Erika’s super butter cookies

In 2016 I was given an order to bake 700 mustache shaped cookies for Movember.  There was no way that I could have done them all on my own.  I baked the cookies and my friend Erika decorated them.  Her decorating skills are amazing.  She shared her cookie recipe with me that she was given at school.  I’ve tried similar …

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The dilemma when to replace a dead pet

Tragedy struck our home recently and rather eerily our chickens lived up to their names. Lucky and Angel joined our family in 2016 as fluffy chicks. They had a beautiful bond and were inseparable. A dog got into our yard and chicken cage. Angel was killed and the children pray that she is clucking in the choir invisible. Lucky lost …

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Pick and Paint, painting ceramics in Boksburg

Recently my friend Abbey arranged a fun Mum’s and kids workshop at Pick & Paint Ceramics in Parkrand, Boksburg.  Before going we selected items to paint from the catalog.  Acacia chose an elephant and Fjord a frog.  I didn’t join in as pottery is my passion and I love decorating my ceramics with glazes. Pick & Paint have a wonderful …

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11 Books / authors for 10 year olds

I believe that the best thing that we have done for our children is reading to them.  A story at bed time calms children, offers time to bond with them and is a foundation for all future learning.  Although Fjord (age 10) sometimes listens in on Acacia’sn (age 7) bed time story he is now an avid reader.  I’m always …

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When being hot in bed is a bad thing

When Cliff bought our new mattress a few years ago I loved the comfort of it, but a full night’s sleep became a thing of the past.  Every night I would wake many times, so hot that it felt like my skin against the mattress was burning.  I would wake and move off the hot patch many times during the …

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Old Willow No7 Houseboats, kids ultimate fun times

At the end of last year we spent a weekend on an Old Willow houseboat on the Vaal river.  On seeing the houseboat the children exclaimed their joy with adjectives including “amazing” and “awesome”.  Being a boring grown up I noticed a few practical downfalls, still great family fun was had by all. The children couldn’t wait to try fishing.  …

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Quaggasfontein was an idyllic setting to welcome the New Year

Our journeys to and from Cape Town are often highlights of those holidays. Planning is not our strong suit. Sometimes we land up at truck stop quality places and sometimes we make wonderful discoveries. Our recent trip took an unusually direct route with no mucking about on roads less traveled (we saved that for the trip home). Our only one …

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The healing process of a black eye

https://www.instagram.com/p/BdmOx7JnBJk/?taken-by=sulaskimmingstones Before I document how long it takes for a black eye to heal, I had better first explain how I landed myself with a shiner.  Actually a shoddy landing was responsible.  Eyes full of question marks followed when I went out in public, poor Cliff was afraid to go anywhere with me,  when people see a woman with a …

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mixed emotions that my daughter emigrated to Canada

I’ve been putting off writing this post since my eldest daughter left on 10 Dec, because it’s so bloody hard to articulate the range of emotions when your child leaves her home country.  Last Thursday made it a whole lot easier, I’m glad she’s gone.  I’m glad to know that she’s got a future worth looking forward to.  Being held …

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Aim, FalconFire, Play

Fjord (10) and Acacia (7) never showed much interest in toy guns until their aunt gave them each a Disruptor Nerf gun.  They were an instant hit. https://www.instagram.com/p/BbeW3m8HTKE/?taken-by=sulaskimmingstones When a FalconFire was delivered to me I knew that it would be welcomed with glee.  I kept it hidden for a while uncertain which child to give it to.  When I …

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Mrs Campbell’s date loaf

This is another recipe which I have been making since childhood.  When my mother visited her friend Yvonne Campbell I would sit writing out her wonderful recipes.  Last weekend my life long friend Dominique came to visit for my daughter Dominique’s (yes named after her) farewell before she and her husband leave for Canada.  Domi snr is also Domi Jnr’s …

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Spurt Swimming Gear is awesome

A few hours before the children’s swimming lesson on Monday an exciting delivery arrived from Spurt Swimming Gear.  Perfect timing!  Their existing caps and goggles were overdue for replacement.  I can’t remember where the old goggles came from but Fjord’s had badly scratched black lenses which he struggled to see through and Acacia’s had a single strap which didn’t hold …

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November reads

I’ve decided that since I’m so against spoilers my book reviews cannot be particularly meaty so I’m going to do a monthly post covering what I’ve read during the month. It’s only in recent years that I’ve developed an appreciation for Chick Lit, I  was a bit judgemental in the past.  Erika James is one of the authors in this …

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Marbled Black Forest Fridge Cheesecake

A while ago I posted a recipe for baked Black Cherry Cheesecake.  This is a different version for a no bake fridge cheesecake.  I don’t really fancy raw eggs in a cheesecake and this recipe is egg free. INGREDIENTS 200g chocolate digestive biscuits or similar (I bake this recipe and use them in my crumb base) 85 grams butter 60 …

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