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Sunday, September 30, 2012

Monday Nook


Bit late to the party this morning. It's a public holiday here. I WAS the last to know. I had a big day planned but now I have no-one to pick up my orders so I am staying home. The joys of self employment...you don't get paid holidays. Actually you don't get any pay if you don't work. Funny that.

So for my Monday Nook today, I thought a pool nook would be nice. Isn't this beautiful? I am assuming this is the back of the house. This is what I love about Northern Hemisphere homes (I generalise of course)... they pay as much attention to the back elevation aesthetic as the front. Sometimes the back is even more beautiful as it backs on to a lake or a beach.

Sigh. Love the pavers and the pool furniture..... and the whole damn house!

3 more sleeps until my boy gets home. He emailed last night. His host family gave him Macaroni Cheese for dinner last night. It obviously made an impact as that was pretty much all he wrote about. He also said he had a huge story to tell that he can't write about in an email. My mind went wild. I hope they are treating him well.... fret, fret. He has tried to call via Skype but it is not working for some reason. What's with Japan and Skype?

Anyway, I have decided to sort and file today and maybe do some ironing #riveting
So glad I didn't book the weekend away down at the beach as originally planned. It's raining.

Over and out.

Happy Monday!

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DEAR WEEKEND / KEDVES HÉTVÉGE

VISITING PÉCS / LÁTOGATÁS PÉCSETT

































Saturday, September 29, 2012

We have a winner(s) and more fun Fall

Yep, I’m late posting the winner(s) aren’t I – I know I said I’d draw the name today but I was down with a Migraine headache and it’s still there – it even made me sick to my stomach for most of the day so I’m really sorry – I imagine you are all on pins and needles!
But first…those ole Pumpkins just keep showing up at my door – this one is a large one made from an old Wool blanket. And I bought some more Bittersweet – the 3+lbs I bought form e-bay was wonderful but I still needed a bit more to fill in spaces.  I think I have enough now.
I bought it from THE CROW’S CORNER 
http://thecrowscorner.blogspot.com/
Now tell me how I could pass this fella up!!! I didn’t measure him but he’s about 11 inches round.Large Pumpkin
Here you can get an idea of the size.  (I’m so unhappy with this hutch and what’s on it.  The shelves are so close together you can’t put anything of size on them so there are just piddly things on it. I’m hoping Doug can remove one of the shelves – not sure which one though)DSC08011
This Bittersweet is much larger and a darker orange than the first batch…and the branches are thicker too. (this is $10 worth – I think they had a fantastic price on it)
New Bittersweet
Oh there I go again…forgetting to post the winner(s)…you read right…more than one WINNER!
I can’t express how pleased I was with the response to my challenge – I never expected to get so many.
48 ENTRIES!!
And the stories were wonderful – some were named for the obvious – some because of a family member – some from a street they live on…they all were inspired from something or someone in their lives.

This journey through blog-land the past 4 years has brought friends into my life I never would have made otherwise – never will meet most of them but reading about them, their families, their wishes, decorating, cooking – we even go through sadness and prayers together. What a wonderful family we have all become because of our blogs.

I hope you all learned something new from each of these bloggers and have made new friends to follow – I certainly have.

So on with the show so to speak.
Here’s the list of all those who participated – I hope if you haven’t visited them yet – please do so. They put a lot into this challenge.

