Tuesday, December 31, 2013

A Sheltered Bay

dailyhelen_watersedge by dailyhelen
My day started with a walk down to the beach and a lovely swim. My first swim of the summer on the last day of the year! 
~ A year ago today I was shopping

Monday, December 30, 2013

Beach House

dailyhelen_beachhouse by dailyhelen
Some friends of mine have taken a house near the beach at Simon's Town for the holiday. I went down to join them for a bit. What a beautiful place!
~ A year ago today I was at Kirstenbosch

Sunday, December 29, 2013

The Pits

dailyhelen_pits by dailyhelen
Not a bad way to spend a Sunday afternoon... stretched out on the grass, eating cherries out of a tupperware container.
~ A year ago today I was baking

Saturday, December 28, 2013

Tiny Twins

dailyhelen_babies by dailyhelen
Dorothy's new kittens, Cinnamon and Button. Cuteness overload!
~ A year ago today I was walking in the forest

Friday, December 27, 2013

Blue Print

dailyhelen_print by dailyhelen
Went to see the isishweshwe exhibition at the Slave Lodge Museum this afternoon. I've always loved this fabric. Designers are doing wonderful things with it these days.
~ A year ago today I was cleaning cupboards

Thursday, December 26, 2013

Glassful

dailyhelen_smoothie by dailyhelen
My breakfast smoothie: banana, mango and apricot. Yum!
~ A year ago today I was reading

Wednesday, December 25, 2013

Peak

dailyhelen_peak by dailyhelen
Once again we had a glorious day for our Kirstenbosch Christmas picnic. I spent much of the afternoon gazing on this view.
~ A year ago today I was also picnicking

Tuesday, December 24, 2013

Fluff Ball

dailyhelen_fluffball by dailyhelen
This is Duvet, the second of the cats that are coming to visit me and Thomas regularly. This afternoon she hang around for hours and we had a very nice time. She's gorgeous and very gentle - a sweetheart. 
~ A year ago today I was at the movies

Monday, December 23, 2013

New Gadgets

dailyhelen_gadgets by dailyhelen
Today I bought two items for my kitchen that I have wanted for a while: an electronic scale and a julienne cutter.
~ A year ago today I was hanging out with my friends

Sunday, December 22, 2013

Fridge Tart

dailyhelen_crisp by dailyhelen
I went totally old school with the dessert I'm taking to a dinner party this evening: South African classic Peppermint Crisp Tart. It's even in a Pyrex dish!
~ A year ago today I had a sore ankle ~ 

Saturday, December 21, 2013

Afternoon Movie

dailyhelen_abouttime by dailyhelen
Saw Richard Curtis's About Time this afternoon. Sweet film for the holidays.
~ A year ago today I was also at the movies

Friday, December 20, 2013

Table 13

dailyhelen_table13 by dailyhelen
This evening I went out for burgers with some friends. It was fun.
~ A year ago today I was out with my colleagues

Thursday, December 19, 2013

Not So Super

dailyhelen_pnp by dailyhelen
I was at the Waterfront this evening for our work end-of-year function, and afterwards I popped into the new Pick n Pay. It is a pretty nice supermarket but it would have been much better with 80% fewer people and 100% less alarm going off.
~ A year ago today I was reading a magazine

Wednesday, December 18, 2013

Deerfield

dailyhelen_deerfield by dailyhelen
Here I am holding up an embroidered throw, part of a prize I won in a raffle. My mom did quite a lot of the needlework. Isn't it lovely!
~ A year ago today I was giving Thomas a scratch under his chin ~

Tuesday, December 17, 2013

Swedish

dailyhelen_scandinavian by dailyhelen
Last couple of weeks I've been watching Wallander. Kenneth Branagh is great in it and I love the bleak scenery, the gritty stories and gloomy mood.
~ A year ago today I was reading in my garden

Monday, December 16, 2013

Pinks & Reds

dailyhelen_pinksreds by dailyhelen
The roses I picked the other day and looking and smelling wonderful. Love, love, love them!
~ A year ago today I had a walk and a swim

