Monday, June 20, 2011

touch


This powerful bit from Julie Daley's blog:


"As the weekend unfolded, I became acutely aware of how important it is to be immersed in life, not virtual life but real life, and real life with friends and colleagues.

It is so easy to forget this when I spend so many hours of my day on the phone with clients and on the computer writing and socializing through social media."


and so I'll stop right here and go and connect and embrace and touch the person who is with me.... in solidarity with Julie,

cheer, m


image credits: Behance-graphic design

Sunday, June 19, 2011

Father's Day



Mr Relaxed.... its him on the lawn



Naturally my father is person of the week.
It is after all Father's Day... and there is no shortage of reasons crowning him, either.

- gentle with the strong as well as the frail - kind to the petrol-attendant and the house-aid - determined - graceful - warm ( not afraid of sharing his big heart with a crushing hug ) - caring - involved in his childrens' lives ( without being overbearing or nosey ) - good with pets - good with braai ( ok, I think that goes for most South African Dads ) - is NOT obsessed with rugby - put his friends' needs first - rubs mom's feet - sparkly soft eyes - ears that can handle the noise & raucous laughter of his 3 daughters - ♥


There is however a cherry on top of all this:
My parents are celebrating their 35th wedding anniversary today.
big whoop whoop to Mom & Dad!
Look at how handsome he looks 1976...
and mommy: you are a princess !!



We are lucky to have you.


Thursday, June 16, 2011

Life's not always a mango smoothie

CONNIE HOZVICKA
Her blog: Dirty footprints studio

I quoted her for this blog-post title
(Isn't it a cool expression !)


Look at her stunning artwork and read more about her inspirational, REAL writing on wholeness and growth here.

Wednesday, June 15, 2011

♥ Shiny Yoga ♥





"A child has no trouble believing the unbelievable,
nor does the genius or the madman.
Its only you and I,
with our big brains
and our tiny hearts,
who doubt and
overthink and hesitate.”





~ Steven Pressfield

Tuesday, June 14, 2011

dedicated to Lucie




This blog post is dedicated to the following brave and beautiful people:
The Vagabond Adventurers.



Living the dream
and giving back in the process.

check it out and support them if you feel the tug at your heart.

Ladies: don't miss Lucie's clever and creative commentary in her "style notes" section.





cheers, sleep well ( in your warm bed ) ( ok, go read the blog now )

M

Monday, June 13, 2011

sigh of sweet misty magic ♥

I've written about the luminous Rumi in December ( when the Swiss-beauties were here )
and Rumi still holds a special place in my heart.

I love this blog: Unabashedly Female.
The writer, Julie Daley, had this post on her page today.

does this not give you goose bumps !? Eternally beautiful:



In your light I learn how to love.
In your beauty, how to make poems.
You dance inside my chest, where no one sees you,
But sometimes I do, and that sight becomes this art.
~Rumi





have a happy evening
m

Sunday, June 12, 2011

person of the week goes to Grace

she takes life in big strides... huge amount of determination and courage.
But it is a grace that is solid yet feminine.
She is a mother, grandmother, earth-mother, and naturally also a nurse and a black proud vehicle of love.


She is grateful for her tea and the fact that her "son" (not biological, but you wouldn't be able to tell from the outside) did not injure anyone in the Friday-afternoon N2 car accident.

The car is written off and Grace will be severely inconvenienced (taking her ageing mother to the clinic by taxi now, doing groceries for 6, etc)

If I see how she lives and takes care of things... I am ashamed at my lack of grace and my supreme lack of gratitude...


Poem for Grace
Mother, I trawled the internet for a suitable poem
but none came
when I called; you always came
to me
and wrapped me around you.
Hardworking grace
Grace in action
Grace in motion
beautiful example
of simple
joys
and arms
opened
wide.



and I dedicate this poem by Gordon Neumann to her.




