It's goodbye for now.

Dear lovely readers, 

I've put off writing this post for some time now, because, honestly, it's hard for me to write this. Nothing earth shattering. Just that I'm not going to be blogging here for awhile. Maybe not forever.

Love and Lollipops has been my little project. Something I did for myself and hoped that others like you, would enjoy what I shared. I started it when Little One, now aged six, was very young, and it was a lovely escape from being at home all day, changing diapers, breastfeeding. You know.

Along the way I've gotten to "meet" some of you via comments and emails and some of us have even become friends. I am so very grateful. Grateful to all of you, whether you read this to support me or because you enjoyed it. I want to say a heartfelt thank you. 

I'm not finished sharing playful and creative pursuits... and for now I have replaced this space with Instagram. If you click on this link : https://www.instagram.com/georgiasetzer/, you can see what I get up too there. Recently I've shared crafts and fun there, that I haven't shared here.

By the way you don't have to be an active Instagram user (post pictures) to be a follower of other's accounts, but you do have to join Instagram to follow along (I think).

I won't be on the Love and Lollipops Facebook page either. Taking a break there too.

Here's some Instagram fun that I've been up to:

 

Keep having fun with your kiddos! 

All the very best to you.

Georgia :)

Instagram

I'm on Instagram now, if you would like to follow. I've been there for a short while, so there's a bit to look at. Sometimes I share a Love and Lollipops post, but I also share other ideas that I haven't blogged about. 

You can find me here:

http://instagram.com/loveandlollipops

If you do follow me over there, please say "hi". I'll "hi" back!

Till next time.

Missing In Action

I've been MISSING IN ACTION! 

In case you have been wondering why, the shortest version of the story is - We are moving. Not up the road; not elsewhere in our Province (which is similar to a State), but rather right across the country, to a place I visited last for a short holiday in 1991... hehe... that's nervous laughter. 

My husband moved up eight months back and I have been single parenting (sort-of) for all this time, with him commuting home about once a month. We are finally, thankfully, all together again as a family and moving to our new home in January. So I am afraid it will continue to be rather quiet here on the blog for a little while longer. 

I want to wish all of you a very BLESSED and PEACEFUL Christmas. I really appreciate you reading and following Love and Lollipops. I hope to be back blogging, playing, creating and sharing with you in the New Year.

Be safe till then, 

Georgia

making soup

Spring Showers

"In the Spring I have counted one hundred and thirty-six
different kinds of weather inside of four and twenty hours."- Mark Twain

The sun and the rain have been playing tag for the past few weeks in Cape Town. I was lucky to snap these happy pictures of the boys playing in the rain.

Happy Happy Spring Time wherever you are!

ideas magazine

Two darling friends bought me a subscription to the ideas magazine for my birthday a few months back. It was a lovely surprise to receive my September copy and to see that my matchbox fridge magnets were featured on the reader's page. These little magnets have been my most popular post for all time here at Love and Lollipops. I'm not quite sure how I'm going to top them :)?

The ideas mag is South Africa's best loved crafting magazine and this month the Party ideas for kids magazine is also on sale. Be sure to look out for it in stores.

Little One

I call him my Stinky Stonky,

my Happy Chappy,

a Silly Billy! 

He's Little One and he turned three at the beginning of the month. I thought that I could not let the month pass by without acknowledging him and making special mention, because he and his big brother are my inspiration for blogging and Love and Lollipops! 

We celebrated with a fun construction themed party and I would have loved to have shared some photographs, but unfortunately don't have any - poor lighting wasn't very conducive to great pictures.

What I am sharing though, are these slightly blurry, a little hazy, "imperfect" pictures, which I think are just perfect. Little One has a great sense of fun (and mischief) and is quick to smile and be silly! I think you can tell, right?

Happy Birthday Little One...don't get Big too soon.

you are my happy.

what could be better on a cold winter's day, than lying on a sunny bed, reading books and being silly ...

