The seasons are a' changing

March will soon be over and April approaches, and with it our glorious summer months start cooling down a little.  I have noticed a gentle subtle change in the big tree outside my front patio, a peek of a yellow leaf here and there.

And the sun has moved across a little, it cast these gorgeous sunbeams through the trees.

And along with the autumn days creeping in, I have an amazing eyeful of my lemon tree outside my back door.   It has an absolute abundance of fruit, bright green gorgeous lemons which are, I have been told, 'restaurant quality'.  They are thin skinned and wonderfully juicy.

This lemon season, I must attempt to make Lemon Curd.  I saw Anna Olson making a bowlful in her cooking programme recently and it looked fairly easy.  Then she swirled some through a tub of ice cream to make Lemon Ripple Ice Cream, well ...

it was simply to-die-for beautiful. 

During April and May, we have a dazzling display of wild Cosmos, swathes of pink and lilac and maroon and white, that line the roads and grow in the fields alongside.  On the main route to our popular tourist destinations to the north and east of the country especially, it is quite a common site to see cars stopped on the side of the road, folk out with their cameras, taking pics of acres of flowers, or simply just drinking the gorgeousness in with the eyes!

I have been browsing through some of my favourite UK blogger friends' posts this morning ... what a sight to behold ...  the blooms and blossoms, crocus and daffodils, cherry blossoms and snowdrops popping up in the fields and pathways .... I must plan a visit in the Spring next time I travel across.  

It is a public 'bank' holiday here in South Africa today ... do have a wonderful day, and to all

a wonderful weekend.

Hugs Pat xx

Edit post::  Here is the link for a picture of the Lemon Ripple Icecream!

http://www.thehomechannel.co.za/food/bake-with-anna-olson/lemon-ripple-ice-cream/

A Dedication

An all sorts couple of weeks, including the passing of a dear and inspirational friend.

~ Lois and Matthew ~

Our family was so saddened by the sudden passing of a friend, whom can only be described as probably the bravest and most courageous lady I will know in my lifetime.  Lois and her son came down from Harare Zimbabwe ‘under the radar’ in the back of a truck;  they did not have the necessary paperwork to come through the border legally.  Lois was left a quadriplegic following a car wreck .. she was only 16 … she suffered dreadful spinal injuries,  and was given at most 5 years to live. Well, undaunted the young lady went on to marry, and later produce Matthew, a true ‘miracle baby’.  After some years her spouse divorced her, and she was left in the care of two devoted sisters.  

 With medical care in Zimbabwe dwindling to less that pathetic and for her particular, 

she decided to come down to SA to her elderly parents.  My daughter and her then husband adopted this little family, feeding them and caring for them, and eventually with the support of a few sponsor families, moved Lois into a care facility that could meet her specialised needs.

  Despite the odds she lived to celebrate her 51^st  birthday! Two weeks ago she came down with a lung infection, which proved too severe for her to fight.

  

Lois was as bright as a button, informed about the world around her (she watched loads of TV news and documentaries), learned how to operate a laptop, tapping with a sort of stylus she held in her mouth and scripting a daily diary.  She became quite an ‘activist’ at the Home, offering support and being the ‘voice’ to the staff, addressing issues on behalf of other patients unable to communicate.  She loved chocolate, my daughter and I and Lois giggling while making short shrift of a big bar of Whole Nut!  She loved bubbly now and again, and telling jokes, and having her hair cut stylishly and watching Rom-coms.

  She was beautiful inside and out.  I was humbled in her awesome and inspirational presence. 

Now she is freed from her broken body ….. free to run and dance and frolic unencumbered.

She was a bright, shining star among us, now a bright, beautiful star in the heavens …..

 I will miss you dear Lois.