tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32914913084478876872024-03-14T04:08:13.559-07:00This is Jack's lifeSuper Jack! Can she do it? YES she can! Or, at least I'm going to do my darndest to! So check in here to follow the trials, tribulations and creations of a wannabee super woman as I attempt to conquer time and fit 24 hours of 'doing' into a 12 hour day! Boy, what I could do if I just didn't need to sleep....Jacquihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02829743555309306913noreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3291491308447887687.post-76994246485961576432010-09-05T01:33:00.000-07:002010-09-05T01:33:21.908-07:00How things change!Well I just read over my last post, and in the months since then, I can't believe how much things have changed. With time and without the pressures of the last year, I've had time to re-evaluate my marriage and to be blunt, my marriage has run it's course. This is terribly painful and part of me wants to ignore the truth, but another part of me knows that if I ignore it, I will simply pay for that somewhere else - BIG TIME! <br />
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Anyway, aside from all the emotional turmoil in my life, I am trying to be creative and find beauty around me. The kids and I are busy making 'shrines' to ourselves. Sort of creative therapy. I will post pictures once we are done.Jacquihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02829743555309306913noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3291491308447887687.post-72754427711239371912010-03-31T02:31:00.000-07:002010-03-31T02:31:33.628-07:00And so life goes on....Shew! Well lots has happened in the past few months since I last blogged. For starters our house is sold, we've moved into a rental house and hubby is about to leave for Saudi Arabia...again. Well, I reckon 3rd time lucky! Kids and I will rejoin him there in a few months - that's if he ever gets there. He was supposed to leave today, and he was all packed and mentally prepared for it, but no ticket yet! So tomorrow or the next day, or.... Anyway, maybe it's just as well, as hubby delayed getting flu when the rest of us did, and now he is suffering as the kids and I come to the end of our bouts. So, he could actually use a few extra days to get better.<br />
So there are big changes afoot in our lives, as the course we thought we were following, has changed! Thankfully, Saudi was still an option for us, as it seems that getting work back in South Africa was just not mean't to be. Once hubby is off, I'll have a few months to get back on track again. Time to shed some pounds and get creative again!Jacquihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02829743555309306913noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3291491308447887687.post-61612251885550345752010-01-27T08:31:00.000-08:002010-01-27T08:31:31.578-08:00Mega Bubbles!<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">I really love the way that really simple things can be so entertaining. Point in case, bubbles! All that is required is a soapy solution and a wire hanger bent into a circle and wrapped in wool, and you get really cool, mega bubbles! This has given the kids many hours of theraputic delight!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi601ou8WF1J8P9UD2EPDs2GdHutJxrmuZH0iEKh6IwGHe2z51T3z8ckz-AljLwbGmzlLy5SdcfjYqy5mka_xW3NU00o14HtTLpSao1zwPhZA4MfDQFG-c9SDiN5hyRxHZCmVelcLmrjss/s1600-h/DSC_0409.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" mt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi601ou8WF1J8P9UD2EPDs2GdHutJxrmuZH0iEKh6IwGHe2z51T3z8ckz-AljLwbGmzlLy5SdcfjYqy5mka_xW3NU00o14HtTLpSao1zwPhZA4MfDQFG-c9SDiN5hyRxHZCmVelcLmrjss/s320/DSC_0409.jpg" /></a><br />
