Familiarities And Familia

May 4th –

Mich and I headed to Intratuin, a shopping centre for gardening, home and building.

It was an indoor space with multiple stores, which was kind of required for the days weather indecision, going between rain, wind, sun, repeat 🤪

Lunch was eaten at ‘Baran’ in Germany.

Splitting a margarita pizza and each having our own form of Döner Kabab.
We left, bellies full, plates empty, Döner craving satisfied 🤓

Our nieces were then picked up, so we could take them out for some ice cream ☺️

Some little stores were looked in and the park stopped at and then a second ice cream was called for before heading to the German grocery store for schnitzel breading, meat seasoning and salami 🤓

The girls were then taken home, to let their two ice creams worth of energy run out there 🤪
We sat outside with coffee and sweets, the sun breaking through the clouds finally and when the win was calm, it was plenty hot enough to be enjoyable 👍🏻

One last broccoli tart was made for us for dinner and again, greatly enjoyed 😉👍🏻

 

May 5th –

 

Mich and I went to church in Germany again, enjoying a service preached by our old pastor.

 

We also enjoyed the same Greek restaurant again too, thinking it was perhaps a tad repetitive but also knowing we wouldn’t be having it again any time soon so repetition won out 🤪👍🏻

After lunch together, we drove to the house of some friends to visit awhile.
She whipped up a ‘typical Dutch’ loaf for us, which was very tasty. Savoury more than overly sweet and I hadn’t actually eaten it before.
Many people seem to have forgotten that I lived in Europe for over a year, telling me ‘very Dutch’ things and pointing out landmarks as if I have never been, so this loaf was an actual for real ‘first’ 😉

On our drive back to the house, this building was passed.

It had been driven by many a time before and every time, the oddity of it raised questions.
It’s windowless exterior can’t help but bring up creepy images of what may be happening inside 🙈

The rest of the evening was spent leisurely at the house, eating this and that and then packing up for spending the night at the Dutch island of Texel the next day.

Come Monday, it would be the first time that the children of my parents-in-law, their spouses and offspring would all be together, so it had been decided to take two days off and spend it all together at the Island.

 

May 6th –

 

The parents-in-law left early that morning to retrieve the brother and sister-in-law that were flying in from the states so we were going to catch a ride to the island with the other brother, sister-in-law and their kiddos.

That wasn’t until later in the morning so Mich used that time to quickly go visit a friend he’d yet to see before we hopped in with the siblings and nieces and headed to Texel.

They wanted to go to a museum with the kids for a little while in the town of Den Helder and Mich and I aren’t really museum folk, plus didn’t want to spend money on it, so we went and ate instead 🤪👍🏻

Because in the end that’s not a ‘waste’ of money either 😏… get it? 🤪💩

Back to the van and into the boat we went, taking a quick ferry across to the island.

 

The birds greatly enjoyed the snacks that had actually been brought for the humans to enjoy, but the humans ended up enjoying it most, via the birds entertainment 🤪👍🏻

Our ‘StayOkay’ hostel hotel was not one of our more luxurious stays but the beds were actually pretty comfy, the comforters thicker than most hotels and it felt clean, if only bare 😂
None of which are bad things and the ‘worst bit’ was probably the slightly jail-esque ambiance… not that we’ve been in jail to know but I feel like I can better image what a cell MAY feel like now 🤪

All the family arrived, settling into their rooms and freshening up before heading out to eat supper together before the family photoshoot at the beach.

The very cold beach 🙈🤪
Weather hadn’t cooperated and it was a windy, cloud covered, seaside temperature of 7 💨

Everyone did their best to ‘rush into their places and put smiles on their faces’ 🤓

 

Shivering strongly between pictures but getting it done within around 30 minutes and then heading into the restaurant that was situated on the beach.

I love the beach restaurants there…so many truly capture the coastal, beach vibe and have the weathered wood look 👌🏻🌊🐚🦀

Offering shelter from the elements while still feeling like your ‘in the element’ 😉

From the hot chocolate sipping we went back to our hotel, some staying outside to play soccer, some going into the seating area to be out of the elements.
You can figure out for yourself which groups Mike and I were in 😜

Filling All Facets

April 30th –

We had planned to do some shopping more focused on Mich, (since I had my day in South Africa 🤓) so we drove to Arnhem to check out our old shopping grounds 😏

It was chilly out while walking between the shops but not too bad and luckily the warmth of that ‘accomplished shopping trip’ feeling, was with us, as Mike quickly found a new pair of jeans that were on sale, fit and in a good color… three rarities . Plus I got a free, in store coffee to enjoy while he tried stuff on 👍🏻

This art caught my attention during our walking, the bright colors calling out to be seen 😁💜

We got a freshly made large stroopwafel to accompany us for a few steps down the chilly streets and shopping continued.

