Yarn-on.. lolz

Today a huge shipment of koigu yarn arrived at my local yarn shop (lys). The owner was so excited, stroking all the pretty skeins of yarn. It just popped out: " Honey, you've got a huge koigu yarn-on!"

Winterfi thought of that one: not a hard-on, knitters tend to get a yarn-on!

The shop owner laughed so loud I thought he was gonna die! We decided he couldn't twitter about it, since he is a "respectable" shop keeper..

I how however have no such boundaries :)

Also today I started the Ships and Seaside cowl I have been longing for. We formed a group of people who are going to make it this summer, it is called a knit-a-long: KAL!

We decided it would be a summer kal and your cowl should be finished by August 31st. We could start on june 1st.

"How could you have started today?" I hear you ask. Well, very simple. When I started today it was the first of June in New Zealand. Nobody said it had to be in your own timezone :) sniggers...

The first one (yes, you heard right) I will be making of Rowan Kid Classic.
I already have the yarn for a second one: Rowan kidsilk Haze.
And I figured I would do some serious stash-busting and make one out of the various shades of brown sockyarn I have: good one! That will be the Autumnal version.
I have enough sock yarn to make a Spring version as well.

For every cowl you make, you will get a lottery ticket for the end of KAL lottery. We can even win prizes: shake ya pompoms!

Will have to finish the shawl I'm making for the auction in there too, and the shawl I want to make for Roshni's wedding. It is a good thing this weekend is a long one because of the Christian holidays..


Oh, and I decided I can't buy any more yarn. It is ridiculous how much expensive yarn is just lounging around my house! So I went on Ravelry, put my whole stash on there with pics and for every yarn I found a pattern that I would make of that specific yarn. I was kinda proud. Only.. after that I went to the Lys to get yarn for Roshni's wedding shawl. Bought that, but that was allowed. But also bought another skein of Drops lace in a gorge pink color... Didn't need that... I'm really good at keeping my yarn habit in check.. NOT! In my defense: the yarn was on sale and today was the last day of the sale.

But now I have to work at diminishing that stash before I can buy more! There: I said it and I will keep to it!

Teaching and Nectarines

Today I took a big bite out of a nectarine. It was so juicy the juice got in my nose! I love eating nectarines but they are only good a certain time of the year. I love how they smell and taste and today I got a really good one. Decided to buy more of those tomorrow!

Also today I started teaching again. I was so much fun! The kids forgot all the rules and so they were noisy but when I stood there in front of those great smiling kids I realized that I love that part of my job, and I'm actually quite good at it...
Although right now I'm exhausted, I know this is my life's calling and it is what I should be doing.

I knit, and knit, and knit..

Today I spend knitting. And watching tv.

Wednesday Ilona will be get married, and only last week I thought of knitting her a very fine lace shawl. The kind so thin you can pull it through your wedding band.
So I bought some lovely seagreen/blue Rowan Kidsilk Haze and started knitting a Crane stole. Cranes mate for life, so it seemed fitting to pick that pattern for a wedding shawl.
It needs to get done so I can block it. Almost done.. almost...

Watched Red Riding Hood today. The story is worked out quite silly, but it looks stunning! And good music, lots of good music.

John Bauer

I knew these images from my childhood, never knew the name of the artist. "Par accidente" I rediscovered these fantastic drawings.

John Bauer was a Swedish painter/illustrator in the early 1900s, most famous for his fairy tales. 

Bauer was born on June 4, 1882 (Rackham in 1867, Nielsen in 1886) in Jonkoping, Sweden. At 16 he studied art in Stockholm and by 18 he was at the Swedish Royal Academy. The prevailing styles of the day were those of Anders Zorn and Carl Larsson - two great Swedish artistic icons. Bauer strongly felt their influence, but also was swayed by the surreal/fantasy work of Arnold Bocklin. While still a student, he received his first major commission. It was a collection of fairy tales by Anna Wahlenberg called Lange, Lange Sedan (Long, Long Ago). After four years of study at the Academy, he was commissioned to illustrate a book on Lapland.

