My Life's Ingredients

Ok… had dinner (Raclette! ;) ) and the washing up was done, too.  Now we’re going to sit down to watch some form of TV … or DVD (because even though we have SKY and Virgin … there’s naught interesting on!!!).  We’ve invited a couple of people for “open house” tomorrow … will see who’s coming around. Will be fun really.  No … I haven’t made any resolutions yet – and I don’t think I’ve done any last year… Maybe I’ll add some points tomorrow. :)  I doubt I will do Ali Edward’s “One Little Word” , but if I am/would do it, then I think I would chose “CHANGE”.  There’s a lot that needs changing/will change next year … so keep fingers crossed.  Ok … hubby is back from gritting our road. :) Most likely moving upstairs to avoid drunk revellers.   HAVE A HAPPY HOGMANAY – GET SAFELY INTO 2010! :)

Think being born between Christmas and New Year is a bad thing. Your presents are always halved due to money availability People are always busy, definitely getting ready for NYE You yourself don’t feel up to much and tired and all that after Christmas So usually since I’m 17 there’s nothing big done on my birthday. It’s mostly a lazy day with doing nothing special, bar presents (and thanks to everyone for that) and usually a steak dinner cooked courtesy of DH (thanks for that too, hubby!! ;) ).  I wonder … should I change that? Should I have parties? Should I invite people around?  We don’t even have anything on on New Year’s Eve, usually our friends are either with their families or at the Street Party.  Shame really. DH and I have been in bed by midnight in the past years … getting old???? And usually something is going wrong on my birthday … so maybe just keep it as a lazy day is best?

The last one for a bit though … tomorrow is the last “in betweeny” day (and coincidentally my birthday too), and then it’s New Year’s Eve and then New Year’s day.  Where has the year gone??? I haven’t been kissed by the scrapping muse yet … was hoping to do some digi scrapping but somehow am not sure how/where to start … had a look at the tutorial sites too but am not getting anywhere yet.  About to start hitting the books … due to re-sit the 3rd part of my exam on the 20th January and really NEED to get it done so I can call myself “qualified Sports Therapist”.  Had a call from the temp agency today – everything is sorted for me to start again on the 3rd (different department, same old stuff), I don’t even need to re-register with Reed again, although I didn’t work for/through them in December at all.  Ordered a couple of crafty things online for me from my Daddy as birthday presents, and probably for my mum too … will figure that out when I phone them tonight. Didn’t manage t

Outside my Window: Grey but a bit of sun – snow’s still on the ground I am Thinking: I’ve had a nice Christmas, but as usual it was over too quickly From the Kitchen: Mmmmh… had my brunch brought up by DH – haven’t been downstairs yet today! ;) I am Learning: I’ll have to hit the books (anatomy & physiology) from tomorrow for the re-sit of the 3rd part of my exam! I am Wearing: Jogging bottoms, T’shirt and a fleece (it’s very cold today!) I am Creating: Nothing right now but will move to the study in a bit to do some JYC entries… ;) I am Going: to update my blog with the archived JYC entries, do some more entries and then have dinner later on – leftovers from Christmas eve. I am Reading: Currently “Ice Limit” and blogs & Facebook. From tomorrow anatomy & physiology books plus my notes. I am Hoping: for a bit more snow and that my studying will stick in my brain! ;) I am Hearing: “Bones” on TV (watching as well) – catching up on SKY+. Fav songs at the momen

Tree is decorated, presents put under the tree, living room tidied and the duck looks fine in the oven. DH is now hovering the hall and I am going to deal with the trimmings. ;) Will add pictures tomorrow. Wishing everyone in Germany & mainland Europe Frohe Weihnachten/Joyeux Noel/Merry Christmas! ;)

