The Rats of de Boer

February 4th, 2009
Well, Spotty died cuddled in Bianca's hands. We knew she was going to go for a while. She was my favourite of the two, as she was so quiet, and wasn't so keen to explore. Spotty was unconcious for an hour or two before she passed on; that being quite a sad time for the children. Actually, we didn't know how long it would take and decided for Bianca's sake to take Spotty to the vet and have her put to sleep, but she died on the way. Diana was with us, and she was most put out. She asked why we were turning the van around and when I told her that Spotty had died and we didn't need to go to the vets anymore, she said "That's not fair!"
Later, after we had buried her, Diana asked why Spotty had turned into a "berry." (bury)
The next day, Freckles - Spotty's sister, and last remaining rat - got a lovely treat; eating pancake on Bianca's shoulder at dinner time!
And, in April, here she is on another outing, this time on Pete's shoulder while he is working on the computer. She was still quite adventurous at this stage and we had to watch her - she liked to run around on the computer desk and once we had to replace the mouse as she had bitten through the cord. (We learn the hard way!)

Geoff Kidd comes to visit

January 24th 2009

Geoff came to join us for lunch this Saturday of the communion season at church. He is married to my cousin, Marion, and they live in Australia. One of their six children is married also, and they have two grandchildren. Marion also cares for her very aged mother.

Well, Geoff likes to run, and he had lots to tell us about the importance of the right shoe fit, and a monitor he used which I can't remember now was for - distance travelled or heart rate... or maybe it did both. We hold Geoff in high esteem and really enjoyed his visit. (He went for a run with Jonathon Van Kraligen after he left our place.)

This is Garry hoding Bryce, Geoff, and Pete, with Monique, Jarrod and Bianca.

Our summer garden

15th January 2009

Well, this is how our hard work in the garden paid off. Monique had missed this zuchinni in her garden for a few days, and it grew very quickly to this marrow size. We checked the plants every day, because the fruit grew so quickly. We had four good producing plants in that small space. The zuchinni plants became very heavy against the plastic trellis we had put up to keep the chickens out, and I learnt also that it doesn't stop them from eating what is on the other side as their heads fit very nicely through it. We stuck some extra chicken wire up around the bottom of the trellis around Jarrod's garden to stop them getting the lettuces. Most of the cabbages ended up in the chook cage anyway as they didn't grow nicely at all. Danielle's peas gave us one harvest, but because I didn't water them regularly, they got powdery mildew. However, when we had pulled them out, the carrots and parsnips we had sown between the rows of peas were still growing well. Diana had tomatoes in her garden, which regardless of which packet of seeds we bought, were mostly all cherry tomatoes of varying sizes. The basil didn't come up at all - so much for having a wonderful harvest and trying to dry my own! Oh, yes, we also had pumpkins which we didn't sow, and I assume came from the compost, both in Jarrod's garden - we got two from that one - and another plant in the strawberry planter next to the garage, which didn't yield us any fruit. One or two of the sunflowers grew well, but they must have been hybrid seeds, because the seeds they produced didn't develop into anything - very annoying, especially with the large flower heads. Hopefully we choose better this year. We did get a basil growing in one of the planter's with the tomatoes, and some lovely strawberries, too. It did get harder as the season wore on to keep the containers watered enough. Our hanging baskets looked lovely at the beginning as well, and then suffered from lack of water. Sometimes the soil was just too dry to absorb what I put in and it all just came pouring out the sides. Never mind, the prettyness was worth the effort while it lasted.

