Entrepreneurship

Here we are, almost in the middle of another year again.  I must say we have had an exciting, productive year so far and are looking forward to things that lie ahead.

It has now been a year that my husband is working from home, you can see what he is getting up to at www.vertopia.co.za .  Our girls and I have have loved having him at home with us, being able to share in many of their learning experiences.

My business too has grown in leaps and bound, with a new website www.mandilee.co.za , that keeps me busy in every spare moment I have, next to school and the running of my home.

Caitlyn and Jaina have already learnt so much about business, the running of it and the hard work and determination that goes into making something a success.  We are glad to be able to instill that entrepreneurial spirit in them at their young age.

This year is also a special one, as my oldest daughter Caitlyn is turning 13........ 13!! I am going to have a teenager in the house!  She is turning into such a confident, helpful young lady and my heart is warmed by the maturity she shows in situations she is faced with.

Until my next post, be blessed!

You are very Special!

You are very special There's no one just like you Created by the Master God made you to be you You are very special Exclusively designed You are very special And I'm so glad your'e mine You were handmade by God He fashioned your heart You were handmade by God He knew you from the start You were handmade by God Unique in all your ways You were handmade by God To praise Him all your days

Back to School, back to reality!

Good friends, Good Times!

At the Walter Sisulu Botanical Gardens during the holidays

But for now, it's back to school - my girls don't look too sad to get back into the swing of things. Maybe it's because we LOVE to LEARN!

Making Edible Rocks

Toffee - (obisidian)

Honeycomb - (pumice)

Who knew Geography could be so much fun! We made our own "magma" and cooled it to see how different rocks are formed. Rock Recipe 1. Melt about 500g sugar with a little water in a saucepan. 2. Stir until it goes a golden brown. 3. Spoon half of the mixture onto a greased pan and let cool. 4. To the other half, add 1 teaspoon of baking powder. 5. The mixture will froth, quickly transfer to another greased pan and allow to cool. Break the mixture into pieces and there you have it edible rocks!

Making Crystals

We are back into the swing of things concerning homeschool - 2010! May this be a good, fruitful year! For Geography, we are studing minerals and how different crystals are formed. To make our own, we mixed a salt solution with red food coloring (rubies), epsom salt solution with green colouring (emeralds) and sugar solution with blue coloring (saphires). Then you hang a paper clip at the end of string in the middle of the solution for the crystals to start growing on, then the waiting game starts - at least 2 weeks. Who said school is boring?? We Love to learn!!

And the SNAKE is a .......

After much research and confirmation from a friend's husband (who knows a bit about snakes), the snake was in fact a Red Lipped Snake! The photo above looks just like him, but alive. http://momstheword-mandi.blogspot.com/2009/09/snake.html He had a brown body, black head and very distinct orange cheeks, so there you have it! They are not too poisonous, but will give you a craker of a headache if you get bitten. Red Lipped snakes live in marshy or wetlands (there are a few in the area), come out at night to feed on frogs. Now owls, (we have seen large ones around here) come out at night to feed on the snakes. I am almost sure one of them lost his supper the other night, when perching on our roof! Hope you enjoyed today's zoology lesson!

Why I love Johanesburg in the summer

One of the very special thing of Johannesburg in the summer is the hot, lazy days then in the early afternoon, the signs of a thunderstorm approaching. The deep rumble and the huge threatening clouds in the distance, has something so dramatic about it, a feeling of something so much bigger than ourselves. It can be quite daunting for someone that has not experienced one of these storms. The air goes quiet, as birds and animals seek shelter from the coming rain. Then come the first huge spots of rain that begin to fall, the drama starts to unfold - lightening, thunder, sheets of rain blowing against the window panes. Then when it is all over, everything springs to life again. The birds sing, the sun comes out and everything glistens, looking clean and sparkling. The air even smells fresh and new, with all the dust and pollen being washed away. Sigh, I love thunderstorms!

Snake!!!!

There was much excitement today when we had out tea break. On going outside to hang up the washing, there next to our veggie patch ...... was a ....... SNAKE! It is quite small, about the length of my fore arm. The snake is brown, with orange cheeks. It is dead and already has ants crawling all over it, thankfully! Otherwise I would not have known what to do with it. Well, we took the opportunity to have a quick zoology lesson, but Caitlyn and Jaina can't believe that we have living creatures like this in our very own garden (neither can I) - they are supposed to be behind glass at the zoo! I have gone further to find out what kind of snake it is, but to no avail. If anyone has a clue, please post, as we would love to know who this visitor was.

