Category Archives: silly stuff
Now for my choice in photos
Here are some of the shots that didn’t make the magazine:
Welcome
There is a small guest house over the garage
looking down into the living room from an open hall leading to the bedrooms
Kitchen
My friend Marita made the cupcakes
All you can see from the patio is mountains, water and boats
The perfect look-out place
What makes this house special? Location, location, location.
Now wasn’t my choice much nicer?
2013, A New Year
As we stand on the threshold of 2013, I’m sure we’re all thinking the same thing -New Year, new start.
After stuffing myself silly in honor of Christmas this past week, I went to the gym last night. I got a tremendous cramp in my right side while attempting to run on the treadmill and spinning made me nauseous. I left having burned off maybe five, of the fifty Christmas cookies I’ve eaten. I once again went to bed vowing to give up sugar.
It’s my vow every year and yet the longest I’ve ever gone without eating sugar is two weeks back in 1997 (and thats probably because I was sick). Sugar is my weakness, it’s my addiction.
I lived down the street from a little bakery when I was pregnant with my first child and would go there at least twice -okay, three times a week to buy cake. I’d always buy a chocolate/vanilla marble, buttercream cake and eat the whole thing myself. For nine months I ate three cakes a week, before giving birth to a sweet little girl. Sugar and spice, thats what little girls are made of… Right?
My stomach would never allow me to do that today, but I still eat way more than I should.
Because of time and other commitments I’ve also recently announced that I need to give up blogging. But as you can see, that seems to be another addiction…
I may not be commenting as much, but I still read posts as often as I can and will continue to post myself on occasion. I know its a you follow me, I’ll follow you, world out there but I need to put that aside. Forget about stats and do what I can, when I can. Instead of vowing to give up sugar this year, I’m going to vow to cut back -way back and to blog without pressure.
I’d like to thank my friends Maddie and Kathy for kindly bestowing me with the Super Sweet blogging Award (it was fate). I’d also like to apologize and thank everyone for all the awards I never found the time to properly acknowledge this year. It is all of you, that I would like to pass this award on to.
Silliness aside, I hope with all my heart that 2013 turns out to be a great year for all mankind. Happy New Year!
Winter in Norway
As winter sets in, the temperatures drop and darkness descends across the land, it’s nice to know someone has our back…
Thanks Africa!
It’s been quite a year
My good friend, over at Crazy Train To Tinky Town has been kind enough to bestow a 2012 Blog of the Year Award on me… Thank you Dallas!
But am I worthy? That’s the thought I wrestled with all night, instead of sleeping…
I thought about all the hours I spent crying and cursing over my keyboard in the beginning before I got the hang of it. The frustration of trying to figure out what a widget was and all the times I begged my husband to help me learn how to use them. Hearing from one of my children that I spelled a word wrong and the guilt, every time I fell behind in reading posts.
I also remember the thrill I got the first time someone other than a family member left a comment on my blog. That person was Naomi, from Writing Between the Lines.
How happy I was when Kate, from Before I forget offered and then wrote the nicest review of my book.
Cathy, from Expat Alien also wrote a wonderful review without me having to ask. I really appreciated it… Thanks guys!
Lily, from One More Morning who writes the most beautiful poetry and leaves the sweetest comments.
Paula, from Stuff I Tell My Sister who has always been supportive and friendly.
Beth, from It’s a Whole New World who has also been a source of great support.
Debbie, From It’s All About Purple lives in my hometown and is a former classmate of mine. Her blog feels like home.
Robin, from Robin Coyle who always makes me laugh.
Dianne Gray – Maddie Cochere and Dallas are a few more of the great blogs I’ve become acquainted with (I wish I could list them all).
The conclusion I’ve come to is this… All bloggers deserve a Blog of the Year Award!
I guess I’ve already listed my nominations, so here are the rules:
- Select the blogs you think deserve the ‘Blog of the Year 2012 Award’.
- Write a post and tell about the blogs you have chosen and present them with their award.
- Please include a link back to this page Blog of the 2012 Year Award and include these rules (do not alter the rules or the badges).
- Let the blogs you have chosen know that you have given them this award and share the rules with them.
- You can now also join our Facebook page – click the link here Blog of the Year 2012 Award and then you can share your blog with an even wider audience.
- As a winner of the award please add a link back to the blog that presented you with the award. Proudly display the award on your side bar and start collecting stars.
Thanks everyone!
Preserving memories
Some of my scrapbooks
Hello, my name is Maggie and I am a scrapaholic.
Well, I used to be – lately I just can’t seem to find the time for it. I started scrapbooking about seven years ago, while living in Houston. My neighbor was a Creative Memories consultant with a great sales pitch. In no time, I was running back and forth across the street buying her products.
My scrapbook supplies
The idea of making albums and preserving memories completely resonated with me. I started out making an album of our time in Texas and that lead to making albums for each of my children. I soon moved on to the grandchildren, weddings, vacations… I couldn’t stop!
I went to all day cropping sessions and on weekend scrapbooking retreats. Women would gather to spend the day clipping, pasting, sharing supplies and ideas. Some of their books were like works of art, they were beautiful. I wasn’t quite as talented, but I had fun.
When the time came for us to leave Houston and move to the Netherlands I went out and bought a hoard of supplies to take with me ($$$$). I was making keepsakes and you certainly can’t put a price tag on that. Can you?
Scrapbooking can be a very expensive hobby. The more embellishment you use on your pages, the more its going to cost you. I’ve made some examples:
Cover the pages with paper and add pictures. Basic and easy.
