OFF TO CRANBERRY COTTAGE

Just a note to say that we are leaving for the cottage today when Jos gets home. We will be there until Sunday, unless they decide to come back on Sat. The weather has been so pretty. Not the Holland I am used to, but I usually come between Oct. to March. This is the backyard at the cottage, but they are constantly changing things and it looks different now. Heidi's flowers are all popping up now and it is really nice.

A SPECIAL VISIT WITH CAROLIEN

Meet Carolien, one of our blogger friends who lives very close to Heidi. She invited us to have lunch with her and we met her husband and one of her very beautiful daughters. She made wonderful soup for us.

When we got to her house, which is a beautiful very big house, she had this yummy apple pie waiting to serve with Earl Grey tea. It was just as good as it looks.

She stitched this pretty placemat for me, and is now doing a second one. It matches the dishes Heidi and Jos bought for me some time ago. It is stitched to perfection, and backed with an old dutch fabric. I feel very special to have been invited and given this gift from her.

After lunch we got to go into the church attached to her home and it was a very nice private tour.

Thank you so very much Carolien, and please never stop blogging. You have too many treasures in your home waiting to be shown. You can visit Carolien's blog

by going to the side of mine to see the blogs i visit.

GREETINGS FROM HOLLAND

We just got back from Heidi's cottage in the North of Holland. We had a wonderful dinner of Schnitzel and noodles. Yum. Tomorrow is back to work for Jos. We went riding around on Thursday to see the tulip fields. The daffys and hyacinths also. They are really beautiful.
Just wanted to give you a quick update.

TOMORROW IS THE DAY

One suitcase is closed and ready to go. This one has no clothes in it. LOL. I did manage to pack what I need to wear in the second one. It is almost ready to close also. Just a few last minute items to add.
I don't know if I will be posting anything from Holland, but I will be keeping up with all of you with Heidi. I am really looking forward to meeting Joni, Angela and Hazel while there, and now we heard that Britt might also join us. Britt, I really hope you can manage it.

I'VE BEEN TAGGED

My granddaughter Kristen at Christian Crafter just tagged me. I am supposed to list ten reasons I started blogging.
1. Heidi inspired me with her Celebrate the Seasons and Needlenecessities blogs.
2. I found it is fun sharing crafts with others.
3. For the wonderful people you meet through the blogs.
4. I can show off my family, I love doing that.
5. You can be in all different parts of the world by visiting blogs.
6. Share books you read and hear what others read.
7. Celebrate the changing seasons through pictures.
8. Enjoy vacations others take.
9. See good decorating ideas.
10. It's fun
I am now tagging Heidi, who started this family on blogging
Mary at Across the Pond who we have adopted into our family and
Mandie at Army Wife is my Life and hope she has time to do it and
my neice Amy, who has a wonderful family also.

GOD'S WAY OF PAINTING

Today I got an email from a friend and this picture was in it. I thought it was too beautiful not to share with everyone. It was taken in 2005 in California. Someone had a good eye for a picture.

FINALLY A SIGN OF SPRING AND AN AWARD

I am so thrilled to finally see a sign of spring in our yard. It isn't very bright outside so the picture is a little dark, but I am very happy to see this daffy anyway. On the weekend, we are supposed to get snow again, but I am not thinking about that.

Carolien awarded me on her blog. You can click on Carolien from my list at the side . She lives in Holland and I am very happy that I will soon be meeting her. She even put her picture on her blog so I could put a face to the name. Thank you for the award.

I am giving this award to Britt, Roberta, Barbara, Nancy and Christine. All of their blogs are also listed on the side of my blog. They are all friends from our stitching group. They have become friends.

FINISHED AT LAST

Ok Eric, your sheepie (as you call them) is finished. Eric is out in North Dakota, so I don't know when he will get this one, but since it is getting warmer, I guess he won't need it till winter.
I have two skeins left Heidi, do you want me to bring both of them?

JUST CALL ME LUCKY

Today, I received two more birthday gifts. Britt, from our online Stitching Group made this wonderful pinkeep with my initials on it, and little birds. I hope you can see how perfect the stitching is. Britt is from Germany. The candy is calling me to open it, but I am trying hard to be good for awhile. The card is very nice also. Thank you so much for thinking of me and sending this package.
Britt has a blog and you can see if from my blog list at the side. Brigitte's Place.

This gift is from my neice, Brenda. Today I went to lunch with her, her daughter and my nephew. This is from Yankee Candle but is not a candle. You place the oil in the vase and the scent comes up through the what i would call bamboo sticks. What a neat idea, no flames.
Can't wait to try it out.

WEDDING PHOTO

Unfortunately, it is never easy to take a good picture of a picture. I wanted you to see one of the pictures of Heidi and Jos's wedding day. We had a wonderful two story carousel to use as a photo location,. After the photos, we went on an exclusive ride. It was just great. Later Clint Black made a video using this carousel after they moved it to another location from Tampa.
It was a cold Florida day and we went on a two hour boat ride after the pictures. I pulled out every sweater, coat and blanket I had in the house. No one came to Florida prepared for the cold spell that hit. We had a wonderful time in spite of it all.
Heidi and Jos should have been on the bottom of the steps not the top. We didn't realize it at the time. You can see how little Kristy and Mandie were, and yes, that is Fawn up high on the steps right below Heidi and Bill and Eric too. Hard to believe this was so long ago.
Memories are made of this. Happy Anniversary Heidi and Jos.

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY TO VERY SPECIAL PEOPLE

This is my April page of the calendar I made last year for my family and one for me. Every month featured whoever had a birthday that month. April was my mother and my daughter,

Fawn but to keep it happy, I featured Anniversaries. These are the three we have.
Today is Kristen and Mitch, April 3rd -- tomorrow April 4th is Heidi and Jos and April 13th is Mandie and Jason. They shouldn't have to be apart on their first anniversary, but they are.

The picture quality is not good but that's what happens with a photo of a photo.

SOME BIRTHDAY GIFTS

Today I went to the mailbox and there was a package from Christine from our online stitching group. I love to knit and this sock pattern book is great. She sent a beginners cross stitch that is oh so cute. I love the card also. Thank you for thinking of me Christine. Christine's blog can be viewed from my list on the side.

This is part of my gifts from Kristen, Mitch, Haali and Mitchell. They gave them to me in New York. I also received a daily message calendar and almond joy bars. She bought a cake and had a party. Thanks again to my special kids, hope you will be feeling better soon. Kristen's blog is Christian Crafter, also on my side list.
My birthday is over and still I am receiving cards and gifts. Thanks to everyone for the good wishes.

APRIL IS HERE

Finally April is here. It isn't an April Fool joke either. I have a busy April coming up, and it is coming pretty quickly now. I fly to Holland on the 14th, and I am busy getting things together.
We have three April Anniversaries in our family. Cards have been mailed out and I hope they have many more years together. I will feature them another day.
One more thing Heidi, I do not need snow on the 4th.