the Chrismas Blog-Break

Since arriving home almost two weeks ago we have been either shoveling snow or preparing for Christmas..... Or even better, shoveling snow so we could get out of the driveway to prepare for Christmas.
I made it up to Princeton for my painting group last week but made no pictures.
Here's a picture of the snow...... geese. Can you find them?

The Long (and Harrowing) Trip Home

My son Coert brought me to Schiphol Airport near Amsterdam last Thursday. It was nice, sunny but cold weather. We stood in line waiting to check-in for some time because those @#$%^computers for the self-serve boarding passes weren't doing their thing. Finally a boarding pass and my one bag checked (travel light and fast is the motto) we said our goodbyes.
After all these years it's still a bit difficult and we both look forward to seeing eachother again in February.Anyway, a long walk to the gate, a long wait at the gate and finally boarding.
Departure Schiphol Amsterdam around 2pm local time.

In-flight I tried to take some pictures but only one is worth showing here.
As we got closer to our destination I saw quite a bit of ice form on the wing-tips. During the decent and landing the snow was so blinding I could only but see the red light flashing on the wingtip. The landing was so bumpy and scary the woman next to me took my hand for comfort.... the people on the plane were silent until we were sure we had stopped.... Then of course there was quite the applause.

Arrival Logan international Boston. 4:55pm local time, the last plane to land before closing down the runway and diverting the all other flights. We had to wait some time for the baggage carosel to start running as those poor baggage handelers were probably working up to their knees in the snow.I called Worcester Airport Limosine and heard that they had cars stuck in traffic all over the place and would come to get me a.s.a.p. Finally a young man showed and drove us through the blinding snow west on route 90, the Massachusetts Turnpike.
To keep this long story short I arrived home later than planned and was luckily not diverted to Detroit or somewhere.
Now, back home, in the snow our priorities are getting to the firewood and to the animals.

The Last Couple of Days in Holland

Going to meet my grandchildren, Dana (background) and Christiaan on their way home from school.
A vist with Dorri and Dana to the Kröller-Müller Museum..... I had some difficulty getting sharp images without the flash.

Weihnachtsmarkt Bad Bentheim the Road Trip

Grotere kaart weergeven

Day Trip 2... To the Royal Palace "het Loo"

One of my day trips was centered around the portrait exhibit of the royal children (and one bastard son) between the 16th and 20th century at the royal palace het Loo. Wonderful paintings in a beautifully restored palace. What made the exhibit so unique was not only the time span but also the detail and the size, many life sized family portraits. Making it all that much more impressive was the fact that the clothing worn in some of the portraits were on display as well.... made no pictures myself..... camera batteries were dead. You´ll have to do it with the hot links in the text above and one areal photo copyrighted to these people.

Day Trips in Holland

Yesterday I posted a couple of photographs I made at the market in Harderwijk. I just love how there are bicycles all over the place... Old and young bicycle to the market and do their shopping. Notice the large ¨saddle bags¨, helmets are worn only by the youngest of cyclists.... up to around five years old. This photo is taken with my back to the ¨gate of paradise¨, one of the entrances to the 13th century convent in the direction of one of the remaining city gates called the Smeerpoort.

Grotere kaart weergeven

Surprise vist to the Netherlands

I went to the Netherlands to surprise my brother André for his birthday on Dec. 4th. Of course I didn´t tell Coert, Dorri or the grandchildren either..... surprise surprise. This morning we went to the weekly market in Harderwijk, the town where Coert and Dorri live. Below a photo of Dorri at their regular fruit and vegetable stand.
In the background, Sam, is the man that serves them every week for some years now.
The second photo is of a woman in front of the flower stand. Notice the children and baggage on her bicycle! Click on the photos for enlargment.

The "Small Painting" exhibit

The "small painting" exhibit yesterday was a success, many people came and a few paintings sold. The exhibit will go on for over the weekend. My contribution to the organization was making the punch. Let me tell you, if you have never made one, it gets a life of its own. Hosea suggested a "green" punch with red cherries for the holiday season. His recepie:
4 cups of sugar diluted in 2 quarts of warm water
in that dissolve 4 packs of lemon lime coolade
add 2 large cans of pineapple juice
2 liters of ginger ale
and finally
add an ice ring with the cherries.
Seemed very festive. After I bought all the ingredients everyone said blah!!!! Green punch? No no!!!!
I went on the internet, and found lots of ways to make punch. What I learned was do not add orange juice and cranberry juice, that makes a brown punch. do not make your ice ring of pineapple juice with cherries, that makes a puce colored ring, and breaks easy. Do not buy bottled juices, but frozen concentrates.
It all worked out fine, nobody complained anyway.
Here are some foto's:
The first is of two paintings by Charles Grey, I just love the way he paints.

This one is by Lynn Wrona, this painting understandably sold rightaway:














Here is a beautiful painting by Barry van Dusen:

Finally me with one of my small lighthouse paintings: