Life is full of surprises

This one is somewhat sentimental. Last year I had a tonsillectomy and because my sister was given a kaleidoscope when she had her tonsils out (she was four), my mother went to quite some trouble to find me a kaleidoscope as well.

Kaleidoscope making kit

It really is quite fascinating how simple the design is. It's very easy to make, just three reflective plates arranged inside the tube and when you look through the eyepiece, whatever you're looking at is reflected again and again and again.

View through the kaleidoscope

Don't let the cat out the bag!

I love this pic because he's my cat, the photo reminds me of laughter (though of course cats hate being laughed at) and it's a photo of a cat in a bag.

Black Smith, the cat

Everyone loves their cat. So there's no point my saying I have the most wonderful cat, but I do think he's adorable.

It seems that last Christmas he wrote to Santa because I got this letter in the post. It included a discount voucher from Hills pet food. I was very impressed.

Poor Toby bear

It's less than two months to Christmas (altogether now: aaaaarggh!) and nearly a month since my last post and this picture image illustrates just how I've been feeling. 

Nevertheless, I keep reminding myself of the self-help catchphrases that my father taught me. Firstly CYB - Count Your Blessings - and secondly PMA - Positive Mental Attitude.

My other self-help technique is to keep myself busy (a.k.a. distracted). 

It seems that some sort of synchronicity occurred resulting in poor Toby lying face-downward staring at the carpet as though all the cares of the world were weighing him down. When I found him there I knew just exactly how he was feeling and I cuddled him until he felt a little better.

Still holding on and holding out, but in the meantime...

While my heart remains stuck in my throat waiting for the results of my friend's blood tests, I'm thinking of some lines from Macbeth which often pop into my head: "To-morrow, and to-morrow, and to-morrow, creeps in this petty pace from day to day" William Shakespeare, Macbeth, Act 5, scene 5. These lines manage to describe exactly how I feel when waiting for the results of something important. It's as though time is s-t-r-e-t-c-h-i-n-g out. 

Meanwhile (in other news) I visited I ❤ Market on Saturday, and must say that it was super-cool. I got some great gifts for family and friends and got this "Blogging Tea & Cupcakes" badge (left) for myself from Cupcake Couture who also presented me with one of her ribbon rosettes in exchange for the buttons for her Button Hunt. The crocheted headband bought from Freshly Found (right) will be a gift for my niece when we eventually get our trip to the UK planned. I chose the butterfly because my husband photographs insects (macro photography) and so the gift represents both him and me.

Childhood memories and hopes and dreams

One of my favorite pass times when I was a tot was to look at all the buttons my mother kept in her button tin. It was a brown shoe polish tin - very utilitarian and totally delightful because you couldn't see what was stored inside. I distinctly remember thinking that I'd have to have a tin full of buttons  when I was a grown-up.

My mom still has her button tin and it still holds its fascination for me, but I have been fortunate to have inherited my mother-in-law's collection of buttons. I'm currently sorting through them to select which ones to pass on to Cupcake Couture's Button Hunt. I wonder whether they will be of any use to her?

There are a few buttons that I will not be able to part with though. These delicate pink ones on the left are being saved incase I'm lucky enough to have a baby. My husband said that if I'm saving pink buttons we will most likely end up having boys! 

Today's view:

It's VERY bright and sunny at the moment so the sea is mostly just reflecting the sun. Perhaps if I were to take this pic later today the sea would show as bluer than blue but it's good to feel the sun in the sky - it makes me feel energized and reminds me of the fact that some of the best things in life are indeed free (uh, oh, my apologies for the cliché).

Good news for "older" moms

I've been aware for a long while now that the closer I get to thirty-five, the greater the chance that I may have a baby with Down's syndrome. My last birthday was my 35th so the following piece of news is a positive one for me.

From the New Scientist "Blood test accurately predicts Down's syndrome".

And in other news... here's today's picture of my sea view. The weather looks a bit ominous and I'm fairly sure that there will be rain this evening.

Christmas mince pie day

Every year my mom and I make Christmas mince pies together. To be honest, my mom makes the pastry and buys the fruit mince (Safari Fruit mince or Woolworths Christmas fruit mince) and I only do the assembly-line, but we do it together and it's a nice tradition for both of us.

The assembly-line during production

We usually make about six dozen which sounds like a large number but they disappear very quickly. I took home about two dozen from last week's production and we've nearly finished them. I think the production line may go into action again this year.

Christmas and presents

The Christmas presents for the family and friends in South Africa are all done so no more braving the shops for me! Yippee!

Now the slightly more difficult task of choosing presents on the internet for my family overseas must begin.