Happy New Year's Eve!

 

Joaquin and I are spending the day together at home today.  Dave took Rachel, Gabe and Michael on a walkabout.  I have been catching up with some laundry and just picking up around the apartment and Joaquin is having fun not “shopping” and getting to play games on the computer.  We took a little walk down to get some groceries since everything will be closed for a couple of days for the holiday.  Joaquin found SpongeBob SquarePants pasta so Grammi made him Mac and Cheese for lunch.  So while eating he is watching a Goofy movie in Dutch on TV!  I said don’t you want me to find something in English and he said, “No Grammi, this is fine.”!  I asked him if any of the words were like German (since he is learning that in school) and he said “No.”  I said, “Well you can’t understand it.”  He said, “That’s why I like it.”???  He is so funny.  He makes me smile!

We have been having fun showing Rachel and Joaquin around the city all week.  Gabriel and Michael went to Germany for a couple of days to visit Michael’s family there.  Rachel is loving the food and shopping.  Her dad keeps trying to get her to go to the museums but that’s just not her thing.  And besides this week Amsterdam is packed with visitors and the lines are around the block to get into the museums.  We went to one of the markets on Monday and Rachel got the find of the century that she absolutely loves – black, leather, lace-up knee-high boots for 20 euros.  She was very excited.  After the market Joaquin got tired and cold so Dave took him home while Rachel and I kept going.  We were hungry and found a delightful Dutch restaurant that has the best traditional food.  Rach got the tomato soup with a honey goat cheese salad and I got the traditional Dutch meatballs with gravy and a small salad.  Both were delish and entirely homemade – no pre-cooked food here!  So a couple days later she told her dad she had to take him to it so we went again.  Dave ordered the traditional Dutch dish called Stamppot which is mashed potatoes mixed with vegetables and served with meat.  Dave had the sauerkraut version which is mashed potatoes with sauerkraut mixed in served with a meatball, a sausage and some bacon.  Sounds unusual but was scrumptious and he enjoyed it!  And of course, since I love food, I appreciated going back again.  I have a feeling she may have gotten dad to go there again today so her brother and Michael can enjoy it!  I found out later that it is a very popular traditional Dutch restaurant that was named after Lady Haesje Claes who in the 1500s was the founder of the Amsterdam orphanage located across the street which is currently the Amsterdam Historical Museum.  The restaurant extends over six different, interconnected buildings and the interior is comprised of paintings depicting scenes from the orphanage and color schemes of the restaurant also date back to this time period.  As you can see it has quickly become one of our family’s favorites.

Yesterday we went out to the new Taylor facility to show Rachel and Joaquin.  On the drive back to the apartment we stopped by the Amsterdam Animal Rescue facility and looked at the dogs and cats.  And we also found a traditional Holland windmill and got out to take a few pictures.  After dropping the car off at the apartment we headed over to the NEMO museum which is a children’s science museum.  We spent all afternoon there and Joaquin had a great time!

Tonight there is a huge festival down at the Museumplein which is the large grassy park in front of the Rijks Museum.  At midnight there will be fireworks with the museum in the background which should be beautiful.  We are planning on going down so hoping we stay awake.  We will need to bundle up because it is a little rainy and still very cold.

Happy New Year to all my friends and family!

Big Hugs to All!

One more thing...

On Saturday after we got home from our shopping adventure, Dave said let's see if there is some cultural event we can go to tonight or tomorrow night.  So I started searching on the internet and found a classical guitarist, Esther Steenburgen, that was going to be playing at the Concertgebouw (Concert Hall) that night.  So we bought tickets and went.  The theater itself is magnificent and the concert was very good.  We enjoyed the first half best - the second half she brought in a clarinet player that just didn't seem to compliment her that well.  Plus Dave said he was out of tune, I just thought his playing didn't fit!  The first half she played by memory and the second half she read music and that was another reason I liked the first half better.  I felt she was feeling her music better when she didn't have to be concerned with reading the music.  Anyway, it was a very enjoyable evening and we are planning on going back to hear other concerts there.  We were also told that you can go on Wednesday afternoons for free concerts which are basically "dress rehearsals."  So that's something else we plan on doing.  Attached is a photo of Kleine Zaal which is the hall we were in.  We also had fantastic seats - fourth row!

