A lovely Christmas Giveaway

My friend Heather is having a giveaway on her blog.
Pop over and check out the beautiful ornaments she is giving away.
I have picked my favourite but I am not telling which one it is ...LOL

She says it is better to "give" then "receive"...I don't know about that...receiving is pretty darn nice!! LOL
Hugs,

Santa Claus is coming to Town!!!

Yup...I have lost my mind and have started with decorating for Christmas !

My Hubby brought down some of the boxes from the attic.....


Do you think I will be unpacking for a few days ???LOL

It feels like I start earlier and earlier every year!
The leaves are still falling from the trees and I am playing with santas, garland and ornaments.....what is happening to the world when you start to decorate for Christmas in the middle of November!!
Have I totally lost my mind...probably!!!! But next week is the 1st Advent and I like to have most of the decorating done by them ( other then the tree...it can wait a week)

I like to have all the decorating done so that I can enjoy the holiday without getting totally stressed out ...which I will anyways. LOL
Then I can start baking some cookies, looking for last minute gifts but most important attend some Christmas markets with my Hubby.
I love the Christmas Markets here....ahhh the foods, the hot Gluewein, the lights and the feeling of Christmas!
I just love this time of year ...if it wasn't so stressful!! LOL

I guess I should start unpacking....Santa is coming in 35 days!!!
He'll be making his list and checking it twice, to see who has been naughty or nice....since I wrote him a huge list I want to be on his "Nice" list !!

Hugs,


P.S. Has anyone else started to decorate for Christmas or am I the only crazy one ?? LOL

Giveaway Winner!!

Sorry I am announcing the winner a day late.
Yesterday was my nephews 2nd Birthday party....I don't have to tell you how tired I was at the end of the day.
Only 2 year olds have that kind of energy!
If I could bottle his energy I would be rich...even richer then Bill Gates!

I finally wrote all the names out...put them in the basket and "Frosty" wanted to help.


He pulled a name.....


And the winner is ??????

You want to know who's name he pulled ???
Are you sure you wanna know ???

Don't you just hate it when people drag out the name of the winner and make you read the whole darn post!
I wouldn't think of doing that...maybe just a little :-)))
Ok...I will tell you ......

......................are you ready !!!???


The winner is .................... "Quilty" Brigitte

Congratulations Brigitte!!
Now wasn't it worth readying todays post ...at least it was for Brigitte !

Hugs,

P.S: I want to thank everyone that entered my giveaway...your ideas were wonderful and Santa will be thrilled to get my list :-)))

Store clerks...the joy of Christmas shopping!

Did you ever come across a store clerk that you just wanted to shake ?
Or are amazed that they managed to get dressed and come into work??
Well...I had 3 of those yesterday!!

Now I know why so many people do their Christmas shopping online!

I was in a big toy store ( name withheld...don't want to be sued or anything crazy but you know the one...they R everywhere !
I found a young girl stocking shelves...I asked her where could find the toilets...she got that blank look on her face (you know the look) and they I realized she might think I am looking for kiddie pottys...so I clarified myself and said ..."Not a kids toilet ...I need to pee!
She look at me and said " I don't know! .....this amazed me!
I asked..."Have you never peed when you are at work??"
By the confused look she gave me, you would your of thought I had asked her who is the president of Guatemala ?? (by the way, it is Álvaro Colom Caballeros ...yes I googled it !)
I found another salesclerk that does pee at work and she told me were the bathrooms were.
When I was done I went back to the young girl and told her " If you ever have to pee, the toilets are over there! ( gotta help the youth!)

Then I went to another toy store ...a smaller one.
I looked all over for this tractor...couldn't find it so I asked a sales clerk.
She checked the shelves again with me and says..." I don't see it either"
So I say to her...maybe you could check the computer and see if you have some in the warehouse?
She answers..."ahhhh, thats a good idea!"
At this point I had to stop myself from laughing. I am full of good ideas!
Of course they had 2 in stock and I managed to finally leave as a happy customer :-)

The last store really amazed me....It is a chain grocery store.
The guy in front of me was buying 2 boxes of cookies (1 light chocolate, the other dark chocolate)
The cashier rang them up ...told him the price and I guess it was more then he expected so he asked...Are the cookies two different prices ??...she looks at him, and says" I don't know"! ...then looks at the cookies and says" I can't tell you!
I had to bite my tongue really hard to stop myself from saying..."Just check the darn computer screen you have in front of your face!!" From where I was standing (even without my glasses) I could see that the cookies rang in at 2 different prices.
I guess turning her head and looking at the screen was to complicated!
( by the way, she was an older lady so I can't even blame it on youth!)

I know there are good, courteous, helpful salesclerks out there...but where where they yesterday ?

Maybe I shouldn't of started my Christmas shopping on a Monday...maybe on Tuesdays their brains work better ??

Hugs,

Planting Bulbs Tutorial....don't laugh!

