Captain's Log...

Have just spent a happy half hour finding out more about blogging (reminder: that's short for "weblog"). Some frustrating bits, but some pleasing bits too! You'll see there is now a collage of assorted Hoys and hounds (and a rainbow, with our house at its end!); and also an ADVERT!!! Shock horror. Yes indeed, I have signed on to earn...We will see what appears there, and if you or I don't like it, I will unsubsrcibe with all due haste.
We had a prayer meeting for the Kids Work at church today - great time of worship, then prayer in several short sections. One section revolved around various words/ prophecies received over the years regarding Kidswork, and this picture really fired my imagination: people, including kids, on a mountainside. They formed a line up to a treasure-filled cave. They were passing handfuls of treasure - gems - down the line, down the mountain, into the dark valley below. There, the gems glowed with light that soon began to lighten and fill the valley... What a wonderful picture of the treasure we have in Christ, and in God's word! I plan to get a few bucketsful of semi-precious stones, and let our Rockets kids (age 4-7) look for their favourites, and then connect their choices to verses/ themes in the Bible, so they can take home concrete representations of the treasure that is in God's word!

Design Indaba 2011

Our two hours at the Design Indaba 2011 filled me up to overflowing. It leaves me energized, motivated, satisfied...My mind will dwell for hours to come on all the wonderful ideas we saw. There were felt toys, and hats; animal skin cushions (beautiful!--flower designs sewn onto the cushions, and from Pietermaritzburg!); flower jewellery; teaspoons with handles cast in metal and originally moulded from twigs; complex glass lights like miniature rain-forests; furniture that was functional yet deeply satisfying to the eye... Just an outpouring of creative talent, innovation, use of natural materials, colour...and all SOUTH AFRICAN! One perceptive stand (for Visi magazine) had jars of sweeties from which you could help yourself while browsing thier back numbers--the boys got handfuls of jelly tots, and nearby stall-holders were also dipping their hands in... So many deft, creative touches to the stalls themselves too--one jewellery stand used old wooden display cases, hangers, and even microscopes to display their pieces... Watch this space for more memories from this wonderful experience!

Dry days

It is embarrassingly long since I have written. Dry days. Busy days. Days of tunnel vision, working, organizing, doing homework, making meals, getting to bed, getting up again...Some brightness-es along the way: an inspiring dream in which a friend just went out and rented a shop for the two of us to run, to sell bright and beautiful things, and good books... In another dream we went shopping!
May I make a book recommendation? "Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus" has been quite a revelation, with plenty of insights, "aha!" moments, encouraging "oh yes, we do that" and sad "If only I'd known this sooner"... Lots to be gained.
I will try to write much more regularly - permission to alert me if I fail in this is hereby graciously granted...

Touch-down

Steve's plane should be landing as I write - he's been in Jo'burg for a few days. He no longer has his own private pilot's licence, which I think is very sad - but he says it's not such a big deal. He is enjoying flying his new model aeroplanes, made of very light foam-like material. I've also been "touching down" in this past week in terms of some forgotten dreams and ideas...One that I have resumed is singing in church again - we had a practice last night, in sweltering heat! It was great to share ideas and catch the enthusiasm of a diverse group of musicians. Another is to perhaps tread the boards again, or at least do some radio or voice work...
Yesterday's weather was amazing: real Natal weather, with oppressive, humid heat all day, culminating in a thunderstorm in the late afternoon. We were with friends, and all the kids were in the pool with cold rain pelting down - they loved it! We did get them out when the storm was close by. My friend Barbara had to sweep out a few gutters for the rain, a very odd task for the middle of the hottest summer month!
It is such a treasure and delight to see William and Alexander discover and enjoy things for the first time, like swimming in the rain. What a privilege to be part of the building of someone's chidhood memories...

month-end post

I write this while half-watching Star Wars over Steve's shoulder, so excuse any lapses in continuity! - blame the Dark Side... The boys have been watching some of the movie with Steve, over several days, but it just gets too dark and too violent for either of them, so Steve is finishing on his own.
I've been busy planning the lessons and rosters for the Rockets Sunday School team (ages 4-7/Grade 1) - it's very rewarding being welcomed by a young child's hug and smile, and I realize they've all crept into our hearts, even though we only see some children once every 6 weeks or so... We have a very solid foundation to work from, in terms of set-up and systems; but also some new input from Sarah, who is my co-leader and ideas-person, and from a whole group of enthusiastic teens who seem to have sprung from nowhere! Of course, God knows about them and has been working on His plans - and I'm sure we have some prayer warriors to thank for their appearing...
My dear Steve's health remains up-and-down, but it does teach us to really appreciate the "up" days, like yesterday and today. And he braaied today, only about the second time ever in our 7 years in this house with its TWO fireplaces (outdoor, plus indoor built-in braai, in the lounge - the previous ownere was obviously a regte Suid Afrikaner!). The boys LOVED the whole experience of watching Dad chop wood, lay and light the fire, and braai the meat and sarmies.
Here's to a few braais with friends in the near future...

Bothered and bewildered...

...but not by love or you, as Sinatra sang! I find myself with a distinct lack of concentration and follow-through at present, forgetting what I've come into a room to do, or forgetting to complete a mundane task. However, everyone has been fed and has clean clothes, no pots have been burnt, and no animals have been harmed in the writing of this blog, so I guess it's not as bad as it feels! Ever burnt a pot?--simply forgotten you had something cooking? I once managed to burn a pot so badly it was warped--it ran out of water and just kept cooking... Ho hum. There's probably a book or at very least a magazine article in there somewhere...

Back to school

This week has been quite hectic, with William and Alexander back at school, me back at my usual occupations, and a new dog too! The dog first: she is called Candy (we changed from the "Angie" given by her original owners.) She is a Welfare special, with bulging eyes and forehead, a long body, and huge ears. Her pretty blonde colour somewhat makes up for this strange combination of body parts! When we walk her she bounces along and doesn't pull at all, a nice change from Penny.
William is now in Grade 2 and has a teacher whom everyone describes as kind. She is also head of the Foundation Phase (G1-3) and obviously knows her stuff. We had a parent evening tonight, which yours truly attended while Dad babysat. Interesting talk from child psychologist about discipline, boundaries, choices, etc. Don't make threats ("I'll leave you behind!") but always follow through with promised consequences... Everyone laughed and winced - all guilty of doing the former and neglecting the latter! Need to re-establish weekday routine after the holidays - William cried buckets because I said no TV when he arrived home. I then later allowed them to watch a movie (Asterix) on the computer while I worked...Hmmm...not sure of my consistency there. I don't think the psychologist would approve.
the online marking has begun with many timed essays, which means there are no essays to do, so we log in and click every 5 minutes to show we are there ready to work. A pleasant way to ease into the year; got lots of filing done in between clicks! We also have a somewhat revised review-process, which I put into practise today with a few essays. Seems easier and QUICKER!!! That also seems like a good note on which to end for today.