On the hamster wheel!

At the moment I feel like a hamster in a wheel, running really fast, but not going anywhere!  I'm multi-tasking like crazy trying to build my website, build someone else's website too, make things to bring in much needed cash, keep the house in peek order (because it is on sale) and keep the kids busy too - oh yes and be available to husband for help with job hunting (as I'm the one good with words)!  Okay, so there, I've had my whine for the day! 
On the plus side, I'm learning about just how strong I am, that over the years I've actually accumulated many useful skills, I'm learning about what is really important in my life and to really value that (have to step back and remind myself of this every now and again when I start to feel overwhelmed) and I've learn't how important it is to have a support network and lean on them when I need it (if I don't, they won't lean on me when they need it).  So if my mutterings are a bit skimp at the moment, bare with me....I'll eventually find time for this as well.  For now it's back to my mosaics and clay inserts, and maybe later today, I'll even squeeze in some time to work on my website!

Whale Festival Kids Market

On the 26th September, the last day of the annual Hermanus Whale Festival, Daniel and Tarryn, along with friends, Lucy, Jon-Jon and Kayleigh, braved the elements to sell baked goodies, home-made cards and home-made bookmarks.  The weather was truly lousy, but the kids were keen....

From left are Lucy and Kayleigh, Daniel and Tarryn (and Jon-Jon just behind Tarryn)

We spent most of the time trying to just hang onto everything as the wind was blowing gale force!  Anyway, by midday, we'd all had enough of the cold blasting, and with heavy rain clouds closing in, we called it a day two hours before the official end.  The kids were a bit disappointed with the sales which were poor largely due to the location of the kids market.  There were no signs showing people were the kids markets was, or the fact that it was a kids market!  People walked past all the kids after they had already passed through the food and craft stalls inside the tents, and they were making their way back to their vehicles or to get out of the weather - hardly stopping to even notice all the brave kids plying their wares in the worst location!  Anyway, enough whining, it was 'life experience' and that is what counts.

Tarryn and Jon-Jon braving the elements!

After the market, we ended up popping in at the vintage car show - but that wheel definitely doesn't belong to a vintage car!!! 

Tea Party for two, or three!

Tarryn and friends having a tea party in the garden. From left Tayana, Gorby and Tarryn. I love that she isn't too old for tea parties yet! Gorby definitely thought he was part of the party too!


Reminds me of a different time, where things were simpler....climbing in trees, fancy dress in mom's cupboard, riding bikes, Nancy Drew books.....no computer games, no game boys, no play stations.....

Don't get me wrong, this is the world we live in, and one needs to be present now, in this time - just somehow, we still need to find a balance so that we still find time for things like tea parties!

Beach clean up day!

On the 18th September 2009, the kids and I were part of a crew of homeschoolers that took to the Sandbaai beach, armed with gloves and bags to participate in the International Coastal Clean Up day.  The official day is in fact the 19th, but the clean ups took place all week - if you'd like to know more check out http://www.oceanconservancy.org/

Organised by one of the homeschool moms from Hermanus, we ended up being a smaller than planned group thanks to the unpredictable weather here.  We live in one of those places where you can experience all four seasons in one day!  Anyway, the hardy few (5 adults and 17 children ages 3 to 14) who braved the elements, enthusiastically went out to hunt for rubbish!  We were all amazed by the fact that at first glance, the beach looks quite clean, then when you start walking and really looking....bottle caps, glass, fishing wire, building rubble etc....it's all there! 

In the foreground from left Kayleigh, Tarryn and Jon-Jon armed with gloves and plastic bag.

You'll be amazed by how much debri becomes entangled in the sea weed!






After collecting all the trash, we then had the task of sifting through it all again so that it could be cataloged for analysis.  On the left is Tracey (who organised this event) sifting through the rubbish so we could catalog it. Thanks to the wind this had to be completed in the back of a two vehicles so that we didn't have to collect it all again!  Once we'd cataloged the contents of the bags, we then weighed them and left them at the collection point.  We had about 1,5 hours of bearable weather and managed to collect 33,5kg of rubbish.  I'm glad though that we participated as I think we all learnt a lot from the experience.  You'd be amazed at how even little pieces of plastic (the size of a 5 or 10 cent coin) add up and what an impact they can have on coastal sea and bird life.