Friday, December 30, 2011

The year is almost done with!

Goodmorning everybody!

I am happy to say, that the things I planned to do yesterday, have been done. Did some of the necessary shopping(boring stuff), changed the duvet on the bedinto two seperate ones(because the big one just was too warm), so the beds is nice and fresh again, did the laundry, even did a bit of ironing. Yeah, good girl.
Jan will do the vacuum-cleaning today, I will do a bit of dusting and then we will be ready to enter the new year.
I've had a telephonecall from Heidi on Wednesday, telling me that they were on their way back home already!
Her hubby Danny had a terrible cold and daughter Séverine had probably the flue, so they decided it was better to be at home, in their own environment, and their own beds! I felt so sorry for them, they looked forward to their little vacation and it was spoiled by the flue!
 I will phone them today to hear are they are doing, hopefully they will feel a bit better.

The weather has been a bit "on and off"the last couple of days. Not really cold, but cloudy even raining and I heard a tough wind blowing during the night. But now there is again a bit of sunshine, however I can spot some dark clouds too. If it stays a bit like that, I could make a little walk to the bank, to deposite a bill that has to be paid. And if I do, I also can make a visit to the cheese shop that is in that neighbourhood, to get us some cheese, I hope I will stay strong enough not to buy any French cheese there, they have loads of them and I do like them so much! Not the cheapest to buy but oh so yummie LOL! I might consider to buy us a little piece, and we can eat that perhaps at New Year's eve with a little toast. Hmmmmmm, very attractive idea!
I heard on the news that again this year millions of euros are spent on the fireworks. Incredible, what amount of money people do spent on this! Specially now, with the difficult economics.
We didn;t buy any, but we will be looking from the window to it, I don;t want to go out because of our cats.
And then there will be the traditional New Year's concert from Vienna on New Years Day. We ALWAYS listen and look to it, drinking our coffee, perhaps even in our pyama's, cuddled up on the couch LOL.

This will be the last freebie....... of this year! It's named "Keepsakes" and I think it's a rather versatile kit.
Have a wonderful ending of the year and a good start of the new. If you might shoot some fireworks, please be careful!
See you again on Monday, in 2012!
Download   HERE

Wednesday, December 28, 2011

Catching up a bit of sleep

Goodmorning everybody!

It really was a bit of funny day yesterday. When Jan and I woke up yesterday, we didn;t had actually the feeling we had a good night's sleep. That can happen sometimes. I know I slept quite some hours in a row, but I had the feeling I was awake almost the whole night, and Jan about the same. So we were rather lazy yesterday and in the afternoon we both took an extra nap. That did us some good and I slept a lot better this night.
I took my turn to feed the animals at Heidi's house, and it was even nice to take the little walk, got a bit of fresh air in the head. I had to do a cleaning job with the rabbit, cause when I tookhim out of his cage, to give him a cuddle I noticed he had a bunch of poop around his back-paw and around the area of his bump. Yak! Normally the rabbit has little "grains"of poop, but this was of a much softer nature. I guess he's not feeling completely 100%, because when I entered the room he wasn't standing up looking around curious who is there and that way he always asks for being caressed for a moment, it all .might have to do with his being all alone perhaps. Just hope it will be better with him today and he will hold out till Heidi and family return on Friday!

I think I will go out later today to get me some grocerie stuff, like fresh bread, cat food, and such.
So probably Jan will go to feed the animals again today. And I also must not forget to wake Jan up earlier tomorrow, cause he has his regular control-visit at the doctor. He is doing allright now, after all the trouble he had a few years ago with his stomach. Still drinking no alcohol, and with the medication he takes, all is working well again, he's back on his usual weight and feeling energetic again. Thank God for that. He only doesn;t like winter time, that always bothered him a bit LOL, and is always happy to say: "hey, we passed the 21st of December, so now the days will be getting longer and longer again."

That's about all I can ramble about, so I better post the freebie now and will play for a while in my PSE, have to try to finish another kit I am working on.
I have "Auntie's Lace" for you today.
Enjoy your day!
Download    HERE

Tuesday, December 27, 2011

And suddenly Christmas is over!

Goodmorning everybody!

It's not my usual day of posting, but as I left you all alone LOL on Christmas, a little posting might do me no harm.
I hope everybody had a great Christmas holiday, we had a wonderful time, didn;t do much, just enjoyed some great shows on tv, and just had the motto "easy-going".
Had a lovely surprise in my mailbox from a visitor, Kay, who sent me a few layouts she made with the quickpages of the "Christmas-Collection, with such sweet pictures of her great grandchildren and I am happy that she approved I show them here.
Aren't they sweeties?????????

And yes, suddenly Christmas is in the past! So funny, who quickly those days pass by. After we are looking forward to them for several weeks, and preparing all things for it, and then it is gone again. So now we have to do "normal"business again, well almost, till there is New years Eve and Day and then we start a whole new year again. Already some dumbo's are firing fireworks, mostly the crackers who give a big "Boom". Why can;t they wait till it is the time for it, at midnight New Year's Eve??? I don't mind so much but it isn;t nice for our pets. Their ears are much more sensitive than ours, and each time they hear a "bang"you see them getting nervous. So I know our cats will look for a nice safe place somewhere, to sit it out when everybody will shoot their fireworks and we will stay home, so they will feel a bit safer.

