"Oh...my bag!"

salt.water.sky

2008-07-24T11:13:00.010+01:00

We've been away. Or actually, we went back home for a week.

It was a joy to be at the seaside again, especially because it was not hot and sunny. Looking at the pictures I made, (bad quality because mobile phone. I forgot my camera.) I think it must be all that space and wind, that attract me so much to the North Sea. It feels like you can take off any minute if you wish to. Just like that.

As soon as the cries of gulls have left my ear, the salt is washed out of my hair and the sand gone from my shoes I'll get back here.

2008-07-14T12:04:00.007+01:00

I have a complex relationship with camping. I didn't grow up as a camper, that's for sure. During my childhood an occasional expedition to our back yard was as real as it got. As a teenager and early twen, camping entirely disappeared from my radar screen, and as for all Germans reading this story on camping from a Dutch person, with a big grin on their faces: Whenever you saw a Dutch mobile home or caravan on one of your "Autobahnen". I was surely NOT on board.

Then, one day, I met my husband to be. Things changed a lot from that point onwards.

Suddenly I found myself in log cabins in the Alps, on mountain peaks and mountain bikes (although I managed to limit this last form of exercise). From then on, it was only a small step to sleeping in a tent.

You don't know my husband, but I can tell you: when he says camping, he surely means camping. He'll drag you on 5 day back pack hikes. Carrying tent, sleeping gear, food, drink, stove, toilet paper, band aids, a mag light and a couple of extra undies. Forget the stools, gaslamps, barbecue, foldable breakfast table, summerdress and flip flops. You don't want your back broken.

Like this, over time we did a couple of tours in different parts of the world.

Did I complain now and then? Yes, I did.

Was I scared? Sometimes.

Did I ever say no when he would come up with yet a new idea for the coming holidays? Never. Because I always would come back tired but relaxed, impressed by beautiful views and places, calmed down to a normal pace of living. Full of life itself.

So now, we went for a weekend with our girls. First time as a family. Of course it poured. All weekend. But the guys kept the fire burning, there was lots of puddle jumping (normally not allowed to this extend), a clear,dry night at the camp fire, each of us with a sleeping child in our arms, the occasional burnt football, frog scare, "I-thought-YOU-packed-the- toothpaste/umbrella/cups" discussion, and a best dressed list (short pants covered by screaming blue superman style rain poncho scored very high).

Fun. Tired. House full of drying camp gear. We'll do this again soon.

a fresh look

2008-07-08T08:03:00.014+01:00

With young eyes. What do we see?

A dinosaur in a tree. The clouds to dance upon and raindrops to dance between.
Our parents, who know everything.
All the tiny, moving things that live amongst us on the ground.
The rings, and trinkets and holy stones, which others dropped so carelessly.

These are our magic years.

Grown up now, with watch, wallet, and papers to prove I actually did something after I turned 18, I still get a glimpse of all those things. You probably know to whom the credit should go…

Here’s my random list of childhood magic:

Firmly believe there’s a room in the house or a piece of the garden I haven’t seen yet. (I sometimes still dream of Escher-like hallways and stairs at night).
To move silent as a cat, fast a horse and light as a butterfly.
To pull out Excalibur with a single hand. (Thank heavens this wish has not been granted. The previous one neither, now I come to think of it. The first one? Who is ever, ever going to be sure? Just believe).
To see the beauty of yellow + blue.
A caleidoscope.

Would you share yours with me?

July

2008-07-01T18:49:00.006+01:00

...is it really July already?

In that case:
...The seeds that haven't been planted yet won't see the soil this year,
...The season tickets that haven't been bought will stay un-issued,
...The longest day lies well behind us,

which leaves me with all the other things to enjoy,
as the summer has only just started, really.

And this season is high on inspiration (like Erin's Mankind Mag), travel ideas (Bloesem's World Tour), long evenings on our loggia, some salty seawind later on in summer and a crafty try out here and there, for instance Nancy's "Feliz" and my own doodles...(more about that later)...

...and I might, just for old-times-sake, I mean, I could go and check out the Bangles!

100 posts

2008-06-22T22:49:00.006+01:00

...and I'm procrastinating. Carried away by the gentle swing of the hammock. Looking out into the blue sky with baby clouds up high.

I took me a while to get here, slow paced, meandering, but now, suddenly, I arrived at this point of "100 posts". And that reflects what this blog has become for me: a journey in a true sense, and this 100th post being a small stop on the way.