New Years Day trip to the beach

January 1st, 2009

We spent some hours at Maraetai Beach; it was a beautiful day. There was a bit of seaweed washed up on the beach, and Monique had fun pretending it was a necklace. Bryce wasn't too keen on the water, but was very happy sitting on the sand and playing with it - tasting it too! He is one porky little chap in this photo - and there was no way he was keeping his hat on! so his face is showing some of the effects of sunshine. Garry took the other children in the water, they don't usually go in very far. Monique is on the body board, Garry holding Danielle's hand, Diana sitting in the water and Jarrod looks like he is trying to catch something. Bianca was still in Wellington - we had driven home without her, and there was certainly no room in the van for her with all our stuff and the extra presents. Garry's brother had offered to pay her airfare back if she was allowed to stay there longer - with Nana - and help him in his shop. She did some of the baking, and helped to stock the shelves, and thoroughly enjoyed herself. No doubt, shopping for clothes with Nana and Aunty Melissa was another highlight!

We don't often get to the beach, so the children always enjoy themselves when we do go. I find that taking the small blowup boat along is about the only way to tempt me in past my ankles. Too cold - must be getting old! Lots of containers to play with in the sand is a good idea, and we often have other children joining in with ours, making the sand castles and transporting water for the 'moat.' And, if you lose the odd ice cream or honey container, it doesn't matter - as long as they aren't washed away by the water.

Looking forward to getting to the beach again this coming summer.

Happy New Year 2009

January 1st, 2009
Happy New Year! Jakey the cockatiel welcomes it by sharing Danielle's breakfast on the first day of the year. He does love our food, so we generally keep him in his cage when we are eating. Jakey is Jarrod's bird, and Jarrod especially made the cage for a cockatiel, with very little help, and all his own design - the cage that Snowbell the cat is currently exiting! It is a little hard to see in this photo, but the cage is curved over the top, so we cut the wood to fit the wire.

Jakey's cage is sitting on top of the rat cage which belongs to the

de Boer's - we were rat-sitting while they were away on their lovely long trip. Both the rats passed away before they arrived back in New Zealand, which was not unexpected, as they were advancing in years, but still a sad loss for our friends and for Bianca who was holding one as it breathed it's last. She would love to have a rat or rats of her own, but can't until some of her current pets pass on.

The cats do like to check out Jakey's cage when it is open, and the top of the other cage is a good place from which to stalk the budgies!

Athletics Open Day

December 13, 2008
We had an Open Day at our Athletics Club this day, where children from other clubs come and compete with our club. Many of the parents volunteer to help in order for the activities to run smoothly, and here is Garry wearing the official orange vest helping at the long jump. He gets to rake the sand after each jump. Jarrod is next to him holding the spike that the tape measure is used with. He preferred to help rather than to compete. Bianca, Monique and Danielle all competed; Mum looks after the little ones, feeds everyone and cheers them all on. Garry gets to eat the 'officials' lunch - very yummy it is, too.
This year's season starts in two weeks and the children are all looking forward to it - especially Diana, who is four, and this will be her first time joining in instead of watching (and waiting!)

Weetbix Tryathlon 2008

December 10th, 2008

The great day had finally arrived. We had trained and prepared as much as we could in the short time we had been given since the notification of this going ahead.

Bianca had a friend - Suzanne Sonneveld - do the swimming laps for her, then Bianca did the cycling and running parts. The children were allowed to do the whole thing themselves, or go partners with one or two others.
Here she is on the cycling circuit - it was four laps of this circuit, then straight into the run. They were all winners - as you can see they are all wearing gold medals. We had downloaded the circuit off the website and had trained on it - practising the swap-over from the swimming to the cycling, and
again to the running. But on the day, they changed the circuit, though it was still very well marked and there were helpers everywhere. Bianca said the cycle route was far longer than it was previously, and the run was shortened extremely.

Jarrod is lined up in his age group ready to do his swimming laps. He also did the cycling laps, and Monique did the (very short) run. She enjoys much longer runs. And, this is Monique just after finishing the run and receiving her medal.

Our homeschool group had arrived a little earlier than most in order to set up our gazebos together and there was quite a group of us. All of the children very much enjoyed the free breakfast before the start of the triathlon, and because there were far fewer participants than they had expected (it was held on a Wednesday and most children were in school), there was a lot of food left over, so they had more breakfast later. On offer were Weetbix, Crunchy Honey Weetbix, and all the different Weetbix Bites cereals, with milk; pottles of yoghurt; fruit and small bottles of juice. Here you see them enjoying more breakfast after the tryathlon - with their medals. Then came spot prizes, with our children hoping to win the new bike. There was also a fun blow-up shute for the children to race each other through, and some of the children disappeared for a while inside this.