Cut the paper, add pictures with minimal embellishing.
Layer paper, frame pictures and lots of embellishment.
I have a die cutting machine for making my own letters, flowers, hearts and butterflies, but I cheated and used sticker letters instead.
See the sticker letters? (not so nice)
Eventually I went from not writing anything more than a name, a date or a place in my albums to journaling whole stories. Thats when I realized I needed to take some writing classes, which led to the book, which led to the blog.
The only thing I have time to make now, are digital ones.
Really easy, surprisingly cheap and I can make them right on my Mac.
A dogs life
Khloe and Mia got haircuts…
Mommy is sick and tired of vacuuming up dog hair
Oh no, I’m next!
What did you do this weekend?
Around and around I go
Khloe with a feather she found on her walk
One of Khloe’s favorite pastimes is chasing her own tail. She’ll spin around and around in hope of catching it, but she never does. Sometimes I feel like I’m chasing my own tail as well. Meaning – nothing I ever do seems to get done!
I can spend the whole day washing clothes, go to bed, wake up and the basket is full again!
I go food shopping twice a week and yet we’re always out of something.
I sent my first child off to school in 1982 and my last child still has two years left to go. That means I’ve been packing gym clothes and school lunches for thirty years now! Don’t even get me started on the homework (If I’m not helping, I’m nagging them to do it).
Day after day, year after year, Its my job to decide – WHAT to make for dinner? I don’t even mind cooking it as much as I hate deciding WHAT to make.
And as hard as I try, I just can’t seem to get my inbox empty these days either (I guess thats thanks to blogging)
I’m not complaining… Well, maybe just a little.
My husband works and travels a lot, so its hard to count on him for any of the ongoing tasks that keep our house running. Instead, he’s in charge of projects and repairs. These things can take weeks, even months to finish, but eventually they get done and he can move on. After he’s finished everyone will praise him for a job well done, or tell me how lucky I am to have him. Sometimes I wish our roles were reverse and he could chase his tail for a few years…
He just called me outside to show me the new project he’s started. He’s building steps from our house, which sits on top of a cliff, down to the water.
I took this picture to show you what he’s up to…
I wonder how many months this will take
I better go – I think I hear the dishwasher peeping…
The perfect Sunday
Today was such a great day here in Norway that I thought it might be nice to share…
First the grandkids came for a visit.
Emily danced for me.
Adam colored a picture.
Emily shows off her little sister Annabell. (I didn’t forget to turn the picture, I took it like this)
I spent the rest of the day enjoying the nice weather and doing absolutely NOTHING!
Don’t you just love days like this?
Cyril and Willy
I’d like to introduce my new friends Cyril, the snail and Willy, the worm. You heard right, my new friends are a couple of Spineless Wonders. They have recently parted ways with their creator Kate, over at beforiforget and now have their very own blog. These two boys have nominated me for a brand new award, called the Daisy Award. Thanks guys!
If you follow them, you’re sure to start your day with a smile.
The rules for this award are:
- Thank the person or bugs (sorry guys) that gave it to you… Thanks Cyril and Willy!
- Tell seven things about yourself… I was recently interviewed by the Expat Bookshop, click here and learn even more then seven things about me.
- Nominate other bloggers for the award… I want to nominate everyone and anyone who is reading this. So help yourself, I’m sure the daisy will look great on your award shelf!
Thats Amore
I’ve been nominated for One Lovely Blog Award by my new friend on the crazytraintotinkytown. A great blog about starting a new life in Turkey. So whether you’re in need of some summer sun, or not, check it out!
I also received a Sunshine Award from Kate, the famous creator of Spineless Wonders over at beforiforget Always entertaining!
Finally, a Beautiful Blogger Award from fellow Jersey girl Laura Stanfill she reads and knits, but mostly writes, and she’s good!
I want to do something a little different and I hope no one calls the blog police…
I want to dedicate these awards to my husband, who’s been such a great sport. First losing me to ‘the book’ and now, ‘the blog’. He has also – recently – been scarred for life and I feel partly responsible Something big part 1.
In his honor, I’d like to tell seven things about him:
1. He was born in Norway and although he’s only lived a total of three years in America, he talks like a Yankee (I wonder why).
2. Have you heard the saying, “When the cats away, the mice will play?” My husband says, “You know what happens when the cat’s gone.”
3. Have you heard the saying, “I’ve been running around like a chicken with its head cut off?” My husband says, “I’ve been running around like a de headed chicken.” (he has a little trouble with sayings)
4. He never says, “I can’t.” Only “I can try.”
5. He never asks what I’m mad about… He just brings home flowers and waits for it to pass.
6. He snores when he drinks (I had to tell something bad).
7. He rocks my world!
Monday, we (just him and I) are leaving on a much deserved trip to Cinque Terra, Italy. You’ll hear all about it, when I get back…
Ever since the book launch in April, life has been crazy. There are simply not enough hours in the day for book promoting, plus we have a big family. He works a million hours a week and travels, I blog (I’m sure that needs no explaining). I lost my grandmother, we got a new grand-baby and lets not forget the photo shoot of the house… Exhale, Mag!
I’ve already warned him, “I will not be pretty, on this vacation!” I am not packing makeup, I’m wearing my hair in a ponytail everyday and I will be drinking Italian wine at every meal.
We are not bringing laptops, iPads or iPhones (well maybe a phone for emergency) and I’ve already made a list of all the things I want to talk to him about, while I have his undivided attention (he’s going to love that, not)
Ciao!