                                                     
                                                                                  ... nothing. :)

Little Mr Brave

I keep promising myself that I'll take part in more iheartfaces photo challenges, so when I saw the theme this week (Let's hear it for the Boys), I decided it's as good a time as any.  And I also thought that this little guy really deserves a special mention right now. 

In the past two weeks, we very unexpectedly spent six days in hospital. Little One woke up one morning with a sore leg and I'll spare you a rather long story, but he ended up being hospitalized and having surgery on his hip. The diagnosis...Septic Arthritis. I had never heard of it before.

He really was such a brave little boy, especially having to endure lots of needles. I truly can give testimony that God carried us as a family every day and I am so grateful for all the wonderful support we received. Thank you to all our Angels and Prayer Warriors! 

After surgery we were told that he cannot bear weight on his leg for two to three weeks. It's been challenging keeping him "seated", but again, he really has been a star! I taught him how to do a bum shuffle. It's very cute to see him come up the passage, saying "bum shuffle, bum shuffle"...just love him to bits!

iheartfaces is a fantastic website.

If you are a keen photographer, you will love what they have to offer.

Fishing

                                                                            

I woke up on Sunday morning and while getting ready for church, I was thinking about whether God would be pleased with me. I was thinking, as I often do, that I am not doing enough as a follower of  Jesus. I had read the previous evening during my quiet time about how God wants us to gain followers for him...to be a fisher of men (Matthew 4.19). Was I letting God down?

While in the car on the way to church, I was chatting to Big One and he unexpectedly said that he really hopes that we believe in the right God, because if not, we won't go to heaven. My heart skipped a beat for a moment...how do I respond? And then I simply said that I know we believe in the right God, because I have experienced first hand answered prayer and God's amazing love for me. I shared a story from my childhood (when I was about 9), where God answered a prayer of mine in a BIG way. He seemed to accept my explanation. :)

A little while later I was standing in church and it then dawned on me that I had just been given an opportunity to testify for my God. I had fished! I also realised that the doing I was concerned about earlier, happens in our homes, with our friends, in our neighbourhoods. Sometimes we think that we have to talk to strangers or go on an expedition to faraway places to be fishers of men. God reminded me that the waters are often much closer to home than that.

Just by the way, the sermon was about Martha and Mary (Luke 10.38-41) and how Mary, did not busy herself, but sat at the feet of Jesus, listening to his word. Another reminder for me that first and foremost we need to come to the feet of Jesus, before all else. Our God is amazing, isn't he!

Easter Weekend

We had a busy and blessed Easter weekend! We had a lovely walk on Good Friday afternoon and the boys in my life played some soccer at the local park. Although the rain did not arrive till Sunday, a chill was in the air and one can now feel our Winter approaching. In contrast, on the other side of the world, perhaps where you are, Spring is in the air and Summer is beckoning. I am reminded though, that no matter where we are, whatever the season or weather, we all shared this special significant Easter weekend. I really hope yours was wonderful.

~ Georgia ~

Great Reads

Every week I read the most wonderful posts and discover great ideas on the internet. Most of my creative inspiration comes from blogs that I love to visit.

I recently read a beautiful, very touching post ...one I had to share with you. It's filled with pictures that say it all and  I only wish I had written it myself :). It's about filling your home with the unseen "things" and written by Ashley from under the sycamore. I only very recently discovered  Ashley's blog and have found it hard to not keep on reading...she has a delightful sense of humour and really makes me giggle. This post will make you smile. It's just lovely and such a great message.

I must add that Ashley and her family are going through a very difficult time right now. Her beautiful 21 month old daughter broke her femur (thigh bone) just over a week ago and has to lie on her back in hospital for 2 weeks. Can you imagine keeping such a little person in bed on her back for so much time. Ashley has been giving a daily account of her little girl's hospital stay and it is a poignant reminder (to me) of how documenting our daily experiences with pictures and words can be so powerful. Do pop over and check out how they are doing.

