Free April Desktop Calendar

My grandparents were married in Notre Dame during the war. Isn't that totally romantic? They had one glitch that day...the mayor of Paris had died and his funeral was being held in Notre Dame as well. He got the pleasure of the main chapel while they were married in the little chapel behind it. Still, it's a beautiful church.

Please leave a comment if you use it so I can keep track of how popular it is. Thanks!

Just click on the picture. When it comes up in its own browser window, right click and save the picture somewhere on your computer. Then go to that location, right click on the picture, and set as desktop background. Voila, you have a photo calendar on your computer!

Die Antwort

Die Antwort ist

der Schlussel

The answer is

key

I really love those big brass ones that only have two teeth and look like they belong in a castle. But then there are those keys on my piano, that I miss so much. Or the key to the music I play which is called a clef (clef is key in French). Or the keys on my keyboard that I use to write words everyday. So many uses for one word.

Guess what, we're having a give-away next week! Come back and play Word of the Week for a chance to win a prize.

I have a poll to open up as well, I'll do that later this week. It's a question about being a blog reader and comments.

Lastly, don't forget to enter my 100 Followers 100 Photos give-away. Just click the link on the right with my self portrait to see the blog post. It ends tomorrow.

I think that's all of the news. I have some photos from Paris to share tomorrow. Have a good day!

Word of the Week

Hello! These four pictures have one thing in common. Guess what it is in the comments. You can see the products by clicking on the photos or visit the shops by clicking on the shop names. Have fun, I'll post the answer tomorrow.

TeoStudio

UntamedMenagerie

AzureFire

porkchopshow

If you have an etsy shop and would like to have a give-away for one of your items, let me know! I will feature you in another Word of the Week and display an ad for you on the side of my blog for two weeks.

The Future...of the World and Publishing

I found this video through The Design Notebook. I can't stop watching it. Make sure you watch the whole thing even though it may cause some anger or frustration. If you don't get angry or frustrated, stop watching. It won't have an impact on you if you believe what it's saying in the beginning. I believe this video not only talks about publishing but about my generation. So pay attention Generation Y. We are the catalyst for change. The future can continue to go downhill from here, or we can force it to turn the other way and head uphill.

I don't mean politically. I don't care about Obama one way or another because the fact is that one man can not make as much difference as everyone seems to think he can. I mean in terms of society. Will we only care about celebrities and what Lady GaGa is wearing in ten years? Or will it matter to us that we have the knowledge and wisdom and ability to cure cancer? Because if we only care about Lady GaGa, we won't get to a point of curing cancer.

Wouldn't it be great if a video like this, that actually says something, became a viral video? Instead of some mindless nonsense that makes us laugh hysterically? Laughing is good, but so is growth and an open mind.

The Answer

Only Albert got it right, and no I didn't help him. Baking certainly does fit, but I meant

cake

as in Marie Antoinette saying, 'Let them eat cake!' (Which she didn't say.) Or Julia Child loving butter, which you need to bake cake. And you can have your cake and eat it too. Here are the cupcakes I made because looking at so many cake items made me want cake. But I didn't have frosting because Albert couldn't find it and I didn't have confectioners sugar to make it with, sad day. But they were simple and yummy. Randomly they came out looking glazed, don't ask don't tell, right?

Word of the Week

I'm reading Marie Antoinette: The Journey by Antonia Fraser. And I just watched the movie Julie and Julia. Two things that have nothing to do with each other, but I see a common factor. These four photos have that same thing in common. Guess what it is in the comments. You can click on the photos to see the products or click on the shop names to visit the shops. Have fun with it!

soapopotamus.etsy.com

Beadz2Pleaz.etsy.com

LittleCrickets.etsy.com

Boojiboo.etsy.com

If you have an etsy shop and would like to have a give-away for one of your items, let me know! I will feature you in another Word of the Week and display an ad for you on the side of my blog for two weeks.

