Mums and Mice

Nothing can beat my Mum's birthday wishes... she always hits the spot, every. single. year.

THO CUTE! *-* Although I keep asking myself why doesn't the piano play at the very end, when they're all happily bouncing on the keys.

What would we do without our Mums, I ask you now?

Quote For The Day

"It is the small temptations which undermine integrity unless we watch and pray and never think them too trivial to be resisted"

- Uncle Alec in Rose in Bloom by L. M. Alcott 

Random Post

It's been quite some time since I last posted. Many things have happened since - just to mention a couple, a conference in a chateau in France and a short visit to my parents over at northern Spain.

Bear with me as I settle down back to routine and to normal life... things shouldn't take long. I've many things to write and update about, but for now I am catching up in my housecleaning and baking in general.

So, in the meantime, here's a picture of the bread buns that have come right out the oven for you to enjoy!

P.S.: The weather over here is delightful, and we've come back to find our area transformed from bleak, bare and brown to alive, lush and green!

Dichter Und Bauer

Studyin' and workin' to the best music!

The Poet and Peasant is an overture by Franz von Suppé that I first heard played as an arranged piano piece. My sister put a lot of feeling into her interpretation, so I've always enjoyed listening to it. Some days ago I was humming it to myself as I studied and was curious about it, so I looked it up on the Internet to learn more about it (I like to acquaint myself with the history of the pieces and composers I listen to). I found several orchestra and solo versions of it, but the original orchestra piece is by far my favourite. Therefore, without further ado, click play and enjoy.

To learn more about Franz von Suppé, click HERE.

Spring is Here!

Perhaps this announcement is a little bit belated, but with Spring being here and gracing us with beautiful, warm, sunny weather during the first couple of days she happened along (something new around these parts, believe me...), you will understand the impossibility of me staying indoors.

The weather has gone back to its old self again - cloudy, windy, grey, rather chilly - but it would seem that the little bit of sunshine I managed to soak in during the last couple of days has been enough to have me in the best of spirits this morning!

Without further ado, I will accompany the belated announcement with a beautiful song my Mum posted along with her welcoming of Spring.

This past weekend I found out, though, that in Romania Spring starts on the 1st of March, and Summer starts on the 1st of June. It was stated, therefore, that I was married in Spring and my husband was married in Summer.

Happy week, everyone! Toodle pips!

"Little Irène" - Mlle Irene Cahen d'Anvers

Little Irene by Pierre Auguste Renoir, 1880. Impressionism.

I've had a small printed picture of this portrait of Mlle Irene Cahen d'Anvers since before I was a teenager. One day my family received a promotional pamphlet of some kind of art magazine subscription, and one of the artists featured was Renoir. I was familiar with his more known works (such as The Piano Lesson, A Girl With A Watering Can, etc.), but had never seen this one, which was one of the three paintings that accompanied the mini-article about Renoir.

The moment my eyes fell on it I was so taken by it that I begged my Mum to allow me to cut it out and keep it for myself. It is a fascinating portrait! The girl's expression, the smoothness of her skin, her incredibly beautiful hair, the detail of the bow... I could look and study this painting for hours if I had the time.

Irène's father, Louis Raphael Cahen d’Anvers, was a wealthy Jewish banker. In 1880 he commissioned Pierre Auguste Renior three portraits, one of each of his daughters. Irène's was the first to be done, but the family didn't like it, and asked Renoir to do a second portrait of the two other girls together (the result was Pink and Blue). That didn't please the parents, either, and after paying Renoir a mere 1,500 francs the portraits were hung in the servants' quarters. That obviously upset Renoir.

The history of this painting is a little complex due to WWII, and accounts differ from one another. However, it is presently exhibited at the Foundation E.G. Bührle in Zurich, and open to the public. What I'd give to see it in real life some day. [smile] For now my little version stands on my cork board and is admired every day.

Those Were The Days

They don't do these wonderful things for children anymore!

What's Our Vector, Victor?

