Roadtripping Delights...

When we planned our little trip to the mountains a few months ago, I had no idea the time would go by so swiftly!  

As the day for our trip away approached, I barely thought about it…there was just so much to be done and sorted out before leaving! 

The drive down from our farm to Bain’s Kloof was lovely and relaxed…we stopped for coffee at a sweet farmstall and took a few pictures…

 

 

Ah, and here I am at home once again with ever so many delightful memories and pictures to share…

How we needed a rest after many busy months and a busy festive season ahead!  I didn’t even have a moment to write a post to tell you all where I would be that week…{{smiles}}

~

You will perhaps remember I visited my grandmother in the mountains back in April…

I visited her again in July, and then two weeks ago my mom, Nancy and I drove down to spend some time with her. 

We were able to relax and recharge at her home in the mountains, as well as stop in at our favourite quilting shop for supplies!

  Spinach growing so happily…

 

Wouldn’t you love to have a little swing in this delightful spot…?

 A beautiful tea cup...

Granny drove us around, and showed us another wonderful big fabric store as well as a stunning nursery….

We spent the whole of Wednesday in town having a delightful ‘girl’s day out’, and oh, it was such fun!

We stopped for a mini picnic, got lost driving around town, and enjoyed many laughs together…

It was so lovely to have Nancy with me this time so we could go on one or two walks in the mountains and admire the beautiful river and swimming holes from afar…

I confess we weren’t quite brave enough to try swimming…the water is still somewhat chilly!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
And the girls and Dad were perfectly fine at home…they went to the beach, played outside, spent some time in the garden and enjoyed having a little holiday without us…

 

This was where we enjoyed our meals and Nancy and I got a little work in!

 There is no cell phone reception or internet connection in the mountains…so lovely!

 

 Nancy carries her work along with her in a sweet little mini suitcase…

Oh, look at all these gorgeous crochet cottons…Nancy’s lovely little collection…

Oh, I was very sad to leave the beautiful mountains, but I was also truly inspired to continue doing what I love to do…

I am so glad I could write about our trip away…it is always lovely showing you a glimpse of where I live and the things we do!   

Praying your week is beautiful and creative, sweet friends…

 "You will go out with joy and be led forth in peace.  The mountains and the hills will break into songs of joy in your presence, and all the trees will clap their hands."  Isaiah 55:12

  ~

  This post may be shared with...

~ The Art of Homemaking Mondays, Roses of Inspiration, Wise Woman Link-Up, Raising Homemakers Link-Up, Cooking and Crafting with J and J and Modest Monday

Thursday Pearls

“The ornament of a house is the friends who frequent it.” 

~ Ralph Waldo Emerson
 
~ A friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.  Proverbs 17:17, KJV ~

Have delightful Thursday, lovelies!

 Painting by: Sue Halstenberg

A Perfectly Pink...Tea Cup Exchange

 Oh, could there be anything more delightful in this world than a tea cup exchange, sweet friends...?


I was overjoyed to participate in this delightful event for the second~time around...it is simply thrilling to receive the name and address of your partner in the exchange and then to put together a delightful little package especially for her...

Oh, and then to wait in expectation for yours to arrive...how I love it!
I have already made such lovely friends through this wonderful exchange, and I would encourage you to join in the fun next time around...

~
This time around I sent a tea cup to Belle in Australia...and I received mine from dear Leah in England who blogs at Faith's Craft Box...

Leah sent me such pretty goodies, and just look at this perfectly pink tea cup!

In case you haven't guessed yet, pink is my absolute favourite colour, and to have an all~pink tea cup is happiness indeed!  And I also love the shape of this cup...I could even enjoy my coffee in it!

I prefer coffee to tea, but I do enjoy fruit teas on the odd occasion, as well as English tea if I am having a yummy sweet treat...
 Leah sweetly sent a bag of coffee which I can't wait to try...hmmm...

...As well as a beautiful new journal...how did she know I was needing a new one?
My current journal is quite full and I haven't written in a while.
I thought a new one would be just the thing to get me writing again!  And see how pretty this one is...

I also received a darling chicken pin cushion which I think is too cute for words!  I will enjoy using this, Leah...{{smiles}}

 

And a mini diary....perfect for keeping in my handbag!  Oh, and some beautiful lavender scented tea candles too...{{happy sigh}}

 
Thank you dear Leah...you certainly blessed me with your lovely  package!

~
The link up for Stephanie's delightful tea cup and mug exchange has just begun, so do visit The Enchanting Rose for more tea cup lovelies...

Thank you for stopping by today, lovely readers!
May you have the most wonderful of Wednesdays


~ Blessings ~

A Little Cowgirl Turns Four...

 

This precious little girl celebrated her fourth birthday on Sunday...