At the end of the day, we packed up and left (left behind one shoe), feeling very contented, and enthusiastic about doing it all again the next year.

(So far, there has been no details on their website....)

A quiet day at home

December 4th, 2008

This day Jarrod harvested his carrots. They were still quite small, but patience is a difficult thing. He was quite proud of them, and there is always that wonderful feeling of pride when we get to eat homegrown produce.
Meanwhile, Diana and Bryce were playing (or lying) quite happily on the trampoline.

Time with Uncle Pete

December 3, 2008

Uncle Pete was wonderful at spending time with the children. When he was playing the guitar, Bryce would 'play' along by banging on the base - holding onto Pete for support. He is 11 months old here.

The other photo is of Pete with Jarrod and the hot air balloon they made -it has a lit candle inside it - but it didn't create enough hot air to make the balloon actually float. I believe there was one or two other ideas as well - one involving a large 240 litre bin liner. What the source of heat for that was meant to be, I don't know. But the time spent trying these things was thoroughly enjoyed - by both of them, I believe.

Every Girls Rally Talent Quest evening

December 1st, 2008

This is Monique twirling to the song Zipiddy Doo Dah at Girls Rally talent quest night. She spun for the entire song, without loosing her balance or falling over. This is something she can do and I know of nobody else that can, so this is her special talent. She got a rapturous applause - some still expecting her to fall over coming down the stairs afterward or even being physically sick. (That is her fairy dress again, with another skirt underneath for modesty's sake.) It was very exciting. Well done, Monique.

Ora International Day for our Homeschool Group

November 14, 2008

For the past two years, our homeschool group has had an organised activity day with Ora International. There is a theme based on a certain country and the hardships placed on the children in that country. The day starts off with a DVD presentation of what life is like for those children; then we move on to an activity that lasts for a few hours, and which emulates some of the difficulties these children face, so that our children can better understand and empathise; lastly, we have some kind of craft activity where our children make something with a message to send to the children in that country.

So, this day's theme was the street children in Pakistan(?). The activity included the building of a shelter out of cardboard boxes that would fit all the children in the group (they were split into groups) and which had to pass inspection or be rebuilt; then 'money-earning' activities. This included finding all the clothing in the 'rubbish pile', then getting told to sort them and come back before being paid, others were told to fold them and bring them back, then told they didn't want certain colours, etc - just what the street children have to face every day. Some of the children even had to cut clothes up for rags. Jarrod is seen here cutting clothes into rags. Monique is sitting looking rather tired! Danielle's group were sorting sunflower seed from rice - a long tedious job that us adults had to help with! Some of the older children had to make electrical circuits on boards. Everything was taken to the 'inspector' who would 'pay' a certain amount in bottle tops for each job - the pay getting lower as the day went on! Again - emulating conditions for the street children. They had to earn enough to pay for their meal. It took a lot of earning! The third photo is of us waiting for payment for all our sorting! We decided to all go up, and there was quite a group of us, and she was paying based on how many went up - we learnt that the hard way! Oh yes, the meal was based on what the street children would eat, as well. We had white rice and dahl. It was very tasty after all our work in the hot sun! You may notice the children wearing saris and some wore the headgear, too. It all helps with the roleplaying. After the well-deserved meal, we had to do a massive tidy up, then inside to make little cards with a message to the street children. These would be sent over to them. Most of the messages were to do with staying away from glue-sniffing - which for these poor youngsters was a constant temptation.

Our children are always very tired after this day. But it is so well worth doing. Last year, we focussed on the children in Uganda that had to trek 12 kilometers a day, morning and night, to avoid being stolen by the rebels and drafted into their army. They would go to the cities, and hide there to sleep. Then home again to help with the chores the next day. We sent them jandal cards to 'keep on going' and 'don't lose hope' and a religious message as well.

