G'day from the Bay

God's kindness

2011-05-26T18:16:00.000-07:00

It saddened me this past week to learn that well-known atheist Christopher Hitchens has got cancer of the throat.

That may sound odd coming from a Christian, given that Hitchens is strongly opposed to those who believe in God. His extreme views on religion, outlined in his book "God is Not Great", and in public statements such as this one, quoted by his brother, Peter: "I can't stand anyone who believes in God, who invokes the divinity, or who is a person of faith," make it clear he is no friend of those who believe.

But it does sadden me. As a follower of Christ, I find no pleasure in seeing my enemies suffer. Instead I feel a great burden for Hitchens. I long for him to know the immense love God has for him, and I've been thinking about the incredible kindness God has shown to this man.

This thought occurred to me while reading a very touching article in Vanity Fair, in which Hitchens writes about his experience with cancer. In particular, he describes his struggle with losing his voice, his most treasured attribute. He writes about the glory days of public speaking, and of debating opponents. Of how he misses being comfortable in any crowd with his fast wit and love of words. Indeed, he compares the loss of his ability to speak, to losing a limb. He describes this less in terms of the physical pain, than in terms of the emotional agony that comes with the loss of such a vital part of one's personality.

Sometimes we are so blind to the ways God has shown us his love, and we are quick to take what we have for granted.

But if there is a God, he must be incredibly kind to have blessed Christopher Hitchens with something so valuable, as his voice. This precious instrument has become all the more so now that it eludes him. Yet, to think that this God should give something so good, something so cherished, as the gift of speech - and not just the ability to talk, but to speak effectively and persuasively, wittily, and for sixty years - to a man who has used that very instrument to belittle faith in God, and to mock those who believe. The kindness of God is immeasurable.

Some might say, but surely that's why he is now suffering with cancer. Surely, God is punishing him for all those years of mockery. But God is not like that. We know that suffering comes to both believers and non-believers alike in this world.

Yet even this may be a kindness from God. Not everyone has the luxury of knowing that they are close to death. Forty-five seconds was all it took for hundreds to die in the tornado at Joplin, Missouri last week. Many years ago, when I was walking far from God, I always had in the back of my mind the thought that I could at least change my mind on my deathbed. But we have no idea when that could be.

If there is a God, he has shown incredible kindness to Christopher Hitchens. In all the ways that he can reflect on the good things in his life, these are all gifts from God to show him His great love. Yes, Christopher Hitchens, God is not great, He is greater - in love, in compassion, in kindness, in patience, in mercy - than we could ever fathom. And he longs for you to give him thanks, for all the good things you have enjoyed in this life. Not the least of which, is your voice.

thinking about the cross

2011-04-18T15:38:00.000-07:00

A friend shared a story last week that really hit me. She had released a cultivated butterfly into the wild, and within the first 30 seconds it was eaten by a bird. Thirty seconds. It just seemed so unfair. Probably not so much for the fact that birds eat butterflies, but for the unfulfilled potential of that one little creature. Couldn't God have let it fly a little longer?

This Easter, I have been struck by how tragic it is that Jesus died so young. That thought had never occurred to me before, perhaps because I am more often focused on what the cross achieved for me, and the fact that it had to happen that way. Jesus knew he was going to die. That was what he came to earth to do. And he set out resolutely for Jerusalem, intent on fulfilling his purpose.

But when I think about how it must have been for the people who knew and loved Jesus, those who had walked with him and were his friends, I realize it wasn't so obvious to them that it had to be that way, and I start to feel the frustration they must have felt as they watched their Lord led away and crucified. From their perspective, Jesus was just getting started with his ministry. He had his whole life ahead of him. He had so much potential.

Yet, I think that's what makes the cross so real for me. It comforts me that Jesus experienced the same kind of meaningless suffering that we see in our world. He is not removed from it. Instead he chose to leave the glory of heaven to enter our world, in its darkest depths and all its ugliness. Not simply as a comfort to us, but to save us. His death was not meaningless. It made it possible for us to be in relationship with God, and to be with him forever.

feeling alive

2009-08-27T18:31:00.000-07:00

My second day at Cal, and boy are my legs feeling it! I can't remember the last time I walked so much. This is what my last two days have looked like: run to campus at 7:50am to make sure I get a spot in the lecture hall (I got there at 8am on the first day and it was already full - had to sit in an overflow room!), lectures and classes, walk home for lunch, run to the bookstore before my next class, and then a slow walk home around 5pm. We also had Jesus in Berkeley? last night which was awesome - but some more running around there as well. And so, with two days of action after a lazy summer, my legs are finally deciding they don't want to move. Anywhere.

Can someone please carry me to class at 8am tomorrow?

my sweet husband

2009-08-09T16:34:00.001-07:00

He supports me when I go through with crazy ideas like science trivia nights.

He dons a lab coat for me and marks never-ending piles of trivia answer sheets.

He takes the watch I set by the door to go and fix, and fixes it for me without me asking -- the watch my grandparents gave me for my 21st. He knows how to make me cry and laugh at the same time.

My sweet husband.

The end.

my gummor

2009-07-30T14:08:00.000-07:00

My visit to South Africa in 2003.

On safari in South Africa with Gummor and Guppa, 2003.

Some of the Phipson/Montgomery cousins right before the Monty's emigrated to Australia in 1999.

covered with his feathers

2009-07-28T16:19:00.001-07:00

My dearest Gummor passed away last night, leaving behind a huge hole in all of our lives. I don't think words could express just how much I miss her. She has been an anchor in my life, a constant source of encouragement and love. I am so grateful for my Gummor.

In one of her last emails to our family, which she faithfully sent out every week since our immigration to Australia ten years ago, she mentioned that she was comforted to know that even in the difficulties and frustrations of life, that God had enfolded her in his feathers, where nothing or no one could possibly hurt her. I am comforted by that image and the knowledge that she is in his arms now. And my heart goes out to my very dear Guppa, who loved her so very much.

Their wedding on April 19, 1953.

Kia Ora. The house that Guppa built, where my Dad grew up, and where I grew up. Boston, South Africa.

chilli mangos

2009-07-27T23:58:00.000-07:00

Ay loves to cook. Here he is juicing a lemon for some chilli mangos. I asked him where he learnt this recipe and he said he would just watch them make these at taco trucks.

Slicing the mango on either side of the pit.

Dicing the center and pouring some freshly squeezed lemon juice over it, followed by a sprinkling of chilli powder.

Done. Perfectly refreshing for a summer's day. I can't wait to see what this up and coming chef tries next!

softball highlights

2009-06-20T12:20:00.000-07:00

Our softball season is over and I still have all my teeth! That's a big deal. After my first session warming up and playing catch I was convinced I would come out of this with one less limb. Softball is a dangerous sport. There is only one skinny metal "bat" (read "toothpick") between you and the ball which is flying at you at 110 miles and hour.
Neil gallantly defends our home plate from the yellow ball of fury.

