...and we're on our way back home. I received so many beautiful things for Christmas, among them these ornaments designed by Henning Koppel for Georg Jensen, and it made me so happy. They have had trouble finding them though, since it seems as if no new ones are being produced anymore. I do hope I will be able to get hold of a few more before they disappear completely.

I have also received candlelight holders for the Christmas tree designed by Maria Berntsen (also for Georg Jensen) and these can in fact not even be found in the stores anymore. Luckily my mother-in-law has found a few more, that one of the local stores still had in stock, and I think it will prove enough for next year's Christmas tree, which I also think will be a very beautiful one.

...is a very nice combination. In our version the fire only comes in the form of lit candles, but the snowflakes are swirling happily outside our windows. In a few days we'll be joining the rest of the family, but right now it's only us listening to Christmas music while wrapping Christmas presents, eating clementines and having an occasional bite of homemade chocolate... and relaxing on the couch.

I wish all of you a really wonderful, relaxing Christmas!

We spent last weekend with T.'s parents, sister and brother-in-law and it was amazing. On Sunday we drove to a castle (renovated and today used as a conference centre) in the vicinity and walked around in the beautiful park. Even though it's almost November it was actually very warm and the trees were so beautiful in all shades from green to yellow to red. We even picked chestnuts that we roasted when we returned home...

My bike arrived a little more than a week ago (and was I happy!!), but T.'s took until two days ago to arrive. Although T. had to leave yesterday afternoon we still had time to go biking a few times and it was great. (My butt does hurt a bit but that doesn't matter.)

Anyway, as we were biking I realised that I needed a small backpack instead of my rather large shoulder bag so I started looking around. It had to be big enough for my camera, but still not to big and bulky; it had to be something that would be suitable at work as well as for leisure; and I also decided that I would prefer to have a black one. Today I found this one from Vezzano at Accent and I quickly decided that this was the one. Happy!

To be honest, I'm not that fond of bike helmets, but I do realise that it's decidedly stupid not to have one so I've ordered the Faction Matt Bronze Bats from Bell. Time to go biking!

The day before yesterday we all met at T.'s sister's place and had a wonderful barbeque dinner ending with the annual croquet tournament in their garden. All eleven of us played and some of us played well, but I'm sad to say that T. won. His prize was the most hideous trophy ever and it is said that it has to be placed far too visibly some place at home. Forever (since T. won for the third time). Well, well... I'll probably survive. Maybe.

Apart from that T. and I are looking forward to going to Holland and Belgium. Right now, however, we're enjoying the really nice summer weather at home, catching up on some light work and expecting to help out when it comes to building a guest house later this week. The bottom line is that we're enjoying summer, enjoying the time spent outside and the food and the wine. I'll be back in a while, but until then: Enjoy summer, everyone!

We've had some amazing weather in the last few days, and although I know it will be a turn for the worse tomorrow already (they say it will be raining and the temperature will fall) I know summer is here. We have been quite busy lately, both with the balcony and with work, but we still take some time to take a break, watch the birds, and just relax.

Everyone is asleep now. I can hear T. breathing rythmically beside me and the boys have been in bed for more than an hour. It has been a good evening and it was a good day as well. Nice weather and I managed to work through a lot of the material I had hoped I would finish. For dinner we made some Chinese food and everyone ate as much as they possibly could and then we spent a few hours relaxing in front of the television. Both T. and my oldest son have a cold and my youngest and I are of course hoping that we won't catch it as well. It's time for bed for me as well... Good night!

I just wanted to share a memory from last year's vacation. The image above of my mother and father was included in the book I created for my father's birthday, which I wrote about here. Walking along the beach looking for amber was very relaxing and kept us all busy to an extent that surprised me. We found some too, actually... tiny pieces of amber that can be seen below.

No, this photo was not taken today, but I just thought it sums up the feeling at the moment. The whole family just got back from visiting a friend and colleague and her family, and we have had a really nice, relaxing evening with them. Just sitting there by the huge table in their beautiful new kitchen, eating and talking... hearing the children play... Thank you for an amazing evening, guys!