Holiday in Kaiwaka

30th October 2008

We went to stay with our friends, the Orchards, up in Kaiwaka, north of Auckland. They live on a farm and were milking cows and feeding young calves. We were there for a few days and really enjoyed ourselves. Jarrod and Bianca helped to herd and milk the cows and feed the different groups of calves; collect eggs and feed the pigs. Bianca and I had a ride on Socks - Chantelle's pony, and both Bianca and Jarrod got to drive the quad bike - Jarrod had Mrs Orchard sitting behind him. This is Jarrod and Nathan on the quad bike; Chantelle and Bianca with Blossom, Chantelle's calf that she was preparing for calf club day. We actually got to see some of calf club day before we

left for Auckland on the Saturday morning. Garry had been in Hong Kong and China for a business trip, and was arriving home that afternoon, so the timing for the trip was perfect. Mr Orchard's parents were living in another home on the property, a short walk away, and were travelling themselves, so we got to bunk down in their home - which was fantastic!
Bianca went to Girls Rally (a dress up theme night) with Chantelle, and Jarrod spent heaps of time with the boys, either at the stream building a raft, looking for eels, practising with the crossbow... Obviously, the two of them would love to spend much more time there! The little ones also hopped into the water hole for a dip - a little cold for me!, and tried out the mud slide.
Chantelle coreographed a ballet dance for the younger girls and taught them the moves, then they put on a show for the rest of us. We also heard some flute and piano duet practising.
I enjoyed helping weed a little and prepare the vegetable garden for planting. Somehow, even when you are busy, the country still feels a restful place to be. The only regret I may have, is that I feel a little unsettled for a while after we come home - as do the children!

Extending the vegie garden

30 September 2008

This is the culmination of a few days of jolly hard work. The concrete edging along under the windows was originally as wide as the section at the front of the photo; we dug this out, and moved it over so the garden there is now twice the width it was. Jarrod had some good ideas on how to move it - the concrete was extremely heavy, and we didn't want to break it. We had to dig out both sides of it as well as under it, then use pieces of 3x2" timber to lever it across. At one point we were stumped, and ended up using the wheel jack from the van. Well done, Jarrod!

So, with only a couple of breaks, and a small section removed from the angle (NB borrowing a sledge hammer is better than breaking a normal hammer - haha), we transferred the soil back into the garden, hoed in the compost and proceeded to sow our seeds. The whole strip was divvied up for the children and, of course, I 'helped' them choose what to plant. Jarrod sowed cabbages and lettuces in between. Later, tomatoes and pumpkin grew there too (maybe from the compost bin?) The cabbages were attacked rather badly while we were away on holiday and we gave most of them to the chooks. Danielle had rows of peas and we sowed carrots and parsnips between the rows so that when the peas were finished, there would still be something growing. (We recently pulled the last of the carrots - they weren't much, but the parsnips were huge!) Monique was next and had zuchinni (or courgettes). She had a fantastic crop from these, with some managing to get to marrow size. Then Diana had a wee section for tomatoes and basil. The tomatoes took a long time to grow and I have since been told that it is best to plant them outside after Labour weekend (late October). The basil didn't grow at all. Most of the tomatoes turned out to be cherry ones of varying sizes, so unfortunately they didn't all get eaten.

The trellis is up here for the rows of peas, and also to keep the chooks out. (pity it didn't keep the cats out!) The pleasure of seeing a garden growing and a good harvest later on - of some crops! - made the hard work all worthwhile. Wonder what we will do this year....

Good morning!

September 23rd, 2008

These are the photos that Garry likes to take. Photos of us asleep in bed. Usually it is early morning when he is getting ready for work, and one or two of the children are awake. So here is Monique and Danielle sitting quietly on the bed, while Bryce, me and Diana are fast asleep. We are slowly weaning the children off coming into our bed. It is usually when there are three of them in there, that it gets too squashy and I wake up and remove them back to their own beds. It is not surprising they feel quite secure in our bed, as that is also their bed from the time they are first born. Sweet dreams!

