Pink, purple and lilac

Another Spring tea on the calender! This time in aid of church funds.
      It is hard work to choose outfits for these happy occasions, but I cannot say that I am not having fun ...
On Saturday I decided to don my Hospice dress-and-jacket ensemble and seeing that Spring is synonymous with flowers and blossoms, my marshmallow hat had to play along.

      Kia took this picture in my bedroom

 

With Ina Aucamp at our table

With our hostess Benita and Ina's daughter

Sparlking wine on our table!

Our hostess had a simple but stunning centrepiece display

The neighbouring tables

Made in modern China was also there ... fortunately not on our table.

It is sometimes hard to be a porcelain snob!

   

Earl Grey in North End

Being a member of the Teacup Club takes me to all kinds of tea houses and coffee shops.

    We are an informal group of retired and working part-time university library staff who meet once a month. Elmarie Brink asks for recommendations and makes the bookings.

        Elmarie checking the temperature

         This week we met at Colonial Antiques in Todd Street, North End. There Ms Bouwer runs a small eatery amidst an array of antiques and collectibles on the third level of a building I am convinced  once had links with the Law Courts.

Wanting to meet the magistrate ...

  Whilst browsing her vintage clothing section I stumbled upon a door marked Magistrate / Landdros. 

     I have been to Colonial a few times in the past, but never ventured further than the ground floor, fearing temptation to buy anything to add to the clutter of the Verandah!

    Ananja, the owner behind the counter ...

                                   

This hair advertisement brought back memories as it was my "look" in the sixties

 
gMagisgMAGISTRATE/LANDDROS.

Spring tea on very cold day

The 1st of September arrived ahead of a very cold front but the table was laid and the guests invited!

         Cucumber sandwiches and Sacher Torte

     Roline brought a Sacher Torte and I made cucumber and ham sandwiches and a custard tart. As guest of honour we had Prof Tokkie Gerber, a retired educator who visited our Verandah in the 40's when her best friend Miss le Roux was living here with her family. So 69 years later, Tokkie, now 83, enjoyed the hospitality of 6 Edward once again.

  Tokkie Gerber is on the right and Karlien and Christine

                        next to me.  Roline is in front.

               

After tea, we ventured into the garden ...

Get going in the garden

Spring is in the "pink" air

My crazy garden gives me a lot of pleasure and friends sometimes bring "interested parties" to view.

    When the weather turned pleasant last week, I asked Andrew to assist me in giving it a spruce-up. There was a fair amount of work: from taking tired decorations away and repotting plants... to dressing Sarah Baartman in a brand-new (charity shop find) SA Heritage apron.

Andrew with Sarah and her bodyguard

     We cleaned up Sarah special space and regrouped her possessions. She likes to have her cats around and is learning the ABC at the moment before she tackles her keyboard and "mouse".

  Sarah's space with keyboard and mouse ...

   The birds will love their new birdbath

 Duracell-bunny celebrates his third birthday in the garden 

Repurposing of an ANC T-shirt

                       

Word of mouth ...

      With spring on the horison, I was sorting through my vintage and retro stock and taking a lot of things to various charity shops.
       But last week students came to Verandah to ask whether it was the "place where you can buy vintage".
My ex-student and first ever customer Bongiwe was also here and was surprised that news traveled so fast. So we are planning a pop-up shop again but have not decided on a date because there are so many interesting events coming up and all are happening on weekends.
     Yolani Kwasa, who came to shop once before, phoned the same day to enquire about a leather bag. Fortunately I had a small Gladstone-bag in navy that she found suitable.