Saturday 21 February 2009

Saturday Shopping: Home Sweet Home

Saturday Shopping
~*Home is where your heart is *~

Where we love is home,
Home that our feet may leave, but not our hearts.
- Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr


Love begins at home, and it is not how much we do... but how much love we put in that action.
- Mother Teresa


Every house where love abides
And friendship is a guest,
Is surely home, and home sweet home
For there the heart can rest.
- Henry Van Dyke




-click on image to enlarge-

1. Bird House Clip On by Lilla Lotta
2. Blue Birdhouse by Gypsy and Twink
3. Our House In The Middle Of The Street Ring by Hilde Groven
4. Brooch Pink House by Intres
5. My Chimney Blows Birds Pillow by Olive
6. Oops! I forgot number six. 25 yo and I still can't count to 10 *Ü*
7. Bird House Handcrafted Stamp by Craft Pudding
8. Miniature Clay House by The Little Red Door

Have a great weekend,

Liesel

p.s. Irma I finally send your parcel! Sorry about the pine needles *Ü*

Saturday 14 February 2009

Saturday Shopping: Love is a cupcake

Saturday Shopping

One of my favourite things to bake: cupcakes. They say the love of a man goes through his stomach so if that means I can entice him with my baking skills I'd bake every single day *Ü* Here are some of my favourite (non eatable) cupcakes on the net. What is your favourite?


1. She Loves Cupcakes Print by rkdsign88
2. Original Art Wood 8 x 10 Plaque by Jenny's Bakeshop
3. Larry Lemon Cupcake Softie by Michelle Heaume Designs
4. Cupcake Fingerless Mitts pattern by Karendipity
5. Red Velvet Cupcake by Paola 72
6. Cupcake Child's Apron by Gagie Pagie Pudding Pie
7. Sweet Set by rkdsign88
8. Berrylicious Cupcake Purse-let by Arkitek Tonika

Thank you for visiting on this sunny Saturday!

Liesel

Friday 13 February 2009

Show & Tell Friday: Tea cups & Saucers

Show and Tell
Some bits and pieces I inherited from nan Elizabeth. I'm sorry for the poor quility of the photo's, the light at this time of the day is terrible. (as is my photography)

If something reminds me of nan Elizabeth it certainly is her white and pink teaset. Sleeping over at nan and grandfathers house we would drink tea together in the morning with biscuits before starting breakfast.
These are by Villeroy & Boch

I love these pretty cake plates. They are quitessential 'nan' :o)
Bouquet by Villeroy & Boch

As are these by Mason's




My angel biscuits


My weakness: flowers and birds <3>
Phoenix Blau by Villeroy & Boch

I don't particular like this cup and saucer, so I think I might give it to my best friend Henry who will love it =) I do love the spoon! Notice the the little priest?




Also if you have the time I'd greatly appreciate if you'd read my post below and hopefully have some advice or tips.

Thank you for visiting my garden.

Wishing a wonderful sunny weekend, Liesel

Help! How to choose?


I blame my sister. She adopted her dog (Ollie) from Spain, saving her life. Now that I'm starting to look for a dog of my own she twisted my mind to adopt a dog instead of getting a puppy from a breeder. The stories she told me about the Spanish animal shelters where so heart shattering I am now serious considering adopting a dog from Spain. There is a Spanish organistation (that is also located in Holland, England, Denmark) who save dogs from the death and have set up an adoption center. There are four favourite dogs, but how can you possibly decide between them? My friends told it's best to see them in person, but it will be expensive to go all the way to Spain just to see the dogs (at least €500 / $640) :(



"My" dogs (if I lived on a farm I'd adopt them all!)

Tomy
He truelly is beautiful, almost too beautiful! Mum has already fallen in love with him.
TOMY was a gift around the holiday 3 kings one year ago, but now at the same date he has been dumped and replaced by another puppy. Poor Tomy hopes he gets a second chance where he can be happy for the rest of his life. He is a good dog, social with kids and other dogs. Tomy is a male and 1 year old.


Jacky
She reminds me of my old dog :) I love the colour of her coat. Isn't she cute?
This is Jacky, the only lady that was left behind, a real good character, is good and social with other dogs. She is very playful, a real crasy but cool girl like every pup! Jacky is about 7 to 8 months.


