{Day FiVe on Day 6}

Top of the morning to ya!


   I'm just not doing so well with this consistent blogging idea! And today is the day that the rest of my family returns from Israel!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


   Can you tell I am excited??

   I just wanted to share one photo from yesterday... My dear friend, Berlize, came over for coffee last night. I didn't make it to her birthday party so I promised her coffee and a gift. She LOVES my brownies and has been asking for a couple of months for the recipe and that I could teach her how to make them.

    I had a shabang and decided to prepare all of her dry ingredients and give her the recipe. I love giving gifts, wrapping gifts, washi tape, and tissue paper... LOTS of tissue paper:

"Well... That's all I have to say about that."

{Day 4 on Day FiVe}

Top of the morning to ya!


     

     Unfortunately Gabbi and I were in too much of a chocolate stupor to blog... And we were honest with ourselves about how much we knew we would want to eat.

    I felt like Augustus Gloop when I selected not one... not two... but THREE pieces of chocolate. But like I said, we were honest with ourselves. 

      For the most part, we have been eating very disciplined. However, I felt like I was going to DIE today at spinning because I got too distracted last night to finish eating dinner. Shame.

     Lord-willing and the creek don't rise, I will have Day 5 photo up today. 

    

MY FAMILY WILL BE BACK IN ONE MORE DAY!!!

    Staying home without the whole family here is over-rated. 

"Well... That's all I have to say about that."

{Day †h®3e}

Behold... My chicken burger. It definitely hit the spot.

†øp øƒ †hé mørñîñg †ø ¥å!


     I am having fun with the "option" button and wanted to see how funky I could make the word "three"... I like it.

    Today, my siblings and I enjoyed a fabulous lunch at Katelynn's house. She is so sweet to not only host us, but also prepare lunch for four extra people (which includes my two man-sized brothers).


   The Lord bless her for her sweet hospitality.


"Well... That's all I have to say about that."

 

{Day Two Part 2}

Goeie nag!


      Before I sleep... I want to share photos from this evening. I made my first Afrikaans meal with my friend, Charlotte. Marli gave me an Afrikaans cookbook for my birthday and I gave her my favourite recipes for HER birthday (which is two days after mine).

     Bobotie is actually influenced by the Cape Malay people and is really good. It has an interesting combination of flavours that make a yummy, simple meal for plenty.

I decided to throw in my experiment. Mom usually buys

this grain-ladened bread that nobody eats because

it's just...scary. So, I decided to use it for bread pudding 

because I wanted to make up a custard sauce to go on top. I used

PW's bread pudding recipe as a base and (of course) added my own twist.

The custard turned out really well. I was so pleased and I had Charlotte and Liezl's approval.  I prepared it similarly to chocolate ganache. 

Meet Charlotte. Graceful. Genuine. Lovely. Servant-hearted. Man! God

has surrounded me with such wonderful young women. They challenge me 

to love people and serve for the glory of God. 

 Being truly Afrikaans (although her mother is English), 

she helped me make the bobotie. Well... She did most of it, I must admit. 

Graham and Liezl. It is scary having them both under the same roof.

They are equally mischievous, yet really thoughtful, like most of the same stuff,

and you never have to wonder what they're honest opinion is!

Liezl and Gabbi are also very close. Gabbi was excited

to join her at school for track practice this afternoon.

The handsome couple, Dewald and Marli! I tell them God brought me here t

o make sure that they get married.Dewald is the master at making potjiekos - another famous South African dish.

The other partners-in-crime. Raymond and Gabbi, who are both youngest children, share the same playful gleam in their eyes. I have no idea what they were talking about...

Whelp! I'm off to bed and pray the Lord to give me strength for spinning again!

Lekker slaap!

{Day Two}

Top of the morning to ya!!


    Herein lies Day 2 photos... Gabbi and I got an early start... In fact, we got up before "early". 4:30 is an ungodly hour to arise. However, good things come to those who go to spinning early. Besides, I embrace the siesta culture and will probably enjoy a horizontal life pause sometime later.

