Take me to the sea...

It was the perfect evening for a quiet walk along the beach...

The air was still, and beautiful clouds touched with pink and orange filled the slowly darkening sky.

The beach was almost deserted and no sound, save the crash of the waves upon the shore, could be heard...

After visiting our dear friend in Tergniet on Sunday afternoon, we went for a walk along the beach till the sun started to go down...

 

"Live in the sunshine,

swim in the sea,

drink the wild air."

- Ralph Waldo Emerson

Thalassophile

(n.) a lover of the sea, someone who loves 

the sea, ocean

 

 ^Even Timmy, our rescue Jack Russel, came along for a walk...he loves the beach.

I am so glad I took my new camera along...the ocean is a wonderful place to capture beautiful moments.

There is something so deeply refreshing about being at the ocean...

"Forget not that the earth delights 

to feel your bare feet and the winds 

long to play with your hair."

- Kahil Gibran 

 

 ^Little Caleb always enjoys being at the beach, even if it is just for a walk.

 

"So be truly glad

there is wonderful joy ahead

even though you have to endure

many trials for a little while.

- 1 Peter 1:6

 ^Moments after this picture was taken and we had made our way back to the shore, this rock was completely covered in water! 

 ^Towards the end of our walk, one of the girls came across an octopus chasing a crab in one of the rock pools.  It was a incredible to witness what felt like a National Geographic moment...

 

I love making memories with my family and treasuring them for years to come.

Life goes by so fast that moments like these are precious indeed.

~

I hope that all is well in your corner of the world, dear readers!

My week is off to a fairly good start; I have an art project planned which I hope to do with the children tomorrow, and this evening little Mia is coming for a short visit.  Even though I au pair for another family now, I still keep up regular visits with Mia as the two of us have a special bond and I miss being with her each day.

And now I must be off as I want to sow pea seeds in the new patch I cleared in my garden, and I also have sweet potato runners which need to be planted.

What have you been up to lately?

Blessings,

Kelly-Anne

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Catching up...♥

 

Hello dear readers and a blessings to you on this beautiful day in March.

Autumn is quickly approaching our corner of the world; there is a distinct crispness in the air, the days are shorter, and crinkly red and brown leaves are beginning to adorn the trees.  

What a delightful summer we had... busy, but filled with sweet moments and good things.

Just this week I was pondering the rich blessings the Lord has poured down upon our family.

 How thankful I am for the life He has given me - I am fulfilled and truly happy in this beautiful season the Lord placed me in.

As you probably already know, the beginning of February saw me start a new job.

I am still an au pair, but instead of taking care of one little baby during the day, I now assist a sweet homeschooling mother with her five young children.

While this new position is certainly a lot more challenging, I love the constant stimulation, and after a full month with this family, I feel like I am starting to belong.

 

And as I only work mornings, I have a lot more time to devote to other interests such as my garden and reading, and being more available to help my mom in the home and with my younger siblings.
 

Of course, having Dad home with us still is a wonderful blessing, even though he is working online during the day.  

At this stage, no definite date has been given for his return.

My heart is heavy as I think of the people suffering and struggling in China.

Before I bring this post to a close, I must tell you that after months of hard work, dreaming and research, I finally purchased my new camera.  

My Canon 80D is now my new best friend, and I am enjoying figuring out how to use it to its full potential.  

I am hoping to purchase a new laptop at the end of the month which will support the editing program I want to use.  Little by little I am building up my kit and learning as much as I can along the way. 

Life has assumed a somewhat gentler pace and work and leisure feels a little more balanced.
My favourite way to end the day is to retreat to my room, light a scented candle and sip a cup of chamomile tea while reading a chapter or two from my book...
Simple moments like these are sweet indeed.

What is happening in your corner of the world, dear readers? ♥

With love,

Kelly-Anne

"We have ample evidence that the Lord is able to guide. The promises cover every imaginable situation. All we need to do is to take the hand he stretches out."

~ Elisabeth Elliot 

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Little Women 2019 ~ Review

Hello dear readers...

How is it that the last day of February is already upon us?

