2011

Happy New Year to all my family and friends.I wish you all the best for the coming year and hope there may be Peace. The stampot french cut beans is ready.

A visit to the Conservatory

Today a couple of friends and I went to the Conservatory in Highland Park. The theme was still Christmas. Beautiful Poinsettias in all colors.The sun was shining and the plants enjoyed it like we did.They had a saying there , we need the sun also the flowers. Outside where children sledding on the hills. What a nice day.

Thanks for the memories

All I remember from the Christmas colds that many people did not feel normal, but how they felt I did not know until this week when I came down with it. Sorry kids I give you a lot of credit for trying to be normal when you did not feel good.I have been laying low this week, and I do not have to go to party's.

December 26.

Jim and Freddy's sweater made by Julie,Lucy's Friesian Horse, Anna's table runner. Boy what a talent.

A other great get together foe Christmas. Today it was at Evie and Jim.What a joy to see them having a good time. I am amazed over my granddaughters[in law] how clever they are. The things they make and how they know how to please someone. Love you all.Here are a few pictures of the day.

Christmas day at Nancy

A couple of pictures of Christmas day .

Christmas Eve.

We had as always a real nice Christmas Eve. This year it was by Louise and she did a beautiful job. Just got a e mail from Oom Gerrit and told him I would put a couple pictures on the blog.

A other generation.

I have to put this picture on my blog. It was a two generations ago that my husband sat with one of his daughters by the piano. Jimmy called me yesterday morning and said that Molly, his daughter want to come to my house for a tea party. Jimmy remembers that was a big part of our life every day.So I was very pleased that Molly wanted to come.Keep the memories going.And then this picture did something for me.

Cold in Europe.

After I wrote that in the Netherlands they do not get a lot of snow, well this year it is different. I was talking to my brother Gerrit and he said it is getting real bad there. They had planned to go up North to his wife family, bad he does not think they can go for Christmas because of the weather. And they only have to ride a hour. For us that is next door.They also are not use to this kind of weather. They do know icy roads.

Winter in Holland.

A drawing of my memories from over sixty years ago.Flat, cold and little snow. Not every year are the canals frozen. They have the influence from the North Sea. That keeps them warmer and damper. In other word water cold.

Smal town tradition.

What I love about living in a small town? Traditions. I belong to a Senior group in our town . Yesterday we had our Christmas Festival I think about 55 people came, plus Santa arival. It was a lot of fun. Then last night I went to a concert of all churches in our town. To see people of difference beliefs having that spirit and joy with singing. My special of the evening is as always the Hallelujah chorus.

C O L D.

It is a cold day. A nice day to do some handwork or do some reading. You also can pray for heat.

Volunteer work.

Today we got together to do some volunteer work.My daughters and granddaughters, seven of us came together and made blankets for children of battered woman. We had a great time and did great work. Knowing that several children are going to be nice and warm, makes you feel good.And for our family a nice way to enjoy one and other.

Sinterklaas.

Yes Sinterklaas came last night.He came at Kim's.I had a great Sunday.Dave picket me up in the afternoon and we went to the Town Hall for the Gingerbread Houses show. And who had a Honorable mention. First Lucy and then Evie. They where real cute. Then we went to Kim and celebrated Sinterklaas. Kim had a Dutch supper.I is so much fun to be with the kids.It made my day.Thanks every one.

St Nick is coming.

Yes it is time for St Nick or Sinterklaas. I have my shoes ready,but I wonder if he comes all the way from Holland.The Eve of the fift of December is his time. Who knows, like I said my wooden shoes are ready and my snowman are waiting.

Clocks.

What a difference a clock can make at a home. I have a chiming wall clock and also a grandmother clock. They both have been ill.My husband loved clocks and they where always ticking in our home. If there was a problem he could fix it. I had my clocks fix at times but it never last long. A friend of me had a relative who also loves clocks. His name was Bob. Bob came over and fixed both my clocks, so now I have a happy home again. I also did have a chookoo clock. My parents brought it over from the Netherlands, It hanged in our hall way and every night my husband pulled the chain of the clock. My daughters remember the sound.But the clock broke down and no one, not even my husband could fix it, It needed a bellow. So Evie gave it to Bob and he finally fixed it. I am so glad and hope that it will bring lots of memories back to her, She has it in the kitchen and every half hour when she is home she can think of her Dad and the happy times at home.

Campbell .Who?

I went to see Glen Campbell yesterday in Niagara Falls Canada. Yes he is still around.He is just a kid from my stand point. He is 74 years old.And he looks and acts great.He sang alone and with his daughter and to me he is still singing the same. What I remember most of him was his Glen Campbell Christmas shows.It was a nice show and we had a good time. We also went to the conservatorie flower show.Beautiful. Then we saw the Christmas lights at the Falls. We had great weather and a great day. Got home around 9 p.m.

Thanksgiving or Dankdag.

The meaning is the same, the celebration is different. Here it is one of the biggest Holiday and family gathering. In the Netherlands it is a thank you for the harvest celebration in the church. So if you are not a church goer you would not say thanks to the harvest.We had our celebration at Evie and Jim's. The whole family where there and we had a great time.Here are a few memories.

My little visitors.

Tonight my little great grand kids came over. What a joy. They came with there Daddy. He had to pick up his birthday present. A little late, I hope it was worth the wait.

Alpacas

Those are the newest addition to or family. Two Alpaca's They are so sweet. There names are Gus and George. The owners are Evie and Jim. Come over from Holland we have our own Zoo.