The countdown has started ..

The happiness of life is made up of minute fractions -

the little, soon forgotten charities of a kiss or smile,

a kind look, a heart-felt compliment,

and the countless infinitesimals of pleasurable and genial feeling

S.T. Coleridge

The countdown has started ..

Let's enjoy these last days of 2011 to the fullest !

xx

a Merry 4th week of Advent !

Go confidently in the direction of your dreams

Live the life you’ve imagined

Henry David Thoreau

A wonderful thought for the upcoming New Year

Wishing you all a merry merry 4th week of Advent !

xx

On top of my piano

This lovely book called 'The Mouse Mansion'

by Karina Schaapman

It makes a great Christmas gift !

~*~

My tree is up, have you had your Christmas tree up yet?

Warmest Winter Wishes for a Wonderful Weekend !

xx

Red reddish

More & more red enters my home .. xx

Before you act, listen Before you react, think Before you spend, earn Before you criticize, wait Before you pray, forgive Before you quit, try Ernest Hemingway

~*~ Happy Weekend ~*~

wishing you a weekend filled with

~ relaxation ~

~ good books (or fun magazines) ~

~ an adventure or two ~

and

~ sweet people to pass the time with ~

xx

This is your world

This is your world.

Shape it or someone else will !

Autumn is in full swing

We have been covered with fog for a couple of days and

it will stay that way for a while

Where oh where have I been?

I don't know

doing this and that

running here and there

I am back

off to get back in touch with all you beautiful souls out here

Have a shapely and sweet new week !

xx

Reach for the stars

Every great dream begins with a dreamer.

Always remember, you have within you the strength,

the patience, and the passion to reach for the stars to change the world.

~Harriet Tubman~

*~*

Good news for Martina and Carolyn .. you won my giveaway, congratulations!

I have a Spring bouquet for Carolyn and an Autumn bouquet for Martina (^.-)

Martina ~ M's Art Impressions

Carolyn ~ Little Bear Studio

-xx-

*Giveaway*

I came across this little angel and could not leave her behind

I am officially in the Christmas mood

Two will fly the world to you

+ 6 Dutchy magnets

Just leave a comment on this post

the two winning names will be picked November 10th

Happy Month of November !

It's beginning to ..

.. feel a lot like the festive season !

we have the kickoff of Sinterklaas' feast (a children's feast)

and my birthday coming up

in November

&

December,

the Christmas month

Last week, I found a couple of

knitted Christmas balls

in red and white

also a few other Christmassy ornaments came home with me ..

my next post is a Giveaway post, stay tuned and do have

a glorious new week !

xx

Joy to the world

The world is a great mirror. It reflects back to you what you are. If you are loving, if you are friendly, if you are helpful, the world will prove loving and friendly and helpful to you. The world is what you are.

Thomas Dreier

We spent a few days in Sauerland, Germany

Oh boy, what a Joy!

Have a happy day, fill it up with lots of joy

xx

Pretty pops ..

.. of Felt and Fabric and Paper and Flowers

and all these Little Things that give Flavour to the Life of Every Day

What gives Flavour to your day?

Happy hugs xoxo

~ xx ~

There is no end to the adventures that we can have

if only we seek them with our eyes open

Jawaharlal Nehru

Happy hAppY weekend to each and every one !

Smile for a while

xx

Change

If you don't like something change it;

if you can't change it, change the way you think about it

Mary Engelbreit

I printed and printed and printed this quote

it is in every single room of my house

Now you know what I will be up to this Fall

Did you know that Fall is the season of Change

I am off to put on my running shoes and will start visiting

each and everyone of you

looking forward to seeing you in your lovely little corners of the world !

xx

Fall outlook

Although Fall doesn't officially start for a few days,

my home is beginning to look a lot like Fall already

We have garlands of Chinese lanterns,

little cinnamon pouches made from Fall-y fabrics,

flower bouquets in Fall tones and apple picking next weekend

How do you bring the warmth of Autumn into your home

I would love to hear about your Fall traditions !

Happy hugs

xoxo

9/11

Not a day passes over the earth, but men and women of no note

do great deeds, speak great words and suffer noble sorrows

~Charles Reade~

I believe that in every little corner of our big world people think of 9/11 today

xx

Happy September !

If the sight of the blue skies fills you with joy,

if a blade of grass springing up in the fields

has power to move you,

if the simple things in nature have a message you understand

Rejoice, for your soul is alive

Eleanora Duse

Happy September !

xx

Colorful Corner

Three colored Cornflowers

in a corner of my living room

Happy hugs for a wonderful weekend !

xoxo

Use it up

Use it up, wear it out,

make it do, or do without

Enjoy using up the last days of August !

xx

Flowers

If I had a single flower for every time I think about you,

I could walk forever in my garden

Claudia Ghandi

a Glimpse of the Andre van Beek garden

Saint Paul, France

Do not forget to press or dry some of your favorite Summer flowers

Autumn is just around the corner !

Happy, happy weekend

xx

Salon du tea

When in France,

we spent quite some time in this lovely tea salon

It is in Ermenonville,

the city where Jean-Jacques Rousseau died many many years ago

I like the idea of English conversations every first Friday of the month

a Brand New Day

Some snapshots from around my house

to start the week off right I suggest

a Brand New Day by the Wiz

I keep hitting the reply button !

xx

~ Energy ~

Passion is energy

Feel the power

that comes from focusing on what excites you

Imagine

a beautiful garden

a dreamy table setting

a bunch of inspiring ladies

do you feel the energy yet?

Thank you sweet Madelief for the lovely afternoon

full of beautiful china, homemade deliciousness, cheery colors,

tons of tea and good company !

xx

Roue de Paris

In the sky, there is no distinction of east and west;

people create distinctions out of their own minds

and then believe them to be true ..

Buddha

I am so happy to be back in blog land

and cannot wait to catching up with all of you

in the next few days

I spend a little time in France and a lot of time with my funny children this Summer

Will tell you all about it in the upcoming weeks ;)

Have a happiest of weekends !

xx

s*u*m*m*e*r

No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted

The winners of my giveaway are

Odie, the Simple Life

Lucia, Fazemos de Conta

please email me your address

so I can send the packages on their way home

Still enjoying Summer ..

Be sure to wear flowers in your hair !

xx