Brrr – It’s cold in Amsterdam…

Here I am again sitting at the house with a plumber working on the drains!  He was supposed to come last Friday to finish the job but we all woke up to heavy snow and his van wouldn’t start so here we are today.

Not a lot of news from last week, of course, I can’t even remember everything I did.  On Wednesday Dave and I had to go to The Hague (Den Haag) to the IND (Immigrate en Naturaliastiedienst) office.  We finally had all the paperwork needed to file for our residence cards.  We are now temporarily approved residents of the Netherlands.  The process will take anywhere from 2-4 weeks to get our resident cards.  This coming Wednesday we have an appointment with the IND for the city of Amsterdam.  We also have to file papers there.  There are many issues you do not realize need to happen before you can work and live in a foreign country for an extended amount of time.



How could you resist?



On Thursday, I headed out in pouring down, cold rain to go to a women’s lunch I had signed up for.  I really don’t like to rsvp for something and then not show up.  It was at a new “all-you-can-eat” sushi restaurant.  It was good but not “over the top.”  But it’s always fun to get together with a bunch of ladies and just chat and eat.  One of the women, Laurie, who I met at one of these lunches previously, was there with her daughter who just graduated from college and has come over to spend a couple of months before she has to enter the “real world”!  Laurie invited us to dinner that night and was trying out one of her new Thai recipes that a neighbor had given her.  After leaving the lunch we went to the market that was close by and an Asian shop so she could get ingredients for the recipe.  While shopping the snow started and I was freezing so I headed back home.  Dave and I ventured out to her house that night and had a delightful evening meeting her husband and just getting to know them better.  They had 2 beautiful rescue dogs that they brought from the states when they moved over.  We had fun playing with them and it made Dave yearn for another dog.  His “want” is a Bernese Mountain Dog.  So we started talking about that and Laurie got her computer and the two of them started searching for breeders.  Tank may have a new friend when we get back!  We will have to see!

 

Friday morning we woke up to a winter wonderland – by the time noon came around we had a foot of snow.  Well, since most years Amsterdam only gets a light snow, they are not prepared for this heavy of snow.  Dave and the other guys working for him could not get out to the warehouse so he was stuck home with me.  We saw trams going by so later in the afternoon Dave wanted to go find a shop he found on the internet.  Here we go – bundled up and headed to the tram stop.  The tram eventually came and we got to the other side of town and then the tram stopped about two stops from where we were headed.  It was too cold and too far to walk so we just got on the tram headed back to town and went home.  Everything was moving so slowly I think it took us about an hour to ninety minutes to not go anywhere except enjoy a tram ride!

 

Saturday it was still snowing off and on but they had cleared the streets and tram lines so we headed back out to find the shop Dave wanted to go to.  We were successful this time and he found the perfect chess set for Joaquin.  Joaquin began going to an afterschool chess class and has really enjoyed it.  So he and Poppi will be playing chess while he is here visiting.  After getting the chess set we headed down the street which headed straight towards Central Station.  There are so many shops and cafes here I think you could walk, shop and eat for a year and still not find all the little treasures here.  We headed to the American Book Store for a couple more gifts and then headed home.  Oh, while on the tram today Dave and I saw something that is standard practice here but was so unusual to us.  Since here in the city of Amsterdam most everyone lives in apartment buildings that have at least three or four stories, we all have to take stairs to get to our apartments.  Very few have lifts.  The stairs are so steep and narrow there is no way you would safely get someone down on a stretcher.  Well today there was an ambulance with a fire truck and they use the ladder and lift on the fire truck to take someone out of their apartment that has a medical emergency and is on a stretcher.  We knew that is how they get furniture and building materials into apartments on the second and higher floors but never thought about when there is a medical emergency. 

