Coffee with a conscience

W&N watercolour on Amedeo 200gsm

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The next time you're ordering your favourite morning cappuccino, spare a thought for the planet. Here's why.

Most of us are aware of climate change, but don’t always understand its far-reaching effects. Woolworths set out to change this when it undertook an expedition to Kilimanjaro in January.

"Climate change is one of the four pillars of our Good Business Journey," explains Woolworths Good Business Journey manager, Justin Smith. "Global warming results in increasing average air and ocean temperatures, and melting snow and ice. In Africa, Kilimanjaro’s melting ice cap is one of the most visible indicators of global warming."

The aim of the expedition, which was led and filmed by respected guide Sean Wisedale, was to raise awareness of climate change and its effect on coffee farmers in Tanzania – the farmers who grow the organic coffee Woolworths sells in its cafés.

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Smith explains: "Kilimanjaro's melting ice cap is directly threatening Tanzania's coffee farmers, who are reliant on the glacier melt for water. These organic farmers grow their coffee under the shady forest canopies on the slopes of the mountain, which means that once the ice disappears, there will be less water for their crops."

Climatologist and 50:50 presenter Simon Gear joined the expedition, along with South African Champion Barista, Ishan Natalie, and a team of passionate coffee and environmental enthusiasts. When the team reached the summit, they used water from the melting glacier to make a symbolic iced coffee drink.

The drink – minus the glacier water – was launched in Woolworths Cafés on 18 January 2011. It costs R16.
Taken from "Woolworths TasteMag"

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A mystery wrapped in brown,
A fragile enigma,
Enveloping the senses,
With the earthy steam
Of a bean.
The mind wrapped in warmth,
The essence of dark roast,
Heating from within,
The senses thrill,
With every lingering
Sniff of the aroma
In the mug
- by Drew K.

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It's so easy...

  It's so very easy to gripe and complain
                                To dwell on your sorrows or maybe your pain
                                To start every day with a feeling so blue
                                Wondering why life is unfair to you

                                It's also so easy to feel all alone
                                To think no one else knows the
                                heartache you've known

                                It's easy to look in the mirror and see
                                A person whose luck is as bad as can be
                                But looking at things in a whole other light
                                Can make all your problems seem ever so light
                                
                                If you start every day with a really big smile
                                If you do what you need to with grace and with
                                style
                                If you think how much worse that your life could
                                have been
                                If you take just one frown and turn it into a
                                grin
                                If you see someone else whose much worse off
                                than you
                                Yet they seem to be happy, that should give you
                                a clue

                                How easy it is to forget what we've got
                                To dwell almost always on what we have not
                                But practicing how to be thankful for things
                                Makes it easy to face life and all that it brings

                                I'm not saying it's easy to hold up your chin
                                To not feel discouraged and throw the towel in
                                But counting your blessings instead of your woes
                                Brings new comfort and hope to your life, Heaven
                                knows

                                Find something good about every new day
                                Find something positive that you can say
                                No matter how trivial, little or small
                                Even if you think it's not much at all

                                A small thing today and another tomorrow
                                Will add up and grow till it lightens your sorrow
                                Each day becomes easier and then you'll see
                                A smile in the place where a frown used to be

                                Author Unknown

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Finger Nails and Coconut oil

A couple of weeks ago I noticed that my finger nails had vertical ridges on them (running from the base of the nail to the tip). Upon Googling this, I found that the main cause is ageing, dryness and also possibly bad circulation. I was worried that it might be an indication of ill health, but not so. Horizontal ridges, on the other hand, are connected to damage of the nail, like a sharp blow, as well as health issues.

I doubt that it is bad circulation, I do get a fair bit of exercise (at least my hands do!), And the dryness could be caused by gardening, I don't often wear gloves, who can dig in the soil with gloves on? And the ageing I can actually do nothing about!