Sunday, December 15, 2013

Blue Plate

dailyhelen_blueplate by dailyhelen
I made a cherry cake for the family and friend who visited yesterday. There was one last slice left for my morning tea today. Yum!
~ A year ago today I was visiting a friend celebrating a birthday

Saturday, December 14, 2013

Constantia Valley

dailyhelen_valley by dailyhelen
My day started with a visit to Chart Farm to pick roses.
~ A year ago today I was visiting Max and Ginger

Friday, December 13, 2013

Cat in a Bag

dailyhelen_catinabag by dailyhelen
My friend Michele brought Thomas a new paper bag to play with today. He can't resist them!
~ A year ago today I was eating a delicious supper

Thursday, December 12, 2013

Swatter

dailyhelen_swatter by dailyhelen
It been hot this week and my nemesis, the super-annoying house fly, is back. Grrr!
~ A year ago today I was taking photos of my kittie

Wednesday, December 11, 2013

Green Things Growing

dailyhelen_greenthings by dailyhelen
My succulent pots are coming along nicely.
~ A year ago today I got a new camera

Monday, December 9, 2013

Wembley Square

dailyhelen_wembley by dailyhelen
I stopped in at the gym on the way home today. It's nice and quiet in December. 
~ A year ago today I was nursing a nasty cat scratch

Sunday, December 8, 2013

Above

dailyhelen_reflection by dailyhelen
I had a very quiet day at home today.
~ A year ago today I was looking at an art exhibition

Saturday, December 7, 2013

Nine Weeks Old

dailyhelen_crested by dailyhelen
I met this little funny face today... she's a hairless Chinese Crested. Just 1.7kg of cute.
~ A year ago today I was doing lots of admin work ~ 

Friday, December 6, 2013

RIP Madiba

dailyhelen_ripmadiba by dailyhelen
Like the rest of the world I woke this morning to the sad news of Nelson Mandela's passing.
~ A year ago today I was wearing a new top

Thursday, December 5, 2013

Jar

dailyhelen_jar by dailyhelen
I met friends at the market tonight. We had a bite to eat and did some shopping. I got some fruit and veg, a tray of caramels and these olives. Yum!
~ A year ago today I was watching videos online

Wednesday, December 4, 2013

Rainforest

dailyhelen_rainforest by dailyhelen
I've been using this shampoo and conditioner for the last few months. The make my hair smell like honey.
~ A year ago today I noticed Christmas decorations up in the mall

Tuesday, December 3, 2013

Lindor

dailyhelen_lindor by dailyhelen
Someone was handing out Lindt chocolate balls at the supermarket this afternoon. I didn't say no... I love these things!
~ A year ago today I was reading a local novel

Monday, December 2, 2013

My Animal

dailyhelen_mykittie by dailyhelen
Thomas, the black cat. He's such a good boy.
~ A year ago today I was looking at rugs

Sunday, December 1, 2013

Geranium Incanum

dailyhelen_geranium by dailyhelen
I spent the morning at Kirstenbosch today. So many lovely flowers!
~ A year ago today I was at a friend's for supper

Saturday, November 30, 2013

Conn & C.J.

dailyhelen_conncj by dailyhelen
It's nice to have new(ish) books to read from authors I enjoy. Today I started the latest installment of the Emperor series.

Friday, November 29, 2013

Black Out Friday

dailyhelen_blackout by dailyhelen
We had a frustrating work day today as our Head Office was without electricity until 3.30pm. Makes one realize just how much we rely on power coming out of the plugs in our walls.
~ A year ago today I got my lunch from The Kitchen

Thursday, November 28, 2013

Front Bed

dailyhelen_frontbed by dailyhelen
I like how things are looking in the garden round the other side of the block.
~ A year ago today Tom was sitting on my bed

Wednesday, November 27, 2013

Tuesday, November 26, 2013

The A to Z Book

dailyhelen_atoz by dailyhelen
Today I did some book club admin. It's our meeting tomorrow.
~ A year ago today I was using my hairdryer

Monday, November 25, 2013

Hibiscus

dailyhelen_hibiscus by dailyhelen
I had a very busy day today - but I did stop to smell a flower :)
~ A year ago today I was watching Bones

