The Daily Post Weekly Photo Challenge this week is Twisted
Here is my take on it.
Useful Twisty Grooming Tongue
Twists in Kudu Antlers
Twisted Trunks
Twisty Giraffe Tongue
Daily Post Weekly Challenge
Saturday Stream of Consciousness – Grill
The one word prompt for this week’s Stream of Consciousness is Grill.
All over Southern Africa if one wants to grill meat it’s over a braai that one will do it. Barbecue is what it is called in most other countries. But just to be clear – Braai is really not the same as barbecue – we do NOT grill hamburgers or hot dogs on a Braai! Wood is key – it must be hard and dry so that it burns hot and long. The whole process of sitting by the fire for an hour or so while having sun-downers is all part of the ritual. In the Western Cape we have the alien invader, Rooikrans (red-eye wattle) which is excellent to use as braai wood.
A typical braai scene
The word braai is shortened from the Afrikaans word, braaivleis, loosely translated to grilled meat.
The word can be used as a noun or a verb.
We are having a (n) braai where braai means a meal that includes meat cooked over the fire.
We will cook on the (n) braai where the word means a construction in which one makes a fire and meat is placed on a braai grid and cooked over this fire.
Dad will (v) braai the meat where the word means grill.
South Africans are so crazy about braaing that many have both an indoor and outdoor braai at their homes. The die-hards will braai no matter what the weather
My grandson, Jay, Braaing in the rain
– we have even been known to braai in the falling snow.
Crazy South Africans braaing in the snow – Verbier, Switzerland – that’s me in the pink hat
It’s also not only meat that we will braai. Fish is a very popular choice and every fisherman I know has his own unique way of doing a snoek or yellowtail over the coals. The Earl’s specialty is Yellow-tail basted with what was once his secret sauce. He recently shared the recipe, much to the horror of his children, in an article in Ski-Boat Magazine!
Grandfather teaching Grandson the fine art of braaing a fish
Not only is meat, fish or chicken grilled over the braai, other foods can be cooked in the braai coals too. Sweet potatoes wrapped in tinfoil are absolutely delicious cooked this way. Constantia sandwiches are another winner. Place cheese, onion and tomato sandwiches on the grid and toast on both sides. Delicious. A favourite way to cook butternut squash – stuff it with a mixture of chutney and tomato and onion mix, wrap in tinfoil and cook in the hot coals. I could go on with many more delicious ways to braai your veggies.
The Braai is traditionally the domain of the Man of the House but no braai is complete without the salads – usually made by Mom. Potato salad, rice salad, pasta salad, Greek salad – any salad will do.
From it’s humble beginnings as a method of cooking while out in the bush, The South African Braai has become an elaborate way of entertaining and is an integral part of South African Social Life. Don’t mess with the Braai Master -His braai is sacred and his woman let’s him think so – It’s one way of not having to cook the whole meal herself!
The Braai – Best way to enjoy a meal with friends!
Daily Post Prompt – Fret
Word Press has a Daily Prompt to set one off on a bit of free writing. Today I’m responding to Fret
Fret means to be constantly or visibly nervous or anxious. Well I am not constantly nervous or anxious and I’m seldom visibly nervous or anxious. There have, of course, been times when it is clear to all around me that I’m fretting about something but I do try to keep things in perspective. I’m fond of telling my darling hubby not to sweat the small stuff. The above definition applies to him quite often. But when it comes to a real crisis he copes like a hero.
But I think it is the small stuff that most of us fret over. What is the point of fretting over your kids’ untidiness, your husband’s lateness or why the guy driving in front of you isn’t going fast enough. Does it really matter in the greater scheme of things?
I try to keep anxiety to a minimum but I must confess that at times I do succumb to a fret or two. This happened quite recently. I am planning an overseas trip with my daughter, Laurie. We’re going to visit London and several other cities in Europe. This required getting visitors’ visas. What a schlep! You have to go online, fill in forms, answer difficult questions about your suitability to be allowed into foreign countries – from – are you married to have you committed any crimes. Really! You also have to produce a file full of documents, pay an enormous amount of money and then book an appointment with a processing agent before they will even consider letting you in! So fret I did. I filled in the form, printed the bank statements, got proof of accommodation, travel tickets and insurance, made the 220km trip to Cape Town, went to the UK appointment and then made the trip back again. Not all on the same day of course but still. Then I suffered 10 days of fretting before the news came back that all was well and that our Visas were granted. Luckily Laurie could collect mine for me. Then the whole process started again for the Schengen. Our appointment with the Italian Agent is on Tuesday and I’ve promised myself that this time I am not going to fret until I hear the results of the processing. Because – really there is nothing more I can do and whatever will be will be!
