Animal Wednesday and Wishes for the Holidays ♥

I will auction this Christmas Cactus Mandala for KJ's

Wishes and Dreams for the Holidays.

She has already raised more than a thousand dollars for an emergency fund for a 19 year old student. You can read all about it here.

The Christmas Cactus Mandala is an original watercolor painting 5,9 x 3,9" (15 x 10 cm) and comes with a mat 7,9 x 5,9" (20 x 15 cm), ready to frame. I hope bidding will start at 25 dollars.

(please leave your bid in a comment)

Sjimmie loves Christmas Cactus ♥

Happy Animal Wednesday!

♥♥♥

Christmas Cactus Monday

Happy Cactus Monday

♥♥♥

We have a winner..................

("Lotus")

Finally we picked a winner for my give away!

Please see video first, it only takes 10 seconds ;)

I let Felix use the randomizer to pick 3 numbers and from those he picked the winner, which was Lori Ann ! I will sent you the poinsettia mandala.

Patty (from PAKART Alaska) and Diana (from Back at the Drawing Board)

will both get some cards in the mail.

Have a nice day♥♥♥

Snow and Christmas

This night we had snow again! I woke up to a beautiful white world!

Felix had Christmas dinner at school yesterday.

here are some pictures of a proud Mom♥

Christmas give aways

Click to enlarge, save and print.........

and enjoy coloring

And here are some background tiles

for you

to use.

Christmas decorations

Here are some X mas decorations of mine

I did all these last week

I just love all the extra lights......

From Marja♥ What's that dark spot....? See the deer in the background?

I can't seem to take a good picture of the tree, it's either too dark or light....

Sjimmie was here...........................

Don't forget to enter my give away by commenting on my previous post.

♥♥♥

>M<

Ready for Christmas? / Give Away

Well at least my blog is :)

I will start decorating the house and wrapping the presents this week, as next week I won't have so much time I think.

Here is my Christmas mandala for this year.

The poinsettia watercolor mandala is used for my new Christmas blog look and will also be my giveaway for this year's X-mas. All you have to do is to leave a comment and I will pick a winner next week.

The winner will get the original mandala and I will also trow in a few cards with the poinsettia print.

Snow is melting here and it is very slippery.......

Hope you are enjoying the holidays! I like X-mas, especially all the lights, which brighten up these dark days before Christmas as we call them. But I would rather celebrate it on a tropical island (you know I don't like cold weather and short days)

Stay warm and safe with this kind of weather. And enjoy all that is to come this month!

♥♥♥

Happy Birthday Maureen!

(mandala made a few years ago)

Happy Birthday Maureen! ♥♥♥

Today we also celebrate Sint Nicolaas here in Holland

The following video is not suitable for young children and other believers.

You see being a saint is a hazardous job, but I guess someone has to do it. I had to laugh at some parts (yes I am evil sometimes I know......) except when the horse fell:(

We won't celebrate his birthday , which is tomorrow btw (the celebration for the children is today), that much as my kids aren't believers any longer. But I did buy them their names in Chocolate. We will watch a movie and they will eat lots of chocolate and candy.

I can't wait but I will have the decency to wait until tomorrow to decorate for Christmas. Then St. Nicholas returns to Spain.

Have a nice Sunday! Hope Saint Nicholas will bring you lots of candies and presents♥

Happy Birthday Quincy!

Finally I can show you some new work. I have created this mandala for Quincy a while ago but she had to wait for her birthday to see it and I to show it to you. It was commissioned by her mother (and one for her son, which I will show later).

Quincy, I hope you will love both mandalas and that you will have a wonderful birthday and that these gifts from your Mom will make your day more special. I returned today and found our country covered in a white blanket of snow! Early, normally winter sets in late December. I bet you haven't had a lot of snow on your birthdays before ..... The snow matches the swans so well I think :)

A keyword list of swan meaning: Love Grace Union Purity Beauty Dreams Balance Elegance Partnership Transformation

The swan is one of the most powerful and ancient totems. Most of swan’s associations come from its appearance it is a graceful, white bird, and the largest of the waterfowl. But swans are also powerful birds. From this, they reflect the power and longevity that is possible when we awaken to the power and beauty within ourselves. Swans mate for life and are usually depicted in mythology as pairs so they symbolize love, and monogamous relationships as well as loyalty and trust in partnerships.

I can go on and on about the swan. Who isn't fascinated by swan and all it's symbolic meanings. It is such a magical and inspirational creature.

Who doesn't know The Ugly Duckling, by Hans Christian Andersen. An awkward young cygnet, is called an ugly duckling by the other young waterfowl in the lake. Seeing his reflection in the watery surface, he can’t help but agree, and hangs his young head in shame. The other birds refuse to play with the pathetic creature, and he is left to himself. At last his mother finds him, and assures him that this phase will pass, and he will grow into the most beautiful bird of all - a magnificent snowy white swan. And as time passes, so he does. This is a familiar tale for every child, reassuring them that beauty is from within, and not a matter of outward appearance. This healing tale has been told for over a century, to children who feel isolated, or that they don’t fit in, teaching them to look within to find their own inner beauty and radiate it. When their time comes, they will be transformed, and have the grace, beauty and eloquence of a majestic white swan.

