Monday, October 08, 2007
Sunday, October 07, 2007
Help needed / Besoin d'aide
On est à la recherche d'une idée cadeau pour les 42 ans de mon BOF. C'est un type assez relax, un photographe professionnel et il est le Papa d'un petit garçon de 15 moins. Il habite à la campagne, il adore sa famille, ses voisins dans un village typiquement anglais (avec église et pub) et il aime cuisiner....
Any ideas are welcome
Toutes idées sont le bienvenue
One of Mark's favourite recipe
WARM SALAD OF ENDIVES WITH SHRIMPS AND SCALLOPS
- 1/2 Lb shrimp
- 1/2 Lb scallops
- 2 belgin endives
- 1 chicory lettuce
- 1/4 cup olive oil
- 4 Tbs of Vodka
- salt and pepper
- Chopped parsley to sprinkle (decoration)
Vinaigrette:
- 1 egg yolk
- 1tbs green peppercorn crushed
- 1/4 cup Champagne or white wine vinegar
- 1/4 cup Olive Oil
- 1/4 Walnut Oil
- Salt
- (optional 1/2 tsp of Dijon Mustard)
* * * * *
- Peel and devein the shrimp. Clean the sinews off the scallops and slice if necessary.
- Wash the endive and cut in julienne. Trim and wash the chicory lettuce.
- Prepare the vinaigrette by whisking, add the oils slowly, to form an emulsion.
- heat some olive oil in a pan(not too hot, or else the shrimp and scallops will end up with a "plasticy" texture) and saute the shrimp and scallops. Season with salt and pepper. Cook for 3 minutes. Flambe the pan with some Vodka. Set aside.
- In the saute pan, add more olive oil and heat the lettuces, stiring well.
- To serve, arrange the lettuces shrimp and scallops attractively on a plate. Sprinkle with the vinaigrette and chopped parsley. (I did not have any parsley but I happened to have loads of chives in the garden and used that for decoration although a little strong flavour for the recipe).
Friday, October 05, 2007
NASTY / TERRIBLE
FYI the person who wrote this post can be prosecuted...by finding the ISP address it is very easy to find who wrote it!
Quelqu'un a écrit quelque chose de DéGOUTANT SUR MON BLOG...je l'ai bloqué pendant 24 heures!
Pour votre information celui qui l'a écrit peut être poursuivi en justice...c'est très facile de le trouver en trouvant l'adresse ISP de la personne qui l'a écrit!
A bon entendeur!
Tuesday, October 02, 2007
Un petit clein d'oeil à ...A little wink to...
On pense à toi et on espère que ta mission n'est pas trop difficile!
Merci pour ta carte qui nous a fait chaud au coeur...Bhavishya pense que le facteur est le Monsieur qui apporte des cadeaux...elle avait raison...ta carte était un réel cadeau et ce qui était sympa c'est qu'il n'y avait pas de factures dans le courrier du jour ;-) Cela doit être ton énergie plus que positive ;-)))
Tu nous manques,
Grosses bises et encore plus grosses bises de ta Super Copine
A TRUELY AMAZING STORY! UNE HISTOIRE EXTRAORDINAIRE!
Quote
"...Even Mother Teresa had her critics. That's what I've always told myself. No matter what you do, someone, somewhere is going to find fault. And each of us must decide whose opinion matters to us, and whose does'nt. Because God knows, you can't please everyone. It's futile to try. "
By Monica Pradhan
The Hindi-Bindi Club
Monday, October 01, 2007
Pink for October

