Candle holders.

Do you get sick of this winter? Well look for some crafts. I am always looking to do some thing. I miss my wood carving. Hope my hands will feel better someday and I can go back. So I have been looking for something different to do. I made a shelf for a windmill my Father made.So I have some candle holders. I love them but I do not have big dinners any more. And if we have a get together it is very informal.So here I did something with my candle holders. I have some old saucers and decided to glue them together with the candle holders. And here is the result.

Proud to be a American

Yes I am even more proud today then ever.I am reading a book "The UnDutchables" by Colin White & Laurie Boucke. When I started I enjoyed it. It is a funny way looking at the Dutch. But the more I am reading I started to feel a little odd. No my people are not like that!But 90% they are right. It is so strange looking as a American back at the country I came from. Like I said 90% I agree with the writer. The 10% is the change in the Netherlands after I left in 1949.I have always said I did not like the way the Dutch criticize our Country. It is hard to put on paper how I realy feel. I love this land. People are general great and loving. The Dutch are holding back, unless they know you. Some how I get the feeling they think they are better.They are proud people, and they should be. A little Country like that has good repetition. But reading this book I do have to agree with him most of the time. He was writing about food, I just could not help it to laugh. What I always thought was unique Dutch food, Potatoos, Pannekoken [pancakes} and drop [licorice}, and then stampot this and stampot that.my outlook is different now.Coffie, and Tea time is so importend to them. Everything, every day the same time. It is cozy to visit, but I could not live like that any more. I am glad Kim gave me this book. I am proud to say I love the U.S.A. even more.

Reading.

I am reading two books right now , and can not lay them down. But my eyes will not let me do it to long.The first one is The UnDutchables . It is great knowledge of the Dutch. Any one interested in reading it let me know. The other book is Maeve Binchy's "Hearth and Soul." I also have a other Maeve Binchy book to read. "White Thorn Woods." A Birthday gift. Today is a good day to pick up a book and read for a while. I also want to do some spring cleaning. I am going to try to wash my bed spread. I hope it works , otherwise I have to get a new one.

Brrrrrrrrrr it's Winter.

Brrrr it is really cold. When are we going to have some warmer weather. I can not blame Joanne and Julius for leaving to California this week. I took a few pictures around my house.

Kijk je ook.

Even zien of jullie ook kijken naar de blog.Ik doe meest al voor familie en vrienden in Holland wat te schrijven. Gerrit zegt dat het bij hem in Nederlands word vertaald. Het is erg leuk op Skype te kijken maar je bent soms ook gauw uit gepraat.Zo voor jullie ga ik even in het Nederlands schrijven,.Ik heb een prachtige 84 ste verjaardag gehad. Vele telephoontjes en kaarten. Buiten dien de hele familie heeft me verwent. Ik weet dat Engels voor jullie niet altijd gemakkelijk is , maar ik ben verrast hoe goed Gerrit is. Niet veel fouten en je kunt hem begrijpen. Hier is alles goed ,Sneeuw en koud, maar het is Januarie wat wil je.Mijn achter klein kinderen Zijn goed , also twee under weg . Een in Maart en een in Julie. Verder niet veel nieuws, zo dat is goed.Het beste voor al de Nederlanders.

Extended Birthday.

My birthday keeps on going. Today our Friday girls had a cake for me and cards. Yesterday I went the whole day with Evie. Shopping , Movie and lunch and dinner. I had a great time.Came home way after dark.Tomorrow I am going to celebrate with all my daughters. Here are a couple of pictures from the last couple of days.

What a Birthday!!!

Yes what a Birthday. No one, and I mean no one family or friends forgot me. What a day. Thank you all so much. All day company, calls and cards, I can not believe it. Love you all.

What a night.

I had the worst night I had in a long time.It lingered all day with me.I saw faces I had not seen for years, events that took place in the war. They where after me for some reason. I had hid some one and would not tell. It was so real and scary that I can not shake it of and maybe when I put it in words it will help.But I can not put it in words. I see the faces from yesterday, the feeling I felt then came back.I was looking for people who understand me. But no one believed me. I saw my home on the inside just when it was then . The S.S ers in the house looking and not believing me. I was a teenager then and new what was going on but not understanding every thing. That is the way our lives where. Afraid of every thing. I do not understand why after 68 years I had a dream like that. I just had a good cry maybe that helps. Boy what a night, what real feelings. Scary!

Losing a dear friend

Today I went to a funeral service for a dear friend.A friend that goes back close to 60 years. It was in the neighborhood where we bought our first home. Close to No 11 school. Here is where Nancy started school. I did go to meetings and met this wonderful couple Ruth and Warren. They had two boy's my girls age. And we became friends. They are the ones that started us camping. One year they let us borrow their big tent and we got hooked. Trough the years we kept in touch. Four years ago I went to there 60 wedding anniversary. It was great, but then there health went down. He was in the Nursing home for a couple of years.In Oct. He had his 90 Birthday. What a man. My husband and I loved them both a lot.When I saw Ruth today I said ,here we are both without a husband, both we have a pace maker and walking with a cane. This is really the end of the road.

Food Processor and Son in Law.

What does the Cuisinart Food Processor and Jim have in common. Well tonight Jim came over with flower and yeast and showed me how to make bread. Not that I did not know how, but his way was better and we used my new Cuisinart. Well the results you can see. On loaf to eat ,two to give away and one for the freezer.

Back to normal

The Holidays are over and things can go back to normal.Kris send me a e mail that she is back in London.And we are all trying to be normal, but somehow for a few of us it just will not do it. This cold or flu has drained us. Not me alone but also some of the younger once.Today I went to my exercise and in the middle I had to stop. I just could not do any more.I am not a nap person, but somehow I have to take a nap.We have to be patient.

Granddaughters.

My grand daughters came to spend some time with me.Boy they sure keep you young. I always have a great time with them .It does keep me active. With out them knowing I put a pot of food in the oven . got some apples peeled from my yard and we got a meal.They sure liked it , I even have the proof.