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!

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