The end is near...

Well, at least the end of 2010 :-) It's been a rough year for Rune and I, so frankly I'm glad to see it go. Lots of illness and not so good times. Yesterday I went to the cemetery to see my grandmother's urn being put in the ground. And then to her house with the rest of the family to divide her things. Thankfully it went alright, no bickering at all and a lot of reminiscing.

I'm going to take some time and think about what kind of year I would like 2011 to be... Have you thought about any New Years resolutions yet?

(The snowman is made by some of the children playing in the courtyard where we live, so cute!)

On the 4th Day of Christmas

...my true love gave to me four calling birds. What exactly is a calling bird? According to Wikipedia it's a blackbird. So here is one of my favorite songs, so beautiful and simple it sometimes make me tear up.

I once heard someone explain that the blackbird in this song ís a symbol of the african-american peoples struggle for freedom. After the abolition of slavery, many former slaves still remained on the plantations, unable to fly on their broken wings. The dead of night is supposedly the period they would have to wait, untill the civil rights movement in the 60s made it possibly for them  to spread their wings. It's just one of many intrepretations of this song, but it makes sense to me. Enjoy!

Wishing you a merry christmas!

I'm so lucky! Part 2

Photo by Tika

Look what I won in Tika's give away on her blog In Tika's garden! A beautiful jar made made by Tika herself. Thank you so much for this early christmas present!

Christmas shopping

 

The snow is back here in Copenhagen. Yesterday it seemed to come down all day and it was so cold and windy. It looks beautiful when you're sitting inside, all warm and cosy, but it wasn't fun to be out in! This year I've ordered most of the christmas presents online (fingers crossed that they'll be delivered in time for christmas!),but I still have a lot of food shopping to do, so hopefully we'll have some nice weather next week. 

Hope you have a great weekend!

Driving home for christmas...

Sorry about the blog-silence these last couple of days, had a lot to think about with the funeral this week. It was a long day that ended with a long drive back to Copenhagen.

Took these photos on another night we were driving home through the darkness. They remind me of the Chris Rea christmas song:

...top to toe in tail-lights

Oh, I got red lights on the run

I'm driving home for christmas, yea

Get my feet on holy ground...

December red

Weekend wishes

Photos from Tivoli where the fake snow has been spreading christmas cheer since mid-november. Since then we've had plenty of the real thing!

I hope you all have a great weekend with good friends and family, and thanks for all the kind words these last couple of days.

Warm hearts

I've added this picture to the right side of the blog. It reads: I support the festival of hearts. Some generous danish bloggers have started a big christmas give away and I've donated my three small paintings as part of the price. To take part in the lottery, one must buy a ticket at Mødrehjælpen , a humanitarian organization where all the money donated will be used to give less fortunate families a nice christmas.

I feel as I've already won by being part of this great event.

Peace

My grandmother died this morning. She has been very ill lately and a big part of me is grateful that she won't suffer anymore, that she is at peace now. And then there is the small, selfish part of me that wishes she could have stayed here just a bit longer! She was much loved and I will miss her terribly...

I'm so lucky!

 

Today I picked up a giant package from the post office. And look what was inside: Two lovely parcels from Anne that I won in her give away on Regnbue Ravage! Lots of beautiful vintage fabrics that remind me of my childhood. Think I might turn some of it into patchwork cushions for our living room... Thank you so much Anne!

Winter wonderland

It's still snowing here in Copenhagen today, so we're staying in, listening to christmas music and enjoying a peaceful sunday. Here's some photos from the beautiful winter wonderland in my brother and sister-in-laws garden.

Shapes in blue

Old and new in my favorite colour.

Have a great weekend!

December!

Getting ready...

                            

Today I sewed our christmas stockings. They're not like the traditional stockings that are only hung on christmas eve, these are going to be used all december, ready for whatever gifts and surprises the nisse would like to give us. It's the first year we're doing the stocking thing and I hope Rune enjoys surprising me just as much as I enjoy finding small gifts for him...

Sunday

First sunday of advent is just around the corner which means that christmas is on its way! I haven't done a traditionel advent wreath this year, but I've dressed up our Kubus candleholder so we can light a candle the next four sundays. Have a great sunday!

(The photo is a bit dark, it's so difficult to take nice, bright pictures this time of year)

Piece by piece

I saw this old, worn mosaic floor between to shops. Once a splendid entrance, now cracked and forgotten, but still beautiful.

Snow in the city

Some photos from the court yard of our apartment building. Beautiful snow!