Making Journals

May 3, 2012

I was chatting to my son on the phone one day last week, looking out at the sun shining through a break in the clouds… and realised that it had started raining, and that the raindrops were glinting in the sunlight like falling diamonds that melt and disappear. *Smile*

Perfect weather to stay inside and finish making my journals for 2010! *Grin*

I have been writing for more than 10 years, on websites, blogs and emails… and it was only in 2009 after one too many computer crashes, that I decided to take all that writing and print it out and make journals. Little did I realise how challenging that would be. *Grin* During 2009 it was easy enough to print out a months writing and make a journal… however, trying to go back and compile 10 years worth of writing that is in digital format… to something that would print in a format and layout that looked pretty, was more challenging than I had time for.

So I decided to just do a month at a time, until I was in a routine that allowed for me to tackle past writing.

Then my printer jammed… and then Jesses printer had a problem, and even our brand new printer has an alignment problem. *Sigh & Smile*

So with the 2009 journals finished… I have been working on completing my 2010 journals… which I just did! *Grin*

While punching holes in the pages and compiling them with the covers… it was a wonderful time to let my thoughts meander and make some notes… nothing spectacular, just ideas and random thoughts.

Today when I decided to finally post the photos of one of the journals I made… I found my notes and thought I’d share them with you. *Grin*

19th April 2012

Beauty in my day…
I see the sun shining beautifully on the falling raindrops… like melting diamonds.
I listen to softly playing music while Jess is asleep on the couch… hopefully, on her way to recovery from a bout of Bronchitis.
I feel such tender emotions as she struggles with her infirmity and the need to lie down and rest.
I taste the delicious smooth flavour of UltraMel custard, *Grin* a very late breakfast at 11:30am… or an early lunch treat. :)
I touch Jess gently on the check and I am swamped with deep love for her.

Finding happiness in my day…
I am discovering that being happy, is more a practiced art… than a happenstance related to an external event or occurrence. *Smile*
Choosing to embrace even a single positive thought or good thing that happened to me in a day, allows me to realise that even the “bad” things that happen, are sometimes just life and circumstances colliding with the path I want to tread… and that taking a detour can bring the most amazing miracles and blessings along the way!

Happiness today…
I love the rain… a new happiness discovered.
I love the Trumpeter Hornbills that are occupying our garden… I would say about a dozen of them are flying about and playing in the trees.
I love the young Brown Hooded Kingfisher that is visiting our garden.
I love hearing the Loeries call to each other as they clamber about in the trees. *Smile*

I had forgotten most of what happened on that Thursday two weeks ago… and I didn’t even realise that the ’19th of April 2012′ was a Thursday until I read my notes. As I read each word, I was suffused with those tender emotions and memories, and my day today, has bubbled with joy. *Smile*

Today, is another beautiful Autumn day… totally different from two weeks ago. *Smile*

We are loving the very warm breeze… it’s like a giant fan heater has been turned on and temperatures have reached 36°C. We have opened the doors to the front patio and back patio wide open and let the garden in. It’s just wonderful!

Once I chose the cover for my September 2010 journal,
it was just a matter of printing and putting everything together.

This has been one of the biggest journals I’ve made…
and it took a couple of weeks to print all the documents,
before I could check and compile the printed pages.

Punching the holes in the paper is probably
the most difficult part of the journal making process…
especially if I have to use batches, as it’s challenging
to keep lining up the paper so it’s all square when I’m
done. I have a really large hand drill punch which makes
the job easier, and fun… this time, I was just a little
out by just a few millimeters. *Grin*

When I first started making personal journals, I only included those things I deemed important… however with the passage of time, and the demise of my very clear and sharp memory, *Smile* I have started to include everything I can. *Grin* I copy all my Wow Blog articles and comments into a document so that I can print when it’s time to make the journal. I have another document, where I write personally… and I include my emails to family and friends, sometimes I copy SMSes received… and of course I add photos, ideas… anything to enhance my record keeping. I try to make a note of any of our family events… challenges and celebrations. Sometimes it prints and all comes together in a cohesive whole in a few hours… sometimes it takes a few days or even a few weeks to compile just one month’s journal. Sometimes, I combine two, three or four months journals into one cover, as I have times when I write daily… even for an entire day… and sometimes I go for weeks without even writing a word. *Smile*

I believe it’s important that we all keep a journal ~ diary… of things that happen and how we feel. The easiest way to start, is by just recording what you are grateful for. It transforms the chore of keeping a journal into an amazing adventure that is simply, Wow!