Till next time...

2011 is here!

I have been away with family for a few days in Vermont, Hermanus, and it was wonderful! We are very blessed to have access to a family holiday home and we usually find ourselves there over New Year. This year the weather was strangely a bit miserable, but I actually loved it. (I don't function so well in the very hot weather!) So, in spite of the weather, we had lovely times on the beach, walked around enjoying the amazing natural beauty and, of course, just got to kick back and relax a bit with loved ones. I think the best part about getting away is the fact that you leave all the must-do lists at home and you have no choice but to CHILL!!

I wanted to take this opportunity to not only wish you, but also to thank YOU, my wonderful readers, for joining me so far on this little blogging adventure. When I started this blog in March last year, I had a certain vision for it, but I can honestly say, it got a bit of a life of it's own. I never thought that I would be sharing so many kiddies' crafts and Mommy-made games and toys. This has been so much fun and my children have only benefited. I won't tell you what I have in mind going forward, but I certainly hope to keep you all reading in 2011! 

To those of you who have come back time and time again to leave (very kind) comments or even email me with feedback and encouragement, THANK YOU!! It's your continuous support that really keeps me motivated. I have also been so blessed to make some amazing faraway friends and this has been an added bonus of this blogging journey that I am so thrilled about. I know too that many of my readers are closer to home and are not necessarily bloggers. Thank you so much for subscribing ...I can't express how it makes me feel to know that you choose to receive my posts in your inbox :).

And last, but certainly not least, I would like to wish all of you a very happy New Year! May it be a very special year for you and your families.

Till next time, 

Georgia

Merry Christmas

 

Photo Shoot

For last year's birthday I asked my husband for a family photo shoot...something we have never had done as a family by a professional photographer. My birthday came and went and I never booked the shoot. So when this year's birthday arrived (in June), I decided that I better not delay any longer! In September we all met the lovely Jo-ann Stokes and had our shoot on the picturesque Altydgedacht farm in Durbanville. These pictures are just a few of my favourites.

 Little One scrunched his nose in so many of the pictures! I think it makes him look angry, but Jo-ann said she thought it to be very cute.

If you have been considering a photo shoot, don't put it off. With each passing year, we and our children change so much. Try to capture your family (you included) as often as you can afford. You won't regret it. 

To see more amazing photography, you can visit Jo-ann's blog here. 

Imagine

Through children's eyes

One of my greatest delights is seeing the world through my children's eyes.

The other afternoon, after all the rain, I noticed that we had some mushrooms growing in our garden. I got all excited, called the children, and soon we were having a mushroom hunt! At one point, Big One pipes up with, " If you're little, it's good for shade." It was one of those moments when I just want to grab him and kiss him and tell him how cute he is. (I usually do!)

Speaking of mushrooms, I read this in Garry Landreth's book, "The Art of the Relationship": "Some children are like mushrooms, they pop forth overnight. Other children are like orchids; they take seven to twelve years to bloom." (Nutt, 1971) Garry, a play therapist, then goes on to say, that the effective play therapist will wait for orchids and be patient with mushrooms. Each child has his/her own unique approach to how life should be lived.  I think this is not only true for play therapists, but for parents too. So be patient, whether you have orchids or mushrooms!

Reference: Landreth, G. (1991). Play Therapy The Art of the Relationship. Bristol, USA: Accelerated Development Inc.

"Untie the ribbons"

"The world of the child is now."

Thank you!

I have my lovely new (blogging) friend to thank for the fact that my blog is looking so spiffie! Thank you so much Trudie for answering ALL my questions and for creating my beautiful header and button.

I would love to introduce you all to Trudie. Trudie's blog - Fun with Little Mouse - follows her homeschooling adventures with her daughter and is filled with art, crafts and activities for little ones. I hope you will pop over and go and say "Hi!"

Till next time...