The following year Bauer began his association with Bland Tomtar och Troll (Among Elves and Trolls), an annual Christmas book for children. It was this work that made him famous in Sweden (and among artists elsewhere).

Well, that is what I spend my afternoon on... This morning I cleaned the house and made everything pretty, I even did the dishes! Then the market for flowers and "provisions". Tonight I'm going out for dinner with friends!

It has arrived!

The new couch! It arrived this morning and I'm luvin it!

These two guys rang my doorbell around 7.30 this morning, I barely got dressed (phew..). They actually carried it up the stairs even though I was warned they only deliver to your doorstep. I think they would have carried it all the way to my living room but then they saw that weird bend in my hallway..

No probs: daddy came to the rescue and after we removed the plastic and cardboard we could just slide the couch trough every door and corner! Done in a jiffy. No lifting involved: me likes :)

Dad even assembled the two new side-tables I ordered with the couch, and I painted them with whitewash this morning! By twelve everything was in order, I couldn't believe my luck: a whole afternoon of knitting on my shiny new couch!



Mika wouldn't have anything with the whole damn moving things around mess and posted herself on the bed with her butt towards me. A tell tale signs of a sourpuss (teeeheeeheeee).

But right now, as ever, she is perched next to my while I type (it has become a part of our daily routine) and is staring a dove down on the next door roof. Even making that silly noise cats seem to make when they see something that they want to eat but is still alive. She looks so tough and fierce when she does that. We, however, know better: you are a lazy couch diva, yes you are, but you just got a bigger and better couch.. so enjoy.

And yes, the knitting is fab on this couch, that is why I picked this specific couch: knitting position..

I'm singing in the .... wind

This morning started with glorious sunny weather, I even rode my bike to school without wearing a jacket.
When I got home it had started to drizzle, and in the course of he afternoon the wind picked up quite fiercely.

I hear you think: "wasn't this a blog about the nice things of your day?"

Well, thats the kicker... I love fierce winds blowing around the house. Living close to the sea and water it means we can get some pretty big storms here in Hoorn. Granted, nothing like those nasty tornado's which recently destroyed quite a few lives in the USA.

Growing up we lived adjacent to the dike of the IJsselmeer. My room was in the attic, and I would bury myself under the blankets and listen to the wind blow over. It always gave me a really relaxed feeling. I also like going to the beach during storms, I love walking in the spray of the waves and ducking your head in your coat, feeling the wind whip your hair around.

I always feel like the wind is blowing everything clean, like a big broom cleaning the world. Everything smells nice and fresh as soon as it is over.

So right now I'm sitting on a pile of cushions with a blankey listening to the wind blow. And I love it!

This afternoon was spend in one glorious Lush fest. I had a cupcake facemask and some hahu.. ...weird name hair-mask. My skin feels uber clean and my hair is all shiny and soft. And I've spend half of the day knitting and watching tv in my PJ's. And I did my nails and decided that as soon as the tax refund comes I will make an appointment with the pedicurist, cos my feet need to be summer ready.

It is a comfy lowkey sort of day, which does wonders for your spirit every once in a while.

Me and my basket went to... Amsterdam

Last sunday I bought a basket that can fit on the front of your bicycle. It was super cheap, but wouldn't fit on my normal bike.

Today I went to Amsterdam to shop, I always borrow a bike at the station because I hate the public transport. I took the basket with me on the Amsterdam bike and it worked like a charm! Fantastic!

I bought my dad a birthday gift, a light/sleeve thingie for his brandspankin new e-reader. He loves it.
Then I browsed the NoaNoa store and found a pretty dress. I also bought a cupcake face mask at the Lush store and Yarn, lots of yarn at The Afstap.

It was nice to ride my bike in the sun, and it was still peaceful and uncrowded in the city since I went early. And I got all my chores done fairly quickly.

When I walked past "Begijnhof" (pretty old inner city quarter of Amsterdam) a group of Spanish tourist wanted to take my picture. I smiled politely and let them do their thing. Later on I realised that my outfit and basket had quite an "melkmeisje" (milkmaid) feel to it. It made my day. I took a pic of the outfit for you all to see what I mean:

There also was a boy photographing the pavement. I stood there watching him for quite some time; he was so engaged in what he was doing, it was a joy to watch him.

