Perfect patch

Stopping in the small town of Paternoster I discovered this tiny little shop of gems.



Filled to the top with gorgeous quilts made by Darlene, Sharon and Nadia it really is a visual feast. My mom has always loved patchwork quilts and I've been following Nicolettes quilting journeys through her blog devliegendekoe avidly so I thought I'd show you the treasures being created on the West Coast.



This quilt showing the 'pixalated' (work was clearly still with me) map of the bay of Paternoster and the surrounding village was my very favourite.


The sky is made up of a cloud print and if you take a closer look you can see the typical West Coast fishermans cottage with it's chimney standing in a wild flower surround. You can order a quilt or even commission one.

Rested and revitalised

I'm back and for a week I managed to just about escape the wettest winter here in 52 years. We went on our first family camping trip and what an adventure it was. Starting with 3 days at Tietiesbaai on the West Coast and ending further up the coast at Vensterklip just outside Elandsbaai. Two totally different experiences but the one thing that really struck me, was how being exposed to mother nature just makes you feel so much more in touch and vunerable at the same time. The only time the children stopped running, climbing and rolling down sand dunes was for food and sleep - what a joy and rare privilage!

Tietiesbaai ~ where you can camp all along the coast in many different spots some with amenities and some with none. Apparently it gets a bit crowded in the crayfish season.

Midweek weekend

A final word on my PIF's ~ Barb from Pannifers Food based in Canada has also received hers safe and sound, which I'm really pleased about.



This weekend it rained plenty with small patches of sunshine peeping through.



Up in Namakwa Land the flowers are apparently in full swing and down here farther south we're getting hints of spring.

Weather for Ducks

I've been away for what seems to be a life time. Some of it because of computer gremlins but happily also the winter holidays - which not surprisingly started and ended the same way...WET.

For all the water we've had some great times. First up to the West Coast and then the Citrusdal area. One of the best treats when you get to Lambertsbaai is a meal and the at the Muisbosskerm. Find out more here. An open air restaurant that specialises in local seafood and homemade breads, jams and coffee on the fire. Everything is baked, grilled and simmered out in the open, under your nose and right on the beach and it is truly a 'wow' experience - even in the rain.

After that; this was the brightest thing I saw on my walks.

On to Citrusdal and the mountains, where the rain just kept on coming.

This road collapsed the night we left (this picture was frontpage news of Die Burger). Close call!

And back to Cape Town - more of the same. This is the Rietvlei, a bird sanctuary across the road from me. Note the windsock for the local model plane enthusiasts:)