family get together

Since we returned to Hofstade in 1990 I have been inviting my family to dinner between Christmas and New Year. Meanwhile the group has become larger and we are more organized. We all had lots of food together, talked and visited for a few hours. The pictures shows the two youngest ones, Indi and Bo. Hilde and Bart are expecting again for mid april.
Today there were 19 of us. Kenny went snowboarding so he was not with us but the close relatives were present except for my father who is still in the hospital.
His vitals change everyday and his memory seems confused. Now a week later we don't know yet what is actually the matter. The problem is that my mother wants to go visit him everyday and someday that means that I have to drive her. Lucky it is not far but I work everyday. So coordination between the children is essential, I am the only one that lives close by and drives...We wondered how this will evolve?

Plans can change quickly

We are getting very much into the Christmas spirit. I wanted to spend the weekend decorating more but Saturday night as I closed my store, my mom called me to see what if I was available. My dad did not feel well and the doctor advised submitting him. So I rushed him to the hospital and spent more time there this weekend than at the projects I had in mind. That's life.
My Dad is still being observed: His blood does not take up the oxygen out of his lungs. So he feels very uncomfortable. They are running all kinds of test but because he was feeling bad he had taken (too much) painreliever drops and that made matters worse. We'll keep you posted.

somewhere over the rainbow

While in California Eddie played for me their opening wedding dance. It was an Hawaiian version of Somewhere over the rainbow. During the weddding I had soo much WOW feeling.
Because my trip was actually credits from Eddie and Amanda I flew with Northwest instead of KLM as usually.
So I passed through Washington. Obama and Mc Cain ads every which way but what struck me was this wall, actually there are two of them.

Remember the bow, your life is, the colors you have to add yourself. Cheers

The last day while BBQing Nicholas happened to hit my nose. It hurt badly and sligthly turned blue. Me and my sore nose in Washington. Selfportret!

bertrix exposition

I returned mid september and then began my big challenge. I had entered my large kingsize watercolor quilt in our national quilt contest. Although the top had been finished for years, he needed to be quilted. So I started with circles in the center, puzzlepiece forms in the dark section. Around the pale center I tied knots in two different threads. I finally quilted the border free hand motion.
As you entered the room in Bertix mine was the first one, so that was impressive. I guess there were about 200 quilts, 60 were entered in the contest.
I am proud to announce that the public gave me so many votes that I got a honorable mention.On www.belgiumquilt.be in the foto gallery under Bertrix you can see the other entries. One more of our pupils got a honorable mention.

finally finished

Years ago, I mean 1998 I started a huge watercolor quilt. As Loc decided to paint in my office I had to move it. I finished it a few years later. But the top layed in the cabinet until this year the Belgian Quilt club asked for quilts in degrading colors I definitely wanted to enter mine. So I layered the quilt and finished it after Nicholas's playquilt. Today I proudly present "By the light of the full moon quilt". The Wallon regional TV came and filmed it. Now who will want it?

new pet

While in California, my neighbor checked and picked up the eggs of Schalluleke, one of our chickens. She was laying eggs near the fence so he could easily collect them. He didn't pick them up every day,so on wednesday the day I came home she was staying and brooding on two eggs, plus one stone egg. This week wednesdaynoon I discovered that both eggs were hatched. However one of the babies was missing. Don't know what happened but the remaining one has a sore foot and can not keep up with a busy scratching mother. Actually it is too late in the season and it was too wet and cold outside so I am now keeping it in a box. It likes to be craddled in my hand. Luckily a chicklet can feed itself. But because it has a bad leg I have to put the crumbs nearby. I had wanted my chickens to be more friendly, but this one thinks I am his mother.

visit to Nicholas

Thanks to accumalated mileages of the Brady family I got to go to California. Of course I made a gift for my grandson, Nicholas. Knowing that Eddie, his father used to like to play with cars I planned to make a playblanket. Even before I left I found out that cars but even more trains are Nick's favorite toys. Here is a picture of the blanket and one of Nicholas playing in the coach with his Mom and Dad.