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</div>They are even devine when they pop! For a moment they look like shredded silk floating to the ground.<br />
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</div>Jacquihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02829743555309306913noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3291491308447887687.post-71555512599090294262010-01-27T07:31:00.001-08:002010-01-27T08:09:23.244-08:00Which brings me to 2010<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEyetPybqG7YNLbUHHdZsYtLJZBWvWbUO58dV3cnPJexN-TrRSHXDJb99la7tS9PxUQIMx6CpkdN_VwwlPgNxnHJjaHy4UNOi1VqlWI2k6noSianAoZydd_PB-WPnEcSUvU5GItURBqfc/s1600-h/DSC_0357a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" mt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEyetPybqG7YNLbUHHdZsYtLJZBWvWbUO58dV3cnPJexN-TrRSHXDJb99la7tS9PxUQIMx6CpkdN_VwwlPgNxnHJjaHy4UNOi1VqlWI2k6noSianAoZydd_PB-WPnEcSUvU5GItURBqfc/s200/DSC_0357a.jpg" width="135" /></a><br />
</div>So Jack's been a busy girl. Well, actually I'd like to have gotten more done, but I'm sure every woman, with children and a husband, feel like they just don't have enough hours in the day to do everything they'd like to. I finally finished some of my mosaic projects. My mom saw the mirror I did and snapped it up before I could get it to the shop.<br />
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I also finally finished some of my plaster inserts - hearts, shells and cherubs.<br />
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJiAOhlN2t0XNlOyBguPJym0DN5MxniAM9Zfaw8CSLT0mXbaYgAPrdrFmzfKnZiRf0QifyHrkHv-feFCOw5zYs1DVXzXBkYd_GdBsuLqUcrRTObUv__Bbd0UzYP4lPcCrDwEKBZPvqu7A/s1600-h/IMG_2433a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" mt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJiAOhlN2t0XNlOyBguPJym0DN5MxniAM9Zfaw8CSLT0mXbaYgAPrdrFmzfKnZiRf0QifyHrkHv-feFCOw5zYs1DVXzXBkYd_GdBsuLqUcrRTObUv__Bbd0UzYP4lPcCrDwEKBZPvqu7A/s200/IMG_2433a.jpg" width="73" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtE-k0PI3X1V3lbyYy6NnL4CyZ_BfUKU3W9pvvz83buuL0EtMYipEMCIMul7nVwCBJHwcbY8d8GvmxrYikjw0E0Falak2xeSQ0xbGI1j27RXvo3hCklJEHFTlLaAn7f-t6L-6ArLpxUKE/s1600-h/IMG_2437b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" mt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtE-k0PI3X1V3lbyYy6NnL4CyZ_BfUKU3W9pvvz83buuL0EtMYipEMCIMul7nVwCBJHwcbY8d8GvmxrYikjw0E0Falak2xeSQ0xbGI1j27RXvo3hCklJEHFTlLaAn7f-t6L-6ArLpxUKE/s200/IMG_2437b.jpg" width="65" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAf6kG6enaMCI0EPRNTcU3Lc255mNLtif2jszp1CUABz1o1-xLulfqD7H9H2ooZlZ0_KDzZDHBTdGqSkbLW9k7tS9JAFdMKnH-kogdo6GTr-aViTqLc7skutKMHSG9qPphEcdj6YiuzYA/s1600-h/IMG_2442a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" mt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAf6kG6enaMCI0EPRNTcU3Lc255mNLtif2jszp1CUABz1o1-xLulfqD7H9H2ooZlZ0_KDzZDHBTdGqSkbLW9k7tS9JAFdMKnH-kogdo6GTr-aViTqLc7skutKMHSG9qPphEcdj6YiuzYA/s200/IMG_2442a.jpg" width="83" /></a><br />