I’m celebrating this day with gratitude for the 2010 journals I’ve made… and for the legacy it will be for my daughter… one day! *Grin*

Love, blessings and sunny smiles
Mands

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Posted in: Autumn, Nature, Sharing – 1 Comment

Legacy’s

May 2, 2012

When I die, there probably won’t be silver or gold or much of anything of worldly wealth for me to leave my family… as we are still counting each cent, and ensuring that each Rand made is well spent, in an effort to ensure that we slowly, but assuredly pay our debt. Debt brought about not for extravagance or even luxury, more for daily living expense in a time when our earnings were cut short, without any warning. Something I accept, even with appreciation for the lessons and amazing blessings that followed.

I will however, leave a legacy. Hopefully one that is rich and inspiring… that will bring tears and create laughter, and possibly even teach lessons and share wisdom… again, hopefully, by the time it is time for me to die, I will have printed and compiled my journals of my past… and continued writing. Some deeply personal, and some that I share with anyone willing to read in whatever format takes my fancy in the moment. *Grin* Letters, emails, website or blog.

Whilst my legacy may not be of any worldly value to most, I believe if protected from the passage of time… wear and tear, and even termites and fish moths, *Smile*  I hope that it will be one that my children… and their children will come to treasure.

One of the reasons for my lack of writing on my blog these past few weeks, was the need to write in my personal journal… and the amount of reading I have been doing of other’s emails and blogs. *Smile*

From utter nonsense and dribble, with typo’s and spelling mistakes… to sharing of heart and mind in words that have held me spellbound, by the pure honesty with which they have been captured and woven… to the comical, lyrical modern day wordsmiths… I have read, and read and read some more. Soaking up the written word like a sponge needs water to reach its intended potential. During which time I have experienced a kaleidoscope of emotions too numerous to even list. *Smile*

Just today I read a tribute to long passed family members, and felt the powerful tug of shared emotion even though the writer… nor the honourees are known to me.

I experienced awe for someone who could command the written word so effectively… and felt such joy at my own pleasure in the written word… I also felt despair and hints of frustration after reading some local writing… and the glaringly apparent chasm of third and first world written word.

I live in a country rich in heritage, with stories told from generation to generation as there was no written language, something I am deeply jealous of as my family fails and refuses to share their past history with me, that I can capture and record for all including our future generations, to read, enjoy, learn and experience…

I wonder what will happen to these stories of old… told from father to son… grandmother to grand-daughter, that I sense are like bright ribbons left in the sun to bleach…… or tapestries forgotten in a storage room gathering dust and fading over time…… because they no longer suit the current style or fashion.

What price would you pay to read your grandmother’s teenage journal… or the feelings and emotions of a family member whose life was cut too short by illness or an accident.

Do you wonder how your grandmother felt when she was engaged… married or expecting her first child? Do you think about your father and what he felt the first time he held you in his arms? Would you read the journals of your grandfather’s?

These are things I sometimes think of… and especially my grandfather’s who were both apparently incredible men… one a South African Gold Medalist for Welter Weight Boxing and a member of the Olympic Team… the other fought in the Second World Ward in Northern Africa… this being the extent of information I have about them… and that despite the difference in their ages… both died the same year!

My friend’s husband died two years ago… and I wrote something I felt needed to be expressed, each time I read what I wrote, I am personally awed by the words and tears always flow freely down my face, and I am deeply humbled that I can express myself through the written word in such away… even as I sometimes struggle to find my voice so eloquently.

Twenty years ago when I hated writing even a cheque, as my dyslexia made it a challenge that needed each letter carefully printed, I couldn’t even comprehend how powerful a gift writing would become to me… for my own pleasure, and the joy of sharing… and little did I comprehend, that the pen is indeed, mightier than the sword.

Each time I write to share, or express myself… or even just to capture thoughts and feelings in my journal, I am more grateful than I am able to capture in those same words for this amazing gift that I have been given.

