Weekend Reflections, Bruges

Boats on the canals, waiting for the tourists… It’s a common sight in Bruges.
Not a crystal clear reflection this time, but I kind of like that rippled effect.

More Weekend Reflections at James’ Newton Area Photo.

Thursdays is for doors …

No. In case you’re wondering, no, I did not go any further than this. I might have been trespassing when I walked into the little alleyway leading up to these doors but I used my camera as an excuse. I must have looked like a tourist with my Big Guy hanging around my neck and it suited me just fine. I was so ready to play that role if someone had objected to my presence there! A door opening into another door is one of my favorite subjects so I really could not resist taking a good shot at this!
This photo was taken two weeks ago, in Bruges.

Find more windows and doors from around the world at Mary’s Window Views.

Rubies from Bruges

 

 

I found lots of ruby photo opportunities in Bruges.

 
Along the canals …

medieval buildings …

quaint little houses …

or charming hotels …

Oh and always remember to look up!

Find more Ruby Tuesday posts at Mary’s Work of the Poet.

Weekly Winners, From Bruges with Love …

 

 

 

This week I made a two hour photo walk in Bruges, the city where I was born.

 

Follow me …

Over bridges

  
through tiny alleyways …

   

 

 

She was determined to build a nest right next to the fence!

 

 

Weekly Winners is hosted by Lotus, AKA Sarcastic Mom at I am Lotus.

Friday’s Fave Five, Family …

 

 

Another week has gone by, the month of March is almost over…
I can never believe how quickly time flies! Friday again, time to list some of the favorite things of this past week. 

1. New clothes. I went shopping for some new clothes last week and bought some new things in lovely Spring colors.
2. Little surprise gifts from my husband. When he comes home, holding his hands  behind his back with that little twinkle in his eye, I can be sure he has a little surprise gift for me. It happened three times (!!!) this week! This time he got me the butterfly and the dragon fly garden decorations and a peony tree for the patio.
I’m such a spoiled brat!
3. A two hour photo walk in Bruges,
4. and a visit with my parents. My parents and my family all live in Bruges and the distance between us can be hard. You just don’t pop over for coffee anytime you want to. But this week I could, and I was able to surprise them with my visit. We had a lovely afternoon together.
5. My patio has really burst into color this week. Some of the daffodils are blooming for the second time, I had no idea this was possible!

Friday’s Fave Five is hosted by Susanne at Living to Tell the Story.

Am I a Thief Now?

 

I first saw this at Thom’s. He stole it from I don’t know who, and then Melli nicked it too ( I think) and now it’s here … 
Would that make me a thief, do you think? 

 

1. Who was your FIRST date? That was Rik, I was only thirteen or fourteen, and he was eighteen. Oh boy was I in love with that guy! 
2. Do you still talk to your FIRST love? I would love to, if I ran into him, but I haven’t seen him in years.
3. What was your FIRST alcoholic drink? That was at my grandfather’s on New  Year’s day. It was a tiny glass of Elixir d’Anvers, that’s a yellow liqueur, with herbal extracts. I can still remember the burning feeling in my throat! He used to serve it with Jules Destroopere cookies (they’re still a classic in Belgium and I still LOVE  them)  

 

4. What was your FIRST job? I worked in a grocery store.
The shop was in this house, it’s a pharmacy now, and it’s painted white. 
 

5. What was your FIRST car? That was not until the early nineties, when I had a Renault R9.
6. Where did you go on your FIRST ride on an airplane? To Cork, Ireland.
7. Who was your FIRST best friend & do you still talk? Sadly, I don’t see any of the friends I had as a kid because I moved from Bruges to Antwerp. I could look them up in Facebook if I remembered their names, but sadly, this is all very blurry to me.  
8. Whose wedding did you attend the FIRST time? Blurry memory, but I think it must have been my eldest niece Christine.
9. Tell us about your FIRST roommate. I never had a roommate. I did if you count my younger sister. We shared the bed and the room for years!
10. If you had one wish, what would it be (other than more wishes)? Just one? To live happily ever after. This should cover it, right?
11. What is something you would learn if you had the chance? I’m going to take up photography classes. I want to learn how to do it. Yeah yeah, I hear you!  I’m serious about that though!

