2nd Christmas on the G's farm near Fauresmith

This past weekend the B's (Jan's family) got together on Daan and Tiela's Free State farm. We picked up Jan's eldest sister, Louise and her husband Marthinus along the way and the big "kuier" (visit) started in the bakkie on the way there.

Jan in the kitchen

The kitchen was the hub of activity and talking! Tiela and Louise Jnr putting a lot of teatime treats on plates, while Louise (left) and Rina (right) do some catching up.

Another round of tea and coffee: Rina, her daughter Louise and H.P. (Daan and Tiela's youngest son).

Sitting around Tiela's beautiful table for a scrumptious feast: Louise, Gerhard, Rina, Miekie, Jan, Hendrik, Gerhard Jnr, Louise Jnr.

Louise and Tiela relaxing after lunch.

Louise, Daan and Marthinus. Louise got a camera for Christmas and she put it to good use!

The 4 B's. (Jan's younger sister, Noekie, died years ago.): Louise, Tiela, Jan, Rina

The B sisters are all three great cooks. Although Tiela was the chief cook and bottle washer this
time, Rina and Louise also brought cake for tea. My contribution was Cokes! One New Year resolution is to improve on my hostess score, but I don't give it much hope. I'm not really that kind of girl!

Capturing the family of the weekend!

I just love this photo of Marthinus and Louise. Louise retired recently, but next year she is going to teach Grade 3's. Never a dull moment for a teacher! Since my homeschooling is also on Grade 3 level, we had lots to talk about!

The Bloemfontein family: Gerhard and Rina in front and Gerhard Jnr and Louise at the back. Rina had a nasty fall in November and broke her leg and foot very badly, so she still has to hobble about on crutches. We are just so glad that Rina is alive and that the the leg is on the mend even though it is still going to take some time!

With Hendrik.

H.P. Isn't he a handsome young man? He is going to do mission work in Africa this year. Many blessings on your work H.P. !

The 4 cousins who were there on Sunday - at least there were 4 cousins there, but Gerhard had already absconded when this photo was taken. Louise just completed her B-Com degree.

Tiela's elegant sitting room - we only sat there for the photos, because it was very hot and there is air conditioning in the T.V. room! It is still very dry in the Free State and we pray that the clouds will turn into proper rain and not just a few drops like it happened all weekend long despite predictions of 60% rain.

These window panes were her grandmother's.

Another corner in the sitting room. Tiela's whole house is filled with much loved antiques - there is even an everyday ivory handle knife for each member of the family.