Cee’s Black and White Challenge – Flowers
Here is my contribution to this week’s challenge from Cee
Vygie in my garden
Arum Lily in a botanical garden
Vygies growing wild in Struisbaai
Photo a week Challenge – Siblings
Here is my contribution to this week’s Photo a Week Challenge from Nancy Merrill
Sisters – Lisa and Lauren
Sisters – Laurie and Lisa – Youngest and Oldest
Big Sister Shan with Baby Brother Simon – 2004
Josh, Simon, Jay, Shannon – Siblings and Cousins – 2007
Weekly Fun Photo – Book or Paper
Here is my contribution to this week’s Fun Photo Challenge – Books and/or Paper
- The joy a book can bring – First Graders learning to read.
Christmas Gifts wrapped in delightfully patterned paper
What can this lovely paper be hiding?
Christmas Table all set about with Paper Decor
Fun with Paper Craft
Share Your World 21 May 2018
Here are my answers to this week’s questions from Cee
What household chore do you absolutely enjoy doing? (can be indoor or outdoor)
I don’t mind doing household chores but I can’t say there are any I absolutely enjoy. But top of the list would be cooking. I’m lucky that my hubby likes to cook so I don’t have to do it every day – in fact we often fight over gets to do it! I do enjoy trying new recipes and preparing meals for friends. NOT that I’m amazing at it at all – I take ages over it and the kitchen is a mess by the time I’m done and still it is nowhere near Master Chef quality. How those contestants do it with those grueling time constrains I do not know.
Create a sentence with the words “neon green” and train”.
The Queen’s neon green outfit extracted as many oohs and aahs as Meghan’s lovely, white train
The Queen in Neon Green
Other than your cell phone what can you always be found with?
Well actually my hubby says I never know where my cell phone is! That’s not strictly true but I do forget where I put it sometimes! I also never leave home without a handbag and seldom without my camera. You never know when you’re going to need to take that ultimate photograph! Like on the day the birds bombarded me. I had my camera but couldn’t get the shot as they found me just as fascinating as I found them!
Me with my camera – useless to me at this time!
What did you appreciate or what made you smile this past week? Feel free to use a quote, a photo, a story, or even a combination.
THE WEDDING! I was glued to the television from early in the morning till late Saturday evening. Everything about it intrigued me. It was all so exciting, happy and fun!
Some of my high society friends and I enjoyed a High Tea in the middle of the day with cucumber sandwiches and pink champagne of course!
The Lady of Milkwood Manor and The Duchess of Goose Hall
How lovely to see Prince Harry open the jag door for his bride. But did you know what his grandfather, Prince Philip once said?
“When a man opens a car door for his wife, it’s either a new car or a new wife.”
In this case it was both!
Saturday Stream of Consciousness 19 May 2018
Here is my contribution to Linda’s Stream of Consciousness Prompt Empty/Hollow
Empty is the space next to Meghan Markle as she walks down the aisle toward her Prince. But the hollow feeling in her tummy is filled with joy when Prince Charles meets her and walks her toward her Harry. Tears pricked as I saw this austere prince look at her and reassure her that all will be well. And Harry undid me as he whispered – Thanks Pa. What a charming prince he is!
There’s a lot said about the fact that Meghan’s Mom was the only one of her family members present. My heart went out to her – she looked so proud of her only daughter. Certainly her heart was full of love and pride and nothing could take that joy away from her. From here on the knowledge that her child has married the love of her life will be enough for her.
The streets of Windsor were certainly not empty on Saturday 19 May 2018. They were filled with well-wishers from all over the world. History was made when the chapel was full of representatives of many diverse cultures. There were no hollow feelings when the the happy couple joined their cultures in a most uplifting ceremony.
Congratulations Harry and Meghan. Long may you live in married bliss filling the world with all the love and care you have to share.
My ‘High Society’ friends and I remotely attended the wedding and dressed for the occasion! The Baroness of The Emporium, The Shipwrecked Princess, The Duchess of Goose Hall, The Countess of Southbound.
The Lady of Milkwood Manor!
Cee’s Black and White Challenge – Words ending in -OCK
Here is my contribution to this week’s Black and White Challenge from Cee
Fishy Rock
Rock Drive
GTC Colege Block
Peacock
Back View of Peacock
Share Your World 14 May 2018
Here are my answers to this week’s Share your world challenge from Cee
Complete this sentence: This sandwich could really use some …
I don’t usually eat bread but if I indulge in a Banting Bread sandwich I would say it needed Avocado Pear and Ina Paarman’s Rosemary and Olive Seasoning.
What is your least favorite candy?
I really do not like coconut. The taste and texture do not appeal to me.
What sign are you? Do you believe in astrology?
I am on the cusp of Scorpio and Sagittarius. I don’t take astrology seriously at all as it seems to have me all wrong. However, The Earl, has all the character traits of Cancer. His horoscope is always scarily accurate too! He is, of course, a firm believer. Scorpio and Cancer are supposed to be a perfect match – and we are pretty well suited!
What did you appreciate or what made you smile this past week? Feel free to use a quote, a photo, a story, or even a combination.