 

Sunday the snow had stopped but so cold and grey nothing had melted.  One of the markets had advertised that it was going to be a Christmas Market today and it wasn’t far from the house so we headed over there fairly early in the day.  Well it was just the standard market that is always there so I was a little disappointed.  And again my toes were freezing so I told Dave I was going to shop just a little and then head home.  He went on to go to an Art Store and one of the museums.  We have purchased Museum Cards so we can now go to the museums as much as we want with no charge.  The rest of the afternoon we hung out inside – I wrapped Christmas gifts and Dave was working on a new art piece.

So I’m back to today and not doing much except making sure the plumber gets the drains working!  If I don’t write again before the weekend I would like to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.  Rachel, Joaquin, Gabriel and his friend, Michael, are arriving on Saturday for two weeks.  So I will be very busy entertaining and having fun with them for the next couple of weeks.  Then I will be going home with Rachel and Joaquin on January 8^th for a couple of weeks.  I may even see some of you while I’m home!

Love and Hugs to all!



 

More news and some I forgot…

I totally forgot to write about our private canal dinner cruise we were treated to.  Back in November when Bob Taylor and Kurt Listug were over here, we enjoyed an amazing dinner cruise on the canals by the design company that is designing the new offices and warehouse.  It was a small, what we would call antique, canal boat that we literally climbed in and sat on benches on either side of the boat and up to a long table facing one another, which meant there was no room to move around, but very cozy and friendly.  Now the food and drink were outstanding – for my vegan and vegetarian friends, you can stop reading.  J  The table was set with china and linens, bread, butter and olives.  We started with champagne and a small appetizer of smoked sausages and apple.  Then the wine started flowing and the real appetizer came – it was quail with different types of little condiments on the side – beautifully presented and delicious.  The entrees were either sea bass or red deer with potato au gratin and vegetables; I selected the fish.  Then a beautifully presented array of desserts along with cappuccinos followed.  Now what I haven’t explained is that since this boat was so small with a very tiny galley, for each course we stopped at a different restaurant and the course was brought onboard.  All of this was enjoyed with wonderful friends and new friends while cruising the canals which were absolutely beautiful at night with all the lights.  Dave said the canal cruise is a lot of fun during the day also since you can see the architecture of the buildings and they go out into the bay also.  This is an experience I will not forget.

Last week was a mixture of weather.  All of the snow from the weekend before has melted.  On Thursday I went to a coffee that was at a department store café on the sixth floor and had an incredible view.  It was a pretty cool place to be that day since the weather was so fickle.  First the sun was out, then sleet, then snow flurries and then it would repeat the cycle.  Quite amazing to watch from that far up.  By the time we left it was sunny but not warm!

Over the weekend, Dave and I enjoyed venturing into the centrum to walk around and explore some more.  It seems you can walk and walk and always see new streets, buildings, shops and cafes.

On Saturday, we stopped in a little pub that was managed by an African-British guy who seated us at one of the six tables.  It was quite quaint and cozy; again what we would call antique furnishings and lots of dark wood.  The tables were covered with small wool, oriental rugs which I thought was quite creative.  The menu said “homemade” hamburgers so we asked him, are they good?  He said well I’m going to go back and make them for you right now and you can let me know.  So, of course, we had to try them and for Holland they were quite scrumptious, topped with melted cheese and grilled onions.  No chips or fries but alongside a beer it was a quite tasty lunch.  While sitting there Dave laughed and said we have to get one of those and I said, What?  The café was very small but up on the wall behind me was a screen with Yuletide logs burning and Dave said I feel warmer just watching them.  We both had a good laugh but thought it was a good idea since we do not have a fireplace in our apartment.

