Saturday began with this: the sun catching the lines demarcating the new build across the road from our house. The mountain view is going. The sense of space and quiet is already gone. Those, and the dearth of neighbours, are part of what brought us to McGregor - and why we bought the plot behind us. We are surrounded by building noise. Not just there, but from behind those trees. And then, we're told on the corner that's to the right and diagonally opposite us. I cannot wait. I think I'm allowed to be grumpy: it's year three of incessant building and noise around us.
Other than sales were better than the week before, there's little to report from the market. My co-conspirator, J, and I are more preoccupied with the Winter Fair | Makietie that's happening on June 18th, so we spent the afternoon "playing Monopoly".
The Husband had drawn up - to scale - the precinct and prepared cut outs of the tents and then we had to work out how to position everyone. Mercifully, the medium term weather forecast looks as though it'll be dry, even if it's overcast and cool. So, we're believing that the weather gods will smile at us. As they say, in Afrikaans: die koel is deur die kerk (the bullet's through the church). There's no turning back now.
Sunday, aptly, I was making marmalade. I say apt not just because I was also watching the Jubilee:
Of course, I knew about Paddington's penchant for marmalade and probably should not have been surprised that Her Majesty shares it. Perhaps I should send some to the palace?
I was filling those jars just as she appeared on the balcony at Buckingham Palace.
This is only the second time I've deliberately taken a photo of a TV screen. The first was during Covid when we were having "dinner with the President".
I cannot but imagine what her life of service and sacrifice has been. Agree with the monarchy or not, it's not a life I'd have chosen.
Until next time, be well
Fiona
The Sandbag House
McGregor, South Africa
Photo: Selma
Post script
If this post might seem familiar, it's because I'm doing two things:
- re-vamping old recipes. As I do this, I am adding them in a file format that you can download and print. If you download recipes, buy me a coffee. Or better yet, a glass of wine....?
- and "re-capturing" nearly two years' worth of posts.
- From Wordpress, I use the Exxp Wordpress plugin. If this rocks your socks, click here or on on the image below to sign up.
- Join Hive using this link and then join us in the Silver Bloggers' community by clicking on the logo.
Original artwork:
- lastly, graphics are created using partly my own photographs, images available freely available on
and Canva.