Ending with Mich finding three shirts, riveting details I know 😉

 

Plans to visit cousins for dinner had been made, so we headed there, pausing at the Starbucks along the way 🤓☕️

Probably one of the only Starbucks that he can say his full, actual name at and they will even spell it right 😉

We dined on ‘bami’ and chatted awhile before settling onto the couch to converse between watching the soccer game that was going on. True bonding time for the boys 😉
We left there around 11:00 or so, having over an hours drive to get back home.

 

May 1st –

Mike finally completed his house painting assignment around 12:30 that afternoon 🙌🏻


The whole upper portion of the house went from dark blue and creamy, off white windows and trim to entirely dark grey 👌🏻🏠
Some of the lower areas being left for the father-in-law to finish up, as the heights aren’t his favourite thing. Thus they were the main focus for Mich to complete.

The littlest niece from nearby was spending time at Inge’s home, so when Mich and I went to town for loempia’s and ice cream, she came along ☺️

A few of the groceries we wanted to take back home with us were purchased during the quick town trip as well.
As always, I thought we’d have spacious suitcase situations post the gift giving but our shopping has proved to be rather, successful.
Which is always a mixed feeling of satisfaction and trepidation, depending on just HOW successful 🤪

We left Doesburg a bit later in the afternoon, along with Inge and the niece, to go to Germany for the birthday party of our brother-in-law and another niece.
Moments after arrival, we had cake and coffee in our hands… not a bad way to be welcomed 😉
Mich had his, as well as my piece, of the chocolate banana ‘mole’ cake and I had a crunchy, white chocolate & cornflake sweet, served with strawberries.
No pictures available… as it often is when food is handed to us quickly and we forget that pictures are the only enjoyment for those reading this 🤪

The BBQ was lit, the meat grilled and the spread of food greatly enjoyed 👌🏻🤤

A strawberry and white asparagus salad, a couscous salad, fried mushrooms, seasoned feta cheese, a feta sauce for the meat, a pull apart garlic roll, fries and a variety of meats to choose from.


It was all delicious and ate with much pleasure 👍🏻

Our brother-in-laws grandpa asked us if we’d like to go for a ride in his 1995, Jaguar.
So we of course politely declined, as the shiny forest green car with that well known jaguar emblem on the hood, held no interest for us 😉 <- Lies.

Before the car was passed to him, his friend had originally bought it for his wedding and kept it in pristine condition until he passed away.
We were told about all aspects of the car in great detail, hearing the attachment and reverence in his voice, more than the actual facts 😉👌🏻

Once we left the party, we drove to Roermond to the shopping outlet there to look for some soccer shoes for Mich.
He didn’t find any of those but he did find everyday shoes instead 😏👍🏻

Destination 3 Of 3

April 21st –

Sunday morning, the one that’s always slightly hurried, filled with preparations for church and eating of breakfast before heading out the door 🙂

Mike and my attendance, added greatly to the number of Caucasians in a congregation of a few hundred people, so it was a slightly more robust song service than what we are generally used to 😉

After church we did a quick grocery store trip, Mike and I finding some more items to take home with us and crossing fingers the suitcases wouldn’t be too full, still holding the gifts for Holland as well as all of our new purchases 🙈

After lunch, we made our way to a cafe to enjoy one last coffee and sweet together.

They ALSO had a lemon meringue, though I should have resisted temptation because it was the least delicious of the trip 🤪

Once back at the house again, we began the packing of our things, preparing to leave later that evening so we could grab a bite to eat before checking in and flying around 11:00. It was such a nice time to fly, giving us an entire day during our last and making it seem not at all as if we’d be traveling.

