Happy New Year 2015

During 2014 I have felt somewhat like a wooden puppet where I was not in charge of controlling the things that happened - like somebody else what the puppeteer of my life. Being treated to the best experience of my life (so far) going sailing for 5+ weeks, holiday in Florida, an MS attack and permanent conditions caused by the MS.... the list goes on - but that is life.

Pinnocchio in the photo was purchased on the local market in La Rochelle, France - a city I visited while being on board the S/Y Oceans of Hope. He is one of those items that I have purchased seconds after spotting them as I simply had to own him - did not haggle about the price (15€) as thought that was a bargain for something that just screamed my name. He reminds me of so many things: Disneys Christmas Show aired every year, a company Christmas party with an Italian theme where musicians were playing the Bella Notte song (Lady and the Tramp's entry in the Disneys Christmas show) and a lot of us started to sing Pinnochio's song "I've Got No Strings" when the musicians had played the last note of their song.... so many more things pops into my mind and makes me smile.

The market booth were I found him had him in 3 different sizes and I purchased the smallest one. I wonder what Pinocchio means to the French as the story is originally Italian? Strings.... ropes..... sailing - hmmmm just occurred to me, that sailors are a kind of puppeteers trying to navigate the ship via ropes and sails to make the best of the weather conditions... ahhh the infamous wandering mind at play now.

I am posting this when the bell of the Copenhagen Townhall strikes midnight - ringing in the new year. Albeit the world become more and more alike - I mean you find H&M, MacDonalds, Starbucks etc. all over the world - we still have the different times zones making us a bit different due to geography - happy that something never changes - and still happy to welcome a new year and a new beginning.

Happy New Year

Snow....

We got snow - not much.... just a little and the first drizzled down on December 25th.

Just catching a little late Christmas spirit close to where I live

Candles

Candle holders comes in various shapes and sizes in my home, as the long winter nights call for candles to be lit. This is just one of my window sills this winter. Candles are a big tradition in many Danish homes as we relate it to hygge - follow the link as Holly has the best description of hygge, that I have ever read.

A Danish weekly newspaper had an article about, why the candle wick does not burn down(?) As in burn away before the actual candle is burned down. Now that captured my attention as it is those small things that can make you go "Huh! I've never thought of that!"

The Old Days Are Gone

I have been collecting the annual Starbucks' holiday season mugs for some years now so was somewhat disappointed when my local Starbucks did not have it - when I inquired about it in the store they looked at me as if from another planet?? In the photo above you can see what this year's holiday season paper cup looked like - a bit boring if you ask me. A bit odd though as I have spotted the 2014 edition of the mug on the internet, so why did they not carry it in the store?

Instead I found these two holiday mugs - now they look christmassy and could be looking really great on the paper cups.

The Great Christmas Knit off

Five days of Christmas holiday (3 public holidays followed by a weekend) calls for a lot of Christmas movies in my world and every year I can add some new titles to the list. Cuddling up with a god Christmas book is also a favorite thing to do - was shopping on the internet for Katie Fforde's new Christmas book, when I discovered this one: The Great Christmas Knit off by Alexandra Brown.

Was a wee bit disappointed when I saw that the book cover was a less colorful version, that the one on the e-book - the red cover is totally Christmas..... but that was the only minus about the book.

.....and some people have a cup of tea when they need cheering up, but I find there's nothing better than the comforting, repetitive click-clack of the needles and the feel of the wool looping over my index finger to make everything feel alright.....

Sybil has been heart broken since being left at the altar by her fiancee that suddenly takes a fancy at her twin sister instead. She has since been in a knitting frenzy to stay mentally healthy but when a "cock-up of the century" occurs at her job, she decides that it is time to take a few days off to visit her friend, Cher. She needs the change of scenery.