Lauren and Beth sunning themselves before their turn facing the terror of the field.

The team, celebrating our marvelous victory against the odds -- we have all our fingers and toes and eyes and teeth! Woohoo!!

summer

2009-06-09T11:12:00.000-07:00

essential items

2009-06-09T00:27:00.000-07:00

What essential items do you go for when the fire alarm goes off at 2am and you have to evacuate your building?

Laptop, of course. Handbag. Wallet, with my drivers license in it. Keys. Bible. Important papers. Softball.

Softball. When did that creep into my list of highly can't-bear-to-part-with, irreplaceable items? Did I mention it was 2 in the morning? It was also the ball I had won on Friday night for pitching a winning softball game. Now that's irreplaceable. Sitting down with my grandchildren fifty years from now telling them the story of my grand achievement would just not be the same without this ball to show for it.

Good thing the alarm was only for a burst water pipe, and not a real fire. Or I might be looking kind of sheepish.

toddler therapy

2009-05-20T18:22:00.000-07:00

What is it about toddlers that just makes your heart melt?

cards for mothers day

2009-05-04T13:14:00.000-07:00

I'm a snob when it comes to cards. I like to make my own. Bought cards just don't feel like they've come from me. It's weird, I know. And it gets to be a bit of a challenge when there isn't much time in the day to devote to card-making. So it was a happy co-incidence the other when I came across some stickers in my stationery box and discovered an easy compromise.

Anyone for a daisy chain?

I made these cards for two moms I know. Yes, I actually made them. And my life is now complete.

slow food is... fast food?

2009-04-25T20:01:00.000-07:00

This last couple weeks I've had fun researching Slow Food in my anthro class for a presentation we put on this morning. As someone who grew up on a farm, doing things "slow" is just the way I'm used to. Dad would get up early and milk the cow. Mum would scoop off the thick layer of cream at the top the five-litre bucket of milk in our fridge, to make buttermilk. If we wanted whipped cream there was no store to quickly run to and get some Reddi-whip, we would beat it up ourselves. And Mum's homemade strawberry jam would sit bubbling away on the stove all day. So this was a topic that was very interesting to me.

But the best part was getting some top notch donations from local Berkeley slow food producers. June Taylor Jams donated some amazing preserves, and Phoenix Pastificio donated some freshly made organic pasta. Neil and I had our eyes on that all day and this evening we enjoyed it for dinner! Something that surprised me was that it only took about 45 to 90 seconds to cook. So slow food doesn't necessarily mean it is slower to get to your plate. Anyway, all in all an interesting, somewhat luxurious, and scrumptious project!

a sweet Easter

2009-04-20T21:26:00.001-07:00

I can't begin to tell you how sweet it was to have our niece Rachel, and nephews Aidan and Jake here for Easter. During the last worship set on Easter Sunday Rachel ran up the aisle to where I was sitting in the front of the chapel to sit with me and hold my hand. It's not everyday I get to feel so popular ;)

But I love that she wasn't afraid to do that.

Sometimes I wish I had the guts to be like a child and just run when I'm "supposed to" walk. It makes me think of the father, running toward his beloved prodigal son, in all his robes and finery, forgetting his pride and letting his love show.

Or the woman who washed Jesus' feet with her hair. She didn't let the fact that she would be looked down upon by everyone else stop her from letting her true feelings show for the One she loved.

When those watching started to judge her, Jesus said, "Do you see this woman? I came into your house. You did not give me any water for my feet, but she wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. You did not give me a kiss, but this woman has not stopped kissing my feet... Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven - for she loved much. But he who has been forgiven little loves little."

What a sweet reward for the woman to hear Jesus' words in response to her act of love, "Your sins are forgiven." It should make us all the more eager to run toward Jesus with reckless abandon, and without regard for who is watching.

daily bread

2009-04-20T19:49:00.000-07:00

Give us this day our daily bread.

I find it comforting that God encourages us to ask for what we need one day at a time. Not one week at a time. Not one year. Just one day. It breaks down all those big looming overwhelming worries of the future into something much more manageable. It puts things into perspective in a way that brings a calm to my day. C.S. Lewis puts it eloquently:

"Happy work is best done by the man who takes his long-term plans somewhat lightly and works from moment to moment “as to the Lord.” It is only our daily bread that we are encouraged to ask for. The present is the only time in which any duty can be done or grace received." (Lewis, Learning in War Time)

first softball game ever!

2009-04-04T14:13:00.000-07:00

Well, spring is here! And in the spirit of getting outdoors and enjoying the weather I signed up for the Berkeley Adult co-ed softball league with Neil and a team from church. We had our first game last night and I am on a steep learning curve since this is my first time playing...ever! Yep, I've been in the States over three years but have refused to learn anything about the game, hoping that I'd find some cricket around here but with no luck all this time I finally caved and here I am. (The ironic thing is that there were four cricket players on our opposing team last night, who invited me to join them for a game today in Berkeley!)
In any case, as I said I am going through a steep learning curve with this softball business. For instance, apparently you actually have to run. I guess I should have read the small print. Needless to say I woke up with all kinds of achy muscles this morning. Secondly, you actually have to touch the bases when you run. There I was, I had hit the ball (yes, I actually connected that skinny little thing they call a bat with the ball!) and off I went. Neil had just explained to me that the first base has a special rule where you can just run straight and curve off to the right. So I did. He forgot to mention the part where you're supposed to step on the base as you go.
Finally, apparently a home run is when you run all the way from start to finish in one go. I was so proud of myself that I had my first home run, and then someone told me it was just a run. What's up with that? I got all the way home didn't I?
I guess I have some studying to do!

amped for easter

2009-03-14T13:28:00.000-07:00

I'm really looking forward to Easter this year. Usually it kinda sneaks up and takes me by surprise and I think afterwards of all the fun things I could have done to celebrate this very special event, but not this year! Oh no, it's already Easter in our little apartment, as I've been trying out some cupcake designs for the cupcake decorating afternoon we're planning on Easter Saturday. Here's a sneak peek of what has been a source of creative therapy after coming home from three-hour chemistry lectures and labs! The little pink rose on purple fondant is Bakerella inspired.
I've also had fun following Bakerella on her trip to visit Pioneer Woman, two blog geniuses I've been stalking recently... "blog therapy" to help me keep my sanity after hours and hours of chemistry (I know, you're thinking so that's what they're calling procrastination these days, huh :) In all my blog travels I came across a wonderful duo who got to go on the trip with Bakerella. Stefanie and Colleen started a company selling tees, called Wild Olive. Love their stuff, incorporating scripture into some very cool designs. Stefanie has a cool story too -- she and her husband have adopted four kids from China and have a heart for kids with special needs. It's been fun to "meet" such interesting people and get inspired, I love the world of blogging.

