the story of our lives: July 2009

13 July 2009

My wife and baby and then of course The Boss

Diana from Tajikistan has been playing by us virtually daily. This has been the best thing since popsicles for my children. She is 6 years old, and Johan and Rina, our neighbours', foster child. Jesse calls her his wife, and so does he call his other friend, Dakota, as well... we will need to wait and see what will pan out in a few years' time. He calls Diana "Sweetie" when he wants her attention ( I don't actually know where he got that, as Mark and I am not sweetie people). Diana told Rina on Saturday morning, while looking in the mirror; "I don't want to grow old". After asking her for her reasons, she said; "Because then Jesse won't like me anymore!" And this all from the mouth of a 6 year old, I was in stitches...

They find all kinds of interesting things to play, like husband and wife, and Rachel is always the baby. They enjoy face painting, playing in the sand pit, and good know what else. I even found them in the vegetable patch once, trying to keep Anouck, the dog, out... chairs all lined up with a mattress and two pillows and busy digging in my veggie patch. Is this not 100% better than watching TV and DVD's?

Here are a few photos of my vegetables coming along slowly... but at least growing.

Thought you might like this

A good character is the best tombstone. Those who loved you and were helped by you will remember you when forget-me-nots have withered. Carve your name on hearts, not on marble ~Charles H. Spurgeon

Twin Cam Peugeot Bakkie

Oh Africa, oh Africa, wherefor art though mine?

I got this picture this morning from Jean, my sis in law. I could not resist posting it, as it so reminded me of going just outside our country's borders. I think if I would see this with my very own eyes, I would probably be shaking my head. But if I think about the scenario playing off in this picture, there is so much more untold facts than seen with the naked eye. How would our dear continent be Africa, if it was not for "Twin Cam bakkies"... or "stacked to the clouds bakkies"... or "let's see which side is lower" bakkies. And this is not even to mention the fresh food markets, with the fish irrigated in the open drain pipes. If these things weren't there, it would not be Africa... the place I love! These things at least make us still appreciate what we have in South Africa. So if you think things can't get worse here, just step outside our borders...

12 July 2009

Which mattress would you recommend?

I am putting this out to you, my friends, and please: I need your input on this. It is quite a serious issue, because if you wake up every morning with back pain, it is no longer funny! We have had this "very good" mattress (I won't mention names due to possible lawsuits), for two years, they came out to assess it, and said it falls within the SABS standards for it's age! Well, I don't want to sleep in my bed... we have previously had another mattress by the same company, as it is a reputable mattress, and the same thing happened after 5 years. So now I am asking you, if you have had a mattress for 10 years and it is still going strong, please let me have it's name. You can mail me to mziman@vodamail.co.za if you do not want to publish your reply here. Please help!

Green Fashion

How about wearing your very own weed garments, especially if they are gorgeous like these! Common, let's start growing, or shall I say, collecting, because I sure have enough growing in our veld!

11 July 2009

Fun in the Sun

This was taken this morning after breakfast. We are trying, with the emphasis on trying, to convert our swimming pool to a chlorine free pool. But we started off incorrectly and have to do some damage control now. So our pool is at this current stage, still green... but changing colour as I write here. This product, which I sell, by the way, works completely different to a salt chlorinater, which still produces chlorine. It works with ion exchange, so once one succeed in having a crystal clear pool, you will have a 100% mineral pool. There will be no harmful effects, as one has when using chlorinated water. So as they say in Afrikaans, "Aanhouer wen"... we will continue in our quest for that which we hope to attain and in the process be of some help to those who would like to attain the same, using the most cost effective method on the market in South Africa.

In the pictures, our children are enjoying the fresh winter air and chlorine free water... being pumped unto our lawn. You can see by Rachel's expression that it was a wee bit too cold to do for more than one minute. But they have been begging me to swim (Can you believe it?), so this was a welcome refreshment, and explanation why mother has said that it is still a bit too cold.

Update:

Our pool is blue today... hoorey! I am sure it will be clear tomorrow... so this wonderful stuff IS working!

10 July 2009

For my friends

I will offer a 10% discount coupon to the first FRIEND that leaves a comment on my blog. I just received my mooncup, which I won in the Mooncup competition and will start using it very soon... So if you are keen on having one, drop me a line and I will post your coupon to you... for women only.

