First day in Amsterdam ~ part two

On our first day in Amsterdam, after we had taken a short nap to recover from our long plane ride, we went on a sightseeing canal boat tour. Mr C had already been on one, many years ago when he visited Amsterdam as a young man, and said it was something I would enjoy doing. I have created a slide show of the pictures I took as we navigated the many canals on the hour long ride, so you would get a feeling of seeing the sights through my eyes.

I am just learning how to play with Picasa slideshows, and it appears, if you click on any of the pictures, you will be taken to that particular one, where you can read any captions I have added, and also you can leave a comment.

First day in Amsterdam ~ part one

After an almost ten hour flight in a cramped Airbus A-330, we arrived at Schiphol airport, where we collected our luggage and made for the train station, where we bought our tickets for the 20 minute ride into Amsterdam. The ride was smooth and quite comfortable which pleased us, as we were both very tired and were anxious to reach our hotel to get some rest.
As we rode along, I could not help but notice the graffiti on the walls of buildings, fences and anything else which could be used for what I thought was more like an art form than mere graffiti. Via the Internet, I discovered that the graffiti is indeed an art form. Read more here.

Our first glimpse of one of Hollands many, many canals.

A view of the train station in Amsterdam.
The number of bicycles in Amsterdam is staggering, and seems to be the best way to navigate the often very narrow streets.

Our hotel for the first night in Amsterdam.

The room we had in the Golden Tulip, although small was very comfortable and nicely decorated.

These two pictures are actually of the room we stayed in on the two nights before we left to return home. The room we stayed in upon arrival in Amsterdam, was the same layout, but was decorated in a pretty shade of blue. You can see how long and narrow the room is, and instead of a queen size bed, there were two, longer than usual twin beds pushed together.

From our room window we could look down and across at the interesting old houses across the narrow street.

If you click on the picture you will see on the front of the brick facade of the building on the right, a hoisting beam with a hook on the underside. This was, and still is, the way furniture or any large objects were winched up from the street below, in through the door below the beam, and on into the house. They had to use this method as most times the doors into the houses were very narrow, due to in the past, houses were taxed on the size of the doors they had, and also the stairs in these old homes are very narrow and steep.

From one of the hotel's hallway windows we had a great view of the old houses and buildings.

Notice how there is no room at all between one house and the next. Every little bit of extra space was used. We could look down on some nice little rooftop patios people had created.

I could not get enough of looking out the window at all the old houses, and thinking, if only the walls of those old buildings could talk, what fascinating stories I would hear.
This is the end of part one, come back for part two, our trip on a boat through the canals of Amsterdam and pictures of the fabulous buildings and streets of this old city.
Mr C. has a post up, so if you want a different point of view click HERE

Home, exhausted, but ready to do it all over again.

We arrived back on Whidbey Island yesterday evening, very tired but happy that we had such a wonderful experience in the Netherlands.

I have so much to tell you about our trip it is going to be difficult to know where to start, which be soon, as I have to download and edit many, many, pictures. Also I am not feeling very well, as I think I am coming down with a cold. Mr C. is still in bed resting, after an extremely uncomfortable journey home. It appears he has a very bad cold instead of the allergies, we thought had caught up with him the day before returning to USA.

The day before we left the Netherlands, my honey did walk with me to the flower market even though he felt unwell. (what a wonderful guy) I bought many packets of flower seeds, and the woman in the market stall, assured me they were packaged for taking back into the USA, but when we arrived back here, I found out at customs, they were not, and they were confiscated. I almost broke down and cried right there, in front of the customs officer.
I have since found out I can buy this particular brand of seeds here in the States, and I also learned ‘ do not take the word of everyone, especially those who are only interested in getting your money into their cash drawer, instead do your own research” So I have learned a valuable lesson.

I did not go to the Netherlands with the intention to shoot in the European steel challenge match, as Mr C. did, but after some persuasion, I did use the gun, kindly lent to me by one of our new friends, and shot the match. I had fun even though I did not do as well as I wanted to,due to shooting an unfamiliar weapon.

