Showing posts with label holidays. Show all posts
Perfect Peaceful Pringle Bay
At the end of last term I had reached the end of myself - I was shattered. And although the holidays had started, the pace of life didn't seem to change, and as they wore on I realized that we really needed to get away to have a break. As a homeschooling mom, there really isn't much downtime (hang on, as a mother, I don't think there's much downtime!), but Braveheart realized what a fragile state I was in, and so blessed us with going away for a few days.
A dear friend arranged for us to stay in their family holiday home in Pringle Bay. I think my children thought we'd left the country, as they were in the sea so often in the first few days! Can you believe the extremes? One week a day trip into the snow, the next a swim in the sea!
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| I owe it to mention how much I appreciate the fact it is Braveheart in the water with them, and not me! |
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| Cold little bodies! |
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| Love the delight! |
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| In exploring we discovered a rocky area that so reminded me of a "moonscape" on the Rooi Els side, and loved rambling over the rocks |
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| We met a marine biologist on the rocks at Betty's Bay, and King Arthur learnt so much from her. This is definitely where is heart is leaning at the moment, into conservation and the environment, and I'm loving watching him! |
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| One day we ran from the weather and outsmarted it, managing to find good weather. We stopped in at the Harold Porter Botanical Gardens... |
Then the weather turned, the wind blew...can you believe this is sand not snow!
And then the rain beat us - and the cold front stayed ...
but we stayed indoors and played card games from my childhood, Rummikub and puzzles!
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| Look at these fire damaged trees - we called them Tiger Trees! |
It was a gorgeous time away, restorative, refreshing and invigorating!
Snow!!!!
Saturday morning dawned like any other morning in this household. I casually checked my computer, peeking into Facebook and noting the snow updates from Matroosberg Nature Reserve in Ceres -I'd become "friends" with them earlier in the week. I mentioned it in passing to Braveheart, who knows that each year since we've been here I've wanted to go and find the snow. Well this year, before we were even all dressed, he made the decision to take us away to see the snow - what a blessing!
I scrambled to find us some overnight accommodation, and at the last minute, was pleased to find us a self catering chalet at the Pine Forest Resort in Ceres. It reminds me a lot of the National Parks places at home, and I was impressed with the cleanliness of the chalet we were in - basic, but everything one needed. The kids were so taken with it that we could have spent the whole weekend playing just there and they would have been happy! They had a wonderful playground as well, which our kids loved - not sure this would be my cup of tea in high season, but it was perfect for this weekend!
As we arrived after lunch, the snow seemed to have melted/reduced dramatically, so we decided to take a drive up some nearby mountain passes, and had a picnic and one of the look out spots....
Should I mention at this point how very cold it was....does this give you a clue?
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| See the rainbow? |
Sunday sunrise on the mountains, and up early, we made our way to Matroosberg Nature reserve... our little Toyota Verso somewhat outnumbered by the sheer numbers of 4x4 - I've never really wanted to own one until this weekend! I was amazed by the queue out of the reception at 9 in the morning - clearly many people had had the same idea as us...but not so many were paying to hike - they were choosing to drive to the summit! Undeterred, we carried on, paid the fee to hike, and parked our car at the campsite car park, and walked the 2km to the start of the trail!
I was so impressed with my kids - their perseverance, determination and sheer grit to get to the snow. For little legs it was far...and yet they kept on. Once there, we had such fun....
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| building snowmen |
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| having snowball fights... |
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| Belle and I made this one... |
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| Can youo see us on the side of the mountain? |
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| Dad getting in on the fun! |
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| Love my boys! |
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| The mountain.....summit covered in cloud... |
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| King Arthur was overjoyed to spot this Cape Sugarbird... |
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| I need to work on my aim! |
We knew it was time to head down the mountain when Aragorn tried to fold himself in half to keep warm, poor fellow...so back to camp to have a warm bath, hot chocolate and some much needed food!
It was idyllic in every way - a gift that warmed our hearts and will stay with us forever.
March Madness!
March and October are the busiest months in this household. March because of the Argus, and therefore Nana and Pops visit from Zimbabwe, and October because three of clan celebrate their birthday then! This March was particularly busy as I held a surprise 60th for my dad, and family friends also came down from Zimbabwe. When real life kicks into top gear, writing a blog has to take a back seat!