    Saturday night, we had a braai with some youth and young adults. It was very nice but we ended up with WAY too much temptation- I mean, dessert!! WAAAY too much. And I'm trying to get the Ultimate Responsible Daughter award by ridding our house of the desserts, soft drinks, and other fatty foods that so easily entangle... AIYEE!!

   (One of my lovely handsome brothers *cough... GRAHAM* drank an entire liter of soda to himself. I don't get how the boy stays so slim. Just isn't fair.)

    We've also embraced the South African way of keeping our windows open during the day. The mountain breeze (even in the summer) is a great and economical substitute for air con. The only con is that all God's bugs are attracted to the lights. Just walking upstairs, I saw four or five different species of insects. They are of manageable size, so I am ok.

  Behold... Day 2 photos.

Gabbi took advantage of the fact that it was 6:15am 

and our dear brothers were still blowing bubbles and dreaming

about sugarplum trees... So, she gathered the terrible-awfuls 

and threw them OUT.

I bet that if Graham saw this, a tear would fall from the

corner of his eye.

Talk about a prey-er warrior! This preying mantis has been on the

stairwell since Saturday... Thanks to him, we have less moths

and other weird bugs.

"Well... That's all I have to say about that."

{Day 1}

Top of the morning to ya!


    So... We are approaching Morgan's 20th birthday in two days now. We have some exciting things planned to commemorate this milestone... I post this confident of the fact that she is soaking in her birthday trip to Israel.

     I mean, she already doesn't follow my blog so I run no risk of her seeing this.

   Anyways... Gabbi and I hacked Morgan's instagram on Saturday morning - as all devoted siblings do - and posted photos expressing our initial distraught over her leaving, then our moment of epiphany, and then our utter joy over a week to pretend like we get to do whatever we want. (The latter being a pathetic effort to console ourselves.)

   I've decided to post random pictures for each day. I'm already a post behind so I will be posting twice for yesterday and today.

    Yesterday's photo:

This young woman is a GEM, I tell you! Her husband will be highly blessed.

Katelynn is another partner-in-crime. My parents have expressed the desire to have more children and God has blessed us tremendously with friends like her that become family.

 She came to hang out over the weekend

and I quite enjoyed our conversations, concert moments, and movie time. 

I want to be like her when I grow up.

"Well... That's all I have to say about that." 

The Chase

Top of the morning to ya!



      A few months ago, my mentor shared this poem with me. This was the response of an elderly inmate to the gospel message. My favourite part about this is it reflects a genuine heart touched by the Holy Spirit. She did not pursue God. God pursued her. She was in an environment that constantly reminded her of her sin and spoke to hopelessness.

     But God penetrated those prison walls - spiritually and physically -  and softened her heart to a message of eternal hope in salvation! God be praised!

The chase is finally done with,

there's nowhere else to hide. 

I finally see the light and the reason

why You died.

The chase is finally done with, 

there's nothing else I can do;

Your love has run me down, I

surrender all to you. 

But your love is so sweet, it

makes me want to cry;

Your understanding so deep, it

never leaves me dry.

Now I give to You myself; all my

friends will think I've gone insane,

But, at heart, for me, You didn't die

in vain.

I always tried to think that I could

make it on my own;

I can't be strong anymore. You're 

my hope; don't let me go.

'Cause Your love is so sweet, it

makes me want to cry;

Your understanding so deep, it

never leaves me dry.

Now I give to You myself; all my

friends will think I've gone insane.

But, at least, for me, YOU DIDN'T 

DIE IN VAIN!

Just a Little Floccinauccinihilipilification

Top of the morning to ya!

   I learned a new term today. Bellwhether. Used in a poem my father used to read to us as children: The Calf Path.  - So, I went to add it to my repertoire of English words on my faithful iPhone. I keep them in my notes with the intention of using them and, OH, how the list has increased!... Rapidly. Briskly! Posthaste!! PRECIPITATELY!!!