I will try to get a post with pictures, up as soon as possible. Keep checking in.

We are here in Amsterdam

Hi folks, If I don't make a whole lot of sense, it is because I am running on no sleep for close on 27 hours, coffee, apple strudel and pot. *chuckle* I suppose I had better explain myself.
We arrived at our hotel very early this morning, and bless them, they had our room ready for us. We checked into our room and lay down for a very short nap, which was not much for me as I do not sleep during daylight hours, then we went strolling the streets. It is quite something to walk around and smell mariuhana (sp) coming from some of the coffee shops. Mr C. says I am not supposed to take a deep breath as I walk by, I said "really, why not?*laughing.*
We took an hour long canal boat tour which was fantastic, and I clicked happily along with my camera, so I should have many pictures for show and tell. On the way back to the hotel we bought some of the best home made icecream I have ever tasted. good thing my jeans were a little large on me before we started out on this adventure.
That is all for now, we really need to get some rest.

I am so excited.

Yes I know I have been tardy in posting this past week, but I have been very busy. Not only have I been working, but I have been trying to get all "my ducks in a row" ready to leave for Amsterdam on Wednesday. We will arrive in Amsterdam too early in the morning to check into The Golden Tulip, our hotel, so we will leave our luggage in their holding area, then go and look around until check in time. MrC and I will be spending the first day and night here before getting a ride to Winterswijk, where MrC. will be shooting in the European steel Challenge.

We will be staying in another in the chain of Golden Tulips in Winterswijk. Looks nice doesn't it?
The indoor range is within walking distance of the hotel, which will be very convenient for us. As Mr C. is shooting his match on Saturday,we will stroll to the range on Friday to check out all the proceedings, and of course do a little sight seeing there and back.
I have been doing some Internet research on places to eat which will not strain our meager budget. I have found a chain of vending machines for food, and will NOT be using those YUK I hate vending machine food. I think our best bet is to buy our food at one of the local outdoor markets or supermarkets, and perhaps eat at a nice restaurant now and again, if it is not too expensive.
If anyone has been to Holland and has some good information, please let me know. My contact email is on the side bar.

Our excitement rate is up another notch or two, now it is almost time to leave on this adventure of a lifetime.

How I spent Mother's day

I spent much of my Mother's day playing in my garden. The weather was warm so what better way to spend the day.

This is the area I tackled. We had some old Junipers and a Pine tree removed from along here. Right close to the bottom of the step is a stump which we cannot remove as the roots have grown beneath the steps and if we were to pull the stump out, the steps would probably be damaged, and we do not want to replace the steps at this time. Instead I have decided to plant around the stump.

After dragging the two large logs out of the way, and dumping in a couple of wheelbarrow loads of amended topsoil, I planted some succulents a friend gave me and some I had in a pot in and around the stump. I am hoping, as the stump weathers and the succulents grow larger, this will become a somewhat attractive little garden.

Behind the stump I placed two columbines, one a pretty pink and the other purple, and on the right a Thrift with showy white flowers.

To the right of the Thrift, is a trellis with fragrant sweet peas planted in front.

Have you ever had a feeling someone is watching you? this was the case as I was busily planting around the stump. I looked behind and there sat this cute little guy watching me. I bet he was trying to think of a way to go over, or get under the chicken wire I have around the garden, so he can feast on my new plants.

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Planted on May 10th 2009

I have a fondness for Snapdragons which were found in both my Grandmother's and Mother's gardens. My brothers and I would pick the flowers from the stems and squeeze them so the 'mouths of the Dragons' would open up. I am sure any kids who have been around these flowers, have played with them in the same way.

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I could hardly believe my eyes when I went to put the new plants around the stump behind the carport. This where I had dug/ripped out the roses which were always a pain in the "you know where" when I attempted to weed this small strip garden. Those tough roses are continuing to thumb their noses at me, so to speak, and have put up new shoots where I thought I had dug/ ripped them all up from. Sighhh!

