Pink Purl

Back...with Loot!

Yes, we are alive, and yes, we are home again!  Alive...being slightly in question at this point.  We are still in a bit of a jet lag fog after our long trip, which was made even longer by delays with both flights.  So it was a lot of waiting at airports last Thursday as well as Friday morning, giving us time to study airport architecture... Here is an interior photo of Kastrup International Airport in Copenhagen, Denmark.  On Saturday our clocks changed to Daylight Savings Time, so we have no idea what time it is or what day it is--LOL!  Jet lag is a very out-of-body experience.

During the weekend a lot of the time was spent sleeping and resting, unpacking, doing laundry and settling back into the simple comforts of home, and not least, reunion and cuddle time with our sweet Charlie!  Part of the unpacking included poring over some of the shopping loot, my craft supply bounty brought back (said with my best pirate accent!) ;o)  The bulk of the goodies was beading and jewelry making supplies--here's a little peek at some of the pretties.  Gemstone strands--amazonite, rose quartz, smoky quartz, aventurine chips, silvered decorative coin beads and others were a bit of a splurge for making new things for the shop.  Also very basic things like beading wires, cord, etc.  And this really wonderful pewter dragonfly charm!  I did get some fabric too, of course!

One of our favorite stops is always Borders Books and Music in York, Pennsylvania.  While there I picked up a magazine I've not seen before, one from Australia, Creative Beading--with tons of jewelry ideas and bead projects.  Another great find was vintage laces found while we were out antiquing in New Oxford with my sister, Kimmie.  While strolling around in New Oxford we happened upon a shop near the town square, Art to Use, run by an artistic couple who specialize in hand-crafted jewelry and photography.  Since it was our wedding anniversary while we were away, Dear Husband let me choose something sparkly to celebrate the occasion.  I chose these silver and amethyst earrings--gorgeous!

We came back to snow and rain, but all the rain has thankfully melted away the remaining snow.  It's not quite spring yet here... While we were in the States, it was not very springlike either--very windy, sometimes chilly and rainy, as this moody, dramatic sky view shows.

Thank you all for the safe travel wishes and welcome home greetings!  I'll be swinging by to see you all during the week.  Happy Days!  :o)

Time To Go...

Today is our last day stateside.  Earlier we were saying goodbyes to my sister and her boyfriend, and this evening with my parents.  Tonight we pack and relax at our hotel before our big trip across the ocean tomorrow.  We had a lovely Easter holiday with family last weekend.  Our days have been a lot about family--time visiting with family & friends.  So during this particular stay we've not taken as many outings or side trips as times past.  Hence the fewer photos this time.  But we've had a wonderful two weeks here.  We also really enjoyed just a break from the usual, time to relax.  And not least a little bit of shopping time!  ;o)  I am feeling much better.  And so is my Momma, she is on the mend from having the flu.  Thank you for your get well wishes! 

It is late so I must close for now, get last bits packed and make sure all is ready for our leaving.  I'm glad once we're back home in Norway we'll have the weekend to recover--we'll need it!  I look forward to catching up with all of you once we're home and the jet lag eases.  I wish you all a great weekend ahead.  And thanks for being along with me on my previous post while we were here. So until soon when I can "report" once again from the other side of the Atlantic... Happy Days! :o)

(We saw this neat sundial while in New Oxford, Pennsylvania.  New Oxford is a charming town near Gettysburg, with lots of antique shops.)   

Touring the Pennsylvania State Capital

Hi everybody!  Firstly, let me just say a huge thank you for all the well, safe and happy wishes for our trip!  We've been here a few days now, and enjoying some time with family and friends.  Sadly, my online time has been a bit limited, as I have had a cold since we got here, which has slowed me down a bit.  My Momma has the flu, and she's not very well either.  Everywhere we go people are sick!  So it's been an unusual time so far.  But in between visits we've sneaked in a couple of outings within South-Central Pennsylvania.

We drove up to the state capital of Pennsylvania, which is Harrisburg, on Monday.  It was a bitterly cold day, and windy, but with a crisp, clear blue sky and sunshine.  We wandered around the central parts of the city for a while, then went into the Capitol Building complex for a while, doing a self-guided tour of the building.  The exterior and interior of the building is an architectural wonder.  It's amazing to think about all the decision-making that takes place daily within this opulent building, and that we were allowed to walk so freely around inside this house of government.  Every space, from the tiles beneath our feet, to the celestial, central dome were highly, and tastefully decorated.  There are murals, marble and gilding everywhere.  The impressive dome is modeled after St. Peter's Cathedral in Rome, and is the showpiece of the building.  It is an extremely busy place, with lawmakers running around, lobbyists and other activist groups gathering and clamouring to make their voices and issues heard.