October equals Breat Cancer Awareness Month. My Darling cousin, Veronike, died of this nasty disease and by inserting something about breast cancer on my blog makes me feel I am honouring her and make people aware of what needs to be done.
- How many times do health professionals need to stress out to women how important it is to TAKE ACTION?!? This month, please acknowledge it, in either way you can, you can visit any or all of the following web sites to inform yourself on the disease itself.
- The Breast Cancer Site
- BreastCancer.org
- National Cancer Institute
- National Breast Cancer Foundation Inc.
How many of you, honestly, perform monthly a Breast Self-Exam? Here it is shown how to do it.
Maybe you could also remind your Mother, your Sister, your Aunt, Friend(s) to schedule their yearly mammogram?
It is a BIG mistake to assume that breat cancer only occurs in women. This is WRONG!!! Men can also get it. If you click here you can read more about it.
You can make a donation to the:just to mention a few...
and...
If you need to make a gift you might consider buying something from a company that "goes" PINK. Below a non exhaustive list of these companies:
- Estee Lauder. They have a whole range of beauty products.
- Clinique. They also have a whole range of them.
- The Republic of Tea is making a range of pink grapefruit green tea.
- OPI Nail polish have a Pink Positively Pamper Pack.
- Filofax
- Boots pharmacy, health and beauty care in the UK.
NO MATTER WHAT YOU DO...JUST DO IT!
Veronike, tu nous manques tant!Adoptions worldwide
Today I am quoting them on Dr Selman's research on Adoptions Worldwide.
"
- of the 45'000 children adotped internationally in 2004, about 50 percent were adopted by Americans; 43 percent found homes in Europe.
- in 2004, most kids adopted from Guatemala, Kazakhstan, and Korea were placed in the U.S., while most from Ethiopia, Ukraine, and Colombia went to Europe.
- The countries witht he highest adoption rates were Norway, Spain, Sweden, the Netherlands, the U.S., and the United Kingdom.
For more on Dr. Selman's research, go to adoptivefamilies.com/news
"
Interesting...no?
Sunday, September 30, 2007
SLS
At William & Sonoma:

Potlatch Seasoning It is a mix of different spices: Paprika, Crushed Red Pepper, Chili Pepper, Oregano and Other Herbs. It is delicious on Salmon but also any kind of fish and apparently chicken (I've never tried it with chicken).
Pop up Sponges:Apparently they were discovered in Europe but I never found them! They are of all-natural material. Compressed to a flat rectangle and when they come in contact with water, they expand to a full-size sponges. You can put then in the dishwasher in order to keep them clean.

That is it for today!
Have a lovely week!
Saturday, September 29, 2007
Friday, September 28, 2007
Thursday, September 27, 2007
New Picture
Tuesday, September 25, 2007
Mardi, le 25 Septembre...Tuesday, September 25 2007
Planning your next holiday? Vos prochaines Vacances? bis
- On September 16, 2007 the first bus left London.
- On September 23, 2007, the first bus left Sydney.

Picture of the bus (compliments from Oz-bus.com)
Monday, September 24, 2007
'cause I wanna remember...parceque je veux me souvenir
Teacher:
"Bhavishya, does Pashmina (our dog) sleeps in your room?"
Bhavishya:
"Noooooooooooooooo"
Teacher:
"Why?"
Bhavishya:
"Pashmina is dirty"
Teacher:
"So where does Pashmina sleeps then?"
Bhavishya:
"In Mama's room"
;-)
La semaine passée, l'institutrice de Bhavishya lui demande si Pashmina (notre chien) dort avec elle.
Bhavishya:
"Noooooooooooooooo"
L'institutrice:
"Pourquoi?"
Bhavishya:
"Pashmina est sale"
L'institutrice:
"Alors elle dort où Pashmina?"
Bhavishya:
"Dans la chambre de Maman"
;-)
A virtual trip around the world...Un voyage virtuelle autour du monde...
Hier, l'un de nos ami nous expliquait que sa Mère rassemblait des photos des "Merveilles du Monde" et de Grand monuments dans un album photo afin que ses petits enfants puissent apprendre.
I thought it was a great idea so I am going to start doing so on this blog on a weekly basis with 2 pictures.
Je trouvais que c'était une superbe idée et que j'allais faire de même sur ce blog à raison d'une fois par semaine avec 2 photos.
This week I chose The Jet d'eau in Geneva, my home town.
Cette semaine j'ai choisi une photo du Jet d'eau de Genève, ma ville natale.

Photo compliments of: ahoward
and Mark chose Hong Kong harbour as Hong Kong is the town he grew up in.
et Mark a choisi une photo du port de Hong Kong, la ville oú il a grandit.

