My camera, my surroundings

Ornament in garden

2012-01-17T10:27:00.000+01:00

Rose hips against a blue sky

2012-01-16T09:21:00.000+01:00

Life quotation

2012-01-15T10:19:00.000+01:00

Blossom in a blue sky

2012-01-14T10:16:00.000+01:00

Old wall and new tower in Cologne

2012-01-13T02:07:00.000+01:00

Cologne cathedral

2012-01-12T14:06:00.000+01:00

Horoscope signs in leaded light

2012-01-11T14:02:00.000+01:00

Statue of Our Lady (Cologne Cathedral)

2012-01-10T13:54:00.004+01:00

Still there a Xmas stable

2012-01-09T06:00:00.000+01:00

Life quotation

2012-01-08T09:38:00.003+01:00

Nobody said life would be easy, they just promised it would be worth it!

So live every day

like there's no tomorrow,

laugh till you cry,

and dance like there's nobody watching!

Xmas wreaths

2012-01-07T06:28:00.001+01:00

Nürnberg Castle

2012-01-06T19:24:00.000+01:00

Which way?

2012-01-05T07:23:00.001+01:00

Trainstation early morning

2012-01-04T07:19:00.000+01:00

My new office

2012-01-03T07:15:00.001+01:00

Colourful lights

2012-01-02T07:14:00.000+01:00

Happy new year!

2012-01-01T18:55:00.001+01:00

Wishing everybody a happy, healthy and peaceful new year!!

Windmill park

2011-05-17T10:12:00.001+02:00

Sailing boat in the distance with the windmill park in the background.

Castricum aan Zee

2011-05-16T10:08:00.003+02:00

If you look really well you can see the windmill park out in the sea.

Cappuccino and apple cake

2011-05-15T10:06:00.001+02:00

Our last day on the beach.... enjoying a cappuccino and applecake!

Steps

2011-05-14T10:04:00.000+02:00

Steps behind the tree, leading over the dunes to the sea....

Bergen aan Zee

2011-05-14T09:57:00.004+02:00

Walking down to the beach.
Enjoying the sun.....
Windshades......

Cycling through the dunes

2011-05-14T09:56:00.000+02:00

Cycling up and down through the hilly dunes!

Cooling down

2011-05-13T09:52:00.000+02:00

Ha this guy found a nice place to cool down!

Colours through the trees

2011-05-12T09:51:00.001+02:00

Colourful fields filled with tulips as seen through the trees!

Rainbow fields

2011-05-11T09:47:00.001+02:00

Rainbow fields with a windmill in the background!

Ah what a sight to behold!!

Pink tulip

2011-05-10T06:25:00.000+02:00

A closer look at the pink tulips!

Pink field

2011-05-09T06:22:00.000+02:00

This time a field filled with pink tulips with the dunes in the background!

A mighty sight!!

Church in the distance

2011-05-08T10:20:00.000+02:00

A church in the distance and in the foreground fields filled with soft coloured flowers.

Blue field

2011-05-07T10:11:00.004+02:00

This time we cycled past a field filled with common grape hyacinths!

So beautiful to see so many blue flowers in one field!!

White lighthouse

2011-05-06T09:46:00.000+02:00

White lighthouse in Egmond aan Zee.

Beautiful sunset

2011-05-05T21:42:00.001+02:00

We were oh so lucky and captured a really beautiful sunset!Goodnight!

Walking down to the beach

2011-05-04T23:06:00.002+02:00

Walking down to the beach to try to capture a beautiful sunset!

Tulip bike

2011-05-03T23:02:00.001+02:00

Noted this nice "tulip" bike near the canal in Alkmaar!

Weigh house

2011-05-02T07:49:00.001+02:00

Alkmaar is famous for its cheese market. As a demonstration for tourists the cheese is still being weighed. In this picture you see the weigh house in the distance, this is one of the very few weighing houses still in use and it is a very impressive building as you can see on the picture below.

Near the water

2011-05-01T22:48:00.000+02:00

Perfect weather to enjoy a drink near the water in Alkmaar!

