What to say....

Well. I am back. Have been for some time even. I just needed some time to think about what to tell you about my fantastic holiday to The Gambia. Because it was. It was short, yes. Only 8 days. Unfortunately my camera decided to give out on day two, so almost no pictures (and believe me, that might be a blessing!).

Lunchtime views

I did have a load of stuff to do for the Second Home Foundation (self-afflicted of course). I was completely ready to get to work and make sure that everyone was getting to work as well. In other words, I went to kick !@#. That lasted until the airplane doors opened and I felt the warmth and smelled The Gambia. I felt like a load was lifted of my shoulders. It felt like coming home, after a long, long time. Still, I managed to do all the work and more. But that was during the day and I am planning to shed some light on the less serious....... If you want to read more about the serious part, check my report. Here for the Dutch version and this one is in English.

The nights - however - were a completely different story. Let me be clear upfront. I do not drink. Ever. Really, never. This week I did. Lots and lots and lots. Pear pressure and that, you know...... :-).  I was started off on Sambuca. Those of you that have drunk this, you know all about it. The ones that haven't. Try it, definitely try it. It all went down hill from there.....

MOJITOOOOOOO!

We found the perfect hangout. A place to meet friends (old and new), eat and YES....drink. I was spilling a lot (and being made to wash the tablecloth), breaking glasses (lots of threats of being hit with a big stick......).

Big stick.....

I even belly danced one night......But mostly we had a ball. It was one big party, every night again. Lots of great food, lots of drink and loads and loads of sheer, unadulterated fun.Given the chance, I would go back today. For the foundation, of course....but also for the sunshine, the people and the fun.

For now, it is back to the more serious life.

Lots of love,

Heleen

I'm melting!

Well, not really melting of course. But I am slowly but steadily diminishing in size. The 17 day diet is proving to work (and be fair, not all diets do). And no, no pictures of before and after. I wouldn't do that to you. I'll post one picture when I am completely done (which should be sometime next year.....) of my new, fabulous body you understand....

I'm somewhat of an expert in diets.....tried them all and failed most. Remember the lemon juice with maple syrup....did that one, worked for a bit. Big side effect: I still cannot smell maple syrup without getting violently ill. The shake thing, it is still around. I did that one for a couple of months. Side effect: I just seemed to gain weight on that. South Beach, also tested. Worked wonders the first ten days. Then I was allowed 2 crackers a day and gained two kilograms that week. Side effect: HUNGER. Stopped that one too. Also did the bread diet....Remember, you could eat all you wanted one day and the day after you ate only bread. Well same results, except for the fact that I still love bread.

I in fact still love most food.....Not the real food, like veggies, but the really good stuff like chocolate, icecream, cookies and cake. Which is exactly why I needed to go on a diet AGAIN. The fact that I am in a wheelchair, can't be that active and have spent most of the last two years in my bed did nothing to help this situation, I admit that freely. But, the main contributor to my weight was really, well, me.

So now, I'm doing the 17 day diet.  (And before you read on, I am not being paid for this post. Even if I wouldn't mind that, really....) To my great surprise (and knocking on all things wood) it is going well. Really well. I have finished three cycles now, and without much effort or so it seams.

The book included lots of recipes (most are delicious) and lots of advice. It has become my constant companion. When I did have a question, there was an email adress and I had an answer that same day. A very friendly email it was too! Amazing.

The food is not always easily available here in The Netherlands, but there is enough choice to stop that being a problem. I have lost (very) nearly 20 pounds (9 kilo) in the last 51 days. Which is HUGE for me but unfortunately not enough.....not by a long shot.

So today I'm starting again. In cycle 1.
I'll keep you posted.

Lots of love,
Heleen

Mystery Caroussel part 5

It was a big one this time. Really big. We had to make four (huge) triangles. It is always funny to try and imagine where the blocks are going to be placed at the end.....For this one, not so much. Sure. It could be two big starry blocks, like this:

But somehow, I don't think so.....I think we've made the corners for the quilt! Time will tell.

And then 16 of these:

And again. These could be two stars.....like this:


But who knows. We will not know for sure until the very last part of the mystery in November of this year.



And then finally, for the little mystery there was a stitchery block to make.

So now, all I need to do is wait for next month's pattern. That I will be sewing in The Gambia if I'm lucky!

Lots of love,
Heleen

Mystery Caroussel part 4

Part 4 of the Caroussel is done and dusted!

8 blocks just like this one.

They could be put together too, looks pretty good! Mind you, I would need a LOT of
blocks to make any kind of quilt with it......

 For the little mystery a border to make. It was quick and easy. I keep wondering what it this one will look like finished......

With the big quilt, I don't really wonder if I will like it. Having done three big mystery quilts before, I totally trust their creator Françoise.




Lots of love,
Heleen

What are you doing......

Well, not blogging that's for sure. Lots to do (well, in my head anyway). And then there is the book above.... I've started actually. My first 17 days are over and I lost weight. It keeps me busy, though. Because it is an American book, a lot of the ingredients are not (readily) available here. Some searching then, and then some cooking, steaming, cutting....well you know the drill. I've not been hungry yet. The problem is more that I cannot eat all the stuff on the (very handy) day menus.

Anyone wanting to shed weight, give it a try. So far, it is thumbs up for me.

I also kept myself busy with shopping (with my sister). She has just moved house, so a relaxing shopping trip was called for and enjoyed. I also had to go on another shopping trip to find her a housewarming gift....again, you probably know the drill.....

Luckily, I have also had lots of time to enjoy this:

If there is a quilt, I will have to lay down on it......

And of course, some of this as well. This is a gift for my nephew who turned 9 on February 12th. He is a fan of the Dolfje Weerwolfje books (Dolph the Werewolf). So I stitched one of the pictures from the book to add to his gift.

What have you been doing lately?

Lots of love,

Heleen

Mystery Caroussel part 3

This should really have been finished in January. I got busy.....well not really busy. I was just doing other stuff. Not ready for showing yet, though. You will have to wait patiently while I mess with this some more.....

Back to the Mystery. I have done the 16 blocks now. They turned out great!

I could even make two of these flowers.....who knows what I could do with those. If you put them all together, you might just get a nice quilt...mmmm I'll remember that one!

And for the little mystery I stitched this one. It took me some time to get used to working with a patterned fabric (i.e. not white). It was mostly a challenge to get the pattern transfered to the fabric. It turned out well, though. Don't you think?

One more picture: Check out the winterwonderland just outside of the window! Much to late for a white Christmas, but with the temperatures dropping to -15 for days at a time we might just have an Elfstedentocht

Lots of love,
Heleen

The Christmas Rush.....

Merry Christmas!

 
Right. Last year I was knee deep in Christmas trees (and thoroughly sick of them too) a lot earlier. I vowed then and there that I would never send ornaments instead of Christmas cards again....ever! And if I did, I would start the new ornaments/christmas cards in July. But did I.....

NO!

Of course not. So now, I've just finished the latest bad idea! The little snow man....nice idea right? We were forced to send them out in batches, so that some people would actually receive our wishes before the long awaited day itself.

Lots of different ones too!

Thing is, we did not really think this through. Oh, we did think about the embellishments and the pattern for the hats and the bells for the nose. We just didn't think about the fact that they actually needed to fit in an envelope and be sent via the postservices.....

Ah, well. It will work! Probably!

Have a wonderful Christmas everybody and 

try not to get caught up in the rush!

Lots of love,

Heleen