Wanna run with me?

Lately my favorite running route is Leeu Street (Lion in Afrikaans)...and it is a beast of a run.  It's only 4.5 kilometers but it feels like 10.  We sit at the foot of the Soutpansburg Mountains and sometimes Leeu feels like it goes all of the way up.  Why don't you come with me?  I like to run from the house down to the bottom of Leeu.  That's the easy part, though there is one little hill (that little hill turns into a nice little break on the way back).  At the bottom you turn around and are rewarded with this:

See the top of the hill in the picture?  That's just half way, but I try not to think about that.  In the meantime, there is a slight uphill and we pass Ridgeway College.  This is the high school our children will go to if we still live here.

Just past Ridgeway on our left is a neighborhood and on the right is the velt (the "v" is pronounced "f").  

 And then, out of breath, you reach the top of that first hill and see this.  Do you see that house right in the middle with the orangey-red roof?  That's where we're heading.  

But first, turn around and see how far you've come!

First that little break (remember the uphill on the way down?), then a slow uphill the rest of the way.  This part is mostly in shade and there isn't much of a view because of all of the houses and trees.  And I have to confess that the end of the route is not so triumphant as the beginning.  You stop here at the stop sign.  They're still building in this area so there are workers all around that cheer you on and chat when you stop.  Some mornings that's a lot better than the view.  Remember the orangey-red roof?  There it is behind the half-finished house.  

This was a bright, sunny day, but the best are the ones that are cloudy because the clouds come down on the mountains and you run in a mist.  Feet on the ground, head in the clouds.  

Summer fun

Summer is starting to heat up around here and what better way to enjoy it than with an ice cream cone?  

 

While at the store buying the ice cream cones (well, we went to buy eggs and accidentally came away with ice cream) a woman came by selling these tractors.  The wheels are made of wood and the tires are scraps from real tires.

One of my favorite things here is tea with friends.  I just love the cute tea trays everyone puts together.  

I got these green dishes the other day and the girls and I just had to try them.  Want to come over for tea?  

Moth v. Mantis

A couple of weeks ago the kids found a large moth outside.  A happy hour was spent examining it and picking it up.  They thought it might be dying, but every time they made plans to bury it, it would flutter its wings.  Then we spotted this guy nearby:

And the kids *might* have been encouraged to see what would happen if the moth should meet the preying mantis...and the moth *might* have been put on top of the preying mantis.  We got to see both the moth and the preying mantis fly.  The moth escaped its own funeral and flew up into a palm tree.

In knitting news...there's this:

Ok, ok, it's not an oversized hat.  It's a poof, footstool, large ball to throw at your brother...and perch for Perry the platypus.  I've been seeing stools like this in stores here selling for about $200.  Craziness!  Total cost was about $29, but I think I can do it for less next time.  The stuffing I used was too squishy, but it works for the boys.  I want to try one in red with firmer stuffing.  

Come with me to Tshithithuni

Every Thursday morning Joanne teaches a ladies' bible class in Tshithithuni (pronounced "Chit-ta-tooni").   The Beckleys are leaving for the States on Monday and so today was the last Thursday class at Tshithithuni for the year.  I'll be teaching it starting in January until Joanne gets back in March.  Being the last of the year, all of the ladies brought food and provided us with a feast!

The church at Tshithithuni meets at the house of one of the members in a converted garage.   The Thursday ladies' class meets here as well.  This is the house and the open door at the left is the garage/meeting room.  Also notice the blue barrel positioned to catch rain water.  Much of the valley has no running water and the people rely on water trucks...or rain water, but more about that another time.  Sorry about the oversized pictures, but I wanted you to be able to see them properly.  

Once you enter that door this is what you see.  

Because this was the last class of the year the ladies all brought a dish and we had a little party.  

Be sure to wash your hands before you eat, Joanne! 

The ladies of the class with all of the good food.  And me...feeling conspicuous.   

This is the view as you leave the building.  Pictures just don't do it justice.  Such beautiful land.

Time to head home.  Anyone need a chicken?  Just R50!  (About $6)  You'll have to do the killing and plucking, though.   

Fast food, anyone?  

I just had to take a picture of this one.  "Lefty's Driving School"

A primary school.  It is difficult to pass this school (and many others) on my way to pick up our children from their school.  It's two different worlds an hour apart.  You want to help and make things equal, but you can't.  Time and development are the things that will really make the difference.  So you do what you can to help whoever you can, always being aware that some help can be harmful, and trying to find the right balance.  

The children call this Silver Lake.  

I like looking at this road every time we drive home.  

Coming back into town on the N1.