I've been tagged

A dear friend of mine over at http://hedgerowhollow.blogspot.com/ has nominated me for the Thinking Blogger Award! Thanks Lynda.

Now it is my turn pass this award on to 5 blogs that I enjoy! This is not easy to do with all the wonderful blogs I read. I tried to list only 5 but I admit I cannot. I think there are so many great blogs and my day is that much brighter for visiting with these people online each day.

Impressions of Maastricht

My husband and I celebrated our 20th wedding anniversary last Wednesday. We spent a few days in the city of Maastricht which is in the south of Holland. I thought I would share a few photos to give you an impression of this city.

Firstly, a remaining piece of the ancient city walls.

This adorable statue was perched on a wall of a side street near the river Maas.

Isn't this such a pretty location for a florist?

The parish church of St. Jan ~ a protestant church right beside the basilica.

The convent under the archway of the basilica.

A beautiful ancient statue still remains in tact in the archway.

The basilica of Saint Servatius which I will show you in more detail from both indoors and out tomorrow.

Easter time is a time of renewal and I am wishing all of my blogging friends a wonderful Easter Sunday as well as a beautiful and bright spring season. Take this day to reflect on this season and all it brings and celebrate!

Old Dutch village

Welcome to Orvelte in the province of Drenthe. It is a living monumental village where various old trades and crafts are still practiced in season. It is a chance to walk back in time as you wonder the beautiful cobbled and bricked lanes between the preserved farms, houses, cafes and old businesses.

This little lady greeted us with her charming smile at one of the old farms. She has an adorable set of overgrown teeth, don't you think? Click on the photo to enlarge and see her in full detail.

One of the many charming brick houses with a beautiful window.

The farm's old hay barn.

This old toll house was built in 1870 and is in wonderful condition.

It still retains its original list of tolls commanded by all who passed by.

Old Dutch postbox which looks very much like the loved British versions.

This village is open to the public from Good Friday and you are able to go in many buildings and view the craftsmen. It is open to walk around the village all year round of course. We were there the week before opening and it is very pretty to simply walk among these buildings. It is not simpy a museum. People actually live and work here. That makes it even more special knowing this is not set up as a tourist attraction but has been preserved throughout the generations.

Some new friends...

Everywhere you go in the northern Dutch provinces of Friesland and Drenthe, you see fields full of sheep. It is always a pretty sight but at this time of year, even better. What is more fun that to see the lambs either running and jumping as they play together or sleeping peacefully against their mother. These two little ones were huddled together while Mother was close at hand.

She kept a watchful eye but still let me photograph her little beauties!

Thirsty growing lambs show that spring has truely arrived.

Sunrise!

Yesterday we had the most incredible sunrise! Jos tried to get a nice photo but it just would not come out on picture what we could see with the naked eye. The sun was like a perfect round fireball hanging low in the morning sky. It was an amazing color of red which is only hinted at here with the pink haze you can see around it.

Questions about daffodils

Nan had asked me a number of questions in the comments of one of my entries a few days ago. I wanted to take a moment to answer her.

Once the flowers are dying back, I dead~head them. At this point, you have to leave the leaves and stems for a further six weeks to allow the 'goodness' to go back into the bulb.

Yes, we do mow the lawns. If you have to mow within six weeks of the bulbs no longer being in flower, then you must mow around them and leaving the green leaves in tact. Once the time has passed you simply mow the leaves away and they rest until the next spring season.

Holland is a beautiful place at this time of year. City areas are all planted up with various bulbs from crocus to daffodils to tulips. We try to make it to the west (coastal) area to view the tulip fields which are a site to see although it has been a couple of years again since we have taken this drive. Maybe this year.....

My favorite poem of this season

There is no sweeter poem for the spring season that Wordworth's 'Daffodils'! This photo is of Dora's field near Rydal Mount in the Lake District. After Wordsworth's daughter died in 1847, he, along with his sister Dorothy and his wife, planted up a field he had purchased to build a house. He planted daffodils there as a memorial to his daughter. I hope this poem brings you some sunshine today as you read it...

I WANDER'D lonely as a cloud
That floats on high o'er vales and hills,

When all at once I saw a crowd,
A host, of golden daffodils;

Beside the lake, beneath the trees,

Fluttering and dancing in the breeze.

Continuous as the stars that shine
And twinkle on the Milky Way,

They stretch'd in never-ending line
Along the margin of a bay:

Ten thousand saw I at a glance,

Tossing their heads in sprightly dance.

The waves beside them danced; but they
Out-did the sparkling waves in glee:
A poet could not but be gay,
In such a jocund company:

I gazed -- and gazed -- but little thought

What wealth the show to me had brought:

For oft, when on my couch I lie
In vacant or in pensive mood,

They flash upon that inward eye
Which is the bliss of solitude;

And then my heart with pleasure fills,

And dances with the daffodils.

~~ William Wordsworth ~~

Welcome spring.....