I'm holding in for a moment and think of how I jumped on the bus. About the first person who said "Hi!" (that was you Diba, and I am still always happy to hear your "voice"). Nancy, the girl that came and sat next to me (maybe because it happened to be the only free spot ;), and I looked like I had Marzipan with me), and who turned out to be interesting, fun and lovely company, the sweet words and encouragement of Nic, Lisette and many others.

Its a journey that makes me more conscious of all the small wonders of this world and in my life, a journey during which this space becomes more me and less "look-at-me-blogging", a journey that brings much joy and inspiration. As long as it stays that way, I'll be following the path. So, now I'm off again, curious to see what the next sign will say...

organize, I need to organize.

2008-06-19T22:48:00.010+01:00

Made a good start with my admin.

Just finished lesson nr. 1: Organization is everything. Bought folders. Boxes. Decided on a sideboard for my office. Crafted an indispensable piece for my business cards etc...

(Got a bit sidetracked with that one.)

Next is lesson 2: Reduction. If it doesn't fit the folders, boxes, sideboard, indispensable card holder: It has to go. Hmm, let's see what happens here, as this is where it usually goes wrong...
Oh well, I do FEEL a lot more organized now.

...

2008-06-13T21:05:00.006+01:00

I'm watching this. Munching chips and pinching my husband everytime its getting too exciting. He'll have bruises by the time the game is over.

Pet politics

2008-06-04T18:30:00.010+01:00

It's that time of the week again: my kids want pets.

Horses, crocodiles, dogs, cats, snakes, turtles, tigers, rabbits, sharks. You name it, they want it. In our house. Right now.

You must know: We live in a city apartment. We have a great loggia but no garden. No salt water pool either.
You must also know: I'm not a pet lover. I'm more the outdoorsy type trying to catch glimpses of wild life beauty. Or the farm gal stomping through mud and chasing up the sheep.

So, my sweet girls, although, in a way, I admire your persistence, you might need to wait a bit longer to get your own menagerie.

Maybe…who knows…one day…I do love dogs…hmm,let’s see…

For now, I couldn’t ignore a special request. So here is Naila: Straight from the left-over-cotton-bag.

There’s no doubt though, that Frutsel is still the boss. She sailed in from here…

Next move is on you girls!

message...

2008-05-28T21:03:00.002Z

from me to myself. I just couldn't resist this card. I bought it weeks ago - long before the actual date, and it has been standing on my desk ever since. Everytime I see it, I giggle.

I think it says that it's good that I'm still not grown-up. That's what I think.

PS: The card says: "Birthdays are great as long as you're not grown-up. After that, it's going downhill."

they hardly arrived...

2008-05-21T12:24:00.009Z

...and saying goodbye already started. Meter by meter they will leave the house. Slowly (as they are not the 1,- euro a meter kind) but surely, until there is nothing left but sad little cardboard spools.

But hey, what on earth would I be doing with 640 meters of ribbon anyway?

go have a look - if you like.

Funny food

2008-05-16T17:24:00.008Z

There were two things we were never allowed to do as kids. Well...there were a couple more here and there, but my mother would get really angry if she saw us:

1. Play with food

2. Waste food

My mum was 8 when WW II broke out. Our family was lucky in many ways, and although black beans where the main part of their diet for a while and my grandma was grateful for the extra rations she received (in return for quartering in some friendly canadian soldiers), food was never really short. But it explains why - and I personally think my mother is right too. War or no war.

Today however, we HAD to play. How can you not play, when you come across these...

It is I...inspector Clouseau!

I thought I bought strawberries, not frogfish!

Mrs Puffy was there as well...

We did eat them all afterwards...even Clouseau...well...to be true: We ate everything but Puffy's nose...But I can live with that.

Peony

2008-05-14T20:25:00.007Z

Today she gave up, my Mothers Day peony.

It is told that the peony hides mischievous nymphs in its petals.

My peony held many, many petals - plenty of space to hide you'd say.

They fell off like raindrops today, leaving a trace through the house, as I wanted to give her some fresh water.

No mischievous nymphs though. Alas.

wellness...

2008-05-04T20:56:00.009Z

What we didn't get:

- Ayurveda

- Thai massage

- LaStone treatment

- Sauna

- Seaweed and mud packages

- Thalasso

- Haybaths

- Dr Kneipp

- Macrobiotic food

- Light and aromatherapy

What we got:
- Sun on our faces
- A view, and another one, and another one
- Smell of pine trees under the warm spring sun
- Nutella
- Stars, stars, stars
- Good conversations
- Wine and speck
- Stories
- Dust, mud, grass, spaghetti sauce and a warm shower

Wellness for the soul.

waist

2008-04-29T19:06:00.008Z

I recently flipped through this great source of inspiration on one side, and merciless cause of "crafters-block" on the other side: Marie Claire Idées.

