While in Europe, I informally interviewed some relatives about differences between American and French (and Belgian) women. The conversation was intriguing, and we ended up generating clothing styles and eating habits that I can share with you here. By incorporating these simple, practical ideas into our lives, we may end up feeling just a little more … [Read more...]
A Belated "Au Revoir, Europe!"
I wrote this not long after we got home from our trip, but we got so busy with laundry and birthdays that I forgot to click "Publish." I've been back for a while, but I'll post it anyway. For fun:Several months ago, as we were buying our tickets for the trip, we hesitated purchasing the flight that went to and from Luxembourg, even though it was cheapest. But our in-laws … [Read more...]
The Ten Boom Museum – Betsie and Corrie ten Boom
Scroll down about halfway, if you'd prefer to eschew the long, somewhat tedious, personal introduction. [Updated: Visit the ten boom Museum website for a fantastic 360-degree, narrated tour—you'll feel like you are right there (be sure to enter the hiding place itself, in Corrie's bedroom)] The trip that we just took to Europe was all about family. As you know, the … [Read more...]
A Taste of Holland
You may recall a pre-trip post in which I listed some of the grocery items that family members ask us to bring over from the States.I would like to add a couple of items to that list. During our 4th of July dinner consisting of hotdogs, chips and potato salad, several relatives residing in Belgium cited the following as tastes they love that are impossible to find in … [Read more...]
Crabbing in the North Sea
Our last full day in Holland began first with some crabbing, or crab-catching, by the docks. The children were captivated by this as they waited for the adults to slowly roll out of bed and gather for those Sunday family devotions I described in the last post. This crab-fishing activity evolved over the course of several days. First the kids observed others with nets and … [Read more...]
Let the Little Children Sit by the Water's Edge and Come to Him
Last Saturday, as we anticipated our last day all together in Holland—and given our little family's impending departure, our extended family's last day all together for a very long time—we considered where we might gather the next morning for family devotions. We could have simply cleaned up from breakfast and gathered around the table in one of the rented cottages. Then … [Read more...]
Travel Tips
I'm home. Finally.Two loads of laundry out of the way. Most bags unpacked. Travel successes and failures still fresh in my mind.Here's are several things that worked for me on this vacation:Nylon sports bag.I threw this in my suitcase at the last minute, not knowing how much I'd use it.It became the ideal daypack, very flexible. For example, it stays inconspicuous as it … [Read more...]
Postcards from Holland
Windmills everywhere (stop)This one in Haarlem (stop)Visited ten Boom museum (stop)Lots to tell (stop)See you soon (stop) … [Read more...]
We Continue the Rural Belgium Theme at the Gite and Add Some Family
Here's the view heading from the woods back to the gite.Here is some of our group walking to the woods. Can you see how very tall those trees are? Belgium has been good about preserving green space:Because LLBarkat has inspired me to consider shoes when capturing photos that might be candidates for the blog, I decided to line up American shoes toe-to-toe with European … [Read more...]
Basically a Slide Show with Limited Commentary
When you last heard from this blogger, we were in Charleroi, Belgium, or wandering briefly through France en route to Dinant where we saw the gory citadel scenes set up to depict historical accuracy. We were avoiding swan-attacks and eating frites.Next we stopped by my in-laws' house briefly before heading to what's called a "gite." Gites are a housing concept that's kind … [Read more...]
Belgian Frites Deserve a Post of Their Own
I'm pretty embarrassed about my grammar in yesterday's post. I meandered in and out of present and past tense without even pausing to think about it. Maybe I was subconsciously trying to make the swan scene seem as if it were happening vividly in the present, to communicate the excitement. Anyway. On the menu for dinner last night?Frites. (Definitely visit the … [Read more...]
Castle Dreams…or Nightmares?
We're in southern Belgium at the moment, in a town called Charleroi. You can see it on this map. This morning we said, "How about we drive to Dinant? It's not far, and the castle there is pretty interesting."When we described it, the kids were interested in seeing a castle set high on a hill, so we packed a picnic lunch and set off.After driving for a while, we realized … [Read more...]
A Taste of Belgium
We awoke to a breakfast table including this (quick--cover your keyboard to avoid shorting it out from drool):A bowl full of chocolate croissants!I love this country.Also, we were offered some of this Belgian bread:We had some of both, of course, because you know what they say...when in Belgium, eat as the Belgians eat.Shortly after, we saw yet another pleasant … [Read more...]
Ichthus Smoke, Lye Bread, and Other Minor Travel Notes
To save some money, we purchased tickets that required several connections. Had the trip gone without a single glitch, our total traveling time would have been longer than ever before.Unfortunately, the trip had a glitch. So the trip was wayyyy longer than ever before.The glitch doesn't even include the 14 or so Eagle Scouts on the long, transatlantic flight who stayed up … [Read more...]
Where O Where Has This Blogger Been?
Hi, faithful readers!Perhaps you've been thinking, "Where's Ann? This isn't her usual pattern to let things sit for days on end. Why isn't she posting?"Or maybe you're summer-busy with swimming pools and sprinklers, and haven't really wondered or cared.Well, whether you care to know or not, I'll explain.I've been busy getting ready to go here.Every few years, a big event … [Read more...]