 

On Sunday we decided to go to a movie – hmmm, what to see?  We wanted to go to the Tuschinski Cinema which is a historic theater located at Rembrandtplein.  Well there were only three movies in English so we decided to go see the new Harry Potter movie.  The movie was entertaining but the theater was absolutely beautiful.  Very Art Deco – the lighting fixtures were incredible and the wallpaper was inspiring to me but a little too “busy” for Dave.  He said he didn’t know where to look because there was so much, but to me, oh my goodness, I loved it!  I guess that’s why there is chocolate and vanilla, right?

Also want to share this photo of Dave in front of the new Taylor Guitars Europe Center and Warehouse.

Today I am sitting in my apartment while the plumber works on our clogged drains.  It’s a cloudy, cold day so all OK with me.  I don’t really need to go out this morning so will just spend time reading, writing and drinking coffee!

Hugs to all!

Hmmm – Let’s see – What have I been up to…

Well, the weekend before last Dave and I were going to go for a drive on the Saturday but that was the day of our first snow so Dave decided he didn’t really want to drive in snowy conditions.  We are from Southern California, you know!  So instead since it was a light snow we ventured to the town center and just walked around and got Dave some new sweaters and a new coat.  He looks quite debonair in his new coat – my handsome hubby!  On Sunday the snow was no longer an issue so we took off in the car and headed to the coast which is less than 30 minutes away.  I wouldn’t call it beautiful – at least nothing compared to Siesta Beach in Sarasota, FL or the La Jolla Cove in San Diego, CA or any of the Hawaiian beaches I have been to – but it was the first frozen beach I had ever been to!  It was my first time to walk on frozen sand which is quite different.  There were quite of few other people with their dogs out there and the dogs just don’t seem to mind the frozen sand or the extremely cold water.  They were running and jumping and chasing each other and balls – that was fun to watch.  I also picked up a few shells; again, the shells were not as beautiful as others I have collected.  However, while walking on the beach we saw a commotion right on the shore break with a huge flock of seagulls with people watching them so we ventured down to see what it was.  There were hundreds of live razor clams being washed to shore and the seagulls were having a feast.  It was quite interesting.

After enjoying the frozen beach we drove towards Den Haag, also called The Hague, to visit some museums.  This is where the Mauritshuis is located and where you can view Vermeer’s Girl with the Pearl Earring.  As I have said in previous posts, what an incredible experience to get to view these masterpieces live.  We also went to the Panorama Mesdag.  Here is the description from The Hague website: This is a cylindrical painting, commissioned in 1880, that is more than 14 meters high and 120 meters in circumference.  The Panorama Mesdag is a grand work of art in the style of The Hague School and an important art treasure.  The rooms leading to the Panorama house a fine collection of oil paintings and water colours by Mesdag and his wife.  It was fun to see but I would not say my favorite collection of art.  It was towards the end of the day by this time and we headed back to Amsterdam and had a quiet evening at home with a pizza dinner from the Italian restaurant across the street from our apartment.

I’ve ventured out quite a bit lately and am trying to remember what I have written about.  The Friday after Thanksgiving I went to a huge Christmas Fair at the De Haar Castle about 30 minutes away.  The Castle is amazing but the Fair was mostly all outside and none of it was in the Castle so I would love to go back to experience the tour.  It was the first time I really, really got cold.  My toes were frozen and I was glad whenever we found some booths inside with heaters.  I bought a few holiday gifts but didn’t spend too much!

Last week on a very snowy day, I went to the AWCA’s monthly meeting which was a Christmas Bazaar in a cool, old building in the canal streets.  The bazaar was small, but fun, and afterwards a few of us went out to lunch and had an incredible hot chocolate – they put milk chocolate chips in the bottom of the glass with hot milk on top – stir and drink.  YUM!  It was an extremely cold day – the weather has just seemed to get colder and colder after Thanksgiving.  I also found out there is a real, live mall!  OK, ladies it’s an inside mall – the largest department store has five, yes, five floors!  I am not a big shopper but it was fun to walk around and realize that you can buy just about anything you want or need – all in one place and not have to go from market to market.  I know the markets are fun but when it’s cold and rainy or snowy an inside mall is a little more pleasant!  And they have some very unusual, very European fashion pieces that you wouldn’t find in the states.  That’s the fun for me – is to find some fun, funky piece of clothing that I have never seen in the states.  I know most of you already think I’m a little “different” and yes, “crazy Tami” will probably come back wearing some unusual fashions.