Been to the hospital early morning for scan post op cyst - all clear. Went shopping (we braved TESCO & B&Q (who are sold out of Christmas lights replacement bulbs ... obviously!). I've put on another Stollen Dough in the bread maker (DH took half of the old one to work and we are giving our neighbours Sheila & Neil a piece), the duck is defrosted nicely (need to check for recipes for giblets now) and DH has freed the Christmas Tree from the ice bucket (and that's what it was ... the water in the bucket froze - no wonder, it was apparently -16 degrees Celcius overnight! :o ) with hot water and a hammer. ;) Bucket 0 (it's split and ready for the bin) - DH/Tree 1. Hung up some bird feeding things for our feathered friends and now have my late lunch, then will write the last Xmas card (need to deliver 2 to our neighbours) and finish off MIL's Christmas present (Photos will be up a bit later). At 3 pm I'll get the duck ready and then decorate the tree.

Don’t you just hate it when you try to find something and even Google doesn’t get you anywhere? Different searches don’t get you anywhere closer to the result?  I was searching for the name of the Vendor of these tea light holders (and also Christmas baubles) – I bought one of them in 2008 (or was it 2007) and fancied one of the tea light baubles like this one but our bags were already full with Christmas presents so DH said it wouldn’t survive the trip (and he’s right … still, would have LOVED to get my hands on one of them!).  I’ve googled “Frankfurter Weihnachtsmarkt” in different variations, both in English and German, searched for “hand crafted Christmas Baubles with tea lights” etc, but just didn’t get anywhere!!! It was really frustrating!!  I am really not sure WHY Google suddenly spat out the correct website!! Or which word triggered the result. BUT … now for future reference for myself … these baubles are from K B SCHMIDT – TEUTEBERG.   And don’t you ever forget t

We might have a White Christmas after all this year?! NAWH… it’s Scotland … the snow will be gone in time for the 24th… :( I managed to get some pics before the kids are back out to play and throw some snow balls … love the “virgin snow” really. Will take some pics of the front garden tomorrow morning I think – hopefully it’s still there – it’s supposed to be freezing overnight, so chances are good? And yes … I know … there’s a bulb out on my lights … 3 in fact  … really have to get replacements soon. LOVE the Christmas lights though. Can’t believe my Mojo has deserted me again… :o I’ve been browsing blogs & forums and reading my card making mags and still have no idea what to do as the next batch of Xmas cards (won’t be that many anyway).  So… I’ll  try my best. Got enough nice stamps for it! Continuing to listen to NFL (TV is off to my right in the current study so I can’t watch while trying to be creative (we really have to move the study downstairs!!). Just know DH

Yesterday DH and I had a long lie in, then went to see "Law Abiding Citizen" (GOOD!) and while at the cinema we missed the next snow "storm" in Edinburgh. :o When we got out it was all over and some of the white stuff (LOL) was turning into slush. We then went to the Gyle to pick up our tree ( Caring Christmas Trees - Bethany's) - a 6ft tree and this year I think it's not a "Tiny Tim" adoption like last year (looked a bit crooked). ;)  But it may turn out a bit funny, too - we did a quick decision as it was getting dark. I'll post a photo on the 24th pre-deco so you can see. After that we went food shopping ... in the madness that is ALREADY going on ... usually that only happens the last 2 days or so prior to Christmas Day! I quickly dashed to WHSmith for mags (no crafty ones caught my eye though) and then got some "Swirls" at Millie's Cookies (DH LOVES them and they didn't have them for a while ... until this year wh

Today’s prompt was for something unexpected, like a letter/Christmas Card you received from a person you haven’t heard from in ages etc. My entry is for the Crafts Advent Calendar I did that year (2007 and every year since) with the German Scrapbookers … and I loved the experience … even more than with my fellow scrappers on UKS (ok … that might be a bit mean, but it’s nice to see what the crafters on mainland Europe are doing! ;) ). I got this Advent Calendar this year too but only managed to open parcels 1 & 2 – which is bad, but I seem to be in such stress right now … :o Have to catch up with the opening at some point … before the new year! LOL.

