About Me

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Antwerp, Belgium
Welcome to the new, and improved version of Heaven in Belgium. I am Jientje. "Jientje", like the boys name Gene, followed by "chu"? "Gene-chu", that's how you pronounce my name. Yes!!!!That's it!! So now you know huh? I am an addicted blogger. I was born and raised and am still living in Belgium. Yeah, the "this-is- Tuesday-so-this-must-be-Brussels" kind of Belgium .. There, you see? Maybe you couldn't find it on the map, but at least I'm trying to change that a little by sharing lots of pictures. I really love to cook and create new things, like this blog for instance. I am a mother,a grandmothe and a wife too! They say I'm a traveler, and a photographer. Well that's just what they say, I love to make pictures, but I am far from professional ... If my English is not perfect, that would be because it's my second language. I do hope you'll forgive me any possible misspellings or strange vocabulary ... Now, as a result of all of the above, I get way too little sleep and my days are always much too short!

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Heaven is in Belgium

Thursday, July 30, 2009

Friday’s Fave Five The Best Things in Life …

 

friday fave five 12

 

It’s Friday, the last Friday of the month of July already! Time flies, and some of those good moments in our lives are sometimes so easily forgotten, because … We don’t dwell on them like we tend to do with the bad things that happen in this world. Or to us. Since I started documenting my daily life with pictures  - and blog about it - I began to realize how beautiful my life is. And most of the time, it’s the “ordinary” stuff that makes my day. And on Friday, we share the things that made us smile through this meme. I’m sure Susanne won’t mind me including the following message.

After all, isn’t that what this Fave Five is all about?

Positive-Day-246x300
Today, 31 of July 2009 is Positive Day in this blogosphere. It’s the wish of a twelve year old girl, who wants us to think and blog in an uplifting way.

“ Then on July 31, share the things in your life that are positive. Count your blessings. Tell us why you are thankful.
CHOOSE to "accentuate the positive, eliminate the negative."

I agree.
If we all did that just a little bit more than we do now, the world would be a better place. If we all chose to remember the positive, if we could smile instead of being grumpy, if we could sing and splash around in the rain, like they do in the movies…

People might say we’re crazy, but hey? Who cares?

It might be catchy? 
So what if it is?
Let’s spread this epidemic!
Write a nice post, follow the link,  get over there and tell her you’re in!

1. Last Sunday was a beautiful day, so we took our camera’s and visited Bokrijk Museum Park again. We have a season ticket so why not use it? I always enjoy going there, the park shows life as it was a hundred years ago. Old houses, farm animals, wildflowers, bees and butterflies, actors … Hundreds of photo opportunities. And I had a blast! 
No less than a thousand and eight pictures in one day! WOOT! 


2. I finally found made time to work on my lace project again. I challenged myself to pick this old skill up again after at least twelve years of non practice when I promised to create something for my friends in a Pay it Forward give away. It took some time and a lot of study to get the hang of it again. I think I have good reason to be proud of myself because I found out I can still do it! But when Spring came I got busy doing other stuff and it was put aside again. But that does not mean I intend to break my promise. To those of you who signed up for this, I’m working on it, and it’s coming along just fine. Stay tuned. Oh and click the pink links to see what I’m talking about.



3. Like I said, Spring and Summer came along and other “stuff” keeps me busy sometimes. My potted garden on the patio is one of the things I enjoy so much.
To spend some time outside taking care of my plants is one of the joys of Summer.
The Sweet Peas my father gave me years ago always make me smile. He gave me two little sprigs, and now they’re everywhere! The Pansies and the Primula’s  are even blooming for the second time. The garden hose sprinkler system my husband installed seems to give them a real boost. That purple clematis is one I got from a friend when I spent some days in a hospital. It has not bloomed in years, I even thought it was dead, and there she is, in all her glory! Oh and last but not least, look at that gorgeous blue sky we had here. Beautiful eh?


