00:10
Taken in the bathroom right before I went to bed. It was after midnight as usual. I am a night owl for sure!

11:11
So glad I nailed it I almost forgot, I had plenty of other things on my mind. (Glad I didn’t had to pick it down from the wall and stage the time to get it right!!)

14:50
A couple got married in church today. They were excited about having 11.11.11 as their wedding date. I would be too.

21:35
About time for him to go to bed. I should not have used the flash on this one, though, but his bedroom is kind of dark and he had switched the cameras without me noticing until later tonight.

22:29
And as usual, a perfect ending to my day with a cup of tea and some time on my macbook.

How did you celebrate this day?! I loved Katie’s mention of eating straight looking food for dinner today. Did you do that? I’m sorry to say that we did not manage to do it, though. MT had a friend over and they wanted taco for dinner

Please jump over to One Day On Earth for more 11.11.11 inspiration, photos and words.

2. Early this morning, in my email, I found a note that said I was one of the three lucky winners to the Christmas card making class Holiday Card Boot Camp 2011 with Jennifer McGuire and Kristina Werner. That totally made my day and reminded me that leaving a comment for these give aways (the ones I would love to win) every once in a while pay off So happy about that and can’t wait for it to start in the second week of November

3. I am excited for the new photo workshop with Katrina starting next week. It is called Exposure and is all about finding the right exposure for the light you are working in to get great photos. I so need to work on this and can’t wait to learn how to handle the reds and how to get the most out of the condition i shoot in.

4. Fall is in its latest stages here and we have had several days below zero. Most mornings there is a beautiful little mist of frost on the ground, some days more, some days less. I find it beautiful, but I don’t look forward to changing the tires on the car, it is a time consuming job. I should do it tomorrow, but I guess I will wait until Saturday because then I have to do it….

5. MT have started ski training again, so far without snow. He said it was fun because they got to run around the 1 kilometer path behind the school. I know for sure I would not have found that any kind of fun. The path is nice to walk, taking my time, but to run?! It goes up and down, up and down and up and down. Seeing me skiing there is enough to make even the most serious dude cry with laughter, sigh. I love that MT skis cross country like he was born with skis on his legs. I kind of envy him, but also love how much he enjoys it.

6. There are a lot of good plans going on in our church right now. One of those is a club for youths using one of my favorite hobbies to learn more about the Christian faith and the Bible stories. Can’t wait to join in getting this one off the ground.

7. Lastly let me tell about the beautiful sunset we saw while driving to the church council earlier tonight. It was all blue and several shades of pink + purple. It took all that i had not to stop and try to capture it with my iPhone. To try and catch the colors somehow.  But i had a meeting to attend to and was already running late!

So how are your days? Found something good and happy among all the everyday gray. Please share in the comments.

I am thankful for that I have the day off work and will use it to help my dad a little.

From the kitchen thinking about making taco for dinner tonight.

I am wearing my PJ (still), but soon a pair of worn jeans and a jumper I don’t mind getting dirty.

I am creating mostly in my head right now, but after the busy weekend ahead I want to sit down and get a few pages done for The Daily Digi and for Sweet Tomato Designs.

I am going to be busy this weekend with lots of good church stuff. We’re having Confirmation Services for our youths and that is a BIG thing in our rural community.

I am reading very few books right now, but have placed and order for Brené Brown’s books I Thought It Was Just Me (but it isn’t): Telling the Truth About Perfectionism, Inadequacy, and Power and The Gifts of Imperfection: Let Go of Who You Think You’re Supposed to Be and Embrace Who You Are and I must say I really look forward to read them.

I am hearing a few birds singing outside.

Around the house is the normal mess. Hoping to find some time later next week to start digging, we plan on tackle the rooms by the end of the month. A little spring cleaning of sorts.

One of my favorite things is drinking a cup of coffee in the sunshine while kiddo plays football on the lawn. Hoping for a little of that on Sunday.

A few plans for the rest of the week: getting the sermon ready for the services on Sunday, driving here and there, scrapping a few pages as soon as possible, continue to taking a photo a day.

Here is a picture for thought I am sharing:

…………………………………………..

How are your day?

I am thankful for that MT is home from school and on Easter break

From the kitchen isn’t much happening today. Guess there will be some dinner later today, maybe fish?

I am wearing my everyday jeans and sweater.

I am creating a blog post and a digital layout is always in the works.

I am going to the office later today.

I am reading blogs from fellow class mates at Shimelle’s class Beyond Blogging for Scrapbookers (see yesterdays poll, and please vote if you haven’t already! Thank you )

I am hearing the sound of my neighbor’s chain saw. He’s making a big pile of wood for the winter to come (I’m so glad it’s a long time before it’s here again, though!)

Around the house is lots of messes, because my back isn’t too cooperative at the moment. I think it’s getting better, though. The fact that we spent a lot of the day outside yesterday didn’t help either. Nor did the few hours of blog reading in the evening… LOL.

One of my favorite things is getting sweet notes from my kid.

A few plans for the rest of the week: Tomorrow we’re going to a Easter Work Shop for kids. On Friday we are celebrating MT’s 8th year birthday with family. Wow, he’s getting old! We are both really looking forward to it, and we have finally agreed on the plans for the meal & cakes.

Here is a picture for thought I am sharing:

After a really busy week (and knowing tomorrow will be a lot of work too) – we have spent the day at home doing as little as we possible can. It’s nice to have a day to just be. No dead lines, no floors to wash, no emails to send or people to meet.

Just the two of us at home. All day long.