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</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0Y-KPmWIu2TvpCGeDbGRM08KP70QUT6SSMfOCAM1SUOhANCHskUmLNz-xE0VFE_U_Hqb-9qaVAlIIrT-1OaY5AZOnDvh2IWVRf7FDxLHF6KjkZvXWqYzJMeLtOYHmfo83uhq5NJPiTRE/s1600-h/IMG_2445a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" mt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0Y-KPmWIu2TvpCGeDbGRM08KP70QUT6SSMfOCAM1SUOhANCHskUmLNz-xE0VFE_U_Hqb-9qaVAlIIrT-1OaY5AZOnDvh2IWVRf7FDxLHF6KjkZvXWqYzJMeLtOYHmfo83uhq5NJPiTRE/s200/IMG_2445a.jpg" width="91" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_f3RubCKpfYcKR09LVMKdgXFeuYTyzXdz7DwCFUOyAYdNMtF-8AoRanGaBk6BnexsiNv5y-ycxJf-dZWCUZbQW1ZGg4Kx_BBq2xtfWS3gG6KfkpmahMxywiBOezGoccrKZzGcLxZCnVI/s1600-h/IMG_2451a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" mt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_f3RubCKpfYcKR09LVMKdgXFeuYTyzXdz7DwCFUOyAYdNMtF-8AoRanGaBk6BnexsiNv5y-ycxJf-dZWCUZbQW1ZGg4Kx_BBq2xtfWS3gG6KfkpmahMxywiBOezGoccrKZzGcLxZCnVI/s200/IMG_2451a.jpg" width="91" /></a> <br />
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I also managed to finish a few other smaller mosaic projects.<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_T7i5UgXT1ZSyhjHAEOSuN2eXCSuXxYB6eaRgcX89klk-x1gkqUVL4ldlYsn7xGcXfKog83SBrhrJm7D0-KJ-UNz4WmVHDabrY0Ez9LQHdgyiUfGHO4WB0BUd27w-qSlofvbXc3eJ8so/s1600-h/IMG_2458a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" mt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_T7i5UgXT1ZSyhjHAEOSuN2eXCSuXxYB6eaRgcX89klk-x1gkqUVL4ldlYsn7xGcXfKog83SBrhrJm7D0-KJ-UNz4WmVHDabrY0Ez9LQHdgyiUfGHO4WB0BUd27w-qSlofvbXc3eJ8so/s200/IMG_2458a.jpg" width="183" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZnfTbL70-Kf1T0KZ160ZkdcTrqqJ_Qcz_3ReQmb7M5zx-_jVD6iZn0MGbNvr-awTSiltSs7hOYrREV6VN6MDqZKnWJNKOyMPpThN6Zs5irtOjHCxgSOR2Whsq37LOiz4lUqtGsET-u40/s1600-h/IMG_2453.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" mt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZnfTbL70-Kf1T0KZ160ZkdcTrqqJ_Qcz_3ReQmb7M5zx-_jVD6iZn0MGbNvr-awTSiltSs7hOYrREV6VN6MDqZKnWJNKOyMPpThN6Zs5irtOjHCxgSOR2Whsq37LOiz4lUqtGsET-u40/s200/IMG_2453.jpg" width="150" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">And I got the Quilt Festival website up and running, so pleasssseeee go check it out at <a href="http://www.quiltfestival2011.co.za/">http://www.quiltfestival2011.co.za/</a> Now I need to get my own one finished as well. Oh yes, I've taken on another website for a jeweller in town, so need to squeeze that into my day as well!<br />
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</div>Jacquihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02829743555309306913noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3291491308447887687.post-21366165320435449702010-01-27T07:29:00.000-08:002010-01-27T07:29:15.323-08:00Christmas Day!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggJirbOxQKLh0duQmDndAWEMV95wRHWv1vCFWzTX3Y-i6du6mcjKWQnIqoluJFY1-bvdUH7lRyvmOUy_5hTZhfW-DtK5U5qqxADdUbVEJRGIKDbSKJqO4LrcDD0WDDU6-YV_ObCX1aSPY/s1600-h/DSC_0236.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" mt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggJirbOxQKLh0duQmDndAWEMV95wRHWv1vCFWzTX3Y-i6du6mcjKWQnIqoluJFY1-bvdUH7lRyvmOUy_5hTZhfW-DtK5U5qqxADdUbVEJRGIKDbSKJqO4LrcDD0WDDU6-YV_ObCX1aSPY/s320/DSC_0236.jpg" /></a><br />
</div>So another Christmas has come and gone! Is it just me, or are the years passing by faster and faster??? And the faster they pass, the more I forget! Despite a lean year for everyone, we still had a wonderful Christmas - ate too much, laughed together, reminisced and the kids still got spoilt. We were all aware of how lucky we were to be together, to be healthy and to have many opportunities ahead of us. So goodbye 2009, thank-you for the lessons, bring on 2010!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: right;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmeN-X8TvODXc87qglD2WDB6unSOMhHFHjK6yuwbRkOw5cyRqh69fPqtDihO8bEVg9blSIL9W3NxCM2khF5QBashxxvd_TwEofiHyf33BdbMuAfuDnxK-ok-LACXz29Vdy98bSGU3Y4Es/s1600-h/DSC_0242.