What? Christmas already?

Yep! Today is Halloween, so I thought it was time to change my blog background ... They have had Christmas stuff in the BX since school started! and now it has been in the German stores for about 3 weeks ... I LOVE the Christmas season ... so I can't resist getting ready early! I usually put up my tree and all the decorations on Thanksgiving. We will be in Berlin for Thanksgiving, and then the following weekend Shelby has her next foot operation ... So, I may have to decorate the week before Thanksgiving! I can't wait!!

What did I get myself into?

So, from a previous post, you may have guessed that I'm looking for a wardrobe. I've always loved them ~ something about storage pieces (bowls, canisters, cupboards, boxes, etc.) ... Anyway ... When we moved into this house in Germany, there were plenty of "shranks" - a type of wardrobe. Functional, but not very pretty ... The base provides one per child and two per adult, since there are NO closets in German homes. (Closets are considered another room, since there is a door - and Germans are taxed on there homes by the number of rooms in the home. So, it's not real smart to put in a closet and be charged for it ...) The series of previous American renters also let serval wardrobes. These two lovely pieces we were using in Spencer's room. Look familiar? Yep, the put together kind you can get from Walmart (or the BX) - cheap, and not real practical ... Well ... a lady from church, who has lived here in Germany for something like 15 years, told a group of us about these stores called Troc. I looked them up on the internet (they have an EXTREMELY slow website, reminescent of dial-up)... and they had some great pieces at good prices. All items are second-hand. So, think of a HUGE garage sale or Flea Market, in a store ... never know what you will find. I convinced some friends of mine to go check out the two Troc stores in Luxembourg (about 45 min. away). I found a wardrobe I liked and bought it. I borrowed a friend's truck and went back the next day with another friend to pick up my wardrobe and a couple pieces she wanted. European wardrobes are "knock-down"s ... they come comepletly apart, and are only held together with 4 interesting looking screws ....

I should have taken pictures before they took the wardrobe apart ... or at least watched what they were doing ...

Hmm.... no instructions manual here ...

I don't think hubby will be thrilled to try and figure this out ... So ... I carried ALL the wood upstairs ... hmm ... now what? I put the bottom down, added the back panels and the two sides, put the screw per each side in... then I had to wait about 20 minutes for my big strong high school son to get home from school. He helped me put the top on. Then we had to position 3 doors and lift the top to add the doors in place. Then we added the screw to the top of each side ... Ta DAH!!

I got the big shelves in before Darren got home from work (who knew the shelves would be tricker than the whole rest of the wardrobe?!). I had to sand the shelves for the narrow section and make some adjustments... but by bed time, we had it all done and filled up, and Spencer's room put back together!! I'm very impressed with myself!!

When I Grow Up, I Want to be Like my Big Sister ...

Often I get complimented for a craft idea ... but, I have to tell people that it wasn't MY idea, I learned it from my sister. I tell everyone, "When I grow up I want to be like my big sister!" She is DEFINITELY talented, and always generous with that talent. Here is just the latest in her designs!

She bought me some cartridges for my xyron machine, but couldn't just send those in a box ...

She sent me all these treats as well ...

My children were VERY jealous!

When I grow up ... I DEFINITELY want to be like my big sister!!

THANKS Kimberly!!

Frankenstien's Castle

Living in Germany gives you lots of chances to see Castles ... Darren & Devin just couldn't pass up going to Frankenstien's Castle! I opted to stay home with Shelby & Spencer (you have to be 14 or older to go) ... someone had to stay home ...

They had a great time with people from Darren's work. Devin even got put in a coffin... but he's none worse for the wear ...

I guess it's hard to resist a "haunted house" at the REAL Frankenstien's Castle ...

Antique findings ...

Our trip to Belgium took us to a warehouse called Sledgers (http://www.slegers-antiques.com/) ... a fun place to find cheaper priced items ... I had a great time looking at all the possiblities... We also went to another store. Much more expensive, but with beautiful pieces. I walked in and immediately saw a beautiful wardrobe that I needed ... until I was told the price!! But, I found another one ... with another pretty price.. at last, I found the perfect one! Nice and wide, shelves already in it, pretty shape and size, not too deep to be impractical for use ... When I brought the man over to ask the price on this one .. he said, "you have a good eye" .. drat!! another expensive one!! But, I really like this one, and am trying to convince my husband that it might just be the perfect one! (He has a day off work next week and I'm going to try to wrestle him to the store - it really is much more beautiful in person!) I debated about this coffee table at Sledgers, (sorry about the bad picture, it was in tight quarters with stuff on top, and all around ...) - but, there were 2 and I figured I could bring Darren back for an opinion, since there is also one very similar in the antique store on base for a little less ..

I settled on this pretty bookshelf with wrought iron sides (it is REALLY heavy!) ..

and another small dough bowl ...

It was so fun shopping and looking! It was a fun day with friends. We had great talks up and back and enjoyed the day. I can't wait till our next outing ... Will it be the "Red Plate Store", or the "Basket" store? I don't care which!! It's fun to go with friends and see fun things!

WHAT on EARTH ?!?

I finally got a chance to take a little day trip antiqueing with some friends. We had a FABULOUS time and enjoyed looking at lots of neat things. (Yes, I admit, I brought home one or two things ... two to be exact -- with plans to take Darren back next week for more serious looking and buying ...) ... any way ... I came home parked in the garage, and proceeded to walk toward the walkway to the front door where my friend at pulled her truck in to unload my really cool bookshelf. I happened to glance down at the lawn ... and WHAT?! was that!! Do I have a strange infestation of some unknown animal? Are there ginormous burrowing animals here in Germany? Did my teenager take his tennis racket to the lawn? Did my younger son practice golf swings? WHAT is that?!

There seem to be large holes ... wait ... those look kinda like ...

At this point, I look across the street to my German neighbor. Ludwig (yes, real name) stops pushing his wheelbarrow and gives a quick explanation in German. Which, of course, I don't understand... But, I put my fingers up to make horns and say ...

Cows? To which, he confirms - by making the same gesture with his fingers by the side of his head... COWS!! All over my front lawn!! (which, of course, has had several days of wet weather, so the grass was nice and soft, perfect for cow hoof prints!)

Never a dull moment here in my country village ... I'm just sad that the one day I choose to jaunt off to another country for the day (did I mention we went Antiqueing in Belgium?), I miss the parade of cows on the lawn... oh well, maybe next time ...

FALL!!

I can't believe that the last time I posted was in September!! Guess I'm not as with it on this blog thing as I thought I would be! Fall has been in Germany for a while now ... I first noticed the leaves changing in mid-late September. I keep meaning to take breathtaking pictures - but either the lack of camera, lack of time, or busyness of life has gotten in the way ... I did finally remember to take a picture of my front porch! I love fall decorations!

I also love my dough bowl! It's so much fun to put stuff in! Usually during the summer, or spring, I only have boring stuff like bags of chips in it. But, in the fall I have fun with the gourds, and in the winter, I have fun pine cones and christmas balls to put in it!