Dutch landscape

2011-04-30T19:00:00.000+02:00

Blossoming trees, little lambs, a river and a windmill in the distance!

Little lambs

2011-04-29T18:53:00.002+02:00

Lambs in the green fields!

Down to the beach

2011-04-28T18:47:00.000+02:00

Wordless Wednesday - Shell

2011-04-27T18:46:00.001+02:00

Sunset

2011-04-26T18:42:00.000+02:00

Sunset the first evening....

A closer look

2011-04-25T18:40:00.000+02:00

A closer look at a yellow/reddish coloured tulip! The sun really made them shine!

Colourful fields

2011-04-25T18:35:00.000+02:00

WOW all these colourful fields filled with tulips!

Easter cake

2011-04-24T18:49:00.000+02:00

On Easter Sunday we enjoyed healthy Easter cakes with our coffee!

Holiday home

2011-04-23T18:32:00.000+02:00

We spend a few fabulous days during the long Easter weekend in this little holiday home! The weather was real summer like! Unbelievable for April....... we didn't mind and really enjoyed!

Happy Easter

2011-04-22T08:25:00.000+02:00

HAPPY EASTER!

Oh so lucky

2011-04-20T08:22:00.001+02:00

Every morning I feel oh so lucky after passing through this passage on my way to work. Birds are very busy building their nests and every now and then something "white" drops down! So far it didn't hit me................ but then I do my best to increase my speed when passing through :)!

Beautiful garden

2011-04-18T23:46:00.004+02:00

On my way to work every morning I pass this beautiful garden.Flowers and blossom everywhere!

Forsythia

2011-03-28T03:25:00.001+02:00

Forsythia flowering abundantly!

A tour

2011-03-27T15:10:00.014+02:00

Perfect weather for a tour!

(Heh I joined in the fun only at a slower pace and my tour was cycling to and fro :) ) Both sons joined in the real fun.

One became 2nd in his category and the other even won a price in his classification!

Unfortunately also an accident happened during this tour. The guy broke his jaw and had other minor injuries all over. Amazingly his bike didn't show a scratch!

Time for Viola

2011-03-26T15:07:00.000+01:00

Time to plant Viola in the pots around the house.

Wordless Wednesday - Rose basket

2011-03-23T01:16:00.001+01:00

Taking a walk

2011-03-22T12:13:00.002+01:00

Perfect weather to take the pony's for a walk! :)

Spring in our garden

2011-03-21T12:09:00.001+01:00

Spring in the park

2011-03-20T11:48:00.003+01:00

Walking back to our car through the park I noted Spring is definitely around the corner! Greenery in the centre of Antwerp.

Statue of Minerva

2011-03-19T11:37:00.000+01:00

Statue of Minerva (goddess of wisdom and arts), near the Schelde, with in the background the tower of the Cathedral of Our Lady.

Rubens and the tower

2011-03-18T11:33:00.000+01:00

Statue of Rubens (a famous baroque painter) and the tower of the Cathedral of Our Lady in the background.

According to my tourist guide a picture most tourists try to capture when in Antwerp.

Big market square

2011-03-17T11:11:00.000+01:00

This is the big market square in Antwerpen, with all its guild houses and the statue of Brabo.

This little hero was a sailor who was navigating his ship down the river Scheldt. He had planned to sail his ship past Antwerp with his cargo but there was an evil giant stopping every ship and demanding money to let them continue their journey. Brabo caught the giant, cut off the giant's hand and threw it in the water. This story explains where the name Antwerp comes from. "Hand werpen" in Flemish means "throwing a hand". Behind the statue of Brabo you can see the city hall. Closer look at the golden statues on the roof tops of the guild houses.

The other side of the square with more guild houses.

Rusty rings

2011-03-16T11:00:00.000+01:00

Picture taken inside the courtyard of the Maagdenhuis in Antwerp. The Maagdenhuis used to be a girls orphanage. Nowadays it houses a collection of art and applied arts.

Outdoor seats

2011-03-15T21:19:00.000+01:00

Another narrow passage with outdoor seats waiting for warmer days!