A typical evening in our home

September 22, 2008

This looks to be a typical winterish evening in our home. Pete is busy on the computer with Jarrod watching over his shoulder; Monique doing music practise on her recorder; Bianca folding washing with the help (?) of Danielle and Diana. Diana is holding her hand up asking me not to take the photo. The washing pile, the toys, the stuff everywhere... that's all normal. Thankfully, it is not like that ALL the time - just most of it!

Pamper Mum at Girls Rally

15th September 2008.

(This is me, Tanya.) Girls Rally held a "Pamper Mum or Grandma" evening with a few different pamper options. I had the face mask done - I think it had honey in it - as well as a hand cleansing and moisturising. Other options were a foot spa; hair plaiting; face painting (more for the girls); fingernail polishing... I enjoyed the 'pampering' and Monique was quite excited that Mum was taking part. She took the photo, too. Maybe we should pamper the Rally leaders next time - they do a super job, and it is all voluntary.

Two more of our pets

These are our beautiful boys; they look like a perfect pair to me.
Snowbell (Snowy) - he's the long-haired one - was left behind by neighbours when they moved away, as he was too wild for them to catch. We took a long time to tame him and now he calls our place home. He can still be a bit stand-offish outside the house and finds some people harder to trust than others, but he is quite loving and we haven't seen a nasty side to him at all; a little too playful with his claws at times, but not nasty.
Lucky Boy is Jarrod's cat. He picked him up outside church one evening just after Lucky Boy and his wee sister had run across the road following a man and narrowly avoided being hit by a car. The man decided to take the girl kitten and we couldn't leave the boy there, so we took him home thinking we would find him a new home. Well, we didn't. Snowbell had lived with many cats and kittens in his old home, and he took on the role of 'Uncle'. Lucky has had a few health problems; I don't think he has a very good immune system. We really enjoy watching the two of them playfight together on the lounge floor, or groom each other and fall asleep side by side. Despite both being neutered, they are a little territorial at times, and fight other cats that come onto our property. They, of course, are allowed to wander wheresoever they will! Including the neighbour's home to raid her cats food dishes!

Riding the trike

September 8th, 2008



Our wee boy was well entertained when he was little. He is eight months old here, having a ride on the trike with Danielle. He is not a demanding boy, although he certainly lets you know if he doesn't like what you are doing with him. He is quiet, and just as quietly gets on with whatever he is doing - which, at present, is emptying containers, cupboards, throwing objects.... It is understandable that the girls don't appreciate his company when they are playing with the teaset, or making 'dinners', etc.
He is quite adept at throwing a small ball ahead of him - it doesn't just land at his feet. He also kicks quite well - not just walking into the ball. Be interesting to see whether that develops into anything, or whether it is just a 'baby-ability'.

Pete's Snowboarding trip

August 16th 2008

Pete organised to go snowboarding for a week at Turoa, Mt Ruapehu, with some friends - Alec, Andy, and Alec's sister and partner. They left in the early hours of Monday morning and arrived at 7am. After getting kitted out, they hit the slopes. Just four hours into the first day, Pete was boarding down the waterfall, slipped on some ice and landed rather heavily and awkwardly on his hand. There was an M for McDonald's shape in his wrist that hadn't been there before, and it was just a touch painful! He thought he had better pop along to the doctor and have it checked. He was then taken by sled all the way down the mountain to first aid.

Yes, it was broken and he needed to get to Wanganui hospital to have it set - just 2 hours

drive away! The trip was a little rough with the constant movement of the vehicle on the road jarring his wrist. He had to stay in for two nights and have pins put through the bones to hold them in place. He had broken it into four pieces. (Doesn't do anything by halves, our Pete! ) Over the next few weeks, he had the cast removed and replaced a couple of times - he had an infection in two of the sites where the metal pins protruded through the skin - and got to try out a couple of different coloured casts.
He was very happy when it was all over and he was able to play his guitar again!


