Take a shot left at Dullstroom Inn

Dullstroom street

We had brunch at the Dullstroom Inn a few weeks back. I was lurking on #TravelChatSA stream on Twitter tonight talking about all South African small towns. Dullstroom should definitely to be on the list of towns to visit. This town has so many stories and history to share. I have already written about Mrs. Simpson's and Wild about Whisky in Dullstroom.

Dullstroom Inn

The Dullstroom Inn also needs a shout-out!

There must be thousands of stories locked up in The Dullstroom Inn#AboutTheWeekend #TravellerTales#TheDullStroomInn#WeekendBreak#Dullstroom#DullstroomWeekend#WeekendTraveller#QuaintPlaces https://t.co/9PX8OnzpTX pic.twitter.com/CHNwxRBGus

— Karen du Toit (@karentoittoit) September 10, 2018

Some more photos. It's not a Wordless Wednesday, but here goes...

Entrance DullStroom Inn

Warning with rugby showing in the background

Dullstroom Inn fire which burns the whole day

Dullstroom In bar

Dullstroom Inn Hotel

Great for a weekend away, and beckoning us to go back again.

Have you been to Dullstroom?

Boys and Girls, are you ready for Nerf Fest?

Nerf Fest is here. Get in on the action by purchasing one of the latest NERF RIVAL range blasters: Mega, Elite, Zombie Strike, Rival or Modulus. Upload the receipt to NerfFest.co.za to RSVP for your time slot on 27 & 28 October 2018 at Jozi X, Bryanston. (You will get a confirmation email.)

Miss Fine can't wait. She says she is Team Blue!

NERF RIVAL ARTEMIS XVII-3000 blaster - photo NerfFest

The NERF RIVAL range includes high-powered blasters and durable, battle-tested accessories.

Pick your team and go into battle as Team Red, Team Blue, or Phantom Corps, a group of rogue specialists who may join Team Red or Team Blue today, then challenge them tomorrow. Nerf Rival battles will never be the same!  NERF RIVAL brings fans a unique, high-powered experience with the ultimate in competitive team play. Experience the intensity when it comes to high-impact, head-to-head NERF RIVAL battles packed with foam firepower, This Is How We Play!

This weekend has a great line-up at Nerf Fest at Jozi X:

- Food trucks and refreshments.
- Nerf pop-up store where you can buy the latest Nerf blasters and gear
- Bring a costume or change of clothes for the water slide challenge
- Sunscreen and hats are must-haves
- Arrive 30 minutes before your time slot
- Free play area for kids once your time slot is up
- Ages 8+ (Parental consent required)



There are still open spots left, but hurry!

The Nerf Rival blasters are available at ToyZone, Toy Kingdom, Hamleys and Takealot.com.


Disclaimer: Miss Fine got a Nerf Skills Set from Hasbro and Atmosphere Communications. Thank you for thinking of us girls!

She has been doing target practice with the Nerf N-Strike Jolt for this weekend.

Nerf N-Strike Jolt blaster and gear for Nerf Fest

The best butternut fritters recipe

Butternut fritters

The most tasty butternut fritters ever! I have found it! There is something about the taste of a sweet accompaniment to a Sunday meal that makes us salivate every time. That something is butternut fritters. I always tried to replicate it, but up until now my Kook en Geniet (the original Afrikaans food recipe book) did not have the best recipe. And I failed to successfully make it try after try. (Maybe it's just me?)

I found My Gran's Pumpkin Fritters / Pampoenkoekies recipe while searching yet again for that elusive perfect recipe.

This one worked. Of course I swapped a few things, but this recipe is a keeper. I did not make the sauce, as I wanted the fritters for the main meal, and not a dessert. Check out the original one for the sauce and if you want to make dessert.

Butternut Fritters

 (For a family of 6)

Ingredients

• 3 cups butternut cooked and slightly mashed, but not too much
• 3 cups flour
• 6 teaspoons baking powder
• 2 tablespoons icing sugar 
• 3 eggs
• ¾ cup milk
• pinch of salt
• oil for deep frying

Instructions

1. Combine all the ingredients and mix until you have a batter. There must still be a bit of butternut visible, not totally pureed.

2. Heat the oil in a medium saucepan and fry spoonfuls of the batter until golden brown and cooked throughout, approximately 2-3 minutes.