You know that when the first lesson in Linear Algebra on your online course quotes this clip (below, in bold), it's going to be worth it.

Roger: Flight 2-0-9'er, you are cleared for take-off.
Cpt. Oveur: Roger!
Roger: Huh?
Tower voice: L.A. departure frequency, 123 point 9'er.
Cpt. Oveur: Roger!
Roger: Huh?
Victor: Request vector, over.
Cpt. Oveur: What?
T.v.: Flight 2-0-9'er cleared for vector 324.
Roger: We have clearance, Clarence.
Cpt. Oveur: Roger, Roger. What's our vector, Victor?
T.v.: Tower's radio clearance, over!
Cpt. Oveur: That's Clarence Oveur. Over.
T.v.: Over.
Cpt. Oveur: Roger.
Roger: Huh?
T.v.: Roger, over!
Roger: What?
Cpt. Oveur: Huh?
Victor: Who?

We Have This Moment Today

Today, as I hung the laundry and sung along in harmony to a song by one of my friends and her family, I have been reminded of what a gift we have in the moment of NOW!

Originally written by Bill Gaither, this song has the capacity of sending thrills down my spine and giving me goose bumps every single time I listen to it. It's a song that challenges you to appreciate the small things of life, to enjoy, live and make the most of the present, because that's what we get - now. Yesterday's gone and tomorrow may never come.

This is the only decent version I have found on the Internet. There are plenty of others, but they had speeches or they were live. This version does not convey the feeling to me as my friends' version, but it is still sung lovely:



We Have This Moment Today

Hold tight to the sound of the music of living,
Happy songs from the laughter of children at play;
Hold my hand as we run through the sweet fragrant meadows,
Making mem'ries of what was today.

Chorus:
We have this moment to hold in our hands
and to touch as it slips through our fingers like sand;
Yesterday's gone and tomorrow may never come,
But we have this moment today.

Tiny voice that I hear is my little girl calling,
For Daddy to hear just what she has to say;
And my little son running there by the hillside,
May never be quite like today.

Tender words, gentle touch and a good cup of coffee,
And someone who loves me and wants me to stay;
Hold them near while they're here and don't wait for tomorrow
To look back and wish for today. 

Take the blue of the sky and the green of the forest,
And the gold and the brown of the freshly mown hay;
Add the pale shades of spring and the circus of autumn,
And weave you a lovely today.

Do we truly appreciate what we have been given? Do we recognize our happy family moments and small daily details as a gift and enjoy them in the moment?

Engagement Pictures

There aren't that many pictures that I can share from our engagement session. As you've probably noticed, or know already, I follow a no-face-pictures-on-the-Internet policy on my blog, so, as engagement pictures are mostly about the couple, there aren't that many that are face-less.

Nevertheless, allow me to share those which are. Some you may have already seen, some not. Whatever the case is, I hope you like them. :)

We went to two lovely places. The first one was an old town full of beautiful streets with cobbled ground and stone walls, benches in romantic places and ivies hanging over walls. Unfortunately, we don't have any surreptitious pictures from that place - all are of us close up or from a short distance. Sorry.

The second place gave us some opportunities for distanced or secret pictures, and although most of them were also of us, the photographers managed to take several which I can actually show to you. [happy smile]

Enjoy!

We went to a nature reserve - some sort of wetlands, a swampy area full of small lakes and ponds right
by the seashore.

Such sweet narrow wood walks in between the ponds!

I said YES!

The ring. Yep, you've already seen this one... but isn't it a beautiful ring?

I feel so bad that I can't share all of them with you... there are some that are so beautiful! However, if you are a personal acquaintance and you'd like to see more of 'em, you can always e-mail me and I'll send you my favourites!

The Unexpected

It's curious how some things come to you right when you need them.

For some time I have been considering buying a new pencil case because my very-liked old one was... well, old. It has several stains from pens that had leaked, its lining was broken and torn in several places, and the zip has started to give in. However, I was reluctant to give it up because it was so flowery and bright and pretty and me-ish.