When I was back in Hoorn I saw a huge fish in the "gracht" (town-moat) and while I stood there watching him I saw there were loads and loads of tiny fish swimming there as well! It was packed! And then momma duck and one duckling swam by. I love taking the time just standing there and taking in all the pretty sights, the simpler the better it seems.

Then I went over to mom and dad, mama made lasagna! yum yum. Ticho my nephew was there and we had a blast racing with his toy cars. He is about 1,5 years old. And he said my name today! Up until today he hadn't done that, he is so lovely and fun :)

We had an ice cream after dinner. Here is a picture of Ticho and his dad (my brother) Tim:

Unexpected fun

Today I went to the medical officer and he thought it would be good to start teaching again, like I proposed. I miss the kids and I feel kind of useless at work at the moment, to be frank.

He just said that he thought it would be wise to start with a low number like 3 and add 2 or 3 lessons every week. That way when we hit the summer holiday I will be teaching half of my schedule.

I was afraid that my boss would object because he would rather have me teach my entire load when summer holiday starts. But he just said okay, that's fine and went on with his day. SPLENDID!

So I will have loads of time to find my new way in life and in working. So far my boss and superiors have been quite giving in the situation. Bonus points for them..

After work I had an accidental meet up in the streets with one of my new colleagues. We were chatting and, quite frankly, gossiping in the sun. I like those moments where you can really connect to a person, and to boot it was unplanned so it really felt like a present: thank you Kathrin!

Then after yoga I got another present: a great big bouquet of peonies! My old couch was picked up by yet another colleague. We had to wiggle and turn to get the couch out and on the car, but we did it in the end. He also took my two tea tables so now I have a really big living room :)

But Friday morning my NEW couch will come! Yay for that! Internet pic of upcoming couch:

So this message has been typed in bed with lots and lots of pillows! Not bad, not bad at all...

Fresh leaves and herb salad

For one person:

1. Pick nice looking leaves from mixed leafs salad growing in pot on you balcony. Wash them and dry them, preferably old stylie by putting them in a teatowel and spinning it over your head.
2. Add some fresh croutons to bowl. Croutons: with your hands tear a bun to tiny pieces, place in oven dish with some salt and pepper and sprinkle lots of nice olive oil over. Place in medium hot oven until golden and fragrant. Let cool.
3. Rummage through fridge. Find nice piece of stinky brie, cut in chunks and put in salad.
4. Toss salad with croutons and brie, pour over some nice dressing. No clue? How about 1tbs red wine vinegar versus 2 tbs olive oil.
5. Step over to window sill and pick some chives, dill, koriander, parsley and basel. Shred and sprinkle over salad.

Eat with taste and great enjoyment!

Today I had my first home grown salad and it was simple and GOOD! Those leaves have so much more taste than the ones coming from a bag in the supermarket! The cress was almost spicy, and really nice. When the leaves are nice, a salad doesn't need a lot of stuff put in to make it interesting. In this salad the leaves were more than interesting enough :)

And it is growing in a small pot on my balcony fence! I can recommend it to anyone!

Lost time

Hmmmm, lovely day today simply doing what I feel like!

After getting up, hitting the shower and washing my hair with the ridiculously expensive Tony and Guy Shampoo ( but ah, it smells so nice) I got on my bike, using the wind as a blowdryer.

There was a flea market nearby so that was my intended destination. But I also swung by the bicycle repair shop to use their electric tire pump. I know: lazy and I have been meaning to get that done for over a week, always forgetting..
AND I brought all the glass bottles to the recycling bin. Also been forgetting about that for quite some time. So by that point I was feeling pretty good about myself.

The flea market was fun. I bought some stoneware cups with a lovely autumnal motive on them. Searched for a timble with an owl on it, but was unable to find it. That will be my next mission. But I started out looking for little tea spoons with nice motives to make a necklace out of it.

