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

Friday, October 8, 2010

Friday’s Fave Five, Friends and Family

 

 FFF fall leaves 2

I missed a couple of Fave Five’s because I was so busy. Friday’s Fave Five is the meme which makes us look back and share some of the highlights of the week that has passed. These past weeks have been hectic and I haven’t been around my computer very much!  So for this Fave Five I’m also including the highlight of the previous week, as pictured in the first collage below.

 

Marisol

Two weeks ago today my daughter, her Spanish friend Marisol and her two girls came over for a visit. We had a lovely evening together over some good food and a glass of wine. My daughter had to translate the conversation because Marisol and her girls only speak Spanish, but that did not bother any of us.  

fave five october 8

1. My husband was on a business trip abroad until Thursday. I hate being alone, so I stayed at my parent’s house for the weekend. I slept in my old room again and was spoiled rotten by my parents! The weekend was much too short!

the making of head cheeese

2. My father taught me how to make pig’s head cheese the old fashioned way.
Many years ago when my grandparents still slaughtered a pig each year, my father used to prepare head cheese, sausages and pâtés. I haven’t had it since then and I’m glad I now know how to make it.

3. I used public transport a lot this week. The bus trip to Sluis I made with my parents, (where we had apple pie!) travelling back home again from Bruges on Monday and using bus transport to meet up with my friend Nana on Tuesday.

4. Friendship.  My friend Nana is such a good friend, I love her to pieces. We had breakfast and lunch together and just hung and enjoyed each other’s company. Another day that went by too fast!

5. The gift my husband gave me when he arrived home from his business trip. Among other things he got me a lovely handbag in my favorite color, purple! Woohoo! 

20 comments:

Wanda..... said...

I enjoyed the photos, of your father and you cooking together, the most. He looks like a chef...of course you always do, Jientje!

Unknown said...

5 very wonderful things, to be sure. And wonderful memories in all of these photos.

Colleen said...

Wonderful pictures! That apple pie looks amazing. The pictures of making the head cheese are great, especially the whole head in the pot!

Nana said...

I love you to pieces too. ;-)

Gattina said...

Time is going by so fast ! I was wondering what head cheese was but now I know I used to eat it quiet a lot at my grandparents in Germany.
Apparently you had two nice weeks.
Today I enjoy the nice weather !

Carrie said...

I hate being alone as well! Glad you had such a great time with your parents.

And friendships like that are definitely worth a mention!

Hope you have a relaxing and fun weekend!

Lisa notes... said...

How fun to sleep in your old room again and be spoiled by your parents. Enjoy those times! Pig’s head cheese? Um, I’ll pass. Ha. Glad your husband made it home safely and that you got a gift!

Islandsparrow said...

That was so nice that you could spend time with your parents. And great that the family cooking tradition is handed down. My husband's grandfather taught my husband how to make a Scottish dish - merricks - they're a type of sausage made with suet and oatmeal.

I'm sure you're happy to have your hubby home now - especially when he brings such a nice gift :)

Happy weekend!

TXDidi said...

Wow, head cheese. That might be enough to make me a vegetarian. But I tip my hat to anyone who can make cheese. I do love my cheddars. Sounds like you had a great week. It's wonderful to be pampered by our parents at any age, isn't it?

Brenda said...

You pictures are all wonderful but I would love to see one of your purple handbag! I just got a boring black one, but a purple one would be fun :)

Cindy said...

Food photos are yummy. It must have been a nice visit with listening to her translate.

Head cheese brings back memories of when I lived up stairs in an upper duplex and the man downstairs made head cheese. The smell

Maybe we will get a chance to see your purple handbag

Susanne said...

A purple handbag! Your hubby sure knows how to pick great gifts for you!

Your pictures are a great peek into your week.

ellen b said...

Ahh Jientje I love how you live life. It's wonderful to keep your family and their friends close like this and enjoy food and celebrations together!

Jerralea said...

You have to love a man that knows to buy you a purple purse!

I enjoyed your collages as usual. I enjoy seeing how you display food. You are an artist!

A Lady's Life said...

I love head cheese. We used to make it with pigs feet.
We ate it with vinegar or mustard and bread soo good.
But I am the only one eating it in my family so I don;t make it. Funny my son likes the sliced one from the store because of the jelly lol Maybe if I made it that way he'd eat it lol I usually put it in a bowl.

Willow said...

Wow, you have had a really busy two weeks! How lovely for you to spend those days with your parents. Isn't having a good friend just the BEST thing? Except of course for purple purses :) Where's the photo??

Becky said...

No thanks on the head cheese! I would so love to go to my old home and sleep in my room. My parents have passed ona dn a few months ago the city tore down the old home. It was a beautiful place years earlier. I miss those days. Love your photos as always, you live in such a beautiful country. Are you on Facebook?

Anonymous said...

What a fun and busy week you've had.

Unknown said...

Oh it all looks and sounds like you had such a wonderful time! Is your father also a "chef" like you! Looks like he loves to create just like you too! What a blessed family! hugs and smiles across the miles.

Eve said...

I have an old cookbook with directions for making head cheese. I never felt the need to do it. LOL I did, however, once make liverwurst.

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