Christmas seems to be laden with tons of food, doesn’t it? ;) And I love it. Cookies, Duck/Goose, red cabbage, dumplings (so far the only time of the year we actually have dumplings – a German staple food!), Stollen… YUM! Usually we have a traditional German Christmas on Christmas Eve (no bland Turkey!!!) and then on Christmas Day we visit the inlaws and MIL is cooking the traditional British Christmas fayre. What I never understood is that with a dry bird like Turkey the Brits only use Cranberry Sauce or Jelly … why not opt for Gravy? We always have gravy with the Duck … you need gravy for the Dumplings anyway! ;)   Every year I tell myself to start the baking earlier … and every year I only start making the Stollen (non-marzipan) and cookies the week before Christmas or in the worst case on Christmas Eve. *I REALLY HAVE TO CHANGE THAT!!!*

I've seen these a couple of times coming up on my Google Reader and today I came across Deena's so I thought I am going to do that now as well... once a week, when I find the time! ;) Outside my Window: It's all grey and slushy ... not snowing and no hale anymore either. I am Thinking: Just been driving DH's big brown chair around town and could have stayed in the warm house for 1.5 hours doing stuff ... like baking... or wrapping presents ... From the Kitchen: The smell of salmon gratin and my christmas tea. Yumm!! I am Learning: I am definitely still able to drive in snow/slush. ;) I am Wearing: Jogging bottoms and a fleece. I am Creating: Nothing just yet - but hopefully later today some cards & JYC entries! I am Going: to have lunch, then resize Clansmen photos and burning them to CD for the coach to pick them up. I am Reading: Far too many blogs, Facebook, Forums and Ice Limit. I am Hoping: That I get the big brown chair fixed soon for DH an

I just love them… ;) Just something to cheer everyone up who’s currently suffering from Christmas Preparations Stress… ;) Enjoy!!!

Archival Entry … tomorrow is going to be another new one! ;) Visitors … we usually celebrate Christmas Eve by ourselves, and visit the inlaws on Christmas Day. In 2005 my Mutsch, Sis and Nephew were over for Christmas and it was fun. This year, however, we have invited friends who are over from Australia for 1.5 years and have no family to visit – looking forward to having Aisha & “Wombat” over. ;) Another “tradition” we’ve started is to visit my side of the family around St. Nikolaus to exchange presents (I don’t trust Royal Mail anymore after they delivered parcels at New Year’s Eve even though we sent them off before the last posting date for Germany!!!), go for nice meals and of course visit the Frankfurt Christmas Market at least once. :) 

Yup… archival … ;)  It’s got journalling in the pocket, the left hand side are the lyrics of my favourite Xmas song “Driving home for Christmas” by Chris Rea, and I’ve printed some song sheets of German Christmas Carols directly onto Card stock.

I love giving gifts … more than I like receiving them I think. :)  Yes, I do love pressies, but it gives me a great feeling to see the joy on the others’ faces when I selected a present they really like. :) So far it’s equal pressies opening, I pass a present to DH and he passes one to me. Tradition was to open one present on Christmas Eve and the rest on Christmas Day, but we have changed it to presents for each other and the ones from Germany on Christmas Eve (as is German custom) and then the other presents from the inlaws on Christmas Day when we visit them.  Presents are always opened AFTER Christmas Eve Dinner though. This year, however, we’re just going to open 1 present each on Christmas Eve as we’re going to have friends over … ;) I think once we have kids I would like them to follow the tradition from my side of the family of reciting a poem or playing a tune/singing a song before they can open their presents. ;)

