It's done

Christmas 2009 has been and gone, the cat behaved itself (actually I switched her off but don't tell anyone...)

I drank loads of bubbly stuff and took loads of yellow wonky photos (hence the lack of posting...)

I cooked 'Fillet im Teig' for the Swiss contingent (a first time for everything...)

I spent oodles of money buying fabulous French Macaroons http://www.laduree.fr/public_fr/produits/macarons_accueil.htm (actually, I just wanted the box, will you look at this beauty...)

So, Linda http://lindajos.blogspot.com/ there you have it, the last post for 2009, I didn't get there before you but I blame the time difference, really I do (totally irrelevant me being hours ahead...) HIP HAPPY NEW YEAR to all of you!!!

An OMM

What, I hear you ask is an OMM? well now, let me explain... Today I arrived home to discover a packli in my mailbox baring foreign stamps and the return addy of Linda http://lindajos.blogspot.com/ a favourite Blog buddy of mine. The OMM occurred at the precise moment(M) I opened the box and found myself uttering the words 'oh my, oh my' over and over again! will you just look at this gorgeous little glitter gem packed full of Christmas sparkle and teeny tiny candy canes (which were eaten before photo was possible!!) oh bliss...

Not forgetting the backyard! photographed in my own snowy garden. Thank you so much for this wonderful gift Linda!

So, the tree is up, the snow is down, the baubles are shiny and the children are crazy, roll on the 25th! I wish you and yours a very Merry Christmas packed full of 'oh my moments' enjoy enjoy!!

ATC take two

I followed Linda's advice to give these two a chance to speak. I'm not sure it was a wise decision as we know from previous experience they do have a tendency to bicker! The question is, which one of them went on the big wheel???

My page from Nathalie's http://nathaliethompson.blogspot.com/ QB5 Round Robin book, where all the trouble began!

ATC

I made this ATC yesterday and having photographed it I now think it needs a bit more, not sure what, but with any luck it'll come to me soon. I like the background which was done with watercolour crayons.

Tree please

Today we went to choose a tree and in keeping with the English side of the family, it'll be brought inside tomorrow and decorated. For a lot of Swiss families this only happens on the 24th when everyone leaves the room and the decorated tree and presents are delivered by the Christkind who rings a bell to announce their arrival. I grew up with a tree (of sorts) in the house in the run up to the 25th and it's a tradition I rather like. We never had a real tree but a crepe paper covered wire version which in later years was decorated with silver foil! no need to ask where my creative abilities come from!! Unfortunately we didn't get a tree pixie with this one, cute tho!

Cut and packed and ready to go

I suspect the tree will be bigger than the room when it's unpacked, it's always a bit difficult to tell when you're standing in the forest, kind of warps your perspective a bit. Might have to do a bit of bush whacking to get to the computer morn, I'll let you know...

Just a hint

I feel the need to prove I've been doing something other than coasting to the end of the year but as I don't want to totally give the game away I've just posted a sneak peek. I've been busy doing a couple of things for the QB5 gals which I sent today however I later discovered all of them have the wrong postage so who knows where they'll end up, probably back here and in time for Xmas 2010!

I'll give them a couple of weeks then will post the full pics!

It's official...

the world has gone mad. Let me introduce Lulu, an electronic cat taking Switzerland by storm. Apparently she's the must-have item of the year! How?? I hear you ask do I know that and why do we have one?? erm... Anyway, I was given instructions to go and collect her which I duly did and as I carried her out of the shop the trouble began. The thing started to miaow and miaow and miaow.

As I got onto the train I figured I was less likely to meet anyone if I sat in the bike carriage and all was going swimmingly until the train stopped, the doors jammed and the four people waiting in the corridor were serenaded by my bionic cat. At that point I was doing battle with the box and my Swiss army knife but the thing was so well wired to the bottom that it wouldn't budge. I felt sure there was an on/off button somewhere but I simply couldn't get to it. I now know it was in fact a 'try me' button causing the problem, kind of a 1 minute miaow loop. So, Lulu is now home and settled and well, what more can I say???

Nearly there

I'm gradually working this out of my system, bare with me! I'm about to run out of book backs so this current Rebecca Sower http://rebeccasower.typepad.com obsession of mine will shortly grind to a halt. This has to be my favourite so far as it has a very tactile quality to it, I just got happy with the glue gun!

First snow!

The 1st of December brought with it the 1st snow, not a lot but just enough to build this lovely bucket head couple in the garden. As I went slipping and sliding down the path it crossed my mind that it would have been a good time to have my camera but being more of an 'after the event' type I'm afraid you'll just have to be content with the snowys. Swiss chalet scenes will follow later in the season, I promise!

Below is my current top purchase! I can't tell you how long I've been looking for this pointing hand stamp and I'm feeling quite virtuous as I was in a shop in Zurich that I shouldn't have been in (on account of the prices) and low and behold they had Cavallini stamps AND they were 20 francs cheaper than everywhere else!! I took this as a sign and bought the box. I now plan to stamp post-it notes for my children, and write stuff like hang me up (jacket) and yes, I mean you!