Celebration Give-away and a New Project

I'm really embarrassed to show you these, but I have an explanation. I've never done self-portraits because I've always thought it's a tad selfish and stuck up. I like hiding in the background. But the more I thought about it, two reasons to do self-portraits popped into my mind. One is that I can truly stretch my abilities as a photographer because I have to do them by myself. From idea to execution it is all me. Even the candid moments don't involve someone else. The second reason is that in a way it's not selfish because my family and friends would probably like to have some photos of me. Ones where I'm not in the back of a group or hiding my face from the lens. So there you have it. This is my 100th photo, and the beginning of a self-portrait project.

It's also a contest in celebration of 100 followers and the end of the '100 Photos' project. Please fill in this form to enter. The one thing you have to do to enter the contest is click on the '100 Photos' link at the top of the blog and tell me in the form which of those photos you would choose as an 8x10 for your prize. I'll leave this contest open until March 31. Thanks so much, Followers, for sticking with me this far.

100 Photos

My florist friend was rather frustrated to find out that this bouquet of tulips only cost one euro (about a dollar fifty). It's so hard to live in Europe with cheap flowers and good bread. Can't wait to move back to the states where I have to pay at least five dollars for a bouquet. Hee hee.

 

I have just passed 100 followers, and this is photo 99. With photo 100 I'm opening up a give-away contest to celebrate both the ending of the project and 100 followers. I'm really excited about both of these. I'm also starting another project that I will introduce with the contest. So keep your eyes open for the chance to win something!

Geneva Car Show

A few more beauties from the car show. I was having dreams last night that mixed the last few weeks of life. I was at a car show with Albert and we were drinking Irish beer (last night we went to a pub). There were buckskin horses that people kept saying they had never seen before but we needed to catch them (part of a story idea). It was one of those nights where I felt like I was working all night. Ever get those? Here's those photos to sooth my wild mind.

First the new Mini Cooper. Then the Audi A1 on it's world premier. Then the gorgeous Porsche GT3, their newest racer. The Bugatti's blue part is made of carbon fiber. And some cars from Spyker.

Geneva Car Show

Geneva is five hours away from where we live. It's not a particularly pretty drive, except for the fact that I got to see mountains for the first time since leaving Colorado. Mountains on both sides of the highway was a bit disconcerting because I'm used to the mountains being to the west, not all around me. It was strange to watch the road signs and billboards change from German to French as we neared the French border. And that was within the one country of Switzerland. We actually ended up in French Geneva at one point so now I can say I drove through three countries in one day. Onto the photos. I'm posting the 'green' cars today in honor of St. Patty's. I'll post the others tomorrow.

First is the Ferarri. Then the Lamborghini Superleggea, the first Lamborghini I've liked since the Diablo. Then some awesome alien-like car. I wanted to touch it. And how the entire sides come up as doors, how cool is that?

Die Antwort

Natürlich ist die Antwort

Fahrrad

The answer of course is

bicycle

I really want one now that we live in an area where it's worth it. My parents house is in the country and not exactly close enough to any town to go cruising on a bike. I would love one of those old silver Schwinn ones. But they seem to be pretty expensive. We live in between the city and the country here. So I can go bike riding in the open space to the left or the city to the right. It's a very good spot, and we're loving it. Pictures from the Geneva car show soon.

Word of the Week

My imagination is failing me this week. Don't worry, I still have a game for you. But It made me think that it's finally time to start asking for word suggestions. You can put them in the comments, but be warned that people will see them that way. If you don't want others to see your word then you can email me. (My email is at the bottom of the About page.) When I use your word/words I will say so in the post. Have fun with it! Onto the game...

These four pictures have one thing in common. Guess what it is in the comments. You can click on the photos to view the products or click on the shop names to visit the shops. I'll post the answer tomorrow.

happyfamily.etsy.com

kylieparry.etsy.com

softboiled.etsy.com

RusticGoth.etsy.com

If you have an etsy shop and would like to have a give-away for one of your items, let me know! I will feature you in another Word of the Week and display an ad for you on the side of my blog for two weeks.

