Cango Caves

Hello Friends!

My husband preached a revival in George (Actually the name of a city here) and we went on an adventure with the Van Stadden family.  We had a blast.  We visited a landmark known as the Cango Caves located in Oudtshoorn, South Africa.  It was beautiful and humid with very small spaces that we had to maneuver through.  Very small places.  Our guide was gracious enough to regale us with tales of people being stuck in the caves for 11 hours and having to be drenched with cooking oil, dishwashing liquid, and butter to be freed from tight places.  I wanted to leave.  Nevertheless we entered at our own risk.  Here are the pictures of my harrowing experience.

The entrance looks big enough right?  

Trust me there are no thoughts of food or drink at this point.  And who would light one up?? Natural gases people!!!

This looks like a monkey to me.

We were told that the African people lived inside the caves at one time.  We were also told that a Dutch man discovered them and had nothing but a lantern to guide him.  When you get deep inside the cave you realize how ridiculous both stories are due to the many drop offs and lack of exits.  I can believe that natives lived in the entrance of the cave as pictured but no further.

Interesting family gathering.

A map of the caves.  There were two routes to choose from.  We chose the adventure tour.  Just call me Indiana.

And there were bats also, just like on the ticket stub.

Yep. It got darker. 

Very pretty.

So this one looks like a dog to me. Or Batman.

This rock belongs in the NBA.  

So this point of the tour had awesome lighting for photographic purposes.  The tour in front us were taking forever.   They went over the allotted time to take photos, so they shut off the lights so that they would leave and we could take photos.  They left then caught sight of the light and came back.  Some people are clueless and rude.

It looks as if that giant rock is balancing on the stalagmites.

Beautiful formation of stalactites.

Not a very good picture but the girl here is named Leslie her and her husband Olaf (Frozen, yeah I know) were on their honeymoon and were on the tour with our group.  They hail from Finland.  They had gone bungee jumping the day before.  Young love is so adventurous.  She looks tired, hot and sweaty.  How we all felt.

I made them stop and wave, this was not done of free will.  Teenagers.

We had to climb up The Devil's Chimney.  That was the name of this particular part of the cave. It was a fitting name.   My knees hurt for days, I banged them on every rock in there to find my footing.

Olaf coming through the Letter Box.  We had to slide out on out stomaches after we fit through a small opening.  The pictures are blurry because I asked my son to take them, he didn't wait for it to focus.  I think that at this point he was delusional.

 Olaf.

We had to climb these narrow steps to get to and from our destination.  If everything in big in Texas then South Africa is the opposite.

Some of the names of the catacombs.  The Coffin, never been in one it was an experience.  One that the dead should only experience. 

There was no love in that tunnel!!!  That is where the lady got her whole tour stuck for 11 hours.  No way in, no way out for 11 hours.  I consider that a hostage situation.  In the defense of the staff, she was told that she was too fluffy to go in but she did it anyway.  It was the smallest and tightest place in the cave.  They call it the Tunnel of Love because of how close the walls are to one another.  You have to be somewhat fit to make it through though.  As we were leaving another tour was behind us and one of the ladies was at least 80.  I was like seriously, you took her money for this thing?  I hope that she is not taking the adventure tour or the Coffin may very well end up being hers.  My son is very athletic and he broke a sweat, the rest of us were hurting.  We had so much fun though, I so enjoyed myself and plan on going back in the summer.

Cango Caves!!!!  If ever in South Africa you have to go!!!!

From South Africa With Love,

Zorgvliet Vineyard Lodge and Spa

My husband and I just celebrated our anniversary.  We decided to spend a couple of days sans teenagers.  I found this place on booking.com. We booked the honeymoon suite,  I absolutely loved it.  The room was beautiful.  They have restaurants located on the property, a wedding chapel, spa and picnic areas.  You can also have a wine tasting tour (No we did not take the tour).  I didn't realize how many vineyards were located in South Africa, this is just one of many.  

I loved the color palette, I need the number of the designer asap.

I want this design for my bathroom.  The bedroom was vintage and as you can see the bathroom was very modern.  

Robes.

The view was amazing.  Surrounded by mountains and grapevines.  Winding roads led us to the chapel and restaurants, it was lovely.  It's fall for us here but I definitely plan to go again in the summer.  I would recommend this place to any and everyone.

