Food Memories from South Africa: Home-bakes

We love food - making it, consuming it, sharing it - not only with friends in that moment but also with others via photos. Those of you who watched our blog periodically during our years in South Africa would have noticed that we posted pictures of food and food-related activities quite often. Food is simply too fun to keep to ourselves!

This post of food memories from South Africa presents "home bakes", which is South African for "homemade": yummy stuff we made at home. Enjoy!





Ma'amoul, a cookie of middle eastern origins, with a date/nut filling - lovely!

Naan, a type of flat bread from India.


Christmas morning cinnamon rolls, December 2007.

Memories from South Africa: Flora

We loved discovering the many beautiful plants and flowers that grow in the Western Cape. Did you know that there are seven floral kingdoms in the world, and that one of the seven exists only and entirely in the Western Cape of South Africa? Take a look...















The Silver Tree, above, is indigenous to only one place on earth: the slopes of Table Mountain. It's a beautiful tree, and amazing to think that this is the only spot to see it (in its natural home).

Memories from life in South Africa: Coffee

Yep, we certainly enjoyed the many wonderful coffeeshops we encountered during our South African sojourn!

Gieser Family Reunion, part 2

A 60% family shot (sadly, we were missing Steve, Tiffany, Avery & Bella this weekend). Hey, we look nice! But what was I thinking sitting in that tree? I forgot for a moment that I'm pregnant and had to get Jim's help to get back down.

Matt & Hailey explain this morning's games - soccer ball relays!

Some of us wisely chose to spectate during the hilarity, although I'm not sure what Auden was thinking while she sucked her thumb...

One last sweaty photo before we pack up to head our separate ways home.

Gieser Family Reunion, part 1

Over a long weekend at the end of June we gathered with 50+ other members of the Gieser extended family for a reunion at Pennyrile State Park in western Kentucky. There were three generations represented, including a few second cousins! Unfortunately the J&J contingent didn't do their normally fabulous photographing job but these photos will suffice. (We somehow missed getting any shots of fam in the green reunion shirts.)

Most of our time was spent around the lodge area, set on a cliff overlooking a small lake. Very pretty and quiet location. Some family stayed in the lodge but most of us were in lakeside cabins a short walk away. We stayed in a cabin with Noah & Katie. First thing after arriving Noah set up his hammock and later spent some good hours studying/reading for a summer course. The mind of a teacher never stops learning.

Since it was VERY hot and humid, most of our free time we gathered at the pool. On one particular afternoon there was an intense water gun battle, prominently featuring two siblings (whose young grandchildren were on hand to spectate). The one sibling even jumped in the pool fully clothed in order to launch her attack...


Dinnertime together in the lodge dining hall -

Our amazing reunion organizers, Uncle Lee and Auntie Pat, gathered baby photos from all the family members. They then had us all try to assign the names and faces - and the winner earned a giftcard. Very intriquing (and naturally this inspired lots of competitiveness).

Wait, aren't these ballots supposed to be secret? Are you sharing information, Aunt Marge?