4. When we were in France my husband bought me this cute garden decoration with the swallows. I put it between the plants until I got inspired by Wanda’s bird feeders last week, and I tied a string of nuts and birdseeds to it, and filled the other bird feeder with peanuts again. It did not take long before the sparrows and the tits came back to feast on their treats. I could watch them for hours, and my camera is never far …


5. THIS recipe I found at Kim’s blog, my dear blogger friend in Tasmania. It’s an Osso Bucco recipe from Kim’s Mom’s Italian recipe book. Kim has recently lost her dear Mom, and when I saw the recipe, I thought it would be a nice way to commemorate her. After all, what better way is there to remember a mother by but her very own recipes of the glorious food she made? I went straight to the supermarket to get the necessary ingredients and made it so we could eat it the next day. It was delicious.
The weather was nice, so we could eat outside, and that’s when I photographed that beautiful blue sky in the third collage. I think I might make this my new header for a while.


As you can tell, another glorious week. Life is good.

Find more Fave Five posts at Susanne’s Living to Tell the Story
and/or join Positive Day by adding your link here.

 

Quote of the Day:
Happiness is a perfume you cannot pour on others without getting a few drops on yourself.
--Anonymous

30 comments:

Anonymous said...

WOOT my Belgian Bombshell. This is just an awesome post. Tits? Those are birds? I've only known them to be one thing LOL I'm glad your doing your lace again after going through your archieves and learning a little bit about it. The pictures of your flowers and garden are just spectacular. Okay I have one thing you have to promise to do when you come and visit...cook a meal...just one..I'll even do dishes. Or maybe I'll make Quilly do 'em LOL. What a fun filled Positive post. Have a Happy Positive Day 2009. Aloha my friend

Gattina said...

Mine is up !! I participate for the first time in the Favourites Five, and it's your fault !!
I agree fully with you it's nice to be crazy, but somme "piss vinaigres" (vinagar pissers) would lock us in a mad house !
Your pictures are as usual beautiful and Borkrijk looks very interesting. I don't talk about your lacemaking stuff, I get already dizzy when I see all this equipment ! Bon courage !!
I'll leave now photo hunting !

Wanda..... said...

I had a feast here today...taking in all of your beautiful photos...your lace making reminded me of my grandmother's tacting skills...something of the same nature, but much simpler. You have inspired me to look for a similar garden decoration and try to create the same scene...for my birds here.
You have a beautiful life Jientje!

Loree said...

What a wonderful post. I think that the best things in life are free. Don't you think?

Libby's Library said...

Belgium Bombshell - I love it!
Just posted my Positive Post and joined via Mr. Linky!

Libby's Library said...

PS - can I please come with you to Thom's?

Nessa said...

I am positive your photos are always amazing. I can't wait to see your lace. Handmade lace is positively beautiful.

Please visit The Chrysalis Stage and Esoteric Uncovered.

Susanne said...

A thousand and eight pics in one day?! You are a picture taking superwoman! That is awesome. I love visiting places that show the past and how people lived. Puts my life today in real perspective.

Love the bird pictures, as you knew I would! I could watch those sweet little things all day too. Unfortunately no bird feeders in our yard due to our kitty.

(I've gone ahead and linked you because my brain was still on vacation and I forgot to auto post.)

j said...

Your photography is STUNNING. There are so many things around us to feel positive about. Thanks for sharing the things in your world.

Jientje, thanks for all you did to make Positive Day happen. Your support and participation means so much to me.

MrsLittleJeans said...

Amazed at your lace-making skills, love the birds, the food looks rich and inviting, and the post....uplifting!

Happy Friday!

Dianne said...

your photos are such positive rays of beauty!!
and I love the quote

Jientje said...

@ Thom: Well, you obviously do not know very much about ...Tits! There are Great Tits, and Blue Tits, and all kinds of other ... Tits! ROFLMAO!!
And okay okay, I'll cook!! Maybe, and possibly even more than just once! I don't mind, on the contrary! And then we'll all do the dishes together, okay?
@ Gattina: My fault? Ha! Susanne's fault more likely? And um ..happy hunting!
@ Wanda: tacting? I have never heard of that, you must show me what it is someday? And it looks like we keep inspiring one another? That's just wonderful!
@ Loree: That's what I meant to say too.
@ Libby: Thanks for joining positive day! And on the second question, ask Thom!
@ Nessa: Looking forward to new posts on your new blog. The topics interest me a great deal.
@ Susanne: Yup. Well, it is my personal record I should say, and they're not all good, mind you! Thanks for linking me in, and thanks for joining Positive Day!
@ jennifer: You are more than welcome my dear. I hope this Blog Positive day will be a blast!
@ MrsLittleJeans: Happy Friday to you too!

