Romania {Part 2}:Rose

The lovely Rose & myself. 

{a few notes first}

I have an admission to make: I've been procrastinating. As soon as I got off the plane, home & settled back into daily U.S. life again, the very thought of trying to collect together my stories, pictures, thoughts sent me crawling away mentally! That was because, even though I know in truth that my trip was only a mere 11 days (and there are much longer periods of time, for example years, that people go overseas for) ...to me, this trip was huge & very full. SO much happened! So many memories of faces, conversations, gestures, songs, words, scenes, and feelings are still...almost a month later...swirling in my mind.

Basically, I freaked myself out thinking that I needed sit down to write up a huge, long letter and blog post, showing all the pictures & detailing everything that happened, even down to the meals I ate! (I exaggerate things in my head too much sometimes...) and everything I learned, did, heard, saw and felt.

Now, while I'd still like to do that in a way, I'm going to do it differently: bit by bit. So if you'll be loving & patient with me, friends & family, I'll get all the important things out on paper (or screen) for you to read...but it's going to take me a little time. :)

{now onto the good stuff!}
    So to start, I'm going to highlight one of the neatest, loveliest things that happen to me on my trip. It's a pure example of God trying to make me smile with His love, and winning. :) That beautiful thing that happened is Rose. About one year ago, I was looking for new friends to follow on a book web world I'm a part of (called Shelfari) and I happened to come across this one girl's profile who immediately sounded like someone I would really be able to connect with. Her name was Rose. :) Turns out....she was Christian too, and near my age, and loves the United States as much as I love the country of Romania....which as it turned out, that's where she's from! 
We've been emailing, sharing books recommendations, and keeping in touch for about a year now often dreaming  together 'out loud' about "how neat it would be if we could meet someday!"
It was fun to imagine. :)

Little did Rose or I know....what God had in mind!
As soon as plans were confirmed for this mission trip to Romania, I emailed Rose with the news: I'd be in her home country very soon!!
   Ballistically excited, we tried to figure out how to meet up!  After a while, it didn't seem it was going to be easy to meet, since she lived some distance from the area were the team a& I were going to be. I almost gave up hope! :( But after some messaging, and and phone call (it was so amazing to hear my dear pen pal's voice for the first time!) things lined up. Rose took the train a whole 3+ hours to see me! We met up in Sinaia, and we had lunch together, walked around the town, and spent time talking. Her calm, sweet manner impressed me. :) Along with her beautiful English! And her HUGE love for Jesus. :)) The best part of her is her joy for God that radiates out of her.

   We were so lucky (blessed!) and Rose also got to spend the rest of the day with us all, and the night too, eating dinner and hearing our speaker & friends Becky Walsh, from Casa Shalom, talk. :) I don't really have words to describe just how fun it was, being with Rose! I wish she lived next door!

So, although my Romania friend, Rose had to leave early in the morning the next day, it wasn't before we got some good pictures together and had a chance to have some lovely conversations. I really cherish my time with her in my heart and thank the Lord for putting it all together for it to happen. :)

Rose,
I miss you already! And I hope and pray we will meet again someday!
God bless you abundantly over & over.
Love,
Your American sister,
~Hannah

Rose and my team members, Steve, Beth & Paul out walking before dinner.

Rose, surprised me by writing a blog post in response!
Go check out the rest of the story from her opinion
{Here}

My Tumblrrrrrr

The new theme looks pretty awesome, dontcha think?

(:

I'm in Love....Yep.

Cybele's Secret

&

Wildwood Dancing

Did you hear? I know there's this little bird...he gets around....or maybe you haven't heard?

Well, in any case, let me be the first to tell you: I just fell in love. It's true!

I fell in love with Juliet Marillier & her books....specifically Wildwood Dancing and Cybele's Secret. I discovered them whilst perusing blogs...and I found this one blog of especially note (for it's prettiness & creativity!)....Fairytales, French Fries and Baby Kisses by name....kept by two sisters, I believe. Lovely blog. :)

And.....and.... way down hidden amongst older posts, I found this post which was more than enough to pique me curiosity. So, I looked them up at my library, found out that we have almost all her books (yay!) and checked out the two books above to start with.