The Answer and a Winner

I'm very excited to announce that

Cora

is the winner! Thank you to thirtyonedesigns for providing the prize. And thanks for playing guys.

Albert and I are headed to a fancy car show in Switzerland tomorrow. I'll have some pictures of the beautys for you.

100 Photos

I've been slacking on this project, but I'm so close so I refuse to give up. Here is another installment of my 100 photos project. And I think I'll have to put together a celebration for the closing of this project and 100 followers. So keep an eye out for a surprise here in while.

Day 94 - Oh yes, chocolate ice cream, cherries, chocolate, cherry liquer, and chocolate.

 And now it's gone.

Day 95 - I'm sorry, but I just don't want pizza made at a Chinese restaurant.

Day 96 - A new addition to the house, terrariums. I've never lived in a place that has moss. It's so fun! This one has survived and once this snow leaves I'll start another.

Day 97 - Spring is really trying to begin, but it snowed again just two days after this.

Yay for 100 photos and yay for 100 followers!

Word of the Week - Give-Away!

This week is a give-away! Provided by thirtyonedesigns. She makes custom photo cards and is offering any of her existing designs to the winner. I've changed the rules a little, it's still the same game, but we're adding some aspects. These four photos have one thing in common. Guess correctly what that is in the comments and you will be entered in a drawing for the prize. If you follow my blog, mention it in the comments and you will receive an extra entry. If you go to thirtyonedesigns and peruse her shop, let me know your favorite design in the comments and it will count as yet another entry. Have fun with it! The give-away will be open until Friday. Thanks for playing.

thirtyonedesigns.etsy.com

marywibis.etsy.com

HomeStudio.etsy.com

TerrierTrousers.etsy.com

Entries:
1 - You must guess the answer correctly
1 - tell me that you follow my blog
1 - tell me which design in the thirtyonedesigns shop you like

If you have an etsy shop and would like to have a give-away for one of your items, let me know! I will feature you in another Word of the Week and display an ad for you on the side of my blog for two weeks.

When I Said...

When I said last Sunday was a book-reading day I should have waited until this week. It snowed again yesterday and because of the German world being closed on Sundays, I am on the couch with tea and some books. Let's see, Albert and I just finished The Hobbit, lovely classic. I'm also reading Dragonfly in Amber by Diana Gabaldon. Her series of historical fiction books astound me because they are all one thousand pages long and never bore me. At this point there are eight of them, and the series is not finished.

I'm also looking through a German cookbook my sister bought me. I need to plan some meals for when my family comes out here for two weeks. (I'm not much of a cooker, but let's keep that between us.) Alongside that I'm studying English Grammar for Students of German. I understand English grammar, but I like how this book explains the German grammar in a way I can understand. And lastly I'm perusing a German culture book. So far I've already seen a lot of what this book talks about, but I would like to understand the country and the people since I live here.

Time to make some more tea and switch books.

The Answer

Yep, yep, yep. I made lemonade with

lemons

I will update on some stuff later. Right now I need my bed. We had our first Deutschland poker night on a whim tonight and it was such a blast! Poker night at our house was a typical occurrence back in Colorado, and I'm looking forward to making that happen here again. Night all!

Word of the Week

Had some (...)s left over and made the tartest (...) ever! But it was so good because it was fresh squeezed. Welcome to Word of the Week. Yes, I just gave you the biggest hint ever. These four photos have one thing in common, guess what it is in the comments. You can view the products by clicking on the pictures or visit the shops by clicking on the shop names. Thanks for playing! I'll post the answer tomorrow. And next week is a give-away, so make sure you come back!

JenniferAitchison.etsy.com

CarolynPaints4U.etsy.com

EllaScottJewels.etsy.com

Vintagesoapshoppe.etsy.com

If you have an etsy shop and would like to have a give-away for one of your items, let me know! I will feature you in another Word of the Week and display an ad for you on the side of my blog for two weeks.