1. Betty:   http://bettyjcrowe-throughmybackdoor.blogspot.com/2012/08/my-colonial-homes-challenge.html
2. Lori:  http://lori1971.blogspot.com/2012/09/the-beginning-of-frogs-lilypad.html
3. Sara:  http://salmonfallsprims.blogspot.com/2012/09/salmon-falls-primswhere-name-began.html
4. Heather:  http://thecountryschoolmarm.blogspot.com/2012/09/taking-challenge.html
5. Brenda:  http://therustythimble.blogspot.com/2012/09/its-all-in-name-and-my-celebration.html
6. Christina:  http://pendletonprimitives.blogspot.com/2012/09/my-colonial-home-blog-challenge.html
7. Cindi:  http://cindiscountrycorner.blogspot.com/2012/09/my-colonial-home-blog-challenge.html
8. Amy:  http://bumblebeelanecottage.blogspot.com/2012/09/whats-in-name-challange.html
9. Shannon:  http://bumblebeelanecottage.blogspot.com/2012/09/whats-in-name-challange.html
10. Cucki:  http://cuckistitchingcove.blogspot.com/2012/09/cuckis-blog.html
11. Vicki:  http://wwwoutmywindow.blogspot.com/2012/09/my-first-post.html
12. Tammy:  http://www.countrygirlathome.blogspot.com/2012/09/taking-challenge.html
13. Mildred:  http://maplelanehouse.blogspot.com/2012/09/blog-name.html
14. Tiffaney:  http://www.foldedgingham.blogspot.com/2012/09/how-my-blog-got-its-name.html
15. Gina:  http://catnapinnprimitives.blogspot.com/2012/09/whats-in-name.html
16. Stephani:  http://www.frontporchprimitives.blogspot.com/2012/09/why-my-blog-has-this-name.html#comment-form
17. Goedele:  http://gingerbreadgem.blogspot.be/2012/09/the-story-of-my-blog-im-participating.html
18. Wendy:  http://ravenwoodwhimzies.blogspot.com/2012/09/ever-wonder-how-i-named-my-blog.html
19. Lauren:  http://rugsandpugs.blogspot.com/2012/09/how-it-all-began.html
20. Donna:  http://dirtymartiniqueensmusings.blogspot.de/
21. Laura:  http://harvestlanecottage.blogspot.com/2012/09/why-i-chose-harvest-lane-cottage.html
22. Laura:  http://rhodescreations.blogspot.com/2012/09/taking-colonial-home-challenge-giveaway.html
23. Beth:  http://grammagaga.blogspot.com/2012/09/how-i-came-up-with-name-of-my-blog.html
24. Robin:  http://thecrankycrow.blogspot.com/2012/09/the-cranky-crow-chronicles-or-how-this.html
25. Laurie:  http://myhomefortheholidays.blogspot.com/2012/09/how-i-came-up-with-name-of-my-blog.html
26. Laurie:  http://inmydreamsisee.blogspot.ca/2012/09/a-new-friend.html
27. Camil:  http://primitivestars.blogspot.ca/2012/09/happy-hump-day-well-this-is-day-im.html
28. Linda:  http://simplycountryseasons.blogspot.com/2012/09/why-i-choose-name-i-did.html
29. Barbara:  http://nccabininthewoods.blogspot.com/2012/09/blog-names.html
30. Ruth: 
http://countrylogcabin.blogspot.com/2012/09/how-i-came-up-with-name-of-my-blog.html
31. Tammy:  http://aprimitiveplace.blogspot.com/2012/09/fall-decor-pt2-and-challenge-answer-why.html
32. Sue:  http://primsue.blogspot.com/2012/09/how-i-came-up-with-my-blogs-name.html
33. Kendra:  http://thestonehouseprims.blogspot.com/2012/09/its-all-in-name.html
34. Katie:  http://alltheseboysx5.blogspot.com/2012/09/karens-challenge.html
35. Marie:  http://www.primitivesbyoldeladymorgan.blogspot.com/2012/09/the-story-on-how-i-became-olm.html
36. Margaret:  http://tillysfarmhouse.blogspot.com/2012/09/how-i-got-my-blog-name.html
37. Felicia:  http://raggedycreations.blogspot.com/2012/09/my-blog-name.html
39. Angie:  http://berryhomespunprimitives.blogspot.com/2012/09/my-blog-name.html
40. Tonya:  http://myprimitivecreationsbytonya.blogspot.com/2012/09/karens-challange-how-did-i-come-up-with.html
41. Sandy:  http://hobnobbers-sandy.blogspot.com/2012/09/how-we-came-up-with-our-blog-name.html
42. Pam:  http://mabeljanes.blogspot.com/2012/09/mabel-janes.html
43. Denise:  http://thekrazykraftlady.blogspot.com/2012/09/how-i-came-up-with-name-of-my-blog.html
44. Linda:  http://adayatrememberwhenfarm.blogspot.com/2012/09/my-name.html
45. Pam:  http://primsbythewater.blogspot.com/2012/09/how-i-got-my-blog-name.html
46. Patti:  http://windingvine.blogspot.com/2012/09/whats-in-name.html
47. Annie: http://scrappalachia.blogspot.com/2012/09/how-i-came-up-with-my-blog-name.html
I want to apologize to Danice for omitting her blog on this list48. Danice:  http://homespunhannahblog.blogspot.com/2012/08/all-about-this-blog.html
IF I OMITTED YOUR BLOG IT WAS NOT INTENTIONAL, AND BECAUSE I DIDN’T RECEIVE AN E-MAIL WITH THE ACTUAL ‘POST LINK’
If your name is here in the WINNERS LIST please e-mail me with your full name and mailing address – I will get your gifts out to you just as soon as possible.
DOING A RANDOM SELECTOR HERE ARE THE WINNERS….

#28 – LINDA FROM SIMPLY COUNTRY SEASONS

#44 – LINDA FROM A DAY AT REMEMBER WHEN FARM
#40 – TONYA FROM MY PRIMITIVE CREATIONS BY TONYA
You each will be receiving one of my Mr. Jack Pumpkin Mats and a little surprise!
Jack Mat background smaller

ongratulations ladies and thank you to everyone who entered. I
only whish I could give you all a gift for participating.

Karen





















Sunday Ponderings


If I was to pick a colour that says, 'happy', it would be this. 
Just lovely.

I love the idea of a black board at the front door! Hellooooooo!


We had a magical day at the Koala Park yesterday... apart from the heartbroken tears over the caged Kookaburra trying to be friends with a free Kookaburra. They couldn't get to each other, even though they tried and tried. Little one was so distressed about it all and wanted to speak to a ranger about getting the free one in, to keep the caged one company. Then there were mutterings of staging a jail break. He's like that. So different to his older brother. He's me.

