Farewell

Just a few days old is this year and already fills its chapters.

Farewell on January the fifth. Last breakfast at Café Johanna.

Just a few months until I'll go on a plane for a long flight to see you again.

Just a few months.

Maria

...

A few pictures from my last days...the first days in the new year...

It got pretty cold again here in Hamburg, -7° last evening and it was also snowing again.

On a little walk I saw this ice-cream drawn on a wall and I thought how many months it might take until I order my first ice-cream of the year....

I had a good coffee and a lovely mini tartlet at this nice place and got a pot hyacinths. I look forward to watching it growing....

I baked two cakes for a little coffee with friends for this afternoon. The beetroot-chocolate cake with creme fraiche and poppy seets I was talking about the other day and a nice lemon cake.

I hope you all had a good start in the new year.

Maria

A week of Saturdays and the end of a year

Having a week off is so great...but not having any plans and just do what you would like to do is such luxury.

We decided to have "a week of Saturdays" and do all things we love to do on the weekends, like sleeping in, reading, crafting, going out for a coffee, to the museum, having afternoon naps, cook and eat good food. It has been such a good week so far....and I could have a whole month of Saturdays : )

The weather was beautiful on Monday, the sun was shining and and we went out for a walk through the city. I even found this pair of Jeans. I am not so easy when it comes to buying jeans but when I found the perfect one I will love them forever. It took me 2 years now to find a good pair and I am very happy with them.

We got our groceries on the Isemarkets a farmers market which just takes place on Tuesdays and had a great cheese lunch when we came home. I can't get enough of goat cheese with the plum jam I made this summer. It is so good.

On Wednesday we had a good coffee at this nice cafè "Mutterland". We ate a great poppy seed cake which was not too sweet which I thought was nice after eating a way to many cookies around Christmas..

Speaking of cake I found this nice recipe in Nigel Slaters new cookbook called "Tender" it is a beet root - dark chocolate - cake and it sounds so interesting, I am thinking of making it on the weekend.

Well, in the middle of all the Saturdays this week, today already is the 31st of December, the last day of the year. It has been and exciting year for me and I also decided to start this little space. A home for my images, thoughts or memories, and I think it is such a great experience and amazing how many amazing people you meet via this medium. Thank you for coming by and your lovely comments.

A happy new year to everyone!

Maria

The licence to knit

I remember when I was in year 5 I could choose between crafting class in which you learned how to knit and sew and in which you seriously made a sewing "drivers licence" (! ) and arts class in which you could paint and work with all sorts of materials like wood and papers and in which we went out in the park with our teacher to find inspirations and wouldn't just sit on a table with our needles. It seemed so much cooler and I loved it.

My mom used to work in a crafting shop and is just a genius in knitting. When I look at all the jumpers, socks, scarves and mittens she made for my brother and me when we were young. Norwegian patterns, knitted ice cubes or apple trees on a jumper, it seems there was nothing she couldn't make...

She tried to convince me to go into crafting class but as rebellious I was to this time I didn't want to and there I was painting and wearing my painting-apron: acquarell-like, with carbon pencils ....while the other half of the class was getting their drivers licence in sewing.

Now I really regret that I missed out on such things and also that I always did a little crafting at home with my mom and learned a bit to sew and knit the wish grew the last years to get better with such things. I wanted to be able to create things with my hands. Knit my own scarf and hat.

Well, I got some wool at home at my moms favourite wool shop and asked her to help me starting my own little knitting project.

She is very proud that I try and I am happy to see my little snood scarf growing and growing with every round I knit.

: )

quiet days

The last couple of days have been quiet, which was very relaxing and nice. My parents live on the country side and sometimes when I sit in my room after a while I am realizing how just super quiet it is compare to our apartment in Hamburg and all you maybe hear are the bells from the church every 15 minutes.

We were reading a lot the last days, watched the Royal Tenenbaums, played board games, went out for a walk, catched up with family and friends....and of course had tons of cookies especially at my grandmothers place. My, they are pretty tasty.

But it is now time to get back. The bags are packed and we will make our way back north tonight. I have another week off and I look forward to reading in the new cook book we got for Christmas and trying out new recipes. It is a gorgeous book with a beautifully made cotton cover wrap (the bar code is stitched on it at the back!) And I must admit I look also forward to coming back to the city...

Some quiet and relaxed wishes to all of you

Maria

Happy Holidays

I wish you all Happy Holidays...

Maria

2212

I am still pretty excited the night before my birthday.

Being at home, sleeping in my old bed...feeling Christmas in the air...and also me getting one year older...

This morning I woke up and found a little note from my sister which she put through the door slit before she went to school...it made me smile...and it is so nice to get post mail, emails or calls from people who think of you...

I got this beautiful red dress from my boyfriend...and I will wear it tonight at my birthday dinner party. A view friends are coming over and we start cooking now while listening to nice music... and enjoying the day.

Hope everyone has a nice day today.

Maria