Now back to some more Easter prep!

sweets for my sweetheart

2009-02-17T18:53:00.000-08:00

My first attempt at the fourteen-layer cake on Bakerella's blog. I stopped at five. It would have been a leaning tower of chocolate otherwise. Hmm... that actually doesn't sound too bad. Happy Valentine's Day everyone!

baked lemon cheesecake...i'm in love!

2009-02-14T20:35:00.001-08:00

1 1/4 c. graham cracker crumbs
1/4 c. sugar
1/3 c. butter, melted
2 (8 oz.) pkg. cream cheese, softened
1 (14 oz.) can condensed milk
3 eggs
1/4 c. lemon juice

Preheat oven to 300 degrees F. Combine graham cracker crumbs, sugar and butter. Press on bottom of 9 inch springform pan. In mixer bowl, beat cheese until fluffy. Gradually beat in condensed milk until smooth. Add eggs and lemon juice mix well. Pour into prepared pan. Bake 45 to 5o minutes or until 2cm of center is almost set. Cool chill, top with fruit topping if desired. Makes one 9 inch cheesecake. (adjusted from original recipe at Cooks.com)

Notes: This was very easy to make with equally delicious results :) I think I might halve the sugar in the Graham cracker crust next time. The cheesecake is sweet enough by itself.

mad gab and frog grand prix --

2009-01-12T13:30:00.000-08:00

-- Just a few of the highlights of my time with the kids at church on Sunday! Preparing for this lesson was a challenge because the story was very familiar to the class and so it meant I would have to think of new ways to keep the attention of three excitable eight-year old boys. We were doing the story of Moses -- how God strengthened him and helped him lead the Israelites out of Egypt. I was going to need God's strength and help for this one! Here's what I came up with:

For the memory verse - I wrote out the verse phonetically, Mad Gab style, and had the boys guess it: "Eye yam year God. Eye wool string thin ewe and help ewe." This had all of them engaged as they tried to figure it out.

For the story - Because it was so familiar, I asked tons of questions along the way that essentially meant they told me the story. At one point I had one of the more excitable boys read part of it too, which to my surprise had everyone tshoep stil (without a sound) as they listened to him read!

For the take-home craft - I racked my brain for ages on this one. I vaguely remembered making a jumping frog in origami many years ago and in the story there was a plague of frogs so I thought this would be perfect -- if only I could remember how to do it. Thanks to a post on youtube I was good to go.

For the active game - I made a mini grand prix race track and had the boys race their jumping frogs from start to finish, stopping at points along the way where I would ask them recall questions about the story and memory verse.

Phew! We made it to the finish line, and had a lot of fun too!

three years ago in a magical Narnia setting...

2009-01-07T10:13:00.000-08:00

January 5th, 2006

...Neil proposed and I said "yes!" We had been snowshoeing in a forest in Tahoe and were the only ones around as far as we could see, when Neil suggested we stop for a snack. We sat down on a log and he reached into his pocket and pulled out the ring. This pic was taken minutes afterwards, with the camera resting on a "tripod" of gloves and beanie :)

home for the holidays

2009-01-03T15:24:00.000-08:00

Being at home the last couple weeks has given me a chance to get into some projects. I made our very first Christmas stocking! Now I just need to make its pair. We also decided to go for home-made prezzies this Christmas and made aprons for everyone. It was a team effort. Neil pre-washed the fabric and helped me with ironing the pieces once they were sewed. Quite a production. I used heavy duty fabric for the guys' aprons, and lined the back of them with drill and liked the look, so did the same for the ladies' ones. It was a rewarding project and not too difficult, though if I make Christmas presents again I would definitely want to start earlier (too many late nights around Christmas can make for grumpy elves!) Here's a pic of the lucky recipients:

an appendectomy and a new year

2008-12-30T12:20:00.000-08:00

It's amazing how little things can rock your world. Neil's appendix was (yep, past tense...you already know where this is going) oh so insignificant in the scheme of our lives, until Friday night when it decided to inflame itself and put him in a great deal of pain. At first he thought it might be gas, but when it didn't go away after a few hours, and after me trying to convince him that he was just hungry, Neil called the advice nurse who told him to come to the emergency room right away. The emergency room! Oh my, I had better quickly make myself some peanut butter toast. All my trying to convince Neil that he was hungry had made my own tummy start to rumble.
So off we went down the road to Oakland at 2am. In all my rushing about I had forgotten to put my contact lenses in and I suddenly realized how badly I needed a new prescription on my glasses. It was all I could do to keep from running through every stop sign, but thankfully we were the only ones on the road and made it there all in one piece. We started walking toward the emergency entrance, which seemed like a mile away as Neil leaned on my arm for support, and with him groaning in pain with every step. It must have looked like I was the one in pain because the security guard asked if we were in labor. I tried to crack some joke that there was no way my husband could be in labor but it didn't fly -- I guess it's inappropriate to joke around on the emergency runway. In any event, we got there and it wasn't long before Neil was given some pain meds that made him feel a whole lot better. A few more hours and a chat with a doctor and a surgeon later, and my sweetheart was being wheeled away to the operating room. Everything happened so fast.
It was 6am and my tummy was rumbling again. I was glad that Starbucks was open and I sat there with a cuppa and a croissant, crying like a baby. Appendectomies are a common everyday procedure -- I had even had one myself -- but knowing that my darling was under anaesthesia with a ventilator breathing for him was no comfort to me. I headed back to the hospital to sleep on a couch and wait to hear some news. Two long hours later, I was told he was in recovery and was doing well. What a relief. By the afternoon of the next day we were on our way home, and spent the next couple days sleeping and resting, and trying not to tell too many jokes because it hurt for Neil to laugh. It was good to be home, just being grateful to have each other and be together. Well I don't have any exciting hospital photos to show, but I will include some pics with some highlights of 2008. Having come to appreciate our health a little bit more this week, I'll end by wishing you all a happy and healthy 2009! Happy new year!

merry christmas everyone!

2008-12-16T18:23:00.000-08:00

I know it's a little early, but I get excited about Christmas! Merry Christmas everyone!!

gingerbread-head

2008-12-08T21:28:00.000-08:00

Part of the reason for my recent blogging absence has been due to my having gingerbread on the brain these past few weeks. We had our second annual ladies' gingerbread house making event at New Church on Saturday so it's been all about gingerbread! Between about 8 of us bakers, we made 45 gingerbread houses, and 20 kiddies' graham cracker houses, and then some of our husbands were recruited to make icing on the day...sorry, guys! The Lord blessed our efforts and it was exciting to see the event grow to 38 ladies and 20 kids this year, with a number of families coming from the community. A really fun time! Here are some pics of the afternoon:

bear with me

2008-11-20T11:36:00.000-08:00

So.... I'm finally finished my personal statement for my application to be a Cal bear. Woohoo! Here's the opening paragraph of one of my essays, about why I've chosen to major in linguistics:

“Thula sizwe, ungabokhala…” A lone voice sounds the start of a familiar Zulu chorus: “be quiet nation, don’t cry.” I join in a cappella with the rich African voices around me at our weekly Sunday service. Growing up in South Africa, a country of eleven official languages, it feels only natural to pursue a major in linguistics. I grew up in a small rural community, with my father fluent in Zulu and my grandfather frequently serving as a Zulu translator. I too had picked up some of the language in the day-to-day business of the farm, so when our schools were desegregated in my freshman year of high school I surprised my new black friends with the words I had learned. Lunchtimes were spent laughing together as I showed them what I knew in a bid to learn more. This innate curiosity coupled with living in foreign places has caused my growing desire to delve into the study of language.

fall is here...

