Things we do

This morning I woke up, glanced out my window, admired a glistening ocean and started smearing on the sunscreen. Ray and I rushed to the beach only to realise that thick clouds were gathering, a strong wind was blowing, and that it was definitely not beach weather! We were on the beach for a grand total of two minutes before we headed home. So this is us, our bags still packed and towels ready for the perfect beach day. 

Days are swiftly passing until my beautiful best friend gets married. This last sunny Friday I joined her for her makeup trial in Kalk-Bay and on the way home picked up a takeaway coffee from Tribeca for Ray. 

When we first started going out every week Ray would buy me treats from one of the bakeries in Kalk-Bay - brownies and hazelnut-chocolate-dipped-meringues from Olympia, cupcakes from Tribeca, scoops of ice-cream from the Italian ice cafe in crunchy sugar cones... so to get him a little coffee every now and then (especially when he still constantly buys me my favourite chocolate - said while she eats it right now!) is the very least way I can do to say thank-you :)

Something else Ray and I love to do is make pizzas - usually when we are really hungry and nothing in the fridge or cupboard tempts us - it is quick, easy and really fun! (Although the pizza dough sticks to your fingers like superglue no matter how much four you sprinkle on your hands - which is not so awesome). The kitchen is warm and smells like yeast, it helps make the wait worthwhile, while the dough rises and the pizza bakes in the oven, the cheese melting and crust becomes golden. Yum! 

Afternoons spent with you :)

Every afternoon R and I walk our family dog Nao (except when it rains... you know all about that!) Today was stunningly beautiful - the warmest winter day :) Just before we left I saw fishing boats coming into the Kalk-Bay harbour.

This is home. This is the route we walk, the mountains behind us and the ocean ahead. I love how the colour of the ocean changes each day... We walk hand-in-hand, Nao straining on the lead, the trains rumbling next to us, following the saltly smell of the sea, listening to the gentle crash of the waves on the sandy shore, running up and down, the foam disappearing as quickly as it appeared... (Thank-you Lord - we love living here!)

We walk the monster around the lower Silvermine Vlei. I love the crunch of our feet on the orange clay pathway, and how it turns to a rich, red mud after it rains, patterned with footprints, bicycle tires, dog tracks. It is so quiet and peaceful - I always feel refreshed after one of our adventures around the wetland.

(And the relaxing under the clear, brilliant blue sky, begins)

(Wet feet!)

(Splashing in the river)

Walking between walls of flowers... tall golden rushes, towering high above our heads, the grass swaying back and forth, making music in the breeze, listening to the birds chirp and sing, dart in and out of their nests... the fiery orange and bright yellow fynbos, red tipped aloes, velvety succulents, budding proteas... 

(The wooden bridge flooded)

(Nao eating a flower, of course...)

(My "puppy")

And when we all come home, the dog wet, our legs aching, lulled by the sound of the rushing water, eating orange slices in the warm sunshine we are already excited for the next day's afternoon... where I can spend more time with my best friend (and the naughty Nao), because nothing makes me happier :)

Dancing is poetry in motion*

My older sister has always loved dancing. For years she pleaded with my mother and was the first of us sisters to join Rhythm Productions Dance Centre, with my then tiny, younger sister of three years next and finally me. We had no idea that years later we would all still be dancing and loving every moment!  

Dancing for me is a form of expression - I may not be the most talented, the strongest or most flexible, but I have passion - a light that shines forth from within. When you see that glow on someone's face you cannot tear your gaze away...

Nothing is more wonderful, yet terrifying, than performing... you are standing in the darkened wings of the stage, the number before you a blur... you are totally focussed, heart pounding with fear and excitement, sweat dripping down your back... you see the heavy velvet curtain rise, you feel the beat of the music flow through you, blinded by the bright lights are you step on stage... this is your moment!

It is always over so quickly. When you strike your final pose of your final performance and the rush of adrenaline suddenly disappears, you feel a sense of exhilaration, disbelief, disappointment. Hour upon hour rehearsing for months on end, only to be over after a few minutes on stage. It is surreal. 

I have the opportunity of dancing for a company called Grace. This icy morning, while the rain poured down, we re-learned a piece of choreography that we performed more than a year ago at the Artscape theatre for an upcoming show. The laughter, the confusion, how it all comes back, how we so candidly tease each other, rely on one another, how all our different personalities are able to combine, bringing out each other's strengths, covering one another's weaknesses - we are a family :)

It is worth the early mornings and the late nights. It is worth the sacrifices we have to make - the sore bodies, the burning legs, the gasping breath, the agonizingly stiff muscles, the blisters, the bruises, the bleeding feet. When you have to push yourself to the very limit of your abilities, to the breaking point, in order to achieve something beautiful, the end result is indescribably worth it all. It is a small glimpse of perfection, the sheer joy  of being able to simply dance, the roaring applause of appreciation, the pride of your teacher and memories made with friends. 