The weather here is still not too bad, you cannot say it is feeling like it is winter, but hey, I am not complaining!! Still we will have to see what kind of weather might come the next three months! We still could have snow and ice, it happened before. Not that I am looking forward for that!

Today we still will be staying home, except for a moment when we have to go to Heidi's house to feed the rabbit, bird and fish. The last couple of days Jan was so sweet to do it, but I might go with him today, we'll see about that. I feel a bit sorry for the rabbit and bird, who are all alone during a week, but to move them over here for just a few days isn't really worth the trouble either. Heidi should be home on Friday again.
Okay, are you  ready for a new freebie?? As we are still in winter time(well, at least a part of the world is) I have a wintery kit for you, named"Winter Days". Hope it will be of some use.
Have a great day, relax a bit, if possible, of the Christmas days ROFL .
Download   HERE

Saturday, December 24, 2011

CHRISTMAS, ALMOST!

Goodmorning everybody!

As I promised, I pop in for a quick post with my last Christmas freebie for you.
I finished yesterday the last bits of shopping, and I suppose I was lucky, cause the supermarket wasn;t really crowded yet. In the afternoon Jan went to the market, to get us a bit of fruit. As he came back, he told me it was lucky he entered the market at another side than at the usual entrance, because he was right at the fruit & vegetables part. Even then it took him quit some time to get his stuff and leave the place. There was a massive crowd shopping there!
We already had a little "hors-d'oeuvre" of the Christmas feeling yesterday evening. Aside from watching the usual program, we watched an amusing Christmas show on German tv. And today I will be looking forward to watch some programs on German tv and also the BBC, all filled with Christmas songs.
Before we can indulge ourselves with that LOL, one of us (or perhaps we will both go) will have to go over to Heidi's house, to feed the animals. They left yesterday for their holiday week, and I wish them a terrific time.
It certainly will not be a white Christmas over here, we even have a bit of blue sky and sunshine, and if all goes well, the next two days it will stay that way, and I cannot say I am unhappy with it.
How much I love to see a snowed world, it has something special, I don't really miss it.
Would be nice if it could only snow in the woods and parcs, where it stays beautiful, and leave the streets dry and clean.
May be I will prepare this afternoon already a bit for tomorrow's dinner, there isn;t much to do as we will have a fondue, but I can already make the little minced meat balls for it, and cut up the other meat in small pieces. Perhaps not a bad idea.
Okay ladies, that's all for today. Again I wish you all  Merry Christmas, and thank you for all the sweet Christmaswishes!
Here's the last freebie "Christmas Morning".
Download      HERE

Friday, December 23, 2011

It's almost Christmas!

Goodmorning everybody!

I am almost feeling like a little kid, LOL, waiting for Christmasday. And when it's there, is goes by in a flash!
Although we aren;t doing something really special, I always try to make it into an extra cosy day. And it feels also like it.
Let me think, when was it? Oh yes, Wednesday afternoon I already made myself a little Christmas. Jan had to go to hospital, nothing startling, just had to donate a little blood for a bloodtest, just control, and he will have his doctor appointment just a few days after Christmas. So it was quiet in the house and I decided it was a good time to listen to some Christmas carrols. You don;t want to hear them too often, but I do enjoy listening to them, when I am at the computer, all the lights on, and even sometimes singing along with them. Otherwise it wouldn;t be a complete Christmas for me LOL!

I do have to go out today to get me some last things, wanted to do that yesterday, but didn;t feel 100%, so I stayed home, took a little nap, kept low profile. I only hope that it will not be too crowded in the shops!
Oh, well, we will survive that too!
I've made a little Christmaswish for everyone, who visited my blog so loyal this year. Although I will be back tomorrow again, just with a really quick posting, I think it will be best to post the wish today. Thanks you all for your support, your kind comments, your visits.

Now quickly on to your freebie, a kit named "Sparkling Christmas" And as I said, I;ll have one more to go, that will be posted tomorrow. !
Have a great day, hold the real Christmas spirit in your heart !
Download    HERE

Thursday, December 22, 2011

Here I am again already

Goodmorning everybody!

Just a quick post, with nothing special to announce. It's still rather early morning, but it's getting a bit lighter outside. However, now is the real cosy time for me, I;ve just lighted the Christmastree and the little lights of the train, and I love the atmosphere it gives! So quiet all round, cats are sleeping, hubby is still sleeping, the perfect moment of the day LOL.
The reason  I am back posting already is that I still have a few Christmas goodies to share.
So no talking about anything today, just putting up a new kit with the download link.
Are you almost ready for Christmas or do you have to do a lot of things at the last moment??
Well, I am glad to say I almost have it all, I think I just have to pick up a few last things from the supermarket tomorrow, and that will have to do.
Here I have a little kit for you, "Dreaming of a White Christmas". And yes, we will just have to imagine a white, silent world at Christmas here, cause the forcast is telling us there will be no snow, probably even no rain, but sunshine and temps around 46 F! I can live with that.
Have a wonderful day! Till tomorrow.
Download     HERE

Wednesday, December 21, 2011

It's quiet and peacefull in the house again LOL

Goodmorning everybody!