Looked at the japanese style belt, and heard my little inspiration angel saying:
"Why not? As long as you have a waist you should go for it. It's great for unusual fabric combinations. You'll have fun."

She hardly finished whispering, when that vile crafters-block devil raised his nasty, squeeky voice:
"Whoahahaaa, YOU wanna try that? It's got P-A-T-C-H-W-O-R-K, girl. Tiny pieces as well, if I see right. I don't wanna be a spoiler but eh....when exactly was the last time you did patchwork? Hmmm...yes, and...how exactly did the finished piece look back then? Right.
But, hey...it's your life...

Sweet angel in the mean time, patting me on the back:
"You go girl. You can always drop the patchwork part, and it'll look just right with that new skirt from Petramark. Oh, and do take the linen!"

She won. Of course it did turn out quite different, and I cursed (once) while making it, and wished for Peggy a few times. But I'm fine, my waist is happy. That's worth a lot.

Leporello

2008-04-28T09:50:00.005Z

Wikipedia sagt:

"In südlichen Ländern verkaufen Straßenhändler streifenförmig aneinandergefügte Ansichtskarten und lassen sie bei Annäherung eines Touristen werbewirksam auseinanderfallen."

So, ich schicke das mal hier und da hin damit es werbewirksam auseinander fallen kann, und hoffe dabei es fällt nicht auseinander-auseinander.

Mit recht herzlichen Dank noch an Mozart für das schöne Wort: Leee-poo-rellll-looo.

tree of two worlds

2008-04-21T19:27:00.008Z

Not far of where I live, stands this tree. In all it's whimsical beauty.

For me a symbol of my world today. Of a turkish neighbour who was born and grew up right next door in the heart of Rotterdam. Of the Carribean guy with the London accent. Of the Dutch girl in Bavaria who says "anrufen" instead of "opbellen" when she visits her home country. Of accepting that my girls will not call the land of "Pindakaas" and "Oranje" their home.

Choices are made, consequences happen and trees grow beautiful nevertheless - if they are given the chance, and if they take the chance.

Seems to me you can never judge a "Pappenheimer" by his name. Or appearance.

Small coincidences

2008-04-18T07:16:00.007Z

Miss A. loves shoes. It’s not just that she likes them a lot; she strongly believes that the shoes you wear should express your mood at all times. Mere functionality and a comfortable fit are not taken into consideration, unless they make themselves annoyingly present (try to slip into a size 20 while you’re a size 24 or try to keep your feet warm & dry in open sandals on a chilly & rainy spring day).

Obviously this requires a lot of shoe changing and negotiating during the day.

Of course this also means, that each pair of shoes have their own vibe and are therefore especially suitable to wear for a certain activity. Like these slippers.

Her mom (read: me) already wore them in the sixties.
Their vibe says they are just right for watching TV in.
So does the sticker inside (I swear you: she can't read yet!).

Awarded.

2008-04-12T19:28:00.012Z

The sweet multitalent Lisette suprised me with a virtual award (Arte y Pico). The last time I won something vaguely resembling an award must have been at school sports. Those were the days I could run a couple of meters without having to lean heavily on somebody/something afterwards, snorting like a hippo with a nose cold.

This reminded me I should do some sports again (Isn't that what most awards secretly are about: Encourage you to keep up the good work. Not sit down, celebrate and get lazy?)

So today I told myself: "Diana get up and do some sports!"

I got up. At 7:00 am. (Note : Saturday morning is my "free" morning, usually spent on well deserved - at least that is what I like to think- sleeping, reading, sleeping and reading).

I went to the yearly, ginormous Frühlingsfest-fleamarket, and stayed for a 4 hours thrifting marathon. Bought just 1 thing (not on any of the pictures below). Good girl.

Who designed this?

Watch out! Alienzzzzzz...

Mr Bombastic. Tries to remember where he left his hat.

Thank you again Lisette! I'm flattered!

P.S: The award comes with rules, and I need to pass it on, and show the logo, but I'm tired and my feet hurt. Hmmm...don't know why that is....

Best Things Part Seven/Teil Sieben

2008-04-02T20:30:00.004Z

As they keep coming, those best things, I'll just keep posting them.
Today: Improvisation.