And we’re still in the realms of Archives … not long to go though and it will be all new Layouts! :) This photo was taken a looooong time ago … I don’t even know how old my big sis and I were at that time. Christmas Eve was then celebrated the following way: At around 3pm my sis and I had to move into our rooms to play/watch telly, while my dad decorated the tree and my mum cooked the bird. At around 6pm we’d hear a small bell  ringing – the sign for us that the “Christkind” has been and left the presents We’d then be allowed in the living room and would see our big Christmas tree with real candles and my dad would always put sheets of wrapping paper on the floor … something I really liked (we’ve got a christmassy sheet now) My sis and I would have to “perform” something before we’d be allowed to open our presents … either do something musical (both my sis and I played the “Blockfloete (recorder)) or recite a Christmassy Poem Then presents opening would comme

We’re getting our tree for several years from “Caring Christmas Trees” (Bethany’s) – and have been “adopting” trees who nobody wanted in the past … I coined them “Tiny Tim” trees (i.e. crooked ones. ;) ).  With a bit of creative adjusting of the tree base and some good decorating they turned out nice either way. :) Different decorations from the UK as far as I can see – we do not have a Fairy or Angel at the top of the tree … we have  a “spire” which looks a bit like the spire of a Church (see small insert on tree at the top).  That’s something I grew up with, and I won’t put anything else on top of the tree. ;)  Unfortunately, it’s not an heirloom – I bought the spire some years ago (prior to that we didn’t have anything at the top of the tree) at the “Frankfurter Weihnachtsmarkt”. I also bought the “Christmas Gherkin” there  (from a stall that I cannot find anymore since they removed the stalls from the “Zeil” -  “Das Glaskugelhaus”. They are at the Birmingham Christmas Market

Welcome to the Archives … ;) And I am sorry for the picture quality … my old Medion scanner does not agree with my new VISTA PC  … and I haven’t had a chance to look into software to get them to work together. :(  And didn’t have the time to do the whole switch of cables to my old (XP) PC which works with the scanner no problem. Today’s prompt was about gift wrapping and Shimelle suggested we use wrapping paper on our layout. ;) I usually have one style of wrapping paper per person – it’s kinda a tradition of mine… :)  Makes it easier if you lose tags.

We have a couple of traditions, which are mostly from me introduced into the marriage … being German and all that (we seem to be Christmas mad by default! ;) ) and DH being more a Scrooge. Stockings on St. Nikolaus Day (6th Dec) Advent Calendards Advent wreath Tree up & decorated on 24th German “trimmings” on Christmas Eve Christmas Newsletter (although I didn’t have the time to write that this year! :o ) Visit the Christmas Market (best if in Germany!) Disney Christmas Movies (yet have to do that) Visit the Inlaws on Christmas Day Real Tree (6 ft tall) Gluehwein Opening our presents and the ones from Germany on Christmas Eve after Dinner Rock Christmas CDs (plus now Traditional Christmas music & Three Tenors Christmas CD)

And we’re still getting layouts from the Vault! ;) Today’s prompt was “Sights of Christmas” and I cut inchies from photos for that one … from my work’s Christmas Night out, the Winter Wonderland Ice Rink, Poinsettia, my Advent Wreath, Scrapping Advent Calendar, Snowmen Deco at Fountain Park, one of our Christmas Stockings and Christmas Lights in the narrow street from St. James’s Centre towards Harvey Nick’s.

A bit behind ... came home later than expected yesterday after a very mentally exhausting weekend - preparation weekend/last practical module (and first for me in about 2.5 years!) before the final exam/before I am going to re-sit the 3rd part of the exam. :)  I went through to Glasgow Airport (the module took place at the Holiday Inn there) on Friday courtesy of Citylink Buses (and the price has gone up considerably for a open return ticket!!). Felt like I didn't study enough (and I probably didn't, but confessed that immediately to the tutor) -  but fortunately the knowledge which was dormant for the last 3-ish years is still there ... just hiding in the "cupboard" of my brain! :)  Been doing revision both Friday and Saturday evening though. Had a very good tutor, and I am glad that Sports Rehab & Education has added this practical module (Module V), which did not exist when I sat the exam ... and failed one part. I am more confident to resit now, and shoul

