Surprise!

Well, first you might be surprised that I'm still here at all...lol. Though this time of the year isn't my favorite, I told you that before, somehow the time speeder is working at full speed though. I am still making little hearts for Valentine, still busy with the Pip room. So what's new? What is that surprise?

When snow disappeared and the sun came out:



These little fellows showed up again! This is one of the reasons why I love these little pansies!



February definitely shows some signs of the coming spring. Everytime you look carefully in the garden you see little surprises. Here our Camellia buds. Cannot wait to see the flowers!

Another surprise awaited me some time ago at Betty's blog:



Thank you very much Betty for giving me the proximidade (this is Portuguese for neighborhood) award.
I copied these words from Betty's blog:

"This blog invests and believes in PROXIMITY - nearness in space, time and relationships. (blogging makes us close by proxy; friendly neighborhoods linked around the world)

Blogs that receive this award are exceedingly charming. These kind bloggers aim to find and be friends. They are not interested in prizes or self-aggrandizement. (effort is made to maintain a quality blog in terms of blog etiquette, response, and audience - just because)

Our hope is that when the ribbons of these awards are cut, even more friendships are propagated. (post the award, and grow more friendship by passing it on).'

Phew...and that wasn't all:
She also gifted me with the lemonade award; an award for bloggers with 'gratitude'.



Thank you very much Betty, especially those kind words meant much to me.

It was one of my resolutions to pass these awards on, I always tend to forget that. And as I always forget that, I think I can give both these awards to an extra large group at one time, as Betty did.
I would love to live in a neighborhood and drink coffee, play with dolls and bears, knit, work in the garden, craft and chat with:

Louise "At the pink gate"
Wil "Casa Nostra"
Karoline "Cherished vintage"
Lori "Faery window"
Beth "Gathering dust"
Karla "Karla's cottage"
Linnea Maria "Linnea på Landet"
Elly "My every day things"
Barbara "Oodles and oodles"
Constance "Rochambeau"
Marja "Rosabears" and "Rosabeer"

and of course Betty "She sews pretty" should live there too!

Ladies, I am aware that not every one does 'something' with these awards, that's fine with me, I just wanted to let you know that I always appreciate reading your blogs and your visits over here. That's it. I also understand when you don't want to make post after post with awards... as somehow this quiet time of the year is award time.

Our daughter was staying elsewhere the whole week. And she brought souvenirs home, especially for me:

She found this at the local thrift store. A vintage glass jar, just the kind I like. And a couple of early 20th century German travel guides. Cards included. I love that she thought of me! I love that she bought me something that I really like! It's a welcome surprise that she knows me so well!

The last surprise was that I read on the internet news that this lady is celebrating her 50th birthday right now!


I am a Barbie collector for over 10 years:


(unpacking a part of my collection which has gone back to the attic now, due to lack of time and a good place to expose). Barbie isn't celebrating her 50th birthday yet, she does that next month! But the European toy fair in Nürnberg (Germany) is right now and the New York Toy Fair starts next week. Is anyone surprised that the results of Barbie are disappointing at this moment? My results would be disappointing too if after 50 years still no one could remember my birthday!

Next time the prize winners of the owoh prize. You have until Wednesday the 11th to put your name in the big hat over here!