Dancing is about creativity, commitment, pain, a story being told, growth, challenges, respect, relationships being built, freedom, life, worship, giving glory to God...

A wonderful weekend

I have had the most wonderful weekend! I am filled with utter joy, overflowing with contentment, and as I cuddle deeper into my warm bed each night I lie awake and relive the love, laughter and happiness, not wanting to fall asleep because I never want these days to end...

Friday... a day spent in the gentle, warming winter sunshine, sitting outside, listening to the wind rustle the leaves, laughing at how adorable the tiny puppy shivered and shook after his swim in the pool, hiccuping at us (too cute!)... then walking Tigger as the sun sunk behind the mountain, unaware of the time, sharing our hearts, our fears, trusting the Lord and making plans for the future :)

[Saturday... not wanting to get out of bed, but then watching the blinding white glow of the sun rise into the blue skies knowing that it is going to be another glorious day, driving through the winding mountain pass, cool and shaded, singing along to Future of Forestry with my best friend at my side... then onto dirt roads, along the train track, around the vlei to pick up our friends and off to the Sedgefield market we go!]

 [Yes please. My newest love is proteas... the colours, complementation, textures, subtle yet paradoxically vibrant beauty honestly display God's genius design and infinite imagination.]

 [He is Afrikaans, so of course he can eat a boerewors roll for breakfast! Us ladies had lovely fruit salads and freshly squeezed juices... ok, I'll admit, I actually had caramel cheesecake...]

[The last time I came to this incredible farmer's market was two summer's ago where we, so perfectly ran into my sister who was holidaying with friends in the area, and my person and I really missed not seeing her this time... they have great food - sweet treats, baked goods, pies, cakes, nuts, fruit juices, breads, biltong, jams, cheeses, olives, pestos, coffee stalls, breakfast stands, bacon and egg rolls, pancakes, pitas, handmade chocolates, punnets of berries, smoothies and more and more... and just about anything else you can think of - crates of flowers, seedlings and saplings, soaps, creams, frames, wooden furniture, crafts and trinkets, tourist items, glass and beaded delights, leather bags, secondhand books and antiques, listening to phenomenally good live musicians... fun all around!] 

 [Who doesn't love mini-chocolate-and-caramel-dipped-sprinkle-covered-donuts?]

[Our next adventure was climbing down a steep, winding staircase, along the face of a cliff to get to Flatrock beach in Wilderness... the soft sand tickling our feet, dipping our toes in the freezing water, hearing the roar of the giant waves crashing onto the shore, the white horses dancing into the horizon...]

[Love, you are my happily ever after*] 

[The view! Sitting on the balcony with the ocean far in the distance, surrounded by a peaceful garden of weeping willows, wrought iron benches, stone fountains, good conversation, eating our treasures from the market - could it get any better?]

Wrapped in your arms, staring into the flickering flames, mesmerized by their movement, their crackling power, their burning heat as the logs collapse, their artistry - a sort of tangible, yet vaporous liquid, constantly changing colours from orange to white to blue, glowing, strangely alive... 

Lying late a night, turning the last few pages of the novel, that sadness creeping in as the story comes to a close, as another book ends...  or staying up, all dark and quiet, watching movies under piles of blankets, eating chocolate mousse with my best friend, feeling his warmth, snuggled close, listening to his soft snores as he (always) falls asleep...

Sunday... drawing back the thick folds of the curtains, breathing in the crisp air, so thankful to be alive and grateful for another stunning day... standing at your side and holding your hand still fills me with wonderment - thank-you Lord!... after church my person's family and I headed off for delicous coffee (my usual creamy, marshmallowy, cotton candy, white hot chocolate!) and slices of decadent cakes, giving his mom an early birthday present, my person's brother embarrassing me at every moment possible, but feeling so loved... 

Then listening to you explain the riders and the teams to me, the history of the Tour de France and your passion for cycling - I smile, slightly bewildered, but catching your excitement even while you grin at me when I get it all wrong, truly just happy to spend hours with you, falling more and more inlove with you with every single moment - my weekend has been wonderful simply because I get to share it with the MOST wonderful person!

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