The Dearborn Shop...

Candace is now an official vendor at The Dearborn Shop! If you are in the Detroit area and are looking for unique, handmade items, visit this small business and invest in the local community today. As we say in South Africa, "local is lekker!"

Candace is selling homemade dolls, quilts, bunting, and other sewn items. I'm very proud of her. :)

Creative Riaan...

Riaan wrote and illustrated his very own comic book recently! I was really impressed, and it brought back memories of the books that I wrote when I was much younger. 

And since our son doesn't own his own handheld video game, like the Nintendo Switch, he decided to create his own version on paper. Amazing!

One of the spreads of the comic book.

The "video game" that he created. :)

Ouabache State Park...

Having first visited Ouabache State Park back in 2017, we made a stop at this picturesque park on our way back to Michigan earlier in March. Riaan was not yet two years old when we were last there, and the girls had never visited before. We wanted to show the children the bison that live in the wildlife enclosure, and it was lovely to have a brief stop here to split up the drive home. :)

Candace and the children loved seeing the bison.

One of them even charged at us!

This one was more relaxed.

The bison head across the enclosure.

Flying Trip to Daviess County, Indiana...

We loaded up the children and took a quick trip down to Washington, Indiana, in the middle of March. Our primary purpose in heading down there for three nights was to see many good friends in The Promise, the musical production highlighting the story of Jesus from birth to resurrection. It was a really powerful play!

We also spent time with friends and family, went to story time at the Washington Library (pictured here), and visited our favourite Cherry Ghost Coffee House. We stayed at a friends' Airbnb, which was absolutely lovely.

Heading down to Indiana.

Visiting Nancy, a very dear friend of ours.

Hanging out at the Cherry Ghost.

Scene from The Promise. One of my good friends was a Pharisee.

Jesus heading up to heaven after his resurrection.

The lovely Airbnb on the morning of our departure.

Leaving the Airbnb and about to drive back to Michigan.

The Wonder of Spring...

It's lovely seeing new growth appear as spring approaches. Plants that were dormant over the winter are now returning to their summer-like appearance. I'm inspired to see this wonderful transformation through the eyes of my children - as they look upon this transition with such wonder and joy.

'And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labour or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendour was dressed like one of these.' 

(Matthew 6: 28-29 NIV)

Tiny flowers grow amongst the grass.

Another Cycle Tour Ride...

In honour of the Cape Town Cycle Tour, held this year on Sunday, 10th March, I went for a brief cycle in cold and blustery conditions that same day in Michigan. My parents and brother safely negotiated the 109 km route around Cape Town's Cape Peninsula - and I was very proud of them. I'm hoping that I will be able to cycle this iconic event again in the future!

First Braai of 2024...

We had our first braai of 2024 on Sunday, the 3rd of March. It was a small bonfire with some charcoal added to it, and I just cooked a few pork strip pieces over the fire, making sure that there was a nice crunch to the crackly. It may have been small, but it still counts as a good old braai. :)

Honestly, this will probably be the last pork I braai. I'm moving towards cleaner meats. :)