Survival of the Humble

So human race,
do you seek survival
in all your ambiguous top-heavy ego-centric expectations,
addicted to solutions of the hypothetical,

or can you face your evil
enough to accept love that's unconditional
extending to the next miracle,

best be careful
of suicidal denial
in the form of any sort of relief
that can be final,

for life has more mystery to reveal
to those still pursuing the holy grail,
and what is to unravel
for those that fail at the crap-shooters' gamble
along the path of dark travail,

between the messiah and the martyr
everything is now at stake,
and everything is possible
for the brave, the grateful,
and the humble.

Gordon Neumann
10/4/2009

Sunny Happiness in Southern Suburbs' Supreme Spot: Constantia


Thanks Stuart & Prilosha... lovely day at your gorgeous new home.
We are excited for you; for the new chapter and
adventure (renovations) in your life.
Also a charm to have met Lexi.




beautiful views all round being enjoyed by the ladies.



good food
& good cap Classiq
& good neighbourhood...
blessings galore !


cheers, m


Saturday, June 11, 2011

i want to live

i want to live here with you....








images by talented Philip Karlberg, see his portfolio here.



Carl Jung refers: “…the energy that manifests itself in the life process and is perceived subjectively as striving and desire.”

meeting another little one


ok, so I broke my own rule about giving the new-borns time to adjust to earth.

I met Kungawo today.
She is 5 weeks.
tiny
cute
quiet

Precious times at Mugg & Bean.

Look at the proud mom (Caroline, above) and granny (below: Grace)
I largely grew up on Grace's back (alternating between a kangaroo-type sling which my mom had strapped to her front )


Girl power runs deep.


cheerios wonderful women!
M

Thursday, June 9, 2011

I found this on Dan Rosenhagen's website titled: Living Mirrors.

He also wrote "Sand and Soul" from which the below is taken:

Emotional Universe




If we do not accept change then we hide life's experiences inside ourselves, like the secrets of ship wrecks, and the dreams of mariners past,
hidden in the deepest fathoms of the ocean.

But the great seas cannot contain their tempest.
For as their waves pound upon the confining lines of their shores,
their secrets are cast out onto the beaches,
exposing themselves to the heavens.

Within the windows of our eyes
are the revealings of our waves of discontent,
yearning to be liberated.

Dan Rosenhagen

Wednesday, June 8, 2011

Wednesday Wisdom

no good erecting pillars a waste to throw concrete, pitch a tent roll out your prayer-mat and focus on that
which is everlasting
love


Monday, June 6, 2011

meet baby Nic




Earth: "welcome Nic"
Us: "Congrats Ashley and Mark"

We met this little charmer when he was 1 month and 1 week...
I prefer to delay the first introductions until they (the new pink-toed-ones) have at least had a months' worth of earthly- oxygen breathing.

beautiful little boy Nic and Chris' godchild: Holly.





mmmwha.
M

Sunday, June 5, 2011

Sunday sweet sounds and strings

Thrashing rain
blue skies
such is life
a journey
a river
a tapestry
you never quite know
what you are going to get.
♪ ♪ ♪
This afternoon I got the "Cape Consort."
wow; what a gift.



The Cape Consort – a group of 6 singers and 2 basso continuo players – is a new local ensemble committed to stylish performances of (mostly) Early Music. Cellist and composer Hans Huyssen and harpsichordist Andrew Cruickshank, who have been collaborating for years, have joined forces with Lente Louw and Antoinette Blyth (sopranos), Nick de Jager, Nico Holtzhausen, Lance Phillip (tenors) and Charles Ainslie (bass-baritone).

The group aims to establish a constant presence in the Cape exploring and presenting early vocal repertoire, which rarely features in local concerts programmes.


Thanks Stuart for introducing this special group to us.
Thanks also for Backsberg's Merlot and wonderful company.


with a song in my heart, M

Saturday, June 4, 2011

person of the week award

This week was a cultural-curtain-call.

Wednesday I attended the opening night of "Lament in G"
This is what the website " What's on" had to say:



The brand new production Lament in G will open in the Arena theater at the Hiddingh Campus in Cape Town on the 1st of June. The actress and singer Inge Beckmann (Lark) will portray the leading role of Beth.

