Todays Theme...is Bread

It's raining today, so I figured it was a sign from above that I should just stay home. Who am I to argue? The weather has been so glorious lately that I've been putting off my household chores. Who wants to stay inside and mop or do laundry when the skies are blue and the sun is shining? Not me, that's who! I figured that if I was going to be here all day, I might as well try out a Cinnamon Swirl Bread recipe that I found not too long ago. It's pretty simple to make, but HOLY COW does it take some serious time! (That's why I haven't tried it before.) I am a sucker for cinnamon bread, but I don't buy it very often because for some crazy reason, bakers seem to think that you also want raisins in it. I'm not a big fan of raisins. Neither are the rest of my family. I started on the cinnamon bread (sans raisins) and got to the part where it had to sit and rise for...two hours. This led me to something else that I've been putting off... Waxing my antique bread boards. I bought this in December of 2009. I bought the wax not long after that. Can anyone say "procrastination"? My bad. My excuse is that it looked fantastic without the wax, so what's the hurry? The great news is that it looks even more awesome with it. (And I haven't even buffed it off yet.) By tomorrow morning, it will be dried, buffed, and back in the corner of my dining room in all it's glory. Another job checked off of my "to do" list. On to more chores. I have to keep busy, because if I don't... I'll end up back at the antique store and spending more...bread. Aren't these trunks fantastic? Wouldn't that bottom one make the most interesting coffee table or end table (with storage) in the world? *sigh* Must keep busy. Must keep busy. Must keep busy. Hey, I think the rain is lightening up. Could that be a sign?

More Signs Of Spring...

I saw another sign of Spring today. I'm pretty sure the Easter Bunny was driving it, but he had a lead foot and I couldn't get close enough to peek in the window. He took the Maastricht exit, so if you're in the area, be sure to keep an eye out for him. I would imagine that the back of the car was full of chocolate. Save some for me.

No Market Monday

The weather today is so glorious that there isn't a parking spot to be found anywhere near the Monday Market, so there will be no fresh flowers this morning. That's OK. I'm content to just enjoy the sunshine and beautiful blue skies. I even took the long way home. Just because. I do have a tasty bit of gossip to share, though. I saw Super Dog again, and it would appear that he has a side kick. He and Captain Barksalot were on the roof. Super Dog was playing it cool, but Capt. Barksalot was fighting crime with his atomic bark. They were very efficient at it, because by the time I raised my camera, they were gone. The streets are safe, once again. I don't know about you, but I know that I sleep a lot better knowing they are on the watch.

The Full Worm Moon

A couple of nights ago, we had an amazing full moon. Unfortunately, I didn't get a decent picture of it. It's entirely possible that standing in a tub and hanging out a second floor bathroom window is not a situation conducive to successful picture taking. I could be wrong, though. You might get your best shots that way. Who am I to judge? Anyhoo, the moon was amazing. Did you know that there are different names for the full moon each month? They date back to early Native Americans, who named them to keep track of the seasons. March's full moon is called the Worm Moon. According to Farmer's Almanac, as the temperature begins to warm and the ground starts to thaw, earthworms make their way to the surface. This brings the robins back for a tasty snack. The Algonquin Indians wouldn't lie. I can hear the birds chirping outside my window as I type this. Happy Spring!

The Legend...Captured On Film

There is a legendary creature in Northeast Belgium. Think of it as our version of Big Foot. A few of us have seen it from afar, but until now, no one has been lucky (or courageous) enough to actually capture this legend on film. Thanks to Denise, we now have proof of it's existence. Not only did she happen upon the yellow trucks, but she circled around, chased them down, followed them into a field, and took these historic pictures. You rock, Denise. I've mentioned before that Spring in Belgium means one thing...the smell of poop. This is the time of the year that farmers spray liquefied feces on their fields to fertilize before planting those lovely fields of corn we all rave about. Sure, there are lots of trucks that get the job done, but this particular company does it with panache. Don't beat around the bush about your product, Mister. Tell the folks what they are paying the big bucks for... That's right. It's not just any sh**. It's simply the best sh** ever. Is that a slogan or what?