What do you think, I could pull it off, don't you think?

This past weekend we had the really big snow on Saturday and pretty much stayed in most of the day.  We had one of the couples we met over for dinner so I was busy getting that ready.  This time – homemade spaghetti with salad, garlic bread and apple cobbler.  Dave is very happy that I have found a recipe to make a salad dressing that is very close and actually better than his favorite store bought – Kraft Catalina.  So he’s back to eating salad every day!  I guess while Maria and I were cleaning up the dishes Joe and Dave decided we’re going to do a week long bike trip through the Mosel Valley in Germany this spring.  Anyone want to join us?

Sunday we ventured out to the First Sunday Market that I went to last month.  This time Dave went with me along with Ted, IT guy from Taylor, who was here for some meetings on the new Taylor building.  Much smaller due to the weather but Dave purchased some dry salamis from Italy and France.  We also went to the American Book Store in the centrum and then came back to our neighborhood and had a late lunch at the little café on the corner.

Today I had to stay home to wait for the dishwasher repairman which gave me the ideal time to catch up on my blog.  Tonight we are headed out to see Weird Al!  Dave is a friend of his guitar player so will go a little early to meet up with him and who knows maybe I’ll get to meet Weird Al too!  I’ll let you know.

Dave has some better photos on his computer so as soon as I can, I'll post some of those too!

Hugs to all!

Paris - Yes, it's everything you think it is!

We headed out last Friday with a friend of Dave’s that had to drive to Paris for a business weekend.  We thought it would be nice to spend time in the car getting to know him and his girlfriend a little better.  Well, about 8 hours later, due to GPS errors, we made it to Paris.  It was a good time just talking except that minute by minute a cold was hitting me hard – sneezing, runny nose and eyes, achy – not the way I wanted to start my short adventure into Paris for the first time.  When we finally found our hotel that we were staying at, Danny dropped us off and we checked in.  I went straight to bed!  Dave headed out to check out the Trade Show he was there for.  I spent the afternoon and evening in and out of sleep and reading my book.  This first night we were staying outside of Paris in a little village called St. Denis.

The next morning I was actually feeling a “smidge” better.  Dave decided the night before that we were going to use some of his Marriott points and stay in the center of Paris for the next two nights.  So we checked out of the St. Denis Courtyard by Marriott and got on the subway to Champs D’Elysee.  The Renaissance Marriott was beautiful and just a five minute walk to the Louvre and D’Orsay museums!  The day turned out to be a beautiful, sunny but cold day.  Perfect for walking around, of course, that is if you’re feeling well.  However, I was a “trooper” (if I can say so myself) and we ventured to the Louvre.  I have to say it is such a tremendous gratifying feeling to see original masterpieces that you have only seen on cards and stationary previously.  As everyone says, the Mona Lisa is, what shall I say, much smaller than you expect.  Botticelli’s Venus and the Three Graces Presenting Gifts to a Young Woman is one of my favorite paintings but the sculpture is so amazing and beautiful.  Venus D’Milo – Winged Victory of Samothrace – The Three Graces – Cupid and Psyche.  I love sculpture and ever since visiting Italy three years ago and seeing Michelangelo’s sculptures I just love the European art culture.  After the Louvre, Dave took me to a very nice Paris café that was a local favorite.  We had the best bowl of French Onion Soup I have ever tasted – there was no skimping on the crusty bread and melted cheese on top!  Beef Bourguignon was my entrée and Chocolate Mousse was my dessert which topped the meal off perfectly.  We did not need dinner after that!  After lunch we began walking to Notre Dame.  I must say Paris is probably one of the most beautiful cities of the world – the architecture, the Seine River – just stunning.  We visited Notre Dame and again another work of art in architecture.  The massiveness of the cathedral – you realize how amazing the workers were to construct such a remarkable building of magnificence.  I remember when we were in Italy going into all of the Basilicas how amazed I was at each one of them.  Later that afternoon we met up with Danny and his girlfriend, Susanna, and they were going to go “out on the town” that evening to listen to music and asked if we would like to go with them.  We told them to give us a call when they were headed out, but all of you that know Dave and I, nightlife is not really our “thing.”  Of course, we were already in bed when they called at 9:00 PM.  Maybe if I had been feeling well we might have gone?  Probably not!

