Klara & Kapucine

quatorze juillet

2009-07-14T04:20:00.000-07:00

Two years ago on the 14th of july,

I started this blog.

rosegarden

2009-07-13T10:02:00.001-07:00

rose

2009-07-06T12:00:00.001-07:00

shades of blue and pink

2009-07-05T03:44:00.000-07:00

My blooming "frontdoorgarden"

summernight

2009-07-05T03:30:00.001-07:00

After another hot summersday in Amsterdam I was invited to have a glass of wine and a salad on my friend's houseboat on the river Amstel. I brought some mediterrean dips and a couscoussalad to share. We had a lovely warm evening on deck so we could watch all the little boats go by.

brocante

2009-07-04T04:27:00.000-07:00

pretty niche in the Westerstraat

DE WELDAAD

Last year I bought a wonderful five-armed candelabrum with leaves and roses of china at a litte shop called "De Weldaad" at the corner of Reestraat in Amsterdam. The little shop has a big sister now. On the 22nd of June was the opening of a big store on "De Noordermarkt". A greek blue cupboard calls you inside. Everywhere are lushes bouquets.Both adresses are at five minutes bicycle distance of my little house. I'm blessed.

homesick in Amsterdam

2009-07-01T01:32:00.000-07:00

Halil Gür, an Amsterdam citizen from Turkish origin wrote :
"If you are far away from home you long for your language, the landscape, the sea, mountains, certain smells. I live in a world of consumption where welth has made people poor. You seldom see genuine, happy and radiant people here. When I feel homesick I reach out to people. I give flowers to my neighbour. What you give away, you can never loose".

>>Michael

2009-06-29T18:23:00.001-07:00

Have you seen my Childhood?

I'm searching for that wonder in my youth

Like fantastical stories to share

But the dreams I would dare, watch me fly...

Michael is in the air. The news of his death is sinking in. My daughter and I both grew up with his music. In my youth I listened to The Jackson 5, my daughter's first Michael song was "Black or White". Tonight we watched our favourite videoclips and the 90 minutes interview with Oprah in 1993. A nice way to remember him and have a good cry while listening to "Ben"and "Childhood". Goodbye Michael.

14

2009-06-28T04:18:00.001-07:00

This week my beautiful niece, Theuntje, turned fourteen. Going through the turbulent stage of puberty it's not the easiest time of her life. Hope she will remember these years with a smile when she's older.

michael

2009-06-26T01:30:00.001-07:00

1958 - 2009

paris

2009-06-25T00:32:00.001-07:00

Wish I was in Paris. I would find myself a nice terrace in the morningsun for a cafe au lait. This humble wish made me search for the typical french bistro chairs. finally found the site of Poitou. And there they were. Love them. Perhaps something for an Amsterdam dining table?

Amsterdam - St Petersburg

2009-06-18T11:54:00.000-07:00

богатство

2009-06-18T11:10:00.000-07:00

"From June 20th 2009, 10 a.m., a major new European cultural destination, the greatly expanded Hermitage Amsterdam, will welcome visitors to its elegantly restored 17th-century building in the historic heart of Amsterdam. The new museum will inaugurate its spacious new home with the exhibition At the Russian Court, a dazzling display of more than 1,800 treasures from the State Hermitage Museum in St Petersburg."

Yesterday I had the honour to be invited to a preview of the opening exhibition of the Hermitage Amsterdam. My friend Conny, who lives opposite the new museum, on her ship, witnessed all the steps of development during two years. The whole event makes me happy. A nice change in Amsterdam cultureland is that this museum is finished in time and within budget. . The historic building is restored beautifully. Outside as well as inside. And yes, the exhibition is dazzling. Glitter and glamour of the Russian Court. Wonderful !

sundaymorning citywalk

2009-06-14T13:35:00.000-07:00

A walk along the Herengracht brought us to the Amstelveld were we had coffee. Further we went. Along the Amstel where the preparations for the grand opening of the Hermitage, later this week, were going on. In between, close encounters with crazy animals and adorable minigardens.

FW>>roses&peonies

2009-06-11T08:14:00.000-07:00

roses, cherries & peonies

2009-06-06T05:41:00.001-07:00

Slowly sliding into the season of roses and cherries. Today, on the first saturday of June, an explosion of peonies on the market, roses and the first cherries of the season. Yesterday, in the Hortus, I found a glorious Italian soap with the natural sent of roses and peonies.

dream away

2009-06-04T08:29:00.000-07:00

never leave home without

2009-06-02T04:20:00.001-07:00

bag > The Kipling FrugM nightblue. A practical A4 bag. For my daily stuff and sometimes a littlebit more.

mobile > A basic, simple nokia. After years of fancy telephones I went back to basic. I can call and sms. Nothing more, nothing less.

purse > Also Kipling, red, with enough space for all the bank- and other cards.

readingglasses in a chinese, very pink holder.

foam button > my working button that I wear in the museum

calligraphy pen > I'm lost without my call. pen. Any compliment about my handwriting I have to share with my pen.

uniball gel pen > For many years now I make my notes with uniball pens from Japan. Only uniball, no imitation, can do the job.

sunglasses > I'm the type that has several cheap pairs of sunglasses instead of one proper quality pair. Simply because I want to see my glasses in whatever direction I'm looking for them

I love all Moleskine items. My red agenda for this year and the two plain notebooks.

Sweeties for my coffees at the Coffee Company and Blistex lip relief for possible dry lips.

My passport and very handy Xtra bright bicyclelights from the HEMA.

And last but not least my dear and special keyholder that is with me for twenty years now. I bought it in 1989 as a souvenir in the year Paris celebrated the revolution from twohundred years ago.

oh joy

2009-05-26T14:20:00.000-07:00

Exploring this blog is a joy!

calligraphy

2009-05-26T14:13:00.001-07:00

Wish I could write like this

weddingbells

2009-05-26T14:06:00.001-07:00

Really gorgeous and unusual weddingphotography by featherlove

hard graft

2009-05-26T12:09:00.000-07:00

Beautiful bags, made of leather, canvas and felt.

FW>> Tuin de Lage Oorsprong

2009-05-24T14:25:00.000-07:00

On the 14th of april this year I reported a visit to "Tuin De Lage Oorsprong". Today, six weeks later, the garden looks fantastic , more colourful and greener then the last time.

visiting the ship

2009-05-22T14:00:00.000-07:00

the new hermitage

2009-05-22T13:55:00.001-07:00