I don’t often read anything I have written that is more than a day or two old… and I sometimes go for months without even reading the Woman Of Worth poem, and then I receive an email, or a note of thanks or a comment on the Wow blog… and I’ll read it again… as I wrote it…

As a personal letter to myself… as a challenge to love, and forgive myself for past and present mistakes ~ even imagined ones. I’ll remember the dichotomy of emotions I felt… of love and sorrow, sadness and joy… and how it took me only twenty minutes to write… and a lifetime to capture and experience.

I’ll remember the profoundness of letting my own heart and soul express my feelings… I’ll remember one of the most incredible feelings of pure joy bubble and flow from within… and continue to remember for days after. *Smile*

Sometimes, I’ll hesitate just before I start reading the Women Of Worth poem… and wonder if the experience will be diluted by the passage of time, and every time it’s not.

That is still one of the most amazing miracles I have ever experienced… that something I wrote continues to inspire me, to allow my heart and soul to speak… and to capture that in the written word.

Even when I don’t want to write… and even when days and weeks have gone by when I haven’t written a word in my journal… something happens and I’m inspired and I just have to share, sometimes only with myself… and sometimes with you here, then I wonder why I struggled to write during that time of challenge and chaos and the words flow faster than I am able to capture them.

Today I’m celebrating the beauty of Autumn…
and the gift of the written word, *Smile*
With Love and Gratitude
Mands

 

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Posted in: Autumn, Family History, Sharing – 4 Comments

Worker’s Day in South Africa!

May 1, 2012

Despite the fact that it’s a public holiday ~ May Day… a day for worker’s to take off… even goof off if they please, my husband is working, my eldest son is working… the refuse collectors are working… the recycling collectors are working, even unexpectedly the garden refuse collectors are working. *Smile*

So it was challenging to take the day off and relax… instead we did some chores, at a much slower pace than usual, and then watched a DVD in the late afternoon as part of our ‘goofing off’. *Smile*

However, in celebration of “Workers Day” I’m going to share an email my mom sent me, which is doing the rounds with her friends in America… and I thought it was a classic indication of “South African Working Humour” …at it’s very best. So enjoy and share with your family and friends! *Grin*

Dave has been away for nearly a week… as he has just started a three month project in the Cape. If I think of how long he will be gone and how far away he is, I’ll probably go crazy, as we have never been apart for more than a week at a time in our entire marriage of nearly 24 years. So together with Jess, I am focusing on the blessings and the things that I love in my day. *Smile*

We are loving the…
~ the Feel of autumn warmth
~ the Smell of freshly washed clothes
~ the Sound of the birds singing
~ the Taste of melted cheese on fried eggs for brunch, and
~ the Sight of our new addition Bunny Boo hopping on the grass in her new rabbit hutch, which Dave made a few days before he left for the Cape.

An idea inspired by “Today I love the…” by Jeni ~ In Colour Order, who also has a black bunny. *Grin*

Today we are celebrating…
~ Technology… the telephone, cellphone, internet & email that allows us to stay in touch with loved ones far away.

~ The Wow Blog… it’s good to be writing and publishing again. *Yay!*

~ A Clean & Clear Table… to layout my neglected quilting.

~ Good Health… Jess is finally feeling better after three weeks with a sore throat and Bronchitis.

~ Blue Skies & Warm Sunshine… after a few days overcast weather, rain and cold temperatures. *Yay!*

Celebrating this moment with love and laughter,
Mands

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The Author of the info below is unknown… I do know that the photos are real, as I have seen the planes at the airport, and you can have a look at their website… the truth of the rest, is up to you to decide. *Smile*

Kulula is a low-cost South-African airline that doesn’t take itself too seriously. Check out their new livery! And have a read about their Customer Relations.

 

Click on the individual photos to get a bigger view.

Flying 101

*black box*

*co-captain*

*nose cone to tail*

*the big cheese*

*landing gear*

*This Way Up*

 

What a pity Kulula doesn’t fly internationally ~ we should support them if only for their humour!

So typically South African.

Kulula is an airline with their head office situated in Johannesburg, with airline attendants who make every effort to make the in-flight “safety lecture” and announcements, a bit more entertaining.

Here are some real examples that have been heard or reported:

On a Kulula flight, (there is no assigned seating, you just sit where you want) passengers were apparently having a hard time choosing, when a flight attendant announced, “People, people we’re not picking out furniture here, find a seat and get in it!”