   I digress.

Bellwhether: an entity in a specific arena used to influence or create trends or to presage future happenings.

   The everyday use of elaborate vocabulary is just not my schtick. My family likes to play vocabulary wars and some will practice subterfuge by pulling out 'The Gilded Tongue' or the faithful 'Thessy' in hopes of winning by 'wow-ing' the other contestants.

   Me??... I give myself away by coming up with sentences like such:

    After glissading down the mountainside, I was greeted by the sight of a hut surrounded by a verdure of over-grown grass that almost seemed to crenelate the inhabitance. I rubbed my eyes to make sure what I beheld was real... The pressure of my fists against my eyelids creating phosphenes that I attempted to blink away.


   I feel much like I am sure Linus (Matt Damon) did in Ocean's 12 in the scene where he was expected to come up with a riddle... Someone please just rescue me and knock me out with a cudgel!!


   Whelp... I think I used all of my vocabulary words. I can move on with a clear conscience!


"Well... That's all I have to say about that."


 

   

   

Douceur

Top of the morning to ya!

     So... My father has encouraged me for several years to consider entrepreneurial pursuits. I have lived in fear and worry and refused to try. I enjoy expressing creativity through decorating, baking, and fashion and have often wondered how I could do something that involves those entrepreneurial passions. However, I procrastinated and talked.

    The name "Douceur" is French for "sweetness". My 'brother', Jusob, who speaks french amongst other languages, came up with several names for me to choose from. Jusob is 17 years old and I am continually amazed at how business savvy he is! My dad helped us with our basic business slide and my mom and other cheerleaders have been supporting us and giving us lots of ideas and contacts.

     If I ever write a book, I'll have to dedicate it to a LOT of people. 

    Marli, who has an event planning business, started talking to me about ideas that she had and connections that she also had. Morgan and I decided to start working on a business plan and asking for advice from everyone we could. 

    Morgan and I have these amazing friends - sisters- who are highly gifted in fashion and baking. Raeesa, the older sister, is a fashion designer and does custom dresses and gowns for girls and women. Ridwana, her younger sister, is a highly gifted baker. We have enjoyed her treats quite a bit. 

    The week that Morgan and I went to Pretoria with Marli, Marli informed us that she would be having some government officials at her lodge. They requested a revised menu and Marli decided to out-source the starters and desserts to us. It was an exciting opportunity and I made mistakes. But I thank God that He gave us the strength and support to step out and do it. 

   Ridwana heard about our order and got very excited. She gave me presentation suggestions for my pies and offered to make sugar domes for them... I had never heard of those before!

   Below are a couple of photos of one of the starters and one of the desserts... 

I would tell you what all this involved, but I'd have to kill you!

 Just look at these!! I watched Ridwana make four of these domes in a span of 5 or so minutes.

Morgan made a delcious foccacia bruschetta... She went above and beyond with the ingredients... Unfortunately again, I'd have to kill you if I told you. ;-)

"Well... That's all I have to say about that."

Marli&Me

Top of the morning to ya!

     Again... It's been forever. The holidays have that effect on people. We have been all over the place and had a splendid 2013/2014 end and beginning. We are overwhelmed by the Lord's goodness as we continue to extend hospitality to various people. This week, we met an incredible group of leaders that we hosted during a huge youth camp. They blessed us by speaking into our lives through thought-provoking table discussions. Gotta love good food and meaningful fellowship!

     I've been planning this post because I was all tickled with my clever title. I have made a new friend and we have become like sisters in the past two or so months that we met. She is extremely creative, pleasant, servant-hearted, knows everybody, etc etc etc! We have recently gone into business together along with Morgan and a few other gals. We shall see what the Lord does with that. 

      Meet my lovely friend, Marli: 

Marli is from Pretoria. After New Year's, she took Mo and I with her where we stayed at her parents' BEAUTIFUL home and shopped 'til we dropped in Joburg, Sandton, and Pretoria. All of which were around 30-45min drives from her parents' neighbourhood.