And Spring arose on the garden fair,

Like the Spirit of Love felt everywhere;

And each flower and herb on Earth's dark breast

rose from the dreams of its wintry rest.

Percy Bysshe Shelley

These tulips come from a tulip farm near our weekend cottage. I bought some bouquets as I wanted to start the first day of spring with the colorful flowers around me. This bouquet is purple tulips and I also have one of lilac double tulips and a bouquet of pink and cream tulips. I wish you all a colorful start to spring. Even if the weather where you are is not spring~like, celebrate the start of the season in your heart.

The waiting is over

This is such a wonderful time to live in Holland! Our daffodils are out in the grass. Remember the last photo of them waiting to burst forth? It is like little spiritual rays of sunshine to look out at their bright color in the early spring.

Nan asked me how tall the miniature daffodils are? They are about half the height of a normal daffodil ~ about 6 inches high. The flower heads are also about half the size of the normal daffodil but look like their larger counterparts. These are Tete-A-Tetes and very popular here.

As you can see, our cottage's garden borders right on the woods. We can walk out into this part of the woods from our driveway. There is however, a road going through it leading to the dirt road that comes to the weekend cottage. We have to cross that road yet to walk a bit deeper into the woods.

We were surprised to see the newer area we planted right by our second bird feeder was also ready to open. This weekend these full~sized flowers will be in full bloom. It is fun to see the new ones open each weekend. There is yet another patch which should be opening within the next two weeks. Each year, we enjoy them so much and thought we planted so many more but now I have decided that I want to plant as many again this coming fall. We have just put in some some dahlias, ranunculas and sparaxis bulbs. It will be fun to watch these come up later in the spring.

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

I wish all my friends who read this blog a very happy St. Patrick's Day with all the luck of the Irish.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Symbols of St. Patrick's Day

Shamrocks
St. Patrick used the three-leafed clover to illustrate the doctrine of the Trinity to his pagan audience in Ireland according to Christian legend
The Celtic people revered the shamrock as a sacred plant because it symbolized the rebirth of spring.

Leprechauns
Leprechauns were known in ancient Irish as "lobaircin," meaning "small-bodied fellow." Belief in leprechauns probably stems from Celtic belief in fairies, tiny creatures who could use their magical powers for good or evil. In Celtic folklore, the lobaircin were cranky fairies who mended the shoes of the other fairies. They were also mischievous and delighted in trickery, which they used to guard their fabled treasure.

Traditional fare of the day

Corned Beef and Cabbage
Corned beef and cabbage is the traditional meal enjoyed by many Americans on St. Patrick's Day. Cabbage served with bacon, not corned beef, is the traditional Irish fare. Corned beef was substituted for bacon by poor Irish immigrants to the Americas around the turn of the century.

Another arrival.....

This surprise will be waiting for us next weekend on arrival. The miniature daffodils are starting to pop their heads our to greet the spring. We have three kinds of daffodils in three areas of the grass. This section should be in full bloom when we get there this coming weekend. I will, of course, take photos to share with you...


...isn't anticipation fun?

The beauty of spring color

Today is the day when bold kites fly,

When cumulus clouds roar across the sky.

When robins return, when children cheer,

When light rain beckons spring to appear.

Today is the day when daffodils bloom,

Which children pick to fill the room,

Today is the day when grasses green,

When leaves burst forth for spring to be seen.

by Robert McCracken, "Spring"

My crocus bulbs have really done me proud. I planted them in a patch of grass at our weekend cottage. They are in their full glory now. I watched the bees drinking happily from them. There were even three very active large and fuzzy bumble bees already in the garden. We also saw a bright yellow male brimstone butterfly darting about the hedges.

Our feeders are attracting not only the normal host of birds but also the Great Spotted Woodpecker, bullfinches, and for the first time we saw two long-tailed tits. Normally we have many types of tits at the feeders but never this sort although they are very common in Holland.

Decorating for spring

I am now decorating for spring. It is nice to change things around again in my home. I like bringing out 'new' things which I have not used for a year. It does make all things seem new again.

This tablerunner was made for a crazy quilt class I gave . It is embellished with pieces of bobbin lace. I used creams, yellows and green to give a fresh spring idea. This year, I have grouped it together with a candle, small, child's book which was a gift from a good friend and a tall vase filled with violets. It brings the light feeling outdoors now as things come into bud indoors.

Getting ready for St. Patrick's Day

I set out a few things for St. Patrick's Day. These items are on the sideboard as you come in the front door. I just made the pinkeep. The wooden eggs and nest are something I bought over 20 years ago while the shamrock tray cloth was a gift from my mother when she visited Ireland. She bought it as it matched my shamrock dishes. You can see the little milk jug in the photo. I love this set but the factory closed down and I was never able to complete it. I do however have the bowls and sandwich plates along with a complete coffee set (coffee serving pot, sugar bowl and milk jug, coffee cups and saucers) and tea cups and saucers. It is a cheerful set to use for lunches.

March is here!

