Faith quilt

Six months of 2017 have passed in a flash. What have you achieved? 

My dear friend and sister (in  St Paul's/Minneapolis, Minnesota) -  Barb -  has given an evocative and equisitively beautiful piano concert (from memory) as part-fulfillment  of her Master's in Music and produced a dissertation on the merits of teaching/learning piano (equally applicable to other instruments) for retirees. An enormous accomplishment for a 60-something with formidable family commitments! My daughter, Ruth, a medical doctor with a hectic multi-disciplinary practice, will be running the Knysna Marathon  (42 km) this weekend. That  has entailed six months of rigorous early morning practice. Catherine, my younger daughter, has combined a lecturing post and mothering two small children  with two academic articles and a conference paper. And me? I have made a faith quilt of more than 1 000 two and half inch squares - with the help of the sweet, patient  Sandria, the encouragement of my fellow quilters, Noleen and Petra, and many homebaked muffins and cups of coffee.

  

Why a faith quilt?

 Catherine and Ryan took the plunge to sell their small townhouse and buy a lovely, free standing home with pool and large garden in the same area close to the schools. I shall not go into detail about the  nerve-racking 'house' saga - an offer to purchase accepted and declined within 24 hours, a nervous purchaser who disappeared and reappeared, show houses and the inevitable tidying up, the house search, bond applications and why-did-we-ever-do-this-to-ourselves moments. During the roller-coaster ride, I pinned and stitched and pinned and stitched the quilt for the new house in faith.

But I got it done. And the 1 000 pieces came close to the 1 000 prayers made during this time to the One who knows all our needs and aspirations.  At the best of times, Catherine is a hard one to please - an interior architect with minimalist tastes. The quilt may be consigned to the spare bed in the study in the long run - but it will find its place in the New House.  

Nala

On April 7 Nala joined our household.

 In January this year Kaela left us for happier hunting grounds - her back legs had all but given in and she suffered from a distressing breathing problem. Dr van Schouwenberg, a veteran vet who has cared for our dogs for years, and her assistant kindly came to Thatchwick Cottage to put Kaela to sleep on her favourite spot on the verandah. She slipped away, eyeing the birds flutter around  the bird feeder. 

Kaela and Flash, Dec 2016

I decided to wait until after a short trip to Bloemfontein and full recovery from my broken ankle before I adopted another dog as a companion to Flash. Last year, Kim, my music teacher, had offered me her dog.

"Nala needs a good home. I am out teaching all day, the yard at our new house is just too small and my grown up children are all too busy with their own lives to give her any attention. When Kaela goes, please don't approach Lab Rescue. Take Nala instead."

At last I was ready.  I approached Kim and we arranged the date. The introduction with Flash went off smoothly. The farewell was a bit harder on Kim. For more than a week,  anxious Whatsapp messages flew between us:  anxiety on her part and reassurance on mine, bolstered by lots of happyp photos. 

Sleeping in on Saturday

"Nala's fine. She loves being allowed to come inside. She's on a strict diet, is looking slimmer and she enjoys her walk every day."

Kim still visits Nala once a week when she comes for my music lesson. And Nala is always pleased to see her. But after the garage door closes, Nala follows me contentedly. She  is not pure Labrador Retriever as all our previous dogs have been to date.  Her ears are too perky and her tail has a curl. But she has the gentle nature of the Labrador.  Grace, my nearly three year old granddaughter, loves her best. Nala is Swahili for lioness.  

Hypoestes Aristata: Ribbon Bush

As cold weather sets in, ribbon bush proliferates all over the garden, climbing walls and fences, camouflaging the compost heap, covering ugly, open spaces, filling in dreary gaps, cheering up the foliage in autumn and winter. No care needed, scant watering and the only job necessary is to prune hard when the flowers are finished flowering. The ribbon bush flowers for at least three months, April to July.  Ribbon bush attracts bees and butterflies and is a source of food for thrushes and robins. The petals which curl like a florist's ribbon are the source of the name.

I purchased a single indigenous ribbon bush from the R 3 and R5 nursery on Lynnwood Road, years ago. (You can see that first plant on my blog pic.) I despised its homely appearance and dark green leaves - definitely a garden orphan. But as it has made its mysterious way throughout the whole garden and supplied colour when things are drab, I have changed my mind. My book on indigenous South African plants says the leaves can be eaten like spinach and the crushed leaves are used in a traditional poultice for sore eyes.

Professors at tea

Learned men carnival

At teatime

Like dervishes

Wise men whirl

Giddy, dizzy, stoned

Drinking Dajeerling with

Well-bred sips

Fingers crooked 

With delicacy

Grave men

Party

Blasting vuvuzelas 

Standing on table tops

Like frenzied fans

Masks slip, fall

Among teaspoons and

Caramel treats

While a wide-eyed waitress

Gawks

Notes: Plastic trumpet blown at soccer games in South Africa

Our Passover meal

Many years ago out dear friend, Genet, introduced our family to the celebration of the Passover on MaundyThursday evening as part of our Easter weekend. We have kept up the tradition more or less faithfully over the years. I now include my life group in the ritual.  It is a joint effort in which we share the preparation of some delicious dishes based on recipes supplied by Shana, who grew up in a Jewish home. She is also responsible for the Seder plate. Our liturgy follows. 

We begin our Seder with the lighting of the candles.  It is fitting that a woman should light the candles since Jesus, the Son of God,  was born of a woman.  (Shana lights the candles and says the blessing in Hebrew and English.) 

WELCOME TO THE SEDER!  (Eleanor)

QUESTION (Jethro):  How does this night differ from all other nights?

INTRODUCTION (Eleanor):   This is the central question of the Passover and we are going to answer that question this evening in many ways through the special things we say and through the special food we eat.  The Jewish people celebrate the Passover to remember how Moses led the children of Israel out of slavery in Egypt into the promised land.  As Christians we remember how Jesus ate this Passover meal with his disciples on the night that he was betrayed. We also remember that Jesus, our Messiah, has led us from the slavery of sin into the wonderful liberty of the children of God. 

EXPLANATION OF THE PLATE: Shana

READING: Exodus 12: 21-28 (Bokkie)

Prayer of blessing  (Hebrew and English):  Shana

FIRST COURSE OF THE MEAL   

WASHING  OF THE HANDS:  It is likely at this point Jesus washed the feet of his disciples. We will not wash feet but we indicate with this simple ceremony that we are called to be servants one of the other. (Jung Fei will assist). Each person pours a little water over the hands of the person next to him/her and passes on the jug. 

BREAKING  OF THE BREAD (Rein will say the prayers over the bread and wine. Eleanor will serve around the table.  Please eat and drink as soon as you receive the elements. Mark will assist passing them around.).  

MAIN  COURSE: THE MAIN COURSE IS SERVED AS A BUFFET IN THE DINING ROOM. Please help yourself and return to the table. Enjoy!

HALLEL – PRAISE: WORTHY IS THE LAMB! Let us join hands and say together: “Worthy is 

the Lamb who was slain to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honour and glory and blessing!” (Rev 5:12)

We celebrate now with sweet dessert to remind us that after death and suffering came the sweetness of the Resurrection of Jesus and one day, our resurrection from the dead and the great Wedding Feast of the Lamb. 

DESSERT: Served in the dining room. Please proceed and help yourselves. You are welcome to enjoy the dessert sitting anywhere!

 Thank you for sharing this evening with us.  Blessed Easter!