Havnt written

So, This week not much has happened. It has been rainy, foggy and gross outside.

I failed to get right online and write about what did happen last week though! Shame on me!

So, on wednesday I finally got back into walking and went around the meent. I saw lots of things I should have had my camera for, but photographed some with my fancy smancy phone instead.




My Lame Dutch Joke -- The word for Squirrel is eekhoorn (sounds like Acorn), but the name for acorn is Eikel, which also means the tip of a penis. So any way you say it.... The Eekhoorn eats and acorn, or the Eekhoorn bites Eikels....it sounds funny. Only Junior really laughed hard at this, but he laughed really hard this morning when I asked if Alex was asking me if I was working, when he was in fact asking me if I was awake...


Bee hives next to the Meent.

After my walk I had a BEAUTIFUL lunch.

Sunday we went to Dinner at a fish house with Case and Margo.

I had the special....Mosselen in witte wijn.

We also went to Beverwijk again on sunday, but I havent got the photos ready to post yet. Stay tuned...We went into the fruit and turkish food hall. Oh...I was in HEAVEN.

Filet Americain

So I read about this strange spread in Alicia's blog and how it took her boyfriend being drunk to try it. Arie picked it up at the grocery store today and when I asked "What is it?" he said "Its ground up meat very fine and spiced" "IS IT RAW!?" "Yep..."

So My lesson in Filet Americain.



So you get some Bread ....GF in my case.




Add some salt and pepper...



Then some Onion




Then Eat...


It wasnt so bad.... but like Arie just said....You gotta eat it the right way." Just like hering...if you eat a herring without anything, chances are its gonna make you puke. "

UPDATE!

Bryan Tried it too!

He ate about half of it and said it wasnt his thing.

Learning Lessons in Dutch Weather

So I decided to start daily walks today. The past few days it has been miserable with rain and clouds, but mostly just cloudy, not too much rain. So at 11:10 I started out on my walk. With my phone playing Sky Radio and very close to the meent (the local pond/lake, whatever would be in between those two....) it began to drizzle. I thought, oh well so I will get a little wet..Ill go around the meent and then go home. Well, my plans were thwarted when I came around the corner and saw the clouds went from light ash grey to dark "the fire has been burning for a while" ash grey. I knew it was going to begin pouring, so I began walking back home. By the time I reached Ringelpoel it began to pour. I began to run, step by step it felt like the drops got bigger and bigger. Im now lightly drenched....






This weekend we hit up the rommel mart in Beverwijk and had a blast. I took my big camera and got lots of really great photos. Here are a few.



































The Corn man was awesome and the first person I wanted to photograph. I did it secretly for a while then he caught me but only smiled and waved excitedly.







And finally.... Poffertjes! I got to watch them get made, but couldnt touch because of my gluten intolerance. Poo!













Last night we went to the local pannenkoeken huys (as they spell it) and I had a gluten free pancake with chopped seasoned pork, bell peppers and mushrooms with a garlic cream sauce. YUM! but I got a little tired of how much pork was on the plate and shoved it off my pancake. I ate the rest of the pancake with powdered sugar and told Arie, Lora and Bryan that I was so excited just to have a pancake that I wanted to make the best of it. Bryan mentioned that I told him earlier that I wanted to order 6 GF pancakes from them so I could have them in the fridge like Bryan has his. Arie got up, went to the hostess and ordered 5 for us to bring home with us. I had one for breakfast this morning. Im a happy camper!

Another thing, we had pizza the other night, I must make my own from a GF pizza base...Bryan had a box pizza....

I admit...

I have gotten a little home sick. I wanted music while I worked this morning and I put on 95.7 The Wolf. This is the station that always told me I was home when driving up from Santa Barbara. Its having the same effect on me this morning, but I wanted it to, I think.

This is an experience of a life time and I am going to make the best of it. Its okay for me to miss home sometimes and I know that I will be back there at some point, but for now what am I up to?

Im riding every week (this week became the second week that happened!) which is more than I can say for myself even OWNING my own horse. Poo...Im a sucky horse owner. I am getting into the routine of riding every week though which is putting me back in touch with my roots and giving me an outlet. The fact that I'm listening to country should prove this point.

Im getting inspired by a writter/photojournalist who Ive only worked with once. My first day with Shirley was great. I taught her a lot about lightroom and hopefully she has played with it a bit. She also complimented me, telling me I was very good at teaching her what she needed to know, and I was relieved because I was afraid I had gone far too fast for her.

On my way home from riding last night I saw the BEST sunset I have seen in a while....

The Kat always lands on her feet....

I should trust in myself and the world more. I should trust in the teachings of "The Secret" more, because I always, without a doubt, land on my feet.

Yesterday, I decided that because of this I am going to start being more patient and thankful.

I got an email Sunday night from my friend Alicia who I have been a penpal of sorts with for a few months now. She is also an expat, but from New York. She informed me that she has a photographer friend looking for an assistant. With in a matter of 12 hours, Shirley called. I am starting at 2pm today. She lives very close to Hanneke, which is nice because after work I can hang out with her or go riding.

I havent had much time to do personal work lately because I have been working on stuff for Aries website.

This is just a few of the parts that I have edited and worked up for the site. Im very pleased with my technique. I think it looks very clean and nice.

I did have a chance to photograph a 7 week old kitten this weekend though at Hannekes. She doesnt have a name yet, but she is ADORABLE! Im not sure if Hanneke is going to keep her as she is one of the kitties up for adoption at the animal shelter she volunteers at.






Devious little Love bug.

Also, this happened this weekend. I said it would....