March is the month of expectation,

The things we do not know,

The Persons of Prognostication

Are coming now.

We try to sham becoming firmness,

But pompous joy

Betrays us, as his first betrothal

Betrays a boy.

~~ Emily Dickinson ~~

Today is the meteorological start of spring. In Holland, the records were once again broken with the winter season being the hottest since the start of recording weather here. Normally we average 3,3C and the temperatures averaged 6,5C making this the warmest winter. They are predicting a very warm spring now. At any rate, with our garden showing signs of wakening from a short winter sleep, we only hope there won't be a harsh period to come and damage young buds.

I have bought winter pansies and ranonkels (Persian Buttercups)to fill my flower boxes at the French doors. I feel like seeing some spring color already and winter pansies are so pretty and yet thrive in the chill that is still in the air.

February is passing

Every gardener knows that under the cloak of winter lies a miracle ... a seed waiting to sprout, a bulb opening to the light, a bud straining to unfurl. And the anticipation nurtures our dream.

~~ Barbara Winkler

February is almost past. When you live in the season, it seems time passes so quickly. I try to live in each month and not simply look out longingly for my favorite seasons ~ fall and winter. I think this will make spring and summer more enjoyable for me. I find myself longing now for the first buds to open. As you can see we do have crocusses. They no longer do well where they are planted so we will have to rethink some areas of our very tiny garden. February is a month when you can turn your thoughts to your garden. It is a time to brouwse a garden center or catalogs for new planting ideas. This year with our weather being so unseasonably warm, our garden is already awakening. Normally, this is a month of anticipation. We wait for March to arrive and watch things start to regrow. Even my clematis are standing in bud waiting for a bit more warmth and sunshine to start to spread open its leaves.

For now, my first daffodil has shown its flower in my garden this morning. It is slowly opening its delicate petals to reveal its regal yellow splendor and tell us that spring is here.

Spring's early arrival?

Let the little birds sing;
Let the little lambs play;
Spring is here; and so 'tis spring; --
But not in the old way!

I recall a place
Where a plum-tree grew;
There you lifted up your face,
And blossoms covered you.

If the little birds sing,
And the little lambs play,
Spring is here; and so 'tis spring --
But not in the old way!

~~ Edna St. Vincent Millay from 'Three Songs of Shattering'

I hear more people saying that spring seems to be peaking out at them in their corner of the world. Here in Holland, we have not had any real winter to speak of. Our weather is very warm for the time of year and the birds are busily singing in chorus. Whether you are of the mind that Mother Nature is simply repeating historical extremes or this is the result of global warming, this winter has been one of surprises for many around the world.

Feed the birds

We love feeding the birds at home or at our cottage up north. Up north, we have the chance to see many more kinds of birds with it being right on the edge of the woods. This past weekend, we went to two visitors centers ~ one for Holland's Natuur Monumenten and the other for Staats Bosbeheer (forest rangers). I fell in love with the bird feeding tables outside each center. I did something similar a number of years ago with a rusted old table. In the end, some blackbirds picked all the moss off it and used it as nesting material.

It is so important for us to feed the birds especially in the cold, winter months. It also encourages them to come into the garden as well as having the joy of watching such fun creatures.

A day out.....

This is Castle Doorwerth. It is located just outside the village of Doorwerth along the Rhine area of Holland.

The castle was first mentioned in 1260 but in 1430 started to take the shape as the castle has today. It was then that Reinald van Homoet began to extend the castle.

The castle has a history of many owners who made their mark, good or bad, on this beautiful building.

Various time periods are evident as you go through or walk around the castle. It was altered up through the 19th century.

This incredible tree has stood the test of time proudly in front of the castle.

The draw bridge which brings you into the grounds of this wonderful sight.

Coat of arms by the entrance.

Cottages built in the castle complex.

Gate to a small drawbridge on the opposite side of the castle grounds.

Every castle has its own colors and these mosterd and blue colors are seen on the doors and shutters of the castle.

Valentine with Lord Byron

She walks in beauty, like the night

Of cloudless climes and starry skies;

And all that's best of dark and bright

Meet in her aspect and her eyes:

Thus mellow'd to that tender light

Which heaven to gaudy day denies.

One shade the more, one ray the less,

Had half impair'd the nameless grace

Which waves in every raven tress,

Or softly lightens o'er her face;

Where thoughts serenely sweet express

How pure, how dear their dwelling-place.

And on that cheek, and o'er that brow,

So soft, so calm, yet eloquent,

The smiles that win, the tints that glow,

But tell of days in goodness spent,

A mind at peace with all below,

A heart whose love is innocent!

~~ Lord Byron

Winter is finally here!

Out of the bosom of the Air,

Out of the cloud-folds of her garments shaken,

Over the woodlands brown and bare,

Over the harvest-fields forsaken,

Silent, and soft, and slow

Descends the snow.

~~ Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, 'Snowflakes'

Winter is finally here in Holland. It is snowing! It is really beautiful outside. Isn't snow just magical?