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

    Right now my 24 year old son Heath is on a plane, as he moves from Jo’burg to Cape Town.  His worldly possessions fit in a backpack, he’s travelling light toward new horizons.  Change needs a catalyst.  The chemistry to create something new, is not found in the ingredients of a comfort zone.  Change happens when we step off …

This is one of those craft projects which is almost too easy. I don’t like horseshoe-shaped Alice bands, they always seem to pinch the sides of the head. An elastic headband is so much more comfortable to wear. I resent paying more than R30, which most cost in the shops. These work out a fraction of the price and can …

Have you noticed that there has been hardly any load shedding since the State of the Nation address?  I will share my thoughts around this. Before I start, let me clarify that the views expressed here are held by my husband Cliff and myself. Through conversation and debate in marriage, we forget who had which individual thought as we grow …

I’ll be honest, I have never given much thought to protecting my children’s eyes from UV light.  We have bought sunglasses for them, because glare can be a bit uncomfortable on the beach or hiking, and they look cute.  Last Saturday at the SA Mom Blogs meet-up, a highlight was the presentation by Tanya (an optometrist) and Zule (a photographer) …

Saturday was a special day. It was my first meet-up with other South African Mom Blogs members. Initially I felt some apprehension. I wanted to attend because it is vital to be open to new people and experiences. A comfort zone is a small cramped space. However I worried if this would be a kind of pissing contest. Would I …

The fires raging in the Western Cape, reminded me of a day in August 1999 witnessing a forest fire.  In my days as a single mother, living in Natal, I often drove inland to the Valley of 1000 hills.  On one of these trips I stopped the car to take in the awe full destruction of a forest fire.  The …

For two weeks my blue lighter has rattled around partnerless in my handbag.  For a long time, low energy levels and a general feeling of fogginess, had me thinking of quitting smoking.  I also begrudged the time and mental space which smoking occupied in my life.  The time was nearing to say goodbye to my old friend. On return from …

SANRAL have a long list of problems. I wonder, do they recognise the dilemma of the un-tagged motorists who want to pay but can’t. There are drivers who are not tagged out of sheer defiance, flipping SANRAL the bird with a grin. There are another group who would like to pay, but they don’t want an e-tag. They refuse to …

Sometimes I want to build a recipe around a certain ingredient.  On a visit to Ludwig’s Roses I bought a bottle of Rose essence.  I have used the essence to make rose buttercream icing and it is an ingredient in the Angela Day recipe for Coffee and Malted Puff cupcakes, which Cliff declared to be the best cupcakes ever.  A …

I would love to recommend Phudufudu camp at Borakalolo National Park, but I can’t.  This bushveld getaway is only 2 hours drive from home in Jo’burg.  The park has a beautiful dam, well stocked for fishing.  The picturesque scenery and natural beauty should make for a special game reserve experience.  Sadly the accommodation is simply an embarrassment. Perhaps I was …

The  problem with the poetry of Sylvia Plath is that she can take a perfectly good day and throw a big black blanket over your sun.  Her ability to change mood bears testimony to her genius, but because she is so adept, I go long, long gaps without reading her work.   Tonight I stumbled upon a web page audio of …

The ±10 km meteorite which smashed into earth at Vredefort about 2.023 billion years ago, may have been very impressive but subsequent erosion means that images of what it looked like back then rely completely on imagination.  Tswaing crater (40 km north of Pretoria) has visual impact.  When a ±50 m meteorite fell at Tswaing ±220 000 years ago , it …

I have only previously tried 2 Angela Day recipes but that is changing.  What I have tried so far have been so good.  These chocolate cookies are perfect for Valentines day.  I made these yesterday and my husband is taking them to work to give to the ladies in his department as a little Valentines gift.  I did not sandwich …

There are a handful of recipes which I have baked since childhood.  My mother’s friend Yvonne Campbell always offered something freshly baked when we visited.  While she and Mum held adult conversation, I would sit copying out Mrs Campbell’s recipes into my little recipe book.  In a way it’s sad that children no longer use the respectful term of using …

ANNOUNCEMENT 1 March 2015, the winner of this competition is Mabasa Zimunya, congratulations!  Our judge had a tough time choosing a winner.  Look out for our next competition.  Thank you to all those who submitted work. Here is Mabasa’s winning poem Cupid, the sniper   (11 Feb 2015) Cupid must be the world’s finest sniper. Blindfolded, radarless With an unguided rudimentary …