 
Besides patchwork some ladies make cards. They usually come together on Wednesday afternoon and cut, sew, glue and talk and of course drink coffee or water. Lately they sew these nice beads on the cards. Exchange patterns and try out various threads. Today there were 10 of them, not actually a class just comparing notes and checking the latest book and learning from each other. The social part is very important. Some only make cards but others are also patchworkers or crosstitchers. But on Wednesday they do cards.

Summeractivities

For the 5th time Rie and I went to Turnhout. This time I drove myself since I stopped at a Quiltshow prior to going camping. I call it camping but actually Rie and some fisher friends meet at a lake. Altogether there were 15 of us, only 4 ladies, all four partners of carpfishers. It's relaxing to chat with these younger non quilters. One evening we have a Bbq and afterwards we played "Miles Born". Rie had bought a new set of cards but the boys and I used to play it a lot. What I remember about that time is how we let Favian have "the fire engine truck card" so Kenny, Eddie and I could continue to play. Favian was too small to follow the game.
While Kenny was gone to Vietnam, I cleaned and re-arranged the hall way, typical annual activity. I put his cabinet back into his room where it belonged.
Favian left on Monday to France by car with his new girlfriend Els for a few days. Meanwhile I am making things to take with me the 1st of September.
My chickens, Schalluleke and Blauwvoet both had one baby chick. Fun to see how Piepneus and Teddy grow. Piepneus hatched on the 28 of june and can now sit high to sleep but still under mother's wing. My garden gets all scratched up with this little family. Mustang the Daddy can call so eagerly when he finds a tidbit.

National holiday

Because the 21 of july falls on a monday I have a longer weekend than usually. I did go to my aunt's place and selected some things to bring home and some to trash and some I took to her in the convalescent home. I ended up being gone most of the afternoon. Back home I sorted thru the pictures of our festivitities the end of june.

we decorated Hofstade

For 8 years we end the month of June with some festivities. Last year I started a quilt challenge. I presented a piece of fabric and asked everyone to make a small quilt that showed "Festivities in the village".
Well we had 23 entries, some very original ones. Along with that event I took quilts around to varios stores and ended up displaying 32 wall hangings. The respond of my co-shopowners was good and we will probably do it again.
The average Belgian does not know yet what a quilt is, yet. So we will have to keep showing quilts everywhere.
I have had some problems but in a day or two I will

life goes on

Meanwhile Favian has returned to live home. After a relationship of 7 years we were all very surprised. They had bought a house and now they will have to sell it. He must have had some doubts for a while. He is very sure of his decision.
Fitting in at home worked out oké too. I just have a bit more company and work.
Meanwhile I am busy planning a quiltshow and running promotions in the store.

reinstated: with glamour

While carless we had another dance performance. Here a picture just prior to going on stage, soon more pictures on www.indenprins.be.
What a fortnight! Garage and insurance and expert all said car was a total loss.
I could not accept it and talked to various people and asked lots of questions. Conclusion: my nissan was not even disqualified, there was no structural damage. I reinstated the car insurance and visited a citroen garage, a guy that was willing to take the time. After an hour pushing and fitting, he pushed the trunk back far enough so I could close it again. I drove home, washed the car and touched up a few spots with paint. WOW - relief. I'll continue driving it until the next control in January. Now I have time to think and plan.

He was careless; now I am carless

Last Sunday Rie and I decided to take some time out together. I wanted to go to Holland for a quiltshow and we would do some sightseeing afterwards.
On the way to Eindhoven, we passed some roadworks, only one lane was open. So cars had to slowdown. As we were moving at about 10 km/hr I saw in my review mirror a Volvo with trailer advancing to rapidly. I hid my brakes hard and did not slam into the car in front of me although he pushed me pretty hard.
Nobody harmed.We filled out papers and I was able to continue driving, Rie and I although a little shook up, did have a nice day.
The next few days were spend calling the insurance, garage and filling out papers. By Friday I was notified that the car was considered a total loss.
Evaluation: My car was our car: I drive my parents at least once a week, Favian borrowed my wheels about once a week, Eva was practising driving with it and Rie enjoyed driving along every once and while in Airco.
"Sigh" How a moment of unattention can change people's life.