12. Did you marry the FIRST person you were in love with? Uuummm, no. I would have if they had let me though. I think.
13. What were the first lessons you ever took and why? Ballet classes. I always loved ( and still do) to dance.
14. What is the first thing you do when you get home?
Reach for my keys.

Oh and um …. rabbit rabbit …

Rubies from Bruges. Again!

Okay okay, I'm sorry. I'm LATE. I'm sorry.
But I was not quite sure what to post today.
First, let me tell you I'm guest blogging at Lilacspecs today. It's because of Korie I started blogging in English in the first place. I followed her link to her blog and ended up in Nablopomo two and a half years ago. As you probably all know, the rest is history!
So, if you want to know all about Belgium, the good the bad and the ugly, (and the truth about "French" fries)? My post is here. Go read it, and leave a comment there as well, okay?

I was browsing through my archives this morning when it suddenly hit me. Each week I take tons of pictures, some of them good, some of them not so good, you know?
You delete the worst ones, select some of the good ones to make a Weekly Winners post, then use a couple of rubies for a Ruby Tuesday, turn some of them into Sepia ... Some need a little bit of extra work like cropping and stuff, but you just don't seem to get around to it any more?

Quite a lot of them are doomed to oblivion.
And that's a real shame is it not?
So for today's post, I'm taking you with me to Bruges again, and I'll publish some of the pictures today that never cut it a couple of weeks ago.


Venice ... but not quite.
The difference is in the tiny details ... ;-)

The old bridges, and the canals.



Historical houses.

Swans. It would not be Bruges without them.

Places where time has stood still.




Oh and before any of you complain about the paucity of real rubies in this series to account for a Ruby Tuesday post, here's one to compensate the lack of vibrant red. (And because I've been bragging to Robin about how much prettier our mailboxes are, here's your proof Robin!)




Have I ever told you before how Bruges looks like a fairy tale?
I did?
Yeah, I guess so ...


Oh and , can you believe I'm still not done yet with my pictures from Bruges?
Yeah. I guess so too.

I love this town. Does it show?

Find more Ruby Tuesday pictures at Work of the Poet.

Melli's Alphabet Challenge, W and X

Wednesday again, time for Melli's Alphabet challenge.
One more week to go after this one, we're doing W and X this week.
W was not that easy to find, or maybe I was not looking in the right places?
These are all from my last trip to Bruges again, but I only discovered that I had them when I was browsing through my archives!
It"s upside down, but it's a W !




And if you look well, there's one on the right side of this picture as well. It's on it's side in the green Buxus hedges? Had I known it was there, I would have composed the picture slightly different, but it's in there all right!
But what I did notice when I took the pictures, was the dragon bench!
It was already past the S week, but I snapped it anyway.
It's my bonus for Melli! ANOTHER DRAGON FOR MELLI!!
I miss chasing dragons, does it show?


As for X .... well, I had a ball!!
I found so many I had to make a collage ...


And now I'm off to Melli's!
Can't wait to see what the others will come up with!

Rubies from Bruges

For this week's Ruby Tuesday, I'm sharing some more pictures from my last trip to Bruges.
The twin houses with the wooden façades are probably the oldest houses still left intact.



This is at " De Dyver"



And this is the peaceful serenity at the beguinage.
Three Rubies from Bruges, all three very different ...


Look for more Ruby Tuesday players at Work of the Poet.

Walk on ...

When you walk
Through a storm
Hold your head, up high
And don't be afraid, of the dark

'Coz at the end of the storm
Is a golden sky
And the sweet silver song
Of the lark

Walk on, through the wind
Walk on, through the rain
Though your dreams be tossed
And blown

Walk on, walk on
With hope, in your heart
And you'll never walk alone
You'll never walk alone
Alone

Walk on, walk on

With hope in your hearts
You'll never walk,
alone

You'll Never Walk Alone" Introduced in the 1945 musical, Carousel
Music by	Richard Rodgers
Lyrics by	Oscar Hammerstein II