Lament in G explores the complex marriage between the Jewish artist Beth and her Afrikaans journalist husband Samuel (Fleur du Cap nominated Wilhelm van der Walt), specifically the unavoidable aspect of give and take that occurs in any relationship. A live music ensemble will serve as background for the events and ensure a unique theater experience.

Lament in G serves as the debut of the production house duppelpunt [:] produksies. The text was written by Mari Borstlap and Wilken Calitz. Mari directs, Wilken is musical director and Deon Lourens serves as choreographer. Also in the cast are the actors and musicians Armand Aucamp, Katja Hopkins, Wessel Pretorius, Cintaine Schutte, Wietsche Calitz and Theresa Burger.

Lament in G will be on stage from 1 – 5 June in the Arena theater.

and the "person of the week" award goes to Mari Borstlap.

The text is true, gripping, haunting and beautiful.
The portrayal is elegant without sacrificing truth/ grit of the reality it is sharing.
Intimate.
Good.
Thanks Mari !




m

Sunday, May 29, 2011

discovery



___________________________________________________________________

Even

After

All this time

The Sun never says

To the Earth,

"You owe me."

Look

What happens

With a love like that.

It lights the

Whole

Sky.


(Hafiz)


__________________________________________________________________

Infatuation is temporary.

Disenchantment is inevitable.

Marriage cannot succeed without mature love.

Mature love is self-responsible.


__________________________________________________________________

person of the week


This award goes to a gentleman whose name I didn't get.
He gets it for bestowing an unconditional- kind - act on 2 South African ladies walking through a park in Denmark.
Here is the scene:
Denmark, spring.
The dusk sets in from 8pm onwards and we have been walking most of the day in and out of parks, around and over lakes, rivers, in and through shops.

This park Ida tells us was previously notorious for gay-meetings of the "not-just-kissing" nature of love-expression...
Anyway- we are wandering around when a gentleman carrying his laptop bag in one hand and jacket in the other, walks past, stops and starts speaking Danish.

The blank "eyebrows raised" look usually stops them mid-sentence and he asks: are we from here?
We must be careful and better exit the park before it gets dark as there have been rumours of attacks in this park.

He smiles and walks on.
I'm going to call him Christian.

Thanks Christian.





On the topic of being caring and compassionate.


Here are some thoughts (courtesy of Sonja Lyubomirsky)

♥ let it go
♥ do it now
♥ enjoy the process
♥ Identify the problem.

Hope you are having a happy-Sunday evening ( non- bluesy)

take the power - mantra


This life is yours. Take the power to choose what you want to do and do it well.
Take the power to love what you want in life and love it honestly.
Take the power to walk in the forest and be a part of nature.
Take the power to control your own life. No one else can do it for you.
Take the power to make your life happy."- Susan Polis Schutz

I read this on a beautiful blog: Being Brazen.
check it out Here.




chiao bella
M


Saturday, May 28, 2011

Last 2 days in Stockholm before we return to the Southern hemisphere

We were sad to say goodbye to Ida.
She made Copenhagen come to life.

We flew back to Arlanda and headed to a different part of town, Skanstulls.

The sun goes down at 21.30 and Maggie and I were making the most of the evenings.


Here is Maggie grabbing a Cafe & Kanelbulla ( cinnamon-bun type pastry) in the city centre "Teater & Kunshuset" square.




we treated ourselves to Sushi. Salmon so fresh it is insane !!
They refer to prawns as "Rak"

numerous little openings in the city: water features, grassy-areas where students or young mothers relax in the sun, people read, meet & have a chat. Lovely.
Here we are in our room: determined to finish the gin I flew over from Cape Town:



and we succeeded... and I made Maggie parade her new Zara jacket round in our room.. here she is standing on my bed.. against the wall-paper I liked.
Thanks model for being a sport !

and here my model features again: this time dressed for her flight home.
The boots are also new (and we couldn't fit them into the luggage, so she was forced to wear them.)

a lady cornered her and asked her to fill out a shop- questionaire.
Look at the cool couch resembling a conveyor belt, complete with cushions (suitcases)
I love this town !!

bye bye, heading back to CT
m