Photo compliments of: gingerluk
Sunday, September 23, 2007
SLS
On Shopping:
Buissonnière: I was told that the person who created this company , a Belgium woman, wanted to dress her kids nicely. She could not find nice and reasonnable clothes so she decided to create this company. When I went into the store for the first time a few weeks ago I was blown away to see shopping baskets and women piling the stuff into them. When I saw some of the prices I started to understand. I bought a few things for Bhavishya and what is nice about them is they all appear to mix and match.
On Gossips:
For those interested in Bollywood Gossip here is a fun site (A bonne entendeur Moushette!)
On Fantastic photography:
...I mean Edward Steichen
On a Dehli B&B:
It is thanxs to Adhipen and Najla website that I got this one! It looks marvelous!
Saturday, September 22, 2007
Friday, September 21, 2007
Wednesday, September 19, 2007
Tuesday, September 18, 2007
Suivi post adoption de Bhavishya
Ils se réfèrent au document "Guidelines for adoption from india" issu de la CARA.
Il semblerait que nous n'aurons plus qu'à fournir 5 rapports au lieu de 14 au préalable. Soit:
1ere année:
- Rapport d'arrivé
- Après 3 mois - visite de l'Assistante sociale au domicile
- Après 6 mois - rendez-vous fixé au bureau
- Après 1 an - visite de l'Assistante sociale au domicile
2ème et 3ème année:
- visite de l'Assistante sociale au domicile à la date d'anniversaire de l'arrivée
En plus pour les familles ayant accueilli un enfant de l'orphelinat de Madras, ils demandent de leurs communiquer un petit rapport personnel concernant l'évolution de leur enfant un fois par an.
Mimi, tu posais la question sur les rapports... voici la réponse ;-))
Monday, September 17, 2007
On the night stand / Sur la table de chevet
It is an autobiography. The author tells the story of her life in two parts. In the first part, we learn she was adopted in 1974 at the age of six by a Catalan couple. She grows up in Barcelona and wants to return to her roots. She leaves for Bombay to assist the poor. The second part of the book was written after the first bit was published and tells the story when she returns with a television crew to film a documentary retracing her life. There she learns more about her early days...This is an amazing book. I had goose bumps, I cried...it is definatively a page turner. I strongly recommend you all read it!
Adoption Bloggers Survey
1. How many blogs are listed under your favorites list that you check EVERY day?
Way too many...
2. How many times a day do you "go to the bathroom" and end up checking blogs?
I don't pretend. I either go to the bathroom or check blogs.
3. Do your kids recognize the other kids from the blogs that follow??
Bhavishya recognises Mimi's kids as she knows them personnally. When she sees the picture of Moushette she calls her "Vanaja" the matron of her orphanage. I guess they both have long dark hair...
4. Do you keep track of how often people update their blogs and get upset when they don't keep to the schedule??
I used to but now that I had pic computer problems I am more indulgent!
5. Favorite time of day to check blogs?
Depends on the day, it varies I don't have a Blogging schedule!
6. Who's blog is your favorite?
No coments! I might hurt feelings and futhermore it is not really a competition it is just fun to see how everybody is doing etc. Also I am following other blogs, on Scuba Diving, travels, food etc. some have amazing photography, other amazing stories or receipes...
7. How many of the blogs that you follow are people that you have never met in person?
Most of them
8 How long have you been married?
14 years but I was a child bride!
9 Fav. food?
NOBU!!!
10Fav. TV show?
LOST
11 Anything that you forbid your kids to watch on TV?
EVERYTHING! We are very old fashioned! Bhavishya watches DVDs (stuff we can monitor) anyhow the TV in Luxembourg is pretty bad. We rarely watch tv. We wait for stuff to come out on DVD to watch like LOST
12. How long was your adoption journey from beginning to end?
Nearly 3 years!
13. How did you decide on the country you adopted from?
Well there isn't that much choice in Luxembourg. It was out of the question to go with Columbia as it would have been necessary to stay there 6 to 8 weeks and it would have been impossible with Mark's job. South Korea would also have been impossible as one of us had to be a Luxembourger National. At that time we had the choice between, South Africa, Peru, South Africa and India. We know India quite well, we both have been there before (Mark more often than I) and we went to Rajastan and Kashmir on our honeymoon. We have some very close friends who are Indian (Bhavishya's God Father for example) and it is a country we love so it was logical to adopt a child from there...it was practically a "No brainer" ;-)
14. What did you imagine your family to be like as a little girl?
Married by 25 kids soon after (2 or 4 kids not 3! I am the middle child and have 2 brothers...I often felt left out as my Mom often put the "boys" together)15. Favorite Momma down time activity? Getting a pedicure.
16. Do you have more online friends than "in person" friends?
No! I am a social animal our house is always full of friends...I sometimes feel this is a hotel / restaurent!
17. Tell us the cartoon character that you are most like:
?
18. What toothpaste do you use?
Elmex or Aronal
19. Stupidest adoption comment/question that you've received?
"How much did she cost you"is one. And the other one is: "You must have chosen the prettiest one"
20. Fav. non-adoption website?
Cannot make my mind...
OK adoption blog buddies....it's time to complete the Adoption Bloggers Anonymous Survey. Copy the questions and paste into your blog and then answer the questions.
Sunday, September 16, 2007
SLS
www.lafermededivali.com
This is it for tonight! I am pooped!!!
le français suivra chui NAAAAAZZZZZ!
Saturday, September 15, 2007
Les Mimis au Luxembourg
Pour les 4 ans de Nikita on est allé au Parc Merveilleux. Et pour le goûté...un gateau et en prime toutes les guêpes de la Moselle!!!
Mimi c'était super.
A surfer Dude saves a dog!
AN AMAZING STORY THAT ENDS WELL!

