Last week 'Dotje' returned to us as we accidentally left him in one of the beds of our cottage in Kent. Dotje is my nephew's cuddly toy, he received him as a gift when he was born 12 years ago. Now this was of course quite a drama I so understand as I have a great affection to toys myself.

I've sucked my thumb for 21 years and I used a blanket for that. The blanket in question was a birth gift and was really soft and pink and about 1 x 1 meter. By the age of 10 this blanket was white and only 15 x 10 centimeters. By the age of 12 I replaced the blanket for a crocheted pillow sham my mother made as a decoration piece for our home. By the age of 21, when this pillow sham had hardly any crochet left on it's fabric backing and didn't see a washing machine for at least 3 years, the ex-boyfriend of a college friend (NATHAN WAS HIS NAME) threw away this pillow sham as I left it ACCIDENTALLY in his dorm room. Straight after that I quit sucking my thumb so in a way NATHAN helped me, but don't tell him that because I hated him for a very long time.

Now at 35 I still have quite a lot of toys, old an new.

The vintage world globes I bought on eBay. The Cath Kidston mug I bought a couple of years ago and the Nijntje (Miffy) pencil was a baby shower gift. The animal picture cubes I found in my mother's junk and actually belong to me. The hare was a gift from Ingrid. If you wind the hare it will do a salto, it cracks me up.

I don't know the background of this Tonka truck, it's just been with us forever. We don't know if it belongs to Boris or to me. But it's a cool toy!

The cute hare with the knitted bathing suit was a gift from Holly. The lucky hare you can buy here and here - Oh my I have a thing for hares, how odd. And the Pippi Longstocking card travels with me wherever I go as she is my childhood hero, she is just the coolest kid ever. Even her full (Swedish) name rocks 'Pippilotta Victualia Rullgardina Krusmynta Efraimsdotter Långstrump'.

And last but not least my Barbie Fashion Model collection. I've stopped collecting these Barbies as I've finally lost interest after 35 years. But still when I'm in a toy store I have to pay a visit to the Barbie isle. I'm always in awe and think to myself that I can have the sickest Barbie house ever now that I can spend my own money on it and not my parents money - although my father quite spoiled us rotten. I could even have a toy room and we could have a Barbie house, Lego city and a F1 racing track. But somehow I always think that it would be mental and that we never find time to play in our play room.

How boring we get when we get older, I even considered buying Nordic walking sticks the other day. I honestly think that is one of the most saddest moments in my life, forget the dangerous blood disease I had. Nordic walking sticks ... sigh.

Do you still play?

I must have traveled through and over Kent thousands of times but I've never took a turn on the M20 before. Until last Tuesday when we took our niece and nephew across the pond through the channel tunnel. It was all quite exciting as it was our first time traveling with kids and it was their first time traveling with people who don't have kids. We had a lovely time the four of us, a really lovely time.

We stayed in the Stable Flat at Knowlton Court for just 2 nights. We literally slept above the horses and 10 German Sheppard puppies who I wanted to squeeze in my bag and take home, all 10 of them. I can highly recommend Knowlton Court as a holiday home but I'm not recommending the Stable Flat as we were woken up each morning at 6:30 by the horses and the farmer. Next time we'll take a cottage or a house on the estate.

Kent is stunning, beautiful and underrated and absolutely worth spending your holiday. It's just all in a 35 minutes distance of Dover or Folkestone so you can start exploring when you hop off the ferry or tunnel.

Of all the castles we've seen Walmer Castle is my favourite as I love the inside and the kitchen gardens. Dover Castle and especially the WOII tunnels were pretty impressive as well, the Bo was even involved in a little medieval play.

I always dislike getting on with life after visiting The UK. I love The UK, I want to move back and stay there forever ... maybe in a few years.

Just want to let you know that my pillow design for the Pretty Little Pillows book is now available for free over at Lark. You can also win a free copy of Pretty Little Pillows if you leave a comment on their website. Have fun xox Y

I'm now taking commissions. I've made these two for Sarah, a 40 x 40 granny square and a 50 x 50 starburst as seen in this post.

update 12-08-2010
If you want to commission a pillow please send me an e-mail instead.

While I was in hospital last March I instructed my mother to plant the hollyhocks seeds I bought in February and she did. Now the odd thing about these hollyhocks is that they shouldn't grow flowers this year. In the first year they should grow leaves, the second year they have flowers and than they die. But I have these fantastic flowers already. It must have something to do with welcoming me home or, I like to tell myself, that they bloom just for me :o)

And for the bees of course.

Today is exactly 4 months ago that I was diagnosed with TTP and that the catheter went in my chest. I can officially announce that I'm catheter free for 2 weeks and that my blood is back to normal standards, there's no attacking of the red blood cells going on anymore.

I just wanted to let you know that I really appreciate your kindness, thoughtfulness, moral and even spiritual support. I'm thankful for all your e-mail, cards, notes and prayers. Although I'm not religious it still means a lot to know that someone who doesn't know me prays for me. Thank you.

I'm not a person who likes to wallow or one of those types that uses a misfortune as an excuse to everything. That's something I've learned from my parents; "bad luck and now chin up and get on with it". So that's what I'm doing ... the anxiety is (almost) gone, I've found my home and husband again, I now know who my real friends are and who are not and I'm stronger.

I still love my food too much though ...

I've made 6 scones today and ate 4 of them. Boy I wish they could've put something in all of that plasma I've got that would stop me eating large amounts of food. Apparently I have the inside of a sportswoman, definitely not the outside.

I used this recipe.