In Dutch we say " Gelukkig Nieuwjaar "

The Dutch have their own way of celebrating New Year.

They stay at home and celebrate quietly with the family until midnight.

It is the evening of the great, Dutch doughnut
( oliebol ).

These are deep-fried balls of dough in various flavours,

covered with icing sugar.

They are only eaten during the New year period.

The doughnuts are washed down with coffee ...... LOL

( I buy donuts at the bakery. )

Also one of my favorites is Dutch "waffles"

I bake themselves and also for my parents,

I make a total of 160 waffles.

They are yummieeeeeeeeee.........

Our family recipe

2 pounds all-purpose flour

1 pound soft white sugar

2 sticks butter

6 teaspoons vanilla extract

3 teaspoons baking powder or baking soda

6 eggs

In Dutch

1 kilo tarwe bloem

1 pond witte basterd suiker

1 pond boter

4 zakjes vanille suiker

2 zakjes backin

6 eieren

And Shortly after midnight "FIREWORKS"

It sounds like a major war has broken out

but luckily there are also many sky rockets

and decorative fireworks .....

(Its not my favorite, I look always behind the windows :(

Kareltje is very afraid of fireworks.

He runs totally stressed throught the house.

I always have the doors ( INSIDE the house )

open so he can run where he wants ......

Animals have very sensitive hearing !!!

Loud bangs and whistles can cause

pain in their ears.

By following simple guidelines

your pet need not suffer.

Keep dogs and cats inside when fireworks

are being let off !!

HAPPY NEW YEAR

to all our friends ...

Hopefully is " 2010 "

one year with much

~ Love

~ Peace

~ Good Health

Thanks all for your friendship :-)

We are back next year !!!

Meow.. meow..

Bye bye ...

Kareltje =^.^=

Anya :-)

Fun .... only for you :-)

Their suits are black and their vests are white ..........



Penguins shuffle shuffle to the
Left left left
Penguins shuffle shuffle shuffle to the
Right right right
Give a little wiggle
Give a little hop
Waddle round the iceberg
Never want to stop ............ :-)

SNOWMAN fun !!
Yeahhhhhh .......

Did you know a snowman can dance and feel alive ....
Yes I believe it .......... :-)

Special for all our friends ...

(Look ...... My Mommy and Suzanne had made
a snowman today,
she is always playing like a little girl .... ;)
Meow.. meow.. =^.^=




Christmas is one of the most stressful events
of the year.
Special for all Mothers (like me ... LOL)
Take Care of Yourself !!
You know the rules for taking care of yourself.
Get enough sleep, eat right and drink water.
The busier you are,
the more important it is that you take care of yourself.
You won’t be any good to anyone if you get sick ...





I hope all is well with "Jerry the mouse "
This photo is from yesterday,
we have many snow in Dutch ...
I hope he had also a wonderful Xmas
(for new friends Jerry the mouse
lives here with his whole family ... ;)



We have received many postcards, ecards & Emails
Thanks all :-)

We're wishing you a Christmas

Full of laughter, love and light,

With delicious holiday foods

To excite your appetite.

We're hoping you receive

Delightful gifts to make you smile,

With family and friends

To love you all the while.

We wish you a Merry Christmas;

May your Christmas dreams come true,

And when Christmas is over,

Happy New Year, too!

Have all a wonderful time !!!

Thanks for your friendship :-)

We love you all ....

Kareltje =^.^=

Anya :-)

Our Xmas tree :-)

Meow..meow... I see a new tree in our garden !!



Oops .... Now he stands in the living room ...
sniff.. snif.. he smells so good ... yummie :-)





Look this is our tree
with origami balls and stars :-)

CLICK ON THE PHOTO FOR A BETTER VIEW !!




My Mommy make yesterday these stars
special for me
she sad always I'm her "star" forever ...
She is soooooooo SWEET for me "meowwww"



At the top of my tree is a star
A star that looks down on me
A star that I makes my wishes shine
A star that brightens my path
A star that enlightens my world
A star that makes me feel loved
A star that makes me dreams come true
A star that makes me smile
A star that protects me from my enemies
A star that brings my bliss and hope
A star that sticks to its promises
A star that supports me take me as I am
A star that never fades away
A star that will live with me forever and ever :-)

(@^.^@)

My folded paper Christmas decoration ..

