Underneath the Lavender Bush

2007-08-13T03:43:00.000-07:00

Nini and Jacues
5.08.2006

Jacques and Nini ‘s first wedding anniversary was celebrated 5 August 2007.- Congratulations you two!!

Congratulations and celebrations!

2007-08-13T03:33:00.000-07:00

Is this the little girl I carried?
Is this the little boy at play?
I don’t remember getting older
When did they?
When did she get to be a beauty?
When did he get to be so tall?
Wasn’t it yesterday
that they were small?

Theses words of Sunrise, Sunset from Fiddler on the Roof is so real to me.
I have a son of 30 and my lovely daughter turned 25 on the 27th of July. I can identify with the song….. wasn’t it yesterday that she was small?

Happy birthday Nini, I love you with all of my heart!

My Sister

2007-05-22T23:51:00.000-07:00

How can I ever explain to any one how I miss my sister!
I don’t know if it is selfish of me or not, but I hate being separated from her.
She and her husband Sid chose to immigrate to New Zealand where they are very happy.
We always had a close and special relationship.

We made time for each other and one tradition we had over many years was that we would come together for a week or two during the winter holiday just to paint or do something creative for our homes. This was special to us and we would share thoughts and Spiritual issues together.

It was our “tonic” time together. Sid send me these photo’s of her latest paintings and his comment… I am so proud of her she is becoming very good at this. I am sure you will agree that these paintings are beautiful.

To you my soul mate – I also think that your work is lovely!! I am sure that you were thinking of me when you created the blues and lavender. Love you!

Winter, fire and friends

2007-05-21T03:43:00.000-07:00

I would not say that I love winter! I am, and always will be a summer girl.
But this does not mean that I cannot appreciate the beauty that winter brings along in it’s own special way. For we know that without winter we would never have appreciated spring in its wonderful glory.

A Friend of mine had her birthday on the 8th of May and she invited a few girls over for tea.
On arrival I was greeted by a pretty sight. For a few days the fallen leaves were not raked and she used this lovely scene at her front door. We were treated with a rose water drink and cheese straws.
Inside a fire greeted us to say…feel welcome .

This poem is to my friend Estelle:

A Poet once this sentence penned:
One is rich who has a friend.
I read it and I thought, how true...
He must have had a friend like you!

Van ‘n Ma aan ‘n dierbare seun

2007-05-21T03:32:00.001-07:00

Ek het die vers vir jou geskryf verlede jaar op jou 30ste verjaarsdag.
Hiers is dit uit die hart.

“Sneaky.”
Peter- John Raymond Lightfoot
Vir jou 30ste verjaarsdag

Ek maak my oë toe en ek sien
‘n bruin gebrande seuntjie, om en by tien
Met groot bruin oë en ‘n helder verstand
en ‘n blom vir my in jou hand

Ek maak my oë toe en ek sien
‘’n tiener seun van sewentien
Met doef doef klanke van jou musiek
met ritme, pols en vreemde liriek

Ek maak my oë toe en ek sien
‘n man wat reeds sy geld verdien
en iewers weet ek langs die pad

het ek en jy hande gevat.

……want my oë is oop en ek weet
die waardes waaraan jy die lewe meet
dus is ek innig dankbaar teenoor die Een,

vir jou, my dierbaar, bruinoog seun.

Viva South- Africa

2007-04-16T03:56:00.000-07:00

Excel Garage Brits- North West Province

I want to give a thumbs up to the owner and staff of this business in Brits.
Last year December, I filled my car’s tank with R50.00 petrol and paid with a R100.00. I left the premises on my way to visit my children for a week driving off without my change .
Returning after the visit, I stopped for fuel and was surprised when one of the workers informed me that I must collect my change at the office. What a wonderful feeling this was!
Not the money but the honesty!.
But this is not all. Having family and friends over for a braai I was surprised when somebody else spoke of the same garage that kept their change and not only them but two other people had the same experience.
I truly will never ever stop at any other garage in Brits as I believe they make a difference in the time were living in.
I would like to request the whole of South Africa, who ever drives through our town and needs fuel ,to stop and support the owners. To them it could mean-honesty pays!!

Another thanks goes to the developers of this forum, I wish you success with this initiative. We can only benefit by hearing positive comments and stories. As the saying goes you are what you eat- as to you are what you hear everyday!!
Viva South Africa
A thankful citizen

A passion...

2007-04-16T03:52:00.000-07:00

I enjoy to create with bits and pieces

and “left over’s” therefore I truly love collage as an art form.
I made use of the Scripture that reads: There is power in prayer

and this shows in these two works I’ve done

Music: At last time to perform!

2007-04-16T03:39:00.000-07:00

Look at the absolute joy of these little children after all the hard work

and practice for the school concert.
I am fortunate that I can use my love for music and creativity

to share it with the little ones.
This is satisfaction after hard work!!

Good Friday.5 April 2007

2007-04-04T04:24:00.000-07:00

There are so many Fridays in a year why then is this one good?

THE CRIMSON TIDE

Three crosses once stood on Calvary's brow,
It was Crucifixion Day.
In my mind's eye I can see it now,
On that hill so far away
"Father, forgive them," Jesus cried,
"They know not what they do.
"And as the blood flowed from His side.
It brought redemption for me and you!
Flow on, oh cleansing, crimson tide!
Roll on forevermore!
On Thee our ransomed souls shall ride,
‘Till we reach Heaven's shore!

Robert F. Dotson © 2007

The unforgettable beauty of lavender

2007-04-04T04:18:00.000-07:00

The unforgettable beauty of lavender

Occurs in both the earth

And in the colors of the sky.

An aromatic flower,

As well as part of the many changing

Shades of the daily heavens on high.

The creamy color of the sky

--Color of orchid dawn--

Is quickly there, and then is gone.

Light violet, lavender,

How unique is its special glow,

Colored in nature in light lilac,

Amethyst, and airy, purple indigo

Poetry by Gil Saenz

Pretoria... Jakaranda Stad...

2007-04-04T03:46:00.000-07:00

The city of Pretoria (Now the city of Tshwane)

The capital city of South Africa, Pretoria is cupped between many hills.

As a student many years ago I use to walk these hills during the months of September/ October to drink in the beauty of the Jacaranda trees in full bloom. These trees bloom during exam times at the end of the year and the students use to say that if one of the blooms dropped on your head you’ll be ok during the exams.

This-of course-was not always the case but the myth goes on till today!

This intensive color of blue purple became one of my favorite colors.
I just love lavender, purple pansies, the blue forget- me- not and iris.

To say it shortly I love the blues!

To all you South Africans scattered all over the world hope you get a glimpse

of this ( I hope not forgotten) beauty. To the rest of the world isn’t this awesome?

The cat family....

2007-04-03T00:55:00.000-07:00

I really have a love for cats! They have an aura around them as if they know something you don’t, and speaking of independence … they come and go as they please and you have little worries that they won’t return .

Living in South Africa I would have loved to be the owner of the most graceful cat , the leopard...

Here is a picture of my children and one of the little kittens.

Featuring Soon!

2007-02-13T02:14:00.000-08:00