E - Vida

As the temperatures continued to plummet this week, we were reminded of what it feels like without central heating - just for a short while - when our furnace cut out. Fortunately, it was all sorted in a few hours and today we're sitting cosy and dry despite continuous downpour, 2 to 4 degree average Celsius temperatures, hail and a little snow! So grateful for weekends that validate pyjamas days! Some exciting things happened this week - We had a fire drill at Church and when we filed out the building, I realised that it was snowing too! As part of the protocol, everyone leaves from where they are instead of running back and forth between venues (i.e. Kids in Sunday School will be led out by their teachers etc.). So when I was finally reunited with the children, I found them staring in bewilderment and wonder at the white flakes falling from the sky, instead of hustling back indoors to the warmth and shelter. Spot the tourists! We had a big win with Home Affairs in South A...

A week of lovely surprises! Snail mail from South Africa, meat-free Monday that didn't disappoint and  matched the Autumn decor so well, brrrrrrr-isk walks in the fresh air and sunshine, trying detours in Woodstock then getting lost - only to find our way again, good school sessions ...and just a little sprinkling of snow.  See the mini photo update below (warning: many more 'snow' pics than anything else!)

This year I didn't post a birthday message for my Husband on social media (well, until now). To my surprise, he had looked for it! So I guess that this post is partly to please him but mostly to acknowledge him - which is definitely something that I want to do, I just couldn't quite find the way to do it on the day, to make it 'Facebook Official' - as they call it. Celebrating my Dear Husband's birthday is never a dull affair. It's hardly lavish either, but he does appreciate a little fuss...and then he looks at me with that rolled eyed emoji face when the kids line up to sing Happy Birthday! He deserves all the fuss we can make - because he is to be celebrated! We had one Dad-free Saturday earlier this month when he went to Boston and so despite our deep desire to stay indoors for a pajama day, we ventured out in search of some wrappables. First stop: hoodie heaven. It's not the actual name of the store, but it's what we found beyond the doors. ...

Talk about bunking all admin on account of the weather and other distractions! The last week is a bit of a blur... We had a lunch date at Church after church on Sunday and got to know a few more families - just 3 families but with 9 adults, 12 children we definitely needed the big grounds and those all too familiar church tressle tables! It's not every day that you get home from Church at 3pm on a Sunday! We saw Pa off to Boston for his flight back to Cape Town. After the news of Granny's passing  on Friday, the wheels were in motion to get Pa back to South Africa to be with his siblings in preparation for the funeral. It was all quite quickly arranged and before we knew it, he was on his way so even if I'd wanted to send anything back home with him, I wasn't ready in time. And how weird to think that he was there and we were here! It got super hot on Wednesday and then rained all day on Thursday. I keep thinking that if the thermostat in our home had feel...

On Friday, 5 October 2018, our Granny Esmay passed away. I first met Granny in 2002 and at that time, we shared a 'family and friends' lift club on the Athlone route! It was because of her that warm Wembley rolls on a Sunday evening became a thing. I grew to know her and I was struck by her fierce protection of the truth of the Gospel and her unwavering belief system that she would share in a firm and feminine way. As Dear Husband's longest living grandparent, we realised with time, how valuable her role was in the family and in the last few years had really capitalised on opportunities to meet together with her and all the extended family on special calendar days and Sunday lunches - a Granny's favourite meal, I believe. These days, having a Great-grandparent is a rare thing. When I was away for work, the kids and their Dad would often visit with her and come back with stories, smiles and photos of a wonderful time. These memories were revisited this wee...

Notice: The weather tomorrow in Hartford will be 5 degrees cooler. Those are the sms alerts we've received almost every day this past week. And then today, a lovely sunny day! Highlights of the past week also included: Finding old favourite books and a Bontempi electric organ . I'd be lying if I didn't say that I'm probably (definitely) more excited about the book than the music box - but the kids love it! It's not quite the same as waking up to the soothing sounds of a harp either. Trying to find a replacement mielie meel . As the season changed, E started asking for his favourite cold-morning breakfast: mielie meel. Ace. White Star. Impala. Iwisa. No Name. Any brand at all . We knew that for all the corn fields surrounding our doorstep, we wouldn't be able to deliver on this request. But instead of admitting defeat, we decided to try Grits. Shame, the look in his eyes said it all after just a few spoons! The girls bowed out early on in ...