Pot Couvert

I went to France and I brought back...

A large tablecloth with matching napkins!


Two leafy dishes to be used as ...euhm...euhm... (I will find a purpose!). By the way, I found them at a marché aux puces for scratch!


When we arrived in Mâcon we finally found a cd-shop!


Two turtles, one I bought, one i got from Noa, my godchild who went with us to France!


Prayerflags bought at Le Temple des Mille Bouddhas .


Aaaah! Mireille l'Abeille et Léon le Bourdon!


Two books bought at the local Auchan.


Mustard and preserved lemons.

Moving days...

... are over! Let the unpacking begin!

Saturdaymorning

Saturdaymorning... As movingdays approach boxes full of stuff seem to take over the livingroom... Mr. S is drinking coffee and reading his 'Dear Fatty' while Poeske Kom is watching him... Let's begin the Moving Days!

Merrie Amsterburg

Anyone knowing me even just a little knows I'm too often smitten by music. Often led by this huge urge to discover, to know, to fall into music as a divine art. Music as a way to express feelings rather than a way to make money. Music as a way to express a pensive mood rather than a joyfull experience where people meet at festive dance occasions. Music kept a little more introspective rather than shouting just to be heard. Less is more is probably a credo for my true heroes in music... Jane Siberry, Sandy Denny, June Tabor, Mary Coughlan, Patty Larkin... They're in it for the music, and in my opinion don't care about looks and images. (ofcourse they do, I'm not thàt silly, but it seems it doesn't hold pole position in their careers).

Jane Siberry... My (musical) heroin.


I honestly know of no wrong song, note, lyric in her own specific natural way she does her thing the last 30 years. I adore her legacy (hence my tattoo).
oh... by the way... this press photograph of this 50 year old woman... not exactly made to sell? No? Yes?

Sandy Denny... Died to young.


You should google her. She's just great. Just Sandy. Genuine. Just Sandy. Honest. In every word Sandy. In every note Denny. Sandy Denny died too young, age 30.

June Tabor... Mistress of old and new school folk.


Sweet sweet June. Anyone who has heard June Tabor won't forget her, whether that is a positive or a negative thing. She leaves impressions. On me a huge humbling one. In awe. Jaw dropping. Seen her live now about eight times. If she performs tomorrow I'll go. If she performs the day after, I'll go again.

Patty Larkin... A day in Boston is called 'Patty Larkin Appreciation Day'... Well done Patty!.


Beyond category, Patty does what she does. Her own thing, with a very own sound. Vocally raw and human. Love the angel(ic) motive through her work. A very distinctive guitarplayer, but not a show off.

It's through Patty Larkin I stumbled upon Merrie Amsterburg.

Merrie Amsterburg... Three albums, too less albums.


I've been listening to all three albums few last weeks, and I'm so smitten by her I came to realise she's a stayer.
Want to shout: MERRIE! MERRIE! MERRIE!...
But... will anyone listen?

Sure, I like Annie Lennox, Kate Bush, Joni Mitchell, Natalie Merchant, Suzanne Vega, Dolly Parton, and so on, and so on, and so on... Sure I like those too. Me and my singing harem. They're part of my wardrobe.
But the hidden gems... wish I knew what's my part in the show 'How to help them get out there in the most spectacular way ever!'...

Brussels, El Greco and Antoine.

Yesterday we went to Brussels to the El Greco Exposition at the Bozar.
Needless to say it was worth the trip, the cold and the queueing up to get in. Even the lady who thought she could go before her turn, then adressing us in an arrogant way when we said something about it... well she too was soon forgotten once we stood before the amazing work of Domenikos Theotokopoulos, aka El Greco.

One of the Apostels (Saint James), part of a wonderful serie of paintings around Christ and his twelve merry men.

Some wobbly bishop.

Another apostle, Saint John.

Afterwards we went to eat something at this café.

Then we took a taxi to the Anton Wiertz Museum in the Wiertzstraat.
Behind this gate lies one extravaganza beyond words...

As it turns out, this is supposed to be his most famous painting, and probably a good summary of his work: very well painted, full of skill and horror.

His selfportrait.

His deathmask.

And here are some views of the main hall...



So, now, everyone go to the Antoine Wiertz Museum! (did I mention it's for free?)

Three things to look forward to...

New harvest...

It wasn't the dog. Nor was it a new wind... It was simply the mailman who brought this new harvest into this home... Glad. Yep I am!

One month to go...

It looks sunny...

Houffalize

Station

I like this...
It's a station with just one railway. How does it work? Is it part of a loop? Is it possible you can only leave? Or only arrive? Do trains ride in both directions?
I need to know...

Bearenske...

Pussman is organising a giveaway, and the beauty to be given away is this little bear...

Should I win it, I'd keep it aside for this little beauty, my godchild Renske...


I'd keep it aside till she reaches an age at which she could appreciate the beauty of a blue and yellow bear...

Bloody Mary

Look what arrived today!
Well... actually it arrived yesterday, but I wasn't home when the mailman rang my doorbell (or did something at my door). So today, just before work, I went to pick up a parcel at a local bookshop which also serves as a postalservice... And yes! It was Bloody Mary! Can't wait to start reading (coz I think it will be dead funny and heartbreaking...)

Patty Larkin 25

Patty Larkin... It's a shame she's so little known...

Specerijen

Bought this book today while shopping for food...
(which reminds me... must buy new bookcase... perhaps bookcase only for cookbooks... a cookbookcase...)


Specerijen by Jane Lawson

Nieuwe Spreekwoorden #1

Thx Google!

Thx to google I know now today's Norman Rockwells birthday...

Aanrader!!!

interview

EC and NW and LW and MW and MC and more

This is about the genius called Eliza Carthy. No matter what, check out this documentary.









An interview with the first family of British folk (and they're hilarious!)

Vendenesse-Sur-Arroux

Finally! The watermill is ours for a fortnight in the summer...
Here is a satellite picture of the surroundings and the fields, and the villages, and more fields, and more surroundings... woehahaahaaha!

Just cute...

Two things (of many things) I was given during the past festivities!

Oh heavenly joy!

A Winter's Sunday

The city was still a mess...

In front of the appartement it looked just ugly...

At the back on the otherhand, things were a little more peaceful.

There was a broken angel...

And a sad one.

Inside, animals were being just animals.




Something for Mr. S.

A huge picture I got as a gift and a special version of Monopoly!

A little kitty asleep.

Mr. S. at work.

Then we went for a walk, and in a nearby toy shop window thingie... this oh so German lunchbox...

In the still snowwhite park...

Drinks on a boat, company garanteed.

Duckies.

Flying duckies.