2008-11-02T14:54:00.000-08:00

...and zoom, it's November already. Well with lots of rain this past weekend, it's starting to feel like cookie-baking weather again. For Neil's mom's birthday, we made her an edible birthday card out of lemon cookies:

Halloween was more fall fun ~ we got to play aunty and uncle, taking some friends' kids around the neighborhood. I had forgotten how fast little legs can run for candy. These little guys zipped around the block without blinking an eye and still wanted to go for more but we sadly had to dampen their triathlon spirits and take them home to count their booty. Here's the vet and the pirate counting up their stash:

The rain didn't stop for our friends who were moving into their new place but we had fun. Here's one of the more memorable manoevres of the day (sorry, my first time videoing on this camera... you'll have to tilt your head :)

Back to my personal statement and applications, due November 30th.... aaahhh!!

vision

2008-10-21T10:09:00.000-07:00

This new video by Kerwin really captures the vision of what New Church is about, and why we're here in Berkeley.

profiteroles

2008-10-11T08:28:00.001-07:00

Would a profiterole by any other name taste as sweet? Cream puff? Eclair? You can leave that philosophical pondering to those who would rather be asking questions than putting one in their mouth ;) I have been craving these, it's true. It's been about three years too long since I would have had one ~ as my Australian friends know, these suckers are everywhere you look, in Oz. I have many happy memories of my waitressing days at Kooka's in Albany where we sent these out by the dozen, and almost always "accidentally" had to eat one... or two. I'll stop taunting you now and give you the recipe, which I found here, so you can taste one for yourself!

"Kia Ora 1, Kia Ora 1, this is Kia Ora 2..."

2008-10-07T13:16:00.000-07:00

One of my favorite memories on the farm was the radio communication we had in our community. It was exciting to listen in on the grown-ups as they went back and forth, "Charlie, Foxtrot, over and out." Sometimes the channels got fuzzy though and you had to strain to catch the conversation.

Recently I feel like I had my channel tuned in on a particular issue after it had been fuzzy for a long time. At the start of the semester I offered to take notes for a student with disabilities. This suited me just fine, but when this student asked if he could distribute my notes to his study group I felt uneasy and told him I couldn't let him do that. Those were my notes, weren't they? To fill you in a little bit, me and this issue of note-copying go way back. Growing up, I prided myself in keeping the rules and this was one rule I had always held to pretty rigidly in school.

A couple weeks later the same thing happened again -- an ESL student joined the class who had clearly missed a lot of work so I offered to give him copies of all my notes to that point. But when a student asked if she could copy all my notes for the test coming up, I felt that this somehow crossed the line of fairness and I told her I couldn't do it. It started to bug me when this came up for the second time in the class. Neil assured me there was nothing unfair about letting others have my notes and at first I wasn't convinced, but I was slowly cracking. I had been reading Jesus' words to the Pharisees, where he says, "go and learn what this means, 'I desire mercy, not sacrifice.'" I was starting to see that God did not want me to lord this silly rule over others when they were clearly struggling and it was in my power to give.

The next day I got a call from the College. Would I provide my work to be copied for another student in my class? Wow. God, are you trying to tell me something here? I stuttered and asked a few clarifying questions... and then gave in. Yes, of course I could do that. The following day in class four people came up to me to ask for my notes. They followed me to the copier. The girl I'd told no the week before was not there, but I knew I needed to call her too. I came home amazed and thankful. The Lord had not only taught me something important about following him, but had used the one thing I had been so stubbornly holding onto to open up new opportunities to serve my classmates. Coming through loud and clear Lord, over.

beached as on wall street

2008-09-29T09:24:00.000-07:00

If you're one of those people who are yet to be able to distinguish an Australian accent from a Kiwi accent, youtube has a video for you. Search for "beached whale NZ," turn on your best Kiwi-accent-distinguishing-ears (or find yourself an interpreter) and you'll soon be having fush and chups and plinktun for dinner, feeling "beached as."

Now if there was ever an example of that, you just need to take a look at America's financial situation right now. Wall Street is beached as. Tell me something I don't know, bru. It's all over the news and it's got everyone in a flap. Listening to a talk on NPR the other day, callers were frantically wanting to find out if they were going to be okay: "What's the safest investment I can make? How can I make absolute certain that my money will be there when I need it?" What I found interesting was that the guest financial expert could offer no perfectly risk-free investment strategy.

It got me thinking about some of the things Jesus said about money: "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal." Jesus was pointing out the uncertainty of investing in things on earth. I think it's easy to forget that sometimes. In good times we are happy to accept a small risk when investing. But in a time of financial crisis when the things we once thought to be stable are starting to falter, that risk becomes much more real and it dawns on us that we could lose it all.

I think what Jesus encourages us to do here is to take an eternal perspective. Of course, this does not mean that we should neglect what earthly wealth we have. In a parable about a shrewd manager Jesus teaches his disciples that if we have not been trustworthy with worldly wealth we can't expect to be trusted with "true riches." He also tells us to use our worldly wealth to gain friends for ourselves, "so that when it is gone, you will be welcomed into eternal dwellings." So while he encourages us to use our finances, we are to do so with a mind to the kingdom which is eternal, producing a treasure that will outlast this world. Now that's the kind of investment I want. It won't leave me beached as, when everyone else is saying, "Ah noo!"

old family pics

2008-09-17T09:22:00.001-07:00

My dear friend Kirsti sent these, so thoughtful of her. We grew up together in the farming community of Boston in South Africa and our families were close friends. Some pics, mostly of my dad's side of the family, who had the Phipson family farm where I grew up, for more than a hundred years.
(L-R) My aunty Lynne, with cousin Davy; My dad and me; Great-gran Phipson, with my aunty Gilly.
(L-R) Mum, with my sister Christy, my Dad and me; Mum and Christy; Mum, Dad, my Godfather Steve, and me at our house in Pietermaritzburg, where I lived for the first 5 years of my life.

a visit from oz!

2008-09-15T21:46:00.000-07:00

This weekend we had my cousin David come and visit all the way from Australia. It meant a lot to see him, especially having not seen any of my family for over 2 years. Here's us at Fisherman's Wharf, with Alcatraz in the distance, and tasting champagne at Korbel.

