I'm Not Slow...Really

My mother-in-law recently sent me a great recipe (thanks, by the way!) for a tropical dip, to be served with fresh fruit. As an added bonus, it only has a few ingredients and is really easy to make. This is my kind of recipe. There is a great liquor store in our town. A Beer Barn of sorts. It's big, and they have all kinds of alcohol and accompanying treats. They also have very nice employees who speak excellent English, and are always happy to recommend a great beer. I'm positive that they can help me out. It was really busy today. It's Saturday, after all. I was standing in front of a big display of mixed alcohol drinks (and apparently looking a little lost), when an employee stopped by and offered his assistant. I told him that I was looking for a Pina Colada mix with no alcohol. Let me stop here and point out that while some words don't translate well between Nederlands and English, expressions certainly do. There was no mistaking the fact that I had just asked something that was not only ridiculous to him, but that he was now trying to decide if I was perhaps a "little slower" than the average adult. Belgians are very polite, so instead of voicing what he was most definitely thinking, he cautiously said "No alcohol?" "Yes", I replied. "I just need the mix." He stood there a few seconds and looked at me. Speechless. In my defense, this dip is for a Bible Study group (and there are always toddlers tagging along), so there are probably all sorts of moral and ethical issues involved with serving them alcohol. Yes, the kids would take a fantastic nap, but still...I'm thinking it's a big "no-no"! I didn't really want to get into to all that while standing in a warehouse full of Belgian men pushing around carts loaded down with cases and cases of beer. (It is Saturday, after all.) The salesman politely assured me that his Pina Colada mix was alcohol infused (why wouldn't it be?), and had no idea where I would be able to pick up some that was not (seriously, what's the point of buying a mixed alcohol drink without the alcohol?). Maybe it was just my imagination that he seemed to be speaking a little slower than usual. I thanked him for his time, grabbed a bottle of melon creme liquor from the shelf beside me, and headed over to join the fellas in the checkout line. The ladies and toddlers will be having whipped creme with their fresh fruit. The liquor is for me. It's been a long day.

Friday At The Market

It might be cold and foggy here today, but that doesn't mean you can't find a little bit of sunshine at a nearby open air Market. This is one of my favorite vendors...along with the bread guy, of course. 4 euro for a dozen roses. How can you say no? And now my kitchen is a much happier place. I hope your Friday is full of sunshine in unexpected places as well.

Blogging Issues...

Blogger has decided to misbehave, and I temporarily (hopefully) can't upload or post any pictures. I hope to have the issue squared away soon...

De Wit Royal Manufacturers of Tapestry in Mechelen

To me, nothing is more European than a gorgeous tapestry. A friend of mine had heard about De Wit, a tapestry manufacturer and restoring place that we could actually go inside and tour. Of course, we booked a tour and jumped on a train to Mechelen. After wandering around for a little bit, we found De Wit. It wasn't at all what I was expecting. It was even better. It's housed in an The Refuge of Tongerlo Abbey (1484), and surrounded by very high brick walls. The only way in is this huge wooden door. Inside is a beautiful hidden garden. In the Spring, everything will be in full bloom. The garden is planted with flowers that are represented in medieval tapestries. The main entrance is that red door on the left. Unfortunately, no photography is allowed inside. *sigh* These three (indoor) pictures are courtesy of De Wit's website. And in case you are wondering, the antique tapestries are even more amazing in person. Our guide was fantastic, and she not only explained how tapestries are made, she even brought in one of their workers to demonstrate. She worked her magic on the loom in the center of this room. On an average day, a worker can only produce a section about the size of the palm of your hand. In other words, it takes a long, long time to make a tapestry.This is the restoration section of De Wit. You are only allowed to tour it while the workers are on their lunch break. They only make minimal repairs to the damaged tapestries, and have very strict guidelines as to how it is done. De Wit hasn't produced any private tapestries in many years, because it's extremely expensive, and there is an extensive process to having one created. (First you have to hire an excellent painter to produce a painting that you want your tapestry based on. Then you have to pay someone approximately $3,500 per square meter to produce the tapestry. It's all very costly and time consuming. You know how it goes...if you have to ask, you can't afford it.) The only ones they produce now are for Belgian royalty to give to visiting dignitaries. Their main business is repairing and cleaning existing tapestries. Tapestries are shipped here from all over the world, including the White House! Let's face it, the company was founded in 1889, so they have a lot of experience and expertise in this area. When our tour was over, we returned to the courtyard. We still had a little time before we caught our train back home, so we decided to head toward the centrum and check out Sint-Romboutskathedral.It's amazing! She was started around 1200 (completed around 1520), and stands proudly in the centrum of Mechelen, right beside the Market place. On a clear day, you can climb the 514 steps to the top of the tower and see all the way to Antwerp! Hmmmmm....maybe this summer... Believe it or not, her tower was supposed to be even taller, but financial restraints limited her to 97.28 meters tall. And they even let you peek around inside! Amazing!St. Rumbold is the patron Saint of Mechelen. That's him standing high above the alter. He was a 17th century Irish missionary, and it's rumored that his remains are buried in the cathedral. The cathedral also serves as a mausoleum for Belgian archbishops. Too soon, it was time to catch our bus back to the train station and head home. It was an amazing day... filled with amazing art. A big THANK YOU to the lovely ladies at De Wit! We all now have a deeper appreciation for beautiful tapestries. When I win the lottery, I'm giving you a call and placing my order. It will look perfect in my new castle...

Two Hot Octogenarians

Am I the only one that's more than a little disturbed by this advertisement? Oh, dear. I think I'm going to need therapy...

Sint Hubertuskapel in Hechtel-Eksel

In past centuries, there were little chapels here and there along the country side. They were outside the villages, and along roads. They were a place to stop and rest, as well as a place of worship. They were normally near a farmhouse, and those residents both guarded and maintained the small buildings. Some of these chapels are still here today. Sint Hubertuskapel is one of those chapels, and dates back to 1599. The chapels were normally built in the Romanesque or Baroque style, made of brick, roofed with slate, and had a solid oak door. It's my understanding that this carving shows God's protection of both the people and their livestock against disease. (Don't quote me on that one. It's hard to find exact information on some things around here.) Sint Hubertuskapel sits quietly at the edge of a field, on the outskirts of town. And she patiently waits for the odd visitor or two. Cars speed by on the road outside her front door, much quicker than people used to travel when she was younger. It doesn't bother her much. She's seen a lot over the past several hundred years. She's got plenty of time. And she's not going anywhere.

Happy Valentine's Day!