Where would i rather be right now?

Good question from Ann at Ann Again. (Her blog button is on my sidebar)

Where would I rather be? I don't have the problem that Ann has, that the heat is too much for her. Down in Paraguay, we are in the middle of winter. Temp today between 55 F and 68 F (13 - 20 C). So I'd love to be somewhere on a beach, sipping a cool drink, tanning a bit and reading a good mystery/romance/comedy! But maybe I'll rent a DVD, put the kids to bed, open up a can of chips and enjoy my evening. (My husband isn't home tonight) Happy VGNO, everybody!

Reviewing books for Tomas Nelson

I'm so excited!

I signed up at Tomas Nelson to read and review their books. I will be receiving this book in the mail soon. Then I get to read it and write a 200 word review on it right here on my blog. When I'm done, I can pick another book to review. Awesome! I love reading!!!

Check it out here: brb.thomasnelson.com/

Friendship Day in Paraguay

It's friendship day in Paraguay today. The cell phones are running hot with sms, wishing everybody a happy day and thanking friends for their friendship. I got the first sms at 6 this morning. The best message i received was also the shortest (from my sister, Caroline): "My sister, my friend. Love you!"
Kleenex, please!
Here's a polyvore set for all of my friends here on my blog.
Here are some quotes I picked up at Quote garden about friends:

A friend is one of the nicest things you can have, and one of the best things you can be. ~Douglas Pagels

Friendship isn't a big thing - it's a million little things. ~Author Unknown

A single rose can be my garden... a single friend, my world. ~Leo Buscaglia

Only your real friends will tell you when your face is dirty. ~Sicilian Proverb

The antidote for fifty enemies is one friend. ~Aristotle

In everyone's life, at some time, our inner fire goes out. It is then burst into flame by an encounter with another human being. We should all be thankful for those people who rekindle the inner spirit. ~Albert Schweitzer

A loyal friend laughs at your jokes when they're not so good, and sympathizes with your problems when they're not so bad. ~Arnold H. Glasgow

The friend is the man who knows all about you, and still likes you. ~Elbert Hubbard, The Notebook, 1927

A good friend is cheaper than therapy. ~Author Unknown

If a friend is in trouble, don't annoy him by asking if there is anything you can do. Think up something appropriate and do it. ~Edgar Watson Howe

The most I can do for my friend is simply be his friend. ~Henry David Thoreau

A true friend never gets in your way unless you happen to be going down. ~Arnold Glasow

The most beautiful discovery true friends make is that they can grow separately without growing apart. ~Elisabeth Foley

It is easier to forgive an enemy than to forgive a friend. ~William Blake

A friend knows the song in my heart and sings it to me when my memory fails. ~Donna Roberts

True friendship comes when silence between two people is comfortable. ~Dave Tyson Gentry

You can always tell a real friend: when you've made a fool of yourself he doesn't feel you've done a permanent job. ~Laurence J. Peter

Friends are those rare people who ask how you are and then wait for the answer. ~Author Unknown

Constant use will not wear ragged the fabric of friendship. ~Dorothy Parker

There are big ships and small ships. But the best ship of all is friendship. ~Author Unknown

The best kind of friend is the one you could sit on a porch with, never saying a word, and walk away feeling like that was the best conversation you've had. ~Author Unknown

I got a surprise yesterday...

I opened my facebook page yesterday to find a very pleasant surprise: My very first friend from when we lived in Canada contacted me after a very long time! Erika and I were friends from since I was 3, I think. We tried to stay in contact, but life happens, and you lose some friends along the way.

Erika, if you are reading this: thanks for contacting me again. I wish I could see our big, old house on Oakview Ave. again someday. But if I ever visit Canada again, I'll come and see you!

The following picture was taken at Flor del Chaco, a youth retreat my parents are

caretakers at for a few months. The cute little fellow on my lap is my adorable nephew Josef, known to everyone who loves him, and is loved by him, as Jopi.

VGNO; party game

I was going to post some pictures of the field trip we wanted to take yesterday, but the weather turned so cold, that my mother-in-law canceled. It really is cold for us here. Today was 8 C in the morning, and tomorrow should be colder.

I just checked into Ann Again's blog (http://annagain66.blogspot.com/), and the challenge she gave me, was to use the blog thats before me in the list in a sentence or short story.