Our first guest at the new place :) Here's the guest room, decorated with a kitchen theme:
Exploring Pixar, thanks to a very kind invitation from our friend Austin:
And some of the love David brought from everyone back home. Here's us with some gorgeous African cushion covers (sent from South Africa via my Dad and then via David in Oz), and a beautiful tablecloth with Aboriginal art design and wine glass rings from my aunty, uncle and cousins in Perth. He fitted all this into his already crammed hand luggage!
The goodbyes were hard, as I'm sure you can imagine, but we were so touched that he came to see us and felt the deep care of my family with his visit.

settling in

2008-09-02T15:03:00.000-07:00

Well the big red cupboard we bought a couple weeks ago is no longer red. Here is the new addition to our kitchen/dining room:

As they say in Australia, "she scrubs up alright!" I just have to polish up the brass knobs and put them on the drawers and she'll be all good, mate.

a visit and a cup of tea

2008-08-26T00:59:00.000-07:00

There's something special about having someone visit you. I remember my cousin coming to stay with me once while I was house-sitting a place all alone, in Perth. The fact that my double-major, all-round busy cousin would take the time to drive across the city in the middle of his week just to see me and make sure I was doing okay, was something that really touched me. So it was interesting to come across in my reading recently an insight into what it means to visit. The root of the English word is related to "looking" or "seeing." It also has the idea of "thinking about" or "showing concern for" another.

Something I'm looking forward to in my Religions of the World class this semester, is exploring the different ideas that each religion has about who God is and what he is like. We've started by looking at Hinduism and so far the representation of deity is one that seems to be distant and hard to please. There's the fire sacrifice, which if big enough might convince the gods to hear you. Then there are the age old hymns and chants recorded in the Vedas which are used to please the gods not just with their content but with the way they are said. These don't seem to be the kind of God you'd imagine would be thinking about you. Nor do they seem like the kind you'd want to have over for a cuppa. Well perhaps you would, but they might refuse the invitation.

The God we see in the Bible seems to be quite different in this respect. One might look at the Old Testament and say he too appears to be hard to please. It is true that there we get a clear picture of the chasm between God's holiness and our unholiness. We learn that "without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness." In order to come to God, his people were required to bring a sacrifice -- and not just once, but every year.

Yet, a closer look I think also shows his mercy and his nearness to all who call on him. We find that he is "the God who sees me" as Hagar discovered, and, who "knows how we are formed." We see his faithfulness to an often unfaithful bunch of people. And then we see the steps he takes to close the chasm between God and people by promising a Lamb that would take away the sins of the world -- a sacrifice once and for all, which he provided for in sending his Son. I think this gives us a remarkable, and perhaps unexpected, insight into what God is like. By bridging that unbridgeable barrier he is a God who cares enough "to look into and do something about our affairs." A God who cares enough to visit.

(Quotations mostly from "Shepherding God's Flock" by Jay E. Adams)

celebrations

2008-08-13T10:23:00.001-07:00

This year has given my family a number of good reasons to celebrate. My grandpa Guppa turned eighty in July, and then last week my cousin Davy got engaged! Today is my grandma Gummor's birthday, yet another reason to celebrate and thank God for his goodness to us. My Gummor is very special to me for the many hours we spent together in South Africa. She taught me, among many things, that "nothing worthwhile was ever easy" and that has often given me encouragement because her life has certainly borne out that truth. Having lost the full use of her left arm and leg in her 20's, she was still able to superbly raise five wonderful children, and then later give so much to her thirteen grandchildren. It was Gummor who taught me to play both tennis and the piano and who gave me a love for reading and singing. Most of all though, I'm thankful to the Lord for the love my grandma has shown me. She has always been there for me and continues to be a huge encouragement and blessing to all who know her. Happy birthday Gummor!!

(Photo by Trish Phipson)

moving cupboards, and other near-death experiences

2008-08-08T15:08:00.000-07:00

Moving from three closets down to just one has meant we've had to make some adjustments. Yet even after some serious throwing out and with our closet packed to its limit, we still have a pile of unpacked boxes and so we decided it was time to look for some more closet space. After a disappointing trip to IKEA, which I thought would solve our problems, I was stoked to find this lovely red cupboard at the Salvation Army a couple days ago:

With a coat of white paint I reckoned this one would do the trick. I borrowed a truck and went to pick up the little gem the next day. Chuffed with my purchase, I was happily driving it to Neil's mom's place where I'd be repainting it, when I suddenly realized that in my excitement to get the cupboard I hadn't quite thought through how I was going to get it from the back of the truck to the backyard. Oh dear, I thought, this could be a bit embarrassing. I can't return the truck with the cupboard still in it... so, of course, I decided it can't be that heavy. I can lift it by myself.

I carefully slide it to the back of the truck. Everything's going smoothly so far. I lower it to the ground and onto my knees. My knees?? What did I do that for? A sudden rush of panic flashes through me... There's a giant cupboard resting on my knees. I'm underneath its massive weight and I can't maneuver it up or down. Oh dear. Its gnarly plywood edge is digging into my thighs and my mind starts flash-forwarding to some day in the future telling the story to our kids, "...and that's how mummy lost her legs." Just as I start to think about shouting for help, I somehow muster up some superhuman strength and lift the cupboard back into the truck. Mission accomplished, well sort of ~ I've still got my legs, but the cupboard hasn't moved an inch. I look up and there are a couple Bay Alarm guys working across the street. Thankfully, with their help, five minutes later the cupboard is where I want it to be. Phew!

I'll spare you the details of the other near-death experience I had painting the darn thing... yep, it toppled right on top of me and once again I was underneath its crushing weight (I had no idea DIY could be this dangerous!). Since I was alone there was no one to witness my brush with death and quick recovery, and I don't have any pictures to prove it either... but here are some pics of us painting:

"Dependence Day..."

2008-08-03T16:15:00.000-07:00

...Somehow I don't see that one hitting the theatres anytime soon. I mean apart from the fact that it might sound a little too much like a movie that came out a few years ago, I think the idea of being dependent is just not that hot right now. It's much more attractive to think we are independent individuals with the ability to reach for our dreams and achieve whatever we set our hearts on.

Well, I was happily operating under that philosophy when last week I decided that August was going to be "no-ticket" month. That's no small thing for me. I've been averaging a parking ticket a month over the last year and so going for just one month without a ticket would make me feel like I'd won the Lotto. I was so adamant about it that I was going to write it in my facebook status: "Tamela Turner is determined not to get a parking ticket this month." ...But before I got a chance, Neil and I both got tickets... on August 1st. Yep. I didn't even get a chance to prove my parking-ticket-avoidance powers!