Is this what they mean when they are talking about truth in advertising? I think maybe it is. Are those two fellows in the cab laughing at the crazy American who not only chased them down, but is now taking pictures of their trucks in this field? I think maybe they are. I will leave you to enjoy your Monday afternoon with the knowledge that these farmers have their sh** under control. Just remember, if you have to deal with it, stand in it, or talk about it...make sure that it's simply the best that you can get. I'm just saying.

Happy On Their Harley D's

The big boys got to get out and play this afternoon, so I hunted them down and took a few pictures. It was an absolutely gorgeous day for a ride!After turning the Wedelse Molen into a biker bar for a little bit, they were off again.

Hope your day was just as beautiful, and just as enjoyable. Tots ziens for now!

Antiquers Anonymous...It's A Ten Step Program

When the lovely folks as Slegers invited me to back my vehicle inside their warehouse to load it up, I knew I had a problem. OK, maybe it's not as bad as it sounds. Truth is, I only got a few fantastic items, and Denise got the BIG DADDY. She snagged an antique double school desk, complete with ink well. GORGEOUS! In all the excitement, I didn't get a picture of it, but maybe if I ask nicely, she'll send me one and I can share it with you. Anyhoo, I got to drive into an antique warehouse...score one for me and scratch another item off of my strange and unusual "To Do" list.

In case you're curious, here are my goodies. I found another trog - this time in light wood. My other one is in a dark wood, so this is totally different. (At least that's what I keep trying to explain to Russ. He's not buying it either, by the way.) I also found a long, skinny type of trog and a round sieve. It might not make any sense to you, but I have a picture in my head of what I can do with these treasures, and that's all that matters. Just go with it.

Check this one out. It's a square trog. I know. It's the coolest, and is now home to my phone books. If you don't own a square phone book trog, then you really don't know what you're missing. I recommend you go out and buy one right now. Go ahead. I'll wait. Here's the last of my purchases....my scale. Russ keeps asking what my fascination is with scales since we moved here, and I really can't explain it. They are just very interesting to me. I have a few pieces of blue and white enamelware, so the second I saw this one, I knew it just had to come home with me. A scale, fresh flowers, and my Starbuck's mugs. It just doesn't get any better than that. (Except maybe if one of the mugs was filled with coffee...)

P.S. Here's a pic of Denise's awesome desk! She's a beauty! (And if she encourages the girls to do their homework without any hassles, then she was well worth the money!)

Darn Those Leprechauns!

Happy St. Patrick's Day. In an effort to remain pinch-free, I put on my only green shirt this morning. Imagine my surprise when I noticed this...a perfect circle, smack dab in the middle of my shirt! How strange is this? First of all, I know I washed this shirt, and second of all, how on earth did a circle get in the middle of it to begin with? It's those pesky leprechauns!

According to legend, the Irish didn't always approve of wearing the color green. Apparently, it was considered unlucky because it was the favorite color of the "Good People" (leprechauns). Those who wore too much of this color, especially children, could be spirited away. I knew I heard giggling in the front bushes this morning.

Spring Is In The Air!

It's a gorgeous day here in Belgium. The sun is out, the temperature is just right, and tractors are hauling around loads of poop. It must be Spring.

Got Milk?

Here is a little something that I picked up over the weekend. It's an antique aluminum milk pail. I've mentioned it before, but I can't resist an object with a history. This one caught my eye immediately, because my Grandparents used to have a dairy farm in Texas. My Dad worked there before and after school for many, many years while growing up. He used to tell us a story about his Dad milking the cows. Kittens used to hang out in the barn, looking for a free handout, and one of them fell into a pail of milk while trying to steal a drink. My Grandpa calmly reached in the pail, fished out the kitten, and proceeded to wring the milk out of it back into the container. Then he put the kitten back on the ground and continued with his work. Waste not, want not. I could never decide if I should be amused or disgusted when I heard this story. In the end, amusement always won. Anyhoo, as soon as I saw this, I knew it was going home with me. Judging by the dented lid and scratched sides, I'm sure it has a few stories of it's own to tell. And I like that.

The purchase paid for itself within minutes of my getting it. Russ offered to hold the tin for me when we stepped into a nearby shop to look at Polish pottery. I had just started to look around when I heard the clerk giggling. I turned around and saw her looking at Russ, who was standing near the door, holding the milk pail and looking like he would rather be anywhere else than in this store full of brightly colored dishes. She asked him where he was going with his milk. We told her that we were looking for a bowl for his cereal.