This I have to explain I guess.
When I was a littling we had this show called " vrouwtje theelepel": little miss teaspoon. She had a magical teaspoon that could turn her small and grant all kind of wishes. But what I liked most of all of that show is that miss teaspoon had the most fun outlook on live. Nothing was a problem; anything was a reason for having fun. She also saw the good in everyone. She was a bit of a cookie I suppose.

Well the last few weeks I decided I had lost that part of myself; my cookieness. Call it my Pippi Longstockings side, call it anything..
I call it my "vrouwtje theelepel" side. And I need to remember that not only is that the person that I am, but it also makes me a good person at hart. And I want / need to be that person no matter what other people think.

To make that thought more solid I decided I needed a teaspoon necklace. I found a tiny teaspoon, a pretty flowery one with holes in it (that one will be worn tomorrow), so mission accomplished! But I also found while rummaging around: five flowery tiny forks, a childrens spoon with a squirrel on it and a bigger flowery spoon, I think it is a dessert spoon. Great finds those!

When I got home I vacuumed the house, did the dishes, cleaned the catlitter and took out the trash. All things I had decided could be done tomorrow (manjana), but did today! Then I churned out a knitted hat, not sure how I like it yet, it is blocking now, and watched some cookery shows.

All in all a pretty good day... Oh and I met up with some people I knew on the market, one also called Marieke and they had this great pillow for sale which will look great on my new couch arriving friday and she GAVE it to me! LOVE

All over the place..

The sun was shining today! Good, I like it when the sun shines, those day are better instantly :)

I got up late, slept in, but Mika decided it was feeding time by ten so I got up.

When I started up my computer I saw the deer antler hat arrived in Australia! Look at the cute pic Nicole send me:

I always forget the seasons are the other way around down under. Look at them glorious autumn leaves, pretty! The hat looks pretty on her and I am really glad I got to make it for her.

Went to the market, bought very pretty roses this week. Every Saturday I buy myself flowers. Always spend around five euro's so it's not a lot of money. When I was a student I promised myself that when I would "grow-up" and have a steady income I would buy myself flowers every week. It is one of the highlights of my week. Looking at the glorious stall full of fragrant and pretty flowers, and being able to pick what I like. Fortunately I love roses and tulips and they don't cost that much at the market stall.

Since living in this house, I started a herb garden every year from seed on my window sill. This year I was lazy and just filled a few plastic pots with compost. After that I emptied a packet of seed in each and every one of them.
Other years I would put a seed in these teeny cardboard planters and plant them out later. Nothing survived the planting out ever...

So this year every seed I had went in and my plastic little greenhouse was filled to the brim. Pretty soon everything began growing and growing and growing! The lathyrus seeds never ever propagated and this years they are all over the place!

Today the last seedlings were let out of the greenhouse, that got stored in the shed for another year. But look now:

On my balcony the Lathyrus is teeming and the mixed salad pot will get eaten pretty soon (looking forward to that)

The window sill has basil, dill, koriander, parsley, leeks and mint! Wow! All I need in the kitchen at the ready.

In the planter outside there is oregano, thyme and something I have forgotten what.

And then there is this great plant that when I grew up got to know as the chinese lamp plant: it will get these pretty orange bells in the fall. I love how the leaves look now, they follow the sunlight during the day!

Yes, my plant babies did good this year: well done honeyz! 

♥ Owlies ♥

I'm addicted to Ravelry, I admit. And within Rav my most fave hangout is the Tiny Owl knits forum. Love abounds there!

Everybody is loving and giving and supportive and quirky and chatty. Going off topic is "not done" in most groups, in TOK it' s commonly accepted as being utterly necessary! We dream and laugh together and I have to be honest that helped me trough a many a black day back when...

Yesterday me and "boplika" were doing our chatty thing when I offered to buy her the yarn and pattern needed for a KAL (where you all knit the same thing at the same time and chat about it on the forum). She didn't have the time to participate it turned out, but she loved the offer so much that she did her version of the love hands photo I did for the deer antler hat.