I'm sometimes get tired of cooking, even if I enjoy it a lot. So tonight, I wish I could take a vacation to Lola's Diner (http://lolasdiner.blogspot.com/2009/07/tgif-vgno-lolas-birthday-edition.html). Maybe I could have some of that birthday cake?

My dream birthday cake would look like this:

Happy VGNO, all of my blogger friends! Hugs from Paraguay!

El Dacabran

El Dacabran: my Dad's Ranch

The name of the Ranch consists of the names of my Mom (Elsie) and the names of my three sisters and mine. Dani, Caroline, Brenda (me) and Andrea.

My parents, my aunt and uncle, Brianna and I went to the ranch this morning. Mom wanted to butcher 12 chickens and Dad and my uncle went to check on the cattle. My aunt and I helped butcher the chickens, and yes, my dear sisters reading this, I did get dirty. And also a lot of ucky gunk underneath my fingernails. :)

It's always relaxing there. No phones (at least my phone doesn't have any service there), no tv, no internet,... etc.

They do have live entertainment there: the horses, for example. The worker went to get them herded in, and then they came pounding into the yard! They really are beautiful. Sorry about the light in this photo, but I really wanted to catch them running!

Brianna found a puppy that she wanted to play with, but she wasn't supposed to cuddle with him to much. He's going to grow up to become a "mean" watchdog, that chases pumas up the trees.
So she played with the goats. Later on she asked me if she could, pretty please, take just one billy goat home with us. Umm, .... NO!

And then there was this guy...
I just had to get this shot, nearly cried while taking it, thinking of my oldest sister... Not that she looks or smells like this fellow, but because she works with his relatives. I miss you, Dani!

Tomorrow we are going on a family field trip with Marvins side of the family. Taking my camera along, check out the blog on Friday.

Things I dislike...

• I do not like sand (on the beach its ok, but not on my floors)


• I do not like baby powder, cornstarch, mandioka-flour or old-book-dust on my hands, face or anywhere else on my body.


• I do not like touching chalk.


• I do not like dry, dusty things.

Now that you know this from me, you can tell I am not a happy person today. The strong, warm north wind, that is typical for the winter in Paraguay, has struck again, leaving me with a headache and a dusty house.

All day yesterday, and all through the night and up till now (9:15 am) the wind blows. I would like to put up sprinklers all over the yard and on the dirt road that leads through our village.

But,... as I do not want to whine on my blog, I will try to cheer myself and others up with a picture my brother-in-law took and that i edited in Photoshop:

Maybe i should go outside (with goggles on) and help the girls get that old kite up in the air....

Slow and easy Sunday

No church today, so we slept in and had a nice long Mate (hot tea with Yerba Mate leaves). Cindy had a friend over and my Dad and his brother from Canada came for Terere. Later Marvin and Amy went to check on the cattle, Cindy and her friend played on Polyvore, and Brianna and I watched a movie.

For lunch Marvin made steaks on the grill. Yummy! I tried out 2 new recipes yesterday: Marble Sheet cake and Maple Twists, you can find the recipes here: http://www.landolakes.com/mealideas/ViewRecipe.cfm?RecipeID=12194

http://lovella-at-home.blogspot.com/2007/09/charlotte-roses-maple-twists.html

So that was dessert! I just love looking for new recipes on the web!

(The pictures are from the websites, but mine looked just like it and my camera isn't that professional in taking indoor food pictures:)

VGNO=virtual girls night out

The challenge for tonight is to write down a wierd dream you had.

A few weeks ago, I dreamed (dreamt?) that i was having a back surgery. Which isn't even that wierd, considering that I had a surgery to fix 2 herniated discs last year.

Well, while i was on the operating table, I felt that the doctor was sewing my shoulders on to the table, so I wouldn't move. I didn't move... When I woke up, my back was hurting like crazy. Now, tell me, did I dream that because my back was already hurting in my sleep. Or did my back hurt, because I didn't move while sleeping.

Anybody know?

I don't!?

But I won't let it worry me! Happy weekend, everyone!

More random pictures from the craft show

Booth #2 are paintings and cross stitch pictures from various ladies.

Booth #3 is filled with awesome paintings made by a paraguayan artist that lives in our town. He has a very unique way of mixing painting and carving the background of the painting.

