Friday, November 9, 2012

The Highlights

I have one last day in Delft with the Horner-Devine Family before I head back to Seattle on Sunday. Today I spent an hour and half going through pictures on Claire's computer - a reflective, fun process of collecting memories from the trip. Below I have compiled a list of highlights that I want to remember for the rest of my life. Each picture fills me with great joy as I think back to what happened on that day. 

Claire's Family
It was my sincere pleasure to get to know such a big-hearted, fun, helpful, and never-ending family. I can't thank them enough for all of the thoughtful acts of kindness they showed me while I was visiting.


Helping us from the airport...


Charming Delft
I am in love with this city, mainly because it didn't feel like a city at all, but one big friendly, festive community that celebrates everything from marching bands, to jazz, to museums, to car art...





The Clock Tower of the Nieuwe Kerk
No matter where you are in Delft, it can be heard every 15 minutes if you listen closely for it's sweet chimes. It even treated us to many montages of Beatles' songs








Nan
a neighbor down the street who would pop by every once and a while to deliver fresh milk from a cow, a juicer, a live frog, and invitations out to meet more of the Delft community. An American living in Delft, she has a wealth of Delft knowledge, which we regularly relied on for guidance. She is warm, welcoming, and adventurous, and I can't think of a better person to be our neighbor here in Delft.

She made me chocolate
souffles for my birthday!
At the end of Schutterstraat
is Nan's lovely home.


Movies at the Filmhuis...

Muiderslot Castle






Kinderdijk's Windmills


Mama's visit

My Birthday

I got my own pie




Plan B

Zumba! & The Gym
(Inspired by so much Plan B and cheese.) Yes, I took a Zumba! class, which was as entertaining as it was sweat-inducing. It's a fun, spastic way to burn calories and laugh at yourself. I was quite proud of myself for technically taking a class taught in Dutch!

The Kite Festival at Scheveningen
We all took a tram ride to this beach town (where I stayed 5 years ago) to witness the kite festival. We snagged ourselves an outdoor booth pn the beach at a cafe and dined on hot chocolate, frites, apple tart, and pannenkoeken.



Canadian Thanksgiving

Scotland, Scotland, Scotland
Dunvegan Castle

Neeps & Tatties with Haggis
at Sally and Roy's

Grocery Shopping via bike, Cooking, & Eating


Giving Alex & Claire a much needed break
staying home with the brood while the parents took overnight trips to Brugge, Belgium, and Gouda, Holland

Helpful Jasper

Oliver, The Entertainer

Lighthearted Annika
I can't get enough of her

A favorite part of my day was
getting to hold Annika




Evenings with Claire and Alex
staying up way too late visiting, celebrating/bemoaningthe day. watching Weeds, Downton Abbey, etc.
we would go through a lot of wine
and sweets after the kids went to bed
Riding Bicycles
the charm of riding bikes around to do everything never got old
parking your bike, however, was always a daunting task

That one week when it was warm and sunny
while Seattle broke records with a dry streak, we experienced one of Hollands stormiest seasons in recent history. So I think back to this week in August with fondness...


Cheese
I nearly had a heart attack when back in September I was told that I couldn't bring cheese back to the States. But after careful research yesterday, I learned quite the contrary!!!!!!

Being an honorary member of the Horner-Devine Family

Everyone's arrival at the airport


I still have more pictures to post and more to say, so this isn't my last post!

Wednesday, November 7, 2012

Things to Do Before I Leave...

My time here in Delft with the Horner-Devines is sadly coming to a close, so we filled today with things that I wanted to do in Delft before leaving. Jasper had the day off from school, so the whole family got to participate.


"Obama giving his speech to an audience"
We started off the day by hearing the big news from the USA. The boys were so excited that Obama had been reelected, that after watching his acceptance speech, they drew pictures of the speech, then gave a few Obama speeches of their own.
Oliver to Jasper: "I'm Obama and you're my wife." My favorite thing is that the Canadian in the house (Alex) was the one to get up early this morning and watch live coverage of the acceptance speech :)

After all of the presidential reenactments, the boys and I set off on bike and stroller to Delft's Library Concept Center, where I signed Jasper and Oliver up for their very own membership/library cards (9 EUR each, 5 books at a time).
Jasper proudly displaying his
membership card and boek


Then we met up with Claire, Annika, and Alex to get poffertjes at a cafe in the Markt. We had to make sure to get our energy for what I had in store for us next...

You can see the Town Hall in the back ground

ROOMBOTER!!! (BUTTER!)


Next on the list of things to do before I leave: 
Get picture in wooden shoe.
2012 (pictured above) & 2007 (pictured below)

After glancing at the clock tower (of the nieuwe kerk) 
countless times each day from our home, today 
was the day we could climb to the very top!

View of the clock tower from our dining table
It was such a steep climb that babies are prohibited
(because you have to carry them)
Center, behind the yellow gingko tree,
is o
ur home on Schutterstraat!

My room and balcony (top windowed room)

Jasper, Alex and I made it to the top


Delft is even cute from above!




The markt, where we just had poffertjes not long ago

Town Hall

Oude Kerk (The Old Church)


Back safely on the ground

 When we arrived back home, there was a card in the mail for me from Alex's parents! It was a very thoughtful card thanking me for all the work I've done with the Horner-Devines. 
Thank you, Jane & Keith! I'm so touched!
"The effect of one good-hearted person is incalculable"
 I then went out on my bike to do some grocery shopping. For dinner, I would be teaching Claire how to make Thai Peanut Sauce. And for dessert, I made everyone chocolate covered macaroons.
My bike FULL of groceries.
Still nervous about it falling into the canal...


Delft is decorated in holiday decorations 
in time for Sinterklaas' arrival!

I will miss crossing over this canal