Backyard Treasure Hunt.

It's been sweltering, again. I say that often, I know. Because in fact we are experiencing record temperatures here in the Cape of Storms. I really wish it would storm! Sadly, our Summers are as  dry as a dry thing about to burst into flame just looking at it! So, we decided to dig out a swimming hole. In our backyard. Now the beauty of living here, and particularly in a house that is 113 years old is that you're bound to find treasure. The Cape Peninsula is steeped in fascinating history. Mostly the "treasures" come  about as lovely shards of delft hand-painted crockery, and other interesting bits and pieces of handmade/hand-painted pottery.

To most people these seemingly insignificant broken pieces are of no importance but to me they are each a particularly unique key to.... Well, the imagination boggles and it's one thing I've never been short of and that is romantic daydreaming, and flights of imagination. Each piece, as I gently wipe away decades of grime, comes alive with a story to tell.

Usually I can see the lady of the house, lovingly packing away her pretty tea-sets or special display crockery, into a crate bound for the high seas to Africa, or I see a couple sitting over a breakfast, eating from lovely plates they probably take for granted. Or a family, taking tea on a Saturday afternoon, while reading the newspapers, and the children gobbling down scones and jam and drinking their milky tea from beautifully patterned cups. Mostly though, I find old bones and lumps of coal.

It seems callous to be digging out a swimming hole now, especially as we're in a drought of sorts but the reasoning behind it is sound. We're allowed to water lawns, trees and flowers and veggie gardens...which is what we've been doing, between 6pm and 6am. Luckily we have a small backyard and most of it has been reduced to sand from the high winds which have shredded practically every living flora in spite of my best efforts. We thought then, why not use the water instead to fill a small swimming pool, really a splash pool...and once it's filled, that's it. No more water wasted on an unforgiving garden. It's all sand, fine sea sand really. It's a bit like that joke about shoveling sand in the Sahara. It took us a day to dig half way! The wind howled and blew half a beach straight into the house. We are undeterred and determined to win this war! :-) I was rewarded with my most prized find of the day. A 1957 Queen Elizabeth 11 three pence coin.

I'm excited about what the other half of the dig will yield. Who knows, the Cape of Storms was also a frequent stopover for Pirates!

I hope, wherever you are in the world, that you are indulging yourself by doing the things which make you happy. Life is too short to fully grow up and lose our childlike love of discovery. Dig, for what you love, to your hearts content.

Love, as always,
Jen xxx