donderdag 31 juli 2014

beyond the pines








Yesterday Joyce and I made a bicycle tour trough the Hoge Veluwe,
National Park.
Such a beautiful place!

dinsdag 29 juli 2014

fever





JJ is very sick. He got fever at night and it stayed all day. 
Besides that, he also has a torn calf muscle, which prevented him from 
walking. So he spent most of the day in bed. I joined him, reading a 
book and bringing food and drinks if he wanted some. 
Later this afternoon, I had enough of being lazy and I worked in the 
garden. There I met Elio, who seemed to enjoy his farm cat live. 
I hope JJ feels better tomorrow. I'm leaving to the Hoge Veluwe with a 
friend for three days. 

zondag 27 juli 2014

for ella (my godchild)




Yesterday was Ella's birthday. She's nine years old. Today she and 
her family came to visit me and JJ.
We made a long walk. All the while Ella was looking for the pappus 
of a Dandelion flower. She wanted to make a wish. 
I hope that, in spite that she couldn't blow all bristles at once, all her 
wishes may come true!

zaterdag 26 juli 2014

among the trees






One week ago, on Friday evening, we've moved the horses from pasture.

vrijdag 25 juli 2014

for katrien (the girl with a hydrangea dress who had to cross the lake in a swan)






A few days ago I started painting again. It's the beginning of a series
about Japan, I'd like to make.
I felt so good to use those brushes and to smell the paint, after such a
long time.
My first study I will give to Katrien. Because it's her birthday and
because I love her!

The girl with a hydrangea dress who had to cross the lake in a swan.

woensdag 23 juli 2014

mevrouw holvoets swimmingpool






One of our neighbors, mevrouw Holvoet, has a swimmingpool in her
garden. Today we went to ask her if we could swim in her pool. She's
very friendly and she said we're always welkom.
Her house and garden are so beautiful! For a moment, it felt like being
in France.

watering the plants




 

With this warm and dry weather, I have to water the plants everyday.
I have many flowers and plants and I also have to take care of
my neighbor's garden now she's in Norway, so it's a lot of work. But
I like to do it. It brings me in a "zen" state.
The two pictures are made by my dad when I was little. On both
pictures I'm pouring water next to the plants. I wonder why I did that.

maandag 21 juli 2014

monday





1. Pipa and Kate are growing fast. They're almost as big as their mum 
now.
2. Little puppets on my kitchen wall. I brought them from Ecuador.
3. Rose hips in the garden
4. Little feet, who doesn't love them? Those are from RenĂ©e, the daughter 
from my primary school friend, Evie. They have been visiting today.

zondag 20 juli 2014

oma's pancakes




Oma isn't allowed to cook if she's alone. She starts to forget things, so
it can be dangerous. Laura, JJ's sister, and I cooked her a meal today.
Later this afternoon I came in and oma had made pancake batter. She
also had set the table. So there was nothing I could do, I had to let her
make pancakes and watch over her.
Laura, Bart and their little baby, who moved to the farm recently,
came over and joined us. We had a pancake meal together, which made
oma very happy.

zaterdag 19 juli 2014

for marcellino (a garden party)







Yesterday it was my dad's birthday. I cooked for him. Recipes from a 
very nice cookbook "the forest feast", I bought a few days ago. 
The two tea light holders were a present for his birthday, from me and 
JJ. 
At night we waited for moths. (see blogpost below)

rood weeskind









Yesterday night we put a lamp in the garden. It's a special lamp to 
attract night-moths. 
We identified the Euplagia quadripunctaria, which is quite rare here. 
Further on we saw a Catocala nupta and a Sphingidae
Aren't they beautiful? And I especially love their Dutch names: 
Rood Weeskind, Spaanse vlag, Huismoeder, Pijlstaart, Volgeling...
I think its interesting to find out where these names come from.
For instance "Rood Weeskind" (in English "Red orphan") owes 
its name to the fact that the incarnadine and deep black zigzag tracks 
are reminiscent of the clothes of the orphanage children in Amsterdam
The children had these colors in their clothes, because these 
colors also occur in the coat of arms of Amsterdam.



(painting by Nicolaas van der Waay)