Safe in Perth. With a few extra grey hairs, but nothing that a bottle of Wella can't fix.

We are in  Ozzieland, Hillbillylovers!  The flight went remarkably well from Johannesburg to Perth, with the Jellybean sleeping the entire way.  Allergan Forte, you're my new best friend!

I wish the same could be said for the trip from Durban to Johannesburg.  Jesse screamed at the top of her lungs for the first 40 minutes of the flight.  My shattered nerves!  What's that I was saying about a crocodile???  Ja.  No look!  

Next, onto Auckland.  Aurette, here we come!

Woooot wooooot!

The Travelling Wilburies Hillbillies

Yoohoo! Thought I'd rise from the ashes to saw howdy.

Today the three of us travel to New Zealand to go and visit my sister. So excited I can barely contain myself. Also a bit nervous about Jesse travelling so far. She's been "terrible two"ing us quite a lot lately and if she hits one of her little stints on the plane... Well, let's just say that thumping me on the head with a live crocodile would be more fun.

Lord have mercy!

I will be chronicling our travels on the Kiwi side of the planet. If I can stop my booty from shaking long enough.

See you on the other side.

This is the face that makes my heart pump thick lumpy custard!

Beware! I've got my eyes on you. And I'm not afraid to flutter them!

Cinderell... Uh, Jesse!

Robin taught Jesse and her friends how to draw with charcoal, on the weekend. Apparently Jesse has a great memory AND thinks she's Cleopatra cos she's using it for makeup now too!
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It's jersey wearing time again!

Sleeping Beauty

Pipi Langkous

Beware! Cuzzins behind the wheel!

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Farmer Jesse, the tomato picker

Riding with Lezaan

It's our church's family fun day today. Jesse went for her very first horse ride with our tjomi, Lezaan and loved every second of it! (Much to my dismay - horses and I don't really see eye to eye!)
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Finally, Pigtails!

See this finger? It's pointing at you because you're naughty!

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Church time

Today, instead of a lesson study, we took the kids for a walk outside. They always enjoy it so much outside!

Hello again!

I haven't dropped off the face of the planet... there is just SO MUCH going on right now.
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Anyhoo... Just wanted to check in and say hello.
Chat soon.
Toodles.

Oumie and the two grand-girlies

Jesse and I are in Durban this week, visiting Oumie and Oupie. Today cousin Jorja also popped by for a visit and of course, then the fun and games begin! Haha! Jesse doesn't like having to share her Oumie with her cousin. So every time Oumie picks up Jorja, Jesse insists on being picked up too. Poor Oumie!

The view from our stoep blows me away some days! Sooo pretty!

Crafty!

When Jesse and I were in Durban for a few days last week, I bought scraps of fabric to make bunting for Jesse's birthday party. (I've started preparations early this year.) When I arrived home and lay out the fabric to start cutting the little flags out, I noticed how pretty all the rows of fabric looked side by side and I got thinking...

Which, of course, is never a good thing... Haha!

Because then suddenly your plans change.

As it happened, I had bought just enough of the scraps to make one single bed quilt with two matching pillow cases.

It was fate, I tell you.

So last night when Jesse went to bed I fiddled-de-diddled and this is the product of my fiddlings. (Sorry, my BlackBerry's camera really sux lately so the picture quality rivals that of Jan van Riebeek's camera.)

Me thinks Jesse likes it! (She doesn't have a bed yet, but she has some bedding now!)

Outdoors again!

OB-one-kanoby-wannabe

A novice jedi knight I am.

Daily Dose: so happy about my first lace-ups!

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Almost Pippi Longstocking!

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Covered in crumbs, but faaaaassst asleep

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Ok. I die. Seriously!

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Hello Horsie

There are a few wildish horses on the farm. Occasionally they wander right up to the edge of our garden and greet us while we're playing outside. They have a little filly who seemed to be so curious about Jesse - and of course the feelings were mutual!

I just LOVE this!

On the 23rd of March 2009 at precisely 08h00 a.m., travellers at the Antwerp Train Station in Belgium got more than they bargained for when 200 fellow passengers broke out in song and dance right there beside them! The surprise spectacle created by this group of people brought smiles to even the most hardened people and some even joined in and danced a littlel jig. I just LOVE this clip from Youtube. Hope you enjoy it too!