As my poor Hubby raked leaves ...actually he sucked them up.
He got himself one of those sucking/blowing garden tool thingies ( don't ask me what is is called)
It looks like a big elephant trunk thing that sucks up the leaves.
My Hubby is out there vacuuming the garden and I can't get him to vacuum the house! MEN!!
I wonder if that thing would work indoors ??
I think I just found a new job for him ;-)

As he was playing with his new toy I planted my spring bulbs...finally!
A neighbour had told me about a tool that makes it easy ...once again I don't know what it is called ( I am not very bright today !!) but I thought I would share my excitement with you.

This thing is fabulous ( probably you all know about it and I am the last person to discover it)
I am going to call it a bulb planter for lack of a better name.
This is my new wonder tool!!! LOL

If you enlarge this picture you can see that it even has markings on the side for the different depths you have to go.
This is sooooo easy......you just push it into the ground....and pull it out...the dirt stays inside like magic ands you have a perfect hole!!


Drop your bulb in.
Make sure the pointy end is up!!!
Place the bulb planter over the hole and press on the handle ( one side will go in) this releases the dirt.
Viola ...hole is covered !! Bulb is planted!!

Now was that not cool or what ??
I know .....I am easily entertained!
I hope you liked my first tutorial ?

Hugs,

P.S. I know my Dutch friends are probably laughing their asses off about bulb planter ! :-)

Posting Help ???

Does anyone know how I can keep a post at the top ??
I wanted to keep my Giveaway post above so that others could see it and all my new posts would fall underneath.
Does this make any sense ??
Can anyone help me ??
Hugs,



*** Thanks Julia, your tip worked!!!!
When you write your post , at the bottom there is a button "Post Option"...click on it and predate your post ! So easy!! Duh !!! Why didn't I think of that ?? ;-)

Fall

I love fall!
The crunch of leaves under my feet.
The changing of colours.
The crisp cool air letting you know winter is coming.
The reminder that Christmas will be soon upon us.

This is the fall I like....



This is the fall I don't like!
Under the yellow leaves is green grass...trust me!

I know why they call it "Fall" ...since ever leaf falls into my garden!!
We don't have a tree in our yard but we have the pleasure of our neighbours trees hanging over our yard which means....tons of leaves!
More leaves then I have ever seen!
They just keep raining down upon us !
I won't even tell you how many times we have raked them up and they keep coming ( I think they are secretly multiplying on their way down!

On the one side we have the pleasure of Birch trees ( I never knew they had SO many leaves) and on the other side we have a huge Walnut tree. ( I could bake enough walnut bread for 20 years)
Don't get me wrong...I like these trees in the summer when they give me shade but in the Autumn...I hate them! LOL
Couldn't they just drop all their leaves in one day??
Do they have to take weeks to tortue me ???

Ahhhh, the joy of Fall!

Guess what we will be don't tommorrow??
If you are bored, I have an extra rake...come on over!
Hugs,

In Celebration of my 100th Post....a Giveaway!

Holy Cow!!....this is my 100th Post!

WOW, the time just flew by!

As promised...I am having a little giveaway
This is the prize.....a pretty book on making pincushions and a needle case I made just for this giveaway.
A close up of the needle case .....outside & inside....


I hope you like the prizes since I am going to make you work a bit to get them...don't get nervous, you don't have to wash my windows or anything ( but that isn't a bad idea ;-)

In your comment, you have to tell me what your favourite crafting /sewing/quilting item is ??
Or any neat new product/ item you have discovered.
I am looking for ideas for Santa.
I figure if I give him a detailed list he should manage to get me one item from it. (Or does your Santa manage to bring you great gifts? Mine needs help...I have been married to him to long which means his "gift giving" brain cells have died! )

Help my Santa....enter my giveaway!

Here are the rules:
- you get 1 entry by leaving a comment about your favourite item in this post.
- you get a 2nd entry by posting about this giveaway on your blog with a link and picture.
I will NOT be giving a 3rd entry for becoming a follower. I feel you become a follower because you like my babbling and not to get a prize. ( I am honored if you do become a follower but it is not necessary, you can pop in whenever you like :-)
So the most entries you can get is 2!
After all, you only need 1 to win!

This giveaway is open to everyone!
If you don't have a blog please send me your email addy, so that if you win I can get in touch with you, otherwise I will have to pull a second name.

The winner will be chosen on November 15th, 2009

Thats it...lets hear your ideas!!!

99th Post

I can't believe this is my 99th Post!!
I started this blog on January 23, 2009
I figured it would be at least a year before I would have a 100th posting giveaway.
WOW, I sure can talk a lot !!

I guess this means I will have to have a giveaway for my 100th post!
What will I be giving away ??? I don't know but I can tell you what it won't be.....
It won't be a car, a trip somewhere exotic or a fancy sewing machine ( I wish) ...guess you will just have to check back and see what it is???

In the meantime, I wish you a Happy Halloween!!
May your bag be filled with your favorite candy!

Hugs,

Sore feet

Have your feet ever hurt so much that you thought they would explode ??
Well, my feet are at that stage!
Actually, I wish they would explode so the throbbing would stop.
I shouldn't whine...it is my own fault!
If I would just admit I am not as young as I think I am or should I say, my body isn't as young as I think I am !