I had high hopes of posting regularly throughout this month but alas!  My wonderful new au pair job has kept me pretty busy!

I look forward to stopping in again soon with a little update, but in the meantime, I thought I would share my thoughts on what is now my absolute favourite movie...♥

If you have been following me on Instagram, you will know that I recently went to see the new film adaption of Little Women in theatre with my mom and younger sisters...

I had been excitedly anticipating the release of this new film adaption of one of my favourite stories for months, and I am delighted to say that it did not disappoint.

Let's begin with the characters, shall we...?

The incredibly talented Saoirse Ronan played Jo with real heart.

Saoirse's portrayal of Jo was true perfection.

Emma Watson played Meg.  I am still deciding whether or not I like her in this role.

 

 Eliza Scanlen was Beth, and I think she did a wonderful job of portraying Beth's sweet innocence and love for her family and home life.

 And she and Saoirse played the sweetest of sisters!

Amy was played by Florence Pugh, and I thought she was wonderful, despite her being a bit too old for the role of the younger Amy.

While I may still be a big fan of Christian Bale's portrayal of Laurie in the 1994 adaption of Little Women, I thought Timothy Chalamet did a really superb job of playing Laurie...

 

He and Saoirse were such a believable Laurie and Jo...

And this scene was so well acted!

Meryl Streep was an absolutely brilliant Aunt March!

While our German professor was in fact played by French actor, Louis Garrel, I have to say that I loved him!  

I loved that he was not quite so ancient and had way more spunk than the Professor Bhaers I have seen in previous adaptions.

James Norton (Belle) was John Brooke, and I think he is quite my favourite John to date.  

What a delightfully exuberant Marmee Laura Dern played!  

Different perhaps to every other on-screen Marmee we have seen, but personally I loved the new dimension she brought to the movie.

I loved that this story was told in a unique way, with the opening scene being from the sequel to Little Women, Good Wives.   

The characters revisit moments from their childhood throughout the movie, but instead of the flashbacks being somewhat awkward, they flow and intertwine beautifully.  

What a wonderfully imaginative way of combining and adapting both Louisa May Alcott's books for screen!

 I was thoroughly impressed by the exceptional quality of this film - every scene was exquisite.

The costumes were gorgeous and the music heavenly.

And there was enough humour to lighten the mood and bring cheer to a story which is really quite sad.

This adaption of Little Women felt so real; it was as if the actors and actresses really were truly living in their roles.

I would give this movie 5 stars and highly recommend it for ages 9 and up. ♥

I will bring this little review to a close with one of my favourite quotes from Louisa May Alcott's book...

 "Have regular hours for both work and play; make each day both useful and pleasant, and prove that you understand the worth of time by employing it well. Then youth will be delightful, old age will bring few regrets, and life will become a beautiful success." 

~ Louisa May Alcott, Little Women

~
Have you seen Little Women 2019 yet?  If so, what are your thoughts?

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Join me today...♥

 “I declare after all there is no enjoyment like reading! How much sooner one tires of any thing than of a book!  When I have a house of my own, I shall be miserable if I have not an excellent library.”
~ Jane Austen, Pride and Prejudice

Hello lovely friends and happy almost last day of the beautiful month of February!

Today I am sharing a post on one of my favourite topics over at dear Elizabeth's blog, Ponderings from the Inglenook.♥

You can read my post by clicking here.♥

I would love to have you join me in discussing the joys of reading!

Blessings,

Kelly-Anne 

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January's Daybook

A recent outing to our local farmer's market was the perfect opportunity for capturing a few sweet moments through my lens...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Outside my window...

Today's deliciously cool weather is certainly very welcome after the few stiflingly hot days we have had this week.

I may even attempt a walk to the park when little Mia wakes from her nap...

But first tea. 

In my cup...

Fruit tea sweetened with honey.

This summer I just haven't been able to drink hot coffee, which means I only drink my morning cup, and then that is it for the day.

As I have been trying to cut down on my caffeine intake, I am so happy about this!

Around the house...

We are so thankful to have Dad home for a few weeks, and the family have been enjoying regular morning beach trips and afternoons spent relaxing beside the pool.

