Beautiful

Heath Nash art, via here

Mama Afrika and Google

You should make a point go to google.com to check out the Miriam Makeba google doodle, as today would've been her 81st birthday.

Here's a bit more about Miriam, and here. A great example of how to live by your convictions and make stand.

New York Times loves Cape Town!

Great article in the New York Times today about biking, drinking and eating in the Constantia area, just outside of Cape Town. So if you're heading that way, any time soon, here are some great ideas...

Click here.

Weekend Plans

So Boston has another foot of snow coming its way. It's my birthday tomorrow and I have plans to chill, and dinner with good friends on Sunday, after the storm has passed. It's going to be cozy...  but I can't help but dream of warmer climes... who's with me? Let's head to the Mussel Bar in Camps Bay. Yes please!

 Design by Fanakalo, pics from here.

Pinning France in South Africa

I was kind of surprised the other day to see this image pinned on Pinterest.

I was only surprised because I recognized it from a House & Leisure magazine from three years ago! I suppose I have fallen in the rut of only expecting to see South African stuff from South Africans. Which is just silly! But anyway, this compelled me to go back and take another look at the house - its a French inspired home near the Drakensburg. It's not all my taste but it has some beautiful parts to it.

The garden (and the view!) 

This bathroom.... I can't stop looking at it!

The vignettes around the house

The feeling in the kitchen (maybe its just the plant?) and the gorgeous outside eating area... sigh.

 Well, I guess there are now five more images to pin!

Clean Kitchen

The new House & Leisure magazine is out, and I love, love, love the feel of this kitchen - the wood wrapping over the edge, and the subway tile on the wall...

If you like what you see, and don't live in South Africa, you can get House & Leisure digitally here.

Babylonstoren

One place I am absolutely kicking myself for not visiting a year ago when I was in Cape Town, is Babylonstoren - technically 45 minutes outside of Cape Town but it should have been on my itinerary! Although I think I would've needed to double the length of my holiday so I could spend days and days there.

A Cape Dutch home and farm found in the Drakenstein valley, Babylonstoren is a working farm where you can stay, eat and relax in luxury. It's also eco-friendly. Jeepers, sounds like it was built with me (and probably you!) in mind...  

(click on the wide view, its so worth it)

Babylonstoren has a farm store, with a restaurant...

And the food is as local as it gets - from the grounds!

With beautiful gardens

and a beautiful place to stay

And a spa!

I love the greenhouse with the tea room attached

Plus they make their own wine (I suppose what else do you do when you are in the thick of the South African wine-making country?)

Sigh. Like this image on their website says, I'll see you there....