What did I find?

I rediscovered two things through this book........ my love of fairytales (I love love love them!)

and ......my love of Romania. That's right! These are Romanian fairytale stories!

Needless to say, there's not much else to say......I've read each book twice already since Wednesday, and I've got the others on hold at the library......

Thank you, Bethany & Esther. :)

The Most Inspired Blogs of 2010

Here are the blogs that inspire me the very most. 

I read them almost every day, at least once a week.

I hope you come to enjoy reading at them too!

The Dutchess

 It's hard to specifically state why I am inspired by this blog! The Dutchess has this beautiful, quaint sense of style & humor that I love. She posts pretty pictures & paintings, she writes short little verses or includes some poetry of others. She makes blogging an art and that inspires me. :)

Urban Weeds 

Urban Weeds is a photo blog by a photographer named Lisa Warninger from Portland, Oregon, who (it appears!) goes downtown everyday in various spots, and accosts people going to and fro. She snaps their photo, one black & white close-up, one color full length, and asks what their style is. How they choose what to wear everyday, what inspires their outfits, and what they are wearing that day & by who. I am not in love with this blog for the fashion aspect; no. (Although it is interesting too.) The reason I go back to this blog over & over is for the faces. Something about seeing these crystal clear, beautiful captures of humans-- just like me-- inspires me. I want to photograph like that, with meaning. With purpose. Take a look, and I think you'll understand what I mean.

The House of Lisa

 This blog is amazing. Not gonna lie! I am in  love with it; with every post and with every word & picture on it! But first I should explain who keeps it and what is it! I'll use her description, because it explains it best: "I´m Lisa and I am a textile designer.My blog is a photo diary in an old countryhouse in Dalarna [Sweden]. Everything (almost) takes place in my dollhouse. Recently I started up a miniature gallery, where I present contemporary artists and designers..."
She blogs with her dollhouse! What can be more neat than that?!

1000 Awesome Things

1000 Awesome Things is run by a fellow named Neil. He writes weekly posts that detail what is AWESOME about different things in people's everyday lives. He has made it his job---literally!-- to remind all of us of those "awesome" moments in our lives. The blog is entertaining, funny, and very insightful many times. :) I always enjoy a 'look-see'.
Oh, and he has a book out too. It's called...not surprisingly, "The Book of Awesome"

 ~

Now that finished up the list of non-friend-kept blogs, but I do read many more blogs that these four. :) If you want the whole list, you can find it on my profile or blog roll. For now,enjoy looking at these.
Always,
~Hannah

.:. Mode Republic .:.

What an announcement I have to make! It may be news to some of my readers to learn that I've 'made it' on a international modeling website! Yep, it is true. Mode Republic Inc. is something like LookBook.nu, and is a free way to get your name (and face) out there for modeling.

A LOOKBOOK look.

 

Now, first things first: I did this because I was interested to see how the online magazine & lookbook features worked in combination. I don't really want to BE a model for a living; it's a rough job. That said...

It certainly came as a surprise to even myself when I turned up on the front page of the Mode this week for one of the favorite top looks!  (See screen shot below.)

The look that got featured was this one that I named "Chumberry". it was the first look I put up! I did notice that many of the outfits found on the website utilize soft, subdued colors; it's seems to be the 'mode'. Which is is precisely the reason I have to be surprised that I got voted for at all, because my outfit shouts "COLOR!". :) But that's just the way I like it.