We spent a week away in the beautiful city of Cape Town and catching up with friends and family made me smile many times. Mother’s Day was spent with Earl’s sister, her son and our kids as well as their Godparents and it was a very happy day. The kids and grandkids spoiled me with some lovely gifts too.
A Week in Cape Town
I have not posted for a week as I have been away from home – not that this usually stops me – but I had a full program of activities to attend to so my usual blogging took a back seat!
I avoid returning to The City as much as possible but when you have to apply for travel documents to Cape Town you must go! Although that was the main reason for going we also used the opportunity to catch up with friends and family. As luck would have it there were a few things that I could attend that I otherwise would have missed! And as much as we love living away from The City we really miss our friends and family. Leaving the place that was home all of your life is like emigrating to another country so catching up with everybody was awesome. I got to bond with Chantal and Jeremy, Tony and Sharon, Aunt Violetta and Aunt Dottie, Mary, Hanny, Pat and Tony, Heather and Peter, my brother Michael and his wife, Moira, Earl’ s sister Carol and her hubby, Vere as well as his nephew Greg and of course our daughters and grandsons.
Our grandsons, Jay and Josh, really love sashimi so on the evening we slept over at their house we purchased some fresh yellow-tail, Earl prepared it and I made their favourite salad. It was a beautiful evening so Josh set the table outdoors and we had a very special evening with our boys.
Beautifully set table by Josh
Sashimi with our boys – Jay, The Earl, Josh
Bonding with friends is always special. On Friday we went to see where one of my very dearest friends has settled after many years of house hopping. I love her new location at West Beach. After enjoying our visit with her she took us to lunch where we enjoyed the views of our beautiful bay and mountain.
Hanny’s Deck
Hanny’s flair for decor shows.
Our stunning Table Mountain on a bad day!
Our lovely friends, Pat and Tony, accommodated us in their spare room for most of our week in Cape Town and treated us to Sushi on Friday night.
Yummy Sushi with the friends with whom we have so many common interests
Pat and Tony cooked us Mother’s Day Breakfast too!
Many years ago some friends and I formed a breakfast club which met more or less monthly to ensure we did not lose touch. What a stunning group it turned out to be. It’s probably the thing I miss most about not living in Cape Town. I was touched that when I communicated that I would be in town for the weekend everybody made the effort to attend breakfast club in my honour. I had my youngest daughter join us and we had an amazing catch up.
Anti-clockwise – Sandy, Margie, Lorraine, Cheryl, Chris, Me, Melody, Dot
As luck would have it the The Cape Town branch of the Old Girls’ Guild of my college, Grahamstown Training College, met on for tea on Saturday afternoon. Even though the college was closed down in 1975 (I graduated in 1973) the OGG continues. GTC was the best teaching training institution in the country, founded by Mother Cecil and run by the St Peter’s Community for many years. Teachers from this college were the very best and whenever any of us meet another no matter from which year there is an instant bond! We now range in age from 63 to well in the nineties. It was therefore not surprising to have a pretty good turnout to the tea at Veronica’s house on Saturday.
Heather and Beryl – from the fifties
Our whole group
The Seventies Gang
Sunday was Mother’s Day! We all met at The Earl’s sister for a lunch time braai. My daughters and grandsons spoiled me with lovey gifts and we invited Jeff and Annaline, the girls’ god parents and boys’ extra set of grandparents to join us.
The Earl enjoying a beer
Josh bonding with his great-uncle Vere
Looking like a rock star with his new hair cut
Jay – No dress sense but lots of charm and personality
Our nephew – Greg doing the braai
Slender Mongoose hoping for get a titbit
And so after a wonderful Cape Town catch-up we left on Sunday afternoon and arrived back in Struisbaai at around 6 o’ clock. It was good to be home!
Stream of Consciousness – Letter
Today’s Stream of Consciousness Prompt is Letter
As a teacher I tend to think of “letter” as a member of the alphabet. And you can’t even think of using the other meaning of the word until you begin with ABC. From there we start to understand that each letter has a phoneme or more associated with it.
I like the last method of teaching Reading and Writing that my school uses. It is called THRASS – Teaching Handwriting, Reading and Spelling Skills. It is a fun and thorough approach which takes the child through the Foundation Phase and beyond. It involves rapping the alphabet and the phonics chart daily as she learns the intricacies of literacy. The bright reference pictures, posters and work books are invaluable. It makes learning a new letter every few days a great adventure.
The most exciting part of teaching is when the little learner finally breaks through and actually reads and writes on her own! All those letter combinations finally make sense and all of a sudden she is reading. Every time it happens, it amazes me because I don’t teach a child to read. I simply present the tools and she catches Reading like she catches Chicken Pox!
Just as exciting is when she writes those first sentences. She learns to use the words from the chart, words posted around the classroom, words from her reading book and words in her dictionary to make up her very own sentences. Sometimes her spellings are not perfect but they make sense and are the cutest thing to read.
Finally she can start writing her own letters to the teacher. I have many of these which I will always treasure. And it all started with a simple alphabet letter!
Diary of an Adventurous Retiree 