Workshop - using oils with gesso

I attended a workshop held by the Drakenstein Art Society
Elsa Spamer (du Plessis) was the artist showing us
how to use gesso and paint on the gesso with thin oils

I decided to try Cape Fynbos with this technique;
the gesso for this protea was done by Else
and I did the painting . . .


At home I decided to explore the skills I've acquired
and painted this pincushion . . .

winter wrist warmers

a quick knit . . .
to keep the wrists warm . . .

and fingertips traversing text
in search of words' meanings
for a school assignment . . .

time to go to bed . . .

Passover in the Cedarberg Mountains

Something we wanted to do for quite a while now
spending a weekend in the Cedarberg Mountains . . .

Through Bainskloof Pass - not too early in the morning though . . .

to our destination at Kromrivier - a working farm . . .
farming with sheep and horses . . .
an annatolic sheepdog as shephard . . .
hoarding the sheep to the kraal each evening as leopards roam the area . . .

our cottage for a few days - with only the bare essentials - and a hot shower . . .

some winter colours in the veld . . .

the mountains - it's like entering a prehistoric world, partly preserved . . .






heading home again . . . the road less traveled . . .

a land of . . . plenty

contrasts and colour . . .

ek is . . . / I am . . .

An Afrikaans poem by 12 year old Lize.

Ek is gelukkig en kort humeurig
Ek wonder oor hoe hulle op die maan kom
Ek hoor voêls en dennebome wat praat in die wind
Ek sien my as 'n suksesvolle vrou eendag met 5 kinders
Ek wil graag gelukkig wees en vry wees om God te dien
Ek is gelukkig en kort humeurig

Ek verbeel my ek lê op bloekombloeisels en slaap elke nag
Ek voel altyd hartseer as diere seerkry
Ek raak aan die Eifeltoring (Parys)
Ek bekommer my oor aardbewings
Ek huil as ek raas kry
Ek is gelukkig en kort humeurig

Ek verstaan dat alle mense belangrik is
Ek sê dat God almagtig is
Ek droom om 'n professionele tennisspeler te wees
Ek probeer om altyd Net Die Beste te gee
Ek hoop dat rassisme in ons land sal stop
Ek is gelukkig en kort humeurig

Image title : Reflections

knitting for old and young

she went with me to the yarn shop yesterday afternoon
she was amazed and surprised at a young girl buying yarn
she thought knitting is only for mothers, grannies and old ladies . .
the outcome : she knits . . .
she says it is a scarf . . .
her first project . . .


tealeaves cardigan completed . . .


first top to bottom knit for me

the dying of a season

Early autumn falling leave-hearts
clinging, falling, crumbling . . .
to be re-invigorated
in spring . . .

our favourite yoghurt

We recently bought this yoghurt and really enjoy the rich creamy taste.

Every time we read the script on the bucket our hearts warm towards the cows roaming the green grass veld : (I think we envy them their luxury living)

Why our cows are happy healthy "faircape free range" cows?

* they live in super comfort in spacious surroundings

* they can choose between basking in the sun of lazing in the shade

* they eat only natural feeds with no animal by-products

* no artificial hormones added

* the receive daily health check-ups and medical care is always available

* at fair cape we're serious about keeping the environment in tip top shape

By this I do not intend to render my services for the advertising of Fair Cape's finished product's - only to admire their cows' leisurely country life . . .

Turning of the season

Originally March was the first month of the year for the Romans.

We are well away in the third month - the year literally marching on . . .
We enjoy the most delicious fruit in the season
Mangos, peaches, grapes . . . even the local cultivar from own home-grown vine on the pergola

We had a spree of hot waves for two / three weeks
Everyone finding the most confortable coolest place to lie down and chill

And last night a fresh cool breez at last . . .
Today we feel the season is changing . . .
Autumn is on its way . . .
Wooly knits / crochet items are taken out of the cupboards . . .
Winter wear is being aired out . . .

the flute player

music is to the soul . . .
what food is to the body . . .

12 years old and a lover of music

and she wants white towels with crochet flowers to dry herself . . .

