Rest In Peace Apo Joaquin.....
'Apo' means Grandpa...

A short note....

I'm back a couple of days ago but been sleeping a lot. Had a good visit at home and were able to see everyone. Had a few days with my sister before they went back to Canada. My father's health still not good despite the different test made at the hospital. Almost everything came out fine so it is still a wonder why he is getting very thin and weak. We do hope he will be fine.

We've been to a friend's birthday at the mainland today and tomorrow(sunday) we will be off to another birthday and then head off to one of the wadden island, Terschelling. Hubby has a course to follow over there for nearly a week, kids will be staying at one of their friends as they have to go to school.
Here at home, still boxes all around....

With stitching....i haven't done any for a long time!!!
These scissor fobs were finished last December and were received recently.


We will bring hubby's laptop so i hope we have internet at the hotel we are staying, i can try to catch up on blogs and groups.

A happy weekend to all!

This will be my view for....

...this coming two weeks! I'm leaving Holland tomorrow afternoon and arriving in the Philippines mid-morning monday. For the first time travelling or going home alone. Hubby just arrived yesterday afternoon and be here for the kids. We've been for a visit a year ago and it is quite expensive for all of us to go again but due to my father's health i really want to go for a visit.

Also to meet my sister and her family who is visiting from Canada and whom i haven't seen for 5 years. They've been there since the beginning of December and i'll see them before they leave third week of January.


The move went well, still a lot in boxes and will remain till i get back the end of January. Still some works to be done here but we are really happy with how it all came out. Hubby fixed the internet connection last night but i've been out all day today so i wasn't able to catch up on blogs and groups. It will be in February when i can visit and do some stitching too. I had received some wonderful gifts recently and will share the pics when i get back. I better continue packing and see you all end of this month!

Thank you all so much for visiting my blog especially to those who takes the time to leave me a comment. I really appreciate them all.

....this & that.......

First, i'd like to show these ornaments which one is left here for me and the other two were sent out. I love how they turned out. These were actually stitched up a few months ago and was able to complete them lately. The flat ornament still on the way to the new owner...

((click on pictures to enlarge))
The only exchange i signed in this Christmas and here is what i received from my partner. Love the sea shells design stitched unto the towel and look at all the cute goodies enclosed plus the stitched santa x'mas card-lovely finished! Thank you so much Wendy!!


Last weekend, we had 'Ouwe Sunderklaas'. This tradition is celebrated here on Texel every year on December 12. The children go out on the street in the afternoon, the adults at night, all dressed up and with masks to expose certain matters that have taken place on the island in a humorous way. For this, signs with text are used and voices are disguised to prevent recognition. Every villages have their own acts as it pertains ussually to what happened in that area. We stayed or Chris and i stayed here in our village while Grace went to a couple of other villages as she wants to see her friends for their acts. Hubby is away, in ITALY for his work.
These were some pictures i've taken... Chris played with a couple of his friends and won second place of group category.

These were the adults!

After this so-called 'speulen' (playing) the party is continued to the small hours in the pubs--the adults! The small kids ussually till around 10pm.


Progress is being made of the ongoing renovations....



Hubby's 8 weeks off was over, he left thursday last week, so he won't be able to see the upcoming progress. The kitchen was put back yesterday and tomorrow the workmen will start on the floor tiles and expected to be done by saturday.

Thank you all for stopping by and all the kind comments. I have't visited blogs lately, i am sorry...just that been quite hectisch lately. I hope everyone's having a goo week!!

...tiny finish, a b-day party & renovation pics.

The only stitching i could share, finished the November block of Sylvia's SAL.

...another of our friends turn '50' next week but he will be leaving this week to Brazil for work so his wife and kids organise a surprise party for him last weekend. So friday midnight we went & installed the doll at their frontyard.


They had celebrated it at one of the pub with live music. We sure had fun, lots of dancing...


Here are some progress pictures of the ongoing works at home. These were of last week works on the house.


And as always tried to make something for the coffee break. Also, always made some extra for their lunch break like soup or snack. It is sooooo cold over here so they does need something warm to eat.


As always, many many thanks for stopping by and all the lovely comments. All are very much appreciated. I hope you are all having a good week.

LK stamp, the winners... & work continues...

We don't have oven and washing machine here on the rented house so i went sunday evening to our house to make the apple cake and do the washing, while waiting for the cake i stitched on the LK December block and now the piece is done. Will have to wait for the buttons probably sometime next year, i am just glad it is done and can be store away.

I am so sorry this took me a while to pick the winners of last month blogoversarry. Finally here are the names: ,
Maggie, Cath, Nia, Sally Irene
Please do let me know your address info details and hope to send the ornaments beginning of next week. Thank you everyone for the blogoversary greetings!!


Work continues and here are some pictures taken from last week progress. Worked on the barn, filled in the footing with concrete as well as the flooring.



Last friday they started working on the timber wall frame inside for the living room.

Took a couple pics of some of the cakes i've made lately. Just simple ones as i am not good with decorating the cakes. Sometimes the whole cake is just enough for a day, as they have twice coffee break.


I hope you are all having a wonderful week. Many thanks for stopping by and all the kind comments.

Nov. x'mas SAL ornament & other pics.

This was my first finish last January this year and just finished it off into an ornament last weekend. I haven't stitched for a while now but i have a couple of small stitched designs that needed finishing so i am working on them bit by bit in the evening if i am not that sleepy.

Frosty Fun ornament
Prairie Schooler design
JCS 2009
32ct linen naturel
DMC thread

Concrete floor were put in last week wednesday, thursday the workers went somewhere as the concrete have to get dry. Friday they are back and the living room is full in working again as you can see on the picture below.


Late friday afternoon hubby worked on the barn trying to get rid of the old concrete flooring but it is too hard so he gave up and asked for a crane to help with the job.

