kenderfrau

donderdag 22 mei 2025

Plant Nursery Time

We visited nursery Bastin with my parents-in-law, more than 25 years ago.

Later we visited regularly, once or twice a year.

Due to covid it stopped and now, after 5 years, we returned.

Oh oh, three trays filled already...

While the kenderman was searching for plants, I had a stroll around the nursery...

and was almost immediately accompanied by a new friend...

(it's two strangers on the photo above, not us)

My adorable new friend...

... waiting for me while I was taking photo's ♥︎

Only after our 'fruitful' visit we read:

"... wij hebben alles al" we don't need anything more, we have it all

We should have seen this text earlier! (smile)

Introspection

Haha, a challenge to do some self-reflection! I tell myself (big smile)

- Verbeter de wereld, begin bij jezelf -

An old Dutch saying, something like:

Improve the world, start with yourself / Changing the world starts with you

- All ehr ghy een ander wilt schandael up welven,

Keert den spiegel eens umb, end besiet u selven -

by graphic artist Nicolaas Braeu 1608-1666

link: Rijksmuseum collectie

- Be the change you want to see in the world -

Arleen Lorrance in 1974

- All the tendencies present in the outer world are found in the world of our body.

If we could change ourselves, the tendencies in the world would also change.

As a man changes his own nature, so does the attitude of the world change towards him -

Mahatma Ghandi / Mohandas Kramchand Ghandi in 1913

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

Earlier post: Dirk Baksteen exhibition

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.

woensdag 27 november 2024

PAN 2024 - Kenderfrau Picks

We visited PAN Amsterdam again.

Traditionally I start with Frides Lameris' antiques tiles.

Next is the 'wonderkamer', 'wunderkammer' with a collection of curiosities

a wall mounted console made from a 'tonderzwam' (tree fungus)

And my favourite object: an extremely rare Kiribati warrior's armour.

Central Pacific Ocean, Micronesia, Kiribati (Gilbert Islands)

Dating from the 19th century or earlier.

Provenance: Collection Jean Roudillon (1924-2020),

a Frech expert in the tribal arts from Africa, Oceania and the Americas

made from materials like porcupinefish skin, shark teeth and coconut fibers

..... the craftmanship and quality is excellent

This object should go to a museum collection, not to a private collection.

One of the senior students at Rongorongo training college, Beru, wearing Kiribati armor, before 1925

(Photo: George Hubert Eastman, © Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology, University of Cambridge)

Historically, the I-Kiribati (the people of the Republic of Kiribati) produced extraordinary objects such as suits of armor made from coconut fiber. The armor provided protection from the dangerous shark’s-teeth-edged swords, spears, and daggers carried by island warriors. Each suit is made up of a set of overalls and sleeves made from coconut fiber, with a coconut fiber cuirass (arbor that covers the front and back of the torso) worn over the top. The distinctive cuirasses have high backboards to protect from attack from behind, and were often worn with thick belts made from woven coconut fiber or dried ray skin to protect the vital organs. The cuirasses are usually decorated, either with human hair, feathers or shells.

Warriors sometimes wore hand armour also made from coconut fiber, inlaid with shark's teeth along the knuckles. The warriors would also wear fearsome-looking helmets made of porcupine fish skin, which dried hard in the sun and provided another layer of protection for the head.

These helmets would usually have been worn over an coconut fiber or woven

pandanus (palm-like plant with ling frond-like leaves used for weaving) leaf cap.

It is not known where and when this type of armor was developed in the island, but is has come to stand as uniquely Kiribati, with its influence also spreading to the nearby islands of Nauru and Tuvalu.

(check out the information source: khanacademy for more examples)