On The Road Again...

I'm starting to think that maybe we shouldn't travel any more. This picture sums up this past week. Jess got two big gifts for her Birthday: a ticket to the Taylor Swift concert in the Netherlands... and the crud. Can you guess which one she'd like to return? Unfortunately, the crud attacked on the eve of our trip to Germany for an awards dinner. Jess is a trooper, so she curled up in the back seat and we took off to Spang ... 2 hours and 30 minutes away. Then she crawled into her bed in TLF and slept, and sniffed, and coughed, and slept, and coughed some more. Finally, we gave up and took her to the doctor. Which was over an hour away. And then back to TLF again, armed with more medication. Poor Jess. On the positive side, Russ got to drive on the Autobahn. That always makes him smile. (He'd smile even more if he were driving a BMW or Corvette, but such is life.) And we got to see more beautiful scenery, like the locals getting their vineyards ready along the banks of the Moselle River. Spring is in the air. Trust me, we are more than ready for it. We made it back to Spang in time for the awards dinner.Everyone did a fantastic job, and it was a big success. Soon, it was time to head back to Belgie. Once again, Jess curled up in the back seat and dozed, and coughed, and dozed again. She still has the crud. It's some wicked mean stuff, and refuses to leave without a fight. Hopefully she will be well enough tomorrow to return to school, and no one else in the family catches this mess. We don't have any trips planned for the near future, so the odds are in our favor this time.

Taylor Swift in the Netherlands!

For her Birthday this year, Jess asked for tickets to the Taylor Swift concert in Rotterdam, Netherlands. Not a shabby way to spend your 17th Birthday, huh? She and a friend from school took off on a lovely adventure. She said the concert was...amazing. Here are a few pics...

Happy Birthday Jess. And Happy Birthday to Russ, too. Unfortunately for him, he didn't get to stare at Taylor for the evening. There's always next year...

It's Carnaval Time!

Louisiana has Mardi Gras, but in Europe, we have Carnaval! And it makes some people who already enjoy a good party... really come out to play. The parade was led by the mounted police, riding...ostriches? They were lots of fun to watch. They never said a word, and communicated by simply blowing their whistles. (You should have seen them when the two blonds walks by.) There were lots of interesting (and a little creepy...like this doctor!) things to see in the parade. Each float had their own sound system, and the music was cranked! Groups of people in costumes followed behind each float, handing out candy, drinking, dancing, and just enjoying the festivities.

I loved the chick, who popped out of his shell occasionally to check out the festivities, and then ducked back in again.

The Titanic even made an appearance!

A big surprise was this entry. It's the Farm Ville float.... complete with the big red barn, scarecrow and sunflowers! That just goes to show you, even Belgians love their FaceBook games!

Moe from The Simpson's made an appearance and helped serve up some lovely Jupiler beer. He was bit of a rebel, because most of the crowd was drinking Martens. Elvis and his gang made an appearance as well.

There were pirate ships...

and men on stilts.

And even a few witches popped in to stir up some trouble.

The Carnaval Parade was lots of fun, and we really enjoyed ourselves. The locals are still out there living it up, but we called it a night and headed for home. Brandon has tons of candy, bags of chips, and other goodies to hold him over until next year. Happy Carnaval and Tot Ziens for now.

The Unexpected

At first glance, this would appear to just be another Belgian pub. Upon further observation, you will find it to be the home of Super Dog, Guardian of the Universe. (Do you see him to the left of the green sign?)
As we were passing by this pub earlier today, Jess said "There's a dog on that roof!" (That's something you don't hear every day.) Sure enough, there sat Super Dog. He's found a lovely spot to sit, checking out the local scenery and occasionally barking at someone or something that passes by below him. I would have gotten a close up, but immediately after I took this picture, he decided that his shift was over, ducked back under the Martens sign, and disappeared. Just like a super hero.

Hidden Treasures

Unfortunately, responsibilities sometimes get in the way of adventuring, and it was that kind of week. That doesn't mean that it has to be boring. It's just a matter of noticing something wonderful while you are dashing madly from here to there, taking care of everything that you have to do. Try to take a minute to enjoy something beautiful in your town or city while dealing with every day life. You'll be surprised at what jewels might be just around your corner.