Sorry, it’s been so long…

Dave says everyone is asking where my next blog is…here you go!

Where did I leave off?  It’s been a while.  Dave and I flew to Great Britain last Friday to attend a guitar show in Leichester.  I have been to trade shows with Dave but this was much smaller, more intimate and just guitars and guitar stuff.  Dave laughed at me because I was so amazed at how someone (mostly men) can come into a show like that and spend the whole day!  I guess it’s kind of like women going clothes shopping!  Anyway, I saw men come in and go to each display of different brands of guitars and sit and play one or more guitars at each display.  They would look at it and admire it and then sit and play a couple songs then move onto the next guitar and then the next display.  There were also some couples and the wives were just as enamored by the show as their husbands!  To add to my amazement, some of the people including some of the couples came back on Sunday to spend the day again to do it all over again!  On Saturday afternoon a couple came by and discussed Taylor guitars with Dave and then invited us out to dinner.  So we had a delicious Italian dinner with the couple that evening.  We were joined by a delightful young man, Karl, who was also there helping with the show.  We were not in Great Britain long enough for me to really see the countryside but we met several lovely people that asked us to come back and spend time visiting them and enjoying the English life. 

Monday, we flew home and spent the beginning of this week getting some paperwork done and, of course, cleaning the apartment.  Tuesday, we walked to “De Poezenboot” – The Cat Boat, a local cat rescue that is on one of the canal boats.  Dave really would like to have a cat while we’re here since we had to leave Tank and Soleil at home.  He has wanted a cat for years but living where we do in California, it’s just not wise with all the coyotes running around.  So here is the perfect place to have a kitty!  There was one cat that we really liked named “Silly J” and we were almost ready to adopt her but wanted to think about it for a day.  Silly J is currently fostering a kitten and we really didn’t want to separate them except that they had a home for the kitten but not her.  Dave was torn and decided we should really wait until he gets back from the states.  So when I called to let them know we were going to wait a bit, lo and behold, they were sad for us but happy for Silly J because the family that was taking the kitten decided that they would take Silly J if we decided not to take her.  So it worked out for the best.  There will be another “Silly J” waiting for us at a later date!

On Wednesday night Dave invited a friend, that he met years ago while visiting here, and his girlfriend to dinner.  So Wednesday, I was busy shopping for ingredients and cooked most of the day.  We have a very small grocery market close by that did not have everything I needed so I set out walking and shopping at different small shops until I found all of the ingredients.  Dinner was homemade lasagna, Caesar salad (with homemade dressing), garlic bread and apple crisp.  Everyone had seconds so I guess, if I can say so myself, it was very tasty.  We had a very enjoyable evening visiting and getting to know each other better.  Of course, Dave had to tell some of his dorky stories (that I’ve heard a “million” times) but they were enjoyed by all.  It was fun to light the candles and entertain guests.  When are you coming so I can do the same for you?

Yesterday was my birthday and I thank all of you that sent me birthday wishes.  I really feel blessed to have so many wonderful friends and I do miss all of you!  I spent the day going to my first American Women’s Club meeting.  It was in a beautiful old building close to the center of Amsterdam.  I didn’t take my camera but wish I had so I am sorry no pictures to post.  The speaker for the meeting was a henna artist originally from Israel but now lives in Amsterdam.  She was very interesting and does workshops on henna explaining its history and many uses, and then she teaches you the art of painting with henna.  I picked up her literature because I think I would be interested it checking out.  After the meeting, about twelve women went to lunch.  We ate in a very popular cafeteria style café.  This is not your typical American cafeteria.  It was all freshly made, nutritious foods – there were no fried, fast foods here.  The variety was vast – Salad Station, Stir Fry Station, Hot Food Station, Soup Station, Dessert Station, Fruit and Smoothie Station and, of course, Wine and a Coffee Station.  I think there were more stations but being my first time I was a little overwhelmed so I decided on a salad with some soup.  The salad station had fresh roasted vegetables, fresh veggies, olives…and the soup I had was a wild mushroom cream…let me just say it was delicious!

After coming home, I had a few hours to just read and “veg” while Dave had a conference call to the states.  Then again, I was eating – Dave and I walked down to the small café at the corner and had a very intimate, cozy dinner, just the two of us.  It was so enjoyable and it will probably be one of our favorite small places to go that is close to the apartment.

This morning Dave was up very early getting things together to head to the states for a week.  I got up and gave him good-bye kisses and watched out the window as he got on the tram to head to the airport.  It’s a cold, dreary, drizzly day and I will probably enjoy hanging out here today.  Do some wash, pick up a little and have a cup of tea while reading my book.  Tonight a couple of the ladies said they would like to go out for a drink to celebrate my birthday – I’ll let you know!

Love and hugs to everyone.