Mud Junkie

I discovered Bentonite clay and do I need to say more. I managed to get a good quality supplier of the kind that one can use externally as well as internally. Please do visit Eyton's Earth to view all the applications for this clay. I am now a supplier of this clay and at the best prices in our country that I know of... 50 % cheaper than one of the leading pharmacies in SA, and their kind of clay is not safe to use internally, as well as it has been pre - treated... defeating the purpose of using something form our earth. This clay is of Volcanic origin mined in an open cast mine to prevent contamination. I have experimented already on myself. I did a clay mask for my face, and my oh my did it go stiff! I could truely see a difference in my skin straight afterwards, so I will be doing this twice a week. I then had a bath in it, which draws out metals and toxins from your body, and it was amasing. So once we have completed our parasite cleanse, I will commense using it internally and give some feedback on it. If you want to order some, please send me a mail to mziman@vodamail.co.za and I will send you an updated pricelist. Hope you become a mud junkie like me...

Girls' morning out

It has been quite a while since Rachel and I have had some time alone. When Mark said this morning that he wants to Jesse with him, I was quite glad to be left with one child and to have my little girl do my errands with me. So we gladly trotted off to town, did all my business, and ended it with a visit to our Wimpy. She was soooo excited about our trip and these pictures were taken just before we left.

06 July 2009

Homeschooling

Yesterday we went to a celebration of one of the church communities that we visit at times in Pretoria. At lunch I sat down next to a lady I have only seen, but never spoken to her before. I asked her what they do for a living. And amasingly she home schools her two daughters, ages 14 and 12. She took them out of school a year ago, and they are ALL loving it. She is using Love to Learn as a curriculum and could only say good things about it. This has been the curriculum that has been on my heart for our children, so it was so good to finally meet somebody using it. The standard is very high, the books are beautiful, and they cover so much more than the schools do. She told me what homeschooling has done for their family life, where they have always had a good family life, they now have such a different dynamic. They have discussions about what the girls had learned around dinner table, like discussing tornados! Her one daughter falls asleep every night with her Bible on her chest, and this all be her own doing... man that just brings tears to my eyes.

It has been amasing how God has been confirming this path for us as well, I think this must be about the 6th confirmation, and second one for Love to Learn. He is faithful when we ask Him to guide us.

This makes me excited... I will definitely attend the Homeschooler's Expo again this year in Jhb and maybe even join my friend in Cape Town for their expo when I am down there in September with the kids.

Tomorrow is my official off day... my dearest husband tries to give me off every once in a while, how kind of him... so I am off tomorrow and I am just going to enjoy myself, catch up with myself and have some silence around me... which I dearly need.

04 July 2009

A Handful of keys

My husband took me out on a "live" date last night, knowing how much I love live performances! I have been wanting to see this show for years... and finally got to see it last night... it was definitely worth the wait! It has been going since 1994! Do yourselves the favour and go and see this.

Here is a review...

Roelof Colyn & Jonathan Roxmouth

A Handful of Keys

MAIN Theatre

Thanks to countless requests from you - South Africa's most successful two hander revue is back!
This hilarious piano show, winner of over a dozen awards, returns with all of its ever-green appeal intact, featuring some dazzling new material.
Roelof Colyn, "the witty, urbane, master of comic timing" - had the press eating out of his hand and thrilled audiences with his "musical mastery and goofy charm". He is joined by the extraordinarily talented newcomer, Jonathan Roxmouth, who has been igniting stages around the country with his performances as Amadeus "a totally unique pianistic madman", Buddy "an assured, powerful, versatile talent" and Vince Fontaine "a born show-stealer - truly outstanding".
Directed by its creator Ian Von Memerty, these two men at two grand pianos give a dazzling display of pianistic virtuosity and hilarious impersonation. A performance of constant surprise, intelligence and wit, with music that ranges from the great classic masters of Bach and Beethoven, through the kings of soul Ray Charles and Fats Waller, via the queens of show biz and pop Elton John, Freddy Mercury and Liberace.
A Handful of Keys is a completely South African product of international standard.
DON'T MISS THIS PHENOMENON - SEEN BY MORE THAN 250 000 PEOPLE, IN MORE THAN 750 PERFORMANCES ON 3 CONTINENTS
All bookings at the Pieter Toerien Theatre, Montecasino Box Office & Computicket
Reviews
Daily Dispatch"Masterful, Sheer Brilliance & Creativity. Sensational from start to finish.

"Cape Times"Entertainers entertaining at the highest level; exceptional pianists and outstanding comedians.

"Die Burger"Woorde nie genoeg nie - gaan kyk, gaan kyk, gaan kyk. Dit was uitmuntend, gevolg deur staande applous."
The Citizen"It is quite simply superb in every way. A witty, entertaining piece of creative genius.

"702 Radio"Sensationally Brilliant - four hands full of hilarity and keyboard genius."The Star Tonight"It is wonderfully entertaining stuff - simply joyous to watch."
Barry Ronge"The diversity is dazzling, with a firecracker script and two grand pianos played with unparalleled virtuosity."