De Grond Is Wit....

"De grond is wit, de nevel wit,
De wolken, waar nog sneeuw in zit,
Zijn wit, dat zacht vergrijzelt.
Het fijngetakt geboomte zit
Met witte rijp beijzeld."
................. Jacqueline van der Waals

A rough translation: Some words do not have an english word, so I had to use one that was closest.
A couple of the words are old-fashioned and add to the ´feel´ of the poem.

"The ground is white, the mist is white,
The clouds still full of snow..
Are a white that softly grays.
The finely-branched trees stand
frosted white."

I move slowly in the morning when its winter. Its saturday and so I am particularly 'comfortable' in my PJ's.
Once the tea has been made and I sit in the chair by the window I can look at the people pass by or glance at the paper...or just sit.
I had alot to think about--the upcoming birthday of my friend, Pim and his gift. I had a CD and a huge bag of cashews...then for his wife something, as they are celebrating their birthdays together. Perhaps some flowers.
There were other things but the main thing was the allotment. I had to go to the lotties, even in this snow.
The streets and bike paths are loaded with the stuff, but maybe after brekkie, they will be in better condition. With this, I turned my attention to breakfast.

As I got the bike out of the shed and headed out towards the lotties, I noticed that there wasn't much wind and I recalled that the weather station inside showed that it was only 2° below freezing.
Oké then, all in all not bad conditions.

I went up to the Provincial Road and turned off onto the bike path leading out towards the Allotment complex.


Once on the complex, it was almost breathtaking to see how the gardens looked--truly like a winter-wonderland. Most of the sharp lines of the structures were softened by the layer of snow.
It became a challenge to see if I could stay up on my bike as I peddled through the snow.
Looking down the path towards my lotties, I paused to take a foto:


When I got down to the lotties, I could see the lily spikes sticking up out of the snow. They must be tough things!


Well, they are still green in spite of the freezing temps that they have been exposed to. I am so curious to see what their flowers will look like in the spring.

Looking beyond the lilies and fence, I can see that the flower garden is fast asleep under it's snow blanket.


The garden may be fast asleep, but not it's inhabitants. These tracks in the snow show that there are some visitors.


As I walked the paths, each step 'crunched' in the snow. I had to refill all the seed containers and then I could sit and watch the little creatures as they slipped back to eat the seeds placed there for therm.
What a pleasure to sit and watch them. I opened the thermos of tea and poured...the steam curled upwards and I nibbled on a cookie with anticipation. I was all buttoned up and placed myself on the side of the shed to be out of the wind.

Well when the tea was finished I could feel the tips of my toes burning a bit and thought that all good things must come to an end...and so I made a round of the garden and even had a look at my neighbour's plots and then headed back up the wat towards the entrance gate. I did pause to look at this dead plant by the canal, gathering snow.


Well, by this time I was pretty stiff and beginning to feel cold, so it was into the garden center which lies right across the road.
Upon entering I was greeted by this girl welcoming customers and offering a tray full of goodies. I love this christmas spirit! Ok, one shouldn't loose sight of the fact that it is a commercial gimmick, but still a nice touch.


She offered chocolate pieces (white, pure and milk) in one hand and in the other, slices of a Kerststool--a sort of bread filled with a sweet paste.
Their goal was accomplished--I started off in a positive mood...ready to buy. Hahaha...well, if you know me, then you know that I need no encouragement to buy, once I pass through the doors of a garden center...'know what I mean?

Well the only thing that had to be gotten was some flowers for my pal, Pim's wife...but in order to warm-up a stroll through the christmas dec section was the thing to do. It was interesting and look up at least half of the floor space of the center.

First things first-- a flower for Marleen. I want to give a plant instead of cut flowers because they last longer if taken care of properly.
here I gently move into their flower and house plant section having passed by the orchid area.


Then over by the Poinsettia's--a typical choice for the season.


Hmmmmmm...no, I wouldn't be having "typical" this year. After looking at this and that...a dwarf azalea was the choice. They had some nice purple ones that were still in the bud mostly. That's what I want. That way she will have a longer period of enjoyment. I dislike buying plants that are covered with flowers, because their display of blooms are half over already.

That selection process having been completed, I moved on towards one of the most interesting places in the shop--the miniature village display where one can buy all the components and set up a miniature village of their own at home. There was music and sound effects there. Have a look:


That was just one of the three tables (I won't show you them all).
Here is another example of the little village buildings--


...there was even a little example flower shop//


Well, I can´t begin to tell you all the things that were displayed--wreaths and things to make wreaths with, lights, stuffed animals )not real', plastic trees and decs....you name it, they had it.

Well once toasty warm again it was time to head to the check-out and who was waiting there again-- the sweets meiske. Lovely. I just had to have another piece of that stool (pronounced, `stole´).
I am not really sure what the costume is supposed to be. It sort of looks like an early-american one with dutch wooden shoes.
I had asked her if I could take foto´s and told her that I would post them on here and she was OKÉ with that.


Well, that was about it then. Time to bike back into the wind. Burrrrrr....

 

Thanks for the tour, Sjoerd. What a puny amount of snow you've got. The garden center is very nice, and I loved the little village. I need to get a bigger house with it's own Christmas parlour. Heh.

