The Toy Box Fortress and the Comfort of Melkkos

What happened in Fruitloop world this week? Well, this is where it gets interesting. We knew winter was coming, but we expected a few more warm days and sunshine to enjoy. The weather man, however, had a completely different plan.

We moved from summer and warm winter days straight into floods and cold. Everything is wet, and it seems like nothing will dry up soon. Roads were flooded, detours were organized, and the laundry situation just fell apart. I did two bundles, hung them outside, and thirty minutes later, the rain started pouring. It didn’t stop for two days. The only alternative was to turn my house into a laundromat, with clothes hanging on hangers all over the place. Eventually, everything was dry, folded, and packed away—mission accomplished.

The Wooden Hiding Place

My mom was sorting through her house and storage unit and came across the toy box we used as kids. She asked if I wanted it, and the simple answer was “yes,” because my son’s room is usually a mess. He has too many toys and not enough storage space.

I went to fetch it, but there was a downside: I haven’t had time to sort through the toys and actually fill the box yet. Why is this a downside? Because his room is still a mess, and he has decided to use the empty toy box for other things.

First, it was a car; he climbed in and “drove around.” Then it became a boat, a hiding place, and a fort. This is a solid wooden toy box with a lid, big enough to fit a seven-year-old along with toys, a torch, and a blanket. It keeps him busy for hours. He even moved it so he could watch TV from inside his new wooden castle.

On the one hand, I’m thinking I should just leave the room full of toys and let him play in the box. He is having the time of his life, using his imagination and creativity. Since it’s too cold and wet to play outside, this is the next best thing. I’m only slightly worried he might get stuck and we won’t be able to help him out fast enough, but at least we’ve established two things: he is definitely not afraid of confined spaces or heights!

Memories, Soup, and Liquid Pancakes

I tried a few new recipes for dinner this week to combat the chill. First, I made a delicious, thick beef and vegetable soup. It came out just the way my dad makes it. He was always the only one to make soup at home—not even my mom can do it quite like he does—but I managed it without a recipe. Just memories and love. Needless to say, my son didn’t like it and didn’t eat much. He still prefers chicken-flavored instant soup. You can’t win them all!

The next dish was Melkkos. For those who don’t know, it’s a traditional South African dish made with milk, flour, and butter, served with a generous amount of cinnamon sugar. It tastes like steamy, warm, liquid pancakes or dessert. At least my son loved this one! This is something I had never made before, though I ate it so many times as a child. I followed a quick, simple recipe, and it was a total success. I even learned it originated somewhere in Indonesia and India many years ago.

I had to take some over to my mom, too. My dad won’t eat it, so she never makes it for herself. Since I had leftovers, it was the perfect comfort food for her.

The Hibernation Countdown

The rain has finally stopped, but we are left with 3°C mornings and highs of only 13° to 16°C. We’ve had snow in parts of South Africa—closer to Lesotho and the Drakensberg—and we always get that biting cold wind from the south. I honestly don’t know how to dress anymore; it feels like my layers are never warm enough.

Someone at school said that if it’s this cold now, they don’t want to know what June and July will feel like. I might just go into full hibernation. Warm stews, Melkkos, and soups for comfort while staying covered in a blanket 24/7.

On the to-do list for this weekend:

• Celebrate my dad’s birthday.
• Sort through the mountain of toys (and put them in the box!).
• Tackle the laundry mountain (yes, again).
• Wash the heavy winter blankets.

After that, I am setting myself up for hibernation for the rest of the season. See you in September!