A sad queensday!

Probably everyone knows or heard of what happened today during the parade. I was visiting my mother in law as i haven't been there for about a week and she've called twice lately how we are. We were watching the parade on TV so we had seen what had happened. Please click here for more news about the tragedy. It was before midday and still lots of activities will be followed but for the place the Royalties are visiting are all cancelled and i heard some in other cities too.
The activities here on the island was mostly for the children so it has carried on and the bonfire too. I hadn't stayed long where the activities was this afternoon as i want to watch the conference that was scheduled at 3:45. By that time, there are 4 deads and 5 seriously injured but still they couldn't say what was the motive behind this act. This is really sad, I feel for the family and friends of the victims who are affected by it.

We came in late and had to shower and take the kids to bed and it's now over midnight but i just want to update here before turning myself.


Here's a few pictures i've taken at the bonfire. From this bulk(woods,plants..) lots are pulling some for their own fire. Some groups had really prepared themselves with some drinks, foods and good company!
We left at around 11pm, had to force the kids though as i find it's too late.








(You can click on all pictures to enlarge if you want)


Thank you all for stopping by and all the lovely comments on my previous post. I really appreciate them all.
Hope you all are having a good week.

April x'mas ornament SAL & baby card

Let IT Snow ornament
Country Cottage Needleworks
JCS 2008
Zweigart Belfast naturel 32ct.
DMC threads

This was stitched a while back but i wasn't in the mood for finishing as i wasn't sure how to finish it off. Now i do want to complete it before the month ends!


Here are the collections each month since January.




(You can click on all pictures to enlarge if you want)

Where Grace and her friend babysit once a week had their 3rd baby last weekend so i made a quick card which Grace dropped it this afternoon. Her friend is on holiday in Spain at the moment but when she's back early next week i am sure they will go and visit.


It's Queen's day here in Holland tomorrow. Before, we have small parades for the children, Grace had participated a few times when she was small but since last year they didn't organize it anymore. I think it was something about the band, there was not many members to divide for the villages.
But they have some kind of games and other activities for the children in the afternoon so that's where the kids are going and in the evening we have a "Meierblis "(a large fire)' just nearby here. Hope i can take a few pictures to tell more about it next post.

Thank you all for stopping by for a visit and all your lovely comments. I deeply appreciate them all.

small SAL's

I'v joined a couple of small SAL's just recently and here are the progress:
The pictures aren't that good though. Sorry about that.
This one started yesterday and it will be available until May 2. It is off OakHaven Designs. For anyone who wants to join have to send an email to the owner. This is only in 2 parts so it's pretty quick to finish.
Just started the second part but realise that i made a mistake so i have to frog what i've just stitch, will do it later...first have to catch up on groups and blogs.

And this one is from stitch-creations. It has started a while back and available on her blog. These small quaker motives will be completed into a pin block. A picture of it can be seen on her blog too.

It's May vacation for the children for two weeks and we were supposed to visit friends at the mainland today and stay there for a couple of days but she called yesterday that it will have to be postponed as they have something that had just came up.
So intead i took the kids to go shopping today at the mainland, not that far just on the other side of the ferry. We got some clothes for Chris mostly but we had difficulty finding the shoes he really wanted. So no success with the shoes for him but i got a pair of running shoes, wow! quite an expensive one: 156 dollars! I hope this motivates me to keep on running....Grace wasn't successfull either with the clothes she wanted but atleast she've bought a few items with her friends during their outing last week.

Maggie, it isn't Azalea but Camelia plant that you've seen on the background. It was on a pot last year and haven't seen it bloom, glad i transfered it on the ground after the summer.

Mama Lieveheersbeestje, de tijdklok had manlief geinstaleerd en ook wat sites geblokkeerd voor hun. Grace balen ervan omdat hyves was ook een van, maar ze mag wel op MSN. Ze zit ook op VWO2, haar raport van het eerste jaar was heel goed maar de laatste tijd ging het slecht dus we proberen wat dingen te verminderen en controleren. Hopelijk dat het werkt.

I hope everyone's having a good week. Thanks so much for stopping by. I areally appreciates your visits.

Tulips

I really had done something wrong or the kids as they had used this computer a few times as their own had a time limit for only an hour a day during weekdays. I am fed up stopping them when they are online so hubby set a time limit on both of their pc.
Can't really fine the documents where all the pictures from 2007-2009, i just hope dh can find a way when gets back.

Took some pictures of the tulips i had planted end last year. I didn't know these are quite tall ones but i do love the colors. My small garden is a bit messy but hope to add more plants later.















These were from last year too, thought they were dead during the winter but as you can see they are blooming nicely!

(You can click on all pictures to enlarge if you want)





Here's a picture of the items i received from Lynn. Aren't they lovely!
So neatly finished!




I finished three of these but one is missing here as it went to ,Natalija for the biscornu exchange. One of this will be send to Von when she'll send me her address.



A nice surprise came in today from 1-2-3 Stitch, really wondering when i was holding the envelope as i haven't order anything from there. I quickly opened it and found out Josephine(no blog) had placed the order for me as her way of thanks for receiving the b-day giveaway last year. This is really a cute design. Thanks so much Josephine. Hope you read this message as i can't find your e-mail address.

I do feel pain all over after running for two days but it does feels good so i think i will try to go atleast 3 times a week. So far the weather still good so there's no excuse not too.

Thank you all so much for stopping by. I really appreciate all the comments.

shocking..! gain weight & my doc.map is empty!!

