52 weeks of happiness

the project got started while ago, though this will not inhibit me from taking part in it. as i do tend to not see the happiness around me, this will lead me to it. at least on tuesdays, from now on....

so here we go with my first official happiness post:


it was pure happiness to enjoy a dance production with elias in it. have grandparents and friends come and watch with us. go out for pizza after the show. and then what you see in the photo, wait for the bus home! lots of laughter, lots of fun running around the pole with the kids, being content with my life. happy with all there is right now.

dancing boy

there is lots of energy going into dancing in a regular week of our big boy. he started to dance 5 years ago as we lived close to tony williams dance center. the move over to switzerland could not disrupt elias' desire to dance even more it was the first thing on his list of wanting to do and find a good ballet studio.
we did find an excellent studio in winterthur, simone cheremetteff is the head of "dance center winterthur". Elias also has the opportunity to get lessons from dimitry, which is just so fabulous to have him interact and learn from a man in the so female dominated ballet world.
i have been sewing a bit for the show of yesterday and it was, and all of us went to see the show of "from small steps to big jumps". enjoying the many different kids and adults dancing and of course we all are so proud of elias...


dancing in polianka


being the wolf in the "rotkaeppchen" scene


and being part of the show just in general. o yes he definitely is in his element. i'm glad he does have the opportunity to dance and be a regular boy. thankful for the time we homeschooled and he was able to find his passion without peer pressure prohibiting him from it.

{this moment}

A Friday ritual.
A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. Inspired by SouleMama. If you're inspired to do the same, leave a link to your 'moment' in the comments for all to find and see.




courtesy by elias

rhubarb in my hands

stumbling across this made me go back to the kitchen and open the fridge
i got rhubarb a few days ago and made rhubarb cake yesterday


there is more rhubarb


and it's chopped up, put into a big pot


i just felt like adding lemon juice, brown sugar and a bit bourbon vanilla


this is the result...
it tastes yummy and will be spread on fresh bread tomorrow for breakfast


of course i was hoping for the wonderful rose colour, though i knew the brown sugar would work against it. never mind, it looks good for a freezer jam and it tastes superb, i'm sure the kids will be devouring their breakfast bread with the tart jam, especially amos loves those types of spread.

mr. tweedie's quilt

it has been just about a year since i started on this quilt. we call it mr. tweedie's as it will be for our chicken farmer...
there is some chicken themed fabric, but mostly it's a scraps and pieces quilt. lots and lots of memories go along with all the many free log squares. pants, skirts, dresses, curtains, pillow cases, o and soo much more.
the back is the work of yesterday and i also found the perfect fabric for it. it's an off white from my dad's mom with lilies of the valley woven into it.


courtesy of elias,
by climbing on the table and feeling like a monkey..., it was fun

quince & co.

when my friend announced that she will be visiting in early may, i was set to order some yarn from quince & co. amanda was introducing me to them and the opportunity was just perfect. usually shipping cost's for overseas are a bit high and of course if above sfr 65 i have to pay import fees which makes it just too expensive to order.
so here we go, my friend was here and the yarn arrived safely.


carrie's yellow lark is not assigned yet, any ideas, please let me know in the comment section...


i'm so happy with the colours and will soon start a tea leaf cardigan for naomi with the columbine tern

the mixed up weekend

a very warm and sunny start into the weekend on friday night, enjoying ice cream after school
celebrating the mid may weekend


designing, cutting, gluing, loving the process of dressing her paper dolls


the sunday afternoon was cool and wet, still we could not resist the baking of bread over the fire, lots of fun

and now, it's monday morning, not raining and just warm and sunny enough to hang the three loads of laundry outside. a happy start into the week, thinking of preparing lunch... and then there will be the last few practices and special preparations for the big boys ballet performance next sunday. we are excited and look forward to have a special guest visiting and attending the performance. he is not nervous yet, but that will be coming, more on this in a few days.

{this moment}

A Friday ritual.
A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. Inspired by SouleMama. If you're inspired to do the same, leave a link to your 'moment' in the comments for all to find and see.

it's raining outside

we are so spoiled this spring. the sun has been out and it was been warm for the past six weeks. so i do treasure a rainy day as we have it today.
i found some old josta juice in the freezer, there was a moment in my morning to cook jelly and fill a dozen glasses. the jelly from those sour berries is very tart, and i have to say i love it on my breakfast bread.
and then there is the memory, my mom always made josta jelly... and we totally preferred this one over the gooseberry, o well that one is hairy, too hairy to eat from the bush.


of course when it's wet outside i have a second look at the little cateye bouquet from the girls, love talking.


and an old game has newly being discovered by thea and i love to make patterns too

a sunny day and the first strawberries

we did have had an other sunny spring day, though it seamed much more a summer day!
of course there was lots to do, around the house


the swing an all time favorite for all four kids


the hose is out and watering the still young bushes is chore most of us love in this warm weather


saturday is FairTrade day, i'm busy getting the canvas bags ready for a special event in the city...
i'm so glad my brother has found those bags in his barn. they have been dusty beyond though this is now changed, after rinsing and washing and hanging on the close line and lots of shaking the dust off. we will be dressing up in them, o well i'm not giving away too much, come and see for yourself saturday starting at noon in winterthur


the first of this season, regional fresh strawberries, yummy


after tasting the first ones, we enjoyed them in the "birchermuesli" for dinner

10 things i enjoy at the moment

:: visiting friends, of course thea had to pack her "stuff" and we all enjoyed a sunny warm afternoon with friends
::the kids bedrooms, being all "spring cleaned" during last weeks cleaning splurge of mine
::having had long time friends over for a couple days, such a treat if people come and visit from across the atlantic


::there will be a bit more to this, it's a bee hive for wild bees
::the bright sunshine, putting my legs up for a moment and eating ice creme with the girls


::the finished table runner for my friend


::the swinging rope brings so much joy to the three big kids and watching them is my joy
::the stack of new fabrics and a dozen skeins of wool my friend brought over from "the new world", i'm sure there is more to come on this one
::managed to "shrink" (warm soapy wash) my hand knit cardigan to the perfect size


(by joel)
::joel and our guest's enjoyed the view from the saentis...
i enjoy the photos as i do know how it feels to stand on top of that mountain... i want to go again up there and breath fresh mountain air, the views of the peaks and hills around are burnt in my memory, still savoring it from a few years ago.

trip to st. gallen

hosting guest's from the "new world", which are interested in history, architecture and other "old stuff" is wonderful. it enabled us to take a trip to st. gallen and enjoy the abbey library which has currently a wonderful exhibit on music.
the next stop was the baroque cathedral, which is a world heritage site. just magnificent to see and even with my tiny bit of art appreciation, a very impressive sight. of course thea loved the acoustics the most!



just next door is the "st. laurenzen" church, such a different building from the outside as well as indoors. this is a "pfeiler basilika", very interesting in colour, especially having in mind a reformed church, (they are in general plain, very plain) this one is colourful and has wonderful geometrical designs. to add is it's sealing, i have not seen such a plain and intense sky in a church. deep blue and each casette with a golden star, it did make my heart jump for joy and amazement.



of course there was more on this trip and overall we had a wonderful time with our friends. thank you to the three of you for visiting.

{this moment}

A Friday ritual.
A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. Inspired by SouleMama. If you're inspired to do the same, leave a link to your 'moment' in the comments for all to find and see.

off days

the older kids are gone this week, i decided to take it off too!
see you for {this moment} on friday