(my chattymatey Boplika)

This started a love chain reaction where most people who frequently visit "tokland" as it is loveling called changed their ravatar into a lovehands photo or other variation of the heart. We started a love chain! And it is going viral! YAY

(my bestest owlie friend: winterfi)

I'm actually feeling the love radiating from this group, the support and the fun these people bring to the world. It is really good to know there are lots and lots of people out there who have a positive view on the world and who are not afraid to BRING IT!

Takin it slow, slow, slow

The last couple of days my old hasty self popped up again and I didn't like it one bit!

So today I really took an effort to relish the moment of everyday things. I sat on the floor next to Mika and together we ate a babybel cheese. She wolfed it down, mine I nibbled at like a wee little mousie!

Really tasting, really seeing. I also took my sweet time in the supermarket. Making sure I really wanted certain things instead of bunking my cart full and rushing out of the store.

In the moment, not fretting over things from the past which can not be changed anymore, nor hoping for the future, of things that might not even come to pass.

If I can hold that thought and that feeling I think I will be lot happier: right here and now.

And I found my new favorite word today: sniggering. Tiny little laughs, good word, I snigger a lot!

ps: photo I made on Bali at the water temple.

Summer Holiday: status: booked!

Okay, okay, my poor creditcard, it hasn't been used as much as this in all it's life..

Today I booked:

The campsite in the Dordogne

The train to Bergerac, the train from bergerac to Paris and the train from Paris to Amsterdam.

The hotel in Paris: Hotel de Nice

I am looking forward to basking in the sun, eating fresh nectarines and french bread, swimming in the crystal clear pool, smell and see everything on the french market, going on an adventure by train, staying in that funny hotel, going to Versailles and just struttin my stuff in Paris.

Let the praying for fab weather commence!

Yoga flow..

Tonight I had an excellent yoga class. We did some pretty intense stances and the meditation at the end was a blast. We had to imagine that some "deity" would protect us like a shield. For me it was a phoenix, it was cuddly and protected me like a golden shield. It also took away all the "blackness" inside me. It was a good feeling.

This afternoon me and some coworkers went to the gym rooms because there was e-fit. We did a few dances on these colored mats linked to a computer and we did a game where you had to tap the right point on the wall at the right time. It was a lot of fun. My fitness test told me I didn't drink enough. So that will be my pointer for the next days.

Mariska and I booked flights for a London weekend in October and I found a site where I can book train tickets trough the whole of Europe. I'm planning on heading to the Dordogne in July, stopping in Paris in the beginning of August. Feels like a great plan. It is nice to make plans, I think it is a sign that things are getting better.

This morning it was raining and I wasn't "into" today. But looking back at it, it was a pretty awesome one.

Wild knitting or yarn bombing

Today it rained. For the first time in months. Nature needed a drink for sure. Right now there is a chorus of birds giving the most beautiful concert outside my window. Bet they needed the drink as well and are now singing for the blessed rain.

I slept trough my alarm this morning and came to work half an hour late. Too boot I had to ride my bicycle through the biggest rain shower of the day. I guess I had my punishment right there and then. Luckily nobody at work gave me a hard time over it; there are some good things about being seen as "fragile" after all.

I went over to the break room again for both breaks and people are now starting to ask me things. I can explain better so I had some nice chats with some friendly co-workers. I also found out that some of my classes are transferred to co workers so the pressure is off I guess. That felt nice, to be truthful.

Today I found evidence of some wild knitters at work in my home town. I have to admit I'm a pretty tame knitter, on the couch making wearable stuff. But these people found a way to brighten up some nasty iron gates perched in the harbour. The docking had a landslide the past winter, it has been fenced of ever since. I applaud the wild knitters and crocheters who have done a fab job on cheering up that fence. CHEER!

Mother Nature will find a way

For some days now I have been noticing flowers poppin up in the most unusual places. Between the cracks  of the concrete, on the side of a wall. I love how nature finds a way to embellish the world even when it is hard, or nearly impossible. I have been thinking about that and decided it could be a lesson. If poppies can grow in the tiniest crack, so can we as a person. Even if there is not a lot of ground beneath your feet, as long as you let the sunlight in, you can thrive. Don't let the odds hold you back!