Booth #4 is occupied by two ladies that sew doll dresses and pillowcases.

Booth #5 has some pictures in it made from feathers and things. Very original.
Here is a close up from one of the pictures.

I've been nominated...

Thanks to the wonderful GypsyFox at http://pickinglilies.blogspot.com/, I've recieved my very first blog-nomination. It's not as glamorous as the Oscars, but running a close second:)




Now I hope I do this right. First I would like to thank GypsyFox for the
nomination and also for following my blog so regularly. She also made my button on the right side of my blog. She makes beautiful buttons and sets on polyvore! Thanks, girlfriend!









Now, the seven interesting facts about me:




1. I was born with 1 tooth in my mouth, which my Mom pulled soon. (But she told my older sister, she had knocked it out;)


2. I have three sisters, one living close by and the oldest and youngest living in Canada.

3. I was born in Canada, came to Paraguay when I was 10 years old, I speak english, german, low german, spanish and I understand portuguese.

4. I hate cleaning my house (at least washing floors) but I love a clean house!

5. I don't write poetry, but love to read it;
I don't play any instrument, but I love hearing my daughters play the guitar and keyboard;
I don't paint any pictures, but I love looking at paintings;
I am creative only, when I have a good idea what I want to make. (Does that make any sense?:)

6. I am a mennonite first of all by faith, then by birth.

7. I love my husband and my three daughters like crazy!


Here are the rules for the blogs I nominate:
• Thank the person who nominated you for the award
• Copy the logo and place it on your blog
• Link to the person who nominated you for this award
• List seven things about yourself that people might find interesting
• Nominate and post links to the seven Kreativ Bloggers you nominate
• Leave a comment on each of the blogs, letting them know they have been nominated


The 7 blogs I nominate for this award are the following:



1. Ann Again ... and again (http://annagain66.blogspot.com/) The official starter of VGNO (virtual girls night out).

2. Gwyneth of Polyvore (http://gwynsgarden.blogspot.com/) A very dear friend from polyvore. Great garden pictures and sets in her blog.

3. Bakerella (http://bakerella.blogspot.com/) I absolutly adore her blog with all the yummy things there.

4. Melody (http://quiltymama.blogspot.com/) She is a very creative lady, who has wonderful ideas to follow.

5. Suzanne (http://suzanne4.blogspot.com/) Also one of my friends from polyvore, she makes beautiful sets there.

6. Becky (http://memorykeepersforever.blogspot.com/) She's just starting at blogging, but I'm looking forward to seeing more of her here.

7. And last but not least, one of my first friends on Polyvore, Cris (http://fashionaccessoriesandart.blogspot.com/) from Brazil. I'd love to visit her some day.

Hope you all check out these amazing blogs and also GypsyFox's.

Sketching Polyvore Sets

Just fooling around on Polyvore and Photobucket:)

See the original set here: http://www.polyvore.com/for_fab_gypsyfox/set?id=9619377

See the set that showed me how: http://www.polyvore.com/sketch_cartoon_sets/set?id=10379326

Thanks, you.belong.with.me: http://www.polyvore.com/cgi/profile?id=753773

Photos from the show

I'm still trying to get back on track with everything at home, now that the craft show is over. So, while i think of something good to blog about, look at some more pictures of the show...

This picture shows the entrance of the gym with a very nice bouquet of sunflowers.

The "before-the-first-booth" is from a lady that makes macrame flower hangers and she also sells the orquid plants to put into the hangers:)

The booth #1 is stamp and coin collectors. An elderly pastor and his step-daughter-in-law run this colorful booth.

Art and Craft from the Chaco and beyond

Art and Craft Show 2009 Filadelfia, Chaco Paraguay





This is the coffee "corner" of our show. The background painting was made 4 years ago at the 75 year aniversary of our colony. We were allowed to use it as a backdrop for our food court. The food in the "cantina" is delicious. We have a lot of typical mennonite pastries and cakes and free coffee.


This hand carved indian is watching over the crowd. Brianna likes him!

The following painting and picture were made by another of my relatives who is also the head of our commity planning this show.

This is me, walking around the show, like I know what I'm doing:)

This is a coffee table made out of motor parts, palosanto wood and a glass table top. Beautiful piece of craftsmanship.