I did some research and found various oils that can be used as a treatment and one suggestion was Jojoba oil or any other natural oil. However, I'm a fairly in-a-hurry kind of person, so not having any Jojoba in stock, I raided my bathroom cabinet and found some Coconut Oil. Coconut oil tends to solidify under 24°C (76°F), so mine was in solid form (it's winter here in South Africa), which is useful for scooping out of the bottle with the back-end of a teaspoon as one just needs a small amount.

I started massaging my nails, cuticles and the base of the nail with the Coconut oil and within a couple of days there was a marked improvement (now, if only I could stop biting them!). Studies on Coconut oil also show that it improves the moisture and lipid content of the skin so I started extending massaging up to my hands and I have found that it gets absorbed into the skin very quickly, not leaving any oily residue for long.

I've been doing the treatment daily for about 2 weeks now and I'll keep it up for another 6 weeks and then report back (roundabouts the 6th October 2013). Unfortunately I never took any pictures of my nails before starting the treatment, I was in such a hurry to get it going! Hopefully I've have some pics for the up-date.

Coconut oil is one of the best natural nutrients for your hair. It is an excellent conditioner and helps the re-growth process of damaged hair. For years now I treat my scalp and hair once a month to a good massage of coconut oil, leaving it on for a couple of minutes before giving it a good rinse. For use on hair I melt the solidified Coconut oil by standing the bottle in a container filled with hot water.

Further research on the benefit of coconut oil on the skin revealed that it is comparable to that of mineral oil. Fortunately, unlike mineral oil, there is no chance of having any adverse side effects on the skin from the application of coconut oil. Coconut oil therefore is a safe solution for preventing dryness and flaking of skin. It also delays the appearance of wrinkles and sagging of skin which normally accompany aging and lightens age spots when rubbed directly on the skin.

Coconut oil also helps in treating various skin problems including psoriasis, dermatitis, eczema and other skin infections. For that exact reason, coconut oil forms the base ingredient of various body care products like soaps, lotions, and creams that are used for skin care. Coconut oil also helps in preventing premature aging and degenerative diseases due to its well-known antioxidant properties. It has also been proven to be effective as a sunscreen, blocking about 20% of the sun’s ultraviolet rays.

More benefits of Coconut Oil

101 Uses for Coconut Oil

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Dolfyne

Met dagbreek baljaar dolfyne op die golwe
Waar die son se strale die hemelruim verlig
terwyl die branders die see sand omdolwe
Hulle groet elke môre met ‘n lied.

Hulle lyk so gretig oor wat die nuwe dag
hulle gaan bied.

Ons wêreld verskil so van hulle s’n,
dit was so van die begin
Die mense dink hulle probleme se
oplossing is met gewere.

Maar dolfyne bou aan ‘n beter toekoms
en vergeet van die verlede.

Dolfyne is die vriendelikste diere onder in die see.
En is altyd bereid om liefde te gee.
So as jy dink die wêreld is vir jou kwaad.
Onthou: Dolfyne bly nog steeds jou beste maat.

Lucretia Aucamp (11) 

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If I had my life over...

by Erma Bombeck  

We all know this one...

I would have gone to bed when I was sick instead of pretending the earth would go into a holding pattern if I weren't there for the day.

I would have burned the pink candle sculpted like a rose before it melted in storage.

I would have talked less and listened more.

I would have invited friends over to dinner even if the carpet was stained, or the sofa faded.

I would have eaten the popcorn in the 'good' living room and worried much less about the dirt when someone wanted to light a fire in the fireplace.

I would have taken the time to listen to my grandfather ramble about his youth.

I would have shared more of the responsibility carried by my husband.

I would never have insisted the car windows be rolled up on a summer day because my hair had just been teased and sprayed.

I would have sat  on the lawn with my grass stains.

I would have cried and laughed less while watching television and more while watching life.

I would never have bought anything just because it was practical, wouldn't show soil, or was guaranteed to last a lifetime.

Instead of wishing away nine months of pregnancy, I'd have cherished every moment and realized that the wonderment growing inside me was the only chance in life anyone ever gets to assist God in a miracle.