So, pictures - we have the outside of the railway carriage which was their accommodation; Pete with Andy and Alec; and the inside of the carriage; Pete by the side of the road; and finally, one of him at home after he returned from a physically relaxing week. (He did have to learn to sleep in a different position; and after the first few days, the pain died down to where he was able to handle it without painkillers.)

Jarrod's Science Project

(Okay, I stuffed up with the photo, and I can't figure out to rotate it, or delete it so I can redo it. Never mind.)

August 7th 2008

This is Jarrod with his project Fun with Magnets for the Homeschool Science Fair.

I read to him, and typed up the information he dictated, otherwise he did most of the work himself, and really enjoyed doing the experiments. It was a last minute decision to do the project, and he had just two weeks from when we started to when it was to be finished and exhibited. I helped with the layout of the board, and the frame, but he had put it all together one morning, before I got up - or else I probably would have had more input :) He did enjoy the fair, and most likely we would have entered something this year also, but for the fact that they are setting up and holding the judging on a Sunday, of all days! Lets hope they change it again next year.

Good on ya, bro

August 22nd 2008

My brother Paul having a rare relaxing moment.

Husband to Yvonne, father of four to six children, building project manager for his daytime job, deacon for our church, TBS contact, joint business owner with us.... He is a very busy man, and a wonderful, loving, forgiving person. He does a fantastic job in all areas, and we have called on him many times to help with house maintenance areas in which we would have had no idea where to start. ie re-roofing the garage, renovating the bathroom, making a bedroom at the back of the garage... Thanks, Paul, for everything you do. We love you.

A snapshot of Diana

10th August 2008 - just after Diana turned 3 years old on the 4th.

She is a bright, bubbly mostly happy wee girl. She has a special relationship with each of her siblings - she does "school" with Bianca and rides on Bianca's bike when we go out biking; she plays rough with Jarrod; she shares a bunk with Monique; she plays with Danielle and sometimes shares her clothes; she loves to hug Bryce hard, and carries him down the hallway to mum when he wakes from a sleep. She has a beautiful cheeky smile and loves people - she ran up to a wee boy a few months younger than her after church one morning, to give him a big hug and bowled him right over, then came crying to me, upset because he was crying.

She can't wait to be allowed to join in at athletics - we told her she will have to wait till the next season which starts at the end of this year.

She walked at nine months, and is physically very able and confident. She speaks quite well, and understands quite a lot. (Today, she was asked by another mum when she had turned 3. Her reply was: On my birthday!) She does love to join in what the older children are doing - hence the "schoolwork." She also enjoys all our pets and is quite comfortable with them. Our wee girl is/has just transitioned from daytime nappies although she still much prefers our bed to her own!

Making pot stands

16th July 2008

We got to the stage where we had three very damaged pot stands, and so rather urgently needed some more. One of the pot stands we already had was a fabric one, filled with rice. Well, I decided that we should try doing that as well, so we went through some old clothes we were getting rid of - which we used for fabric - then made some designs. Jarrod used an old skirt, and a 'star' shape. The girls made square, circle, and flower shaped ones. We sewed 'columns' onto the fabric with the machine, then filled them with white rice. We had to push the rice down with a teaspoon to compact it, then sew the opening closed by hand. Here is Jarrod sewing up one of the points on his star. The children really enjoyed the time and effort they put into making their potstands, and we have made good use of them all. This was a good family activity, and it took us quite a long time to make each one. If we do it again, we should add some cloves to the rice, and patterned fabric is better than plain.

Bianca turns Twelve

July 2nd 2008. Bianca's birthday. Twelve years old. A fairly quiet one this year, with just one good friend. They watched a Little House on the Praire DVD, we bought Indian for dinner, but ate at home, and Anne Roos slept over.

And she certainly did well gift-wise!