Narrow passage

2011-03-14T21:23:00.000+01:00

In the centre of Antwerp we passed through these photogenic narrow passages!

Beautiful in their simplicity!

Chocolate bath

2011-03-13T21:13:00.000+01:00

This guy is relaxing in a chocolate bath for all to enjoy!

Champagne bar

2011-03-12T21:08:00.000+01:00

While in Antwerp we popped into this shopping arcade and what I liked most was the champagne bar! Imagine enjoying a glass of champagne on top of a huge, white bar looking like a champagne glass from below!

Antwerp train station

2011-03-11T20:43:00.000+01:00

Approaching the beautiful Antwerp train station building.Not only the outside but even the inside of this building is mighty impressive!The station has four levels.

On the picture below you can see a train on the highest level (right side).

Time for a waffle

2011-03-10T20:38:00.000+01:00

Time for a Belgian waffle.

Shopping

2011-03-09T20:32:00.000+01:00

We shopped (till we dropped) in Antwerp's main shopping street, the Meir.

Rubens house

2011-03-08T09:31:00.000+01:00

First thing we visited in Antwerp was the Rubens house. We weren't allowed to take pictures inside but on the outside this house is fabulous too!

Spring break

2011-03-07T21:24:00.000+01:00

In this Spring break we spent a night in this hotel in Antwerp. The rooms were fabulous and the breakfast buffet was delicious with loads of different choices!

Love(ly) ballet show

2011-02-14T16:34:00.005+01:00

Yesterday I went to a love(ly) ballet show with the great lovestory of Romeo & Julia interwoven in all the acts! We were seated on the upper balcony in the theatre and looking down we saw a large heart projected on the red curtains. Well what better thing to post here on Valentine's day than a red heart.

More signs of Spring

2011-02-10T14:37:00.001+01:00

These flowering crocuses really surprised me on returning home this afternoon!

Spring in February

2011-02-09T20:37:00.003+01:00

Today, a day off and hard to believe it looked and felt like Spring! So what better thing to do than cycle into town and enjoy a cappuccino on a sidewalk cafe! Unbelievable as it is only the beginning of February!

Theatre visit

2011-02-08T20:23:00.002+01:00

In Amsterdam we went to the theatre to see a fabulous feel good musical called Petticoat. Carré is a beautiful theatre. It is not only very impressive from the outside but inside too. If you sit high it is very steep indeed. Lucky us we had seats in the royal box and sat a lot lower in the middle so we could see very well!

Red sightseeing buses

2011-02-07T20:11:00.000+01:00

Red sightseeing buses in Amsterdam.

Canal boat and narrow houses

2011-02-06T20:06:00.000+01:00

This is typical Amsterdam: a canal boat and narrow houses!

and if you really look good a coffeeshop in between!

Train station

2011-02-05T19:59:00.000+01:00

On a daytrip to Amsterdam we normally take the train or tram somewhere near Amsterdam to go into the centre of the city. This time we decided to take the train in Abcoude. We couldn't find the station so decided to ask the direction. LOL we just crossed a bridge and thought there was a river beneath but we just crossed the railroad!!! On this picture you see the train station in the distance.

Now say for yourself the blueness does look like water!!!

Wordless Wednesday - Pollard Willows

2011-01-12T07:35:00.000+01:00

Shadow painting

2011-01-09T21:19:00.004+01:00

While cycling this weekend I noted the shadows of the leaves on the white background of this bill board making it look like a shadow painting!

I couldn't resist and had to play again and join in the fun of capturing shadows.

Enjoying nature!

2011-01-08T21:14:00.002+01:00

Only a week ago the world was small and white. This weekend the snow was mostly gone and the weather was perfect for some biking to enjoy nature!

Small world

2011-01-03T19:31:00.007+01:00

Mist and snow make a very small world and make it look as if this tree is standing in the middle of nowhere!

Stone urn with lid

2011-01-02T06:58:00.000+01:00

Snow on the lid of a stone urn standing on a pedestral and fancy Christmas ornaments hanging on the wooden shutters.