—o0o—

On another flight with a very “senior” flight attendant crew, the pilot said, “Ladies and gentlemen, we’ve reached cruising altitude and will be turning down the cabin lights. This is for your comfort and to enhance the appearance of your flight attendants.”

—-o0o—

On landing, the stewardess said, “Please be sure to take all of your belongings… If you’re going to leave anything, please make sure it’s something we’d like to have.”

—-o0o—

“There may be 50 ways to leave your lover, but there are only 4 ways out of this airplane.”

—o0o—

“Thank you for flying Kulula. We hope you enjoyed giving us the business as much as we enjoyed taking you for a ride.”

—o0o—

As the plane landed and was coming to a stop at Durban Airport, a lone voice came over the loudspeaker: “Whoa, big fella. WHOA!”

—o0o–

After a particularly rough landing during thunderstorms in the Karoo, a flight attendant on a flight announced, “Please take care when opening the overhead compartments because, after a landing like that, sure as hell everything has shifted.”

—o0o—

From a Kulula employee: “Welcome aboard Kulula 271 to Port Elizabeth. To operate your seat belt, insert the metal tab into the buckle, and pull tight. It works just like every other seat belt; and, if you don’t know how to operate one, you probably shouldn’t be out in public unsupervised.”

—o0o—

“In the event of a sudden loss of cabin pressure, masks will descend from the ceiling. Stop screaming, grab the mask, and pull it over your face. If you have a small child traveling with you, secure your mask before assisting with theirs. If you are traveling with more than one small child, pick your favorite.”

—o0o—

“Weather at our destination is 50 degrees with some broken clouds, but we’ll try to have them fixed before we arrive. Thank you, and remember, nobody loves you, or your money, more than Kulula Airlines.”

—-o0o—

“Your seats cushions can be used for flotation; and in the event of an emergency water landing, please paddle to shore and take them with our compliments.”

—o0o—

“As you exit the plane, make sure to gather all of your belongings. Anything left behind will be distributed evenly among the flight attendants. Please do not leave children or spouses..”

—o0o—

And from the pilot during his welcome message: “Kulula Airlines is pleased to announce that we have some of the best flight attendants in the industry. Unfortunately, none of them are on this flight!”

—o0o—

Heard on Kulula 255 just after a very hard landing in Cape Town: The flight attendant came on the intercom and said, “That was quite a bump and I know what y’all are thinking. I’m here to tell you it wasn’t the airline’s fault, it wasn’t the pilot’s fault, it wasn’t the flight attendant’s fault, it was the asphalt.”

—o0o—

Overheard on a Kulula flight into Cape Town, on a particularly windy and bumpy day: During the final approach, the Captain really had to fight it. After an extremely hard landing, the Flight Attendant said, “Ladies and Gentlemen, welcome to The Mother City. Please remain in your seats with your seat belts fastened while the Captain taxis what’s left of our airplane to the gate!”

—o0o—

Another flight attendant’s comment on a less than perfect landing: “We ask you to please remain seated as Captain Kangaroo bounces us to the terminal.”

—o0o—

An airline pilot wrote that on this particular flight he had hammered his ship into the runway really hard. The airline had a policy which required the first officer to stand at the door while the passengers exited, smile, and give them a “Thanks for flying our airline”. He said that, in light of his bad landing, he had a hard time looking the passengers in the eye, thinking that someone would have a smart comment. Finally everyone had gotten off except for a little old lady walking with a cane. She said, “Sir, do you mind if I ask you a question?” “Why, no Ma’am,” said the pilot. “What is it?” The little old lady said, “Did we land, or were we shot down?”

—o0o—

After a real crusher of a landing in Johannesburg, the attendant came on with,”Ladies and Gentlemen, please remain in your seats until Captain Crash and the Crew have brought the aircraft to a screeching halt against the gate. And, once the tire smoke has cleared and the warning bells are silenced, we will open the door and you can pick your way through the wreckage to the terminal..”

—o0o—

Part of a flight attendant’s arrival announcement: “We’d like to thank you folks for flying with us today… And, the next time you get the insane urge to go blasting through the skies in a pressurized metal tube, we hope you’ll think of Kulula Airways.”

—o0o—

Heard on a Kulula flight: “Ladies and gentlemen, if you wish to smoke, the smoking section on this airplane is on the wing.. If you can light ‘em, you can smoke ‘em.”

—o0o—

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Posted in: Autumn, Sharing – 2 Comments

Living It!