It’s done us both some good. But now I’m ready for tomorrow. I look forward to church and the rest of the day. Hoping to see a lot of people and for many smiles to exchange.

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And no, sorry, the comment issue aren’t fixed yet. But it will be eventually. As will my blog header (and overall design). I’m embracing. AND THE COMMENTS ARE WORKING AGAIN! YAY.

Since last year I’ve been following Ali’s blog and especially her project December Daily. This year I promised my self to play along and document our Advent and Christmas season, I even made an album in July (!) for it – and you know what? I’m doing it, slowly (but steadily) it is taking form. I’m printing my images at home and almost everyday has a digital element of some kind.

I started the album on the 1st Sunday of Advent and it’s going through to Jan 1st. So by the end of it it’ll contain more than a month of memories. Hopefully I’ll be able to catch up during the holidays, at least to put a few words down somewhere so I have a story to go with the photos. The days are busy with work and living, so we’ll see what happens – but so far I have a few things to show from the four first days of December (click images for credits and more info):

I plan on taking photos of the actual album as well, as soon as I can get around to that I’m also getting back to that gingerbread cookie recipe in it’s own post (with translation to English as well and maybe even some US measurements if I can manage ).

A few things from TODAY:

1. got to bed to late
2. but managed to get out of bed in time
3. fought computer issues at work
4. really frustrated about that – hoping everything runs smoothly tomorrow
5. had an advent/christmas devotion at a nursing home
6. MT came by and we both went home for some dinner
7. and some muffins making
8. we’ve decided that muffins makes as good a christmas cookies as any
9. and MT loved to have a taste before we put them in the freezer
10. I loved the tasting as well…
11. we are reading Julemysteriet by Jostein Gaarder
12. finally MT is old enough to understand most of the story
13. and he loves it
14. talked to my mom
15. and made a blog post
16. hoping to get to bead early (earlier….) – already missed that one, but now this is going to publish
17. must make the card to go in the advent calendar first, though

See you around. Have a sweet Advent

A busy start to the Advent season. But a GOOD start.

I’ve been creating a few project over the last days. I’ve loved it, but my kitchen is messy and my laundry pile is high – so I guess I’d better spend the day taking care of a few things here at home (as well as preparing the many services with children and youths leading up to Christmas). My life is never boring and always filled with things to take care off. But sometimes (like now) I take time to sit down with a coffee and blog a little It’s nice to put a few words out there and it helps me documenting my days – and thoughts – as well.

A few weeks ago I saw Stacy Julian’s idea for a simple, but cute,  advent calendar (look down for the bonus project). I wanted to make my own and told my mom to bring my Grandma’s sewing machine so I could have a go on it. I decided to make a few gifts as well, so I started with those. It was so fun bringing out my Grandma’s old Singer and it’s amazing it still works like a charm. I’m not as good a sewer (by any means) as her, but this project is pretty forgiving when it comes to messing it up. It kind of adds interest. Anyhow, here is my go with the gift projects:

When I finished these I took some time to stitch together a few for my self, but I haven’t gotten around to finish more than one each day (until today, but it’s still a work in progress..). On the back I’ve made a pocket to hold a few cards with 1) the Christmas story 2) Today’s things to do. MT finds this each morning and reads what the cards say, first the story part and then the other with the things to do. So far he’s liked it a lot and he hasn’t even complained once about not getting a gift calendar like he got last year. I’m so glad about that since I felt all the gifts (even though some pretty small) took too much away from the season and the joy of the gifts on Christmas Eve itself. I plan on using this calendar each year – only changing the cards on the back – I like it and it’s also easy to bring along if we are going places in December.

I’ve also started my version of December Daily inspired by Ali Edwards. I’ve made a few new beginner mistakes (like making way to complicated pages – so next year there will be no snowflakes; even though they are seriously cute, but the decorating is a bit too…though). And since I print from home it’s a good idea to have page sizes that have easily room for a 8×8 or 11×8,5 or a 11×5 or … (you get the idea). Next year!!

I started the album on November 29th as in the first Sunday of Advent. So far I’ve finished through December 3rd and are going hybrid on this project. I’ve never been a paper scrapper, so this is a lot of new stuff for me – but I’m starting to get the hang of it. And it’s nothing like looking thought my album and feeling good about all the stuff captured from each day. Now I’ll never forget how this season felt. I’m running out of time right now, but I’ll make a post with the digital elements as soon as possible – maybe I even can get around to do a bit of photo-shot of the album as well?!

I love this season, but I wish for an extra hour now and then. And for documenting reasons here are few things from TODAY:

1. it’s snowing
2. the snow is wet
3. making the roads all slippery
4. the tractor haven’t been her shoveling the snow away yet (he came at 3 pm)
5. I almost did not come up to the house again after driving MT to school this morning
6. I need to order new winter tires soon
7. there is a man working in the cellar
8. he’s making a lot of noise
9. but it’s good he’s doing this job, makes the cellar (and the house) free of house fungus
10. I’m now going to clean out all the milk cartons on my counter before anyone comes to count them (and then figure out how long they have stood there….)
11. I haven’t been sick after taking the swine flue vaccine last Friday (neither has MT), but my arm is sore and I miss sleeping on my left side…
12. then I only have to wait for the photos to upload and then this post is published
13. sadly that took all day
14. I’m running behind on my uploading habits
15. my bed is calling, I’m trying to not listen…. as also is a habit of mine
16. I didn’t cross everything out of my list today
17. but I did a few
18. thanks for reading

See you around!