As I strolled through the park I was looking at the lighthouse at the other end of the harbour, wondering if I could reach it. So I walked and walked and walked and reached it. Discovering a few great spots along the way. There was a race on the water between windsurfers, they looked like dragonflies skipping the water. And I found a white tree that fell over but made the most beautiful pixie lookout point. So changing lanes can be good, you'll find something new, even if it is around the other corner.

> I like this photo, the lighting is nice.

Sleep, blissful sleep.

Today I slept. Like a little bear in hibernation.

I know my body, after surgery and when I'm sick I sleep. That is how my body heals. The last couple of weeks since starting meds there are days when I sleep. It could be a side effect of the meds, but I truly believe it is my body recovering from all the stress hormones.

So I embrase the healing properties of my body and soul, and give in to the all encompassing sleep which comes over me sometimes. Like today.

I woke up quite early, about 8.30. Had a lovely showers, washed my hair and had some breakfast. Did not take the half of Oxazepam in the morning. My doc wants me to gradually stop with that one.
Went to the market with mom and bought some great peonies. Dark pink and soft pink. They look great, they look so tender and yet are so strong. Then I talked my hairdresser in cutting my bangs for free. And when I came home I had an headache and wanted to lie down. That was around one. Spend some time looking at the clouds, looking for cloud figures. I saw some running horses, an owl, a red panda, some skeletons and a phoenix. After that I fell asleep, to wake around five to a grumpy Mika staring at me because I was at least an hour late to filling her bowl.

Watched Greys anatomy while eating, and some other shows.

All in all a slow day, but good. If I lie down now I will sleep some more. But I know my body and spirit are healing and that is a good feeling.

Time flies....

Somehow Blogger wasn't working the last two days! But I'm still gonna tell you about yesterday and today!

Yesterday I went to Amsterdam. Got a bike at the station, drove it to " de drie heertjes" and bought two velvet cake cupcakes. Then I went to "de afstap" to buy yarn for my ships and seaside cowl. It was a good visit because I also found some books and the girl working in the shop was really nice and we discovered we were already friends on Ravelry! It was the kind of visit to a store that made me smile :)

Then I went on to Mariska to pick up some skirts she doesn't wear anymore, I gave her the second cupcake btw. I planned on a quick visit to do more shopping but we chatted away a good couple of hours. We also searched facebook for ex boyfriends. It was a bust though cos we couldnt remember most of their last names... We also found some pretty ugly photo's from around ten years ago. We decided we look better now!

I met up with Marieke, who is lovely preggers at the moment, to eat at the Amstrdam Chinatown: Zeedijk. I had a Surinam Mokse Meti with rice and she had the thin Mie with Chicken. Whole meal for 7 euro's! YAY Afterwards we tried out the new coconut Ben and Jerry's: Love it but New York will always be my first love...

Then we met up with some more friends to go see the new Fast and Furious movie. I loved it! Okay the storyline is crap and the stunts are outrageous, but did you see that cute ass on "the rock"? wowsers! And well to be quite honest hearing Vin Diesel speak is enough to make me want to jump him. Never ever let me come near him... I can not be held accountable for my actions.. yum yum..
But there was a lot of man hunkiness going on in that flick! I had a look around the theater and I think there were more girls than guys. Apparently we like fast cars and big men. Not ashamed to admit to it myself.

Today I started my day with Moen who picked me up for breakfast at our fav coffeehouse. I had chocolate cake and an iced hazelnut coffee for breakfast! Nice...

Then I tried on the summer pants in my closet: none of them fit: they were all too big! So I put them in the recycle bin and went out shopping! I bought THREE pair of trousers: one black linnen, one 3/4 jeans, one "showoff" model. But I also picked up along the way: four pairs of leggings (Black/white/ cream and sand), two jeans dresses and a gorgeous blouse. I haven't got a clue what I spend. The "show off" pants were size 42! My god... I had a silent party in the dressing room, lolz.