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" mt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmeN-X8TvODXc87qglD2WDB6unSOMhHFHjK6yuwbRkOw5cyRqh69fPqtDihO8bEVg9blSIL9W3NxCM2khF5QBashxxvd_TwEofiHyf33BdbMuAfuDnxK-ok-LACXz29Vdy98bSGU3Y4Es/s320/DSC_0242.jpg" /></a>Our old boy, Gorby, lapping up the love after the kids had opened gifts and they were taking a break from the new toys.<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu5y2AxGqB3VuIctJYKaC9O7LoNnD4KLuXPG5PTXAyQQ3pBnoWBxWO-Gx2B_0ugK5apaTTKe34UCBGv-FuPzHv-X9vuIHU8SnaxiV8srNROUJ_OeUHF-NA9SOdiDS2DgNBuCicpnZDcS8/s1600-h/DSC_0250.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" mt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu5y2AxGqB3VuIctJYKaC9O7LoNnD4KLuXPG5PTXAyQQ3pBnoWBxWO-Gx2B_0ugK5apaTTKe34UCBGv-FuPzHv-X9vuIHU8SnaxiV8srNROUJ_OeUHF-NA9SOdiDS2DgNBuCicpnZDcS8/s320/DSC_0250.jpg" /></a>And of course, the proverbial turkey - South African style on the webber. Yumm!<br />
</div>Jacquihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02829743555309306913noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3291491308447887687.post-12910155595252146752010-01-27T07:06:00.000-08:002010-01-27T07:06:25.308-08:00Snails, cousins and dogs!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh5-7J71_gf3XhcuW43Cb9r8bFuG5IOLdgJo1lPmUUskjAxGeMejPg2fD6Uq3rPjUTip_cJRjfRRKfOvsVLLx76_bszUn1bhFqm1SaokuCw_gaSmAjBucjjxqAuYEa7Fb1lJu605vI3mw/s1600-h/DSC_0207.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" mt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh5-7J71_gf3XhcuW43Cb9r8bFuG5IOLdgJo1lPmUUskjAxGeMejPg2fD6Uq3rPjUTip_cJRjfRRKfOvsVLLx76_bszUn1bhFqm1SaokuCw_gaSmAjBucjjxqAuYEa7Fb1lJu605vI3mw/s320/DSC_0207.jpg" /></a><br />
</div>I didn't know that snails could be so fascinating! Actually, I was fascinated by the fact that the kids were so fascinated by them. Tarryn, Daniel and their visiting cousins snail watching. Many hours were spent watching them, and then building them houses, trying to get them to eat, and watching them climb on top of each other.......<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: right;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAjAkKAh4OAUJ6DSjfxPoQbjZCwZTwmMXrLOrSuobQuV9FTSxI7mR1kkWIMIFEd3FyP1jW8eWMiL_a1Hrtuua8nhcn1Wv22SP4uYDdAB0p0ign6Ufq3EQTERIhB5I12xBnFI2piFL0vCI/s1600-h/DSC_0213.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" mt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAjAkKAh4OAUJ6DSjfxPoQbjZCwZTwmMXrLOrSuobQuV9FTSxI7mR1kkWIMIFEd3FyP1jW8eWMiL_a1Hrtuua8nhcn1Wv22SP4uYDdAB0p0ign6Ufq3EQTERIhB5I12xBnFI2piFL0vCI/s320/DSC_0213.jpg" /></a>And Jack-Jack came to visit. Jack-Jack used to be our doggy. When we went to Saudi Arabia we had to re-home him. He went to live with friends down the road, and now that we are back, he still comes to visit! Breaks my heart each time he has to go back, but at least we still get visits! And Jack-Jack loves to be the baby!<br />
