Simplifying the blog

I got so fed up with my old blog template, I had messed it up so badly with no chances of restoring it again so for the moment I've opted for one original blogger template Dots by Douglas Bowman. I have also removed some of the sidebar stuff to lighten it up. Changed the name... probably temporarily... I still don't know exactly how I will use this blog... It does look nicer though.

As you probably have noticed...

I have taken a break from blogging and will continue to do so for a while....

This little blog will have to sit and wait in cyberspace until I have decided how to use it and have found a way to not connect blogging with stress and guilt...

See ya...

43things: Burning, tagging and re-organizing...

When I bought this computer there was some misunderstandings from my part and therefore it didn't come with a burner (Oh No!!). Until now I've been to lazy to do anything about it, but with more than 13 Gb worth of photos and digiscrapping elements (and music, PS brushes and a heap of fonts) I didn't dare to wait any longer.

I bought a nice little CD/DVD burner and installed it myself (and yup... migthy proud of it too!). Now I have filled 4 DVDs full of stuff and still I have a lot left to burn... but I'm on my way.

With this step properly taken I have started to tag and reorganize all my Digital Scrapbooking Elements. It will take a while since I have thousands... Not to think of the long list of labels it will create in Picasa... (or all photos and music that are waiting for similar treatment, oh dear!)

See more progress on: Get all my photos and digicropping elements properly tagged

Fairy Tales

Thanks to Erica Mulherin at Currently I rediscovered one of my favourite fairytales today - The White Cat!!! What a pleasure, it sent me right back to the days when I was reading from those two thick fairytale books at my grandmas.... I loved them and the illustrations were so enchanting and imaginative.
Must, must read the volume at my parents house again...

Erica has posted an awesome illustration from the book where the story can be found and I just have to re-post it here.... It's awesome:


Illustration made by Janet and Anne Grahame-Johnstone from the story "The Frog Prince"

It somehow reminds me of another fairytale love of my childhood - the illustrations made by John Bauer. Especially this one:


found here at the Silverdale Chronicles  

Similarities, yes.... Differences, yes.....
But Oh So Enchanting...

Please, please, please share with me your most favourite, enchanting fairytale illustrations!!!

And now I must go to bed.... I am recovering from a bad chest infection, the coughing and heavy breathing has kept me up many nights and it is time to try to get day and night back into order again...

I am still waiting...

This has not happened as yet this spring...BookLust: Spring and That Strange Beating in the Breast. A part of me would like it though and a part of me says "Man, it so great to be single...."

Awesome art

One of my favourite sites is onionboy, some awesome pieces of art there.... This is my favourite right now:
Patience is
Does it not remind you of the baobab trees (from this site) in the Little Prince?? Only that onionboy's picure is so much more vibrant....

43things: Last week

I reconnected with one old friend, apparently we had been thinking about each other the days before and by a chance we met on my way to the bus. Now we have talked on the phone and booked a date….. so fun!!!

See more progress on: reconnect with old friends

43things: On my way....

Just checking through my 29 Things… not much accomplished here… to tired, to busy etc… but I do have booked a trip to England… on the 16th of May I leave.
I will visit my brother and his wife. I am so looking forward to this.

See more progress on: Visit England

Creative again, yeah!!!

Last summer, me and my friends went nettle picking (to make soup) and ended up visiting Gunnebo Castle and Farm outside Gothenburg. We had a lovely day out and then we went to Heidi's parents and made an awesome nettle soup and had great fellowship!!

Credits:

• Alpha - Wooden Alpha by Jamie Rouselle at Digital Scrapbook Place
• Tab and torn strip - Holly Jolly Kit by Jenna Robertson at Scrapmonkey from her ElementADay-group - hue altered
• Background, Photo Matte and Slide Mount by me (I have used Bud's (Hayes Island) Actions when I created the Cottage Window Background)
• Font: WhatsHappened

~ Welcome to NARNIA ~

I loved the LOTR both as books and as movies... and now I can't wait for another of my favourite book series find it's way to the screen... Here is some nice places to dwell until December this year....
~ Welcome to NARNIA ~, NarniaWeband Narnia Fans...
Maybe it's time for a re-read???