And although I've missed it, I love responding quickly to the different seasons I find myself in; it helps me to realign my priorities. A snippet on what's been learnt so far though includes the realization that this blog must serve me rather than me serving it: and that's led me to ask some large questions. Why am I writing? For whom? What do I want to get out of it? Is its season over? I know I periodically ask these questions (I seem to be a very cyclical person :)), but I like knowing that I'm in the right season for the right time....
So without further ado, here's a little recap of life within the clan during March...
And then, whilst Braveheart was in Wales, we went to Onrus with Nana and Pops. We stayed in the lovely Skye Cottage, and O, what a treat! It felt like a home away from home, wonderfully and thoughtfully equipped with everything you could think of that you might need. My children loved it, and I soaked up the little village of Onrus. I loved how unpretentious Onrus felt compared to its neighbour, Hermanus.
I'm catching up now, and only because the Clan are all out! The children are having a sleep over at their cousins, and Braveheart is out watching rugby. I'm feeling so refreshed having these few hours to myself to do with what I want - a lovely treat!
May your weekend be blessed!
And although I've missed it, I love responding quickly to the different seasons I find myself in; it helps me to realign my priorities. A snippet on what's been learnt so far though includes the realization that this blog must serve me rather than me serving it: and that's led me to ask some large questions. Why am I writing? For whom? What do I want to get out of it? Is its season over? I know I periodically ask these questions (I seem to be a very cyclical person :)), but I like knowing that I'm in the right season for the right time....
So without further ado, here's a little recap of life within the clan during March...
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| Fishing with pops with rods he and Nana blessed the kids with... |
wearing Pops' shirt because Belle was cold after swimming in
the sea - she'll swim anywhere, anytime :)
King Arthur's first gala - so proud of him!
Belle's first proper haircut - she loved it!
Aragorn and Belle writing in cuneiform on clay tablets...
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Needless to say I have no idea what this says! |
Making a Sumerian cylinder seal....
My clan loved swimming in the lagoon, which felt MUCH warmer than the sea!
Belle coercing Pops to take her into the deeper part of Davies Pool. The
water was FREEZING!
Going for a wee paddle up the Onrus river
The boys weren't so eager to enter the chilly water!
There's this lovely rock that looks just like a chair at the edge of the
tidal pool!
Now that she was frozen solid, she persuaded dear Pops
to carry her back along this lovely paved walk that links Sandbaai,
Onrus and Vermont to one another.
We visited Hermanus one day, and I can recommend the Whale Museum.
My kids even asked to go back there at the end of the day!
Got to love holidays - when else do you eat ice creams
in your pj's?
I'm catching up now, and only because the Clan are all out! The children are having a sleep over at their cousins, and Braveheart is out watching rugby. I'm feeling so refreshed having these few hours to myself to do with what I want - a lovely treat!
May your weekend be blessed!
Holiday Fun
Often as one hits this particular holiday season things can get a little 'crazy' for want of a better word - family, socializing, shopping, Christmas - all that the trimmings this simple season brings (isn't is just about celebrating the Love Child? The Gift our father chose to give us?).
This year, I wanted to make sure that we made the most of Braveheart's two weeks off work, and to make sure that we didn't lose out on the important in the face of the urgent this season. (Too often we feel we must rush madly around trying to 'do' things instead of just 'being' and building relationships within our family and those around us).
To help us, on the first morning of Braveheart's holiday we set out to make our holiday tree (I'm really into trees this year aren't I?!)
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we traced around an egg cup... and then all cut out some circles from coloured card and even Belle managed - I was impressed! |
Then Braveheart drew a tree template for me, and we cut that out...
Then we sat around the dining room table and made a wish list for the holiday - all the things we'd like to do together as a d family or with other people. Braveheart and I scribed for the littlies, and King Arthur did well writing his own! And this is what we made -
Here's hoping you too will have much fun this holiday season!
This post features on the South African Carnival of Homeschool Bloggers
where South African home schoolers share experiences,ideas,philosophies
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Carnival #14 –Holiday Fun for this week’s carnival. We hope you
enjoy the carnival as much as we have!
