Bean Field Fun...

No, we're not growing beans in our vegetable garden. We're playing Beans (Bohnanza) around our kitchen table! We've sporadically played this game, dating back to our Mercy Ships days, over the years. It's always fun and brings back lots of memories. :)

Beans is one of our favourite games.

Eliza shows her cards.

Martian Marathon...

Two weeks ago (Saturday, 13th April), I helped pass out water to runners at the first water station on the Martian Marathon. There were four routes (marathon, half marathon, 10 km and 5 km) that passed the water station - right where Dearborn Covenant Church is located. It was an early morning, but it was a lot of fun helping with a community event such as this.

Mile markers as I cycle to the water stop.

Cyclists lead out the first runners on the marathon.

Marathon runners steam past our water stop.

Great to see children involved, too.

The church is right on the route for this marathon.

Flowers of Spring...

We're loving the pretty flowers of spring here in SE Michigan. This is a selection of photos of the blooms in our garden here in SE Michigan. :) This is a pretty yellow tulip that Candace planted in our garden last year.

Dandelions may be seen as a weed by many, but these plants have lots of important properties. Bees love them!

Hellebores - it was the first to bloom in our garden.

The neighbour's peach tree overhangs our fence and is in blossom.

Strawberry flowers in a raised garden box. Candace transplanted them in the autumn last year.

Another large tulip - a purple one, this time.

Wild pansy - or Johnny Jump Up - that grew wild in one of our raised garden boxes.

Total Solar Eclipse...

Monday, April 8th, brought a total solar eclipse to a large swathe of the United States. In Detroit we had 99.2% coverage, and it was still pretty impressive. We watched the eclipse from our back garden, where it was amazing to see the eerie atmosphere and notice the temperature dipping during peak eclipse. 

It was cool to hear the birds calling to each other as if it were dusk. I also enjoyed watching all the planes with their landing lights on final approach to DTW. This was the first eclipse we've witnessed since the August 2017 eclipse.

It was a great afternoon making memories naturally. :)

Eliza uses our homemade solar viewer to see the eclipse.

Riaan and his glasses. 

Eliza and Anya having fun in the (darkening) sun!

Approaching peak eclipse. You can see a mirror image of the actual eclipse projected on the wall behind the family. :)

A jet flies towards the mirror image of the eclipse. 

Lufthansa Airbus A340 on approach to DTW (from Frankfurt).

Southwest Airlines flight on approach.

Spirit Airlines on approach with landing lights on during peak eclipse.

Delta aeroplane with lights on, too.

A Beautiful Day for a Braai...

The weekend of April 6th to 7th was filled with gorgeous sunshine. We spent a copious amount of time soaking up the natural Vitamin D. On Sunday we enjoyed a spring braai, complete with lamb chops, toasted sarmies, and Candace's amazing potato salad. 

After our late lunch-time braai, Riaan and I (with Eliza for a short while) played cricket for over an hour. I have so many fond memories of playing cricket with my dad in Cape Town, and I hope that Riaan and I can enjoy many years of fun backyard cricket! One of the last times we played cricket together at my parents' house in Cape Town was on a visit there in 2017. :) 

Delicious lamb chops.

Nothing beats a braai!

Easter Walk...

In keeping with our tradition of spending time on Easter outdoors, we hiked a short trail across the river from Fair Lane - the former home of Henry and Clara Ford. We spotted several great blue herons on the Rouge River, along with plentiful signs of beaver activity in the area. Towards the end of our hike, we saw a family of deer in the darkening woods. :)

Great Blue Heron at a fork in the river.

Anya was not the culprit here!

Signs of spring. :)

View across to the old power house at Fair Lane.

Watching a family of deer in the woods.

Easter 2024...

Our first Easter in Michigan was simply lovely. We attended several Easter services, including a seder meal, the Good Friday service, and an Easter breakfast before the service at church. Candace and I also organised a simple Easter egg hunt for our children. 

Easter is always a special time as we remember what Jesus did for us on the Cross - how we can enjoy new life through his sacrifice. We are thankful to be here in Michigan for this season!

Listening to Adam as he explains the significance of the seder meal.

Some of the elements of the seder meal.

Anya helping with resurrection cookies the night before Easter.

Children about to head off on an Easter egg hunt at church.

The breakfast spread at church.

Our children on their egg hunt here at home.

Eliza finds one in the lilac bush!

Family selfie while we play a game together.

Hot Cross Buns...

One a penny, two a penny, hot cross buns! So the old rhyme goes. :) Candace really outdid herself in the week prior to Easter by making sourdough hot cross buns from scratch. They were delicious! Hot cross buns are an Easter tradition in many parts of the world - but are somewhat rare in the USA.

Freshly baked hot cross buns.

They were amazing!

Snow Hike...

We drove to Maybury State Park late in March, just a day or two after an early spring system dropped some significant snow in the area. The temperatures were hovering above freezing, and we enjoyed a lovely hike in the melting snow. :)

Hiking through the melting snow.

Picturesque scene over the lake.

A swan hunkering down on its nest.

Beautiful swan on the water.

A pair of Canada geese. 

Mallard duck paddles towards the camera.

Our three children at one of the fishing docks.