AP - Wed Sep 12, 5:33 PM ET
In a photo provided by Don Dobbin, surfer Joe Riopelle, left, pulls in Matt Smolenski and a rescued dog Tuesday afternoon, Sept. 11, 2007, off the Grand Haven, Mich., pier. Smolenski rode a wave on his stomach to reach and rescue a struggling dog that had been swept off a Lake Michigan pier by a big wave. Smolenski said he grabbed the pooch's collar just as the exhausted, black-and-brown mixed breed stopped dog-paddling on Tuesday afternoon. 'He put the dog up on his surfboard, and the dog . Click here to read more.
Tuesday, September 11, 2007
Update!
Indeed, aAfter an extremely busy summer I am back!!! My PCs broke down and I am now writing from my new state of the art laptop! I feeeeeeeeellllllll aaaaaallllliiiiiivvvvveeee! Waow!!!How did I managed???Two whole months without blogging??? :-)))))))))
Well we had a house packed of guest from start to end of the summer. The highlight of it was Bhavishya's baptism which was held on August 18. It was a beautiful ceremony followed by a garden party.
I promise I shall post some pictures soon but in the meanwhile here is one of Mark and Bhavishya on her firt day of nursery school!
Me voici me voila.
Mes pcs étaient FOUTU et je vous écrits aujourd'hui depuis mon nouveau portable! Waou je RE-VIS!!! HA! Comment ai-je survécu? 2 mois sans blogger??? Mystère et boule de gomme!! :-)))
Nous n'avons pas arrêté cet été. Une maison pleine...en commançant par l'arrivée de la maraine de Mark et son Mari et cela s'est terminée par le baptême de Bhavishya ou l'on a eu 17 personnes qui ont dormi à la maison. La cérémonie religieuse était magnifique, la garden party superbe, des invités de rêves et un temps pas trop cochon.
Je promets de poster des photos mais d'ici là en voici une de Mark et Bhavishya le jour de la rentrée scolaire de Bhavishya.
Thursday, July 05, 2007
Wednesday, July 04, 2007
Sunday, July 01, 2007
Question for all/pour tous
Wednesday, June 20, 2007
Free hair cut / Coupe gratuite
WAOW! I was blown away!!! And I was very very proud as well!
Now tell me why doesn't that happen to me this kind of stuff???
Hier nous sommes allé couper les cheveux de Bhavishya. Moi chais pas faire ça! Déjà que je n'arrives pas a couper droit sur une feuille de papier je ne veux pas risquer de traumatiser ma fille donc j'ai pris rdv dans un salon de coiffure vu que ses cheveux lui cachait ses yeux. Bhavishya aime l'idée de parter des jolies barettes mais au fait elle ne reste guerre plus que 30 secondes sur sa tête. En arrivant au salon elle dit bonjour Madame, elle fait sa petite Mademoiselle charmante; elle dit svp de merci. Elle déclare que "non c'est BhaViShya son prénom et pas "la Puce" , qu'elle a 2 ans 1/2 et qu'elle est née en Inde tout cela en moins de 20 secondes. Elle ne bouge pas seulement quand on lui demande. Une fois la coupe/brushing finie, la Manager lui met une jolie barette en strass elle dit merci veut lui faire un bisou sans même que j'intervienne et lorsque je veux régler elle me dit qu'elle a adoré coupé les cheveux de ma fille, qu'elle est tellement mignone et adorable que la coupe / brushing nous est offert.
Waow! J'étais bouchebée et naturellement très très fière!
Mais pourquoi que ce genre de truc ne m'arrives jamais??? mdr!
Monday, June 18, 2007
Mark's bday present...
I hesitate...
- The Sony A100?
- A Canon Digital REbel xti?
- ....?
Pour l'anniversaire de Mark j'étais assez tenté de lui acheter un Digital SLR. Est-ce quelqu'un peut me conseiller si oui pourquoi?
J'hésite entre...
- Le Sony A100?
- Le Canon Digital Rebel xti?
- ...?
Sunday, June 17, 2007
Bhavishya The Future
'cause I wanna remember...Parce que je veux me souvenir
"Mama pas oubliez laver derrière colélé" meaning "Mama don't forget to wash behind the ears"...colélé means ears.
She learned her lesson well! ;-)
Bhavishya m'a dit se matin:
"Mama pas oubliez laver derrière Colélé" Colélé voulant dire oreilles! Elle a bien appris sa leçon! ;-)
Wednesday, June 13, 2007
What is this??? C'est quoi ça??? II
I am going to include them to the invitations to Bhavishya's Christening...
Sunday, June 10, 2007
Sunday Link Sharing (SLS)