....but first the winner of my april giveaway is...VON! Please email me your address so i can send it your way. THANK YOU all so much who enetered for this month.

It's been madly busy here since i took hubby to his ship last thursday and i am alone again. Too many activities of the kids these days and do try to be there for both of them which ussually takes almost a day especially on weekends and other errands that needed to be done. I do feel very tired every evening.

Now, i do want to update my blog to discover that my document is empty! I really don't know how did that happened and dh can't help me either over the phone. So, i am afraid all the pictures are gone. I do hope dh have it though in the server or else..everything is LOST!

I did a personal exchange with Lynn and Natalija and i received the one from Lynn while Natalija received the one i made for her. I am so sorry but i can't upload pictures at the moment and the one i took for Natalija before sending it out, can't find it anymore.
I really LOVE the pieces that Lynn made for me, just beautiful and perfectly finished. Thanks so much Lynn. You can see it all on her Blog.

With Natalija we agreed on a biscornu exchange. I do like the one i made for my april giveaway so i made another one for her. Do hope you like it,Natalija..

I was quite shock to discover that i gain almost 8lbs these last weeks, thought about 4lbs but it's really more than...If hubby's home i don't have much discipline on my food and drinks and there was quite some partying lately too!
I think i really have to pick up running again, i had done it 3 years ago during summer and had quit when winter came as i hate going out in the cold.
I've agreed to join a friend tomorrow morning so we'll see how far i can. She've started it for a couple of weeks now.

Thank you all for the lovely comments over my easter pinkeeps. Hope you all are having a good week.

Easter pinkeeps finishes

Been working on the finishing for these two last night. It did took me so long as i don't know what is the best way to finish it off and i was really running out of time. The stitching was finished a while back but just can't get the right idea fow to complete them off until last night. When i thought i have to be done with it.


Easter Treats pinkeep
design by: Joan Elliotts
featured at Q&E magazine April 2007
stitched on 25ct linen
DMC threads



A Chicky Easter pinkeep
design by: Lizzie Kate
fabric used was enclosed with the chart and i don't know what kind
Sampler Threads and DMC


I've used one kind of fabric for the backing for both pinkeeps.


The pictures i've taken aren't really clear. I am sorry. You can click on all the pictures to enlarge though.



I hope you all have a wonderful Easter weekend, however you celebrate it.

exchanges received!

I am doing a personal exchange with Natalija
and we had decided on a biscornu one. Here's what i received from her. It's wonderful and neatly finished. Thank you so much, natalija as well as the lovely goodies enclosed. I love them all. I've sent mine earlier this week so hope it gets to you soon.


Another personal exchange with Annette and we had agreed on a pincushion with a theme Spring. Here's what arrived today, Thank you so much Annette. This is such a cute design. Also thanks for the extra's.

Spring pincushion
design from Quick and Easy magazine
stitched on 28ct linen with DMC threads

Here's what i've stitched and sent to Annette for the pincushion exchange which she received yesterday.


Wish you all a Blessed Easter weekend!

April giveaway, a biscornu!

"A Russian Motif, Spring" biscornu
Freebie by: Olenka's Stitches Blog
stitched on 32ct linen
DMC threads

Everyone is welcome for the draw,
but please indicate if you want to be added for the draw and if possible to leave your e-mail address so i know where to contact you. It will be open until sunday, 12th April.

Thanks so much for this lovely design Olga!

It's been pretty hectic here lately, as we had celebrated DH's birthday last saturday. Lots of preparation for that and so glad it went well. Some family and lots of friends had dropped by. Really tiring but fun!!

We've been to Chris school this morning to watch their concert which they've been practising for a couple of months. As a part of the music education the children of group 5 participate to IMV-project (Initiatie Muzikale Vorming), introduction to musical instruments, which is organised by the music school. The children are trusted with several instruments which they take home to practise with.
Chris did very well with the guitar he had chosen and really very proud of it. He's the only one on his group without a music page as he've all learned or memorised the notes. For such a short period of time all the children did good with the instruments the've chosen as they had only an hour lesson once a week and most they have to practise it at home.

Now, Chris wants to get lessons for playing the guitar, so we will try to see if their will be one open soon for the young ones.


I haven't been online lately, so haven't visited blogs or groups but hope to catch up soon. Not much stitching done either and do miss it too.

Thank you all so much for stopping by and hope you all are having a good week.

Hardanger update

The buttonhole edge and cuttings were done for both pieces so next will be the weaving.


I've found this piece that i've started i think nearly ten years ago but not really like it as i don't know how to finish it off. Now, i'd like to find a way how to finish the edges so it can be use or else it will be a waste.





Last saturday, we took the kids for indoor karting as we have that one here on the island but not so big as the one in Zeeland. Chris wanted to try how it works, so we asked them to asked one of their friends to come along. Only Chris friend came as Grace friends were all out.
Below picture are Chris and Mels in action:



and here is Grace and dh. They've only taken one race which was about 12 minutes. If it wasn't soooo expensive we've probably had two race. It was 60 euro's for one race. So afterwards we took them to the swimming pool instead.


We have Max since sunday, glad the weather has been quite good the last days so we are having long walks with him. We have to bring him home tonight though as i have lots to do for hubby's birthday on saturday. But we will pick him up next week as he's booked to the trimming parlour on thursday.


Thank you all so much for stopping by and all the lovely comments on my previous post. Hope you all are having a good week.