I actually have two other looks up on my Mode Republic model profile as well. Take a peak, leave a comment, tell me what you think! It's a trivial sort of hobby, but it always gives me pleasure to dress nicely and to share my finds with others. This is one way to do just that. :)

So, yeah that's interesting. :)
[moving on...]
~Hannah aka "LittleWren"

P.S. - Please let me know if you get a Mode account; I want to vote for you! ;)

Confessions: My Pet Peeves



 My blogging friend, Emy, inspired me to do a blogging "confessions session" with this post. I frankly don't know what I am getting myself into, but that's the whole adventure of it I suppose! So here goes nothing. Pay attention because I'll only post this confession for exactly 5 hours before it goes back into the hidden "drafts" pile........


Just kidding.  This post will be up & staying up! Plus, I'm not planning on divulging anything really crazy. (Not like there is anything really crazy to divulge. ;)
So, the topic:

My Personal Pet Peeves

First off, I hope none of these will be used to torture me! *ahem*

Second, we all have them, we know it. Those things, activities, or habits that just plain bother us. Pet peeves, as they are colloquially called. I like to think that I am not like other people in my particular pet peeves, but who knows? Maybe I am not peculiarly 'peeved' after. Ha! But let's find out then, shall we?

Pet Peeve #1 - The Sound of People (other people) Chewing.

UGH! I do very much hate this one. If I can hear you making noises with the food in your mouth, or you are smacking your lips, slurping or doing something of the kind (to say nothing of table faux pas i.e. burping, etc.) then there is a very good chance that I am already being driven up the wall! It's awful, frankly. Nails on chalkboard? Nothing. That never bothered me (and in fact, I was often the kid who did it slowly just to watch the others squirm and yell, "Cut it out!", while I wondered why.) But, chewing or drinking sounds....Gahh. Another story entirely. Now you may ask, I can bet you are wondering, "So wait...how do you eat if you hate those sounds?!" The answer is: I don't know!

Okay, okay, let me think.

I think it's because this pet peeve of mine is a little vain? It seems to me that everybody else makes a ton more noise than I do eating (probably not true.) But another thing is, if I am eating, my head and jaw are making enough 'white noise' that I can't hear you no matter how awful of a racket you're making! It's a sort of simple solution; I either leave the room or join in the eating, usually the latter.

Pet Peeve #2 - Uncovered Feet at Night / Laced Shoes

It's a weird, weird thing this particular set of pet peeves. It just doesn't make sense! On one hand, when I sleep at night (no matter how unearthly, blistering hot it is) I love to have my feet either socked or safely tucked up inside the warm blankets. My toes have to feel safe & secure? (lol, I have no idea!)

On the other hand, I really, really, really detest having to lace up* my feet into shoes. I think I have a bad case of feet claustrophobia! It just feels...wrong, tight, constricting? My favorite shoes are:

- slip-ons

- flats

- boots

-moccasins

- sandals

Or, just going barefoot, or just wearing socks! Feet Freedom!

Now, you may draw whatever conclusions you like about my juxtaposition of Feet-in/Feet-out fetish, but as for me. I think it just calls back my childhood; 1) as a kid, I always was taking off my shoes during the day (or never put them on!) and 2) I never believed in monsters int he closet or anything.

But, I did keep thinking that if you let your feet hang over the edge of your bed, something was going to nab them. Don't ask me what I was thinking would do that! But in consequence, I always tuck my feet in at night, and I always wear shoes I can slip off easy. :)

* There is one compromise here. Like if, say, the shoes are super cute. Then, I'll be more than happy to tuck my footsies into a laced shoe. ;)

Pet Peeve #3 - Walking Into a Spider's Web

: : shudder : : This one is pretty much self-explanatory, and not at all unusual to have!


