September Spring

Hi all,

Happy new year!  (But going back a few months....)  It's still weird to me that the weather got warmer, not colder, as we moved through the holidays. While South Africa is quite temperate, there were some surprisingly cold days back in August.  With September came more sunny days with temperatures in the high 60s, low 70s.  Here's a mashup of pictures from the month.

Noah's shag was getting out of control and a new kids salon opened up in town, so we went to try it out.  Cute place, as you can see, but she gave him a bit of a mullet, so out with the new, back to the old.

 Noah sprinted out of the salon, proud of his new 'do.

My ink pen was low and I needed a new [cinnamon] quill.  (British-ism?) 
This is from our local "fancy" grocery store, Woolworths. It's a bit like Whole Foods but with fewer strange looking granola bars and it also sells lingerie. 
(Full disclosure: It's a department store.)

Noah's first day at pre-school.  

He was happy in the sand box but ended up hating school ("Too much homework!"), so we pulled him.  "Shame!" as they say here.  Not as in shame on you, but used here as either "Too bad" or just as often as "Isn't that cute!" It's confusing.)  He was only 17 months so we're going to try again soon at another place now that he's almost two.  (It'll be just a half-day program.)

Lucy at her swimming lesson.  

This is a classic South African business: it's run out of someone's home.  Lucy's teacher, Alex (in the water, MOT), has a huge, covered swimming pool right behind her house.  She and her husband, Byron, have been teaching lessons this way for 20+ years. 

Playground equipment not allowed in the States.

Lucy attended a birthday party at a local park (Zita Park) which has a bunch of crazy things that likely were banned from U.S. playgrounds in the 1960s and look like a lot of fun.

Lucy was a big fan.  

She also is very proud of her missing tooth. (She's lost two already. Our girl's growing up!)

Did I mention that this neighborhood park also has a small water slide? 
Lucy said she'd be "willing to try it."

Lucy eyes Adom's cake.  Adom (in pilot's hat, from Ghana, goes to Lucy's school) is plane crazy and had a plane-themed party.

Lettuce Turnip the Beet, indeed.

One September Saturday, we checked out a new market in Johannesburg, the Neighbourgoods Market. 

The  market is on the 2nd floor of an old parking deck that's been retrofitted with stalls and tables.  The scene was almost too hip for us Pretorians, but we managed to skirt by the style sensors.

 We met up with some friends, including Heidi O'Bra, James and Hannah Maloney.

Lucy viewed the market as the perfect opportunity to showcase her new sparkle dress with attached tutu.   (It's all the rage in Japan.)

 The kids were quick to "like" the market on FaceBook.

 On our way back to our car, Lucy took a few shots with my camera. 

She said she's inspired by the work of Richard Avedon, but prefers Annie Leibovitz
(because she's a girl).

 The photographer herself

 Busy Town

  Another weekend we checked out this South African restaurant called Moyo.  It's a bit gimmicky but the food is really good and they paint your face, which always wins votes from Lucy.

Noah was a little less sure about the face painting but put up with it.

Our friend, Jen Verani (right), was in town from Atlanta for work and joined us.

 Noah was a big fan of the fish curry. Or maybe he just liked trying to use the "grownup fork."

Lucy and our friend's daughter, Leah, enjoyed a traditional South African "Grapetiser" (sparkling grape juice).

If I remember correctly, the safari got home late and had trouble getting up in the morning. (Shame!)

xo

Glenn