I say ‘we’ packed but really it’s Mike who ‘packs’… I sort and fold and pick the required things but he typically places it all 🤪

We visited away the remaining time together, happy for having been able to enjoy their company and hospitality for a second time in two years 😉

 

April 22nd –

 

Our night passed by on the 11 and a half hour flight back to Holland.
I had it in my mind that it was a 9 hour flight but due to us having moved from Joburg to Cape Town area, that was false information 🤪
All I can say is that I was still so thankful for not having the usual flying symptoms of not being able to sleep and an upset stomach.
I downed my sleeping pill, gave Mike a half (since he’s not so used to having them) and slept for the most part until there was 3.5 hours of flight remaining.
Which is nothing less than a miracle compared to my other flight experiences 🤪👍🏻

Not all of the tulip fields had been harvested yet, so we got to enjoy them from the sky 🙂

The parents in law were our pick up committee and the hour ish drive back to Doesburg began 🙂

We paused the drive to stop at one of the rare Starbucks locations they have and I think it was one of the most delicious Starbucks drinks I’ve ever drank 😅
It tasted JUST like home and maybe I’m just super picky and stuck in my ways at the ripe old age of 23… but none of the coffee during our Africa/Holland trips, ever satisfies.
We may be driving back 50 min for a coffee again before the trip is over 🤪

Once we arrived back at the house, it wasn’t long until a nap ensued.
Instigated by Mike I will add, so you’re all aware it wasn’t just an idea from me 😜

But first Mich got a helping of apple tart made specially for his arrival 😏

My special treatment came later for supper and a meal of broccoli tart was happily indulged in 🤤👍🏻

 

While the men began setting up the scaffolding and paint supplies for the next days work, which had been saved for Mike to tackle during our stay, us ladies went for a walk, enjoying the warm evening🌤

The Day That Went Missing…

April 10th

 

After what was actually a super restful night (bed at 2:00 am and up by 6:30 am so I’m not sure that truly counts as ‘night’) we got up and gathered the last of our things, took out the garbage, said goodbye to Atlas and the kittens and headed off to the airport after picking up our siblings who would be taking our truck back from the city, post airport drop off.

The Saskatoon airport was very quiet, even for there 😉
So I didn’t feel SO awkward posing for Mike to take this photo 🤪✈️👍🏻

 

We were in no rush so we also stopped to take time and play on the color wall art instalment thingy 😉💎🌈

 

 

We flew the short flight to Calgary and had around an hour and a half there until we boarded for our eight and a half hour flight to Amsterdam.

We were slightly morose after learning that the Calgary airports chic-fil-a, was permanently closed down?!
So many layovers will never be the same 😭🍗💔

 

So we instead filled ourselves with some honey chipotle crispers from a Chilis restaurant and they were actually very good ☺️

We walked around in our remaining time, trying to prolong the leg stretching time we had left 🤪

We managed to doze off and on during the first hour of the Amsterdam flight but from then on out, for me, it was awake time.

Dinner came and that is always fun to me… I think maybe because everything comes in separate containers and it’s all so organized, making my ‘food can’t touch and must be eaten one genre at a time’ personality trait, rejoice 😉🙈
Also, KLM does focus on the little details.

(The Clamato/bloody marry was disgusting though… I think they just used tomato juice with lemon and that is NOT the same as I don’t like textured drinks :P)

A napkin held golden plastic cutlery, a fresh little roll is served as an extra side, the coffee cups are designed with darling little Dutch illustrations… I’m telling you, it’s the little things that become oh so interesting when you have 9 hours to stare at the same space 🤪

My Mom (and group of encouraging supporters)will be so proud… not only did I hydrate with H20… I also got up to use the bathroom AND stood awhile just to stretch.
It’s like I became a totally new person 😂

We made it to Amsterdam airport and it was for sure a little odd to get there and not be greeted by family or continue on by train to get to family… but to instead find a place to wait out the 2 and a half hour layover.
I was deposited at a couch with our luggage so I could lay down and Mike left the airport to search out dutch snacks or a grocery store because he couldn’t wait ten more days for some Dutch treats 🤪

As I lay, I spotted this MASSIVE fiddle leaf tree… I didn’t think they could even get that big and I even had Michiel go touch it’s leaves to authenticate it’s realness 🤪👍🏻

 

He had returned with a loaf of bread, chocolate bars, chocolates, croissants, chocolate cracker things and chicken sushi 😂

We boarded our plane to Johannesburg and I took a sleeping pill, praying it would work because most times in the past, it had not.
It worked 😅🙌🏻
It also helped immensely that we had an empty seat in between us!!
Two airplane seats and a husbands lap for a pillow, is just enough room for me to lay with my feet up.
An extra seat also meant an extra pillow and blanket so you could say I was pretty pleased with the situation 😜