Sunday morning we got up and had a really good breakfast in the hotel and then headed outside.  Not as nice as Saturday – cold and raining but we were in Paris and had to go see the sights.  We headed over to the Musee de L’Orangie where the Monet Water Lilies in the round are in exhibition.  I enjoy some of Monet’s paintings but I guess I didn’t really appreciate the two rooms with the lilies in the round.  Parts of it were beautiful – parts were a question mark for me.  In the lower level was an exhibition of Heinrich Kuhn’s photography that was extremely intriguing.  I really enjoyed his work.  After the L’Orangie museum we began walking to the Eiffel Tower.  On the way it was so cold I had to purchase a hat from a street vendor.  Luckily I had brought a scarf and gloves.  On our way Dave took me down the street with the designer offices and shops – I found a pair of Prada shoes I wanted but, darn, the store isn’t open on Sundays!  Guess Dave got out of that one. 

  

So on we went – just around the next corner –oops – no, the next corner – and then there it was – whoa, it is much larger than you think.  So I said to Dave, I’m going to the top – he just looked at me like, “Really?”  Of course, you can’t go to the Eiffel Tower and not go to the top.  Dave has been there several times but never stood in line to go to the top.  Standing in line is not his favorite thing to do but he did on this day and it turned out to be a great experience.  While standing in line there were three college girls in front of us and all of a sudden two of them turned and said to the third girl, we’re not going to stand in line, we’re going to go climb the stairs, we’ll see you later.  I looked at the girl standing there and said they’re just going to leave you?  She said it’s OK, I’ll meet up with them later.  Well, we made a new friend – a delightful young girl named Alex from Syracuse, NY studying in Florence, Italy and was in Paris to visit for the weekend.  We ended up sticking together and taking each other’s pictures.  She was such a joy.  Unfortunately, we didn’t get any contact information for her but we did give her Dave’s business card so maybe someday we’ll hear from her.  Going up the first lift which takes you about a third of the way up, you realize just how high the Tower really is and you say I’m not sure I really want to do this.  Then you get off that lift and head to a second one – do I really want to go up higher? – I’m here, yep, here we go.  It was bizarre how high up it is and the view from the top.  Unfortunately since it was a cloudy day it was pretty foggy at the top and we couldn’t see a distant view but just the immediate city view was incredible.  Of course, when we got to the bottom I had to buy some of the dorky Eiffel Tower key chains – Five for one Euro – why not!  After the Eiffel Tower adventure we jumped in a cab and headed back to the hotel to drop a few things off then headed back out to go over to the D’Orsay museum.  We were running out of time but decided to take a quick breather when we got there and went into their café for a quick bite to eat.  Even in the museum we had an absolutely delicious “snack.”  Dave got an unbelievable cheese plate with greens and I got a French version of Caprese salad with fresh mozzarella, arugula and Parma ham.  Dave also got a hot chocolate (he saw the lady next to us having one) and said it was like drinking melted chocolate – delish!  When we got done snacking we headed into the museum – again so many masterpieces – Renoir, Degas, Millet, Manet, Monet, Cezanne, the list goes on and on.  I definitely want to go back to spend more time there.  Before heading back to our hotel room we stopped and had a small coffee and dessert in a typical, very crowded, small café.