This showed me the flaw in my operating philosophy. I had set my heart on just one thing and yet even in such a seemingly easy-to-achieve goal, I realized I had no control. It made me think of a proverb which says, "In his heart a man plans his course, but the Lord determines his steps." No matter what strategies and techniques I employ, or how determined I am to achieve my goals - however small or big - ultimately, whether or not I reach what I've set my heart on, is up to God, not me. A pretty humbling realization. But also an opportunity to grab onto an important truth about the kind of relationship God wants with us. A truth that is expressed beautifully in the words of the song... I need thee, O I need thee, ev'ry hour I need thee.

old man in the sky or batman in the wings?

2008-07-30T13:32:00.000-07:00

I was watching an interview the other day by Richard Dawkins where he interviewed the Christian theologian and apologist, Alister McGrath. The question Dawkins couldn't seem to get his head around was that of suffering. Many people struggle with this issue. If God is who Christians say he is, can't he stop the tsunami and save all the thousands of people who would otherwise die? Why does he let good people die of cancer, or let earthquakes devastate people's lives? Why, if he really is good, and if he really is God, can't he save us when we seem to need him most?

One thing I have been thinking about as I try to answer this question, is that I am sure that God longs to save us from the suffering we face. Taking a look at Jesus' life settles that one for me. Eye-witnesses record that "Jesus wept" when Lazarus died. They describe his compassion for the sick, the lonely, and the hungry. And not just his compassion for them, but his desire and ability to heal them. He doesn't strike me as the kind of cold-hearted God who delights in seeing us in pain. Rather, it seems to me that death and suffering hurt God just as much, if not more, than it hurts us. So if he wants to save us, why doesn't he? Is it because he's just an old man in the sky, too weak to really do anything about our situation?

Well, another thing I am sure of is that he has promised to save us. And so the question is not if he can do it, but rather when he will. God describes a world where, "there will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain." One where everything will be made new. Jesus has promised to return as king and this is just a glimpse of what life will be like under his reign. So when we are asking God to step in and save us from our suffering, we need to keep in mind what it is we're asking for. We're asking for Jesus to return. We're asking for God to step in and settle all accounts for all time ~ to bring to justice those criminals who have got away with murder, to put an end to all violence, all sickness, and natural disasters... and to settle our own account with him too. God is no old man in the sky. He's more like Batman in the wings, waiting for that moment when he will return and make all things right. The question is, are we ready to meet him?

Guppa's birthday

2008-07-30T09:34:00.000-07:00

My dearest grandpa, Guppa turned 80 yesterday in South Africa. He still looks as "dapper" as ever. My fondest memories of him are on the farm in the little village of Boston, where I grew up. He was like a walking jungle gym for us grandkids, always up for swinging us around and around, having us climb up and somersault through his arms using his knees as a springboard. I remember being quite sad when I got too big to do somersaults off of Guppa's knees. He always loved playing with us. Happy Birthday Guppa!!

(Photo by Trish Phipson)

click-happy in oregon

2008-07-28T13:33:00.000-07:00

When you're the only one taking pictures, and you're taking a couple... hundred every day on vacation, you start to wonder if you might need to get checked out for something relating to obsession. I did work on my photography skills quite a bit up in Oregon, but I like to think it had more to do with the beauty all around me shouting "click me! click me!" I'll save you from having to look through all 324 pics and just post a few of my favorites from our time there:

Neil being a horse whisperer...

Blueberries (almost) ripe for the picking...

Afternoon sunlight through the grass...

Another horsey shot...

my niece turns four and our move to berkeley

2008-07-19T11:47:00.000-07:00

My little niece turned four a couple days ago. I just had to share this pic of her playing. She calls this the barbie roller coaster. She is just too cute and I miss her heaps.

So we've moved into our new place in Berkeley and we like it a lot. We're excited to be living near lots of great restaurants within walking distance and have already used a bunch of coupons from our Berkeley Guide to the Good Life which we rediscovered during the move. So we'll be keeping Fat Slice and Pappamingo's in business til those run out. The move to the new place went a lot quicker than we'd expected, largely due to all the awesome paratroopers who came out to help. Here are some pics of the day:

celebrating 2 years of marriage! and our stay in a yurt

2008-07-10T15:42:00.000-07:00

We just got back from two days up in Yosemite, where we went for our anniversary ~ wow, what a place! Neil and I have this ongoing joke that whenever I see a beautiful place I say it reminds me of South Africa. Well, it's true ~ South Africa is a gem and California doesn't even come close ~ but I might have to make an exception for Yosemite. The waterfalls were the best. We climbed up the rocks to Lower Yosemite Falls. The pools were crystal clear and I couldn't resist jumping in even though the water was freeezzzing cold! Here's a picture of me swimming just to prove my credentials as a farm girl:

We didn't see any bears while we were there ~ I was keeping my eyes peeled after hearing a talk on NPR about bears causing road accidents... or maybe it was about speeding cars causing accidents with bears crossing the road, I'm not sure ~ but we did see a mouse. Yes, our very own resident Ratatouille who lived in the kitchen of our little yurt, with her little baby. They had made this cute little nest in our cutlery drawer and left all these cute little splotches of pee near the knives and forks... and not to mention the cute little droppings they left for us, and the cute little faces popping up from under the stovetop while we ate our dinner. We felt very honored.

Anyway, in spite of our little guests, I can definitely say that staying in the yurt was pretty cool, and a fun way to spend our anniversary, and it certainly makes my list of charming getaways. Here's a pic of the yurt we stayed in, for those of you who are still wondering what on earth I'm talking about!

Wall-e!!

2008-07-01T09:16:00.000-07:00

I can't wait to see Wall-e! Didn't get to see it with the bunch of folks who went Sunday night, but we did go to the after-party. Ashlee made the cutest Wall-e cake and I made some Wall-e cupcakes :) Along with some Pixar trivia and a number of Pixar folks and fans, it was a fun night!

Making the cupcakes was so much fun. I had this crazy idea of how I wanted to make little Wall-e eyes, but didn't know how to go about it as I'd never done cupcake-decorating before. Anyway, I came across this great little recipe for making marshmallow fondant and I was soon Wall-eing away!

non-dairy desserts

2008-06-30T19:27:00.000-07:00

Most of the desserts I'm used to making require butter. So, it was a challenge the other day to find a dessert to serve some friends who have dairy allergies, and a good opportunity to try something new. After racking my brains (and searching Google :) on what to make, I came across this beauty. The recipe said to serve it chilled, and so I served it with a scoop of lemon sorbet. The result was a fresh and tangy, light dessert, and a roomful of happy eaters :)

Non-dairy Lemon Souffle

1/2 cup superfine (or caster) sugar
2 tbsp flour
1/2 tsp salt
2 eggs, separated
1 cup plain, low-fat soymilk
2 tbsp lemon juice
1 1/2 tbsp grated lemon zest

1. Preheat oven to 350F (or 180 C)
2. Mix flour, sugar, salt.
3. Beat egg yolks with soymilk, add to dry ingredients.
4. Blend in lemon juice and rind.
5. Beat egg whites until stiff.
6. Fold egg whites into lemon mixture.
7. Immediately pour into a greased ramekin or high-sided baking dish.
8. Place in hot water bath and bake 45 min. (Note: If you are dividing mixture into small ramekins, bake time is much shorter. Check souffles around 25-30min.)
9. Serve chilled.

