22/52 2016

A portrait of my babes once a week in 2016 ( 2 years 10 months)

My mom would often take us to Zoo Lake as children so it's nostalgic for me to walk around here with you, pushing your pram or holding your hand as you balance on the low brick wall or chase after you as you run ahead with arms splayed at the side. My little birds. You squeal in terror, more than delight as flocks of geese run towards us in the hope of a scrap of bread. Every part of Zoo Lake conjures up a different memory and I tell you stories about wading into the water to find lost treasures, and catching ducks in my arms through carefully laid bread trails, to racing bikes around the path, and carols by candlelight picnics on the lawn. Even with the large lake on which boats afloat on summer evenings, it's certainly not the prettiest park - it's grimy, not entirely well kept, and we pass many vagrants during our walk. But it is just around the corner from our home and very much a part of where we live in Johannesburg and right now it's at it's best as the trees are on fire with brown and red and the floor is carpeted in crunchy leaves. 

21/52 2016

A portrait of my babes once a week in 2016 ( 2 years 10 months)

Autumn is perfect for walks in our neighborhood - cold but not too cold. The backs of your little necks get damp with sweat from  woollen neck warmers and running and your hair starts to curl up with the moisture. The crunchy leaves padding the pavements are so tempting and satisfying to crush in small still-dimpled hands and under no longer tiny feet. You become collectors, picking up sticks, or stones another day, mostly feathers, all handed to me like hidden treasures or newly discovered specimens which I must guard and protect, and return on demand even days later.

You're strong and able, and walk and run the whole way home. I love seeing you walk these roads we walked so often as newborns in prams or carriers. It's such an obvious indicator of growth, just as we've seen houses change, knocked down, and rebuilt along the way. This letting go and running ahead shows a confidence as well, in your surroundings and self.

This particular route is not much in terms of walks, we have to go on a busy road for the last part home, but walks are good, the fresh air, the observations. And it is home, it is where we are, I like being here with you.

Hello there, I've missed you

Hello lovely readers - if there are any of you still here. Sorry for the silence. I can't believe I have been away from here for almost two months! I have missed it and will now attempt to play catch up with my weekly portrait posts. (You know how the longer you leave something, the harder it is... Yip, that's where I am right now so I need to just jump in).

I blame it (mostly) on the fact that I have been working on Rock-a-Baby, a fair from moms and babes which took place in Braamfontein at the end of September. Putting this fair together was a full time job, done so with babes on hips and during nap times and night times and basically any free time I could find. I'm pleased to say the fair was a success (people actually came and bought stuff!) and was worth all the effort we put in to it. Here are some pics of the day, taken by Lauren Kim Photography. Follow us on Facebook for more photos and updates.

Daleahs

Have you tried the (now not so) new eatery Daleahs in Braamfontein? While I only had a freshly squeezed juice when I was there a couple of months ago (I believe you can judge a place on their juice), the food coming out of the kitchen definitely warrants a return visit. I love their corporate identity too, designed by Says Who - how cute are those take away mug sleeves!

{Top pic by me, others from Between 10 and 5}

Monday morning

 Hello Monday. I started my week in a wonderful way - an early morning swim with the husband in the Zoo Lake public swimming pool. This is such a little gem in Jo'burg - crystal clean, outdoors, Olympic sized, and only R5 entrance (although free if you get there early enough). And it is literally a stone's throw from our apartment so we can literally roll out of bed into the pool (convenience is my number one criteria for exercise). I was certainly the odd one out amongst speedo's, swimming caps and racer backs. I was wearing my polka dot full length (imagine I went with a pool pretzel!). Still, I managed to do 12 lengths (don't laugh). And the pain was worth it - I felt like a million bucks afterwards.

Have a good week little fish - may the tips of your fingers tingle as you dive in.

xoxo

Five Hundred

Last night I had the pleasure of dining at Five Hundred, David Higgs's new restaurant at the Saxon. The six course tasting menu was a delightful dance of the tastes buds through the culinary equivalent of Alice's Wonderland with red cabbage marshmallows, crayfish sausage, oyster macaroons, foie gras and white chocolate, and meringue and ice-grapefruit on a stick all vying for your attention. We were regaled with stories of stolen wine bottles (two our of the three were returned) and the origins of the restaurant's name (the restaurant is in the old presidential suite, room number 500). We had a view of Jo'burg and the service was beyond, Mr Higgs himself introduced a few of the dishes and we were given fresh honeycomb in a little black box as a we left. My only criticism would be the black and white Chinese symbol carpet. But who's looking at the carpet when the plate in front of you is such a masterpiece.

Lately

 Admiring our new bookclub bags

 Checking out cool designs at weddings

 Tending to our veggie garden

 Wishing upon highveld skies

 Filling my house with peonies

 Finding love in the city

 Displaying affection publicly

 Meeting this gorgeous little guy, Michael

 Hanging out with this cool kid

Taking advice wherever I can find it

hello weekend!

{via here}

Ah Friday at last. Crazy hectic week that felt both long and short. Those in Joburg have too many wonderful, creative things to get up to these next few days. Yes, we are goign to be busy busy busy indluging in teh best design, food and craft this city has to offer. And here's why ---

*Food Wine Design - love this event and a great place to do your christmas shopping

*Neighborgoods Market - our family from Australia is in town and we want to show them one of our fave ways to spend a Saturday morning

*Karmers Vol Geskenke - the loveliest collection of one-of-a-kind, local, hand made goods (heart!) opens on Sunday. And my sister's store, The Selection, is taking part (yay!).

Hope to see you there little butterflies*

xoxo

The human-ness of birds

In general, we underestimate the intelligence and emotions of animals. I recently read that hyenas have the intelligence of primates - they can count and solve problems. This snippet of information kind of breaks my heart. I love these portraits of wild cockatoos by Leila Jeffreys because of how human they look. One or two of them even remind me of people I know.

Jo'burg be awesome

So I didn't get snapped by The Sartorialist while I was in NY (we can all dream can't we?) because he was scouting the streets of Johannesburg. Cheska mentioned him on Friday but I love that Scott was here and I love the photos he snapped so much I couldn't resist posting them. Man we have some cool peeps in our city.

PS. Happy Halloween!

eat your heart out

A few weekends ago, on a freezing Sunday in Jo'burg, when wind was wipping through the streets of down town Maboneng Precinct, we found oursleves curled up in Eat Your Heart Out. If pastrami on rye makes your mouth water, and you crave bagels on any given day, then this new little kosher deli is for you. With designs by Black Coffee (hello practical chairs with magazine racks on the back) and a huge window to watch the world go by, it's the percefct little Fox Street local.

286 Fox Street

Tuesdays to Sundays from 7:30 - 16:00