Maika
Everytime I see her my heart melts <3 My only concern is, is she too big? Will I be able to let her off the lead?
Who is looking for a kissing machine must consider our Maika who has so much love to give. She was found abandoned and neglected and could not be approached. Now she is just hugging and licking. Maika is a 1 year old very elegant young female, ready to leave for her new home.


Tiny
I think with a lot of care and cuddles she'll transform into a happy dog again. I had a dream about a beagle the other night. My sister tried to steal her from me *g* I have always loved these dogs. The only problem is that they have very strong hunting instincts which is why you can't let them of the lead =(
Tiny is a Beagle of about 2 years old who has been dumpend. It’s a beagle with a golden caracther, very affectionate and sweet,social and good with other dogs.
She is a bit shy en very humble.
She was bought by a breeder but he change his breed en so Tiny had to go the last station…





Any tips? Which dog gets your vote?

Monday 9 February 2009

Messy Room

Poetry Monday

I sometimes think my house is a mess, but I quickly change my mind when I googled "messy room" to find a graphic to join today's poem. I'm in a neat freak in comparison with those rooms!

Messy Room

Whosever room this is should be ashamed!
His underwear is hanging on the lamp.
His raincoat is there in the overstuffed chair,
And the chair is becoming quite mucky and damp.
His workbook is wedged in the window,
His sweater's been thrown on the floor.
His scarf and one ski are beneath the TV,
And his pants have been carelessly hung on the door.
His books are all jammed in the closet,
His vest has been left in the hall.
A lizard named Ed is asleep in his bed,
And his smelly old sock has been stuck to the wall.
Whosever room this is should be ashamed!
Donald or Robert or Willie or--
Huh? You say it's mine? Oh, dear,
I knew it looked familiar!

- Shel Silverstein

Friday 6 February 2009

Goodies. Lots and lots of goodies

It's my birthday today....!!

Grap a seat while I'll pour you a drink and help yourself to some cake. Be quick though before the beagle eats it all Ü


I tidied the house and showered before I went to bed last night so that now -on my 25th birthday- I feel totally refreshed and quite extatic! Two days my friend Irma send me a package.. but I couldn't open it yet- I had to wait untill now to do so. Let me tell you that the parcel was so enticing, luring me to open it - but of course I couldn't. I've been inpatient for the last days *g*, but it was well worth waiting for. Irma I can't thank you enough! I'm touched and so happy. Thank you

Here my newest treasures :o)


The bee was already mine, but he now has a good purpose, apart from looking darn cute *g*

You should have seen my grin when I spotted Gabriel's drawing :D It's so special. Give a big hug to Gabriel from me Irma :o)

The birthday card (left) if from mum. Irma gave me a beautiful notebook to write all my ambitions in, a beautiful devotional journey, a encouraging bee card and a birthday card with more bees. I tried to open the card very carefully as the sticker used to seal the a card because I love it. Echinacea are one of my favourite flowers and the birds is lovely as well ^_^


I feel so inspired, encouraged and loved. Thank you doesn't say enough!

Isabella (Liesel)

Thursday 5 February 2009

Why stop at myself?

As you all know I'm trying to be more indepedent bit by bit, but why stop at myself? What about where I live? You can make your own clothes, have a vegetable patch and know a thing or two about plumbling, but you living in a normal house you are still dependent on the gas supplies, electrity from the local enerigty generator and need to use the plumbling etc. But you can change that. Especially with the global warming -although I don't believe in- you are starting hear more and more about eco-friendly houses and I think that may be the key to more indepence plus you are helping the earth which is always a great thing (and should really be my main priority!)

I came across the fantastic artitectect Vincent Callebaut who designed Lilypad, an eco-friendly and self-sustainable 'city' floating on the ocean. Doesn't it look like something out of The Jetsons?






Quote: "Whereas the Netherlands and the United Arabic Emirates « fatten » their beach with billion of euros to build their short-living polders and their protective dams for a decade, the project «Lilypad» deals with a tenable solution to the water rising! Actually, facing the worldwide ecological crisis, this floating Ecopolis has the double objective not only to widen sustainabely in offshore the territories of the most developed countries such as the Monaco principality but above all to grant the housing of future climatic refugees of he next submerged ultra-marine territories such as the Polynesian atolls. New biotechnological prototype of ecologic resilience dedicated to the nomadism and the urban ecology in the sea, Lilypad travels on the water line of the oceans, from the equator to the poles following the marine streams warm ascending of the Gulf Stream or cold descending of the Labrador.