Monday morning we got up and enjoyed the great breakfast again in the hotel and headed to the train station.  Before leaving on the train we met up with a dear French friend, Olivier.  We met in a little coffee café across from the train station and enjoyed about an hour catching up on what’s going on in his life.  He invited us to visit him and his wife in Chamonix located in the northwestern French Alps just 15 km from Switzerland.  We’re hoping we can make that happen before we head back to the states.

I will say that Paris is one of those places that should be in your bucket list.

Hugs to all.

A Week Without Dave

Last weekend began my adventure to be by myself – without my husband in this land they call Amsterdam.  I have realized that my “free spirit” has not yet “freed” itself!  I have decided I am not a very independent woman which kind of surprises me.  However, I ventured out on my own quite a few times this past week and I am learning how to work situations out for myself.  It has only taken 57 years!

I had heard about a market that is only open on Saturdays that has organic produce, meats, breads, cheese, you name it along with flea market booths.  So on Saturday I got on the internet and figured out which trams to take to get there.  It was in an area I had not been in before and was not familiar with.  So that afternoon I ventured out on the trams.  While on the tram to get there the driver made a long announcement – in Dutch, of course – and I heard the name of my stop but figured I should be fine so I really didn’t give it a second thought.  So I got to my stop, got off the tram, looked at my map and figured out which direction to begin walking to find the market.  It was a really nice market – much nicer than the other large one I had already been to.  While walking around these markets you always have to keep in mind that you have to carry whatever you purchase back with you to the tram stop and home.  So I only bought a small piece of goat cheese and a wool hat.  I also met up with one of the woman I have met and she had a friend with her from Greece.  We enjoyed walking around looking at all the fun stuff and then I left them and walked back to where I had gotten off the tram.  Oh, no – the construction that I really didn’t pay attention to – there were no tracks for the tram going back the direction I needed to go and it was quickly turning dusk.  So after a few minutes of panic I said to myself just start walking the direction you came from and there has to be another tram stop with the tram headed your direction.  I found it and got home safely.

I have a weakness for these markets and I had also heard about another market that only happened on the First Sunday of each month.  This market was more handmade and unusual items.  So, again on Sunday I figured out the tram schedule and headed out.  I loved this one and plan on going to it again next month.  I purchased a few Christmas gifts and had a homemade sausage sandwich on my way out.  I didn’t encounter any problems on this day except that it was extremely cold and I really didn’t wear quite enough clothes.  I have learned to carry umbrella, gloves, hat and scarf in your bag just in case!

Let’s see then this week I have gone to two coffee get-togethers, to lunch with a couple women and today was an all day trip to a little town named Nijkerk where there is a Polish Pottery Outlet.  There were about 15 women from the American Women’s Club and we all piled in cars and headed out early this morning.  For any woman that likes to shop, get great deals and loves pottery – Paradise!  Shall I say I have most of my Christmas shopping done!  After the shopping, we all headed into the town square and had lunch at a really nice café.  Today I had Maize Soup and half of a Brie, Apple, Walnut Sandwich.  Shall I say YUM!  I was in a car with 4 other women and we had a little trouble trying to figure out how to get out of the little town and finding the expressway (I was not driving!) but we figured it out and were safely home by 3:00.

I have received several emails from friends this week that I haven’t really talked to in a long time which causes me to excitedly open my email every morning to see who has emailed me while I have been sleeping.  I have to say I am a very blessed woman to have all of you out there praying for us, emailing us, calling us and just letting us know you’re there.  Thank you!

Dave heads home tomorrow and I am anxious to see him.  Next week will be a busy week for him as several people from San Diego will be coming over.

Hugs!

Grandkids Halloween!

Just had to share a few photos!  Sorry Joaquin's is a little blurry!

Sleeping Beauty doesn't look too happy - maybe she can't find her prince?

My sweet smelling little skunk!

Whoa, Mario!