noa noa

: : there's something about this image that just mesmerizes me. beautiful. 
 and there's lots more where it came from, visit noa noa to be inspired.

(via .house doctor's blog.)

IKEA Family Live

 : : ah, my new favorite place to be in cyberspace is of course IKEA Family's new website .LIVE. where real people around the world share stories and photos of their homes. A wonderful way to travel around the world and peek into people's homes.

(found via .House Doctor's blog.)

week 2 watercolor

the second week into the watercolor class and it is quickly becoming a highlight of my week.

I'm not falling in love with any of the studies we are doing, approaching them recklessly and not anticipating masterpieces at all. Instead, I'm playing with brush strokes and techniques and soaking in the creativity around me. I'm the least experienced by a decade or so, and I like seeing the different style of each artist around me.

We chat a little here and there; the silence is companionable and comfortable. Elanor, the lady sitting next to me, said last night that artists can say more by saying nothing at all just enjoying a moment together. I liked the sound of that. The happy birds singing out the end of the day, bunnies eating the herbs, squirrels and wedding guests wandering through our landscape all add to the ambiance of our evenings in the gardens.

I don't want this class to end.

101woonideeën

More Dutch coverage! We really are flavour of the month in the Netherlands. This time the June issue of 101woonideeën are recommending "instant happiness" with the ISAK range of made to measure wallpapers. Who are we to argue?!

The Power Of Words

A group of frogs were travelling through the woods, and two of them fell into a deep pit.  All the other frogs gathered round the pit. When they saw how deep the pit was, they told the  two frogs that they were as good as dead.
 The frogs ignored the comments and tried to jump out of the pit with all their might. The other frogs kept on telling them to stop, that they as good as dead. Finally one of the frogs took heed to what the other frogs were saying and gave up. He fell down and died.
The other frog continued to jump as hard as he could. once again the crowd of frogs yelled at him to stop the pain and just die. He jumped even harder and finally made it.
When he got out, the frogs said, " did you not hear us?"
The frog explained to them that he was deaf. He thought they were encouraging him the entire time.

This story gives us thoughts to ponder :
 An encouraging word to someone down can push them to achieve their goal.
A destructive word to someone who is down can have negative effects.
 But do we ever pause to think before we say something harsh and hateful to others?
 How often we look down upon people, and without even batting an eye lid, convey to them, how doomed they are?
We are all so safe in our own comfort zone, that we fail to see, a little help from us can lead those struggling also, to reach their own comfort zone with ease.
All we need to do is to be there for them. Be careful of what you say, for words do have great power.

A good word uttered, blesses the giver and the receiver, thus making it a Win -Win exercise.

VTWONEN

"Bugs" clothing range in Dutch magazine vtwonen.

Isak in the real world

Starting to show off the photos you all have send in. Can you spot the tray? And the poster in the bath room?