It has been a very wet fall here...now we are having freezing temps day and night. Snow has fallen for several days now. Where I loive the streets and roads are in pretty good shape; however, in the rest of the land it is so snowy that soccer games have veen cancelled, the trains are not running and the airport has shut down most flights. It isn't that there's tons of snow...but what there is has layers of ice and salting and sccraping isn't working all that well. Ok...so there's a little bit of snow on the ground--there's still a lottie complex out at the outskirts of town and we wanted to see how our lotties were. So, there was nothing for it but to hop on the bikes and carefully peddle out there. I can have a look-see and refill the bird feeders. It took a while to get out there as the bike paths were somewhat clean, but not completely. Once we turned into the gateway to the complex any semblance of snowfree paths was out the window. Here is how it looked: The new lottie was well and truly snowed-in! Look at those poor Purple Sprouting Broccoli plants in the front. Oh dear. The old lottie doesn't look much better. You can see the weed-like things sticking up out of the snow (in the foreground)--they are the Phacelia that I pulled-up and laid flat on the bed of tilled soil for protection. After checking everything and re-filling all the seed silo's and such we sat and watched the birds. They had already seen us tending the feeders and here hopping and twitting in the trees and bushes all around us as if to say, "Hurry up...we're hungry". When we had seen them come and go a few times, we went over to Nelleke to have a chat and warm-up. Doesn't her garden house look cozy and nice with that smoke spilling out of the chimney? One final piccy for the nautically inclined--Our harbour: I put a bit of a border on it, otherwise it looks so tacky with all the snow at the borders. Well we were good and cold at the end of it all...so it was time to head on back home...the temps were falling already. When we got in and turned the heat on...we got the condition known here as, "rosey". You know, where your cheeks are rosey-red and you feel almost sleepy in the warmth, with almost a chain of yawns with tears in the corners of your eyes. We treated ourselves to some hot cocoa with whipped cream and what is known as banketstaaf. Ahhhh. A good end to a good day. For those with plenty of time on their hands you can try making one yourself, Just klik on the link and scrool down: http://dutchfood.about.com/od/breadspas ... tstaaf.htm
What beautiful photos, you have gotten more snow this week than all of last winter haven't you? I really do like Nelleke's garden house, looks like a really nice weekend retreat too. I have added puff pastry, almond paste and apricot jam to my grocery list. That sounds like a great treat for Christmas night after we get home from oldest daughters house.
wonderful pics sjoerd! you're adventures are so much fun! looks like you have about the same amount as we have here.
You might have made Ian and I a banketstaaf too Sjoerd!! We're still having snow here and it's veeerrryyy cold - could certainly do with a hot drink like yours - sadly no cocoa in our cupboards or whipped cream.
Your lotties are pretty with snow on them too. And the harbour looks very picturesque, I must say. Now, don't be a meanie, pass the cocoa.
I really love your stories of your daily life Sjoerd. Your lottie always looks so well kept, even with the snow. The photo of your harbour is lovely, the border you have added really makes a difference. The drinks look really yummy and warming.
I always love our adventures and this is no exception.I did almost freeze to death on our outing as I felt like I was riding along with you two .I couldn't wait to get into Nelleke's garden house.It looked so warm and inviting.The Harbor is beautiful and so cold looking .I was so glad to get back to ya'lls home for that hot chocolate and banketstaaf. Yummy thanks for letting me tag along.
Your allotment looks similar to mine at the moment Sjoerd. I am hoping the ground will have thawed by Thursday so I can go and dig my parsnips, carrots and leeks for Christmas dinner! Like you, our roads and paths are icey and great care has to be taken. I do love the look of it though, so pretty, and just think, this cold snap will be killing off any diseases and pests that would normally linger through a mild winter.
TONI-- You are right about all the snowfall. It was just cold last year, but the snowfall was indeed mimimal. I hope you enjoy the banketstaaf. Most folks warm it up before eating. BUNKIE-- I'm glad you liked the posting today. We may have as much snow as you at the moment...but I'll bet you surpass us before long. EILEEN-- Ah yes...sorry, here's a bit of banketstaaf. It sounds dramatic that there is no cream and cocoa in the cabinet there. You must replinish the stock--it's winter!! Thanks DROOPY, glad you liked the piccies. BTW...here comes the cocoa! GARDENGIRL-- Thanks. The border really was necessary. I looked at it before posting and noticed that the whiteness of the snow in the lower righthand corner just blended with the white of the background page and that didn't look good. I can't tell you how good that cocoa was. it was just what I needed to warm me back up, cos I had gotten good and cold before I got home. Bell your heart GLENDA-- You say the nicest things. Nelleke's house was very nice. The temp put out by her nano-heater wasn't all that much, but it was noticable warmer than outside. Nelleke was busy skulpting a statue in her house, so she was warm enough. I'm glad that you came along...it's always so nice to heave you visit. Hey EJ-- I hope that your groiund has thawed enough too, otherwise you will have to take a chisle and an ice-pick with you...cos you just HAVE to have leeks and parsnips for christmas din-din, right? I am hoping that the coldness will kill-off some of the nasties before spring. Cor! You know, I still didn't get those krokusses in the ground before the freeze...andddd, they're beginning to sprout now. Ermmmm...I think that I shall need to borrow your chisle to get into the ground to plant them. I am going to have to take a chance, I think.
Enjoyed the story of your days adventure. The snow looks fantastic, coming from one who very rarely sees it! The harbour picture looks like a beautiful postcard! PS ~ on my way to the kitchen to make some hot chocolate!
I'll bet it was very peaceful at the lottie once you got there.... Just the sound of the birds and the crunching of the snow... Wonderful. I thought Nelleke's garden house looked so cozy and THEN I read your comment that she was making art in there and I just about drooled with envy. Love the Harbour shot too.
Yes DAISY-B, it was peaceful--quiet and interesting to watch the birdies. Nelleke had a 'show' coming up in a few weeks somewhere and so she is getting some pieces ready for that. She is always doing something. This past summer she had an opportunity to do a display. it was art out in the open. She cut fish shapes out of flattened tin cans and placed them on bamboo sticks. She made 75 of them and then stuck the poles in a canal at different heights. People coule see the display when they biked by. Other artists also displayed other things as well. I thought you might like that harbour view.
OOh! I was just looking for this info because I have a bag 'o bulbs that I forgot to put in the ground! Great timing. Thank you!
