February means ski-break for most of the students and schools in Europe but not for the Germans school or at least not here in Düsseldorf, Nordrhein-Westfalen (here instead schools have two weeks off for Easter and two for Autumn-break) But we do have a couple of February days off to celebrate Karneval.  Karneval is a big deal! I have lived here for five years but still karneval is something special to experience and impressive to see how germans old and young likes dressing up to this level.  This year we did the Rosen Montag Karnevalzug in Wittlaer instead of the big parade down-town.  And instead of doing Karneval all weekend - me and the kids had planned a trip with friends to Lille in France. We left on Friday which was a day off and it is cool to live here in the heart of Europe and in 3 hours drive through 4 countries, Germany, Netherlands, Belgium and France. Lille was very cute french town and we do have a soft spot for cute French towns so this fitted us...

Oh yes I try to do a some sort of year summary each year at least in different fields. To do a illustrated summary is a must and covers important fun fragments of the year. Another one of my favorite list and summary of the year is of my books. I have a target to read one book per month. I love books and take great pride in every book I purchase and read. This year I managed to read more because I have fallen for the listening form of books and can focus better on other things such as washing, cleaning, sewing, drawing and walking if I at the same time listen to a book. And I picked good books this year I enjoyed all of them ! 

 Week 5 of 2023 and after a fair share of very grey days here in Düsseldorf it was very very nice to see some sun rays again. I know it is nearly like spring here if you compare it to Sweden but after 4,5 years here I have now a higher standard for what spring is and to be honest I can't wait for it ( I am guessing I am not the only one)  Last week I was busy going for some necessary but not so fun appointments. A friend of my told me that she tries to book all necessary check ups in January so she will be done with it, I like that idea instead of avoiding to book and just thinking about which I tend to do. So I have removed birthmarks ( I was soooo nervous) done an ultrasound on my breast to make sure all ok, and now I should also book dentist appointments for me and the kids. Dentist for me definitely before moving back to Sweden because In Germany check up is covered by insurance and also simple fillings and in Sweden a small robbery for just a check-up.  On the creati...

This week I have been making some new gift bags. A friend from Sweden came to visit on Sunday and she had ordered bags and hairbands, with instruction that she likes stripes, polka dots and turquoise. That gave me an excuse to go to this nice fabric shop Dori & Ellen in Lindtorf, Ratingen to pick up some new spring color fabrics for bags and hairbands. I made some bags and hairbands in different colors to send with her but also continued to make some more for the webshop. Check it out I managed to upload a few bags in the size of a hard cover book, just in time for the Swedish book sale coming up in Feburary.  I am constantly looking for new ideas and things to make and explore, thats what drives me. A friend of mine got a Cricut cutter for Christmas and she has showed me how it works and what you can do. That gave me inspiration that I can iron-on printed pictures to my bags. So I ordered transfer papers for laser printer and started testing. I am using my Düsseldorf and summe...