Perhaps in the future these will also be removed from this garden. The rose on the right is a particularly tough customer, as it has chosen to sprout under the eaves of the carport where is does not receive any rain, only water from my irrigation system in the summer months. We will see how long it lasts *grin*

Happy Mother's Day

Gladys (Glady) C Kelly
JULY 7 1922 - SEPTEMBER 1 2006

Mum, thank you for all you taught me. Thank you for letting me play in the garden with you, for I now have a love of gardening as you and your mother before you did.

Alphabet for old people

New Alphabet

A is for apple, and B is for boat,
That used to be right, but now it won't float.
Age before beauty is what we once said,
But let's be a bit more realistic instead.

Now

A's for arthritis;
B's the bad back,
C's the chest pains,
Perhaps car-di-ac?

D is for dental decay and decline,
E is for eyesight, can't read that top line!
F is for fissures and fluid retention,
G is for gas which we'd rather not mention.

H High blood pressure--We'd rather it low;
I For incisions with scars you can show.
J is for joints, out of socket, won't mend,
K is for knees that crack when they bend.

L 's for libido, what happened to sex?
M is for memory; we forget what comes next.
N is neuralgia, in nerves way down low;
O is for osteo, bones that don't grow!

P for prescriptions. We have quite a few,
Just give us a pill and we'll be good as new!
Q is for queasy, is it fatal or flu?
R is for reflux, one meal turns to two.

S is for sleepless nights, counting our fears,
T is for Tinnitus; bells in our ears!
U is for urinary; troubles with flow;
V for vertigo, that's 'dizzy,' you know.

W for worry, NOW what's going 'round?
X is for X-ray, and what might be found.
Y for another year we are left here behind,
Z is for zest WE still have -- in OUR minds.

We've survived all the symptoms, our body's deployed, and We're keeping twenty-six doctors fully employed.

IF YOU ARE OLD, HAVE A GREAT DAY.

IF NOT, YOUR TURN WILL COME!

The birdhouse fairy came by

On Tuesday evening, my honey opened our front door and I heard him say something about bird houses. As I looked out the door to ask what he was talking about, I saw the four bird houses neatly lined up along the edge of the top step. We were both very puzzled as to where they came from, neither of us had heard anyone knock on the door. The only person I thought would leave this nice gift, would be my gardening friend, and partner in crime, Lorie. I called their home and when her husband answered, I asked if anyone at their house knew anything about four bird houses left on our front porch. He denied knowing about them, but finally admitted, yes, his wife had left them there. She thought they would go with all the others which hang along the front of the carport.

I truly have the greatest friends. Thanks Lorie.

Victoria gardens

In 2007 I was in New Zealand to visit my family. One place I always go when I am there, is the Victoria Gardens. Besides all the wonderful flower gardens, trails, rose gardens, and conservatory, there is a rather large aviary housing many native and exotic birds. The pictures are taken through the front of the cages, so sometimes you are seeing the wire. I would spend quite a long time walking from enclosure to enclosure, standing at each one watching the birds as they went about their daily lives.

Imposter

Gee I thought I would blend right in!

Skywatch Friday

Wednesday evening 8:15 pm, and I couldn't get outside fast enough, to snap these pictures of the most glorious color and formations. The setting sun painted the most beautiful shades of pink on the wind blown clouds.

What an awesome sight from our deck.

Go and check out more Skywatch images at the Skywatch Site

I am still alive and kicking.

No, I have not left the country, gone on vacation, or are too danged lazy to write anything. I have been spending all my time on my other blog, Keewee's Garden. I have been spending hours outside tending my flowers and getting the vegetable garden planted.

I love this time of year when the garden starts to wake up after it's long winter snooze. I go out every day to see what has survived the severe winter we had, it seems almost everything has, except for an Agapanthus and perhaps one of my favorite Hostas Whaaaa! I know for sure the Agapanthus is a goner, but I will wait and see about the Hosta, it may just be late in showing it's self.