A True Goldmine

Whoho... so many stuff I want to try out here at goldmine recipes. I would especially want to try out making my own mixes, try out some new Yeast Bread Recipes and yes I confess, my Weight Watches plan - oh I haven't started yet... - so I need this.
A part of me would like to try out these yummy trifles and tiramisus, I do remember the lovely trifles I ate when I lived in Scotland
.... so this is my treat....
and your treat?
Well, I couldn't resist to share these Scandinavian Recipes with you.... and as a bonus, I have as some of you know a soft spot for hoarding and using information as this... and this...

Just a wee note to tell

I will be back... just been working far to much lately and having no brains left to blog....
See you soon...

43things: Man I'm getting to love this...

I am a member of many yahoo groups and hated the mess some of the discussions made in my inbox... but look at this:
"*Keep it all in context.*
Each message is grouped with all its replies and displayed as a conversation." (from Gmail start page)
And it is exactly what it does, not only replies to my mails and my re-replies... but...
It does group the conversations from my groups too... I can get addicted to this!!!

(See more progress on "Get a gmail account"...)

43things: Finally

I have retreived an invitation for gmail... I've tried this place several times but in vain. Now I did succeed! The first thing I did was transfer all my Yahoo Groups messages to go to gmail... takes a great load from some other email addresses...

I'm not prepared to tick this off as done yet, will get it working and smooth first...

(See more progress on "Get a gmail account"...)

43things: Yesss

I was able to keep myself from the computer until my goal was achieved... even better, I choose to get other household stuff done before doing the dishes... and now I sit here with a good conscience...

(See more progress on "keep up with the dishes"...)

43things: Fifteen or so minutes later...

I have emptied the dishwasher and the "clean-dishes-holder-thingy" (I've lived in Scotland for 1 1/2 years and don't know the word :-S ) I have also filled the DW with more dishes, washed up some big pots and pans ... The surface is not empty and spotless yet but sure does look better... (yes it was worse than ever this time due to this bugging cold and the tiredness that comes with it...)

Tomorrows goal before computer goes on: 15 more minutes on the dishes and the DW started.

BTW I have prepared for Thing no 8 by putting a WW's list and books with points listed for various foods.

and now I need to pop into bed in order to not spoil Thing no 15.

Good Night!!

(See more progress on "keep up with the dishes"...)

43things: Yes I confess....

I do have trouble keeping up with my dishes and that is despite me having a small dishwasher... and yes... I am ashamed of my self.

Anyone else having this problem?? Any advices, ideas etc how to get into a good routine???

Now to get me started I will spend 15 minutes before I go to bed to prepare for next mornings washer load... And yes I will report back here after I've done this... Just to make my self do it.

(Sorry all blog readers for all these reports of what I'm doing, but this makes me accountable... and helps me go through with these things...)

(See more progress on "keep up with the dishes"...)

Exploring Flickr

I've spent some time to explore Flickr, especially the groups. These I particularly liked for various resons:

Gothenburg - I guess that's obvious - I live here and will join this group. And yes, I will share my Gothenburg photos eventually.

The Funny Ha Ha! pool has quite a few cuties and funnies... this is the place to go when you need to smile a bit.

The Scotland pool - some gorgeous photos from a gorgeous country. Have lived here, love the country, revisited it last summer and will join and share my Scotland pics...

And the Sweden pool of course - yes, yes, I will join this too... my heart swells when I see the beauty of my country (ooops, when did I start to sound PATRIOTIC... that usually happens when I've stayed away from Sweden for a longer time... hm...)

43things: Well now I have created

a Flickr Account... I like the idea of it but it will take some time before I tick it off as done. Why?