I'll be taking more pictures this afternoon, check in again soon!

P.S. A note to my sisters and cousin/s reading this: please leave a comment, so I know someone is reading this:)

Drumroll, please: THE CRAFT SHOW

I took some pictures before we open this afternoon.

This is my friend Linda's booth. She loves plants and i don't know how to water one, ... that's why we are such great friends:)

This is my Mom's quilt. It's called Lone star with log cabin, but i would love to think of a more poetic name for it....hmmm, can't think of one now. The quilt is absolutely beautiful! The crocheted things on the table and in the background are the handiwork of Linda's Mom, who is also my Dad's cousin, so she's kinda my aunt. She crochets the most exquisite little angels.:)

A lady i know from Asuncion painted these paintings. She is unbelievably talented and so friendly too.

That's all for now, I'll be posting some more tomorrow morning!

Almost there...

Tomorrow is the big day, the craft show opens at 4 pm. We spent all day at the polideportivo getting the last things done, and it's looking good. So many beautiful crafts there. Look for pictures of the booths starting tomorrow noon. I took this picture in the evening, after most of the people left from setting up their booths.

The best thing about today was that one of my best friends (Linda) invited me for supper at a brand new restaurant. I could hardly believe her, when she said there was a chinese resturant in town. YUMMMY! We live close to a town, where eating out means either hamburgers, pizza or barbeque. So it was a pleasant surprise to eat chinese. Spring rolls are soooo good!

Ok, I'm off to get my beauty sleep! I'll see you all tomorrow on my blog or in real life at the craft show!

Preparing for the craft show part 2

Tired doesn't say it all... I need a picture to describe it:

Monday is over, we got a lot of stuff set up, but there is so much more work to do! The pictures aren't very good, but i had forgotten my camera in the car, and didn't have time to get it. So i just took pics with my phone. Whoever hasn't read any of my posts lately, we are setting up booths in the gym in our town for a craft show. We do this every second year, and usually have a lot of fun doing it. They are about 18 - 20 booths in all, featuring: oil paintings, crochet, knitting, cross stitch, quilting, patchwork, decoupage, woodworking, leather-work, jewelery, coin and stamp collecting, plants, ribbon embroidery, etc. We open for the public on Thursday, and i'll try to post pictures of each booth, if the crafters don't mind...

I took this picture from the same place i took the picture this morning, so you can see the progress we made. The booths are on the sides of the gym and in the middle we are trying to put up tables with some kind of straw roof on top.

As you can see, we lack strawroofbuilding qualities. We have to fix that tomorrow, it looks as if we were drunk while doing it...

Ok, i'll be going to bed early today, have to get back to town at 7 am. I'm glad you stopped by to see what i'm up to.

Look at a day when you are supremely satisfied at the end. It's not a day when you lounge around doing nothing; it's when you've had everything to do, and you've done it. ~Lord Acton

Preparing for the craft show, part 1

We started to get the stands ready for the craft show, which opens on thursday afternoon. Two ladies and I worked at the polideportivo all morning cleaning things, and showing the workers where to but the walls. Very dusty work!!! It's noon now, and i'm staying in town at my parents house to eat lunch and have a little break. At 2:00 pm I'll go back again. This picture shows what the polideportivo (gym) looked like this morning.

I'll try to post pictures as we work. The second picture is one of the ladies washing the wooden stands we'll use inside the booths.

Good-bye

My Uncle Ewald went to be with his Saviour this morning! He was diagnosed with cancer in the beginning of the year, and it was a tough time for the family. God bless and comfort the family and keep them close to Him.

(Polyvore Set made by Wendy)

Wendy wrote this this morning: "Dad past away this morning, just before the sun came out. We all could be there. He was not in pain, he just stopped breathing and left us in peace. We could say goodbye these days he was in the hospital. I could sing to him the songs he just to sing with my son Bryan. The sunrise this morning, 15 minutes after he died was like a greeting from God and my Dad from heaven. He is with his Lord and Saviour Jesus in Heaven. "

This morning I went to help Marvin feed some calves in the pen, and on our way i noticed how beautiful the sunrise was. I made Marv stop and took a quick picture on my phone. 10 minutes later i got the message that Uncle Ewald had passed away. I felt our heavenly Father had touched my heart and comforted me!