I took a few photos of snake and koala hugging. They're over at instagram @thehouseofam. Katrina had to take my instagram widget off this here blog as it was evil and scheming and had serious bugs in it. So if your blog is playing up, check your instagram widget. Thank goodness for blog designers who know something about something! So hopefully you won't be redirected to spam sites anymore when you visit here. I'm moving to WordPress in a few weeks so there will be crickets here very soon. Hopefully everyone will follow me over there.

We heard from 'Japan boy' last night. His host family has checked them all in to a 'fancy' hotel, for the weekend. My boys love that word 'fancy'. They use it for everything.... "he drives a 'fancy' car, she was wearing 'fancy' clothes". Little one wrote back to say, "so glad everything is so 'fancy'". I laughed. He also wrote back, "I love you for all my tomorrows".... so poetic. My heart sort of skipped. He's missed him so much. So big son is in a 'fancy' hotel. He says he is chatting to the host children all the time, fluently Japanese. He says the father doesn't say much. He played Japanese soccer and took part in a traditional tea drinking ceremony and reckons he's going to start drinking tea when he gets home. Love it.

Love him. I am so grateful to have been able to give him this opportunity. I am so grateful. I think he is too. Experiences, education, manners, compassion, empathy, social conscience are what it's all about.... not things. 'The most important things in life are not things'. I think my boys get that. I hope they travel the world.

I'm waffling. Feeling pensive. Missing my boy. Psyching myself up for a run.

Have a great day!
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VISITATION / LÁTOGATÁS

This weekend we are visiting my Family in Pécs. This is an early morning pics of waking up at my brother's flat. :)
Have a nice weekend!

A hétvégén családlátogatást tartunk Pécsen. Ez egy reggeli fotó, épp ébredezem a tesóm lakásában. :) Szép hétvégét!


Photo by Norbi

BLACK AND WHITE AND ROCK'N'ROLL / FEKETE FEHÉR RÁKENROL










Via A Merry Mishap

Friday, September 28, 2012

It's So Quiet


It's been so quiet with big son away in Japan. Food is going off too! You don't realise how much a 15 year old puts away until they are not around..... I am baking with all my browning bananas... and our grocery bills are almost non existent!

We celebrated little one's birthday last weekend with a Pikachu birthday cake, made lovingly by his old nanny..... who has made him a cake every year since he was one. 


He was over the moon when he first laid eyes on it. Pokemon is BIG in this household ("but not during the school week", they chorus, on cue!)

Little son headed off to a computer game/animation course this week, at his request. Quote/unquote, "it's so much better than being at home". I think the shed work was getting to him! Not the most exciting way to spend the school holidays, especially with best friend/brother notably absent.

I was left to my own devices and busied myself with work and my little Masters makeover project. 



The hardest job was ripping the paper off. So well wrapped. You could tell they'd come from Germany.... the craftsmanship even extended to the wrapping.


Voila! ...the coveted outdoor chairs I have been stalking the Masters site for.... ever since they appeared as a promise of 'New Season Stock' a few months back. Love them to bits. They are so solid and so beautifully made.


Whipped up my little courtyard makeover and have been enjoying it all week.
The stinky soccer boots have been relegated to the far corner of the garage.
This spot is now all mine, mine, mine! 


Will reveal all later next week when I will also announce the winner of the $500 Masters Voucher. Beyond exciting.

In Japan news, contact has been brief and rushed. Skype hasn't really worked for us for some reason, only IM through Skype has given us snippets of our son's travels. An email arrived last night which was received with great excitement! He is currently with his host family in Mie. He was a bit nervous before he met up with them as he is staying with them on his own but from the tone of his email he has settled in with them nicely. There is a boy, and a girl, in his host family, who both attend his school. He had his first day at school yesterday. I sent him good thoughts all day. He says he LOVES school and that the girls sit in the corner and giggle and point. Knew he'd be a 'rockstar'!  He is very confident with his Japanese now and says he can understand and say everything. Nothing like a week's immersion. 7 years of lessons... but one week in the country was all that was needed for it all to sink in!

He loves the girls. I am so glad I packed plenty of female host/friend gifts... I knew he'd be needing them!

So yay, it's Saturday! We don't have to be anywhere. That said, we might take little one to the local Koala Sanctuary.... and look for stick insects in the gardens. It's just down the road and it's a beautiful day.

What are you up to?

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PS. Would love you to email me if you are noticing any strange things happening with my blog as you read it. A few of my bloggy colleagues have been experiencing 'strange-ness' too..... redirection to spam sites, etc. I am moving over to my wordpress blog over the next couple of weeks. Couldn't come at a better time. This old rattler has had it's day!

PPS Katrina is on to it. May I just say, she doesn't just design blogs... when done, she monitors and fixes and tweaks and responds to 'IT gumby distress calls' 24/7. Great customer service. #justsayin #loveherguts


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