Stone Owl Cottage Kaapsehoop

14/09/2025

✨🦉 A Joyful Pause at Stone Owl Cottage 🌀

Joy is not always found in grand gestures — it often lives in the smallest moments.
The hush of pine trees swaying in the breeze. The sun spilling golden light through the window. A bird’s song carried on the morning air.

At Stone Owl Cottage, joy is woven into the very fabric of this place. Here, you can slow down enough to notice — to feel the earth steady beneath your feet, to breathe deeply, and to remember what truly matters.

This little rock cottage isn’t only a retreat; it’s a reminder. A reminder that joy doesn’t need to be chased — it is already here, waiting in the rhythm of nature, in still evenings by the fire, and in the quiet pulse of life unfolding all around.

Come and rest here. Come and rediscover joy.

📍 Kaapsehoop

https://www.stoneowlcottage.net

11/09/2025

After the rains, the pine plantations around Stone Owl Cottage burst into life with mushrooms of every shape and colour.

Golden-capped Suillus hide among the pine needles, their sticky hats shining in the morning light. Stocky boletes push through the soil, their sponge-like undersides telling the story of symbiosis with the roots of the pines. And then there is the most magical of them all — the crimson Fly Agaric, straight out of fairy tales, a symbol of mystery and transformation.

These mushrooms remind us that beneath the forest floor lies a vast hidden web, connecting tree to tree, root to root. They are nature’s storytellers, appearing suddenly, vanishing quickly, and leaving us with wonder in their wake.

📞 082 335 8450 🌐 www.stoneowlcottage.net

09/09/2025

🌿✨ A little window of magic at Stone Owl Cottage 🌀

This round window is an old train light, carrying with it a story of journeys past. At its heart, a swallow, symbol of hope and safe return, etched in glass. Around it, I have been painting a mural of rippling water and playful fish, a reminder of the life and movement that flows all around us.

Stone Owl Cottage is full of these little details, handmade, heartfelt, and rooted in the joy of creating. Every corner tells a story, inviting you to pause, notice, and feel at home.

Come visit, slow down, and discover the hidden treasures waiting here.

📞 082 335 8450
🌐 http://www.stoneowlcottage.net

08/09/2025

✨ Greetings from Stone Owl Cottage 🌀

I am here at the moment, completing my second book, The 12 Stepping Stones, and there could not be a more perfect setting. Nestled in the heart of the mountains, this cottage is a space for rest, reflection, and reconnection. Every day is filled with bird song and the fresh mountain air, creating a rhythm that inspires creativity, presence, and calm.

Whether you are looking for a quiet getaway, a space to write, or time to reconnect with yourself, Stone Owl Cottage is a place to feel grounded, inspired, and at home.

I am deeply grateful for Frans, Ruben, Mom, Dad, and Lize, whose love and support have carried me along this journey. Every corner of the cottage carries intention, care, and a sense of welcome.

🌀 I can’t wait to share this space with you. Come experience the mountain breeze, the laughter, and the peace that fills Stone Owl Cottage.

📞 082 335 8450
🌐
http://www.stoneowlcottage.net/
www.stoneowlcottage.net

With love and gratitude,
Vincenzia

12/07/2025

“Almost everything will work again if you unplug it for a while… including you.” – Anne Lamott

🌿✨ Need a pause from the noise?

Tucked away in the misty mountains of Kaapsehoop, Stone Owl Cottage offers you more than just a place to stay — it offers you space to breathe. Here, time slows. The air is crisp with the scent of pine and wild herbs. No traffic. No to-do lists. Just birdsong, quiet trails, and the gentle stillness that helps you find your way back to yourself.

If your soul has been whispering for rest, this is your invitation.

🦉 Stone Owl Cottage — where peace and tranquillity meets convenience and charm

📩 Bookings: dvincenzia@gmail.com www.stoneowlcottage.net

08/07/2025

At Stone Owl Cottage, the circle holds deep meaning. It is the shape of the sun and moon, the seasons, the spiral of growth, and the return home to yourself. Within this sacred shape, time slows. The outside world quiets. You remember who you are.

Whether you come to write, rest, walk among trees, or simply breathe more deeply, Stone Owl Cottage offers more than a getaway. It offers a return to centre.