She is a great help in the home (she made dinner tonight, and often bakes), and is well-motivated in her schoolwork. She gardens, has a guinea pig and a cat (or two), and produces a newsletter for her friends once a term or so. She has thoroughly enjoyed participating in athletics, and our recent 20km cycle race ride, and would dearly love to learn figure skating (on ice.) You can probably tell by looking at the photo that she likes stationery, chocolate, books, and crafts.

Her thirteenth birthday is rolling on too fast!

Soccer - Player of the Day

21st June 2008

Jarrod played soccer last year, as well as Monique. It was also his first year playing it. Here he is holding his 'Player of the Day' trophy, which he got to hold onto for a week until the next game, when it was handed on to the next 'player of the day'. Jarrod enjoyed playing soccer, and we have joined him up to play again this year. There are gradings on Wednesday this week, to determine which team he should be placed into this year. (More early starts on cold, wet Saturday mornings!)

Our guinea pigs.

Here are two of our pets. We have numerous others. We decided that each child would be allowed only two animals each, or things could get seriously out of hand! These are guinea pigs, both sisters, approximately 21 months old. Danielle is holding Monique's guinea pig - named Squeaky; and Diana is holding Bianca's one named Blaze. They got them in November 2006, after I had finally finished building the cage. (It took me most of that year.) Guinea pigs are not housetrainable, which is why Blaze is sitting on a towel. Our children do enjoy having pets.

Jarrod's 9th birthday

May 10, 2008

Jarrod turns 9 years old. Here he is showing one of his presents to his friend Philip, while Rita, Bianca, Monique and Diana watch; Danielle is peeking into the gift bag to see how many presents there are left to give. The coloured drawers behind him were also part of his gift from us - they were meant to help keep his room tidier and more organised! (And, yes, there's those dresses again!)

A doting brother

May 1st 2008

This is Jarrod with Bryce in the backpack. Jarrod often carried Bryce around like this - in the mornings while I was still resting, during the day, and when we went out to activities. He didn't do it for attention, but just because he really enjoyed having him close. I think he is real proud of having a little brother, too. Bryce would be four months old here.

Bryce on Truffles

23rd April 2008

This is Bryce's first time on a pony.

I have a lovely friend named Lyndal, whom I have known since primary school, who has a few ponies. This little one, named Truffles, is about 12 hands high and was bought solely for the younger children who come to visit and have a pony ride. What a wonderful priveledge our children have!

Bryce looks as though he is quite happy to be up there; he is almost four months old. Bianca is holding him.

Garry's birthday

April 21st 2008
This is Garry's birthday.

When the children have their birthday's, they sit on the floor in a circle so they can all see, but when it is our turn, we adults sit on the couch, so they all crowd around to see. It's fascinating to see what is coming out of that giftwrap!

I like everyone to have something to give, and usually make sure there is a package for each person; often, however, we'll make a quick trip to the two dollar shop, and the children will buy a gift they have chosen and paid for themselves. So there are plenty of gifts. I tend to buy Garry what I think he needs - socks, underwear, clothing of some kind, chocolate..., so it is probably quite nice to see what unusual items the children have bought.

Here is Jarrod, Garry holding baby Bryce, Danielle and Diana.

Blankets for orphans

This is the first blanket we made to send overseas to a needy orphan. Bianca and I knitted most of the squares, with a few coming from our de Boer friends and one or two from Monique or Jarrod. We sewed them all together - Bianca chose the order - and then I crocheted around the outside to finish it off. We sent it off via England to South Africa. We really enjoyed making it, and while there was the odd patterned square, most of them were plain knit, and we were able to make one square each evening during story time. In 2008, we started another blanket each; with Jarrod and Monique doing squares for yet another one. Nana Jago contributed quite a few squares for that one too, while she was staying with us in June. Bianca is about halfway through her blanket, I am over halfway, and we need to do black squares for the third one.

We also did a bit of knitting for other charities: beanies, teddies, aids baby jumpers; most of which we haven't sent off yet. Then I got into knitting dishcloths - of all things!