Travel - Camping on the River!

I decided to surprise my youngest daughter and planned a camping trip! I am not a camper!!

I love to travel and find amazing new places to visit but they must be in the comfort of a house with all the necessities and yes - luxuries! So this little holiday was quite a challenge for me!

A friend suggested this camping spot which is about two and half hours away from Cape Town and on a beautiful, picturesque river. The campsites are under trees and our site looked out at the river. Khomeesdrif campsite is on the Riviersonderend River only 15 min away from the little country town of Greyton.

Camping life is slow - there is lots of time to play "tennis", chat to new friends and prepare meals, kayak on the river, swim, play cards and relax! 

I actually realised how wonderful it is to all sit around a wood fire and chat! There was no internet connection or electricity so we couldnt be "busy" on our phones!! 

We decided to take a short 15 minute drive to the pretty little country town of Greyton.

The main street is lined with many restaurants and art galleries and antique/vintage shops. 

Old signs on a very old building - lovely! 

Talor has  always got a camera around her neck and finds the most amazing places to get the perfect "shot". She is such an amazing photographer!

Hope the birthday girl with her best friend - Josie. 

This is my favourite artists studio - David Kuijers. I absolutely love his work and have one print of his up in my house but was very tempted to buy another one! 

The quaint streets of Greyton. 

Back "home" to our campsite it was still raining and cold so we made another large fire and snuggled around the campfire for another cup of tea and rusks ans chatting! The slow life!! I think I could get used to this :-)) 

Happy 13 birthday my beautiful Hope! We love you so much!!xxxx

Shirley xx 

22 Year Wedding Anniversary!

Wow! 22 years!! We decided to take the Gopro with us for the day and "film" the day! Take a look at this short film that my daughter Talor helped me "stich" together of our day.

We went to a beautiful French restaurant in Cape Town - "Head Quarters" which is situated in a gorgeous old building. The decor, especially the lights were beautiful and I had my favourite steak and chips for main course. This reminded us of our holiday last year in Paris! The Parisians know how to make a good steak, chips and sauce!

We then took a scenic walk up Bree Street which is lined with new restaurants, coffee shops and decor shops.

It was a beautiful Cape Town day so we then made our way to Signal Hill. The view from the top of Signal Hill  is breathtaking!

It was such a fun day!

Shirley xx

Crochet time

Crochet time ..... is the time of the day when I am taking the girls to their dancing and gymnastic lessons and I while I wait .... I crochet! 

This diamond cushion cover I made I used Moya yarn in the colours Ice Blue and Snowdrops. 

I decided to hand sew them together and I am so happy with the end result.

I  love the simplicity of this diamond design and I really want to make a blanket now! 

This little sheep I made for Yarndale 2016. Hes really tiny and cute and a very easy, quick project.

I have just finished my Spring Flower cushion and one of my favourite stitches I have learnt to crochet is the Popcorn stitch! 

I used the Moya yarn in Charcoal and Rose Quartz.I just love the Charcoal! 

I followed a great tutorial/ blog for this flower cushion called http://dada4you.blogspot.com/

This blog has beautiful designs and patterns which are so inspiring. 

Popcorn love! 

For the border I decided to use the Dandy Border pattern from my favourite crochet designer Haafner Linssen from her book called "Hooked on Mandalas " 

The completed cushion with 16 squares all  crocheted together. 

Time for coffee and onto my new crochet project!! 

Have a happy week! 

Shirley xx 

Bo - kaap beauty

We have lived in Cape Town for 17 years now and in all those years we have never ventured into this part of Cape Town.This  area is called the Bo-kaap. We spent a fun Saturday morning walking around the narrow little streets with other visiting tourists and took many photos of these brightly coloured houses. 

These houses were built between 1790 and 1825. 

Over the years the area has come to be identified as the heart of the cultural life of the Malay people.

 Two basic styles of architecture predominate the Malay Quarter - Cape Dutch and Cape Georgian - the character of the styles being very similar. 

 A part of the Malay Quarter,  the streets Wale, Church, Shortmarket and Rose and Chiapinni Streets, was declared a National Monument in 1966 and in 1971 the City Council began the first phase of restoration. Care is being taken that the existing beauty and unity be preserved as an example of traditional, Cape, domestic architecture. Also It is intended the cobbled streets will be restored and lamps will replace electricity poles and cables.

These bright, beautiful houses are tucked away under the slopes of Signal Hill with a magnificent view of Table mountain in the distance.

This shop nestled amongst the houses has brightly coloured beaded animals of all shapes and sizes. Amazing creativity and local artistic skill!

We then walked back down to Bree Street which is one of my favourite spots to explore shops, architecture and restaurants and of course - coffee shops!! I absolutely love this dusty pink door of the restuarant,  "Mulberry & Prince"   

If you are ever visiting Cape Town - make sure you make your way to this  vibrant, colourful, picturesque neighbourhood - the Bo-kaap and stop for  a coffee on Bree Street. 

Shirley xx

Winter picnics

When winter sets in and it rains for days and days in Cape Town we start to long for summer again! I know we need the rain desperately - that long soaking rain that fills our dams so we can enjoy summer again with no water restrictions! 

At the first ray of sunshine I decided it was a good time to pack a picnic lunch and head to the common. The Noordhoek common has its own beauty in winter and is only a short 10 minute drive away. 

The beauty of the little forests of bare trees and squirrels scampering up and down the trees is so beautiful. 

There are little streams flowing through the common and horses grazing in the green water soaked fields. Winter days have their own beauty.

We made or way to the bench as the fields were still a little wet from all the rain during the week. 

The beauty that surrounds us! 

We have been coming to the common for years with the girls. Hope has had birthday parties here in summer. We have come to picnics with friends and parties with friends. We have walked our dogs and played in the little streams. Such special memories of this swing! 

I love picnics! Packing the food and finding a spot to throw down a blanket and then chatting and relaxing in the beauty of nature. 

I am so glad my girls still love to go on spontaneous picnics and also still love this swing! They had so much laughter and fun spinning! 

The beauty of winter trees and the crisp, cold air.

When you spin and spin and laugh until your stomach hurts! 

May we never be too old to have a swing!!

"The greatest oak was once a little nut who held its ground." 

Catching the rays of sunshine on a cold winters day. 

My girls bring me so much happiness  and laughter. My greatest joy is watching them grow up into beautiful kind, generous, loving, brave young ladies. 

Shirley xx