Brenda said...

I really like the way those pictures look with the spiral at the top. I am always amazed at how many pictures you take!

I love Osso Bucco, how nice of you to do that for your friend.

Robynn's Ravings said...

What a feast for the eyes, heart, and soul! And thanks, Jientje, for promoting Positive Day!!!

Unknown said...

Lovely stuff - from a lovely lady. You are SO good.

Ronnica said...

Your lace project sounds interesting. I'd be interested to see what it looks like when it's finished!

quilly said...

Your blog is positive, upbeat and beautiful almost everyday of the year! Your pictures bring your life right out of the screen and into my dining room (that's where my computer is). You fill the place with beauty and joy and incredible food -- which I wish I could eat! Your heart shines through and glows like spring sunshine.

Bill ~ {The Old Fart} said...

Happy Positive Day Jientje, I love your blog and coming to visit. It is like an Oasis in the Desert and one always leaves with a refreshed soul.

We have a park here in Calgary called Heritage Park similar to what your Bokrijk Museum Park. There is even a Steam Train that circles the Park and you can ride as long as you want. There is an old fashioned Ferris Wheel, and the Swing Ride. A Sternwheel cruises the Glenmore Resivoir. A wonderful place to spend the day.

Thank you for such a nice post today.

Unknown said...

Hi Jietje! I don't know if anyone else sent you the words to the song you were looking for. I had my nephew translate them for me since I have lost my Dutch language skill! You loose it when you don't use it. Here are the words to:

Auntie Linda... As far as I know, this is correct. It's a pretty cool song. Here you go. Enjoy

In de Walszaal - Frank Vander

In the ballroom, I saw you stand, and the walls understood with me, that the ballroom old as she was, never more the same could be.

In the ballroom, we whispered even as loud music played. There was so much to say and nothing to explain. I didn’t see anyone other than us.

In the ballroom we spun slowly, till it wasn’t spinning anymore. We are constantly slower by nature and shorter of breath today.

In the ballroom I met you and I can lose you for good. Ach, the wind from the North and superfluous words make the dancers often tired.

In the ballroom I ask you now, give it a chance one more time, for the ballroom was once ours. We did more than dance. We did more than dance.
your friend in Southern Utah USA

Tink *~*~* said...

what a sweet looking lamby in that first pic - looks so friendly!

Tink *~*~*

Anonymous said...

Fabulous five! That sky catches the eyes from the first glimps! Love the little piglets around its mom! Adorable! So many birds! They never pose to me - I better give them some peanuts if I want a smile from them!Onion, carrots and celery, garlic, tomatoes, red meat - nothing can go wrong with that ingredients /if it does - add more garlic and prepare some heartburn medicine :)/. It is great that you decided to give this recepie a try!

Alida said...

Jientje, your pictures are just beautiful! I love visitng your blog. May your life always be filled with wonderful blessings and thanks to your camera and talent, we get to share it!

Kim (frogpondsrock) said...

Oh Jientje, all the work that goes into your lace just makes me gasp with amazement. There must be a zillion pins there. WOW!!!

I am cooking Osso Buco today as well. Thankyou for making it and commemorating my Mother. Thankyou very much. I will share more of Mum's favourite recipes, her signature dish was a divine lemon cheesecake that was as light as a feather. mmm.

((hugs)) to you.

Travis Cody said...

I'm here from Jen's linky.

I like your attitude! Let them think we're crazy!

Happy Positive Day!

Momisodes said...

I am always so impressed with your lace projects, and your cooking! Thank you for this positive lift today :)

Bientje said...

Your new header is just lovely!
Beautiful post by the way... as always!
Big hug,
Your little sister

Willow said...

You've had quite a week! I'm amazed with the birds at the feeder! Your photos of everything always make me smile. I'm looking forward to seeing your progress on the lace.

kayerj said...

I had a nice trip today as well, It was strolling through your pictures :) and I loved your quote of the day!

Anonymous said...

Sounds like a deal to me :) Tits...pffft

Kristin - The Goat said...

How awesome that you took over a thousand photos! Goodness!! Thanks for participating in Positive Day. It was fun, wasn't it?!!

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