The year that's almost at an end has had many ups and downs and now that the holiday season is upon us, a new Covid variant has been discovered here in South Africa, just in time to dampen the Christmas spirit.
However, my spirits lifted when I visited a haven of tranquility at the Durban Botanic Gardens this week, enjoying the beauty of nature and the Christmas themed decorations blending in perfectly.
These colourful rocks painted by Hero777 volunteers to help with awareness of organ donation greeted us as we walked in. I shared a little of how one person can actually save the lives of 7 people in a recent blog, Organ Donation Saves lives - you can do it.
Right opposite that, we discovered a little gem of a shop filled with fabulous local products that would make ideal Christmas gifts.
Enamel coffee mugs, filled with sachets of Zulu Brew, a select roast Arabica Cofee.
I was fascinated by a new product made right here, Reusable Beeswax Food wrap which of course is plastic-free, waste-free and reusable.
Beeswax with added herbs to make a face balm, body balm and salve; something definitely on my Christmas wish list.
We plan on going back there next week to take Mom on a golf cart tour of the park and this time hubby will be with and he already knows I have my eye on that, plus a couple of other little gifts for friends.
This unique Aromatherapy stress ball is something many of us need at times, sounds really interesting and much better than those plastic balls!
This is the kind of Christmas tree I would love with some of these hanging wooden decor items.
A very pretty stand with a banana leaf backdrop is filled with all kinds of fabric items.
Another fascinating product is made by a Proudly South African company called Growing Paper in the Western Cape. They use recycled paper and produce pretty handmade plantable and biodegradable paper products that contain herbs, vegetables or flower seeds.
Wild Mountain soap, Coconut Milk soap plus a host of other natural products that are all giving me the I wants!
Mandela Tea, Raw Honey from Qualabusha Bee Farming which I bought, it was absolutely delicious real raw honey!
I would not mind having one of these colourful shoulder bags either, as some of my friends would also, I'm sure.
Picnic Blankets, Scarves and more bags.
There were many other products but I have to stop here or I will take up way too much of your time if I had to do that!
My friend and I really enjoyed our walk afterward through the stunning gardens, and ended our visit with a cappuccino and an iced coffee plus the most delicious toasted sandwich chock-a-block full of chicken mayo!
A goodbye to the Egyptian Goose and we went on our merry way, feeling refreshed and inspired after a morning shopping (mostly with our eyes) and admiring the Botanic Gardens.
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