She is immediately enthralled by the the village Tindledale (which seems to come right out of a Dickens' story spiced with a dash of reference to Jane Austen's Mr. Darcy and Benedict Cumberbatch) where she encounters Hettie's House of Haberdashery. The haberdashery is in financial problems and it lights the creative sparkle in Sybil who dreams of making a living using her creative skills so she offers to help Hettie.... by knitting Christmas sweaters (!!??!! now that really made me smile).

Amazing how Christmas sweaters are considered as kitch in some places, and a natural element of the holiday season in other places - we all remember Colin Firth in his Christmas sweater in Bridget Jones' Diary :) This is good holiday read.

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Merry Christmas - Happy Holidays

This is what my scoring board looked like a while ago - could hardly see the white board due to the red and white creations on top of it - Scandinavian colors - Danish colors.

Getting them organized and counted.

Looks familiar? Inspiration is here, though smaller size this time around.

A lot of cutting and gluing - punching with a snowflake punch - bakers twine and alternative use of red gift wrapping paper on simple white cardboard paper. I have had the red gift wrapping paper for almost 10 years and used it to the very last scrap on this project - just wish that I could get something similar again as simply love this type of paper.

Have had feedback already - and know that several of them are now hanging on various Christmas trees. Got the idea to make this "ornament" last year, when I made some of these as money gift holders and the receivers said, that they could be used as Christmas decorations. The money gift version, however, did not have any colorful paper on the back side but found that necessary if to be used as a hanging ornament.

Did not write a message inside, but attached a handwritten note with all of them using a stamp from Birdie Brown - Santa looks familiar? Well that is because I used it on this project. And yes, the note is blurry to protect Torico's design.

Merry Christmas - Happy Holidays

God jul - Glædelig jul

....both of the expressions are Danish for MERRY CHRISTMAS

Must admit - considering the number of green doors in Nyboder, there were not as many decorated doors, as I had hoped: maybe 1 out of 10 were decorated despite that the windows next to the doors often revealed, that the house was full of Christmas spirit already. Tried to capture some of the atmosphere and could not help thinking how the area must have looked like 60 or 70 years ago during this time of year.

Glædelig jul - God jul

Countdown to Christmas

One more workday then 5 days off for Christmas - love it!! I took some photos with my phone the other day when going shopping for groceries.......

.... and I now have this crazy idea, that I hope I get to do on Wednesday, since this year I will not be traveling for my work during Christmas: This door is one of many just like this (wooden door painted green) in the neighborhood Nyboder, close to my home - Not all doors are decorated for Christmas, but I will take a walk around and take photos of the various decorations and see how different the people behind the doors have decorated their doors.

Because I Can.....

... bring a little joy to someone.

About a week ago, a friend shared a request for Christmas cards on Facebook: Christmas cards for a a six year old girl, Addie, who is suffering from a strange sickness causing her brain to shrink, so this is most likely her last Christmas.The news even reached us, and last week the Danish edition of MetroXpress had an article about Addie and her situation.

So in the true spirit of Christmas, this card is now en route from little old Copenhagen to Addie.

Now You See It - Now You Don't

Some street art vanishes almost as fast as it is put up in public display - you shoul act fast if you want photos of it because I might not be there when you return in daylight or with a better camera than your phone's camera.

The other night I went to a mail box to send of an old fashioned letter to a good friend (that is our way of communication - old fashioned snail mail) and my eye caught something colorful.

Three persons made of colorful HAMA beads. When I took the photos, somebody had already made an attempt to steal them and the morning after they were all thorn as they have proven harder to remove that people had thought. Albeith the pegging board you use to place the pearls in patterns is a Swedisk invention, the HAMA beads is a Danish invention, so I remember these from my childhood, where we made them in a very young age and used them as presents to family members - somewhere in my Christmas ornament stash I even have some that my nieces made me 10-15 years ago.

This is from August 2014 from a pillar just outside the music venue Culture Box here in Copenhagen - it is actually the club's logo, and it was on the pillar for a least a month. The reason it was up there for so long - I think - was probably that people believed that the club had placed it there themselves - but knowing the building owner any other street art attempt, tagging etc. has always been removed very fast, and it was by pure coincidence I spotted it as it was not too obvious in it's spot.