Right now T. is working a little next to me while I'm catching up on e-mails and various blogs. Things feel pretty good.

After having worked in the garden, we decided to go to the beach mainly to let the beautiful dog above get an opportunity to swim (which she loves). We were sitting in the sun for at least an hour, maybe more, and had brought coffee, tea, white wine, biscuits and some of our favourite chocolate. It was surprisingly warm for this time of year and we enjoyed every second. Some of us even managed to get this year's first (light) sunburn.

I've been working hard the last few days, but now it's time for holiday. Tomorrow, T. and I will be driving to Germany. The main reason is to buy our favourite chocolate from Fassbender & Rausch, but I'm sure well be buying some wine and other things as well. The next few days we'll be spending with his relatives, and I'm looking forward to nice, warm, relaxing days. They've promised really good weather too.

Late yesterday afternoon, out of the blue, we received a phone call from my son's dentist asking whether it was possible for us to come this morning for the yearly check-up. There had been a cancellation and a slot was free. My son is far better at this dentist business than I am myself. (I've been through some pretty horrible experiences in a dentist's chair.) We quickly decided that we could and at 9 am I picked him up from gym class.

I was so proud of my son when the dentist gave him complements on his teeth and said she wouldn't need to see him until autumn 2010.

Image found at die meschuggene mischpoke.

My oldest son was promised a bike as a combined Christmas and birthday present, but, since there aren't that many bikes around at that time of year, we decided to wait for spring before buying it. Now spring has arrived and we have bought the bike. Let's hope he will be able to enjoy it for years to come.

Sometimes living apart is especially difficult and last night was such a moment. It's when I feel like screaming "I want you to be here NOW!" and I guess I do at times. In my heart of hearts I know it doesn't make things easier, but sometimes I just have to say it out loud. The hearts above were his response.

I'm apparently an "analysing-spicemixing-cakebaking-chocolateloving woman" according to my darling T. And he ends his definition of me with a kiss. Not sure what to make of it, but I know I love him. Happy Saturday!

Me to my youngest son who has just returned from school:
"I love you, sweetie!"
My youngest son:
"I love you, too! .... Actually... you know... I love me, too!"

And an important one it is: my son's. He didn't get this particular cake, but a chocolate one, anyway, with whipped cream and strawberry jam.

Otherwise it has been a really nice, sunny and warm day. I'm pleased to see a few promising signs concerning my work situation and I've also made progress at home. The kitchen feels more and more "done," our bedroom too, the living room is half done, as is my oldest son's room. The areas where there is still a lot to do is my youngest son's room and the storage facilities.

Now it's evening, the children are watching tv and I'm waiting for my partner to arrive. It has been five days since I saw him and I've missed him. A lot.

I'll begin by apologizing for the poor image quality (it was taken with my mobile phone camera, and it's not a good one), but I just wanted to take this opportunity to celebrate my "grandmother-in-law" who turned 84 in January but postponed her birthday party until now, providing us with a splendid opportunity to get together again. The cake was really tasty too! :)

I guess it's my body telling me it's time to take it a bit easy. Today I woke up with an sore throat and it sounded as if I was competing with my oldest son, who was sneezing as much as I. Well, well...

I have a dinner meeting this evening and I need to be okay enough for that, so I'll try to relax as much as I can until then.

Image from Ya Flamin' Gala.

...happen to be my favourites (and of course my partner knows that). Not only did he buy me twenty white tulips, but he also bought me ten white roses. (Whatever did I do to deserve this?) Now I have brand new tulips in the two vases in our bedroom window, tulips on the dinner table in the living room and roses in a white vase on the kitchen table. It looked wonderful when we decked the table for Sunday dinner (which was a really good lasagne - my youngest son ate and ate and ate - and warm chocolate cupcakes with vanilla icecream for dessert). I'm enjoying every second at the moment...