Suppose:
- "Staying put and do nothing" is not an option as horrible things would happen. (To name just one thing: Kid gets sick in a full underground compartment).
- However, you don't have what you need to get on with it and prevent horrible things from happening.
- You can't get what you need to get on with it and elegantly prevent horrible things from happening either. Not in a simple, straight forward way at least.
- You intuitively scramble to get control over the situation. As if.

Sounds familiar?

To some people this seems to happen quite a lot. To mums for instance. They stretch their skills, solve acute problems with random items lying around, take detours to "Solution Land" and end up somewhere fully unexpected, using a different approach than the one they thought best in the first place.

The improvisation thing is also much used by artists and inventors. They are really good. Less panic here and more discovery of new worlds, and soul lifting interpretations.

You shouldn't get too much of it, but improvisation certainly has its beauty, and, to be honest: Where would be without it?

Best Things part six/Teil Sechs

2008-03-30T19:21:00.006Z

My mother tongue.

I'm a language person. I love reading, writing, listening, talking.
Looking back at my secondary school exams, I see five out of seven subjects being about language and literature. Two of them even dead ones (but all the richer when it comes to art, history and philosophy). Well... I guess I just chose what I liked and where I was good at. Math and Chemistry were definitely NO part of that.

After living abroad for a while (is it more than 10 years already?) you realize that, however much you learn, practise and read, things are never going to be the same as with the language you grew up with.

The ease of expression, the choice of words, the flair and rythm of a sentence...getting this right in a foreign language will allways stay more difficult...and I won't even start on the difference between what's witty or funny to a Dutch person in general (and me specifically) versus what's witty or funny to the rest of the world.

At one point the thought even crossed my mind to switch to Dutch in this blog...it would make writing a post a lot more effortless. Not necessarily quicker or simpler but definitely more effortless. But then again, after a year, and with an English blog title. It just doesn't fit (anymore).

So, I happily stick to English and a bit of German, and use my Dutch for a comment or two in blogland, for my email ramblings to friends and family in NL, and for my shopping lists.

Some weekend sweetness

2008-03-28T23:25:00.007Z

So what would little Jessy want to wear this summer? Something airy, light and comfortable. A layer to add when necessary and to remove when required? That's what I thought when I made this baby apron, taking a 60-ies design as an inspiration.

Let's hope the parents like it. Otherwise she won't be wearing it at all ;)

Best Things part five/Teil Fünf

2008-03-28T12:34:00.004Z

Time.

Although "time" is a difficult one within the context of "best things are for free", I think it fits in somewhere.

Certain people might argue that time is money. My theory of the day says: Don't be fooled - this is only true because of the measurable work you can do in a certain amount of seconds, minutes and hours. Not because of the time itself. Time exists with or without us. It's a handy, free tool.

So, if you do nothing (like me today - see above) or if your work is not measurable (like mine today) time is just happening. Completely free. And why is it so good?

Because you can always say: "Remember that time in Toscane under the moon and stars, when you were supposed to do something romantic but fell of that small stone wall, and landed wih your bum in a bed of peppermint plants?"

In the end it slips through our fingers anyway.

Free time for all!

Best Things - part four/Teil Vier

2008-03-23T21:41:00.000Z

Munich Zoo. Sitting on the edge of the waterbasin, in the acquarium. Watching the kids running between the Black Mamba and the Gabun Viper. Letting these words sink in:

...knowing it's just right and it's all worth it. Every second of it.

Ich bin dabei

2008-03-19T13:54:00.004Z

Zu haben sind diese HIER - ab heute/Available HERE, starting today.

Lieferung: erst nach Ostern wenn ich mich vom Schokoshock erholt habe/Shipping after Easter - when I'm recovered from my Chocoshock.

Happy Easter to you all!

Best Things - part three/Teil drei

2008-03-18T22:14:00.004Z

Cherry blossom beauty.

My oldest does this. She leaves little "installations" all over the house. Sometimes they are carefully arranged objects, laid out for no other reason to please her eye and her sense of order, sometimes they are the left overs of intense play. Always brings a smile to my face.

******************************************

Meine Große macht das: Sie hinterlässt überall im Haus ihre kleine Stillleben. Manchmal nur fürs Auge und umwillen ihres Ordnungssinns, manchmal als Übrigbleibsel eines Spiels. Wie auch immer: Es zaubert jedes Mal ein Lächeln ins Gesicht, und ich bewege mich sorgfaltig und vorsichtig damit es genauso stehen bleibt.