Welcome back Spring, my Friend

Yay! Spring is in the air!

It brings with it the hope of new things, a new beginning, a promise of a fun filled summer.

I was taking these photos a little earlier today, when our guinea pig, Sasha, came out to investigate what I was getting up to - it is out of focus, but I could not resist putting it in!

2 weeks ago, we planted beans, tomatoe seeds, spinach seeds and (for my husband) chillie seeds. This week we started seeing some green leaves popping up. Did I mention how much I love this time of the year?

Air and Fire Experiment

1. Use modelling clay to stick a candle upright in the centre of a small plate or tray.

2. Pour water in until it is about 2cm deep.

3. Light candle and place a glass/glass jar over it. The rim of the jar must be under the water, resting on the bottomm

4. Watch the candle flame carefully as soon as the jar is in place.

You will see the water level rise inside the glass/jar. It does this to replace the oxygen that was used up by the burning flame.

Once the oxygen is used up, the flame goes out.

Try this, it really works. We did this yesterday and the water is still inside the glass.

Let me know how yours turn out!

Mmmm, Chicken Pie!

It's chicken pie for supper tonight, YAY!

Caitlyn and Jaina also had a "finger in the pie" ha ha. Yes, they made the pastry cut outs to decorate the top and had such fun painting the egg on the finished product.

Who knew leftover chicken ala king could be such fun!

What is your favourite thing to do with your leftovers?

I Do Love to be Beside the Seaside!

Last week we went to Umhloti in Kwazulu Natal, for the week. Now bear in mind that we have not been away for over 2 years (not even a weekend).

We have been counting down the sleeps for such a long time. Caitlyn and Jaina had a great time in the sea (I must say that I did too!).

As you can see in the pic below, we had "visitors" that came looking for food most mornings! What a great life they must have, free food and look how peaceful he looks, gazing out to sea (or is it a biscuit he has spotted on the next balcony??).

At the swimming beach, the tide went out to reveal 2 beautiful swimming pools. There were swells and waves that the girls were "surfing" on.

On the rocks were huge groups of green anenemies(sp?) or sea flowers. It facinated Jaina who spent ages closing them all ("putting them to sleep for their mommy" - is what she said).

At night we toasted marshmallows over a fire. Notice the sea in the backround?

Then one morning, I was walking along the rocks and walked by a group of girls with a very broad American accent. I asked them where they were from and they said Michigan, USA. They told me that they were students touring South Africa. I told them that we were actually from Johannesburg and were enjoying an extended summer. Yes, here in JHB we are having very chilly weather right now.

Well, summer is officially over for us and it is back to the school books (next to the heater) for us!

Mmm...mother's Day!

Happy Mother's Day to all!

I was woken up this morning by Caitlyn and Jaina walking into my room with a breakfast tray, complete with heart shaped toast, fruit, juice and a cup of coffee.

They made me a card and in a beautiful bag was . . .

Lindt Chili Chocolate, my favorite!

What is your favorite chocolate?

Swine Flu

In recent weeks, cases of swine flu in countries including Mexico, the United States, Canada, Spain, and New Zealand have sparked international headlines and concern about the possibility of a pandemic, the worldwide spread of a disease affecting a large number of people.

But whether swine flu becomes labeled a pandemic or not, there’s no evidence in the United States or countries outside of Mexico that it’s any worse — or more dangerous — than the common seasonal flu.

So there’s no reason to panic. But it is smart to take precautions, like washing your hands often. To put things in perspective, here are some important facts about what’s going on.

About Swine Flu

Swine flu is a contagious respiratory virus that affects pigs year-round. The virus making headlines right now is a new strain of the swine flu, which is an influenza type A (H1N1) virus. This strain contains a combination of different flu viruses that affect pigs, birds, and humans. Because of the human component of the virus, it can spread from person-to-person more easily. Since this is a new strain of flu virus, people who had a flu shot this past winter probably won't be protected against swine flu. However, the virus does appear to respond to treatment with some of the same medicines used to treat common seasonal flu.

How It's Spread

Swine flu spreads in the same way that other flu viruses do — through the air when a person who has the virus sneezes, coughs, or speaks. People can also catch the virus after touching an object that someone with the virus sneezed or coughed on. As with other flu viruses, people who have the virus can be contagious a day or so before their symptoms start, so they can pass it on before they even know they're sick. You can't get swine flu from eating pork or pork products. Eating properly cooked pork is safe.

When Does an Outbreak become a Pandemic?