However, these holidays my sister sent me a gift via my parents (more on their visit soon!). Guess what it was? Yep, a pencil case. A very non-regular pencil case. A very me-ish pencil case! I'm very pleased with it - it's so beautiful and classy and, at the same, bright and colourful! Just what the doctor ordered! [smile]

Here are a few snaps I took of it. To condense it and not make it boring, I made up a collage with them. Hehe.

Cross stitch design - such a capital idea! Two compartments, the top one having the cutest ducks and flowers decorations...

Does anybody have a nicer, classier, cuter, more colourful pencil case than this one, I ask?

Introduction

Things have finally relaxed. Our flat is almost completely redecorated, the kitchen is done, my parents have been here and left, and now I find myself with time in my hands - so I blog, among other things.

Today I'd like to introduce you to the newest members of our small household. For a very long time I have wished for them, although my hopes were quite modest and I never expected something like this:

My new aquarium!

I had hoped for a cute fishbowl with a couple of goldfish named Abi and Nepomuceno (Nepo, for short), perhaps a third one eventually, but that was all. Then one day my husband arrived home and asked me, "How would you like to have an aquarium?"

Apparently, some friends of ours who owned it wanted to buy a larger one and expand their fish breeding and, having heard my wish for fish, were willing to start me off with their old one and some fish. I was thrilled! Of course I said yes.

Therefore, allow me to introduce my little 'uns.

Forgive me for being biased, but he's my favourite! Meet Nepomuceno
(Nepo for short), a cardinal tetra.

Nepomuceno used to have a brother named Nemo. The day we went to pick up the aquarium and the fish, our friend had emptied it almost completely in order to be able to fish them out of the water more easily. Somehow, Nemo hid and our friend couldn't find it, and concluded he must have miscounted, or something similar.

The small amount of water and all the stones and plants remained in the aquarium and for an hour were tossed and turned during our drive back home. That evening, as I tried to put some order among them, we found Nemo! Hence the name. He was rather battered and a little bit dumb, but as soon as I put him in with the rest of the fish while I cleaned up the aquarium, he cheered up and ate with the rest.

A couple of days later he died, poor thing. Nepo is rather lonely, and because of the kind of fish he is he needs company, so when we get a chance, my husband and I hope to buy him some friends. [smile] To know more about his kind, click HERE.

Meet Gustavo and his Clan!

Gustavo and his Clan are swordtail fish. We have one male (notice the sword-shaped tail? Beautiful with black streaks) and three females. Because the only one who could be told apart from the rest was the male (the females are all alike, they don't have different physical characteristics) we decided to name him, and the rest as his clan. They reproduce very quickly so I hope to soon present you with a nursery. [smile]

To know more about the different kind of swordtail fish, click HERE.

Meet Abi, Cora and Unnamed-for-now, very orange, very dumb tiger
barbs.

They are also known as the Three Musketeers, although they used to be four. One of them was bullied to death by a swordtail female, so now they are the Three Musketeers. They are absolutely inseparable and quite funny in their dumbness.

We can name them because of their differentiating spots (or lack thereof) on their middle orange section. However, we still haven't memorized them, so for now they are Abi-Cora-Unnamed instead of being this one Cora and that one... you get the idea. We are thinking of a suitable name for the third. Any suggestions? We suspect they're all females...

To know more about tiger barbs, click HERE.

I must not forget the snails! No, the big one isn't their grandpa... it's a
shell I picked up from the shores of the Black Sea.

Included with the fish were plenty of snails. We must keep an eye on them because they reproduce with lightning speed and may become pests. However, I'm glad to see that the swordtails are keeping them at bay for now. They seem to really enjoy eating them up.

Who would know that one day I would own an aquarium and several fish, not just a fishbowl with two or three? Like I sometimes tell my husband jokingly, I have a new TV! Honestly, I have to check myself sometimes because I could sit down in front of it and watch the fish swim and play all day! My fishies are great and I really enjoy taking care of them!