 

Oh my - that is just gorgeous
I could live with that amount of snow since we do not really get snow around here.
I love those clogs. (are they comfy??)

My gosh - did you cycle in the cold and wind??

 

Sjoerd, Thanks for taking us along on your snowy travels. The lottie looks so pretty with the white blanket. Winter does have it's own charm doesn't it?
The garden center looks so inviting! Do they offer goodies at all times of year, or are they just trying to fatten you up during the holidays?
Loved the little village scenes!
Stay warm and careful riding your bike!
Merry Christmas!

 

Another wonderful post Sjoerd. My hat is off to you braving the cold and snow. I'm glad to see that you have many things to be grateful for even with the weather conditions. Hot tea, goodies, fluffy snow, enjoying the warmth and having friends to buy gifts for.

 

No problem, DROOPY--There's no need to poke fun at my snowfall, you! Gurrrrr. Pout.
Glad you liked the garden center and "village display". I stood and looked at it for quite a while, walking round and round the tables and looked at it all carefully.

Glad you liked the posting, TONI--Nah, the wooden shoes are pure Dutch. I just can't figure out what she was supposed to represent in that costume, just a garden girl, I guess. It looked nice though.

Yes EILEEN--I'll bet that you do feel a bit cramped as you can't get around like normal.
I spent quite a long while looking at all the different little houses, buildings, wind mills, and skating places...it was sort of mesmerizing.
There was more snow here last night, but now it has stopped and is about 4° below freezing.

Thanks PALMPJE--I personally do not think that cloggs are comfortable, but for garden work they are sensible. Yes, I rode my bike in the cold and wind...that's how I get around.

Well, what a kind thing to say, FRANK--I have noticed before that you pick-up on little things that I sometimes put into my postings.

You are so welcome, KAY--Winter certainly does have its charm. This garden center does not offer things all year long...but the one that was there before did--apple pie and coffee and tea (free).
The other garden center across town has a simple little cafeteria in-between the garden plants and the house plants.
I'm glad that you like the little village scenes, they are fun to look at.
I shall take your advice about staying warm and biking. Thanks.
Merry Christmas to you too.

Ahhhhhh, 4G-- that was a nice thing to say. You had very nice comments on this posting of mine. Thank you so much.

 

That is a particularly charming post Sjoerd... so many little details. the bike path and the lotties. I love that photo of the spent plant with the snow balls perched atop. Amazing how strong those little branches are. It was very sweet of the chocolate/garden girl to say hello to us too. I like the village. How fun it would be to put something like that together. PS -- love the poem, both versions.

 

I tried to figure the title before I read it and I got it right. It sounded out right but I couldn't decide on white or wet and decided if it was winter it must be white.
I enjoyed the post and the pictures. W had a little village scene under our tree some years ago but now just have the bears. I like to get plants too but sometimes like cut flowers.
You tell a good story and keep us coming back for more. I'm glad your birds got new seeds to eat. We have some cardinals in the trees behind our house and today I sat and watched them. But it was 70 degs, not below freezing.
dooley

 

Thank you very much, Miz BEANS. Its nice that you noticed the details. The garden girl was actually quite enthusiastic to participate, which was nice.
I agree that it would be alot of fun to put one of those little villages together.
There are some folks here who collect small houses like that (although they are a bit different). You can see them lined-up on their windowsills like the pakhuizen along the canals in Amsterdanm.
It was also nice of you to comment on the poem excerpt. Actually it is only one verse of the poem. The poem has such an odd cadence I always thought, but what nice words (in dutch).

DOOLEY--It was clever of you to twig the title translation before reading.
You have nice temps there at the moment.

 

I agree, the words are very nice, even in English. "The clouds still full of snow are a white that softly grays..." That phrase in particular is very dramatic to me. Very lovely. What's the rest of the poem like?

 

Thanks for the lovely tour, I could really feel the snow in the lottie complex and the warmth of the garden center. It's GREAT!!!

 

Winterstilte

De grond is wit, de nevel wit,
De wolken, waar nog sneeuw in zit,
Zijn wit, dat zacht vergrijzelt.
Het fijngetakt geboomte zit
Met witten rijp geijzeld.

De wind houdt zich behoedzaam stil,
Dat niet het minste takgetril
't Kristallen kunstwerk breke,
De klank zelfs van mijn schreden wil
Zich in de sneeuw versteken.

De grond is wit, de nevel wit,
Wat zwijgend toverland is dit?
Wat hemel loop ik onder?
Ik vouw de handen en aanbid
Dit grootse, stille wonder.

Jacqueline van der Waals (1868-1922)



Winter Silence

White is the ground, white is the mist,
The clouds, still full of snow,
Are white, turning gently to gray.
Icy white are the delicate branches
of trees covered with rime.

The wind remains watchfully still,
Not allowing any trill of twig
Which might break the crystal artwork.
Even the sound of my steps wants
to hide itself inside the snow.

White is the ground, white is the mist,
What enchanted quiet land is this?
Under what heaven do I walk?
I fold my hands and give thanks
to this greatest of silent wonders.



Google is my friend.