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</div>Jacquihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02829743555309306913noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3291491308447887687.post-27706855126557571412010-01-27T03:50:00.000-08:002010-01-27T03:50:27.250-08:00So much catching up to do!What with Christmas and family visiting, not to mention eating, lots of eating - I've gotten really behind with posting updates on what we've been getting up to. So today is a blogging marathon!!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgger95d-UCTuGH9Gtgufx1mnvE_MWBMjsPzSmI3ZL9ISEHA-pKZe20boTo7krcBQIvd3aePkZs2ELy_jJoh67F7QiO8wqHOxhfnLIOpejDRvNuCy0K4gai76Gy735beJxjhf08I7MtBYg/s1600-h/30112009700.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" mt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgger95d-UCTuGH9Gtgufx1mnvE_MWBMjsPzSmI3ZL9ISEHA-pKZe20boTo7krcBQIvd3aePkZs2ELy_jJoh67F7QiO8wqHOxhfnLIOpejDRvNuCy0K4gai76Gy735beJxjhf08I7MtBYg/s320/30112009700.jpg" /></a><br />
</div>At the end of the year, the kids (along with other homeschooled kids and the music teacher's girls) gave a concert for the Ladies Active group in Stanford.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: right;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl6bYH6nxkZAVcRP7g_fo0N8CNvFHChGP3MN6CjcQkBOQQgLNtxjemkERiXxLAGv2fzPGu4EzH4xWjmEzGsx3zTry6cKP4bajUF66NOzc3_NdhxSzPfLDHd51Ps9NRlxZLKNNXCLgnve0/s1600-h/_MG_1909.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" mt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl6bYH6nxkZAVcRP7g_fo0N8CNvFHChGP3MN6CjcQkBOQQgLNtxjemkERiXxLAGv2fzPGu4EzH4xWjmEzGsx3zTry6cKP4bajUF66NOzc3_NdhxSzPfLDHd51Ps9NRlxZLKNNXCLgnve0/s320/_MG_1909.JPG" /></a>Daniel started tap dancing in the last term of the year, and caught on so quickly that he participated in the dance concert at the end of the year. Daniel is on the far left. <br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRJNHzSrYWMjFkptUtysR-tVVukf6WDkW70moTEIxgyzjJHJFmuS4HMAfZKUNuHpfSkKD96nR2zbPTX78uA3Oae2XJ3UPbBKgCZ4VDf5HNNp5WLbCgRnrN8lTRTwWtiUO2p2l8qWteed0/s1600-h/11122009707a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" mt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRJNHzSrYWMjFkptUtysR-tVVukf6WDkW70moTEIxgyzjJHJFmuS4HMAfZKUNuHpfSkKD96nR2zbPTX78uA3Oae2XJ3UPbBKgCZ4VDf5HNNp5WLbCgRnrN8lTRTwWtiUO2p2l8qWteed0/s320/11122009707a.jpg" /></a>Then it was time for the second music concert for parents and friends. We all crammed into Janike's house which made it difficult to take really good pictures of the kids - especially since I had also forgotten my camara, so used my cell phone to take these pics. But the kids all sang and played beautifully. I was so proud of them! On the right is Daniel at the piano, and below is Tarryn playing the recorder.<br />
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</div>Jacquihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02829743555309306913noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3291491308447887687.post-16445921832082400582010-01-27T02:57:00.000-08:002010-01-27T05:17:27.034-08:00Wild life in the suburbs<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWUCmWs6_XrLritaS2W5zGPpjeRZ5UJ1dVOLymJlshU12ow2A4E5l7dyD3GSHOY1vt04wsz0okBHhGMe5_2AqROobvYXXIErdpyytKMLU8KZLUFW7J1JUjVTlfW6Vps_yzKflfE08jcWg/s1600-h/IMG_2298.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" mt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWUCmWs6_XrLritaS2W5zGPpjeRZ5UJ1dVOLymJlshU12ow2A4E5l7dyD3GSHOY1vt04wsz0okBHhGMe5_2AqROobvYXXIErdpyytKMLU8KZLUFW7J1JUjVTlfW6Vps_yzKflfE08jcWg/s320/IMG_2298.jpg" /></a><br />