Well, I'll be, It is hailing outside. Two days ago I was outside in the garden wearing a tee shirt because it was so hot, and here we right now, having a hailstorm. Sheesh! the weather is crazy. I hope my veggies are OK, danged if I am running out there to check on them.

It is just one month until we go to Amsterdam, I am becoming so excited. I have not been to Europe before, so it is going to be quite an experience. I will have some thing to blog about for weeks. You are going to be so sick and tired of seeing and reading all about my trip. *grin*

Well, as I am still working part-time, I had better get moving, and ready myself for my day.
You all have a wonderful day, and I hope where you are, there is a little sunshine.

A pretty yellow calendar

These days, the only way I can keep my schedule straight, is to keep a calendar, updated with my work and vacation schedule.
This year there is almost more fluorescent
yellow highlighter on the pages than there are white squares.

May, MrC and I are off to Amsterdam so he can shoot in the European Steel Challenge.

June, is our annual camping trip to Banks Lake with the Fishin' Club.

July, we pack up our RV and drive down to Missoula MT to compete in the Montana Shooting Sports Celebrity Bowling Pin Shoot. This one I will be shooting in.

August, we fly down to California where MrC will compete in The World Steel Challenge in Piru.

September, is the annual Gun Blogger Rendezvous, held in Reno.

October, I can't believe there is NO yellow highlighter on this page. Hmmm! better do something about that. *grin*

November, yours truly, is going to visit family in New Zealand.

That is all the big stuff, there are smaller trips in between. There will be an exclamation at the end of the year "whew! we made it!"

Just playin' around

I have two cameras and with one of them came, MGI Photo Suite. It has been so long since we downloaded the program that I don't even remember which camera it came with. Anyhow, I decided it was about time to figure out all I can do with it. There are shapes, frames, collages, photo albums and a quite few other things you can amuse yourself with. I have the first version, and there is a second you can buy, which does a whole lot more, but I figure this one will suit me just fine.
Creating the images and figuring out all that the program can do, is a whole lot more fun than trying to amuse myself watching all the junk they are putting on TV these days.
I thought the crocus turned out OK and I have several other images saved for future posts.

Now I am convinced

The plum trees are smothered in blossom, daffodils are nodding their heads in the breeze, and some of the tulips are beginning to bloom. Now, I believe spring is finally here, and about time too.

Easter greetings

You all have a Blessed Easter weekend.

Something to look forward to.

My very first tulip opened it's petals today.

These are some of them which bloomed last year.

If you are a gardener go check this out.

I for one, am a follower of Urban Garden Project. They have some very useful information on their site, and as a newbie gardener, and for those of you who have had their fingers in the dirt for years, I say, "you are never too old or young to learn." With the economy in the state it is in, many families are turning to raising their own food by creating their own vegetable garden, raising chickens etc.

QUOTE:

The Urban Garden Project™ is the initiative to encourage people to learn from history, become more self-reliant, save a significant amount of money, and eat healthier, all as a result of planting their own urban garden! The goal of The Urban Garden Project™ is to encourage and catalog the creation of 100,000 urban gardens by 2020. We know that this is a large goal, but we will accomplish it 1 garden at a time!

Go check THEM out, sign up, doesn't cost a penny, and who knows you may learn something to help you in your gardening endeavors.

A beautiful day On Whidbey Island

What a fantastic day we have had here in the Pacific North West. It was in the 60's and the sun beamed down on me all day long.
I spent almost the entire day getting some gardening chores done, and by golly I sure feel tired. Of course, feeling tired could also be a side effect from the large glass of Merlot I drank a while ago.
Here is my check list from Keewee's Garden :
Sheets removed from over seedlings ~ check
Compost spread on front flower garden ~ check
All gardens soaked in llama tea ~ check
Leaves raked up ~ check
Weeds pulled ~ check
Nasty thorny bush( don't know the name of) cut back ~ check
Roses fertilized and dead branches pruned ~ check
Shower ~ check
Pour glass of Merlot ~ check
Finish blog post and go to bed ~ check.

So there you have it. I am tired but very happy with all I accomplished today.