Gabrielle, Rebekah and Sofia...

Sofia loves horses and just about anything to do with cowboys, and has been talking for months about riding... 

Thus, we thought taking her for a ride on a miniature horse would be the perfcet way to treat her for her birthday...

Of course all us girls wanted to go along to see our sweet little sister ride a horse for the first time, and I wanted pictures and videos of the special event!

 

I was quite surprised at how relaxed and comfortable Sofia was astride her horse...she had no fear and knew exactly what do as if it came naturally to her...  Her position was wonderful too...I think we may have another horse lover in the family...

Nancy and I had hoped to create a special horse themed cake for Sofia...we thought of a ''grassy'' field with horses and little fences dotted around, but sadly we couldn't find any mini plastic horses, and we weren't going to try a horse's head again after the last episode!

In the end, we decided to go with a simple rainbow cake which Beth and I baked and Nancy, Sindy and I decorated...

 

It turned out perfectly and Sofia was thrilled with the different colours.

 

I think little Sofia will always remember her fourth birthday...

In the evening we looked through all her baby pictures and videos and oh my!  You should have heard the giggling that came from our living room!  

 

Ah, such delightful memories and I hold them ever so dearly...  Sofia was the second baby I blogged about, and these past four years have gone by incredibly swiftly...Sofia is a wonderful addition to our family, and she is very loving towards all of us.

Seven sisters...oh, what JOY!

~ From oldest to youngest...Kelly-Anne {18}, Sindy {17}, Nancy {16}, Beth {11}, Gabrielle {8}, Rebekah {6} and Sofia {4} ~

I couldn't imagine a single day without her, and praise Jesus for giving us the privilege of welcoming her into our family four years ago.

Dearest little sister Sofia...oh, we love you so very much!  Happy birthday, little one!

P.S.  In case you are wondering, Sindy is a recent member to our little family...we feel so blessed to and humbled to have another sister to love, and I will be introducing you to her sometime this week...{{smiles}}

~

A blessed Tuesday to you, dearest readers!

Thursday Pearls

 

 

"Let us, then, be up and doing,

With a heart for any fate;

Still achieving, still pursuing,

Learn to labor and to wait."

 

~ Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

 

 "God has made us what we are.  He has created us in Christ Jesus to live lives filled with good works that he has prepared for us to do."

~ Ephesians 2:10

 

~

Blessings on your Thursday, dearest friends!

 

 

Painting:  Girls Herding Geese by Henry John Yeend King

Thursday Pearls

"Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work."

 ~ Thomas A. Edison

"For thou shalt eat the fruit of thine hands: happy shall thou be, and it shall be well with thee."

~ Psalm 128:2

~

Thursday blessings, dearest friends...and a happy first of October!

{And thank you all for your very kind, encouraging words about my exciting new business venture!}

~ The Lord shall open unto thee his good treasure, the heaven to give rain unto thy land in his season, and to bless all the work of thine hand:  and thou shalt lend unto many nations, and thou shalt not borrow.  Deuteronomy 28:12 ~

Painting:  This is the Way we Wash our Clothes by George Dunlop Leslie

Exciting New Beginnings for heart❤made....

 Hello sweet friends!

I do hope you are having a perfectly lovely and creative Wednesday thus far...?

Today the rain is pouring down and oh my!  The garden is truly enjoying it!

I just mentioned to a sweet blog friend that I can almost ''see'' the plants growing as they drink up

the life~giving water!  ❤

~

Today I am simply delighted to be sharing some very exciting news with you...

I have been dreaming of opening an Etsy shop for months now...actually since I began thinking of selling my handmade creations which was last year already...

...And finally, with a bit of inspiration from this special blog friend, and some help from another lovely friend, I put my head down and figured it all out...{{smiles}}

 

And so...heart❤made shop is now officially open and each day I am working to add new items...What a delight it is to make something I love, photograph it (one of my favourite parts!) then upload it to Etsy...  Oh, such fun!

Thus, may I invite you to stop by my little Etsy shop...?  It would be an absolute joy to have you visit!  ❤

Here are a few of the items I am stocking my little shop with...

 Teeny weeny bunting... 

 Ellie Softies...

 

Sweet Rosy Reindeer in lovely colours!

 

 

 

 

Handmade gift tags...

 

  

Little Miss Handbags...

 

Fabric Bunnies Jointed with Hessian Twine...

 

...And many more lovely items coming soon!  ❤

~

   

I'd also like to thank my very dear friend, Elizabeth from Elizabeth Mary Online, for so kindly creating the above banner for my shop...  Wasn't that very sweet of her...?  

She did a lovely job of capturing heart❤made's look!

Thank you for stopping by today, dear readers...

Happy creating!