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....

There is a first time for everything.

Let me introduce you to Nordje, the Lazy girl horse that is hard to get to do anything.


Nordje didnt want to walk out of the stable, didnt want to walk into the arena, and then didnt want to go into a trot.

This is Lady...The horse Hanneke enjoys riding.


Lady LOVES to run and go fast. So once Nordje finally got into a trot, she saw Lady take off into a gallop. Well, it seemed she all of a sudden didnt want lady to show her up and took off, adding a little bucking action to the mix. With in 10 seconds of the gallop I has lost my balance, 30 seconds I was holding the reins with a death grip as I held on for dear life with my right leg. at 45 seconds, I was rolling in the sand. For the first time in my life, I had fallen off a horse.



...And guess what. I got back on! Though not on Nordje. Hanneke wanted to see what was up and traded horses with me. Lady was gracious and sweet and I got to learn a bit more about galloping.

Here are a few photos from the evening.







Lady is allergic to a certain kind of fly that comes out at night, so she gets to wear this pretty outfit to bed!



We were done riding at 9 pm which is still daylight, hell 10- is still day light. I boarded the train at 10 in Soest and got to Culemborg at 11. I rode my bike the 15 min home and the lack of people riding near me was scary, but I made it home safely. I need a car....so Ive been looking for one.

MTV Cribs Dutch Style

This is our tour of the house. I hope you enjoy!

Cyclists beware...

So today I was sent on a mission to get dinner for the next two nights and whatever else we needed. I armed myself with my purse, my chrome bag and a waterproof jacket. The store is literally 3 blocks away, but it had started to rain when I left. Actually it was pouring while I was eating lunch and had slowed when I left, but not enough. I was soaked when I arrived at the local Golff store. I picked up a number of things...

2 Large Yoghurt cups (for Bryan)
A Carton of Yoghurt 0% Vet (for me)
A Carton of milk
2 Iced tea Boxes
3 bottles of Sisi
A carton of Pomegranate Juice
Grapes, a cucumber, tomatoes, lettuce, Carrots (tops still attached), lemons, and beets.

But it doesn't end there.

Strawberry popsicles'
Chicken for dinner
Mini Red potatoes
Roast Steaks
Nuts
Variety of Cheese
Variety of Meat (mostly if not all salami oh there was one chicken)
A box of panty liners (because I previously bought mini - incontinence pads...which I do not need.)

€50.57

I put the Sisi bottles on the back of the bike. Loaded the Chrome bag with the boxes and carrots (tops sticking out of the side)
and ran back in to get a box because the fruit, vegies and yoghurt cups werent going to fit.

I had an encounter with a dutch couple who didnt speak any english but was trying to get directions from me as to how to get back to Culemborg...which I wish I could have told them because I have a short cut! But the man left in frustration, and his wife followed shortly.

I finally got my bike unlocked. Some how got the chrome bag on my back, picked the box up and moved the bike to the street. I carefully put the box on the handlebars and mounted the bike, with feet still firmly on the ground. I moved the box to my hip as I had previously seen Bryan do and pushed the left pedal. I was moving, but slowly. I quickly lifted my right leg hoping I wouldnt loose balance and pushed the peddle. A little wobbly and moving towards cars I corrected myself and was off! YES! Success!

I made it into the garage when one of the gentleman here asked "willt jij help?" I exclaimed "YES!" and continued to thank him while putting the bike away.

Unfortunately, there is no photo of this event...one because Bryan wasnt there and two, if he was do you think this would have happened?

The News....

So I was watching the news on Channel4 the other night with Bryan and his dad. Bryan was playing on his phone and his dad was listening intently to the story about the Amsterdam Canals....Well maybe not intently, but listening. Because I dont understand dutch too well I watch the pictures and try to figure out what is going on with the words I can catch. I couldnt help but laugh at this though....

This was actually on the news. It is a map of the Amsterdam Canals (How appropriate)....The map was shown and then the white outline I have replicated on this map, popped up. I giggled and looked at Bryan, by the time he looked it was gone. Maybe I am immature and inappropriate, but whatever.

And now for something completely different....

A train station I bet you cant say the name of.

So a week ago Bryan and I went to the IND for an apointment about me staying here. It amounted to nothing but obtaining more information and new information because Bryan is now a citizen and that changes my status here. While we were in Den Bosch though, we saw some cool stuff, just walking to the photo store (I needed a battery charger and there was no other place close to us, or our town so we checked here....and Vuellah!).

The City

Dragon Fountain. I saw this 2 years ago and wasnt allowed to stop to photograph it. We were driving then and this time we were walking. So it worked better.

As for today. We went to the Rommel Mart, the usual sunday adventure. Bryan was looking for sunglasses so he can stop wearing my (laurel proclaimed) "eurotrash" Ralph Lauren ones. I was looking for Riding Boot and Arie was looking for a soft bag he could take to Finland with him. All but one of us left with what we wanted. And found some other stuff along the way. OH and Bryan and I were looking for new pillows....Because the ones we have....lets just say...Have almost given me a concussion in pillow battle.

The Rommel Mart.
These didnt fit and the others were too "girly"

Do I have to say anything? Dont worry, we walked right by. I swear.

I want one! I will have ONE!

I saw the Dickens Village!

When We got home, There was a red cat meeting between Bryan, Prutzer and Big Red. I love these 3 boys.

We came home with yummy schwarma and had a lazy day watching movies. I swear I could get fat off of Schwarma and Patat met.

I have also developed my own cream puff, since Bryan and Arie like to buy the "No no katie pastries." They found me a gluten free pound cake at a store when sent to buy tasty pastries and find me something I could eat. After having two of them I decided I should be able to have a cream puff too. I sliced my mini-pound cake into slivers and stole the whipped cream Lora keeps for the cats. Gluten Free Katie Cream Puffs. Though, the cream doesnt squish out like it does with a real cream puff.


Sharky, Bryan and I after our nap yesterday (Bryan didnt partake in the nap, just the photo.)