Happy New Year!

To all and everyone, near and far... happy new 2015 to you and your loved ones!

Season's Greetings!

Have a chuckle!

Why can't I ever think of these things?

Love in Venice

Love in Venice is the title of the piece which gives André Rieu's newest album its name. This original song was quite a surprise for me, as I am used to another, more easy-going style in his playing instead of the romantic, melancholic thoughtfulness of this one, so I thought I'd share it and see what others think.

Enjoy!

Rainy Day Biscuits

I've been asked by a co-blogger for a recipe for specific biscuits, the Rainy Day Biscuits. This is a recipe we found once in a library book of rainy-day activities. Therefore, we baked them when it rained, which wasn't often, so these were quite a treat.
As it is a rainy day today here, I thought it fitting to post it! The reason why I was asked to write it is this picture on the right: Xoc innocently looking at the camera as if his intentions towards the chocolate biscuits weren't obvious. I suppose the cookies do look promising, hehe!
My friend asked about the chocolate biscuits specifically, but I'll tell you something, they are the same as the others you see in the picture - they just have cocoa added.
So, without further ado, let me share with you one of the simplest recipes I've ever used, and yet, one of the yummiest!

Rainy Day Biscuits

Ingredients:

• 300 g of normal flour
• 200 g of margarine
• 100 g of sugar
• Decorations of your choice (dried fruit and nuts, candied fruit, chocolate chips, food colouring, etc.)

For chocolate biscuits:

• 250 g of normal flour
• 50 g of cocoa
• 100 g of margarine
• 50 g of sugar

Method:

• Mix the flour, margarine and sugar up to make a soft dough (if you've chosen to bake the chocolate biscuits, mix in the cocoa as well).
• Start heating the oven to 190ºC (375F)
• Form little balls with the dough, and place them on a greased oven tray.
• If you'd like coconut biscuits, take as many balls as you need and mix them back together, adding as many level tsp. of shredded coconut as balls you chose.
• Press the balls gently with your fingers to a flat (about half a cm), round shape. To differentiate between the normal dough balls and the coconut dough balls, press the latter with a fork (if you're working with cocoa biscuits, you're done! Jump to the last instruction).



Candied orange, toasted almond
chips, walnut, and pine nuts, plus a
coconut one on the top right.



Chocolate chips and chocolate
sprinkles.

• Decorate! Imagination is the highest kite one can fly, and the sky is the limit. On the right there are some pictures from my mum's blog from which you can get some ideas.
• Bake for 12-15 minutes and take out tray from oven. After 2-3 minutes of cooling (needed! Otherwise they stick) remove biscuits from tray and place on a flat cooling surface.

If you're a fan of baking and really enjoy it, then you'll have to decide which part you've enjoyed the most... the baking or the eating! Difficult decision, don't you think?

The Anatomy of the Foot

Here's something that made me laugh. Anyone who's had a little brother will probably understand this picture, and laugh with me!

Anyone ever experienced the pain that comes with it?

Laundry Companion

It happened

It seems that lately I am relying too much on the "better late than never" expression. I should have posted this announcement some seven months ago! However, as we didn't have engagement pictures back then, it is just as well that I waited.

So, what happened, you wonder?

This did:

On the 3rd of January 2014 the man of my dreams asked me to spend the rest of my life with him. I said YES!

How did he manage to pick out the perfect ring?!

Then, this did, about five months later:

On the 7th of June 2014 the love of my life and I said "I do" together and started our life as a married couple.

Do you realize what this means? This means I'm no longer living with my parents, but with my husband in our own sweet little flat some three thousand kilometres away. It means that I get to cook, clean and do laundry all by myself. It's no longer "helping mother", it's just me. It also means that I get to spend every day with the one that my heart loves for the rest of my life! I know it's cliché and cheesy, but... it is like having a slumber party every night with your best friend and you talk about everything till you fall asleep!

And people... I'm loving it!

Experience

This is something I've learnt from experience...