Crazy NYC Album

Make a Smilebox slideshow

An early start....

Last week I went to my friend B for a crop. We settled ourselves comfortably in her well-stocked craft-room (why do we always think that others have more than we do?), and each had to set a challenge for the other one, and it had to be something different from the things they usually do. I gave B a mini chipboard album to cover in bright Xmasy colours - not her favourites, and she challenged me to do a Layout in black and white about what I wanted to be as a child. Grey and silver were also allowed as deviants of black and white, so we both got started. I always wanted to be a teacher, as far back as I can remember, I never thought of doing anything else. I used to line the neighbours kids up, and get them to sit on the stairs so that I could teach them *important things*. I did not let myself be discouraged by first problems (kids who cried, wanted to go back home, started to shove each other about etc), this was a just a mild foretaste of things to come. Altogether I taught at different secondary schools for more than 35 years, and although I was happy to retire, I can look back on many happy times and experiences, and do not regret my early decision.

Crazy Castle Album

Made this album over the last few evenings, didn't like it all at first, but it has grown on me, and "with a little help from my friends" (especially Gina), I now like it. Thanks to the DC Scrappers who made good suggestions for changing the binding, which I did.

Chips with ketchup and majo...

Today is Saturday. A pleasant day, time to do what I want or to leave what I don't want to do. The weather is pleasant, a typical late summer, or perhaps early autumn day. The cycle of time seems to turn faster and faster with every approaching or passing birthday. Yesterday I was at the old people's home where I work, a beautiful place, which offers a cultivated ambience and good food and care to all residents. But yesterday, 2 old ladies didn't seem to enjoy their lunch of fried fish, potatoes and salad, although it was delicious. Tastes are known to be different. Then I watched how 2 of our old girls put their jackets on and left the home, rather surrepticiously, with lots of giggling, and looking back over their shoulders. I watched them out of my window, and saw that they went to the takeaway across the road, where they shared a paper plate of chips with ketchup and mayonnaise or *majo* as it is called here. They enjoyed their lunch no end, and came giggling and rather guiltily back to the home. I asked if they had been for a walk, and they said, with lots of giggles again, that they had been for a few steps in the park to digest their dinners. Later, when I was drinking coffee with them, they told me their "big secret" and were still giggling like 2 small girls at school. I asked them if it was better, and they answered "it was just something different, it was fun!" And I think that really was the whole point of it. We have the whole world in front of our door, we just need to open it, go out, and enjoy what's on the other side of the road. Take a taste of something different, before it's too late!

Quiz for a rainy day- Come and play with me!

And the winner is....................
GINA R, Mrs TSV. Well done, your prize will soon be speeding on its way to you per post!!




How good are you at answering quesions?
Try this quiz, and see how many you get right:
This is a Quiz for People Who Know Everything !

I found out in a hurry that I didn't.

These are not trick questions. They are straight questions with straight answers

1. Name the one sport in which neither the spectators nor the participants know
the score or the leader until the contest ends.

2. What famous North American landmark is constantly moving backward?

3. Of all vegetables, only two can live to produce on their own for several growing seasons. All other vegetables must be replanted every year. What are the only two perennial vegetables?

4. What fruit has its seeds on the outside?

5. In many liquour stores, you can buy pear brandy, with a real pear inside the bottle. The pear is whole and ripe, and the bottle is genuine; it hasn't been cut in any way. How did the pear get inside the bottle?

6. Only three words in standard English begin with the letters " dw" and they are all common words. Name two of them.

7. There are 14 punctuation marks in English grammar. Can you name at least half of them?

8. Name the only vegetable or fruit that is never sold frozen, canned, processed, cooked, or in any other form except fresh.

9. Name 6 or more things that you can wear on your feet beginning with the letter "S."

Copy and paste the questions onto your blog and get going with the answers. Leave me a link to your blog and then the Blogger with all - or the most - answers rght gets a little pressie. If more people have them all right, I will draw one name. Good luck! Oh, you have time till Friday 11th September.
PS for those who don't have a blog, or don't want to blog the answers, send me a PM at DC.

New Triptych album

Made this album last night to try and cure my headaches and not-exactly-good mood after a (dis)stressing day....

Currant buns and a crafty Sunday.

Today was a really nice, sunny day here in Rheinland. For some of our politicians the sun won't be shining as there are county-parliament elections today, and some will probably be very unhappy over the results this evening. I decided to have a crafting day. Yesterday evening I started covering paper for a mini album, and after my morning coffee I got to work on it and spent 6 hours filling the pages. The time went by in a flash, and it is always a good feeling when a new piece is finished. As I wanted to craft, I decided to make my meal this evening - later on I will make hot chilli chicken wings - and thought a currant bun would do for a morning snack. I had lots of boxes and tins full of crafty bits and bobs spread out through my flat, and made a firm resolve to clear everything away when my album was finished. I kept feeling peckish while I was crafting, so I took a second bun, and a bit later number three, because I felt really hungry. After finishing I really did clear up. Sorted all my bits and pieces, paper to paper, buttons to buttons etc. And then as I looked in the button box, what did I see? A bit more than half a currant bun, must have put it in there while I was rummaging for the right button. And in the paper box - same story again. Half a currrant bun, still fresh. And the third one turned up in the kitchen, on the coffee-maker, just minus one bite. At least I now know why I was still hungry, and am looking forward to my evening meal. Perhaps I will use a plate this time, as I don't want to be finding bones in the wardrobe tomorrow!