April 17, 2012

My friend shared this lovely quote from an unknown author… and in the moment I read it, a spark ignited in my heart and permeated my entire being, and it was if my soul said, ‘Yes… I’m doing that!’ *Smile*

The past is behind me and I’ve learned from it.
The future is ahead of me and I’m preparing for it.
The present is here and now, so I’m living it!

Until the moment I read that quote… I was busy, productive, achieving and getting things done… with only a little frustration that I wasn’t writing about what I was doing and taking photos to record in colour for my journal and Wow blog. *Grin*

It seems eons since I wrote or published here, and yet it’s only a few weeks, and I have deeply missed the experience. *Smile* I have discovered that often, not always but often… Autumn is a very busy time for me, and sometimes my life gets turned upside down and inside out… however, this year despite certain potentially devastating challenges, I have remained calm, and had faith and trusted that all will work out for the best, and that in fact life was unfurling in a certain way to allow for the best possible outcome… despite the natural instinct to see only the negative.

Life has returned to a slower pace this last week… however not by much. *Grin*

Jesses bedroom looks like she invited a tornado over to play, the result of her Autumn clean-up… and then got sick right in the thick of things, so she is resting through a bout of Bronchitis and her bedroom remains in a turmoil of chaos… and home schooling is ‘tabled’ for the duration.

Dave went on a trip to Namibia… and had an interesting experience, while Jordy frantically studied for his exams, and Wes got caught up in very stressful challenges at work. (For those of you who don’t know… Dave is my wonderful amazing husband… and Wes, (23), Jordy (20) and Jess (16) are our children :) ).

It seems that when the pace of life speeds up just a little, or we have just one of us challenged with ill health… our lives go from being moderately in our control, to being frantic in Zero to 13 seconds. *Grin*

Then I can live life or write about it… just not both, until I manage to restore some balance. *Smile*

Therein is the challenge.

To not write, or journal, or take photos in the experience that needs me to be fully present, so that even a negative experience may later be considered, reflected upon, and the amazing miracles revealed.

When I am completely captivated by the moment, and entirely focused on what I am experiencing, and the unfolding events taking place… it doesn’t actually matter if I write about it that day… or a week later or even a year later. The experience of being fully present allows a depth of feeling and memory that is almost wholly complete, sometimes even more so in reflection… as perspectives and perceptions that I wasn’t fully conscious of at the time, become more apparent in retrospect and a deeper understanding is revealed.

I’m coming to accept that there are days that I am living life… there are days that I can live life and write about it… and then there are days that I have enjoyed so much living, I spend an entire day writing about it. *Grin*

Love and blessings
Mands

 

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Posted in: Autumn – 2 Comments

The Lion Whisperer

March 22, 2012

When I read the words… “The Lion Whisperer” my automatic response was,

“Yeah, yeah!
I wonder who is claiming to do what?”

*Smile*

And… well, whilst I may judge a title by its insinuation, I’m usually curious enough to research whatever title has evoked, such a blasé response from my ego critic, and allow for doubt to be converted into interest, especially when it has something to do with Africa… and African animals.

I certainly wasn’t expecting such a wonderful display of trust and affection between man and the mighty king of the jungle, and I’m happy to concede that after watching video clip after video clip, Kevin Richardson can truly bear the title of  “The Lion Whisperer”  with ease and grace!

I think to be able to achieve what Kevin has… is both a responsibility and a gifted privilege. To share it with others that we may enjoy vicariously is a special gift indeed. *Smile*

Thank-you so much to Kevin Richardson… and his team!
Celebrating the moment with lions,
Mands

Please visit the White Lion website [ http://whitelionthemovie.com/ ]
Kevin Richardson ~ The Lion Whisperer [ http://www.lionwhisperer.co.za/ ]

 

 

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Posted in: Nature – 4 Comments

Celebrating Autumn

March 21, 2012

Today is a public holiday… which means my hubby was home and we were able to celebrate the day together, with our three children. *Grin*

Not that we did anything particularly noteworthy… we each spent the morning doing what we wanted. Dave changed the brake shoes on the car. I caught up with my blog, email and journal. Jess, Jordy and Wes… slept late. LOL

For lunch we ordered take-aways and had a picnic under the Jacaranda tree in the front garden… after which I tried to take photos of the tree canopy with the sky as a background, and the light shining through. With not very good results, however it was fun to try… and Dave created a disastrous mess in the kitchen, which I completely ignored while enjoying the results of his efforts.