(Recipe found here)

"Ah, the serenity..."

2008-06-25T14:54:00.000-07:00

Having grown up on a farm in the Natal Midlands of South Africa, and then moving to the pristine coast of Western Australia, I've always been spoilt with beautiful surroundings. Living in the Bay Area is no exception. It has a beauty all of its own. One of the things I have yet to explore here however, are its charming getaways ~ those cute little places you can go for coffee on a Sunday afternoon, or the little B&Bs that have their own unique character.

One place I was surprised to find that fits that description is right in the middle of Berkeley. Not exactly your average "old country road" surroundings, being right in the center of student traffic to and from the university, Adagia is in a gorgeous old building, with latticed windows and the prettiest little garden out the front. Sitting by the window, overlooking the aromatic summer flowerbeds, and sipping hot chocolate from bowls, with a dollop of hazelnut whipped cream on the side... As Darryl Kerrigan, of The Castle would say, "Ah, the serenity of the place!"

Look out for more posts on charming places to go with your sweetheart in the Bay Area!

our first place

2008-06-25T14:08:00.000-07:00

In the next couple weeks we'll be packing up our stuff and saying goodbye to our first place. It's been a lot of fun living here these last two years, lots of fun memories!

father's day

2008-06-14T22:43:00.000-07:00

"How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!"

Sharing a special moment with my father
(Photo by Jerry Yoon)

dave + cin

2008-06-08T21:49:00.000-07:00

The decorations at Dave and Cindy's wedding on Saturday were so creative. I loved the green and white pompoms on the pews in the chapel, and the candles covered with colored paper. A sweet and beautiful wedding for a sweet and beautiful couple.

mother's day

2008-05-19T20:48:00.000-07:00

I got lucky again this year and got to do a special craft with the kids at church for their mums on Mothers Day. Last year we painted a wooden photo frame. This year I thought we'd go with something edible, and so we iced cupcakes and put them in to-go boxes which the kids had decorated. I love the pictures and notes they wrote!

dinner on the deck

2008-05-09T23:40:00.000-07:00

Neil's 30th and an excuse to spritz up the place for summer! For just over 100 bucks I managed to surprise him with a transformed balcony and we got to kick back, island style :)

The best part of the transformation for me was getting a Martha Stewart look without paying through the nostrils: reed fence $23, beach mat $14, IKEA table $39, outdoor cushions $30, place settings $10... loving it!

tacos for two

2008-05-02T00:25:00.000-07:00

My first time making tacos! Yeah, I know, it's taken me more than 2 years but I finally got around to trying my hand at this California staple. We used ground turkey, to keep it a little healthier than using red meat, and then made up for it with some big delicious dollops of sour cream, of course :)
With the school semester almost finished, I hope to soon post some more pics of my adventures in the land of tastyness and cooking in general. Stay tuned!

checking the foundations

2008-04-21T10:31:00.000-07:00

Did Jesus really die and come back to life? Seeing such a thing is not part of our everyday experience, so it can be hard to believe. But if the death and resurrection of Jesus are the foundations of Christian faith, it's important to check that these foundations are solid and our faith isn't based on wishful thinking.

There are many theories that Jesus didn't really die, or that he didn't rise from the dead, so how can we begin to sort through what happened? One starting point would be to consider the circumstances surrounding Jesus' death on the cross. Witnesses record the presence of Roman soldiers throughout the crucifixion. Professionals at their task, it is unlikely these soldiers would allow anyone to "swap" the man for someone else, as they risked losing their own lives if they failed their duty. In addition, any possibility that Jesus merely swooned can be cast aside, as witnesses record the soldiers, surprised at how quickly Jesus died, spearing him in the side to make sure he was dead. Only then did they hand over his body for burial. The tomb itself was under the watch of a Roman guard of soldiers, who placed a seal over it, so it is unlikely that someone could steal the body without them noticing.

We must also consider what Jesus said about his death. This record of Jesus' words, from Matthew's account:

When they came together in Galilee, he said to them, "The Son of Man is going to be betrayed into the hands of men. They will kill him, and on the third day he will be raised to life."

Taking a look at Jesus' life and character, he does not appear to be someone who is out to deceive. Those who knew him and walked with him, trusted him with their lives, even leaving behind family and livelihood to follow him. Following his death and resurrection, Jesus appeared many times to these men and women, and up to 500 witnesses at one time. Many of these witnesses were convinced of what they had seen, and were willing to go to their deaths for what they believed.

So where does this leave us? It seems that there is much we can gather from the accounts of those who were there. For what we are unable to have seen ourselves, we are left to take a step of faith. It may be different from the decision faced by those who saw Jesus and touched the holes in his hands, but just like us, they had to weigh up what they knew and decide from there.

mzikaba

2008-04-04T15:52:00.000-07:00

On Google earth the other day, I came across some pics of one of my favorite places in the www ~ whole wide world :) Mzikaba is on the Wild Coast of South Africa, in the Eastern Cape. We used to travel there every year as a family for a week or so, when I was a child. Lots of fun memories! Thanks to whoever posted these!

The pic above reminds me of the many long walks we would go on with my Dad, up and down the coast. I loved these adventures, exploring little bays and waterfalls along the way.

The pic below is of the river mouth, which we would cross by rowing over ~ never swimming, for fear of sharks breeding in the deep & murky waters...

In the pic above you can see the island within walking distance from the beach at low tide where we would spend all day exploring tidal pools and searching for carnelian beads, from shipwrecks many years ago. You can just make out a Norfolk pine in the distance, which marks the front yard of our shack. Good times.

the essential question

2008-03-31T18:18:00.000-07:00

Can you be both a Christian and believe in evolution? Many people struggle with this question. A classmate brought up the issue in class just this week, and there are others who have faith that there is a God, but are not sure where the "science" piece of the puzzle fits.

I think a starting point in the discussion would be to go back to the basics, and ask: what is a Christian? Essentially, a Christian is a follower of Jesus Christ. A person who has acknowledged that they are a sinner, and have accepted the forgiveness that Jesus Christ offers through his death on the cross in their place. There are no other requirements involved. Jesus made that clear in his interaction with the thief on the cross. This excerpt, taken from Luke's account:

"Then he said, 'Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.' Jesus answered him, 'I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise.'"

Jesus did not ask the criminal to affirm any theological beliefs, he didn't grill him with questions on the issues of the day, he was only concerned that the man had accepted him for who he was. This was characteristic of the interactions Jesus had with the people he met. His primary concern was whether people accepted him, and not a particular theory or idea.