  And another one from the Archive … this time the “to do list”. This layout is from 2007 and in comparison to 2009: 2007: Get Duck 2009: DH already bought 2 ducks 2007: Send cards & Gifts 2009: Yeah… same 2007: Buy gifts @ Amazon 2009: Same 2007: Bake Cookies 2009: Bake cookies 2007: Clean Living room 2009: Clean Living room Somehow I can see a pattern there, although the reason is this year Studying for the practical module V instead of being bed ridden. :o

Advent Calendars today ... and I have the same ones each year, including a crafty one from Dani's Forum (German Scrappers). But yes, usually the wooden Tree one, a chocolate one (this year DH and I agreed to share one - just for the diet! ;) So we get the choc on alternate days) and my tea one. The latter might sound funny, but my German tea shop "Der Teeladen" has an advent calendar where you get a tea probe (testing package for just one pot) each day - different flavours. I LOVE that one! :)  Makes me take some time out as well. My mum gave me one of the Makramee Advent calendars she's made waaaayyyy back when I was about 10 or so. I had planned to put the Scrapbooking Advent calendar on it, but unfortunately most packages don't have any way of attaching it. Ah well, maybe next year ... I actually got it from her (she's got another one for my big sis) for future kids ... but yeah... well... that still has to wait a bit. :(  So ... what advent cal

Mmmh... somehow I am feeling a bit a cheater with all those archived entries ... but on the other hand ... things this year are just not working out just yet for a quiet and relaxing Advent/Christmas ... so there! :P LOL. And there will be lots of original 2009 entries later on. :D Promised!

Fresh from the Archives ... Today's prompt is CARDS. As for this year's cards ... none made, but hoping to catch up Sunday/Monday for that. ;) Slight difference this year? Scout Post in Edinburgh is no more... :( And I am wondering with the whole lot going on and money situation I am going to cut down on the cards being sent by mail - will resort to E-mail ones this year mostly I think.

just before I start studying for a bit. ;) Got my granny's Vanilla Crescent (courtesy of my sis). :) So will do some baking Sunday/Monday or later next week. :) Still hardly any presents done/bought ... needs to be sorted by Sunday/Monday for the overseas people. Got a headache... typical. :o Further update later on, really need to get some studying done now.

Ok... another archived JYC entry ... ;) I just don't have time this year to do them new. :o Far too much stuff on, and Christmas just sneaked up on me!! No cards done, no doors opened on my Advent calendars (bar the tea one of course!!). Prompt was weather and we were encouraged to cut a snowflake. I just did a Quilling class that time and decided I try to quill a snowflake. The result is not half bad, eh? ;) Haven't really quilled anything since, but I have purchased a quilling book and will look into that again. :)  The first "fresh" LO for JYC 2009 will be on the 6th I think. :) Then I have a couple random ones and then quite a lot still to do - at a time when things will be a bit quieter for me I hope.

Ok... that's the first entry I started in 2006 and finished in 2007. I am not going to make a new entry for this year as I finally want to finish this album (on it since 2005!!) - but I will be working on digi LOs from Jessica Sprague's Holidays in Hand class and post them here when I get the time.

If you've come here through the "Cookie Swap Blog Train" from Amber's Blog then you know why you've landed here... ;)  If you're one of my regular readers or just found my blog, you can read about this Blog train here. If you would like to go to the front of the train and have a look at all the "carriages" please go to Lois' blog - she's the conductor! ;)  I'm a sucker for Christmas Cookies ... never leave enough time to bake them though, and I always end up with the same ones.  My granny (dad's mum) used to do the baking for the whole family, and she always had TONS of cookies ready to go onto our "Bunte Teller" (a Christmas plate with cookies, chocolates, satsumas, apples - just everything. It's a selection plate of every Christmas sweet snack really. ;)  ).  She used to store them on her "Loggia" (balcony) in one of those seats with storage space. They were always nice and cool when we got them.  My