The most delicious Vanilla Sugar Cookies I have ever tasted… with a twist, as we didn’t have any Vanilla essence, so Dave substituted with Caramel essence, with Wow results!

Vanilla Caramel Sugar Cookies

Ingredients:

  • 21/2 cups self-raising white flour, sifted after measuring
  • 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter margarine, slightly softened
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 2 large egg yolks
  • Pinch of salt
  • 2 tsp vanilla extract caramel flavouring
  • 2-3 tbsp sugar, for topping

Directions:

  1. In a large bowl, stir together flour and baking powder.
  2. In another large bowl, beat together butter margarine and sugar until well blended.
  3. Beat in egg yolks, then the salt and vanilla caramel, until evenly incorporated.
  4. Gradually beat or stir in the flour mixture to form a smooth dough.
  5. Divide the dough in half.
  6. Place each portion between large sheets of wax paper.
  7. Roll out each portion 1/8 inch thick; check the underside of the dough and smooth out any wrinkles that form.
  8. Stack the rolled portions (paper still attached) on a baking sheet.
  9. Refrigerate for about 30 minutes, or until cold and firm, or freeze for about 15 minutes to speed the chilling.
  10. Preheat the oven to 375ºF.
  11. Grease several baking sheets or coat with nonstick spray.
  12. Working with one portion at a time and leaving the remaining dough chilled, gently peel away, then pat one sheet of wax paper back into place.
  13. Flip the dough over, then peel off and discard the second sheet.
  14. Using assorted 2 1/2-to-3-inch cutters, cut out the cookies.
  15. Transfer the cookies to the baking sheets, spacing about 1 1/4 inches apart.
  16. Sprinkle the cookies with the sugar or colored sugar.
  17. Bake the cookies, one sheet at a time, in the upper third of the oven for 8
    to 11 minutes, or until lightly colored on top and slightly darker at the edges.
  18. Reverse the sheet from front to back halfway through baking to ensure even browning.
  19. Let stand until completely cooled.

The original recipe is from  Biscuit Recipes

This is how good they are!


Celebrating the day with Dave and the family…
While stuffing ourselves with cookies. *Grin*
Mands

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Posted in: Autumn – 4 Comments

White Lion ~ The Movie!

March 20, 2012

We seldom have the TV on during the day… I have this thing about becoming lazy. *Smile*

Since I work at home… it would be very easy to goof off, and shorten my days by watching TV and DVD’s in the afternoon, as I love movies! *Grin*

Even though I am working less as Jess is home schooling, I’m very focused on being present and sharing time with her… as it will only be two or three years before Jess is finished with school, and then she will be off to University.

So it was really unusual when we decided to turn the TV on at about 4:oopm one afternoon, and we caught the end of a movie that captured our attention. Despite checking the TV guides… and the DVD rental shop, we haven’t been able to find the movie again, so I did a search online and found a dedicated website.

The movie, White Lion, has won numerous awards and I can add that it’s stunning to watch with breathe taking scenes.

The actual story line is simple, yet moving… however all the best stories are!  *Smile*

According to the legend of the Shangaan, white lions are the messengers of the gods, but it has been years since one has been seen in their remote African valley. When a white lion is miraculously born into that valley, a young Shangaan, named Gisani, finds himself destined to protect this rare and magnificent creature at all costs. This young lion, whom will be known as Letsatsi, is cast from his pride and forced to embark upon a perilous journey of survival.

Close to starvation, Letsatsi befriends Nkulu, an older lion and together they learn how to survive in the harsh African wilderness. Gisani, who is watching over Letsatsi, takes a job as a tracker with a local hunter, who has his sights set on leading the hunt for this rare and magnificent white lion. Gisani, guided by fate, believes that he must find a way to prevent this tragedy from happening. When Nkulu is killed by a farmer, Letsatsi is forced once again to survive on his own. After many trials and tribulations he finally learns to hunt by himself and grows into a magnificent adult.

But before he can take over a pride of his own, Letsatsi and Gisani must face their greatest challenge – the trophy hunter… for whom legends are worthless and rare skins priceless.

WHITE LION…home is a journey.