When my kids kissed me impetuously, I would never have said, "Later. Now go get washed up for dinner." There would have been more "I love you's",  More "I'm sorry's."

But mostly, given another shot at life, I would seize every minute...look at it and really see it ... live it and never give it back. Stop sweating the small stuff.

 Don't worry about who doesn't like you, who has more, or who's doing what.

 Instead, let's cherish the relationships we have with those who do love us.

Let's think about what God HAS blessed us with, and what we are doing each day to promote ourselves mentally, physically and emotionally, as well.

We have one shot at this and then it's gone.

I hope you all have a blessed day.

Die Vlakte

Ek slaap in die rus van die eeue gesus,
ongesien, ongehoord,
en dof en loom in my sonnedroom,
ongewek, ongestoord.
Tot die yl-bloue bande van die ver-verre rande
skuif my breedte uit,
wyd-kringend aan die puur al-omwelwend asuur
wat my swyend omsluit.

Jong aarde se stoot het my boesem ontbloot
bo die diep van die meer;
en volswanger van lewe 't oor die waat're geswewe
die gees van die Heer.
Uit die woelende nag van haar jeugdige krag
brag die aarde voort
Lewiatansgeslagte, geweldig van kragte -
storm-ontruk aan haar skoot.
Diep in my gesteente berg ek hul gebeente -
die geheim van hul lewe en lot;
maar gewek uit die sode herleef uit die dode,
na die ewig hernuwingsgebod,
die van d' verlede in vorme van d' hede,
in eindeloos komme en gaan;
wat die dood my vertrou 't, ek bewaar dit as goud,
en geen grein sal 'k verlore laat gaan.

As die son oor my vloer in die more kom loer,
en die dou van my lippe kom kus,
dan kyk ek net stom met 'n glimlag om
en ek lê maar weer stil in my rus.
Hog bowe die kim op sy troon geklim,
is hy heer van lewe en dood;
na wil of luim gee hy, skraal of ruim,
verderf of lewensbrood.

Uit die gloeiende sfeer brand hy wreed op my neer,
tot my naaktheid kraak en skroei,
en my koorsige asem in bewende wasem
al hygend my bors ontvloei.
In sy skadetjie rond om sy stam op die grond
staat 'n eensame doringboom,
soos die Stilte op haar troon, met dorings gekroon,
wat roerloos die eeue verdroom.
Geen drop vir die dors aan my stofdroë bors:
my kinders versmag en beswyk,
en die stowwe staan soos hul trek en gaan
om my skrale dis te ontwyk.

Soos 'n vlokkie skuim uit die sfere se ruim
kom 'n wolkie aangesweef,
maar hy groei in die blou tot 'n stapelbou
van marmer wat krul en leef -
kolossaal monument op sy swart fondament,
waar die bliksem in brul en beef.
En o, met my is die windjies bly:
hul spring uit die stof orent
en wals en draai in dwarrelswaai
oor my vloer, van ent tot ent:
die gras skud hul wakker om same te jakker,
tot hy opspring uit sy kooi
en soos mane en sterte van jaende perde
sy stingels golf en gooi.

Met dof-sware plof, soos koeels in die stof,
kom die eerste drupples neer,
tot dit ruis alom soos deur die gebrom
en gekraak van die donderweer.
Met kloue vooruit om te gryp en te buit
jaag 'n haelwolk langs verby,
soos 'n perde-kommande wat dreun oor die lande
vertrap en gesel hy-
en sy lyke-kleed sien ek ver en breed
in die awendson gesprei.

Stil in die duister le 'k so en luister
hoe die spruite gesels en lag;
maar bowe die pak van my wolkedak
het die maan al lank gewag:
nou breek en skeur hy 'n baan daardeur
om te deel in my vreug benede;
hy sprei die waas van sy romig-blou gaas-
en ek lag so stil-tevrede.
Plek op plek, soos die wolke trek,
sweef die skaduwees onder mee,
soos eilande wyd oor die waat're verspreid
op die boesem van die grote see.
Met 'n afskeidskus gaan die maan ook ter rus,
en ek wag op die daeraad-
so skoon en so mooi soos 'n fris jong nooi
wat lag in haar bruidsgewaad.