Reading

As usual, I have several books on the go at once...

I did a lot of reading over December while babysitting, and if you follow me on Goodreads, you'll know that I checked several titles off my list!

Currently I am busy with Lorna Doone and A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens.

I was thrilled to add a few books to my growing collection which I stumbled upon at a second hand store a few weeks ago.  More on that soon!

Watching

Not all that much...although sometimes I watch an episode of something (at the moment I am watching the earlier seasons of Call the Midwife again), or part of a Hallmark movie while folding laundry in the evening.

Listening to...

I was over the moon to find two old Celtic Woman albums while browsing a second hand store a few weeks back.

I did a lot of driving in December, so it was fabulous to have new music to listen to.

I also found Josh Groban's Awake concert which I was pretty chuffed about.

Thankful for...

The month my dear friend spent in South Africa and having my dad home.

From the kitchen...

Preserving season is now behind us, and I am delighted with the full jars we have in our pantry.

Together Gabrielle and I made plum jam, apricot jam, strawberry jam, pickled onions, beetroot relish and more.

With the weather being so warm, we are doing a lot of our cooking outside and enjoying a good old South African braai most evenings.

Creating...

A couple weeks ago I spent a few days making up a custom order for a client.  

I made seven ellies, each one slightly bigger than the one before.
It was a challenge as I was working with fabric I don't ordinarily use, and two ellies split, which meant I had to start all over again.

I am so pleased with how they turned out and felt they were definitely worth the effort.

Other than that, I haven't been creating much lately...

Out and about...

 After a crazy few weeks, I am relishing these quieter days and being able to simply enjoy resting at home...  Besides work, I don't go anywhere if I can help it.

One of my favourite things...

I am enjoying so much about life that I don't think I could pick any one thing...

However, I do so love having a swimming pool - it makes summer so much more bearable!

Dreaming of...

Buying my new camera and learning how to use it...

Reading the new book which should also be arriving in the mail soon.

I am hoping...

To start feeling more rested.

To resume my daily walks, although now that it is hot, I need to walk before I have to get done for work...around 6am.

Quiet moments...

I have been enjoying plenty of blogging time almost every morning while Mia takes her nap.

I haven't been able to invest much time in writing the past couple weeks, so it feels really good to be getting into the swing of things again!

~

Well, dear friends...  It was ever so lovely to stop in today.

I would love to hear what has been  happening in your corner of the world this month, so do pop me a little note in the comments section - it is always a treat hearing from you!

Oh, and do stop by Ponderings from the Inglenook where I am guest posting today.
Elizabeth is a dear friend of mine, and it is a true honour to be contributing something to her lovely blog!

Blessings,

Kelly-Anne

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Ocean Breezes....

Last week I was delighted to have a whole week off...

A whole week of not having to be anywhere at a certain time or do anything beyond a few household tasks.

It was bliss.

One overcast morning, I drove my my mom and three younger siblings, to the tiny ocean town where we spent our happiest month last year.

Tergniet holds a special place in my heart, as it was where we lived for a month after my family got back from the year they spent in China.

Although it was the middle of winter, we had glorious weather and really made the most of the little seaside holiday the Lord miraculously provided for us.

While living in Tergniet, we met the sweetest older lady who lives across the way from where we were staying, and we struck up a lovely friendship with her...

She is one of the most inspiring ladies I have ever met and a joy to be around.

She also adores the little children and makes such an effort to connect with each of them; something so rare among older people.

So, one overcast morning we decided to take a drive through and pay her a visit...

And of course we had to go for a walk on the beach, although we had to cut it short as it was pretty stormy that day...

 ^A hidden gem, Tergniet

 

 ^I love how clean and untouched this little piece of coast is.

 ^The perfect spot for a walk...

 ^...And for dipping your toes in the salt water!

 

 

^Always wonderful getting to spend time with my little buddy!

It was such a special morning, and I loved being able to spend this time with some of my younger siblings, my mom and our sweet friend.

May the rest of your week be lovely...

With love,

Kelly-Anne

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