In the case of an infectious disease like influenza, the World Health Organization (WHO) defines a pandemic as any spread of a disease that is:

• new to the population and has no vaccine yet available
• passes easily from person to person
• has caused outbreaks in at least two or more countries in different parts of the world
• has the potential to cause serious illness and even fatalities

If the WHO decides that current swine flu outbreaks are a pandemic, it will alert governments to begin rolling out their pandemic preparedness plans. The plans may include guidelines for preventing the spread of disease, managing and treating infected persons, and vaccine development. It’s important to remember that a pandemic alert is a preventative measure and does not necessarily mean that most people will contract the illness or that many people will get seriously ill. It’s a way for governments to work together to stop the spread of the disease and find a way to keep it under control.

Who Is Especially at Risk?

As with other types of flu, kids with chronic medical conditions (like diabetes, heart disease, or asthma or other lung problems) can have more problems coping with the illness. They might get sicker and need more medical support; in some cases, hospitalization may be necessary. Pregnant women who catch the flu also are more likely to get sicker. Having the flu can increase the risk for complications during pregnancy, labor, and delivery. In infants, the flu can be life-threatening and requires immediate medical attention. Signs and Symptoms Symptoms of swine flu are similar to the common flu: fever, cough, sore throat, body aches, headache, chills, and fatigue, and sometimes diarrhea and vomiting. Swine flu also can cause pneumonia, which can make it hard to breathe.

Kids with any of these symptoms need immediate medical attention:

fast breathing or trouble breathing bluish skin color not drinking enough fluids very sleepy or lethargic in babies, being so irritable they don't want to be held fever with a rash flu-like symptoms improve, then return with fever and a worse cough

If you think your child has the flu, call your doctor — particularly if you live in any of the states that have reported swine flu outbreaks. To help track a possible epidemic, doctors and scientists can find out if someone has swine flu by taking a swab sample from the person's nose and throat and sending it to a lab to be analyzed. Doctors won't know the results of this test for a few days. Treatment

Currently, no medicine is specifically developed to prevent or treat this new strain of swine flu, but it does appear that some of the antiviral medicines used to treat common seasonal flu may ease symptoms and shorten the duration of illness. Kids without chronic health conditions usually tolerate infection with flu viruses fairly well. But if your child does have a chronic condition, like asthma, make sure to check with your doctor to help ensure the condition is under control. Likewise, if you're pregnant and come down with flu symptoms or have been exposed to someone who has the flu, see a doctor right away. You may need to take antiviral medications as a precaution for yourself and your baby.

These at-home tips can help most otherwise healthy kids cope with the flu:

drink lots of fluids to prevent dehydration get plenty of sleep and take it easy take acetaminophen or ibuprofen to relieve fever and aches (but do not give aspirin unless your doctor instructs you to do so) wear layers, since the flu often makes them cold one minute and hot the next (wearing layers — like a T-shirt, sweatshirt, and robe — makes it easy to add or subtract clothes as needed) Remember to call a doctor if your child seems to get better but then feels worse, develops a high fever, has any trouble breathing, or seems confused.

Protecting Your Family

There is no vaccine against this strain of flu, although scientists should be able to develop one once they have analyzed the new virus. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that families take these precautions against swine flu: If you recently traveled to Mexico and now have flu symptoms, tell your doctor. Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you sneeze or cough and put used tissues in the trash. If you don't have a tissue, cough or sneeze into your upper sleeve, not your hands. Clean your hands after coughing or sneezing — wash with soap and water or use alcohol-based hand cleaner. Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth. Keep sick kids home from daycare or school and limit their contact with others; kids should stay home 10 days after the onset of illness. Breastfeeding mothers who have the flu can continue breastfeeding, even if they're on antiviral medicines. But they may have to take additional precautions (like wearing a face mask) to reduce the risk to their baby. Talk to your doctor about how you can help keep your baby healthy. Eating Pork

Because the flu virus isn't transmitted through food, the CDC and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) say it's safe to eat pork. Of course, pork should be well cooked to avoid any illness. Cooking pork to a temperature of 160° F or higher will kill all viruses (use a meat thermometer to check the internal temperature when cooking meats). Don't eat pork that looks pinkish or bloody inside. There's no evidence that touching raw pork will transmit the virus — although it's always a good idea to wash your hands and all surfaces after touching any raw meat. Are U.S. Pigs Affected? Outbreaks of swine flu have been found in pigs in Mexico and Canada. The infected pigs in Canada contracted the illness from a herder who had previously been in Mexico. All infected pigs have been quarantined. So far, there's no evidence that any pigs in the United States are infected with this new strain of swine flu. Signs of flu in pigs are similar to those in humans. If you raise pigs or have a pet pig, call your vet if the pig seems to lack energy or has a fever, is sneezing or coughing, is having trouble breathing, or has a discharge coming from its eyes or nose.

