Of Wine and Truffles

Yesterday was not a good day. I found out that a bottle of expensive wine that I bought almost a year ago disappeared out of the back of my grocery cupboard. The only thing I can think is that it was taken by the once-off cleaning lady and her companion that came to help me spruce up The Cave during level three of the lockdown. I left them alone for maybe a half hour to go and buy them some groceries as part of their agreed remuneration. It’s not so much the wine, but the memory attached to the bottle. I bought it for the girls’ night Eliza, Carmen and I had when we knew that Carmen was leaving to join Ewan in the Land of the Kiwis. We never got around to drinking it, but we made a pact to drink it together – Eliza and I at her house, with Carmen on a video call. To add insult to injury I felt a migraine setting in late afternoon and I felt all round blegh. Anyway, what’s done is done; there’s nothing I can do about it.

It’s Friday and nobody want to listen to gripes anyway, so I am going to share another kitchen adventure with you.

Waxees: A Sensory Experience

My amazing friend, and sister-of-the-heart, Elize has started a business called Waxees. As the name suggests, it is a candle business (to begin with, because she has plans to expand her range of products). But these are not just any candles, they are soy wax hand-poured works of art, based on five mindfulness principles, fragranced with high-quality essential oils to offer the user a full sensory experience.

Waxees are non-toxic; they are biodegradable, contain no synthetic- or chemical additives, diffuse aroma naturally and have a longer burning time than their paraffin-wax counterparts. Added benefits are that the warm wax can be used in massage because of its soothing and moisturizing properties, leaving your skin being feeling luxurious. Each experience is available in various sizes to suit every budget, making Waxees the perfect gift for any occasion.

The five signature experiences Waxees has on offer is:

1. Let Go ~ A Renewing & Liberating Experience

A fresh, woody aroma which helps to counteract emotions of guilt and anger, while promoting liberating feelings of contentment, relief and patience.

2. Pause ~ A Reassuring & Calming Experience

A blend of floral- and mint essential oils, which create a reminder to pause, take a deep breath and reconnect with the composed, collected version of yourself.

3. Kind Heart ~ An Uplifting & Joyful Experience

An aromatic blend of uplifting essential oils which will revitalize your mind and body, inducing a sense of bliss.

4. Aware ~ An Invigorating & Energising Experience

A blend of citrus essential oils which energize both body & mind and refresh the air. This experience is popular for massage due to the cheerful mood it creates.

5. Allow and Accept ~ A Grounding & Peaceful Experience

A combination of warm, woody, earthy essential oils the help dispel tension, while creating a feeling of peace and relaxation.

So, if you’re looking to spoil someone (or yourself, because you are worth it!) and you’d like to purchase a Waxee Sensory Experience, you can get in touch with Elize directly at sales@waxees.co.za

Butterfly Kisses

I’ve tried my hand at many creative things.  Fabric painting, cross-stitch embroidery, colouring-in, and quite recently mosaic.  I didn’t attend a class, or anything like that; I just winged it.  The store that sells kits close to where I stay has a limited selection, so I opted for a butterfly, not sure what I was going to do with the end-product.  I found out from my friend, Alice, earlier this week that a butterfly signifies metamorphosis in some circles.

Intent on starting the project to keep myself busy while cat-sitting for my colleague, Nicola, I ended up binge watching Girlfriends Guide to Divorce, with the cats chilling on the couch next to me instead.  Then a little disaster struck (well, if I’m honest, it’s been a long-time coming) and I had to flit off to hospital for two small (although very invasive) procedures, which left me with a week at home to recover.  I’d started the butterfly somewhere before that, but it lay gathering dust on the shelf because I didn’t really have an offset point for it.  I happened to mention it to another colleague, Carrey, (who was kind enough to take me to the hospital the morning of the procedures) and she asked to see the progress as I worked, because she loves handmade things, but is not arty.  At all!

I finished it earlier this week and while I was admiring it, I received a message from her and thought I’m going to give this butterfly to her for her birthday, because every year, she transforms into a more beautiful soul.  The last photo I’d sent her was of it covered in grout, so she didn’t know that I’d indeed finished it.

She almost dropped it when she opened the box this morning, tears of overwhelming gratitude and excitement running down her cheeks.  I felt a bit of a tug at my heartstrings, because I felt like I’d accomplished more than just completing a project; I’d touched her heart in a special way.  She is filled with ideas of where to hang it, and when it’s up, I will go for coffee and see it in all its glory.

Just goes to show – everything does happen for a reason.  On some level I must have known why I’d bought this butterfly kit, in these specific colours…

The bug’s bitten me though.  I ordered three more kits from a Facebook friend who has a mosaic-kit business.  The will be here later today!  They’re also going to be gifts.  One, a pink and white cross, for my beautiful goddaughter on her Christening which is taking place on December 8^th, and the others (I’m not going to say what they are, because the friends for whom I’ve earmarked them, will immediately know what they’re getting as gifts).