</div>We are lucky to live in a place with much natural beauty and wildlife. Sandwiched between mountains and the sea, Hermanus is surrounded by a large conservation area and here we humans attempt to co-habitate with the wildlife from birds to baboons. It's not always successful as is the case when it comes to baboons, who are the subject of many debates here. They are amazingly good at breaking and entering! But, by and large, we enjoy sites such as this when a pair of egyptian geese toddled down our road to show their youngsters the lay of the land. This pair are often to be found down our road, either waddling down the road looking for titbits, or sitting on the roof of a house surveying their kingdom. Now, their off spring are being shown the ropes.<br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijU3IRokeqyyU5FUekSjcFLyXvLolZWVNs0rYO_XojhYC3E5p4dkYaRx7RAdtCxSTdnkjVJ9ZkKhT52JYCHept4tIbxwAvV-fC1y_-tpBUXPls1qGpL58TIfFQoMzDdpPfc4SwkKC2qOg/s1600-h/DSC_0173.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" mt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijU3IRokeqyyU5FUekSjcFLyXvLolZWVNs0rYO_XojhYC3E5p4dkYaRx7RAdtCxSTdnkjVJ9ZkKhT52JYCHept4tIbxwAvV-fC1y_-tpBUXPls1qGpL58TIfFQoMzDdpPfc4SwkKC2qOg/s320/DSC_0173.jpg" /></a><br />
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">The closest beach to our house is Onrus Beach. About a 20 minute walk from the house, or a 5 minute drive. We try to make a plan to get down there regularly at sunset.<br />
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<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimhAuPqBSmYDFA-mjfaKrdxRun8BRS8KHTOrVtfSiRt-PoMkSjU0xvPxB28Q6NTMkdRFvIXrE_KUMnk2YeBYX2XbYJMG6n06S_ZUIUQ2Ft9oKJIb7jP_GlF96CP0f87q3M8F5Pg46SX3g/s1600-h/08102009689.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" mt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimhAuPqBSmYDFA-mjfaKrdxRun8BRS8KHTOrVtfSiRt-PoMkSjU0xvPxB28Q6NTMkdRFvIXrE_KUMnk2YeBYX2XbYJMG6n06S_ZUIUQ2Ft9oKJIb7jP_GlF96CP0f87q3M8F5Pg46SX3g/s320/08102009689.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">My parents garden, which is really just an extension of the indigenous vegetation (called Fynbos) up the mountain. It delights us once a year with a fine display by the fygies in pink, magenta, yellow, orange and white. Here is Tarryn standing in the garden next to the pinks.<br />
</div>Jacquihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02829743555309306913noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3291491308447887687.post-58473944994508759212009-11-19T00:45:00.000-08:002009-11-19T00:45:47.695-08:00On 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! <br />
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!Jacquihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02829743555309306913noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3291491308447887687.post-5865270254690927902009-10-02T09:43:00.000-07:002009-10-02T10:39:03.219-07:00Whale Festival Kids MarketOn 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....<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc6AgJUaNaUE8PBw5YpQ4kHK4Aj_toyUHfUJDXCtwOgKCk1bhBZDWXjQPxRyIQQoP1Hocu-xlue609JQM_dHkGatkUwY6_HLNU1vHNv4AgJjqYeFNAZuVse2phn1-z0YN6rLvz_pTURkc/s1600-h/26092009683.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img $r="true" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc6AgJUaNaUE8PBw5YpQ4kHK4Aj_toyUHfUJDXCtwOgKCk1bhBZDWXjQPxRyIQQoP1Hocu-xlue609JQM_dHkGatkUwY6_HLNU1vHNv4AgJjqYeFNAZuVse2phn1-z0YN6rLvz_pTURkc/s320/26092009683.jpg" /></a>From left are Lucy and Kayleigh, Daniel and Tarryn (and Jon-Jon just behind Tarryn)<br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">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.<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyReUqgR2jcGgqxcOR6dQM5znSLw6pbfDiaNROPAZWqFQdTSU6mKCg7M4I0ttslfJVhWMSg0wATGG94qiLYAclN4HNm_b_wZLq1q4ZcVanfYK_NIoDNCX1EEahYReMCGYnqljz5PoOrzM/s1600-h/26092009686.