The crane was provided yesterday and as you can see the barn tottaly removed by the end of the day.

Hereś what was done today, started placing the foundation for the barn which will turn into an extra bedroom. The weather isn't cooperating though, raining on and off amd expected for the coming days.


I've had helped whenever i can especially shoveling out the dirt/debris yesterday and then went to my Zumba lesson(every monday evening) in the evening....i had difficulty getting up this morning. I still feel sore until now, i think i better skip the Zumba dance after a hard days work next time.

I haven't had the time to pick the winners yet, hopefully before the weekend.
Thank you all so much for visiting my blog especially to those who takes the time to leave me a comment. I really appreciate them all.

An update of the works over here...

((click on the pictures to enlarge))
....but first a very small stitching finish, the November block of Lizzie Kate Stamp.


I let the pictures show how we progressed with the renovations. Last week was mainly removing all the old stuff out of the living room and the office room(with the window). Nobody knows when was the last time this was renovated, i mean the basement floor. Kees parents bought it year 1958, and hubby bought it from them year 1990. A couple of newspaper print that we found from the wall going upstairs dated 1912, that was probably the last time they've added the upstair's bedrooms. It is a pity thereś no pictures at all from then.

Also came across some old tiles probably more than 100 years old. I haven't clean any yet, perhaps i can find a date or any indication when they were made. We haven't taken all out as they were quite deep and we are really in a hurry to get the place ready last monday for the contractors.

Monday, the contrators remove the dividing wall so it is now a big living room.
Tuesday, was ready to filled in with sand, styrofoam and reinforcing bars.


This morning was the concrete floor was done for the living room.

A coule of days to dry and then they'll get forward to work on the wallings.

...while we are going to work on the next room, that was the barn but we would like to turn that into a bedroom. Had to remove the old concrete as we would like to put an underfloor heating like the rest later on. We aren't done yet as after this one we would like to expand the kitchen too and put an underfloor heating. Ohhh, and not to forget upstairs...but that will have to wait for next summer!


Thank you everyone for all the lovely comments on my last post. All are very much appreciated.

Flatfold, oct. LK, award and other pics.

An autumn design finished into a flatfold. It's a freebie sometime last year but i couldn't find who the designer of this one, i hope somebody knows it and share the name.



Also completed the oct. LK block.


A while back i was the lucky winner of Christine's giveaway. A couple of decorated bangles, arent they lovely!! I love them all as well as all the goodies enclosed. Thank you so much, Christine.


A while back i recieved this award from Amarins, thank you so much for passing it on to me..it sure made me feel special. Amarins works more on big projects and on and off small ones as you can see on her stitching blog. I also admire her cards as everything looks gorgeous and so neatly finished which you can see on her other blog(cards).

Now I must do the following things:
1. The award to pass on to 5 persons
2. List 3 things that i love
3. Post a picture that you love.
Here we go....
1. I am supposed to pass this on to five fellow bloggers but i have to break this one as i cannot definitely pick only 5.
2. I love my family, my friends and stitching!!
3. Below is one of my favorite family picture, when the kids wants to come along everywhere especially going for a walk.


Last weekend, we've been to a friends birthday at the mainland. While the Mums busy in the kitchen my kids were taking care of baby Desley and taking pictures. Aren't these pictures beautiful! I was surprised when i uploaded the pictures as i didn't expect Grace will be on them, lately she doesn't want her picture taken. I wasn't able to use the camera as it was too busy, had to help with the preparations mainly for dinner so i really miss cuddling the baby too.


Thought to post a couple of pictures of the first "Abraham" of the group who celebrated it last May. Luckily, hubby was home then, he was the one who made the placard and provided the costume for the doll.
I have pictures of our yearly outings too and hope one day to compile it on to one album. Just the same with the "Abraham/Sarah" celebrations. Another "Abraham" is celebarting next month and the rest will be next year.



I hope you are all having a wonderful week. Many thanks for stopping by and all the kind comments.

Oct. x'mas SAL ornament, lovely RAK & other pics.

Happy Holidays ornament
Little House Needleworks design
JCS 2010
32ct linen & DMC threads

Received these lovely RAK goodies from Shari last weekend which prompts me to stitch the above ornament for my october x'mas SAL ornament. Love it! Thank you so much, Shari! It was really a great surprise to see the magazine enclosed as i know over the fabrics.

Thank you all so much for the well wishes for my father, recent news he is improving and i really hope he contineus.
I am way behind on blogs and groups and hope to catch up the coming days.

The next pictures more for hubby as i know he visits my blog when he can in some areas where they are working. But i better attach a short explanation about the said special birthday celebration. It is one of his friends who turns 50 today!

"Abraham & Sarah tradition when somebody turns 50. When somebody turns 50 in Holland people say that they have seen Abraham or Sarah. If it’s a man who turns 50 they say he has seen Abraham and when it’s a woman they say she has seen Sarah. To celebrate b0th birthdays the Dutch decorate the front yard of the house of this person and put an Abraham or a Sarah doll in their front yard. These dolls represent something that the birthday person is attached to or does. Like when somebody is a carpenter they dress up the Abraham doll as a carpenter. The front yard is mostly decorated by family members when the person who’s turning 50 is not around so it’s a surprise."--((source: TravBuddy))
In the case of this friend he has no big family so friends who made the doll and all.
We were there 15 minutes before midnight and silently place all the things infront of his house as you can see on the first pictures. And then exactly midnight began to sing Happy Birthday...

We went in and had a drink before heading back home.

Took another picture this morning... the friend next to the doll.

There will be lots of our friends celebrating this next year so there will be quite some parties/celebration.

Again, many many thanks for stopping by and all the lovely comments. All are very much appreciated. I hope you are all having a good week.