Le résultat du concours du SPD (le Speed Demon Photography) à savoir la photo à très grande vitesse. C'est remarquable!
The result of a photo contest which is called the Speed Demon Photograph. Truely amazing photography!
Since Sophie mentioned "Grand-design" after my SLS of last week-end I am giving you the Channel 4 link of also a fun program I enjoy watching on DVD as we don't get British TV here.

Puisque Sophie a mentionné "Grand-design" après mon poste de la semaine passé, je l'inclus dans celui de cette semaine...J'ai quelques DVD que j'ai bien aimé regardé puisque nous ne captons pas la chaîne de tv anglaise "Channel 4" ici.
Friday, June 08, 2007
Tuesday, June 05, 2007
Saturday, June 02, 2007
Sunday Link Sharing (SLS)
Je crois que je ne suis pas à 1/2 Néerlandaise pour rien...
Here are some of my favourites...
Voici quelqe uns de mes préférés...
Magazine & website:

Landleven. Thank you Dolly & Yvonne for my monthly subscription you gave me for my birthday! I just looooooooove it!
TV program & website:
"Eigen huis en tuijn" which means "own house and garden"I am always bumbed when I miss it and forget to record it as I was last night!Ce qui veut dire "Sa propre maison et son propre jardin" je suis toujours déçue lorsque je loupe un épisode et que j'oublie de l'enregistrer.
Wednesday, May 30, 2007
"My Child's incredible story" contest
Anyhow Ruby is throwing a contest called "My child's incredible story" which I think is a nice idea. Here are the rules...
- Only parents with adoptive children of Indian origin (In India or outside India) are allowed to participate.
- Word limit is 750 words.
- Only one entry per child is allowed.
Here are some more details:
Top four entries will be selected for the publication on the Indi(AA)doption
blog in July.
You must send your entries in Elglish language as an
attachment in Microsoft word file and email to indiahopehouse@gmail.com
Physical
copies of the entries at our physical address will not be accepted.
We
respect your privacy and if you like to send a photo (it is not required but
makes the story compelling when a face can be put to a name) of your child,
send
a high resolution digital photo along with your entry for publication.
Last
date to send your entries is June 15th, 2007
Good luck.You can read more on his blog by clicking here.
Tuesday, May 29, 2007
Bhahisya boom a ta tête...
"Bhahisya tombée paterre, boom a ta tête, Bhahisya vôôôôôômi après pipipital vu doteur vu maname après mal a tatête".
Voilà comment nous avons passé notre lundi de Pentecôte à l'hosto!
Heureusement rien de trop grave...une petite commotion.
























