What I've been up to.

Hey bloggers!, what have you been up to? I've been away. I went to Jo'burg. my new favourite place. The energy's HIGH and the people are FUN. It restored my faith in humanity and/or South Africans. It's the first time I met Tswana people. I can't quite believe it. Cape Town feels so small when you get back. the bubble that is the western cape. But I still love you Cape Town, you are my favourite child. I went the Pilanesburg Game Reserve and chilled out with some elephants (cool sentients) I visited Sun City and swam in the Valley of Waves (realizing my childhood dream, at last) I went up the West Coast to surfer's paradise. we SUP'd, while the boys surfed. the sunsets out there are incredible. and on the interim i guess i've been working and gigging and getting ready for Afrika Burn. Our team has got a pop up cinema, and we're going to be showing movies. So yeah, that's me in a nutshell. the short version. I hope your Easter was cool and you got to do some relaxing. Here are some pics from my travels. x

Photos: Fiona Hare

New kid

I got a rabbit!!! For realz. His name is Rodger the Dodger. He's a dwarf Angora Blue Steel (that's his breed, I'm not making it up) IF you could get any pet what would you get? I'd get a couple of Golden Retrievers and a farm. Definately a farm.

Feathers, flowers, aztec

Sometimes you need a little inspiration. here are some pics to inspire.
Feathers. flowers,  all things aztec.
Today I am feeling: happy, grateful and inspired.
I got some good news on the phone just now. that we are building a music studio.
All my dreams are coming true, one by one, tumbling down. into tomorrow...

Lemon Thyme Cake

Oh my god. i have to make this.

LEMON THYME CAKE
for the cake {adapted from Martha’s strawberry cake that I love so much}
6 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened, plus more for pie plate
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup sugar
1 large egg
1/2 cup milk
1 tsp minced thyme
zest of one lemon
• preheat oven to 350 degrees.  butter a 10-inch pie plate.  mix flour, baking powder, and salt together into a medium bowl and set aside.
• mix butter and sugar on medium-high speed until pale and fluffy, about 3 minutes.  reduce speed and mix in egg, milk, thyme and lemon zest.
• gradually mix in flour mixture.  transfer batter to buttered pie plate.
• bake cake 10 minutes, then reduce oven temperature to 325 degrees.  bake until cake is golden brown and firm to the touch, about 1 hour.  cool completely before icing.
for the icing
1/2 cup confectioners’ sugar
3 tablespoons crème fraîche
1 vanilla bean, scraped
• in a medium bowl, whisk together the confectioners’ sugar, crème fraîche and vanilla bean until smooth.  spread the glaze all over the top of the cake and allow to drip over the sides.  let stand until the glaze sets slightly, then cut into wedges and serve.
 http://www.unruly-things.com/

Kimono dragon

I'm love Kimonos. I bought one yesterday which I wore last night for my gig. (bottom pic) I felt cool and calm and sophisticated ; ) I stumbled into this store called Cotton On in Cavendish yesterday, it is boho chic heaven. and reasonably priced, check it out here - you will love it! http://shop.cottonon.com/shop/women/

Italy

Don't you ever wish you could take a year out and just be? I would go to Italy and rent a Villa and just write and write and write and write. cool blue azure ocean. double volume rooms. Here are some spaces I'm dreaming about. Take a writing sabbatical.

What if we went to Italy, music & by Mary Chapin Carpenter
(click to listen)

What if we went to Italy
A suitcase of books and one bag a piece for the summer
I don't speak a word of Italian
Except for Campari and soda for two, how much is a Lire
Yes, a villa will do and a breeze, in Tuscany please

What if we spent all of our days, improving our minds, learning new ways to be lazy
It wouldn't be too much of a strain
Relax after breakfast till lunch comes around
Can't wait for dinner, oh, I need to lie down
And refuel, out by the pool

What if the ancients were lazy like us
Too blissed out to paint, to sketch or to sculpt
Just as relaxed as the tower of Pisa
Not ever missing that old Mona Lisa

What if we never got back on the plane
As summer turned colder and then warmer again
Losing all track of the passing of years
Till it no longer mattered how long we'd been here

What if we went to Italy
Maybe next year, just you and me for the summer
I still can't speak any Italian
But words are replaced under Siennese skies
By nothing so much as a nod, and a sigh, and a wish to be always like this

Valentines hair do

Valentines is around the corner, I am gigging as usual, so I can't spend it with my lovely. But I thought I'd celebrate it another night. This is a romantic hair-do which I think is perfect for Valentines Day and I'm going to try.

from http://joannagoddard.blogspot.com/2013/02/half-up-braided-crown.html#more

Gig night!

Las night was gig night. It went really well. and I had alot of fun. I played a 3 hour set at Upper Eastside, and some of it was filmed by Bands4Africa, which was great and nerve-wracking.
I'm getting used to doing things on my own. my sound desk that used to scare  me, doesn't anymore. My Fender's been playing up on the last 3 gigs with a bit of a loose connection (at Blue Bird Market, Down South Bar and Upper Eastside) so i've been playing my Cort steel string at gigs which is hell on the fingers (3 hours is a long set) My friend Dave Voster took a look at it on Monday at Bothners and fixed it for me, I am really grateful.

Happy New Year 2013

We road tripped. we left Cape Town and headed up the Garden Route. we overnighted a few nights at my friend's magical farm between the forests of Knysna and Plett. they have fireflies that visit and fly in a spiral dance every night. we saw a full moon rise. we harvested 100 vine leaves to make 100 dolmades. we harvested fresh herbs from the garden, and visited Sedgefield Market where my friends sell their handmade silver jewelry and leather goods. we swam in the rock pools of Kara Tara. my friends are living the good life.

We made our way to Hogsback, to the magical misty mountains of Terra Khaya and Away with the Fairies. we drank whiskey, we walked the Labyrinth. we partied on the edge of the world. we left the mist for the sunshine coast, to the shores of Cintsa and Buccaneers. this is a place of legends, the most beautiful shore line, people and food. The Barefoot Cafe gets a special mention. it was a holiday to remember, my thanks.

Photos: Fiona Hare

In the studio

I was in the studio today recording the 7th track for my album. 3 more songs to go and i'm done. I'm playing electric guitar on it that has a slow, hard, grungy feel, my tribute to grunge, to the 90's. it was a fun session. i'm happy with my harmonies (which used to be so hard for me, but i'm getting better the more i do it) and with ashton's vision. i'm in the studio every Thursday till the album is done. the track is called Hands.

Shop Local

Support Local

I have a great belief is supporting local. Today I bought lunch from my friend, an out-of-work-mother-of-two. She receives no maintenance from her ex-husband. Our paths have crossed for a year now. I met her in Checkers with her teenage daughter. She started selling sandwiches where I work, and now she is doing amazing things: fresh ciabattas, and organic healthy salads for R25 each. (real value for money) I feel good for her, I feel good supporting her. She found a niche and went for it. She didn't sit around.

This year I tried to support local and buy local for Xmas presents. I went to a great home market in Muizenburg. My people loved what I bought them, and I wanted to share a few of the artists' goodies that were on sale (I could have bought so much more) (I am saving up more) (It's a good feeling.) These artists are among the best in Cape Town. They are ceramicists and jewelers and designers are creatives and I love their work.

 

http://www.mychinaceramics.com 

http://www.laurenfowler.co.za

http://www.steffanyroup.com/


http://www.genekierman.com/art-design/