Tea at the Cabin

The Cabin has a selection of temptingly displayed cookies and sweets

Whenever we feel like going out for a nice cup of tea (my hubby always opts for the plunger coffee) and the most delicious chocolate cake, we drive 35 km down the road to The Cabin, a farm stall on the way to Lesotho.

There is an eclectic array of wonderful gifts to choose from

Apart from scrumptious fare (they serve breakfast all day and have various snack meals on the menu which have evolved because the passing trade normally consists of travellers who don’t want to wait too long before eating), there is a gift shop which offers any and every type of gift you can think of: note books and pens, carved artifacts, embroidered tote bags, a selection of ladies' clothing, soaps, preserves, assorted nuts, dried fruit, honey, lavender sugar, olives and a plethora of sweets and biscuits.

The most popular items on sale are garden decorations made from rusted metal! Other very fashionable garden ornaments offered are made from sandstone. (Huge blocks are cut out of the hills in the area and sculpted into shape: bird baths, pillars, huge balls and the most delightful cats.)

Preserves, embroidered tote bags, framed mirrors and flavoured sugars are all wonderful gift choices

My son and daughter-in-law relaxing at The Cabin

One Saturday afternoon, while my husband was away at work, my younger son and his wife invited me for tea at the Cabin. While waiting outside, my son spotted new toys which the proprietress placed all over the lawn for children to play on. This day he decided to try out one of the new little carts parked up there. He pushed the cart up the hill on the property, got on and with a swift push on the ground with his left foot , he careened down the hill. Fortunately he's not very heavy and didn’t do any damage to the cart. He had great fun though!

Is a man ever too old to have fun?

As we left, we spotted a new feature the innovative owner of the Cabin has set up. She had life-size people made out of the rusty metal (there is an artist on the premises permanently creating things) A board next to the metal “family” stated “Take your picture”. In a flash my son and daughter-in-law went behind the frames, stuck their faces in the openings and posed for my photograph!

So even though it wasn't Tea at the Dorchester, we managed to have oodles of fun!

A Ray of Hope

So often when trials and tribulations come our way, we look inward. What have I done to deserve this? What did I do for this to happen to me? So often, too, we don’t find the correct answers here.

The only thing to do when you’re experiencing pain, loss or troubles of some kind, is to turn to the Lord. There is always hope in the Lord. No matter how terrible a situation we face, there is hope for the future. God is still in the business of restoration and healing.

Deuteronomy 32:27 assures us that “The Eternal God is your refuge, and His everlasting arms are under you.”

In the popular and well known Bible passage, 1 Corinthians 13, which is read at many weddings, we learn that the summary of the Christian life is the triad (harmony) of faith, hope and love. Of course, the greatest of these IS love. If I have no love for my neighbour, for myself or for my God I ‘m in danger of becoming embittered. If my spirit is filled with negativity and pessimism, I cannot grow in faith; I have no hope for the future.

According to Romans 5:3-5, *our hope lies in the proven character that comes through perseverance*.

To follow the above [advice] is extremely difficult, no doubt about it. To push through when you’re convinced nothing will ever come right again, is a real test of faith. However, try to surround yourself with people who can edify and uplift you. Find a trustworthy friend to be your mentor. Sow in your time of need. For instance, if you’re struggling financially, help someone worse off than you with a little gift of money. If you’re feeling sad and lonely, visit someone who doesn’t go out much or receive many visitors. (An elderly person is an ideal candidate)

When you reach out to others and show brotherly love and compassion for your neighbour, God will bless you abundantly. He will also give you a sense of peace that passes all understanding.

Zephaniah 3:17: For the Lord your God arrived to live among you. He is a mighty saviour. He will rejoice over you with great gladness. With His love He will calm all your fears. He will exult over you by singing a happy song.

Faith in an all-powerful God is demonstrated by living one day at a time. Love is shown as principles of truth are demonstrated through sacrificial service to others. Hope carries us through the hard times as we depend on God.

Lazy Housewife's Dinner

Braised salt beef simmered in one pot with vegetables
Delicious hot or cold, be sure to serve salt beef with Hot English Mustard

A simple yet very satisfying meal

A while ago I made one of my husband’s favourite meals: salt beef and vegetables. He was away at work at the time, so I cooked it for the Creare Children who stay with me every Thursday. (you can read about them on yesterday's post) I learnt to cook this English meal, known as Lazy Housewife's Dinner, from my hubby's paternal grandmother, Nan. This dear old lady, who has long since passed on, did not spend hours in the kitchen but everything she made was tasty and very simple to prepare. Nan (by her own admission) preferred to sit in her easy chair and study form (horseracing) choosing her bets for the next race day, rather than slave in front of a hot stove!

I popped into our butchers and managed to procure a nice piece of salt beef. When I arrived home, I heated the oil in a heavy bottomed saucepan and braised the salt beef on both sides. I removed the meat and I sliced two onions and fried them in the same oil. I returned the meat to the saucepan and added enough water to just cover. Then I added two large whole carrots, four to five new potatoes and a whole peeled onion. (The carrots and potatoes were washed and cooked with the skin) I added a few peppercorns and a pinch of mixed herbs. Covering the saucepan, I turned down the heat and allowed the meal to simmer gently until done. (About an hour and a half)

Serve salt beef and potroasted vegetables with tender green peas and fluffy white rice. Be sure to have a pot of Hot English Mustard on the table. No salt beef dinner is complete without mustard.

Freeze any leftover meat and use for cold meat at a later date.

As Grandma-in-law proved, this really is a Lazy Housewife’s Dinner!