Talking in a way that may show my age or lack of health or perhaps it’s simply seen as a taboo subject, I bring you, compression socks 🤓
I got a pair of prettily coloured compression socks off of amazon, after suffering swollen and achy legs during many of our more recent flights and even road trips.
Not only did my legs not ache whatsoever, they aided greatly in the comfort/warmth department 👍🏻

I slept probably a good four hours solid and then dozed in spurts between eating and landing for the other five 😏☕️✈️🍦

We were picked up by a shuttle car and taken to the Aero Tropolis Guest Lodge, the same place we had previously stayed at during our trip 2 years ago. We were given the same room as well and after eating our chicken sushi (which still sounds like the oddest and whitest thing to buy in the way of sushi 🤪) we went to bed, unsure of how we would (or would not) sleep…

 

 

April 12th –

 

We slept. Not that that’s really super interesting information for you all 🤪
But we did and it was grand and we awoke, got some breakfast, prepared ourselves and packed up to await pick up from some friends whom we’d been spending the weekend with ☺️

 

 

We visited at their home for a while and then we went out for lunch to the Irene Farm.

I ate chicken, zucchini and feta ‘lollipops’ with sweet potato fries and a basil apricot sauce.
They were good ☺️

Then a craft store was explored.
It was like a Michael’s of sorts but cheaper & had more available for creating party favours etc. It would be a very handy place to have if you had a specific project in mind to create 👌🏻
There was even one lady there who heard us talking and asked if it was my first time to the store and then went on to say it was just like ‘Michaelas’ a place she’d been in the states 😉

Then we headed back to our hosts home where we visited until enjoying a very tasty homemade supper that evening.
Our lovely host actually make what Mike had said was his favourite meal, during his trip there in 2013!
She puts my hosting skills to shame and I knew we’d be spoiled royally by the time we left 🤭😉💕

We ate ‘Milk tart’ and ice cream for dessert as that’s a very South African thing & good one at that! 💁🏻‍♀️
Almost like a pudding pie of sorts but tastier… not that I’ve ever eaten such a thing as a ‘pudding pie’ but texture wise I feel that is all I can compare it to for you all 😜

 

Upon entering our room, there were towels laid out with personalized goodies atop them. Flowers and water on the nightstand, along with a personalized magazine selection per person as well… art and home decor for me and home renovation for Mike… best B & B experience yet 😉💕

We went to bed fairly early, not having felt too to tired throughout the day but being very ready for bedtime once it came ☺️
Due to flying etc. it really felt like April 11th never even occurred for us, as we woke up to travel on the 10th and the only time we slept in a bed and awoke was on the 12th 🤪

Grapefruit Rosemary Mocktail

‘Grapefruit Rosemary Mocktail’, an easily made, refreshing drink with a hinting of rosemary ☺👌🏻💕🍊🌿

I figured with warmer days finally seeming to be upon us, that it was now timely to share this recipe, which I found via Pura Vida Bracelets Blog.

 

Serves 4 in small to medium size glasses.

What you’ll need :

2 grapefruits
3 stems of fresh rosemary
1/3 cup water
1/3 cup sugar
2 Club sodas

What you’ll do :

Chill the club soda ahead of time.

On low heat, combine the sugar, water and rosemary until the sugar is dissolved.

Juice your grapefruit.

To serve :

Pour 1/2 cup of grapefruit juice into your glasses.
Add in 2 tbsp of the sugar water mixture and top of the rest of your drink with club soda, I used one with a hinting of lemon flavour.
Garnish with a few sprigs of the rosemary!

 

‘Clink, Clink’, enjoy!

The Pain Of Blessings

The Pain Of Blessings

 

How annoying it is, to open the fridge and have to make a meal.
To prepare it all.
Give the dinner call and then still have to wash and dry.

Picking paint can be such a bore.
Should it be darker, just a little more?
Pick your color, buy the supplies.
Do the job and rub your eyes.
Self inflicted tired back,
but complain about like a worn track.

He’s home from work, meaning muddy floors.
Dust and grime on the doors.
Shake you’re head and furrow your brow.
Then take a deep sigh and mutter ‘wow’.
Continue reading “The Pain Of Blessings”

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