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img $r="true" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyReUqgR2jcGgqxcOR6dQM5znSLw6pbfDiaNROPAZWqFQdTSU6mKCg7M4I0ttslfJVhWMSg0wATGG94qiLYAclN4HNm_b_wZLq1q4ZcVanfYK_NIoDNCX1EEahYReMCGYnqljz5PoOrzM/s320/26092009686.jpg" /></a>Tarryn and Jon-Jon braving the elements!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZqsQU14gitWnbFzlEe53QOcmNsLp4tFXWZeJBAQF1Jkfe_tlAKTEXC0D9M1Lum1CPZWNHjCxB_vJs22jB0ru6i7qgYegTBAS3MPWaTKElTSNtQX12ccFIerY179ZqQiY2tHKmiB_P-_c/s1600-h/26092009688.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img $r="true" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZqsQU14gitWnbFzlEe53QOcmNsLp4tFXWZeJBAQF1Jkfe_tlAKTEXC0D9M1Lum1CPZWNHjCxB_vJs22jB0ru6i7qgYegTBAS3MPWaTKElTSNtQX12ccFIerY179ZqQiY2tHKmiB_P-_c/s320/26092009688.jpg" /></a>After the market, we ended up popping in at the vintage car show - but that wheel definitely doesn't belong to a vintage car!!! <br />
</div>Jacquihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02829743555309306913noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3291491308447887687.post-63105013623137792322009-10-02T06:21:00.000-07:002009-10-02T06:21:16.940-07:00Tea Party for two, or three!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsIiJf6RaBI8RMZ3Hj0fiVVwNSyYr76ZEk4i6xMX6zK2w3PO786qBqmmZieuz-15CFNmBaPPzpSTGx_1osi0oUDSDUtEfTO0ZBjHzr6_MckucfPeSCshBAjK9b2sfc8-XHHC3Cfw8khCQ/s1600-h/IMG_1899.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img $r="true" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsIiJf6RaBI8RMZ3Hj0fiVVwNSyYr76ZEk4i6xMX6zK2w3PO786qBqmmZieuz-15CFNmBaPPzpSTGx_1osi0oUDSDUtEfTO0ZBjHzr6_MckucfPeSCshBAjK9b2sfc8-XHHC3Cfw8khCQ/s320/IMG_1899.jpg" /></a><br />
</div>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!<br />
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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.....<br />
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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!Jacquihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02829743555309306913noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3291491308447887687.post-31553529875335879892009-09-28T06:36:00.000-07:002009-09-28T14:58:48.408-07:00Beach 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 <a href="http://www.oceanconservancy.org/">http://www.oceanconservancy.org/</a><br />
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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! <br />
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</div><em>In the foreground from left Kayleigh, Tarryn and Jon-Jon armed with gloves and plastic bag.</em><br />
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</div><em>You'll be amazed by how much debri becomes entangled in the sea weed!</em><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiysPFFe5sx5dQPtXzX0rsjQaeRPjwUzk5gpKiL2NIr4UsQHXY7-nYdPl68PHF6-QWSoKBU45CITqXY5Sh3LAAAcqzCJV8v-b4ALgjWCbZIY_5dBXXJ-vdFfXhI3aKX-LUBEXIhwecbes/s1600-h/18092009658.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: right; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" iq="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiysPFFe5sx5dQPtXzX0rsjQaeRPjwUzk5gpKiL2NIr4UsQHXY7-nYdPl68PHF6-QWSoKBU45CITqXY5Sh3LAAAcqzCJV8v-b4ALgjWCbZIY_5dBXXJ-vdFfXhI3aKX-LUBEXIhwecbes/s320/18092009658.jpg" /></a><br />
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.<br />
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</div>Jacquihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02829743555309306913noreply@blogger.com1