Happy New Year

2011-01-01T01:00:00.001+01:00

Wishing everybody all the best for 2011!

Oil balls

2010-12-31T15:59:00.004+01:00

After watching the carbide shooting, returned home for the traditional baking of oil balls! Love them when they are still nice and warm..........time for a cuppa tea! Wishing you a happy year's ending!

Carbide shooting

2010-12-31T15:38:00.006+01:00

On the last day of the year a group of friends in town enjoy carbide shooting. Shooting balls from 40 milk cans. Ready steady ..... go! BANG!

Balls everywhere! Making a pretty sight in the white snow!

People come to have a look and enjoy a drink!

Icicles

2010-12-30T21:10:00.003+01:00

Icicles hanging from the gutters. Another mighty winter sight showing how cold the weather is here in Holland. According to the news december 2010 has been one of the coldest december months ever here in Holland! Brrr ......

Snowy frozen leaves

2010-12-29T21:00:00.000+01:00

Noted the amazing effect freezing weather has on snowy leaves! They turned in spiky looking leaves. This effect is also called hoar frost.

Red bench

2010-12-28T20:56:00.000+01:00

Just liked this red bench in the white snow!

Santa and his helper

2010-12-27T15:28:00.000+01:00

This Christmas we were oh so lucky as Santa and his helper passed our house!

Hoho ....... see you next year!

Winter all around

2010-12-26T06:24:00.000+01:00

On the road the other day I enjoyed seeing the beauty of this white winter all around.
Though causing a lot of discomfort, when you need to go through, the sights all around make up for the nuisance!
Winter is cold and white this year but so very beautiful......!

Take time to enjoy the beauty of the day!

Christmas day

2010-12-25T10:19:00.002+01:00

It's Christmas day..... time to open the little gifts we bought for each other.

Enjoy and have fun this Christmas day!

Merry Christmas & Happy New Year

2010-12-24T14:57:00.000+01:00

From my house to your house....

wishing you and your dear ones

a merry Christmas

all the best for 2011!

Winter in our garden

2010-12-23T10:08:00.000+01:00

So much snow fell this december! As long as I've been back living in Holland (for 30 years now) I don't recall so much whiteness coming down and causing so much discomfort on the road! But winter in our garden is good for nice shots!

Wordless Wednesday - White star

2010-12-22T10:06:00.000+01:00

High tea

2010-12-21T10:01:00.001+01:00

Ladies only high tea to celebrate my cousin's 46th birthday!

Thanks it was fun .... and delicious!

Happy birthday dear cousin!

Ten cm snow

2010-12-20T06:29:00.000+01:00

Pictoresque

2010-12-19T10:18:00.004+01:00

The radio is singing of a white Christmas but it looks as if it came a week too early! Oh my so much whiteness fell last night. This is the postcard picture when we look outside. It might look pictoresque but all that white stuff is cold and a nuisance if you have to go out!

Winter morn

2010-12-18T10:25:00.000+01:00

Orange is the colour

2010-11-14T07:57:00.006+01:00

Orange is the colour! Well at least in this little Autumn bouquet.

Just in case you missed me: besides being busy with all kinds of things there's not much to blog about right now.

Weather is very, very Autumn like: wind, rain and very gloomy!

Yesterday Sint Nicolaas arrived in Holland and this means that the season has started. When Sint Nicolaas leaves Holland on the 6th of December Santa Claus will arrive.

A bike, the sea and a lamp

2010-10-30T07:06:00.000+02:00

One last look at the sea showing me a bike, the sea and a lamp and............. in the distance a large containership.

Sun setting

2010-10-29T08:58:00.002+02:00

Sun setting....... oh I can keep on looking and dreaming away........ so beautiful especially near the sea! If you look well you can see the large kites of the kitesurfers in the distance.

Autumn evening in Scheveningen

2010-10-28T20:49:00.002+02:00

It was a beautiful Autumn evening in Scheveningen. The sun was still shining on the pier (photo above) and on the Kurhaus (photo below). Unfortunately there stood a strong wind blowing the sand over the boulevard ........ to find it grinding between your teeth! :)