bit smug, because when my engineer husband was stumped to find a solution I solved the problem. Last week was Fjord’s 10th birthday …

BrambleBerry Lodge in the Natal midlands was a picture perfect choice for a family reunion break.  Nottingham Road was closer for the Durban folks but not unreasonably far for the Jo’burg contingent.  We instantly fell in love with the wooden house overlooking a dam.  Last year we chose Birdsong Cottages in the central Drakensberg for our get together.  The drawback …

Good value, good service and quality products give me the warm fuzzies.  I’ll share my 4 favourite businesses dealt with this week. On our return from Durban we always have to stop at the Wine Cellar just outside Rosetta in the Midlands, oddly enough not always for wine but always for flavoured coffee beans (they grind them if you wish) …

  Each year Acacia’s birthday is a time of celebration, edged with the depression of dark memories during her birth week.  Instead of cuddling and bonding with my newborn we were separated by the ICU crib while I gazed at her tiny body invaded by tubes and wires.  I sat helpless while she fought for her life against the ravages …

Leaving Maddy Magoos kids hair salon in Bedford Square, Acacia (6) exclaimed “This is the BEST DAY EVER!!”, it may have slipped her mind that 5 days prior she was at Disney on Ice.  Or maybe not.  Swishing her straightened hair she walked tall with a spring in her step. We were welcomed to Maddy Magoo by Pamela with a …

A Saturday birthday provides good cause to extend celebrations.  At 49 the inclination is to feel bleak about a falling down face and the shuffle toward the wrong end of mortality.  However my birthday was a celebration of life and love. On Friday night Cliff took us for supper at Afrique Boutique hotel, after this dining experience all other Boksburg …

https://www.instagram.com/p/BTvqlUeAeae/?taken-by=sulaskimmingstones How strange that I closed the last page of The Deathly Hallows, the final Harry Potter book to see posts on Facebook and Twitter celebrating 20 years of Harry Potter.  Just over 20 years ago my older children wanted to enter the world of Harry Potter.  I was not sure if I should endorse this as many Christian friends …

We have explored our wonderful South Africa extensively over the years, but now and then memories are made that will endure a lifetime.  On our return to Gauteng from Cape Town we drove via Kimberly to take the children to the big hole.  Mein Heim guest farm and Mokala National park where we have stayed before were fully booked.  We …

The above video taken by Nigel Wiltshire ends with him being struck by the ANC member in red. I have needed a few days to allow red hot emotions to subside before writing about the aborted ward committee elections which were meant to take place last Saturday.  Instead of elections proceeding in the expected democratic manner, ANC members reduced the …

Last week I got a huge bag of Red and Yellow peppers at Woolworths for an excellent price.  Wanting to make a pasta sauce I looked up many recipes then went off and made up my own.  It went down really well and I will be making it again. ROAST RED (AND/OR YELLOW) PEPPER PASTA SAUCE (serves 4) INGREDIENTS 4 …

On Friday Fjord was invested as a cub.  Invested is the most fitting term for this induction to the scouting life.  Being a cub scout is an investment which will pay life long dividends, its value immeasurable.  Today children grow up in a ME first world.  At cubs they learn team work and promise to do good for others.  Outward …

I really don’t like it when bakers won’t share their recipes or tips.  The kitchen should be a space of warmth and generosity of spirit.  I have been baking for over 4 decades and recently discovered something really amazing.  Others must have discovered this before, I can’t be the first, but I’ve never seen anyone share this tip.  You know …

When Fjord was diagnosed as being allergic to eggs, peanuts and tree nuts I was distraught.  Until you have an allergic child you simply don’t understand the minefield which your child will walk in every day.  It’s like them being able to pick up a loaded gun at any time.  From age 3 he knew to ask the ingredients in …