The month of February is on the move . . .

February is named after a feast of religious purification (Februa) in ancient Rome.

The following photo is that of the Colosseum, the place of many festivities during that time.

(photo retrieved from the internet)

February to me is the month

of learning new skills

- like crochet

can you pick it up at the top of the window?

and painting a green pear . . .

where has january gone ? ? ?

January is named after the two faced Roman god Janus.

Janus is the god of beginning and end (alpha and omega).

He looks back on the passed year and he looks forward to the new year.

We look back with memories and melancholy and happiness at the past year

We look forward to 2011 with hope and expectations . . .

Our school holidays are over

Visitors have gone home

We are busing trying to earn a living

Bathroom water pipes are / were leaking

- a new bathroom is in the making

In between knitting is done

(an Astor for anticipated winter warming)

and a pear becomes a painting

(could it be the fruit of paradise?)

Afrikaans Language Monument

We visited the Afrikaans monument in Paarl and thought of the following poem by ID du Plessis. I think it was written during the 1940's - the time when Afrikaans was the language of poor white people and it was spoken of as a "kombuistaal" (kitchen dialect).

The English translation by hubby following the Afrikaans :

Soet is die stryd - Struggle is sweet

Jy sê die stryd is verlore, - You say the struggle is lost,

Ons nasie te arm en klein, - Our nation too poor, too petite,

Ons taal uit 'n drang gebore, - Our language spurn from an urge

Wat een van die dae verdwyn? - that one of these days will seise/dissipate?

Ag vriend, dit mag heeltemal waar wees; - My friend, yes it may be quite true

Wie weet wat die toekoms gaan baar? - Who knows what the future will ensue?

Miskien moet ons oormore klaar wees - Maybe we ought to be finished tomorrow

Om weer hierdie droom te laat vaar. - to give this dream over to sorrow.

Maar as ons net altyd m0et strewe - However, if we must continually strive

Na wat tot oorwinning gaan lei, - to that which will help us survive,

Wat help dan die stryd van die lewe - What help is the struggle for life

Waarin ons onseker moet bly? - in which our uncertainty relive?

Solank jou bedoelings maar goed is, - as long as your intentions were good,

Gaan jy jou oor neerlae kwel? - will you tarry on your failures?

Solank jy volhard en vol moed is - as long as you persevere and keep faith -

Dis mos die probeerslag wat tel! - have endeavored is what matters!

Nee, soet is die stryd vir die stryer, - Nay, sweet is the struggle for him who dare,

Al moet hy uiteind'lik verloor - even if he eventually despair -

Maar die man wat sy deelname weier, - but the man who forsake his share

Is die man wat sy nasie vermoor. - is the one who kills his kin.

Joy Art / Pretkuns

While paging through a book by Kelly Rae Roberts, I was inspired to try other styles and the following two paintings came to light. I work only in oils, although Kelly's art is done in mixed media.

Stretch your wings . . . (I prefer the mouth of the girls by Pieter van der Westhuizen and therefore tried it in this painting; and the eyes of the girls done by Kelly have touched my heart.)

'n oomblik om te onthou / a moment to remember . . . (I enjoy the innocence of this painting)

These following two paintings was done with a boy's room in mind. Both are framed with distressed frames made from old painted wood.

They are both sold. I am happy!

Painting is pure enjoyment . . .

If I had my life to live over . . .

"If I had my life to live over,

I would start barefoot earlier in the

spring and stay that way later in the fall.

I would go to more dances.

I would ride more merry-go-rounds.

I would pick more daisies."

-- Nadine Stair --

I think most of us have this feeling of doing and living more if only . . .

Father in law passed away Septerber 2009 on the brink of 95 years of age.

While sorting his possessions presently, I came upon this piece of embroidery. I remembered him showing it to us a few times. He told us of how his mother made their clothes, taught them and fed them during the most appalling life conditions of the 1930 ressesion. He was very young when she passed away, and told us how he had to look after his sisters.

He cherished this piece of work done by his mother. This embroidery must be about 80 years old, if not more. It will now claim a prominent place in our house and in our hearts.