Yesterday was the first day of our big "Kreativ Welt" (a creative fair) and I walked my feet off till they could not walk anymore! (Yes, I wore comfy shoes...I am over 40, all I own is comfy shoes!)
I am getting to old for big events like this.
Years ago I could go through the whole fair in about 6 hours...now I need 6 days!
Maybe not 6 days ( it only runs for 4) but 2 days would be good!
My feet would thank me for it but I am sure my wallet couldn't handle it.

There were over 400 booths, and I had to check them all out! ( almost all)
There where beads, papers, fabric, ribbon, threads, stamps and more stuff I am forgetting. (the pain from my feet is blinding my brain)
It seems that scrap booking has finally hit Germany big time. There were so many stands of scrap booking supplies that a collector could go crazy!
I had wanted to get a stamp of a sewing machine....5 million different kinds of stamps but do you think I could find a sewing machine...NO!
This is a plea to the stamp makers...we sewers would like some stamps of sewing machines, spools of thread, thimbles & needles! Maybe next year someone will have heard my plea??...maybe by then my feet will be ready for it?

I did manage to find one stamp ( that I wasn't looking for) ...isn't this cool??
What are the chances I would find this but no sewing machine???
I didn't find the fabric that I was looking for but I did find these ( they just jumped into my basket).
Either the price of fabrics have gotten ridiculous here or I have become cheap. ( the sale fabrics were 10€ meter = $14...most fabrics were about 16€ meter = $23 US)
I am use to ordering my fabrics online from USA shops so I wasn't prepared for some of the prices.
Is that high or am I a cheapo ?? ( I know I am a cheapo!!)
What is the most you have ever paid for quilting fabric ???
My personal top was 19€ ($28US) needless to say I only got a FQ! ( no, it wasn't laced with gold...I still haven't used it...I am hoarding it for something special!)

Even thought some of the fabric prices were high, every once in a while a girl just has to buy some locally. I can't order everything online. I need to touch it, stroke it, ohhhhh & ahhhh over it. I need that instant gratification of "shopping" not waiting 2 weeks for it to arrive by mail. Even though I do enjoy when a package arrives...I ohhh & ahhhh over it too! But there is something wonderful about instant shopping ( even if your feet hurt, a nice piece of fabric makes it all better)

I was telling my Hubby all about the fair last night. He even pretended to listen and be interested (probably he was afraid if he ignored me I would go back a second day and break the account!)
I said...If my feet are so tired from our little fair, how would I ever survive the Houston Quilt Show ??? It is every quilters dream to attend it but I think I would need at least 3 days to walk through it...that or rollerskates!
Needless to say, I am not dreaming of the Houston Quilt show today ( even if I am envious of everyone that can go)

In the meantime I will have to be happy with our fair.
If you want to get a impression of our Creative fair, click on the videos here and here

Now I am off to pamper my sore feet.
Hugs,

Great Giveaway

How would you like to win 27 FQ's of Red Rooster's Pumpkins & Spice Fabrics by Whimsicals.?!!!
Doesn't that make your mouth water...it does mine!!!
All you have to do is visit Brendas Blog "Pumpkin Patch Primitives Quilt Shoppe" and enter.
Please go enter...if she gets 250 enteries then she will give away a second bundle....that might help my chances of winning ( and pigs fly!) :-)
Hugs,

Omas 100th Birthday!

Sorry I haven't written all week but life got busy here.
Usually I live a quiet, boring life but once in a while the Gods decide to shake it up a bit.

My Hubbys Grandma ( we call her Oma) celebrated her 100th Birthday on Tuesday!!
Yes, you read right....100!!!!
The woman is amazing!!
We had a party for her ( about 50 guests) and she talked to everyone of them...for hours!!
I was exhausted from the whole day advents and the next day she went to a 70th birthday party. She amazed me! I hope I am as fit as she is when I am 80! Oh heck, at 50!!

Here in Germany, it is normal for guests to show up at your home and congratulate you on your birthday(and bring gifts of course!)
Since Oma lives in a retirement home we had the "congratulations" part at the home and I can't believe how many people showed up! I think the whole town was there at one point or another (she knows the whole town)
Even the Mayor came and a photographer from the paper.
It is not every day that someone turns 100.
The morning was busy serving the guests Champagne and sandwiches and then off to the restaurant for the party.
By the end of the day I was exhausted but Oma was happy....I think she became 10 years younger!

Here is our 100 year young Oma!!

then ....... now.......
Here is the Mayor congratulating her......

I had put together a large poster of Omas Life.....I was really surprised to find old pictures of her and her family.
Guess they did have cameras 100 years ago ;-)


The following pictures are for my sister....no party would be complete without cake!
This is what you missed Sis..... 14 different temptations!!!
(click on the pictures to get a bigger taste)





Now I am off to try and get a bit of sewing done...gotta take advantage of the extra hour we got today ( hope you all remembered to set your clocks back?)
Hugs,