Red, Green, Hot

Irresistable chillies from my garden in watercolour. I have been having a lot of fun finding edible things that are either homegrown or selfseeded. there is nothing to beat 'freshly picked' for flavour and bursting goodness.

Watercolour

Finders Keepers

I found these deliciously juicy, rich yellow gooseberries growing in a sun drenched ditch.

Gooseberry watercolour

Summer sketch

Sunripened Tomato's sunday afternoon sketch

Can you tell I'm happily on holiday. Time to smell the tomato's, soak up the sun and as my kids say chillax.

Stained Glass Window

Window at Oude Molen.

Every week I pass this beautiful chapel like window as I climb a set of narrow concrete stairs to the pottery studio and it never ceases to make me think of growth, fairy tales and prayers.

Yesterday, Today & Tomorrow

There is a timelessness to some days that is hard to capture. A perfect winter Cape morning is such a thing. It should be savoured, rolled around tongue and eyeball. Lapped up and splashed in - enjoy.

Happy Holidays

Here in South Africa we've just laid a great man to rest and we are left to keep that indomitable spirit alive in this our beautiful land...so this is how I'd like to sign off 2013...

Sunset Beach Cape Town 15 December 2013 - Hamba kahle

Go well to you all
let's meet again in 2014 :)
Heloise

One Last Thing

It's the end of the year and I'm nearly on holiday...

picture of a moms mind

Bag! Ladies!

Bag by Tjou-tjou

My fabulous new handbag! Do yourself a favour and pop over to tjou-tjou for a peek at Henriette's latest creation... and then get your hands on one - I am totally in love with mine.

All Picture No Sound...yet

MIG Moodboard

So this is the other thing I've been occupying my time with!
Part of my homework for The Blogging Your Way Course - I'm planning a more interesting but no less imperfect future and you're invited :)

Oops! I just realised I forgot to add this...
Some of the images I used I've collected on pinterest.

The seagull: Marc Johns
Water colour bird illustr: Matt Sewell
Beans: Peter at slouvlakiforthesoul.com
White ink on brown paper by: Oh! Deer Julie
Oh! and last but not least the cup: Annette Oberwelland
Stiched labels and pressed flowers: found via carly-mac.tumblr.com

Market of Loveliness

I can't believe it's been more than a week since I last posted about the 'Market of Loveliness'! But here it finally is.

My first retail experience was really a very pleasant one in the small personal space of 'I Love My Laundry'. After a rather chaotic start (I had no idea what to price my various items at) we all settled down to some dim sum and a wine tasting hosted by the 'Land of Hope' label. Great wine with a great ethic behind it - not to mention a rather nice looking label :). Clayton shared some of the 'I love my... ' brand vision and Carmen introduced the Sweet&Soutie concept to everyone.

Then all that was left to do was shop!

Monday Blues

One of many ellies at play at a waterhole

We were lucky enough to spend a weekend at a game lodge in the Waterburg (about 2 1/2 hrs north of Pretoria)
Today I'm back at my desk...gumph!

I Feel Brown...

...coffee/latte/chocolate/brick/rust/leather/dull/dust/terracotta/mud/70's/mocca/milo/paint/cardboard/teak/tent/stew/compost/carpet/warm/treacle/dry/clipboard/desert/deep/dark, brown...
oh, and a bit blue

Cape Of Opposites

Yesterday & Today

Sunshine & Rain

Winter & Winter

Outside & Inside

What to see & What to do...

My garden comes alive when the sun comes out with this ground cover I stuck in everywhere I found an annoying sandy bald patch and now it's taking over and I love it, it's so happy. The beautiful ball of hand spun wool is also mine - found on a recent trip along the garden route at "Old Nick". A highly recommended stop en-route! (Marti even gave me an impromptu knitting lesson - now if only I can remember...)

But I Live Like This...

I count myself lucky and blessed.

Lucky Packet Relish

Ala hubby: Finely chop spring onions/chives, chillies, cherry tomatoes, onions, garlic and olives and throw together with heaps of yummy olive oil. Season and drizzel over the closest thing on hand. YUM.

Start With What You've Got

It's a new year and it holds the promise of many new things. Not least in that it's not last year. So for me it's onwards and upwards and my garden (much to my surprise and delight) is full of lovely surprises.

The seeds we eventually got around to planting in a rather higeldy pigeldy fashion are coming up in a delicious  lucky packet kind of a way. One lovely sunshiny tomatoe hidden amonst other still unidentified veggie growth, spring onions or are they chives, carrots, chillies, onions!, spinach, rocket, cherry tomatoes and cucumbers - who knew! It's messy I'll give you, but marvelous.

Time For A Blooming Rest

I'm on holidayeeah! It's the first time I've had my camera out for a while and this little arrangement on my table made me happy - so I shot it :)

Elevating Macaroni

I know, I'm trying to rise above my station - but I'm inspired. I've become the unwitting victim of Masterchef Australia, so here is my visual version of "so simple but so good" and "whatever it is you're cooking, pack it with flavour".

Jou ma se macaroni!

My Garden Is Finally Paying It Forward

 

My salads look better and taste better for it. Glorious sweet and peppery greens add crunch while the radishes add colour and flavour in hot pink. It's going to be a dashing salady summer - yum.

Wintery Summer

While the rest of you are enjoying a real summer, ours is the horse designed by committee (it turned into a camel).

So this is what's happening in my house today - It's raining outside, there's a potjie on the stove for supper, fire in the hearth and a baked pudding with caramalised nectarines to be served after supper with custard.