Talking to Kids

Listening to news reports about swine flu can upset kids because they may focus on worst-case scenarios. You can help ease their fears by being available to answer their questions. You can tell kids that there's no need to panic about swine flu. The media and governments are on high alert to help limit the spread of the disease and help people who may become ill. The last flu pandemic that was serious enough to affect millions of people happened a century ago — before people had access to the medical knowledge, care, and medications that we have today. Reviewed by: Steven Dowshen, MDDate reviewed: April 2009 For more information or info on any other health related issues, visit http://kidshealth.org/parent/infections/lung/swine_flu.html

Sasha is Pregnant Again!

Our guinea pig, Sasha, is pregnant again.

Much to the delight of Caitlyn and Jaina. You see the last time she had 2 babies, we put her and the babies into an enclosure, one of the neighborhood cats got in and took both of the babies. I think it was because there was no where for them to hide. Now, I think that we must leave it up to Sasha and let her have her babies in the garden and be free to run and hide wherever they need to.

She is due any day now as her tummy is really bulging on both sides. Seems like she will have 2 again.

I will post pics as soon as they arrive!

Greek History - Minotaur!

As the legend goes, the Minotaur was half-bull and half-man and lived in a huge maze under the palace of Knossos. A brave young Greek prince called Theseus set out to kill it. The daughter of king Minos gave Theseus a magic sword and a ball of thread. The deeper Theseus went into the maze, he kept unwinding the thread, leaving a trail behind him. He used the magic sword to kill the monster and then followed the thread back to the outside world.

What made this lesson even more interesting was that the palace of Knossos still exists today and you can do the virtual tour at http://www.bsa.ac.uk/knosos/index.htm?vrtour , when you move over the pictures hold the mouse button down and you can "look around" in 3D. We tried to find the entrance to the maze to find the Minotaur, but sadly had no success.

Let me know if you find anything! :-)

Stonehenge, WOW!

It was built in stages over a period of more than a thousand years, and was finished around 1500BC.

To move one of the stones from the quarry 32km (20 miles) away, it took 10 000 men. Some of the stones weigh as much as 370 people. The holes that were dug for the stones to sit in, were dug with tools made of bone and deer antlers. The soil that came out of these holes were carried away in baskets by women. To shape the rock they used heavy stones. They also used these stones to carve out lumps/holes, so that each of these rocks fit like a glove into each other.

It is thought that it was used for religious ceremonies, but some experts think that the mysterious stone circle was also used as a giant outdoor calendar.

What do you think?

Earth Day

Today is Earth Day.

People all over the world are coming together to celebrate the natural wonders of our planet and to dedicate themselves to preserving those wonders for future generations.

In the southern Line Islands, the Ocean Now expedition is showing us just how rich and diverse our ocean can be--and what we risk losing if humans continue to pollute, overfish, and injure our planet's natural ecosystems. Precious few pristine and undamaged coral reefs remain, so it's up to us to raise awareness about the need to protect these rare gems.

We must all do our part, no matter how big or small, we can all make a difference!

Viva South Africa!!

Yes, once you have heard a lion roar in the bush in the early hours of the evening, seen an elephant majestically cross the path in front of you, looked into the eye of a buffalo a few meters away, stood at the tip of the mountain at Cape Point and watched the two oceans meet, lived and breathed in this beautiful country of South Africa, you can travel far and wide, but still know that South Africa is your home!

We have our elections coming up on Wednesday 22 April, please pray that it will be peaceful and that God's will be done concerning the future of our country.

Homeschooling and Loving it!

We only started homeschooling at the beginning of March as we ordered late and had to wait for our books to arrive. So, during the school break over Easter, we worked through. Not that it was too much of a punishment, as we are all loving the learning!

In South African history we have been learning about the Bushmen or San People. No one really knows why they did these beautiful drawings on their cave walls. Some say that it was done during story telling or braging sessions, others say it was to teach strategy for hunting the next day. It could even have just been for decoration. Whatever it was for, it tells us the story of the people who once lived there.

Jaina had to draw her own bushman art and Caitlyn had to write a story as if she were a young bushman, explaining why she did this drawing, what materials she used to create it and what her family thought about it when she was done. I must say, even though I am her mother, she is quite the story writer. One day I will post one of her stories and you can tell me what you think ....