{SAINT NICHOLAS - SINTERKLAAS 2013}

Does any of you celebrate Saint Nicholas's Birthday on December 6th? Or SINTERKLAAS, in Dutch...? Certainly my Dutch readers, family and friends will! They put their wooden shoes or other shoes out in front of the fireplace, with a carrot and some hay for Saint Nicholas' horse. Often they will find some sweets in return the next morning. All that takes place during the weeks of November; in anticipation of THE BIG DAY for the larger gift(s) if you are fortunate.

The little wooden shoe to the right is actually MINE; worn when I was 3 years old!

The leather straps were worn out but the shoe itself is in perfect condition.

Mom & Dad saved those wooden shoes for me and my younger sister Diny to hand them to us as we were grown up.

My Dad's brother and painter, Jan, did paint mine and I still keep them in front of our fireplace!

These are actually photos taken for my earlier publication of a column for the local newspaper.

You can read more about that in the link below this post, as well as about the origin of Santa Claus.

Typical Dutch scene of Saint Nicholas arriving from Spain...

Soon he will return to Spain till next year; 2014.

Related links:
The Origin of Santa Claus Video about history, listen till the end to hear how Sinterklaas morphed into Santa Claus...

{Saint Nicholas | Sinterklaas} | previous post by me about my newspaper publication

{Humble Gifts of the 1950s} | previous post by me about my early childhood treats for December

{Chocolate & Silver Alphabet Letters for Saint Nicholas} | previous post by me
Samichlaus and his helper Schmutzli | Swiss tradition from the 10th Century via Turkey
{Chocolate Letter LOVE} | previous post by me

{Chocolate and Silver Alphabet Letters for Saint Nicholas} | previous post by me
{Since 1896 Dutch CHOCOLATE LETTERS - Have YOU Tried Them?} | previous post by me

{ME, Turning 20 on December 3!}

Yes, I am turning 20 on December 3! As a United States Citizen, that is... 

After all, it is not bad to get a second chance in life for starting over and being young again!

It does perk you up.
On Friday, December 3, 1993 we got up at 4:15 AM for driving to Atlanta for the Naturalization Ceremony at the Richard B. Russell Federal Building. At 8:30 it started for 257 people from 60 nations and it lasted only till 9:55 AM.
So we raced back to Dublin; still in time for Rotary lunch. Husband Pieter proudly introduced me as his NEW American wife... 

Twenty (20) years old...

Haha my sweater is 25 years old; got it at the Christiana Mall in Newark, Delaware on Saturday, August 27 of 1988.

I fell in love with the leaf pattern and also because it is cropped.

Nah, that's NOT a new car... It's just an old LOVE!

We got this Infiniti FX35 in Brilliant Silver on August 12, 2005 for Mom & Dad's arrival.

Mom just got a knee replacement and we wanted her to get in and out of a car comfortably so we got this one.

But do you like my new boots? 

Dolce Vita Hayla Suede Ankle boots in black from Last Call by Neiman Marcus with 40% off. 

Black legwarmers are from our local TJ Maxx...

Pantyhose are French Dim that I purchased at Sogo, Japanese department store in Jakarta, Indonesia. 

Jeans skirt is from Escada.

Related link:
{Today I turned 17!} | previous post by me
{My Hat Attack NYC GAVROCHE} | previous post by me, wearing the same Escada skirt
{Dutch American Heritage Day 2005 with Mom & Dad} | previous post by me about Mom & Dad's final visit to the USA...

{First Advent Week}

Already Advent Season for 2013, and also the beginning of December... 

Can't believe it but it is TRUE. 

Wishing you all a Meaningful First Advent Week.

Just using a red Point A la Ligne candle from France with fresh Rosemary sprigs from the garden.

Rosemary emits such a lovely fragrance!

The beautiful pineapple doily was hand crocheted by my sister-in-law Elly VandenMunckhof, she is a loyal reader of this blog.

The red rose ribbon is French too.
And so is the Baccarat vase...

Related link:

{First Week of Advent 2012} | Last year's post by me