Come full circle.

🌀 Quiet. Nature. Stillness.
🛏️ Self-catering retreat in a forested setting
📍 Available for solo retreats, creative work, and healing time

🕊️ Stone Owl Cottage – where the soul finds space to land

www.stoneowlcottage.net

30/01/2025

The wild horses of Kaapsehoop are a mystical presence in Mpumalanga’s misty hills, roaming freely through forests and grasslands. Believed to descend from Boer War cavalry horses, they have adapted to the rugged terrain, thriving in the cool, high-altitude climate.

Hardy and sure-footed, these semi-wild horses form tight social groups, adding to the village’s enchanting atmosphere. Kaapsehoop, known for its swirling mists and scenic trails, has become a haven for nature lovers seeking a glimpse of these untamed icons. Their presence weaves history, mystery, and wilderness into the soul of this hidden gem.

www.stoneowlcottage.net

07/09/2023

"In this image, taken in 2016, Ruben played a pivotal role in crafting the mosaic spiral that now adorns the shower floor of Stone Owl Cottage.

Spirals and circles have been revered throughout history for their symbolic and aesthetic value. In the case of the Stone Owl Cottage's shower floor, this mosaic spiral transcends mere decoration. It embodies a timeless symbol of unity, growth, and the cyclical nature of life.

The spiral, with its continuous, winding path, represents the journey of life itself, where we embark on a constant cycle of experiences, growth, and renewal. It mirrors the natural rhythms found in nature, from the unfurling of ferns to the whorls of seashells.

So, as we admire the mosaic spiral crafted by Vincenzia, we are not merely looking at an artistic masterpiece, but a symbol of the profound and timeless themes of unity, growth, and the interconnectedness of all things.

01/09/2023

A photo of the moon last night
Photo credit: Robin Bruyns

01/09/2023

Spring is a symphony of rebirth, as nature awakens from its wintry slumber. Delicate blossoms adorn once barren branches, and vibrant colors paint the world anew. The gentle warmth of the sun caresses the earth, coaxing life to burst forth in a breathtaking display of renewal. It's a season that whispers promises of hope and reminds us of the beauty in beginnings.

Book your stay at Stone Owl Cottage by phoning:

+27 82 335 8450

Www.stoneowlcottage.net

30/08/2023

https://sociably.co.za/the-enigmatic-kaapsehoop-wild-horses/?fbclid=IwAR3aixBby2T51UsAmh7VOg9byyKqKW0fh1-cFZl2nbx2JeHrhqAVlc6TV4I

And the birth of a foal. Kaapsehoop has long been shrouded in mystery and enchantment due to its population of wild horses.

19/08/2023

As winter's icy grip begins to loosen, a subtle change starts to ripple through the air in the little village called Kaapsehoop.


The anticipation of spring hangs like a whispered secret, igniting a sense of excitement that's hard to contain. The days gradually lengthen, casting a warm golden hue that dances upon the mountainous landscape. Budding trees, awash in a palette of soft pastels, signal the earth's revival from its slumber in this picturesque village.

www.stoneowlcottage.net

With each passing day, the air carries a renewed vitality, inviting a symphony of cheerful chirps and melodies from birds returning from distant lands. Nature itself seems to hold its breath in eager anticipation, as delicate blossoms emerge from the barren earth of the mountain, carpeting gardens in a riot of colours.

As the first delicate blooms unfurl their petals, a palpable energy courses through the veins of all living things. People start emerging, shedding heavy coats for lighter layers, as if shedding old worries to embrace the promise of the new season.

In this enchanting transition from winter's grasp to the tender embrace of spring, Kaapsehoop's transformation echoes the heartbeat of nature itself. As delicate blossoms awaken, so too do the spirits of the village's inhabitants. The symphony of nature's resurgence intertwines with the melody of human hopes, as they cast aside the weight of yesteryears and step into the sunlit tapestry of tomorrow.

With each unfurling petal and every step towards the burgeoning landscape, Kaapsehoop becomes a living testament to the eternal cycle of renewal, reminding us that even after the harshest winters, the most vibrant springs await those who dare to believe in the magic of change.