Urban gardening

So Francien basically tells me she's going to plant some broccoli in my garden. She arrives at my place with two boxes of broccoli plants, fertilizer, a watering can, some gardening tools and a huge smile. As if I don't have any of those...
My other gardener-neighbour-friend, Renate, also happens to be there and the two of them start to dig holes in my garden while I watch helplessly. It turns out to be great fun and extremely therapeutic.
Renate previously sowed rocket in my garden and there is way more of the tasty green leaves than what I can eat. I love the way my friends take over my garden and make a contribution to this ever-changing little green space.

Boeremark

Long before markets became hip and happening, there was the Boeremark. Brought to you by the people who crossed the Drakensberg barefoot, the people with the rough hands and the laugh-lines around their eyes, the people who wake up at 2am every Saturday morning and drive 200 kilometers to sell their produce and make a living.
We've been going for a few years now and I never get tired of the assortment of smiles, dogs, kids, outfits and jokes. Everybody wants you to taste just a small "stukkie" of their pride and joy.
Long live this authentic, legendary establishment!

Our loot: Melkkos, German potato bacon soup, syrup waffles and pepper sweetmilk cheese.

For those who don't know: The Boeremark is situated at the Pierneef Museum in Silverton. For more information, click here.Get there early - it's open from 05:30am to 09:30am. Saturdays only.

Sunnyside Sunday

I feel human again. Architecture had to take the backseat just for today and we had a normal Sunday: walking the dogs in the neighbourhood, taking photos, making comfort food, sitting in the sun. It was a glorious day with beautiful weather and I have some footage to share of the vibrant, rich neighbourhood we live in.

It all started with the nice light inside our house.

I will never get tired of the modernist aesthetic of the apartment blocks - functional yet beautiful, with very strong horizontal or vertical lines, protruding slabs and the use of clay bricks or the blue mosaic panels that is such a distinctive characteristic of the Pretoria vernacular.

In Sunnyside, you do whatever you can to make ends meet and entrepreneurship is not uncommon in this part of town. I think there must be at least 100 of these beauty salons in Sunnyside. They are open at the oddest hours of the day hand I love walking by, looking at braiding and gossiping taking place. 

A very tired four legged companion....

And at last...signs of spring.

What a pity

Yes, it's all over the news and the entire Blogville will also be on it as we speak. But here's my bit on this tragedy:
She had incredible talent and I believe she had so much more to give with her music. Amy, you will be missed. May your music live on. May you find peace.

Image from youthoughtso.com

On repeat lately...

I am absolutely in love with this music from Bon Iver (pron: "bon e-vair"). The lyrics are heart-wrenching and the sound is just so so beautiful. This is their first album. They released their second album last month and I've honestly not even tried to get hold of it, since I am obsessing over this one for now.

You know how it is when music leaves that lump in your throat.

Blindsided

bike down... down to the downtown

down to the lockdown... boards, nails lie around

I crouch like a crow
contrasting the snow
for the agony, I’d rather know
cause blinded I am blindsided

peek in... into the peer in
I’m not really like this... I’m probably plight-less

I cup the window
I’m crippled and slow
for the agony
I’d rather know
cause blinded I am blindsided

would you really rush out for me now?

taught line... down to the shoreline
the end of a blood line... the moon is a cold light

there’s a pull to the flow
my feet melt the snow
for the irony, I’d rather know
cause blinded I was blindsided

cause blinded I was blindsided

cause blinded I was blindsided

found words

cherish your solitude. take trains by yourself
to places you have never been. sleep out alone
under the stars. learn how to drive a stick shift.
go so far away that you stop being afraid of not
coming back. say no when you don't want to do
something. say yes if your instincts are strong, even
if everyone around you disagrees. decide whether
you want to be liked or admired. decide if fitting in
is more important than finding out what you're doing here.
believe in kissing.

even ensler


I found these beautiful words here. This has so much meaning for me. Right here, right now.

Objects of desire...made accessible

Thanks to my liefie for suggesting I post about this. I've been wanting a Leica since forever. An analogue one. Matthew Nicholson is a designer / photographer based in London, making this beautiful, rare camera a small reality for plebs like me. You can now assemble your own paper camera and have a pinhole "leica". How clever is that. And it really works. Also love the Fauxlex watch "pattern"...

Okay, back to work (can you hear the whips cracking in the background?)!!!

confession #13

I like tattoos. I find the beauty and permanence exhilarating, bad-ass and a bit rebellious. Don't get me wrong, I'm not into tramp-stamps and badly executed home-made jobs. A tattoo must be done by a really good artist and be absolutely perfect. It should preferably have a story to tell - about your life, love and losses.
I don't have a tattoo and I doubt if I will ever get one (for all the above reasons) but some people are lucky enough to have amazing ink...

Above two images: from a cup of Jo.

This one has an amazing story to tell. Go to Neither Snow to read the rest.