Monday, 10 May 2010: Kissing cousins

Joelle and Jaelene meet their new cousins, a moment of some big-eyed awe.

Jethro making us all grin.

A little girl and the wonder of a baby.

A new nursery to explore - what toys does Jethro have?

31 March 2010: More family than friends

Grandma's and great-aunts, nephews, nieces, cousins by the dozen, aunts, uncles, brothers and sisters abounded at the joyous, carefree wedding of Rozanne and Minnaar - chums as toddlers, dating teenagers, long distance student buddies, reunited lovers and now bride and groom. Under the veil, Zan's smile was broad. So was Dad Pieter's.

Mom Rhoda designed and sewed the bride's gown, the bridesmaids' dresses and her own little froufrou number in midnight blue.

Years before Rhoda and Pieter had emerged as man and wife on the very same stone steps as Zan and Minnaar did on Saturday.


Madeleine the Beautiful

Men-in-anxious-waiting

Bridal attendants in cherry red.

Rozanne, professional chef par excellence, baked and decorated the chocolate mousse cake, lavishly decorated with roses and her homemade choc truffles.

Gorgeous gals were mother and daughter, Rhoda and Madeleine

Speeches were short and snappy.

How nice it was to take my pale green beaded mother-of-the-bride outfit out of the closet where it has been safely stowed since Cath's big day and enjoy it once again.

Monday 8 March 2010: Surprise Baby Shower

Surprise! Cath and Ryan (and the Bump) arrive at Thatchwick Cottage on Saturday afternoon. They found the sitting room filled with thirty-six eager guests gathered to celebrate the soon arrival of their first baby. My first grandson.

Ruth, Joelle and Jaelene had arrived the day before with a bootful of goodies: cupcakes still to be iced, gifts and party decorations. By noon Saturday we had just made it! And what better opportunity to wear the girls' special flowergirl dresses once again.

The banner was up and the table set. Time for the guests to arrive on foot. Cars had been parked in Marais Street to make allay any suspicions Catherine may have had. The plan to get her to the party unsuspecting? That was Ryan's task.

Ruth made the welcoming speech. "Catherine may be quiet and reserved but she has the most amazing circle of friends! Thank you all for being here today. Family, collegues at work and friends from church, university and school days..."

Each package a surprise.

See that special glow?

Tuesday, 29 September '09: Getting side-tracked in Bloemfontein

Purchasing pot pourri from a sweet scented mix in a battered enamel basin at the Bloemfontein Organic Market on Heritage Day last week.

All things pretty, smelling of lavender and roses under the hot sun.

The syringas are covered in pale mauve blossoms against a blue sky. Goods for sale at the Organic Market related to a greener, cleaner world - bins for recycling, water-wise plants and worms to start one's own wormery. I drew the line at unbleached loo paper. I want to save the world but...unbleached toilet paper looked a little too natural for me!

Somehow I kept getting side-tracked from Green issues. Here are the ice-cream lickin' reasons: Joelle.

And Jaelene. The reasons for my visit to Their World - Bloemfontein (translated from the Afrikaans. Fountain of flowers) in the Free State.

I am rather late in posting. Just back from my short visit. But if you hurry, you will find lots of other interesting corners of the globe and equally nice folk on My World.