3. Remove from the oil and allow to drain on kitchen paper.

4. Sprinkle a bit of cinnamon and sugar on top of the fritters.

5. Serve with your main meal.


They are delicious. They are even better today in our lunchboxes.
I am sure the sauce from the original recipe is great. Let me know when you make it?
I will also make this one again!

Miss your face

Dog Whisperer ;-)

Although we had lots of preparation for our Eldest not being in the house anymore, we still miss her. Every now and again I still expect her to be there... Luckily we can see each other regularly, because they are not living far away.

She's been a student for long where she was away at Uni. Then she became the Boomeranger and we had an extra bonus time with her.

We can't complain, because we still have Miss Fine to keep us busy in the house. We cannot say we have an empty nest. But sometimes it feels like it. Especially when walking past an empty bedroom. We still need to sort out bedrooms, and stuff. I have been procrastinating... (A bit of the blues and the hoarding bug which needs to be called to order!)

We miss you, K. So glad you are sorted with your life and hubby and dogs. It's a new life and new beginnings. We are so glad! It's also a new beginning for us as well!

Kicking this melancholy in it's bud!

Play Happy with Shopkins Happy Places and Shopkins Small Mart [WIN]

Prima Toys range of Shopkins Happy Places are all the rage. Little Girls (of all ages) love this. I know, because I am one of them. There is nothing quite as exciting as unboxing a Happy Place of joy. *sic*
It's a special range of dollhouse furniture and home accessories where Shopkins are roomies and Petkins are furniture.

 “Shopkins is a wonderful range of toys for girls, especially those aged five and over. Shopkins are fun to collect, fun to play with and now with the introduction of Shopkins Happy Places, there is a whole new universe to discover,” explains Chiquita Patrizi, spokesperson for Prima Toys.

The following Shopkins Happy Places are available:

10 Reasons why I am staying in South Africa

Johannesburg weather this morning

South Africa. There a daily constant barrage of people/friends that's moving overseas, or are making their living already in another spot of the world. We have family overseas who are happy. Even my husband wants to move, but I don't. I love my South Africa. I love everything we have here, and I don't think people appreciate things that we take for granted here... I got such a positive feedback from a friend today who can go overseas because she has a passport already. She says she is staying. She wants to! It is difficult to stay (or staying positive about staying), but I know it is difficult moving as well. To each what makes you most happy!

This is my list of the things that makes me happy here in South Africa:

Fun at My Little Pony Live Shows

MLP Live Show #FriendshipIsMagic

It was a live fest for all the My Little Pony fans. The My Little Pony Live Shows was on at the Mardi Grass Theatre at Carnival City. Judging by the queues on Saturday it was a dream for a great many little girls to see their Ponies in action.

I must confess that I am living My Little Pony vicariously through my daughter. They did not exist in the 70s. (Ouch, giving away my age.) Now I think they are the cutest ever. My daughters both loved combing and styling the hair of their My Little Ponies. I personally love the positive characters and energy of My Little Pony. The Equestria girls have upped their staying power considerably.

A Beautiful Rustic Wedding

Wedding Table - Patrick Pretorius Photography

We had the most memorable Wedding, the best party ever this year. The Eldest got married to the Love of her Life. It was a year of planning, finding a venue and working hard to make it all come together. The budget was very low. In the end it all came together with what could be made, specials and the generosity of friends.

Everybody was collecting cans and wine and beer bottles. It was painted or covered with paper torn from books. The Eldest also made a large number of paper protea flowers, which she used on the tables as well as in the bouquets. It was a beautiful rustic wedding in a beautiful setting, at Thatch Haven in Brits. It was the perfect spot and venue. 

Here are a few photos from the wedding decorations.

Raven in South Africa

#RavinInSA - Raven is in the house

Judging by the screams of all the excited fans last, Disney Raven's Home is a much loved series in most South African homes.  Raven-Symoné was at the SA premiere of Season 2 of Disney Channel’s Raven’s Home. The series, starring Raven-Symoné, premieres weekdays on Disney Channel (DStv Channel 303) from next week Monday, 8 October at 16:50. We got to see the first two episodes, and there's going to be a surprise for the fans. A welcome surprise... (That's all we are allowed to say for now.)