I think this narrows the discussion to one essential question. A question both for Christians, and for those who believe there is a God but have doubts. The question that matters most is, as Jesus asked, "who do you say I am?" Once you've answered this, you can then explore other questions as secondary, and search Jesus' thoughts on whatever situation or theological issue or doubt you are facing. Having answered the central question of who Jesus is, whatever you decide on those issues will be between you and him.

Good Friday

2008-03-21T12:15:00.001-07:00

The other day, a friend and I were on the fifth floor of our college building. We were remarking at how flimsy the railing seemed to be between us and the floor of the atrium below. Sometimes it feels like the line between life and death is so incredibly thin.

I felt that line grow thinner a couple days later when I heard the very sad news of the death of a friend from church. Young, vibrant, full-of-life kind of guy. I had just seen him on Sunday, a few days before he died of heart failure. In church that day we were singing the song "I'll Fly Away." One of the lines I had sung with gusto really struck home when Justin passed:

Some glad morning when this life is over, I'll fly away

I could always sing with joy at the idea of "some glad morning" flying away to be with my Lord, but I don't think it was a reality for me that that morning could be as close as just a few short days away.

As I think about it more, and as I think about the line between life and death, I'm beginning to realize the significance of Easter and what it means for that line. For anyone who accepts Jesus, crossing the line is really not something to be afraid of. Sure, it's something to respect, but when the time comes, we have nothing to fear. Jesus' bodily resurrection, means that we will rise from the dead, too, if we have put our trust in him. Essentially, Jesus rising from the dead is what makes following him different from any other system of faith or religion. It is how we can know that what Jesus said really is true. He offers a new way. A way that lets us cross the line from death to life. That's what makes Good Friday so good.

We're going to miss Justin a whole lot, and I look forward to seeing him again.

Picture originally uploaded by John Sanford.

renunculas

2008-03-19T12:29:00.000-07:00

I got some renuncs and just had to take some pics. So pretty.

More spring pics

2008-03-06T18:25:00.000-08:00

I took these on a walk through Piedmont park. Can't get enough of spring!

Pics of home

2008-03-03T11:24:00.000-08:00

Christmas came early for me this year ~ I got some pics of Albany! Thank you Sturt!! Here are some of my favorites...

Spring has sprung

2008-02-25T20:30:00.001-08:00

Well, maybe not officially by the calendar, but certainly in our living room. I got this beautiful bunch of cherry blossom buds on the weekend, which have now just started to bloom. With the tripod set up on the dining room table I perched myself precariously to get this pic... but it was totally worth any risk of gaining a broken limb in the process :) It captures spring for me.

Rainy Sunday

2008-02-24T15:38:00.001-08:00

A good excuse for some scones with jam and cream -- that is if you need an excuse, for warm, fresh-out-the-oven goodness. Whether you call them scones or "biscuits," as my American friends know them, there's no debating it: you can't have just one. A lovely complement to a hot cuppa tea, there's always room for one more.

2 cups flour
1 tsp sugar
1 tsp salt
1 cup milk & water
1 heaped Tbsp butter
2 heaped tsp baking powder

Rub butter into flour lightly, and mix together with salt, sugar, baking powder. Mix it with the milk & water, keeping the mixture light and airy. Cut into round shapes and bake in a hot oven 390 F (200 C) for 10-15 minutes.

Special thanks to my grandma, Gummor, who started this family tradition and shared her recipe with me.

Sharin' the love

2008-02-16T09:05:00.000-08:00

Valentine's Day ~ my first time making sugar cookies! Well, so I thought... 'til I tasted the dough. Like in that scene from Ratatouille where the critic is taken back to his childhood with one bite, I suddenly found myself sitting on the big wooden kitchen table we had on the farm in South Africa, making "biscuits" with my mum :)

In keeping with the food theme...

2008-02-09T14:40:00.000-08:00

I have one copy of the Australian food magazine "delicious." (thanks to my wonderful mum who sent it over) and boy does it make me want to get a subscription. It is starting to show the marks of a trusty recipe book from the many times I've pored over it and explored its scrumptious recipes. This Roast Pumpkin Blood Orange Salad with toasted hazelnuts I've discovered goes well with chinese dishes, or simply as a fresh spring salad and is yummalicious. Here's how to make it (taken from "delicious." July 2007):

1 butternut pumpkin
1 small dried chilli, crumbled (or pinch of dried chilli flakes)
2 garlic cloves, finely chopped
2 tbs mild-tasting extra virgin olive oil
1 tsp Dijon mustard
1 tsp sherry vinegar
1/3 cup hazelnut oil
1 tbs extra virgin olive oil
2 handfuls of lamb's lettuce (mache) -- I also added some butter lettuce for variety
2 blood oranges (or regular oranges), peeled, cut into rounds, plus 2 tbs juice
2/3 cup toasted hazelnuts, roughly chopped

Preheat oven to 180 C (350 F). Slice pumpkin into 5cm chunks. Spread on baking tray and crumble over chilli, garlic & a little salt. Drizzle over the mild-tasting olive oil, then roast for 40 min or until tender when pierced with fork. Set aside to cool.
Place mustard, vinegar, juice, a pinch of sea salt and some pepper in a bowl and whisk to combine. Whisk in hazelnut oil and extra virgin olive oil.
Combine lettuce, orange and pumpkin in a bowl. Spoon over the dressing and scatter with toasted hazelnuts. Serve salad immediately.

The quick & easy "up-do" of cheesecakes

2008-02-04T11:17:00.000-08:00

This ripper of a recipe comes from an advert I stumbled across in a food magazine a friend lent to me. I was looking for a quick and easy dessert, and this one took very little baking (just the crust, for 8min) so I gave it a go and it's now one of my favorite desserts to make.
Cheesecakes have always daunted me. Something about how perfect they look makes them appear like they'd be tricky to get the hang of. This one, however, requires so little effort I'm not sure it qualifies as a cheesecake at all. A shortbread crust (made from crumbed store-bought shortbread), a tub of cream cheese, dollop of sour cream, a few tablespoons of icing sugar, zest of one lemon, and some fresh berries on top, is all it takes to wow your mates.

Lemon meringue pie

2008-01-18T14:40:00.000-08:00

How else to describe this dessert than 'lemony goodness.' A long-time favorite in my family, my mum was a whizz at putting one together. Maybe after a few more goes I can get the meringue as crisp as hers.
I tried something different with presentation, serving them as individual miniature rounds rather than slices of a pie. The result, indulgence to the max: you get one all to yourself ;)

A New Year

2008-01-09T00:17:00.000-08:00

I've wanted to start a blog for some time, but now that 2008 is here I'm ready to jump in. 2007 was a good year. Neil and I celebrated our first anniversary in July, I finished my first year of Community College, and in September we had our very first house guest, all the way from Australia.