Old Building

On the road of getting a more normal day again with my MS it includes several appointments in one of the city's old houses - I have to hurry into the waiting room otherwise I would simply loose track of time, but I spend at least 5 minutes in the hallway when leaving the building - snapped a few photos with my phone so I could share with you:

I am totally in love with this window, and I might just one day walk up one floor to see what more gems this building has to offer - and also considering to bring my SONY camera with me to get some photos in a better quality.

Those doors - love how they lure you into the next room, as they offer you a peek of what details that awaits your eyes. Must have had a smile on my face the first time I entered those doors - in an odd way I felt at home though I have never lived in a house with such details.

Mosaic tiled floors with a lot of details - love them - they always make me think of Portuguese house, that have tiles outside on their building walls in a myriad of patterns. The blogger Sandra Juto often takes photos inside old Berlin buildings with similar style details - love them photos and glad that others appreciate the details in old buildings - visit her blog if you want to see more building details or photos of Berlin.

You Know Christmas Is Coming When......

..... you hear a familiar jingle and watch the same commercial, that was launched in 1982

Never get tired of that, nor the beverage :o) But waiting to drink one until stomach problems are under control.

When Things Changes

Stop is a universal language when it comes to signs - you may not be able to pronounce written words, but the shape of the sign speaks it's own language. Wish that chronic illness like MS were like this - you noticed a sign, and you understood the general meaning.

Before my sailing trip this summer I experienced a nervous stomach - like my mind all excited abot the upcoming trip, worries - can I really make it? Will it be the adventure/experience that I hoped for? Etc. - Normal right?

When I got home I realized that the stomach problems continued so I addressed it to the local MS clinic who did not see it as a link to the MS and therefore sent me to some other doctors for evaluation as they could see, that something was not right. Imagine my surprise when a doctor after 3 months of doctor visits, examinations, scans etc. told me, that my bowel problems is cause by my bladder?? HUH??!!! It turned out that I have a "party bladder", but unable to empty it fully without help - hence pressure on the bowel and other parts.

That really hit me, as I now have permanent symptoms of my MS that for the rest of my life need to be medicated and need full things - again one can not see it, but it is inside me. Until new medication works I am worried about my stomach, forcing me to say no to a lot of activities and even part time at my work (They are really supportive at the moment) - When will it be at a level, where I am not worried any more but can rely on the medication to work?

It drains me from energy to know, that if I had just had similar symptoms to others with MS, I might have caught it months ago and been able to have the medication work by now - the "party bladder" is very unusual compared to a leaking bladder .. and the attack I had a few months ago was not solely cause by the hard sailing trip this summer but also due to the bladder/bowel problems. I accept that I now have new permanent conditions - but is totally frustrated about the time it takes for the body to adjust to the medicine and then allow me to do some of the normal activities again because now I just want to be very close to a toilet at all time.

When I talked to a professional yesterday about my worries, she said that my thoughts were healthy for me - and that the sailing trip this summer have actually thought me a lot about MS in general - It also makes me accept that things will follow in the wake of an MS diagnosis - I am just SOO impatient when it comes to the body adjusting to medication, which actually makes me smile a little.

Everything is postponed or delayed - in the past few days I went from having no clue about this year's Christmas cards to have 3 ideas, and I can not decide which one to pick. Next obstacle will be getting the supplies needed and muster up time to do it without getting to tired.

October Tea Swap 2014 - Part 2

Took me a few days to get down to my post box - the weather locally is very grey these days and with short days you need something comforting and what is better than a hot cup of tea with a good book to brighten up a day.

Amazing how this cards reminds one that autumn might be the "stop" before winter and cold air, but yet it is so vibrant with warm colors - just like the card I received from Kim in the October swap.

Thanks Kim.