In Japanese,
the word "ori" means to fold and the word "gami" means paper.
So, origami means "to fold paper".
Origami is the traditional Japanese art of paper folding.
But there’s more to origami than its name.

(CLICK ON THE PICTURE FOR A BETTER VIEW !!)




Paper folding is a wonderful hobby,
and a wonderful group activity...
and for kids it has so many benefits socially
and for the developing mind.
You can relieve stress and recapture
some of that bliss with a few quick folds of paper.




It's incredible to watch an ordinary piece of paper
transforming into a three dimensional form,
and the more complex the design,
the more incredible this process becomes...




My balls are very difficult for beginners.
A ball consists of 64 elements
(64 leaves from 1 x 1 inch ).
First fold and then stick together.
The cube model consists of 4 leaves
and thats easy to make for beginners :-)




It was not easy to make good shots
because its all from glossy paper!!

Next time you can see
the Dutch Christmas tree :-)

I'm a GREEN lover ....

One of my hobbies is
taking care of plants and breeding of new plants.
I'm now working with orchids :-)
I attend them with all my love
and always get them back in the bloom.
I have many colors and they are beauty's in my livingroom.
:-)

Be careful with our trees :

(I'm a nature lover..)

There is nothing more Christmassy than a Real Christmas tree.

So how about having the same one year after year?

Well, now you can get trees that you don't have to throw away

but can be replanted and kept until next year...

In Dutch can you rent a tree ...

The green company will bring a tree to your house.

Then they will come and pick it up after Christmas !!

By renting a tree you are taking a positive step towards

helping the environment and protecting the habitat :-)

A real Christmas tree

is a wonderful holiday decoration for humans,

but its texture and odors make it an inviting chew toy for pets.

Plus, the decorations on it are also very attractive to dogs and cats.

Kareltje jumps sometimes in the tree and play with the balls

(I have many Christmas balls of paper "origami" hand made.

Japanese paper folding art is a hobby of mine.

In one of my next posts I show my origami paper balls,

I have no photo at the moment ;)

The reason why we all LOVE a real TREE:

~ They are alive and breathing in our home.

~ A Christmas tree is the coolest seasonal houseplant of all time.

~ They are the most naturally shaped trees.

~ It smells YUMMIE...

~ Living trees don't dry out like cut trees.

Our Christmas tree will be delivered this week

Yeahhhhh.....

I now I'm always late ;)

And then I go decorate it with Kareltje ;)

Friends forever :-)

Kareltje rubs my leg

and starts to purr,

with a soft little rumble

a soft little whirr.

As if he had motors

inside of him ...

I say, "Kareltje my sweetheart"

and stroke his fur,

and thought he can't talk

and I can't purr.

He understands me

and I do him ....

Do not forget to laugh ...

Always remember to be happy because you never know
who's falling in love with your smile ...




Everyone smiles in the same language ...




If you don't have a smile,
I'll give you one of mine ...




Every day you spend without a smile, is a lost day ...




A smile is something you can't give away,
it always comes back to you ...




Enjoy all the Christmas spirit
but do not forget to laugh ...
Perhaps the best decoration is being wreathed in smiles :-)

Meow meow ... I'm so happy

I have received SO many gifts from St. Nicolaus.
It was a lovely day, everyone was at home
eating and drinking the whole day.
Many cat-snacks for me yummiee...
My Mommy was always busy, busy, busy,
she gives everyone something to eat
to drink and Of course many sweets....

St. Nicolaus was great Meow..Meow..
I have received a BIG white mouse
and a very funny and little silly
christmas mouse that can move ... !!
I love both mice,
I'm so happy just like a little kitty :-)






My Mommy had also received many girls-stuff
not interesting for me,
but on present was very funny,
it was a BIG plush Hello Kitty.
Kitty is a cheerful warm-hearted little girl.
(Just like my Mommy .. Meow .. meow :-)




(We have a few days not visit our friends "sorry"
my Mommy was always busy with all presents and making funny poems.
We will visit you all as soon as possible !!)

Love you all ...

Kareltje =^.^=