Pet Peeve #4 -  Stinkbugs
Yes, those bugs. Those nasty, horrible, crazy, lunatic, manic, unnerving, bothersome,.....!!!
Enough said. If you want to hear more about why I hate them, look here.
And the last one, which is especially important to remember, if you ever want to remain on good speaking terms with me... *tongue in cheek*


Pet Peeve #5 - Repeated Attempts to Get My Attention While I Am Reading
Listen: don't do this.
Okay?
No, wait, you!
Come back here!
I don't think you heard me well enough:
DO NOT DO THIS TO ME.

lol, Really! True story. :P It's awful, it wrecks my train of thought ,and it embitters me (haha). :D
So, pullllleeeeease, don't okay?
*sigh*
All done! There I am, in all my pet-peeve un-glory. :) I do have rather a lot of things I do like and enjoy, not being wholly made up of pet peeves. ;) Lollipops, cake, green grass, working with wood, acorns, birds, kiddies, laughing, and hugs being a few. :)

Okay, so. What are your pet peeves? And also, so this doesn't become a reason to rant only, heh heh... what are your very *favorite things*?

~Hannah

~Fiesta de Octobre~

My Answers...

{1} What is your favorite hobby or craft to do?
Probably photography. I do it the most, so I must like it, right? I do. Next to that, reading and writing letters, complete with tiny illustrations, gives me the most joy as far as 'hobbies' go.

"Sakura" by HEH

{2} What's the biggest/most difficult project you've ever tackled?
Helping my older brother dig out a 6'x6' foot square hole for a basement window. That was really a LOT of digging! Next to that, helping my Dad clear the driveway with his Massey this year, with.... 4+ feet of wet snow on the ground. That was...long & hard & frustrating. :)

{3} What project of yours are you the most proud of?
My English-style Circle Garden. It's 16 feet across, has four different sections to it (roses, vegetables, perennials, and herbs.) I built it for my high school botany project! It still makes me happy to walk through it, and I'm still changing it all the time, five years later. :)

me, in front of the herb quarter.

{4} Someone gives you a $20 JoAnn Fabrics giftcard. The first thing that comes to mind to spend it on is...
Canvases! And photography frames! I have a bunch of pictures of mine to frame that I want to sell and I have many ideas for paintings stuck in my head that need to come out. ;)

{5} Can you do a project and watch a movie at the same time?
The only thing I've ever tried this with is doing laundry at the same time, but that was sort of an obligatory thing, i.e. " Okay, you may watch a movie you guys, but only if this laundry gets folded..." etc.
I've tried to knit & watch a movie, but I kept dropping stitches. Too good of a movie, I guess!

{6} When you are hand sewing, do you bite off your thread when you're done, or snip it with scissors or just break it with your fingers?
I snip it with my old fashioned, swan-designed thread scissors that Mom gave me for that express purpose. ;)

{embroidery scissors, rather like my own pair.}

{7} Does anyone in your family collect things (like tea cups, stamps, bottle caps, etc.)?

My younger sister & brother collect stamps & coins. We all 'collect' books; but I collect books older than 1950 (I have 36 of them.) I also collect....feathers. Yes, feathers. I have quite a variety, several of some: owl, duck, goose, several kinds of chicken, turkey, bluejay, mockingbird, parakeet, pheasant, and peacock. I used to collect discarded birds eggs & nests, but then I heard about how dangerous (germ-wise) that can be, so I stopped. I always collect tiny (small) books, and letter from from friends. ;)

a barred rock hen feather

{8} What are your favorite color combinations that you use in your crafts?

Olive green, brown, coral & cream white.

{9} Does decorating a Mr. or Mrs. Potato Head sound interesting to you?

No... Sorry! I think drawing faces on eggs in the carton and watching your mother's reaction when she opens it is much more fun. ;)

{10} The manager at your theater needs help in the making of the costumes and/or set decoration and set up for the next production. You volunteer to do....what?

Make the hats. By all means, I will make the hats.

Always,

Falling into Autumn: Joy

Falling into Autumn: Joy: " Have ever sat down & really thought about what brings joy to your life?? What makes you happy & WHY it makes you happy? I do it s..."

via Love Charles Vintage

My beautiful sister in law, Autumn, wrote a extremely thought-provoking and encouraging post. Even though she is what the Christian world calls a 'new' believer, I have learned SO much from her! She is overflowing with a love for God and a joy--real joy-- that I wish I could claim. I still have a lot to learn. :)
Take a look at Autumn's blog post...