Oor die bulte se rug slaat die gloed in die lug
van die brande wat ver-weg kwyn,
en doringbome fluister in rooi skemerduister
van gevare wat kom of verdwyn.
Uit slote en plas, uit die geurende gras,
styg 'n danklied op ten hemel;
en dis net of ek hoor hoe die kriekies se koor
weergalm uit die sterre gewemel,
waar wêrelde gaan op hul stille baan
tot die einde van ruimte en tyd.
So, groots en klaar, staat Gods tempel daar,
wyd - in sy majesteit.

- Jan F.E. Celliers

Encouragement for the heart

~  THERE IS NO FAILURE EXCEPT IN NO LONGER TRYING.

~  OUR GREATEST GLORY IS NOT
    IN NEVER FALLING,
    BUT RISING EVERY TIME WE FALL.

~  SOW A THOUGHT, AND YOU REAP AN ACT.
    SOW AN ACT, AND YOU REAP A HABIT.
    SOW A HABIT, AND YOU REAP A CHARACTER.
    SOW A CHARACTER, AND YOU REAP A DESTINY.

~  TRULY LONELY IS THE PERSON WHO CANNOT OPEN UP
    HIS HEART TO OTHERS, AND WHO FINDS THAT OTHERS
    DO NOT OPEN UP THEIR HEARTS TO HIM.

~  WHAT YOU THINK OF YOURSELF, IS MUCH MORE IMPORTANT
    THAN WHAT OTHERS THINK OF YOU.

~  ONE OF THE MOST TRAGIC THINGS ABOUT HUMAN NATURE IS
    THAT ALL OF US TEND TO PUT OFF LIVING.  WE ALL
    DREAM OF SOME MAGICAL ROSE GARDEN OVER THE HORIZON -
    INSTEAD OF ENJOYING THE ROSES THAT ARE BLOOMING
    OUTSIDE OUR WINDOWS TODAY.

~  I WILL NOT PERMIT ANY MAN TO NARROW AND DEGRADE MY
    SOUL BY MAKING ME HATE HIM.

~  UNTIL YOU KNOW THAT LIFE IS INTERESTING -
    AND FIND IT SO -
    YOU HAVEN'T FOUND YOUR SOUL.

~  HUMAN BEINGS, BY CHANGING THE INNER ATTITUDES
    OF THEIR MINDS, CAN CHANGE THE OUTER ASPECTS
    OF THEIR LIVES.

~  I REALISED THE PROBLEM WAS ME, AND NOBODY COULD
    CHANGE ME EXCEPT MYSELF.

~  WHEN PRIDE COMES,
    THEN COMES DISGRACE;
    BUT WITH HUMILITY COMES WISDOM.

~  IN ORDER TO FLY, WE MUST HAVE TWO WINGS.
    SPREAD YOURS AND KEEP EXERCISING THEM.

~    FOR EACH OF US - NO MATTER WHAT OUR SITUATION - THERE IS HOPE.

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Enjoy...

... the simple things in life

An African pot filled with seed pods and a Pheasant feather - treasures found in nature. 

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Coffee prayer

W&N watercolour on Amedeo 200gsm watercolour paper

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Caffeine is my shepherd;
I shall not doze.
It maketh me to wake in green pastures,
It leadeth me beyond the sleeping masses.
It restoreth my buzz,
It leadeth me in the paths of consciousness
for it's name's sake.
Yea, though I walk through the valley of
the shadow of addiction,
I will fear no Equal
for thou art with me;
Thy cream and thy sugar
they comfort me.
Thou preparest a carafe before me
in the presence of Thy Starbucks,
Thou anointest my day with pep;
My cup runneth over.
Surely richness and taste
shall follow me all the days of my life:
and I will dwell in the house of Mocha forever.
Amen! Amen! Amen!
- Author Unknown

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Blissful collecting

Joseph Campbell said, “If you do follow your bliss you put yourself on a kind of track that has been there all the while, waiting for you, and the life that you ought to be living is the one you are living. Follow your bliss and don’t be afraid, and doors will open where you didn’t know they were going to be.” 

