Birthday Joys

I am happy about special moments on my special day. A bumble-bee enjoying the sweet juice of a pumpkin flower.

Flecki visiting in the morning.

Beautiful roses on my birthday table.

A paper bag with Lady Liberty.

A bit of Disney magic -- a potholder and an apron.

A touch of the American West -- a scarf with a lovely design.

Wonderful gifts from my friend Martina from Sweden -- thanks Martina!

A dream coming true -- a new camera!

Lunch at an Asian restaurant -- just delicious!

Of course, a piece of cake!

I hope your birthday was/will be just as happy!

Love Bandit

I wanted to create a Valentine's Day card which is a bit different and still my style. Thus I chose a western theme.

Who could possibly resist that Love Bandit?

A heart painted on a wood slice -- Old West romance.

My alternative title for this Valentine's Day tag is:

You are my shooting star.

S is for Sign

A sign for Jenny's Alphabe-Thursday -- I hope it makes you smile!

One has to have priorities...

K is for Kokopelli

Jenny's Alphabe-Thursday is the perfect chance to introduce you to Kokopelli, the famous flute player of the American Southwest. The trickster lives all over my place. In the hallway, there's a Kokopelli hook.

On my fridge, there's a Kokopelli magnet.

In my study, I have a Kokopelli ornament.

This Kokopelli guards some of my books in the living room.

His bigger brother is nearby.

This Kokopelli plays the flute for his lizard friend.

A kachina watches this Kokopelli.

This is the very first Kokopelli I bought in the USA.

A ceramic tile showing a Kokopelli band.

Two Kokopelli bags which I just love.

Some of my Kokopelli books.

The Pink Gorilla of Austin

A couple of years ago I had the chance to meet a dear friend in Austin, Texas. We had gotten to know each other through an email group dedicated to a TV show we both like. Soon enough we started to correspond by email, seeing a kindred spirit in one another. When I visited her and her family in Austin, we came across what I call The Pink Gorilla of Austin. Gotta love that guy! Isn't he just perfect for Beverly's Pink Saturday?

Happy Pink Saturday!

Halloween Treats

Last week I received some wonderful Halloween treats in the mail -- I couldn't have been happier! The cute card below was made by Peggy from Peggy's Mixed-Up Art.

I had won Halloween art supplies in Peggy's kits giveaway to celebrate fall. Isn't the bat is gorgeous? It now has a place of honor on my Halloween tree.

Of course, this friendly pumpkin also has a prominent place on my Halloween tree.

I have never seen such cute stickers and fancy Halloween papers around here. Thanks so much, Peggy -- I love all and everything!

My next heartfelt thanks goes Joyce from Octoberfarm. I have been following her blog for quite some time now. She shares not only wonderful photos of the interesting places she visits but also of the delicious meals she cooks. Moreover, she has the cutest dog ever -- Teddy. During the Practial Magic blog event, she offered a special prize to win -- a Book of Shadows. Back then I wrote in reply to her interesting post about the original Practical Magic spellbook:

Hi Jaz,

You have outdone yourself with this magical post! :) It was so neat that we were allowed to take a peek into your spellbook. You are really an inspiration!

Thanks also for the chance to win such a beautiful Book of Shadows. It's a real treasure!

Oh yes, it sure is!

It doesn't just look great -- it feels great when you touch those letters.

A spider protects the book...

... and a cat watches over it.

Joyce also included this lovely witch hat tag which now hangs on my Halloween tree. It smells heavenly -- it reminds me of Christmas. Thanks so much Joyce -- the book has a place of honor in my living room and will be filled with special pictures, spells, and memories.

Do you remember the One World One Heart blog event from the beginning of this year? In my OWOH follow up post, I wrote:

"Last but not least I won a surprise prize by Cara from Cara Makes. Cara still works on putting something together based on three of my favorite things -- the Old West, the color teal, and mystery books. Doesn't that sound just cool? Looking at Cara's Etsy store, I know that I am in for yet another treat."

Yup, that's right -- it was certainly a treat worth being waited for! Cara drew this awesome cover for my very own mystery book.

Inside you find this even more mysterious letter.

A secret pocket revealed a turquoise treasure.

Moreover, Cara included this great wooden postcard of the Alamo. Oh, that brought back great memories of the day I visited the Alamo in San Antonio, Texas.

Thanks so much, Cara -- I love how much creativity and imagination you put into this very special gift.

B is for Birgit's Birthday

My birthday was full of sweet moments.

Humming visitors collecting pollen from flowers in the garden.

Flowers in the sunshine.

Lovely flowers in the grass.

Bows on gifts.

Cute wrapping paper.

Roses from the garden.

A new friend.

A touch of my beloved Southwest.

A shiny red glass rose.

Ribbons.

A special notebook which a stunning cover.

My new love.

A beautiful scarf.

A yummy strawberry biscuit roll.

An outing to the countryside in the evening.

Enjoying the golden evening light near Aying in Bavaria.

Eating the most delicious raspberries ever.

An amazing sunset.

Ripe tomatoes from the garden for dinner.

A spicy snack -- hot little devils.

What a perfect day -- and the perfect chance to round up Jenny Matlock's Alphabe-Thursday where one could choose a letter this week.