We interrupt our regularly scheduled programming...

...for a word from my foreign blog correspondent in Siberia.

Ok, so maybe not Siberia, but my dad sent these photos this afternoon from Germany and I just can't believe it!

Such amounts of snow and so early in the season! I think they are getting ready for a true White Christmas.

I've seen similar photos from some you, my German blog friends. Just amazing...

...a Winter Wonderland!

 And I think there is more on the way.

Not here. We've had rain today and cold again tomorrow, but with sunshine.

I have to call my sister tomorrow. Her boys must LOVE all this snow!

As does my dad and Ingrid's dog!

Hope you are all staying warm!!!

Kindnesses - Awards

Quite some time ago, I was honored with awards by two of my blogging friends, one of whom also happens to be my  amazing sister-in-law, and I have been so remiss in thanking them! 

The first award came from my German friend, Elisabeth, whom I met through my dear high school friend, Verena. Danke, Elisabeth!! Since meeting through e-mail, Elisabeth has also started a blog and did she ever take off with it! I have never met anyone who posts as often as Elisabeth does. Every day there are little tidbits and thoughts from her and her sister, Angela, and it is always quite interesting! So, if you read German, head on over to her blog (click here) and have a look. You won't be disappointed!

The Beautiful Blogger award came from my sister-in-law, Patti, who has created a most inspiring blog and website called Lightspirited Being (click here to visit). her site is filled with inspiration and intriguing thoughts and even exercises that are extremely helpful. And if you need some extra insight, her readings are amazing (I speak from experience)!!

As part of the award from Patti, I am supposed to tell you seven things you may not know about me, and I've decided to keep it light tonight. So, here it goes:

1. I ate six cookies this afternoon and they were quite wonderful.
2. Winslow is sitting next to me right now and I am trying to avoid having him drool on the keyboard.
3. Daniel has a roaring fire going in the fireplace.
4. I am watching Rough Diamond, a British series I am quite enjoying.
5. Daniel just asked if I wanted more cookies, and I said YES! (When Christmas is over, I'll be ready to eat healthy again...)
6. I am wearing a scarf over my sweater right now that is making me feel quite bohemian.
7. Winslow just abandoned me for a Kong toy filled with peanut butter... ok, I spoke too soon, he's next to me again and drooling for cookies!

Thank you, both!! I feel quite honored.

Now, I know that I never quite participate in these awards as I am supposed to. I know I'm supposed to pass them on to specific people, but I just can't do that. I don't like the feeling that I leave anyone out.

So, I pass them on to all of you: you, who follow; you, who leave comments; you, who just visit quietly; you, who visit every day; you, who visit once in a while; you, who visit only this once. To all of you, who make my blogging experience as wonderful as it is... Thank you!

Kindnesses - Vicki

Over the past few weeks, several bloggers have presented me with awards, included some of my creations in their treasuries and blogged about me. I was going to do one post about all of those, but they all deserve separate mention. So this is the first in a series I call "kindnesses."

In late October I had the great pleasure and privilege to meet one of my blogging friends, the beautiful, generous and talented Vicki of 2 Bags Full. If you haven't visited her blog, you MUST. She creates the most gorgeous nests out of yarn, ribbons and all sorts of embellishments. This one has found it's home in our living room and I adore it every day. I think the glamour bird really loves it as well...

And for Christmas, another surprise is waiting for me. Daniel (with my help...) got me one of her limited edition shorebird nests and I cannot wait to open it!! It's amazing that I've been able to restrain myself - I think when I was younger I would have sneaked a peek... But soon!!!

Isn't this a fun picture of Daniel, Vicki, me and Vicki's lovely friend Marsha?! Oh, we could have talked for hours and hours had they not needed to get back on the road. They still had a lot of driving to do. But I am sure we'll meet again... And, thank you, Vicki, for the beautiful yarn you gave to me. It is still waiting for the perfect knitting project for myself!

To read more about our meeting and their trip to Florida, click here. You'll love it!! And while you are on her blog, make sure you enter her latest giveaway - a Vera Bradley purse!

A Sweet Moment

Things have been busy around here, but this morning, I caught this little moment. Aren't they sweet?

So, I thought I'd come back and jump right back into all the things I was doing before we traveled, but not so. I thought I'd be blogging every day, but instead I found myself decorating for Christmas with Daniel, baking cookies, being out and about with my honey and knitting up scarves that are still selling. Somehow blogging has taken a back seat, but I know I'll get back into my groove...

Also, I am sure many of you have had very cold weather and lots of snow - as have we here in the South. It's been FREEZING!! And these houses are not built for cold weather. Thank goodness we have a fireplace to make our evenings warm and cozy.

I hope you all are staying warm and are enjoying the season!!!

We Are Back!!!

Dear friends, we are back from our travels and had a most amazing, fun, exciting and relaxing time! It was hard to choose just a few of the many, many photos we took, but I just wanted to give you a short impression of where we were and what we did...

We spent some time in Tampa before boarding a most lovely cruise ship to sail off into the sunny and warm Caribbean!

The sky was spectacular as we took off on our journey!

Our first stop was in Key West, somewhere we had not visited before. Such a pretty place!

In the evening we ate in the ship's restaurant with the best view ever as we sailed away from Key West toward Jamaica.

Jamaica awaited us with beautiful waterfalls,

colorful birds,

and lush, tropical foliage! Every house plant we have, I found there - only much bigger!

From Jamaica we arrived in Grand Cayman Island and had a most amazing adventure swimming with - and petting - the giant stingrays!

We had never seen water this clear,

nor had we known that these giant fish are so gentle and love to interact with humans. We could have stayed forever...

In Cozumel, we finally experienced the highlight of our trip - meeting up with my cousin, who had moved to Playa del Carmen just a few months earlier. It was sheer coincidence that the trip we had booked much before then would actually make a stop where we could see her! (For those of you who speak German, you may enjoy visiting her blog. Click here!)

It was wonderful!!

And today is her birthday. Happy Birthday, Britta!!!

On board of the ship, we did lots of lounging and reading - I read four books in six days,

much admiring of the view,

a bit of knitting while listening to an audio book,

more lounging and reading,

ooohing and aaahing over sunsets and sunrises, 

and, of course, much, much good eating!! Cheers!

Back home, we did some more sight seeing,

playing with Winslow and Ramses,

walking around the neighborhood (and sampling the kumquats which are starting to get ripe),

and, of course, more eating before my dad is making his way back to Germany! It was wonderful!!

But I have missed you all and my blog! I didn't realize how much I like to stay connected to what's going on in blogland. I hope you are all doing well and enjoying this busy and magical time of the year. I'll try to check in with you all during the next few days!!

It sure feels good to be back!