Sandy is Jesse's favourite person... Er, playmate

Whenever Jesse and I play outside (which is pretty much all day, every day), Jesse hangs out with our labby. They are best buddies! Where the one goes, the other follows. It's so cute.

While I find it adorable that these two are such good pals, it leads me to wonder if Jesse might need some playmates. Of a more homo sapien variety. You know, before Jesse starts barking.

*sigh* Where are some good, fertile eggs when you need them?

Cancer Schmancer and the Travelling Hillbillies

We were in Durban this past weekend, visiting Robin's folks. We were fortunate, in that Robin was invited to preach down in Margate (Uvongo) on the KwaZulu Natal South Coast, about five hours drive from Dunhillbillydee and the church paid our fuel to get there and back home... so we made a weekend of it and visited Robin's family in Durban.

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As always, the trip was sheer torture challenging for Jesse, who finds the longs rides sooooo very boring that she becomes a monster slightly annoying about an hour into the trip. Think scratching fingernails on a chalkboard. Or digging on concrete. Now multiply irritation-factor by roughly fifty two, and you might be somewhere in the region of understanding how easy it is travelling with this particular sugar booger.

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Not that I'm complaining or anything. No sirree.

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I'd rather travel around the world with her screeching into my ear the entire way AND STILL HAVE HER, than be a regular globe-trotter WITHOUT HER. (Good enough disclaimer?)
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Okie dokie then.

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Needless to say, we think long and hard before accepting any invitation that might involve an extended sit in her car chair. But when it comes to time with my inlaws, we don't miss a beat in accepting invitations. LOVE LOVE LOVE visiting my inlaws. They are so cool! We love doing all the same things. And Jesse just adores them.

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Speaking of which - my mom-in-law is battling cancer at the moment. The last time I mentioned it, she hadn't yet shared the information with anyone beyond her nearest and dearest, so I couldn't tell you WHO it was... Now, it's no longer a "secret" I can share with you that she has had her first round of chemo and is a total champion! She is one of the bravest people I know. She faced the chemo with her usual gutsy gumption and though we felt nauseous for a few days afterwards, she still went ahead and unpacked the numerous boxes from their move (YES - in the middle of it all, they moved houses, after being in their previous home for 35 plus years!!! - how brave is that? answer: VERY FRIGGIN brave!) AND kept the smile on her face and the skip in her step. I am so proud of her. On Friday she drove herself to the hairdresser and had her head shaved, preceding that awful time when her hair would fall out. She now sports an oh-so-hello sexy wig and she looks GORGEOUS! We are all twisting her arm to keep the style when her hair grows back. She looks HOT! (I will only share pics if she gives permission. I haven't asked, but everything is still very new and though I don't mind sharing absolutely EVERYTHING about my life with y'all, I know others are slightly more private than I am.)

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When we arrived at their home on Friday Jesse went running up to her. My mom-in-law picked her up and Jesse gave her a puzzled look as if to say - you look different, Oumie! And then she pointed at my mom-in-law's snazzy new metallic pink spectacles and smiled! Haha! She didn't even notice the new hairdo, just the new specs.

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Today we're back home on the farm, and enjoying the awesome February weather. It's warm with a slight breeze. Gorgeous! Jesse's napping right now, but when she awakes we'll be running around in the garden together again. Such a tough life. Haha! Have a great week, lurkers. I'm sure we will also.

All this travelling makes me so tired!

Loves gadgets

She gets that from me. Poor girl.

Gimme a kiss!

I love waking up to this everyday!

A fresh new look for February

I've really been jealous of my friend Marie-Jeanne who is currently galavanting around my favourite city on the planet, New York City wanting to go on holiday lately. But being the broke Hillbillies that we are, a change will have to do. They tell me a change is as good as a holiday. So, here's to fabulous changes and a fresh new look in February.

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Seriously, I might love making changes to my blog, but this simply doesn't come close to a holiday. Sigh.

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What I wouldn't give for a bank account overflowing with dosh, and a private jet.

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Anybody want to buy my kidney? (Very overworked, caffeine-laden kidney, but still in good working order. A little wear and tear, but still worth a couple bob.)

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All offers welcome. Starting bid: 52 bucks.

Mmmm! Mealies! Nom nom!

Summer girl