zaterdag 17 mei 2025

Golden Roof

The thatched roof was in a bad state and beyond repair.

Although we do like a worn look, something had to be done.

Years of moss growth and reed plundering by birds has had an effect

and the danger of leakage was lurking.

It's hard to believe a thatched roof is fully waterproof without some kind of underlayment.


We like thatched roofs, a traditional build of the area we live in.

In the early days a roof covering with hay, branches and heather sods.

Then much cheaper than roof tiles. Nowadays it's the other way around.


First of all ..... demolition of the old roof.



And then, finally, the craftwork could start...



The traditional craftmanship is outstanding!


Some sheeting at the end of the day... just in case...


A reed delivery in the evening.... it seems like a lot...




What a beautiful sight! I could have watched this all day....

It's obvious I didn't. You don't want to 'breathe down someones neck'.


I like the crest of reed stems...

It reminds me of traditional Flemish, Japanese or Scandinavian roof tops.
Check out artists like: Dirk Baksteen and Tanaka Ryohei

But let's not get distracted ☺︎



The work is done and we're good for 30 years to come... hopefully. 


If only you could see and smell it!

We have a brand new 'golden' roof and the smell inside is delicious.


Now the roof is watertight, we could use some rain.

It hasn't been raining for quite some time now...

zaterdag 10 mei 2025

Walk


Walking is relaxing and healing.

Sometimes we forget we need nature.... we are nature.


(photo credits to DS)


Usually I walk alone, sometimes with a nature association and guide...

(photo credits to DS)

The community feeling it brings, adds another layer.
It strengthens my feeling of hope.
We're not alone, many of us love nature.

More and more people are joining for walks!


Some 'theme' music tips for the weekend:
I'm Gonna Be (500 miles) - The Proclaimers
Walk on the Wild Side - Lou Reed
Walk - Foo Fighters

zondag 4 mei 2025

Masters of the Sky


For me the best time of year has arrived... 

The common swifts are returning.

Their arrival brings summer to me. 

Little lifts me as much as this mysterious bird ♥︎

My heart jumps when I hear their sound.

Their speed is phenomanal.



It reminds me of a poem by Robert Frost:


The Master Speed

No speed of wind or water rushing by

But you have speed far greater.

You can climb back up a stream of radiance to the sky,

and back through history the stream of time.

And you were given this swiftness, not for haste

nor chiefly that you may go where you will,

but in the rush of everything to waste,

that you may have the power of standing still--

off any still or moving thing you say.

Two such as you with such a master speed

From one another once you agreed

that life is only life forevermore

together wing to wing and oar to oar.


dinsdag 9 april 2024

Sward of Damocles


 I'm so sorry for my long absence.
We experienced the sward of Damocles above our heads.

'Apartmentization' has been threatening our peace and quiet.
The past year I focused on objection and appeal,
thinking about arguments and relevant objections,
it was absorbing a lot of time and energy.

We expect there will be another building application soon...
but we did win the first battle.
So far so good ★

maandag 1 april 2024

Vincent's Shoes




According to my dad my aunt painted 'Vincent's Shoes' for me ☺︎

Already the shoes seemed a bit too modern to me
when my aunt mentioned her inspiration came from minister Hugo de Jonge's shoes.
At that time he was ordained as minster of health, on the king's staircase platform.
She said his shoes were made by multiplied disabled people.
Due to the press he wore handmade Portugese shoes.

But What's in a Name?
Besides isn't that what art is all about?
Multiple interpretation possible, it's all in the eye of the beholder.

I just enjoy the 'skon skoen' ☺︎
(title credits: kenderman)

zondag 26 november 2023

PAN Amsterdam November 2023



 
We visited PAN (Picture Antiquairs Nationale) Amsterdam 








My friend, art lover and 'partner in crime' X


















I hope to be back in 2024 for our annual visit to PAN Amsterdam

zondag 19 november 2023

Recovery Time

 

We love to comb the beach for treasures: fossils, shells, ray or shark eggs.

 Three weeks ago the weather forecast predicted 100% rain

but it turned out to be ideal circumstances for beach combing.

Strong but not too strong wind and (almost) no rain.

Due to strong winds the previous days a lot of junk washed up on the shore.

Rope, nets, shoes, wood and an awful lot of plastic.

 

 Suddenly something caught my eye....

At first sight it looked like a piece of rubber, care tyre or a piece of wood... 




but it appeared to be an upper jaw and part of a skull of some kind.....




So exciting! Fossil find? Doggerland? A great find, we were chuffed!
A couple of days later an expert said it's recent and from a cow.
We still have our doubts so we'll go for a second opinion ☺︎



The next morning... 




a beautiful sunrise... and the beach almost to myself... 


In the afternoon lots of activity at 'La baie de la slack' near Ambleteuse.

maandag 16 oktober 2023

Get into the 'Groeve'


"Get into the Groeve" is what de kenderman said to me ☺︎

The Dutch word 'Groeve' almost sounds like groove but means 'quarry'.
Yesterday we visited the 'Groeve van Romont' in Eben-Emael.


As beginners we got a guided tour for a start
but we managed to find some broken sea urchins.



Cleaving a big chunk of marl can give you a beautiful imprint 



The original shell in the bucket of an expert, not ours.




Our 'guide' helping us to saw a small piece from a big chunk to take home...



Blue skies alternated with dark skies and some rain...


The kenders in action...





What a beautiful day, meeting geologists, amateurs and citizen scientists...




We brought some fragile and damaged fossil sea urchins home.
Ideal for practicing cleaning skills...