Thursday 29 July 2010

Expat Life: Beschuit met muisjes

From Coisas Minhas



We sent this postcard to A. and R. in Portugal. They had a beautiful daughter some weeks ago. ;-)

Beschuit met muisjes or "biscuits with little mice" (that we see in the postcard) is the traditional cookie served to the relatives and friends who come to meet the new baby born.

These muisjes are sugared anise seeds. White and pink, if it is a girl; white and blue, if it is a boy.

These biscuits are round and prepared by baking a small cylindrical bread, cutting it in half and baking a second time. They are spread with butter or margarine. The muisjes (lit. 'little mice') are sprinkled on top.

When a child is born in to the Royal House of Orange (the rulling Royal House in the Netherlands), we see orange muisjes being sold in the bakeries.

The tradition of celebrating a birth with beschuit met muisjes goes back to the 17th century when it was thought that the anise was good for the mother’s milk, would ease the contractions in the womb and would drive away evil spirits.

The name ‘muisjes’ was derived from their resemblance to the shape of a mouse, with the stem of the anise seed resembling a tail.

Beschuit met muisjes was originally eaten only by the upper class. The lower classes celebrated a birth by eating white bread with sugar on top.

Tuesday 27 July 2010

There is a city upstairs...Citadel...

There is a city upstairs...with houses, gardens, paths, stairs, lifts, bridges and very nice views...

From Almere (III)


It's the Citadel in Almere-Stad...

Located at the heart of the new town of Almere, the dual-purpose block designed by Christian de Portzamparc fits into Rem Koolhaas’ multi-layered urban plan.

The block is fragmented by the crossing of two pedestrian high streets built onto a structural plate, which, below, accommodates the public car network and car parks. Above the high streets, colorful houses are distributed around a large convex meadow, preserving the intimacy of the inhabitants.

(http://www.e-architect.co.uk/holland/de_citadel_almere.htm)

The houses...

From Almere (III)


with their terraces...

From Almere (III)


From Almere (III)


From Almere (III)


and very nice views...

the Lake...

From Almere (III)


the Theater...

From Almere (III)


the life downstairs...stores, restaurants, cinema, ...

From Almere (III)


the...V&D terrace...

From Almere (III)


A very nice place to have a drink, chitchat, take these pics and enjoy the other city...the Citadel...:-)

From Almere (III)

Sunday 25 July 2010

A Shining Saturday

Last Saturday, Almere-Stad

How we can enjoy a bright Summer day in the Weerwater...

We can enjoy a kanoe rondvaart with our friends...

From Almere (III)


Lay down on the sun...

From Almere (III)


watching the swaans...

From Almere (III)


Eat an ice-cream...

From Almere (III)


Walking nearby or sit down, enjoying the scenery...

From Almere (III)


and take some pics...;-)

From Almere (III)


Have a nice week! ;-)

Thursday 22 July 2010

Expat Life: Two photos in the Stadhuis

Because Aledys said that I should put this on my blog...;-)
Thank you, my dear, for your support! ;-)

Remember these photos?

Almere Oostvaarders, January 2009

From Inverno Flevoland


Almere-Stad, May 2010

From Almere (III)


In June, I've decided to participate in the FotoClubAlmere's contest: the Joost Morssink Wisseltrofee!

I'm not a member of the club, and even so, the members could not participate in the contest. I don't know anybody there. I've never participated in a photo exhibition and my camera is a very simple Lumix.

I just sent 3 photos via email. Let's wait and see... I thought...
Two of them were chosen to the annual 20 photos exhibition of the Joost Morssink Wisseltrofee!
I was so happy! ;-) Do you want to see them ;-)?

From Coisas Minhas


From Coisas Minhas


From Coisas Minhas


The exhibition is in the Stadhuis, B passage, until the end of July. ;-)

I didn't get any prize, but a dear friend of mine, yes! ;-) He was not there to get his 1st prize because he is now with his family on vacation ;-) But I was there and the prize is here waiting for him...;-)

The 1st prize went to this photo:

From Coisas Minhas


Congratulations, Adrian! ;-) I'm very glad for you!

Wednesday 21 July 2010

A Blue happy day with Monique and her family

Last Sunday, the table was ready for Monique, Patrick, Masha and Jurgen ...

From Coisas Minhas


but I wasn't ready for the great surprise that Monique had to me...

Remember this photo of Texel?

From Texel


It inspired Monique to paint this beautiful surprise for me...:-)
Ik was zo blij!!! I was so happy!
So touching and so thoughtful of her!

From Coisas Minhas


Surrounded by blue ;-) I was last Sunday...:-)

I just loved to have you and your dear family here, Monique!
You are a dearest ;-) Dank je wel! ;-) Thanks ;-) for such beautiful day ;-)

Monday 19 July 2010

Goede reis!/ Boa viagem!/ Have a nice trip!

My " Europa reisdagboek" ... where I write about my travels... is my favourite agenda ...

you can see why...old photos, old tickets, old postcards,...

From Coisas Minhas


...old coins and notes, old maps...

From Coisas Minhas


This travel diary is organized by country...

Spain...

From Coisas Minhas


Portugal...

From Coisas Minhas


Netherlands...

From Coisas Minhas


England...

From Coisas Minhas


and others...

From Coisas Minhas


All the useful information that I need is here:

hotels and their adresses, phone numbers and sites...
the distances between places...
the costs, personal data, etc...

Goede Reis!/ Have a nice trip!/ Boa viagem!

From Coisas Minhas

Friday 16 July 2010

Raining

The weather, the favourite conversation thema in the Netherlands!

Last Tuesday...13th July 2010, Almere, Tussen de Vaarten

Look at the sky...

From Coisas Minhas


Look at the table and the chairs...

From Coisas Minhas


It was a heavy rain...

From Coisas Minhas


After a while, some sunshine...

From Coisas Minhas


I must say it was refreshing after a very warm week ;-)

Thursday 15 July 2010

Nuvens para a Margarida

Para a Margarida ;-)

Scotland...

From Edinburgh


From Edinburgh


Germany, Linderhof

From Linderhof


From Linderhof


Germany, Neuschwanstein

From Neuschwanstein (Exteriores)


From Neuschwanstein (Exteriores)


France, Canyon du Verdon

From Canyon du Verdon


From Canyon du Verdon


France, Chateau de Villandry

From Villandry


From Villandry


Tambem tenho aqui nas Netherlands ;-) Depois coloco.

My new notebook

Welcome to the country of agendas, weekly planners and notebooks ;-) Netherlands!

My new notebook " The Gutemberg Bible " ;-) from Paperblanks.
I bought it in the Museum CatharijneConvent.

From Coisas Minhas


I needed one and I love Paperblanks. ;-)

I only have my weekly planner...

From Coisas Minhas


... and each time I needed to write down some information, where was the notebook?