It is a true amphibian half aquatic and half terrestrial city, able to accommodate 50,000 inhabitants and inviting the biodiversity to develop its fauna and flora around a central lagoon of soft water collecting and purifying the rain waters. This artificial lagoon is entirely immersed ballasting thus the city. It enables to live in the heart of the subaquatic depths. The multifunctional programming is based on three marinas and three mountains dedicated respectively to the work, the shops and the entertainments. The whole set is covered by a stratum of planted housing in suspended gardens and crossed by a network of streets and alleyways with organic outline. The goal is to create a harmonious coexistence of the couple Human / Nature and to explore new modes of living the sea by building with fluidity collective spaces in proximity, overwhelming spaces of social inclusion suitable to the meeting of all the inhabitants – denizen or foreign-born, recent or old, young or aged people. "

You can read more about his project on his website.



Last night I made a list how you can save money and be self-sufficant in your own home. The list will hopefully keep growing, but these wherethe first things I thought of. In no particular order:

  1. Triple glassed windows to keep out the cold in the winter and help the house keep cool in summer
  2. Using rainwater to flush the loo
  3. Make a compost pile for the garden
  4. Solar panels (for energy)
  5. Grow grass on the roof (wouldn't you love a golf course on your roof *g*)
  6. Wind turbine (although not very attractive)

I know you will never be totally indepent. If you are ill you still have to see the doctor and something you just can't repair yourself, but I think it will be satisfying nonetheless. If you have anything to add, I'd love to hear your comments and suggestions!

Liesel

Wednesday 4 February 2009

Watery Wednesday: Aswan, Egypt

On the way to the temples of Philae we stopped on the stew dam that seperates the Aswan Dam. Obe of the biggest dams on the world that produces enough energity for every city, town and village in Egypt. It seperates the river the Nile to prevent it from flooding. I'm telling you all this because as I was standing on the dam being in awe with scenery a (I presesume Egyptian) man came towards me and asked if I would mind if I be in a photograph together with him *g* Goodness knows why! I don't think I look like a celebrity, nor have a super model looks. I've been quite curious ever since what he did with the photo. Did he pretend to his friends I was his girlfriend? Do I look like someone famous, although I am unaware of it? Do you have any ideas? I still regret that I didn't take a photo of him as well!

Aswan, Egypt
April 2005

Now for my entry for Watery Wednesday! I'll be the first to admit that they are not the best photographs, but they tell a story. A story that is very much as Egypt is. As we sailed away from the stunning temples of Philae (photo's from Philae another time) two boys in what looked to me like a canoe (but then what do I know?) came paddling towards our boat. In our motor powered sailing boat we went quite fast for those boys to 'catch up' with us. Once they reached us they grapped (sp?) the side of our boat and sailed along with us while trying to sell us their goods :o) I now wish I bought something from the boys - if only for their effort to reach us =) Anyway enought chitchat and time for the photo's!





Do have a lovely evening and dream away about far-away places.. ö)

Love, Liesel

Monday 2 February 2009

A Lady Who Thinks She Is Thirty

Poetry Monday
I love the poems by Ogden Nash as they are full of wit and homour. Seeing as it's my birthday soon this poem seemed appropiate.

A Lady Who Thinks She Is Thirty



Unwillingly Miranda wakes,
Feels the sun with terror,
One unwilling step she takes,
Shuddering to the mirror.

Miranda in Miranda's sight
Is old and gray and dirty;
Twenty-nine she was last night;
This morning she is thirty.

Shining like the morning star,
Like the twilight shining,
Haunted by a calendar,
Miranda is a-pining.

Silly girl, silver girl,
Draw the mirror toward you;
Time who makes the years to whirl
Adorned as he adored you.

Time is timelessness for you;
Calendars for the human;
What's a year, or thirty, to
Loveliness made woman?

Oh, Night will not see thirty again,
Yet soft her wing, Miranda;
Pick up your glass and tell me, then--
How old is Spring, Miranda?

- Ogden Nash