1. If you don't have a Pro account there are several limitations, can I afford to upgrade?

2. This can be as addictive and time stealing as the rest of the stuff I'm already doing. Is it worth it?

I have already incorporated Flickr as a badge in my blog, you'll find it on the left. But since uploading bandwith is limited with a non pro account I won't add so much pictures as I wanted. Will consider to shrink pics before upload though. By uploading 5 photos in their original size I've already used up 71% of my monthly bandwith...

(See more progress on "Create a Flickr Account"...)

Countries I've been to...

I wish there would be more... still I have covered quite a lot of Europe... the closest to visit somewhere outside Europe is Turkey - I was in the Asian part.

Some of these countries I've only driven through, I would love to spend some more time there....



create your personalized map of europe
or write about it on the open travel guide

Where have you've been in the world??? I would love to know...

Ok... I confess

I couln't help myself to add more stuff to the 43Things-list....

43things: This is so important

I donated through my church who has trusted networks in some of these countries, I plan to donate more as the next income arrives...

(See more progress on "donate to the south asian disaster relief fund"...)

CoffeeSilverstone on 43 Things: Okay what is this??

The last three posts is some of my 10 goals for this years... here are the rest: CoffeeSilverstone on 43 Things

43Folders has this excellent thing called 43Things where you can list the things you are doing and share your goals and the progress... You can also make the entries automatically show up at your blog...

I have only listed 10 things as yet, I am scared to make the list un-overcomeable...

43things: Being a Gold Member at the WeightWatches

doesn't help much when it was over a year since I went there or tracked eaten points....

Beginning with Monday next week I have a deal with 2 co-workers to start counting points again and as soon as the next income comes I will sign in at the WW's again...

(See more progress on "lose some weight"...)

43things: I would love to get in shape

so I have set this goal... first step to this is:

30 minutes walk once a week

one "Pilates For Dummies" session a week

(See more progress on "work out at least 3 times a week"...)

43things: Not that I have so big depts

but still it's enough to cause worries each month, having quite low income and having to pay for all regular household expenses myself. The first things I will do is:

Do a monthly budget based on the lowest monthly income last year.

Check if there is a loan with lower interest where I can transfer my current credits/loans and also maybe transfer any personal loans

(See more progress on "get out of debt"...)

A New Year Has Come

So...

Happy New Year Everybody

I haven't been blogging for over a month and lot's of things have happened but for now I just want to share one of the scriptures that I would like to have as a banner over me for this year. I use the Amplified Bible as this tends to enlighten a few things...

HE WHO dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall remain stable and fixed under the shadow of the Almighty [Whose power no foe can withstand]. I will say of the Lord, He is my Refuge and my Fortress, my God; on Him I lean and rely, and in Him I [confidently] trust!

For [then] He will deliver you from the snare of the fowler and from the deadly pestilence. [Then] He will cover you with His pinions, and under His wings shall you trust and find refuge; His truth and His faithfulness are a shield and a buckler. You shall not be afraid of the terror of the night, nor of the arrow (the evil plots and slanders of the wicked) that flies by day, Nor of the pestilence that stalks in darkness, nor of the destruction and sudden death that surprise and lay waste at noonday.

A thousand may fall at your side, and ten thousand at your right hand, but it shall not come near you. Only a spectator shall you be [yourself inaccessible in the secret place of the Most High] as you witness the reward of the wicked.

Because you have made the Lord your refuge, and the Most High your dwelling place, There shall no evil befall you, nor any plague or calamity come near your tent. For He will give His angels [especial] charge over you to accompany and defend and preserve you in all your ways [of obedience and service]. They shall bear you up on their hands, lest you dash your foot against a stone.

You shall tread upon the lion and adder; the young lion and the serpent shall you trample underfoot. Because he has set his love upon Me, therefore will I deliver him; I will set him on high, because he knows and understands My name [has a personal knowledge of My mercy, love, and kindness--trusts and relies on Me, knowing I will never forsake him, no, never].

He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him. With long life will I satisfy him and show him My salvation.

Psalm 91 Amplified Bible Version