Sunday, November 24, 2013

Feeling the Blues

dailyhelen_theblues by dailyhelen
I bought a few summer tops yesterday, and was definitely drawn to blue hues and floral patterns.
~ A year ago today I was baking a tart ~ 

Saturday, November 23, 2013

Mug Tree

dailyhelen_mugtree by dailyhelen
One of the potters at today's Potters Market tied his mugs onto a wooden frame to make a sort of Christmas tree display. It looked really cute. I bought two gorgeous white mugs - exactly what I was looking for!
~ A year ago today one of my succulent plants was having babies

Friday, November 22, 2013

Pine

dailyhelen_pine by dailyhelen
Fruit du jour! I'm into pineapples at the moment.
~ A year ago today I was enjoying avo

Thursday, November 21, 2013

The Nibbler

dailyhelen_noogi by dailyhelen
This guy is still hanging out at my place every day. He spends a lot of timing scratching and biting himself - I think he may have as a skin condition, perhaps an allergy? Poor little fellow.
~ A year ago today I was using a new mug

Wednesday, November 20, 2013

Pope & Associates

dailyhelen_popeass by dailyhelen
I watched the pilot episode of Scandal this evening. Lots going on. Will probably watch some more though.
~ A year ago today I was dong some weeding

Tuesday, November 19, 2013

Qwerty

dailyhelen_qwerty by dailyhelen
I've been trying some creative writing the last few days. I'm not really sure what I'm doing and I'm a terrible typist so it is taking ages. But still quite fun to do something different.
~ A year ago today I got a little gift from a friend who'd been travelling ~

Monday, November 18, 2013

Lamp

dailyhelen_lamp by dailyhelen
My kitchen light takes three of these spots. They need replacing far too often. Of course it doesn't help if I drop them before I have installed them. I did this on the weekend: tiny fragments of glass and silver all over my kitchen - gah!
~ A year ago today I went to the beach

Sunday, November 17, 2013

Frosting

dailyhelen_frosting by dailyhelen
This afternoon I had a bunch of friends over for tea. I baked a cake for the occasion, and made Swiss meringue buttercream icing for it. Bit of a palaver.... First I whisked egg white and sugar in bowl over simmering water until the sugar melted and the mixture thickened. Then I beat further, til cool, then began to add butter, block at a time. Beat, beat, beat.  Lastly I folded in homemade pineapple curd for flavour. The icing went onto a coconut pound cake, and I sprinkled toasted coconut on top. It wasn't awful.
~ A year ago today I was watching butterflied in a garden

Saturday, November 16, 2013

Fluffy Pink Thing

dailyhelen_pinkfluff by dailyhelen
I visited my friend Michele today and was very pleased to see her kittie is very well again after some very serious injuries and illnesses a couple of months ago. Back to her sweet playful self.
~ A year ago today I was reading an enjoyable book ~

Friday, November 15, 2013

Bridge over Buitenkant

dailyhelen_bridgebuiten by dailyhelen
Looking out over the east city this afternoon, the weather already turning for the worse. Big storm expected in the Cape tonight and tomorrow. Time to hunker down.
~ A year ago today Tom was playing with a box

Thursday, November 14, 2013

Category: Crime

dailyhelen_thrillers by dailyhelen
I can't get into the literary novel I started a few days ago so have put it aside for a bit and picked up a couple of thrillers instead. They're a better match for my current attention span - i.e. short!
~ A year ago today my colleague got his new bike

Wednesday, November 13, 2013

Fish Steak

dailyhelen_fishsteak by dailyhelen
A friend of a friend went game fishing on the weekend and caught a 70kg tuna, and I got to share in the bounty! I had some last night, and will have more tonight. This evening's supper (and tomorrow's lunch) is seared tuna with stir-fried vegetables on the side.
~ A year ago today I was looking out the window at the mountain

Tuesday, November 12, 2013

Harbour View

dailyhelen_harbourview by dailyhelen
One of my favourite views of the city, taken from Tafelberg Road. Had a good walk up there today - it was a gorgeous afternoon!
~ A year ago today my kittie was being adorable