A few minutes is all that is needed

For Valentine's the Joburg Ballet were giving a short dance routine from Swan Lake at Hyde Park. It was so beautiful. Watched it from the floor above and it gave a lovely angle for my photos. Just used my cellphone, they had professional photographers running around taking the wow shots. Just a few minutes of the music and movement was therapy for the soul.

Valentine surprise parcel

It means so long ago already.

I made up a Valentine's parcel for my nieces. Why for my nieces, you ask. Well, they said they have never had a parcel delivered by courier to their home. And because I love them, it is the day of love, after all. They're still young enough to not be hoping for a valentine from some boy, in fact my one niece said she was too young for boys and she only likes dogs.

I cut the main message from the WW broadsheet.

Portrait of my father

I took this portrait of my father for a college project, in 1981.
He loved reading, books, magazines, fact, fiction, no matter. He would get so involved that he could completely forget his surroundings. Normally we wouldn't interrupt him when he was engrossed in a book. I can image if he had around in the time of the internet, oh my word!

(I put a layer of texture for it to give it an aged appearance.)

A prayer and a blessing

Another 10kms down the road from the sculpture park is the Buddhist temple, Nan Hua Temple. I just love the colours and the size of it, quite magnificent. There are three shrines and I went to every one to say a prayer and ask for blessings. I purposely didn't go for Chinese New Year because I didn't want the crowds and all the people taking selfies. This was good and gentle and meaningful.

Anton Smit Sculpture Park

For three months now I have been planning to go out to the sculpture park. Every weekend there's some excuse, or it's raining, or ...

Eventually last Sunday we went through. A lovely drive out on the R25, farms and fields and little villages.
I missed the park and drove into an estate from which I could see the Bronkhorstspruit Dam, then back along the route to discover the road to the park was right there.

A lot of the sculptures are scattered around the garden, well laid out in parts and left natural in others. There is a gallery as well, and in the one area Anton's sculptures are displayed with some of Lionel's artwork. Father and son.

On the property is a venue for weddings and parties, I suppose, and the Imagine Cafe. Had scones and rooibos tea under a big tree in the courtyard. Lovely.

Pottery classes

Started pottery classes with Digby this year. Having a lot of fun. Hand work at the moment, and Digby is teaching me the wheel. I have made 2 lopsided bowls on the wheel and 5 lopsided bowls by hand and will do glazing next week. Everything is unknown and doesn't turn out as per my vision. That what makes it exciting.

Happy New Year, my china

I invited my family for a lunch on Sunday and themed it because it was the Chinese New Year weekend. I made passports for the girls and told them we were going to China, they said: But we can't speak Chinese. I had bought wine in a lovely bottle, but it was potent and we only wet our lips and were drunk. It was a great day, much fun and full bellies. Incense for wealth and laughter for health.
Happy new year!