While we where there, a school choir was performing in the rotunda on the grand staircase of Italian marble (inspired by the one in the Paris Opera) leading up to the higher floors.  Unfortunately we don't know which school these talented young people came from.  We then had lunch in the very nice cafeteria located by the visitor's entrance lobby.  It was good to have a break and sit down a little after the tour.  There is a lot to see and do in downtown Harrisburg, so we'll probably go back when the weather hopefully turns a little warmer.

The beautiful skies have turned to gray and lots of rain, and I'm still sniffling a little bit, but we'll see where today takes us.  Happy days!  :o)

Homeward Bound!

(Now let's all sing along to that Simon and Garfunkel tune...LOL!  Good song, though...)

We leave very early tomorrow morning to begin our journey across the ocean.  It is a long way.  And once we reach our destination, the only mode of transport we'll not have used is a boat!  So that gives something of an idea how much it takes to get there.  I think of our family and friends waiting happily for us on the other end, and this makes the trip so worth while.  For me it is always a special joy to go home, the home where I come from.  Since I don't get to see everyone on any regular basis, as many families who see each other, these times are extra precious.  And to be able to spend holiday, like Easter coming up, with family and friends is a wonderful thing.  Today has been a flurry of packing, making ready, tieing up loose ends and all sorts. 

Yesterday I had the great surprise to discover that I was given an award.  Kitty over at Kitty's Bloggy Bits gave me the Cool Cat Award!  So much fun...Thank you so much, Kitty!  This award is for bloggers who's love of animals and their pets brightens up blogland.  I read many who's love of animals and their pets is inspiring and often they share the most amusing stories and photos of their pets in action.  I would like to share this award with five friends whose love for their cats is a special feature of their lives and therefore their blogs: Anne of Nikkipolani, Yolanda of Bliss, Rosie of Rosie's Whimsy and Joanne of Today We Are... and Isabelle of Kitty Couture.  Congratulations, ladies!  And thank you for your cat tale...and cat tails! ;o) 

Speaking of tales...a new book review is in on a book I just finished reading, Me and Mr. Darcy by Alexandra Potter.  Though this was a fun read in some ways, I've given this one mixed reviews.  Stop by The Library to see why...

I must close for now and finish up the last packing.  Our laptop computer comes along with us, and with it the hope that I can share a little of our time in America while we're there with a post or two here, or at least some photos.  So until soon...Wishing all you dear friends Happy Days! 

P.S. Many of you were asking about Charlie...Dear Husband's parents will kindly be looking after Charlie while we're away.  So he's in very good hands!  Here's our cool cat...

Tickled Pink!

Happy new week everyone!  There was a weekend, right?  Only it breezed by so fast, I think I missed a bit of it--LOL!  With just four days until we leave for our trip, there was much happening over the weekend--things to do, make ready, be taken care of, etc...Still, there was time for some pleasures...One being that I made these festive cupcakes with pink butter cream icing and sprinkles!  The recipe for these is not mine, but belongs to my very dear friend Marie of Marie's Muses. These are her wonderful *Vanilla Cupcakes with Butter cream* (scroll down to her February 25, 2008 post for the recipe).  My only teeny, tiny changes were that I used slightly less butter for the butter cream, and I also added a few drops of vanilla to the butter cream icing, as well as a few drops of red food color to tint the icing PINK!  With a cup of tea...these were a delicious treat! 

More pink play in the form of a pink Felt Flower Corsage.  I've made this one for myself, I have to admit...I just couldn't resist one to wear this spring.  A couple of these have sold in my shop, so I may make more, and perhaps with a new and different shape...I have some ideas brewing...

But the big treat during the weekend was the purchase of a new sewing machine--at last!  After a couple of months of indecision--weighing all the brands, models, features and prices--I finally chose this one at a craft/fabric shop that was having a good sale on Janome sewing machines.  This is a Janome Memory Craft 4900QC.  It has a lot of exciting  possibilities: huge embroidery & stitches library, quilting and customizing options.  There's not much time to get to know my new machine before we go away, so this little gem will have to wait for me to play with until we get back.  So if you heard a squeal of delight on Saturday--that was just me doing a happy dance over this new machine!

Lots of reasons to be in the pink at the moment!  ;o)  See you soon before we cross the Atlantic...

(P.S. During the weekend I was trying to make the round visiting everyone and catch up...but those who are on Blogger, I was having a very difficult time leaving comments...anyone else have problems leaving comments or even posting?)