Following your bliss means different things to different people - for some it means spending more of their weekends and time off doing what they love, for some it is playing with their grand-children and for others climbing Kilimanjaro. What we all need is our own personal recipe for bliss. 

One blissful past-time for me is collecting - Collecting feathers, old vintage glass and glass bottles, things found in nature, antique silver, crystals - Collecting the Moments... one by one...

Vintage glass bottles and two new cough mixture bottles, just because they're pretty...

Antique glass and silver... a cut-glass cruet set, cut-glass perfume bottle, cut-glass glass dish, silver and enamel hair brush set, to the far left an antique silver chain mail purse, small gold hand mirror inlaid with turquoise beads and on the left, a 1901 silver star pendant with inlaid seed pearls 

Vintage and antique silver cutlery, some with bone handles, some with mother-of-pearl 

Vintage cutlery with bone handles

A small part of my crystal collection   

things found in nature - seed pods and some Impala dung... 

A collection of vintage brass locks, animal skulls and insect exoskeletons

So, "Nothing is more important than reconnecting with your bliss. Nothing is as rich. Nothing is more real." 
- Deepak Chopra

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Biltong - South Africa's national snack

Biltong is a variety of dried, cured meat that originated in Southern Africa. Various types of meat are used to produce it, ranging from beef and game meats to fillets of ostrich from commercial farms. It is typically made from raw fillets of meat cut into strips following the grain of the muscle, or flat pieces sliced across the grain. It is similar to beef jerky in that they are both spiced, dried meats. The typical ingredients, taste and production processes differ, the main difference being that biltong is usually thicker (from cuts up to 1" (25 mm) thick), while jerky is rarely more than 1/8" (3 mm) thick. Also, biltong does not have a sweet taste.

Recipe - Ingredients needed:

    •    Beef (Preferably Silverside/London Broil)
    •    Rock Salt
    •    Coarse Ground Black Pepper
    •    Coarse Ground Coriander
    •    Vinegar (preferably Apple-Cider vinegar)
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First, be sure to sterilize all your hooks, knives, and working surfaces by washing well in hot water and
soap.
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Get some half-inch thick strips of beef (silverside - called London Broil in the US). Make sure it's cut with the grain. The pieces should be about 6 inches long. Liberally sprinkle rock-salt on each side of the pieces of meat and let them stand for an hour. The longer you let it stand the saltier it will become.
After the hour, scrape off all the excess salt with a knife (don't soak it in water!). Then get some vinegar - preferably apple-cider vinegar, but any vinegar will do. Put some vinegar in a bowl and brush (do not dip) the strips of meat with the vinegar - just so that the meat is covered in the vinegar. Hold the biltong up so that the excess vinegar drips off.
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Then sprinkle ground pepper and ground coriander over the meat on all sides.
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Once you have done this, the meat is ready to dry. There are several methods of drying. One is to hang it up on a line in a cool place and have a fan blow on it. This method is a bit difficult because if the air is humid the meat can spoil. The method I use is a home-made 'Biltong Box'. This is basically a sealed wooden box (you can use cardboard if you like) with holes in it and a 60w lightbulb inside. Just hang the meat at the top of the box, and leave the lightbulb on at the bottom. The heat from the lightbulb helps dry the meat (even in humid weather) in about 3-4 days. Remember, the box must be closed on all 6 sides except for a few holes (as per the diagram below). The whole theory behind this method is that hot dry air rises thus drying the biltong. The holes are quite important as they promote good air circulation in the box.
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You'll know when the biltong is ready when it is quite hard, but still a bit moist inside. Of course, some people like it 'wet' and others like it 'dry'. It's all a matter of taste. Most South Africans I know like it in between - basically just a bit red inside. If it has gone green, then the meat has spoiled (i.e. don't eat it).

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