This is a unique cafe with a great vibe. It's a chain and each has it's unique decor and traits. The food is AMAZING. I was overwhelmed by the menu because I saw so many things I liked. 

This Tashas was in Joburg. We were sitting across from it at a really really really good stone pizza restaurant (to follow shortly) and I saw that Tashas was closing. I LOVED the antique books hanging so Marli suggested I pull the I'm-the-tourist-American card... The manager told me I could take as many photos as I wanted. ;-) 

Behold.... Piza and Vino. Marli and I ordered a half-and-half pizza. We got the Al Pacino and James Brown. DELICIOUS.

Marli's parents live in a beautiful golf estate surrounded by incredibly awesome mountains. It reminded me of being in the Shire (because I have been there, right??). And nothing could beat waking up to the university professor-couple neighbours who blasted catholic men's choir music next door. I opened my eyes expecting angels to be surrounding me. To think... Heaven is better than this! 

 This is not out of order (for those of you who observed that this is a Tashas photo). We went for breakfast at a Tashas near Sandton. Their unique decor included those cloth napkins hanging behind me.  -Like the clueless look on my face?

After mulling over the menu... I decided on this delectable breakfast. Sweet corn cakes with fried eggs, bacon, feta, basil, avo, and some chili salsa. It. Was. GOOD.

Tashas staff working hard on a Saturday morning. Clearly a popular spot.

The dressing room at Vertigo... Not sure why I took this photo. 

We went to Sandton mall where I got a bunch of blurry photos of stores that I wanted to return to. Morgan and I were there for 4hrs and couldn't look everywhere. I'm taking a future mental note of this. Le Creuset is best.

This restaurant was also good. I just love food. And I love that a mall has nice restaurants. Then again, this is Sandton. 

People in Sandton/Joburg/Pretoria seem to be a little more health-conscious. I noticed on every restaurant menu that they had health sections. I was doubly impressed by the quinoa representation.

And I thought Coldstone was the bomb... 

Morgan and I read for a few hours at this restaurant. We were warmly received and enjoyed conversation with a greek gentleman who said he's from Greece, grew up in Egypt, and moved to South Africa to join business with some of his brothers. He speaks several languages and told us his brother is fluent in 9 languages just from the tourism business. Incredible.

It hurt my pride at first to take a tourist photo... But I couldn't resist. People from all of the world stood with cameras in Mandela Square. One of my favourite things about Joburg and Pretoria was the diversity. I love it.

We weren't sure where we were going to eat, so we decided to see Monte Casino. I told Marli that we had once stayed in the Emperor's Palace; but she said that was the mini version of this place.

They're so cute!

I really want this book! Marli said it is the baker's heaven. Only 347 more days until my birthday!! :D

We decided against Monte Casino and drove out to Rosebanks. Boy, am I glad we did! That area reminded of my father's hometown, Sewickley, PA. I could live there. The atmosphere was great. This is a bake shop that was also closing when we arrived. We were able to browse briefly and purchase a few treats for the family.

I never knew there were so many jams out there.

This is where we ate. Another hotspot. It was filled to the brim there. As hectic as it was, I enjoyed eating here and was glad we left the casino.

That night, we crashed on her parents' sofa and watched a movie. Lovely, hey?

Sunday morning, we took the long way home. She took us around the dam to see the view and then we headed off to Pretoria for breakfast.

Morgan is so disciplined. The girl orders yoghurt and granola wherever we go. 

I had this eggs benedict. I can't even remember the name now! It was excellent and I even liked the seasoned and roasted macadamia nuts. This restaurant- Cafe Beryt - was introduced to us by Carl and has become a quick favourite. Even though we live 3.5hrs away, we've gone enough times that the staff asked Mo and me where the rest of our family was... I still can't decide if that's a good or bad sign. ;-)

The trip home was breath-taking and the sun shone beautifully. 

"Well... That's all I have to say about that."