October Tea Swap 2014 - Part 1

Fran called this tea swap with the following requirements:

Optional Themes:   Thanksgiving or Halloween
Optional Color:  Fall or Halloween colors

 

Sent this card to Kim, and reused the same idea for cards to friends whom I have not communicated with for a while - with MS showing it's ugly face at the moment I have to take some short cuts - hope they understand as they know about my current situation.

Freebie sentiment from TLC creations, some paper, a few brads and a miniature witch punch used on orange and black paper and there is my card Halloween style.

Played with my leaf punches to decorate a mini-box for the tea included in the swap - PICKWICKS Winter Tea one of my favorites with all the flavors of Christmas.

You Know Christmas Is Coming When......

 

..... your favorite beverage has a Santa on the label :o)

Knitting Cinema

Who thinks up an idea like Knitting Cinema?

Rock'n'Roll Hausfrau had an idea a while back - why not have a viewing at the local cinema, where the moviegoers brings their knitting or crochet-in-progress and do their craft while watching the movie - light not dimmed as much as usual as you need to be able to see the yarn in your hands and a little more talk amongst the audience as people are admiring each others' work or maybe commenting the movie a little bit.

Today was the second event and they have already scheduled another one next month showing a Danish movie. A friend and I participated for the first time and we both agree, it is not the last time. Yes people were chatting a little bit, but not that much and it did not bother us - maybe because we knew in advance that it was part of the package and people were just relaxed and enjoyed themselves while working with yarn. Me I am working on a scarf that I hope to show in a month or so..... work in progress :o)

Let us not forget the movie - Gone Girl........ I do not think I would have seen it if it was not the one that was showed today - but I am glad I did. 

Nick Dunne gets a phone call from the next door neighbor on his and his wife's fifth anniversary - their front door seems to be open and their cat is outside. He returns to his home only to find evidence of some kind of struggle and his wife has gone missing. Soon the little evidence that surface points towards Nick as being guilty of the crime behind his wife's disappearance, but is he innocent as he claims.

It is one of those movies that shows flashbacks to give you clues about the crime, where you simply do not trust what you are seeing as it continuously takes a turn/twist that you did not expect - even the ending leaves you with a "What?!" and the audience looking at each other in disbelief and then smiling as you try to figure out in your head what will happen after the end titles starts. "What... How....Why..." keeps tumbling in your head.

Really good entertainment and a good start on a weekend.

Halloween 2014

Not my door steep but seen in my neighborhood.

Happy Halloween

Beat Cancer - Knæk Kræften

There is a big Danish beat cancer campaign, Knæk Cancer, going on at the moment - and the intense coverage culminating in a big galla TV-show tomorrow has made some MSers angry in a Facebook Forum. Especially one lade was really agressive and would not tolerate that other MSers thinks it is OK for the campaign to take so much space on TV, social media etc.

If people commented on her post and did not agree with her she commented like a little stubborn child "For the 4th time.......!" really talking down to people. It an open forum, not even her personal profile page, so you should be prepared to face opinions not matching yours. But her tone and language really made me upset - luckily there is a function where you can blog post by a specific person so for the second time I used it (first time was to block a spammer)...... and she kept on saying "What about my MS?!"

Fact is that more people here have suffered from some kind of cancer and the cancer causes more deaths than MS ... sure MS could use more attention, but I am not offended by the massive Knæk Cancer campaign and realized just this morning that a lot of the coverage was just noise in the background on my TV. Others need repetition if their attention is to be caught.

Background noise or not - I believe that cancer research is very important as cancer has shown it's ugly face in my family on several occasions and amongst friends and I do not consider it to be less important than MS, just because I suffer from MS myself and not cancer.

So did the Knæk Cancer have no effect on me? Sure it did - I have supported it both via SMS donations and buying the two pins with the campaigns logo - wanted them last year but the 125.000 pins were sold out in a hurry, but this year I managed to by them. The flower symbolizes life and optimism and the exclamation mark that it is time to act.

Pins supporting various causes that relates to disease etc

P.S. Pins at my place are not placed on clothes, but used all year long as pins on my note board as a reminder that the causes always needs attention.