Yeah, till now it's good news, the VCR still works hahahaha.
A bit less good news is that I have again a little bit trouble with the back, but not as severe as it was before. As I still have some pills left I got from the doctor, I am taking them and already can notice an improvement. Porbably the vacuum cleaning two days ago wasn;t the best for it. Oh, well, this will pass away too. Always have to stay optimistic, and of good hope, that already makes a difference.

I'll still have to do some shopping for Christmas, but I am not sure yet about the dinner. May be I will keep it real easy and we will have a fondue, with a variety of  meat, it is rather easy, and it is tasteful. And most of the time there will be a left over for the second day, but if not, that will be easy too, I will make a potatoe salad with slices of smoked salmon on top.
We watched, amond other things, also some debats etc. from the parliament, specially the House of Commons.
It's sometimes interesting. Only we have hard times at the moment, because of the Euro crisis and also still financial crisis which is all over the world. Hmmmmm, I wonder who is to blame mostly for that??????And who is paying the bill for that?????? Answer on last question is rather easy: that's us!
I think every a bit rational thinking person knows and even understands, that measurements are necessary and that they cannot always be without consiquences for us all. But sometimes ninisters come with proposals for new measurements, that are a bit ridiculous and I also wonder if they are helpful on the long term.
Now they are argueing about the social aid. If somebody has no work, so no income you can ask for a social aid, an income you receive from the government, based on a social minimum income. And then you have obligitation to search for work. Well, I understand that. You are now even forced to take any work, also when it is not according to your scholing . Even that I can understand. But now there is talk, that if e.g. a mother with say three children, isn;t working receiving social aid and has a child of 18 or 19 years old that is working(and most of the time they have the minimume salary for that age, which isn;t overwhelming) that the government wants, that the working kid has to donate it's full income to the mother, which will be redued from the social aid income and then the mother only will receive from government the money she is short from the social aid amount. In figures: Kid earns about € 700 a month, social aid from mother with 3 kids should be around € 1100, government pays just € 400 to the mother. If you say that quick, it seems not too bad, but think further. The earning kid cannot make savings to perhaps one day buy a house, or for other things. With about € 700 a month, it's also very difficult to rent your own appartment, almost not possible. Then mother is obligated to search work, or to take some, where ever it is in Holland. She still has two much younger kids who go still to school. But if she works, she probably will have to put the two kids in a after school care program, which is very very expensive. Perhaps she will be able to get a few aids for rent, or taxes, that again from government, but if you calculate it all through, it doesn;t make real sense.
Okay, if the eldest kid still lives at home, it could make a monthly donation from it's earnings, I think that is reasonable. But not the way the government wants it to be.
I know, our social security systems is still rather good here, it also costs a lot of money from the government(but it is coming out of the pocket of all the hardworking people in taxes!), and if possiblle I do think everybody should try to have work, if you can. But now the other problem: if there isn;t enough work? Not for everybody, because I don;t think everybody is able to do everybody's work( and that's what the government wants). The amount of jobless people is slowly getting higher, and I believe it will rise much more next year, cause a lot of companies cut down on the costs of employess, and also a lot of sotres and companies and fabrics just have to close their doors because of very bad results, they cannot go on anymore.
They want everybody to work till 67( you can stop at a younger agem but then your elderlystate pension will be cut down), but do you see somebody of around 63 working in a glass house, from 6 in the morning till about 1 in the afternoon, picking tomatoes or strawberries? Or doing a harsh cleaning job? I don;t think so. At least not a big part of them, it's too straining on the physics.
I believe it is a circle, difficult to break through, but for the ministers there  is no problem, they have a great income, if they might quite their job, for whatever reason, they receive still a nice income, and most of the time they manage to get a rather nice job after it.
Oh my, politics!!!!! We  little people will never understand it properly, but I am sure of one thing:
A lot of the governamental money could be spend much more wisely and useful, which would result in the end for much better social climat for all of us!

ROFL< ROFL
It's also a bit difficult at times for me to find the proper words in English, so sometimes perhaps it doesn;t make sense what I write down, or may sound a bit mumbo-jumbo, but I also think you can grasp the essence of it, hey?

Let's go to a bit brighter side of life, grin! I have a freebie for you today, again Christmas related, this time a bindle of quickpages in brag book page and also a few in other format. I hope they will be of use for some of you. I may be even back already tomorrow, just with a quick post, in fact just to post another Christmaskit. Yeah, I still have some for you and I think I will try to post them all before Christmasday. So keep an eye on this blog for the next couple of days, if you are still short of Christmas scrapping kits.
Hope you are not too depressed by my rambling!
Have a great day, and a great day can be accomplished just beacuse of a smile and good hope for another one!
Download      HERE