vhvh

Being an independent storeowner means you work by yourself, you motivate yourself, you have sometimes lonely days. But in Hofstade we started an organisation for independent store owners, now 8 years later we have more than 40 members and I was with them from the beginning. Always supporting, however since this year I am actually in the board to organize this "goodwill organisation".
Last we needed to take a picture. We took it outside with two different cameras and the result was cross eyed, blown in the wind hair. We will redo it but some pictures were alright for me, but sometimes the background was not oké...

moody

Last sunday I went to a reception at the Sportimonium, Museum of sports in Hofstade.
It was a lovely day and I worked some in the garden, but when some raindrops as cold as ice made me wet I turned to the garage and started to clean it. This is so typical for my sunday and then I felt sorry for myself, because there is so much to keep up and it's all for me.
When Rie came along early I nolonger was open minded and all I could do is take out my frustration on him. That is so wrong because he means well.
Hopefully I learned from this mistake and be more grateful to a helping hand.
I sure want to be, but sometimes I let bad feelings spoil the moment. If I were a bird I would whistle and fly away and start whistling again....
My grandson turnt two this past weekend... I will get to see him in September.

Over the Rainbow

While cleaning my aunt's house, I discover lots of boxes with old notes and papers. One by one I take a box and go thru it with my Aunt. Last I had this pretty red box with lots of song text in it. This one I want to share
Somewhere over the rainbow, way up high,
There's a land that I heard of once in a lullaby.
Somewhere over the rainbow skies are blue,
And the dreams that you dare to dream really do come true.
Someday I'll wish upon a star
And wake up were the clouds are far behind me.
Where troubles melt like lemon drops, away above the chimney tops,
That's where you'll find me.
Somewhere over the rainbow bluebirds fly,
Birds fly over the rainbow,
Why, then, oh why can't I?
Copyright 1939 by Leo Feist, Inc.
This song is older than I.

The day after

Yesterday I was asked to go help somewhere. A bit reluctant I went along because I was asked and did not want to say no. When I came into the room I found about 100 people in attendance. Mostly Hobbypatchers with my parents and 2 of my bellydance friends. A few of them had decided to celebrate my latest birthday and had invited as many as they could.
So I had to sit and listen patiently as they gave me all kinds of compliments. They told me how happy they were that I keep HobbyPatch and bestowed me with gifts and attention.
I was almost ashamed to be the center of so much attention. Funny they only talked about the positive things. I am sure there are some lesser sides to my personality. I glanzed at my sons and hope that in years to come they can have as many friends as I have.
Yeah yesterday was like a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow.

in english

Since I started this blog I don't keep it up very well but meanwhile I have two other ones. I decided to convert this to an english version for my international contacts.
If I can write something decent once a week I will be happy. I admire my daughter in law who has kept us up to date since my grandson is born.
Why "somewhere over the rainbow"? Well there once was a song that I liked and I played with the idea of naming my shop this way but decided against it after all: as to vague and to unspecific. But as phrases do, this one stuck into my head."Somewhere over the rainbow" promises of endless, and internal happiness.
Somehow I realise that "somewhere over the rainbow" starts in your own head and if you want a world full of color for you and yours then only you can work at it little by little.
As swift as a rainbow is, so is life. Yet no rainbow without rain .... So be as a bird and start with a morning song, work all day at building and feeding all along singing your heart out.

bezoek aan knallende karsdagen

Vandaag op stap geweest naar Arnhem en Ochten samen met Eva. Veel leuke dinges gezien. Enkele gedaan en ook veel bekende gezichten tegengekomen. Er kan zoveel gemaakt worden en versierd en in elkaar gestoken. 't is altijd een nieuwe ontdekkingsreis. Hoe kunnen we meer mensen aanzetten om zich in een creatieve hobby te verdiepen en zo meer van het leven kunnen genieten. Zovele beseffen niet eens wat je kan doen om je omgeving op te frissen. Eva heeft in België gereden ik in Nederland. Ja zij is ook steeds op een verkenningstocht.