For more about Tundra swans click here

For more symbolic meaning of swan click here

More about swans in general click here

Happy Birthday!!!!!

(picture stolen from his blog, sorry I don't have any access to my own pictures here...) Since I am in the Far East I am probably the first one awake to congratulate Prince Beaudor today! Our Royal friend made Marja a happy Mom 2 years ago. I am sure she will spoil you rotten today;) Love and hugs from afar (see you both soon). Please visit Marja and Beaudor to congratulate them.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Hi everyone hope you are enjoying thanksgiving with your loved ones!

Here in Holland we don't celebrate this day.....So no turkey leftovers for Koekie and Droppie.

But I am thankful today for so many things and one of them is having you all for my blog friends!

I am slowly recovering from my cold. Next week I will travel to Singapore and hopefully the sunshine and wamth will do me good :)

♥Happy Thanksgiving!♥

Animal Wednesday / Partly Cloudy

Happy Animal Wednesday!

♥♥♥

Cactus Monday / Hummingbird

Not so much activity going on my blog.....

I have caught a cold so creativity isn't flowing...

Kinda feel like this hummingbird. Taking it a little bit easy.

Giving my wings some rest.

Squeezed out this little cactus Monday painting .

Life goes on and I have to do some things anyhow.

Went to my Spanish lessons , which I enjoy thoroughly :)

I am not really at my best this time of the year :(

Have to do some serious thinking about immigrating to a tropical island.

Hope you are living in the right spot with the right climate.

And that you are enjoying a Happy Cactus Monday!!!!!

♥♥♥

Animal Wednesday / Frida in Japan

Frida in good company. What a lovely couple running a restaurant with 2 tables only!

Pictures in random order,as I still haven't figured out how to place my pictures in Blogger in the order I want to.......

The table next to us: a couple with such a cute baby!

Fish!

Big fish!

Behind the counter.

My DH favorite toilet. Well not mine...... so forget it Honey!

More fish!!!

Here Frida popped up again!

My favorite Maneki Neko!

You just have to enlarge this picture to see why I enjoyed my stay in Japan.........

Rest in Peace Renate

This mandala I painted a few years ago for Goedele's sister Renate.

Her twin brother Renaat died 10 years ago of cancer.

In Renate's mandala I chose a turtle as this is a symbol of protection.

Renate has lost her battle with cancer as well at 61 years and is hopefully now with her twin brother.

Both born on that day have the Life path number 33 which is a very special number.

My heart is filled with sadness today as my niece is operated today, she has breast cancer and I heard Renate has died yesterday.

Cancer is just such a ....... disease.

We all know that.

Please send Goedele and her family light and love from your heart ♥

Animal Wednesday / Sjimmie and Frida

Glad Sjimmie´s ears are still in one piece .

Happy Animal Wednesday!

A ride in the subway!

Frida's first ride in the NY subway! I took her to Blick's Macy's and the Old Navy Store. She didn't like to shop :( Greetings from NY!!! ♥

Animal Wednesday / Bliss

I painted this one to cheer Lolo up.

But all it took was Bliss to feel better.

We are all happy that Bliss is recovering.

I am getting ready for my flight tomorrow.

Heading for the big Apple.........

I have been busy these last few days and haven't visited you all yet.

Sometimes my life is all about catching up, or at least trying........

Happy Animal Wednesday!

Cactus Monday / Sjimmie in Halloween costume

(Sjimmie with Cactus Bunny Ears, obviously not amused....)

Here is Sjimmie in his Halloween outfit.

He went into town for trick or treat but went for the treats of course .

Unfortunately he only got tricks.....

Imagine yourself opening the door and seeing this creature on your doorstep.......... It would scare the cr.. out of me.

He got hit with a broom and got a bucket of water thrown over him. Poor Sjimmie.

He told me that this was the last time he would let me dress him up. No need to tell you cats don't like to be dressed up in the first place, but when I told him he could get treats he wanted to give it a try.

Happy Cactus Monday!

Sjimmie says: For more cactus fun please visit my aunt Teri!

Happy Halloween!!!

Have a Happy Halloween!

Love from ♥Sjimmie♥

Happy Birthday Robin!!!!!

Happy birthday Princess!

The Heron or Egret is symbolic in many cultures.

In Egypt the Heron is honored as the creator of light. A double headed Heron in Egypt is symbolic of prosperity.

As a Chinese symbol the Heron represents strength, purity, patience and long life.

In Africa, the Heron was thought to communicate with the Gods.

Most Native American tribes took note of the heron’s inquisitiveness, curiosity and determination. As such this set the heron as a symbol of wisdom in that this creature seemed to have good judgment skills.

As a water creature the heron is also a symbol of going with the flow, and working with the elements of Mother nature rather than struggling against her.

The heron is a beautiful creature, exhibiting grace, and noble stature. It’s no wonder the Native Indians and ancients honored the heron throughout the centuries.

I think this animal suits Robin so very well.

Don't forget to visit our birthday girl and make her day!

Animal Wednesday / A new Fiance

The new Fiance of the ladies arrived Friday.

He likes his new place

Exploring his new territory

Isn't he handsome?!

If I were a deer I would be happy with this beauty!

"Here's looking at you, kid!"

Lancelot Chatelain is staying with us until January.............

Happy Animal Wednesday!