If you can get the DVD, rent it, and be prepared to have your heart captured. *Smile*

Celebrating the day with gratitude,
Mands

 

 

Please visit the White Lion website [ http://whitelionthemovie.com/ ]
Kevin Richardson ~ The Lion Whisperer [ http://www.lionwhisperer.co.za/ ]

 

Posted in: Autumn, Awesome Stories – 2 Comments

Smiling At Monday

March 19, 2012

A few weeks ago, the topic ~ title I gave to Jess for her English challenge was, *Smiling At Monday* …which she finished in her designated hour, however as it was an English assignment, I emailed it back to Jess and asked her to add capitals and punctuation. Although she added capital letters, the only punctuation she would add was a full stop at the end of each paragraph ~ verse… while muttering that it was a creative thing and needed to be as it was. Who can argue with a 16 year old teenager who is doing so well at home schooling herself. *Grin*

Celebrating the day by *Smiling At Monday* …and *Smiling At Jess*
Mands

Smiling At Monday

Smiling at The Cool Breeze
Made necessary by the humid summer heat
Caused by the beating sun
As crucial to the earth
As a beating heart is
To those who live
With it, at peace with
The territory around them.

Smiling at Nature
The beauty of a swaying tree
Caused by the cool breeze
As crucial to the plants
For growing
As trials
Are for those
Who Must Fight
For what they Believe.

Smiling At Companionship
At Family and Friends
Made essential for living life
An arm to hang on
When we cannot walk on our own
A shoulder to cry on
When we cannot support ourselves
A back to fight against
When we are not strong enough
To conquer the things that haunt us.

Smiling At Myself
At all my crazy glory
At all I am
And all I want to be
And I will smile at all those who will stand by my side
Making me what I am today
And Tomorrow.

© 1st March 2012 ~ Jess Swinburne

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Posted in: Jess – 2 Comments

Smile

March 18, 2012

After a very rainy summer, the trees are green and covered with flowers… and the plants are blooming all around me.

It feels like the garden is smiling at me. *Grin*

A heartfelt smile gives warmth enough for three winters.

~ Mongolian Proverb

I hope we have a mild, autumn and winter… although there is already a cold touch to the morning air.

To my friends in the Northern Hemisphere, Happy Spring!

Hope your day is filled with love and warm blessings,
Mands

 

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Posted in: Summer – 2 Comments

SBM & Working Saturday

March 17, 2012

Although we had plans to go out this Saturday, my husband needed to work… as there was more than just paperwork that needed his attention. *Smile* So we had an agreement… he gets to go to work, and I get photos and to blog about what was happening in the slipway. LOL

They have a SBM ~ Single Buoy Mooring in the slipway, that needs the top taken off and repair work done.

It took a few discussions… photos, and an illustration for me to actually figure out what this is and what it does. *Smile*
(Forgive me I’m still fluey and getting irritated with it.)

So have a look and see if you can tell what it does, just by looking at it.

Basically, if I understand it correctly… The SBM (Single Buoy Mooring), sits out at sea somewhere, and is connected to the mainland via a set of pipes that run along the ocean floor. The pipes eventually connect to Oil Storage Tanks located onshore. A big ship… usually an exceptionally large oil tanker that is too big for the Durban Harbour, moors itself to the SBM and hooks up its discharge pipes and pumps out its cargo, that will eventually reach the storage tanks… then the oil cargo finds its way to the refinery… and goes through all those expensive refining processes, and will eventually find its way to a petrol station where we get to fillup with very expensive petrol, which is now about R11.00 per litre.

If you understand things better visually… like I do, here are a couple of photos Dave found for me. *Smile*

 

The SBM is a really good idea, considering the designers and builders of the huge super tankers forgot (or just didn’t care), about all the smaller harbours in the world, that wouldn’t be able to accommodate them. So whilst someone probably saves money, like the oil owners and super tanker owners… it costs us more, as we maintain and pay for the SBMs off our shores, through the continuing petrol increases.

As my husband says, “Good plan eh?”

I am grateful for a wonderful husband who works hard… I’m grateful for his job and the income he provides for our standard of living. *Smile*
So I’m celebrating this moment in gratitude for my husband,
Love and blessings
Mands

The SBM in the slipway.

A SBM with a large Oil Tanker moored.

 

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Posted in: Summer – 4 Comments
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