Digital Devices

Two of my friends recently got new toys: a droid smart-phone and an iPod touch. I played with them both today and now have a serious case of The Wants.

Black Cat

One of the blogs I follow is The 7MSN Ranch and I was so sad to read that Deets, the ranch's black cat has gone missing. He's a beautiful animal and a real character... I really hope he returns home safely very soon. My own black boy cat had his annual check-up and vaccinations yesterday. He's very well at the moment... the special prescription food he's on seems to have cleared up his tummy troubles. Unfortunately no weight loss yet. We'll go back to the vet in six weeks for another weigh-in.

Preview

Got a chance to see a screening of Mao's Last Dancer last night (thank you, Penguin). It is a really interesting story and a lovely film.

Victoria Wharf

Dorothy and I arrived early for a movie at the Waterfront. it was too chilly to be outside, so we did some strolling around and coffee-shop-ing inside the mall.

Little Fiend

Trixie ventured onto Tom's bed for the first time. There she had a play with the catnip-filled leopard toy. Sunshine! Catnip! Fun! She was literally rolling around in ecstasy.

It's war!

I'm really happy to see lots of new growth on my new abelia bushes. I'm not so happy to see these guys though.

Little Bench

Gerhard made me this small wooden bench to go in my garden, under the window. I can't decide if I should stain, varnish or paint it.

Island

Dorothy had a bunch of us over for dinner this evening, and of course we all gathered in the kitchen while the delicious food was prepared. Lots of chatter!

Roast Vegetables

Girl's Gone Child, one of the blogs I read regularly, has a nice new feature called 'Eat Well'. Inspired by the discussion on roast vegetables I threw some butternut, leeks and cauliflower into the oven last night. Had the leftovers for lunch today, with some feta cheese crumbled on top, and some ham and spinach on the side. Very tasty!

Desk Paraphenalia

This is some the stuff that sits on my desk at work and gets used every day. I long-ago stopped noticing how gaudy it all is. In theory I'd really like to replace some of the tattier items and have a colour-coordinated and stylish work environment, but I doubt that will happen anytime soon. I like the mug, one of my brother's.

Back o' My Hand

I'm used to seeing my nails in need of a manicure, and my hands covered in ink and small scratches (from Tom) but since when are they so spotty and so wrinkly?!? They don't look like my hands at all!

Featherhead

I was happy to see this featherhead - one of my favourite fynbos plants - in flower on the slopes of Lion's Head this afternoon. Phylica plumosa.

Gazania

A couple of the newly-planted gazanias in my garden are flowering already. I love this colour... so cheerful.

Weekly Shop

When I did my grocery shop this morning I kept healthy eating in mind. This week there will be no eating out and I'll be making wholesome nutritious meals for myself. And I will be limiting sugar and refined carbs as much much as possible, for the weekdays at least.

Rococo

I had a look around the recently-restored Casa Labia this afternoon.... beautiful furniture, carpets, chandeliers and artwork. Claudia, Dorothy and I also had lunch at the new cafe.

Stitch

I finished another woolly hat today. This pattern was really fun to knit.

Scale

I jumped on the electronic scale at the gym this evening and did not like what I saw. I really need to back to get back to eating more healthily and exercising more regularly. But I'm not feeling very motivated... why is it so hard?

Cats & Dogs

I watched the rain bucketing down over the Bo-Kaap this morning. It didn't let up all day.

Kiwi

I ought to polish my shoes more often (I have all the stuff) but it's not a chore I enjoy.

Takeout

We ordered thai take-aways before the big game last night, and I had the leftovers for lunch today. Yum! I really like the pattern on these boxes.

Locker Room

I'm trying to get back into exercising at the gym. I like going at Sunday lunchtime when there is hardly anyone there.

Beans on Toast

I didn't eat beans much growing up and thought I didn't like them. However a couple of years ago I read the following on one of my favourite foodie websites, Orangette:

There is great value, people, in knowing how to doctor a can of beans. It’s nothing to be ashamed of. It’s one of those important life skills, like knowing how to make a bed, tie your shoes, or operate a corkscrew. [From here]

I decided it was time to master beans! And I have... now I love them and eat them often. They make a great lunch on a cold wet day like today. I fried an onion, added a little bacon that needed using up and some garlic and dried oreganum. Then I added a tin of mixed beans and a splash of tabasco and cooked for a few minutes. (I usually add cumin too, but forgot). I served them up on top of rye bread toast. Quick and easy... and delicious!

Shades

Choosing a colour for the new trellises in my garden is not so easy. I'm looking for just the right light reddish brown-grey ;-)

Wires

I do like an early morning sky and this morning's was particularly soft and lovely.

Concentration

My gorgeous Trixie, looking out into the garden. Big green eyes.

First Aid Kit

I tripped and grazed my knee this morning. Eina. When I got to work I cleaned and bandaged up the scrape, using for the first time the first aid kit I made up last year. Alcohol swabs sting like crazy!

Little Purse

I'm finally using one of the small coin purses I bought in Bali a couple of years ago. Love the pattern on the fabric.

Mister Parks

Dominic's little dog has so many nicknames... Mr Parks is my favourite one. We had a great walk together today and as usual he never left Dom's side. Utter devotion!

Myoga

Dorothy, Richard and Claudia at Myoga Restaurant at the Vineyard Hotel. I'd got a flyer advertising their winter special and we decided to try it out. Everything was nice... the decor was plush and comfortable, the staff were friendly and efficient , the ambience was warm and relaxed and the food was ABSOLUTELY DELICIOUS! It was a really great evening out.

Main Bed

Phase one of the my new garden is complete. The wall has been painted and new beds with cobbled border have been created. The beds have been dug over and plenty of compost added, and they have been planted with a mix of plants from my old garden and lots of new ones. The jasmine creepers still need to go in with some sort of trellis or framework for them to grow up onto. Some more creepers to grow on the outside the wall need to be planted, as well as some groundcover under the new gates. The pots need to be done. And maybe the paved section (disturbed by the construction of the wall) relaid?

History Lessons

I'm about half-way through Hilary Mantel's wonderful Wolf Hall, a novel about Thomas Cromwell. Reading is slow because I keep stopping to look things up on Wikipedia, and then I get sucked into fascinating articles on the history and personalities of Tudor times. Isn't Wikipedia just the best thing ever :-)