From South Africa With Love,

A Living Work of Art

My husband recently celebrated a birthday and we decided to hit the town to celebrate.  We ate at an overpriced steakhouse (I'm not name dropping because they don't deserve the publicity) and enjoyed the Waterfront at night.  I had to force him to take this picture because I left my camera at home.  A living statue.  I thought that it was so cool the discipline that it takes to not move or talk, I have to do both or die.  My husband was  like "He just wants money!" and I was like, "Give him some!"  The statue broke protocol and shook my hand.  It was warm that night and as you can see he is dressed for colder climates, he deserved the money.  

This statue made me meditate on some things.  Like,  how I need to "Be still and know that he is God". Not the statue of course but our creator.  Sometimes we get so anxious for things, we want immediate satisfaction and it doesn't always happen.  More times than not we see it come along later.  Patience is a virtue that is beyond necessary in Christianity.  In this now, Now, NOW, generation that we live in.  Sometimes we just need to be still and listen for the still, small voice of God.  

From South Africa With Love,

High Tea

Tea is a main staple in every household here.  For one of the brides we had a Kitchen Tea, which is our version of a bridal shower.  I made shortbread, which is highly temperamental ( At one point I wanted to through it across the kitchen, I refrained).  It was my first High Tea, so I learned to make quite a few things that I have never ventured to make before.  Cucumber sandwiches was one, I found the recipe on Pinterest.  It was a Downtown Abbey recipe!  I personally think that cucumbers belong in salads or pickled, but never on bread.  As in Rome........  It was a lot of work but also a lot of fun.  One of the ladies from our church provided the space to host the tea.

I even made the doily decorations, glue guns are from hell.

Our dessert table.

I saw these on...... you guessed it Pinterest.  And thought what an awesome idea for cookies at a Hight Tea.  They are supposed to be tea bags, if you were wondering.

They came out excellent if I do say so myself (And I do!).

A chocolate bath.

Purdy!!!! (Translation: Pretty)

A decadent tower of delight.

Meringue, very sweet.  I purchased these.  Haven't mastered the art yet.

Yet.

From South Africa With Love,

Shades of Beauty

I saw this little girl during an outreach and had to take her picture.  She is beautiful and another example of what the South Africans label as coloured.  

She attended the outdoor concert that we had with Pastor Melrose with her siblings.  She was carrying the youngest around on her hip.  No parents in sight.  Most of these children raise themselves and their siblings.  Most will never go to college and have the opportunities afforded to them that we as American's have.  I learn more about the culture and political parties daily.  I love my country, we have our issues but America is truly the promised land.  God Bless America.

From South Africa With Love,

Sweet 16 (Sigh) & 17

My daughter who just happens to be the baby of our family turned 16 and her brother turned 17, 3 days later.  Yes, they are 11 months and 22 days apart.  No, we didn't plan it.  We threw them a party.  They went ice skating and then came home for pizza and wings.  He's a man so there were no decorations for him.  Purple is her favorite color but she humored me by letting me decorate in pink and white (Molly Ringwald, anyone?).  Here are a few of the pics.

Obsessed with bell shaped lids.

I love the pink pearl edible beads.

Pink Cookies!!!!  I just used a chocolate chip cookie recipe, used white chocolate chips and food coloring.

Can't have cookies without milk.  I saw a mini version of this glass milk container on Pinterest.  I found this one for a fraction of the cost.

Strawberry flavored Marshamallow's dipped in white chocolate.

It was nice.  Happy Belated Birthday Blog Israel & Michaela!!

From South Africa With Love,

Thank You Pasadena!!!!

The Mother Lode

I would like to thank the Pasadena Church and surrounding Houston churches for the "Care Suitcase".  I would also like to thank Pasadena for releasing their Pastor to come minister for us.  Pastor Lamont Melrose came and preached and awesome revival.  He also did an open air concert for us.  We had such a good time, we've known Lamont and his wife Jana for almost 19 years.  They are a wonderful couple and we really appreciate them.  My kids were so excited, thank you so much!

The man can sing, rap, and play any instrument that you give him.  And he does it all to glorify 

Christ.