Getting ready for 2015!

 2015 is just a few days away! 

Time to look back through 2014 and remember!

Remember all the fun we shared here!

All the things we did together! The ideas!

Hosta's! Garden's! Coffee and tea! Sewing!

First Handwork weekend!  

Thing's that made us laugh! Life! Living!

Friendships with you dear reader!

"We will open the book( calender/agenda).

It's pages are blank. 

We are going to put words on them ourselves.

 The book is called opportunity

 and its first chapter is New Year's Day."

  What are your wishes, things you would like to do in 2015? I'm not really talking about New Years Resolutions " goed voornemens", Those statistically fail by the third week in January. I'm talking about fun stuff you would like to do! My list is oh, so long! LOL! ....  Second handwork weekend! Reading your blogs! Meeting up with friends! Visiting a "new to me" cappuccino place once a month! Taking a course by Supergoof quilts! Garden tours! Tea! and a new recipe now and again ,,,,, and that's just the beginning! :) Talking about new recipe's, if you have extra Champagne come January, I found this Champagne Pound Cake ! Happy New Year! And best wishes for a healthy, creative, fun and joy moments, shared laughter and smiles 2015!

Take care and lots of Hugs, Joanne

Another new recipe!

 Then it was time to bake without sugar! This Banana Bread has ingredients such as eggs, coconut milk, dates, coconut flour, ground hazelnuts, raisins and banana's of course!

A Chocolate cake recipe tuned into mini cakes contains butter, pure chocolate, eggs, dates and ground hazelnuts! Looking forward to trying more of these paleo recipe's! There were no strange sugar substitutes in powder or syrup form asked for, Mostly normal ingredients that are easy to find! And these two cakes tasted good too! They're all gone! Even the one with two sweet teeth liked them! As I write this, the snow has arrived in The Netherlands, causing its usual delays and problems. Drive carefully!  

Merry Christmas!

May it be full of flavour and full of things you like to do! Time to get out to enjoy a walk! Watch a few Christmassy shows, The Queen's speech and the King's. If you have to work, may it be a peaceful one!  And if Christmas is getting to you, watch a bit on YouTube ! Take care, Joanne

Coffee Time!

 Hello! Join me for a cup of coffee at a new place! For me, that is! Christmas shopping finished? All the groceries in house?  Just have to wrap a few things....

 and bake a few cookies! A few new recipes this holiday season! Starting with Molasses Ginger and Dark Chocolate Cookies, A recipe from "Joy the Baker".  Always have to smile when the instructions read..."Bake for 12 minutes until just browned around the edges...." They're Molasses cookies! They're already brown!

 Could use a bit more ginger :)

But you can be the judge of that :)

Time to enjoy a few stitches before it gets dark!

Happy Christmas Eve!

Google Images!

While I was searching for a drawing of an old Singer sewing machine I came across these great ideas! I love the wash basin stand!  And the extended version! And the plant stand! Now I know what to do with the next one that comes along! :)

 Found inspiration! My design completed!

Hope you're enjoying the days til Christmas!

Time for Tea!

Hello! Great to see you!

The shortest day of the year was yesterday!

But with a High of 13C today, it's hard to

believe it's December 22 today!

If it was sunny, I'd think that it was Spring time!

 The Netherlands 2014, Warmest year in 3 centuries!

Let's enjoy the new menu here!

 Talking about tea, If you're interested in all things Tea, and you're in The Netherlands, you still have time, until May 31st, 2015 to visit The national Ceramic Museum in Leeuwarden and see Time for Tea !  "Op de Thee" !  It's on my list of things to do in 2015! Join Me? Should be a fun day out!

30 years ago!

Went to the back of the attic this morning and dug out the box of treasured Christmas things! Here it is! The Christmas Stocking that I made in grade 9 sewing class! 30 years ago! Strips of fabric sewn on felt! Then turned into a stocking! I had a great start, learning how to sew! A great skill that I've used and enjoyed through out the years. There's still a lot to get started on in 2015!

Time for tea!
With a Spelt Raisin Molasses Muffin!

Christmas Buttons!

(Google Images)

What fun Christmas Decorating ideas for your home!

 It's already 10C! A 12C high expected! 

 The only snow and ice right now is on the Christmas Cards!

The painted dish is home! I can fill it with ...? LOL!

Wishing you time to enjoy a walk outdoors!

A Christmas Stocking Story!

Once upon a time, back in the day, more that 15 years ago, when Chilliwack B.C. had three fabric stores, I was able to get a job in one of them! "Well, there goes your paycheck!" said father to me! But Mom was just as happy as I! Fabric's, notions, patterns, creative solutions for customer's ...all in a day's work. And a boss that was a joy to work with! As part of the job we had to make things for the window displays with fabrics that came in to the shop! After the seasonal display time was finished we could take the projects home. One Christmas season I was assigned a tree skirt and matching, lined, stockings! You see one here! Next time I'll share a story about a Christmas Stocking that's 30 years old!

 A beautiful sunrise on the way to work!

Yes, there are still a few gardening days before Christmas!

Hope your day started out just as nice!

10 days!

 Only 10 days until Christmas Eve! Are you enjoying the days til then? A sunny blue sky crisp 5C today! Time to get out for a walk after last Thursday's 11 mm and Friday's 18 mm rain and wind!

 I was admiring these, taking picts, when the stall holder told me they're bamboo wrapped in fabrics! What a great decorating idea!

 All supported in a bucket of cement with these holders!

 Then it was time to put paper to glass! The "light box" or window,closes early these days! By 16.30! We're almost at the shortest day, longest night of the year! Then the days get longer!

 Back stitch on white! What a nice change for the eye's than counted cross stitch on black!

Creative? You should see this sewing machine ! Click on the photo's to see them larger! Notice which way you have to turn the wheel?  That's co-ordination! I tried it out/pretended! I hope it's still on Marktplaats when you read this! Time for tea!

Creative day!

Fun! Join in on a lesson about painting on ceramics!

A bit Christmassy, a bit wintery, a bit year round!

It first has to be fired. I can pick it up Wednesday!

Creative wishes to you!

It's really looking a lot like Christmas!

At a Christmas Market in Essen, Germany!

It's just a two hour drive away!

And I waved as we drove by Carolien!

 We were in Essen by lunch time!

 In Germany you can order a Baked Potato and salad!

 This is great ! 

 Tasted really good!

 And had a great view from the restaurant!

 Ready for a few hours of walking?

Let's see what's on offer!

 Fudge!

 Traditional German sweets!

 Polish Bunzlau pottery

 Candles and lighting for winter evenings!

 Time for Apple Strudel and real hot cocoa!

Re-energized! And it's getting dark!

 Time to see the lights!

 More than 450,000 lights!

 Want a ride? A bit too cold for me!

 Looks so nice!

 Thirsty?

 There's a bar by this Moose Head! 

 Time for a warm eggnog drink! 

 Then the rain started!

 Hey, it's December! Most had umbrella's!

 Chocolate Fondue?

Or should we go inside a few of the shops?

 Creative lighting!

 Window display!

 People were wondering what I was photographing!

 Lights! Trees!

 Design!

 And a Gingerbread house!

 There's so much to see!

I think we had a great visit!

Time to go indoors! Mulled wine anyone?