BBC The Natural World: Return of the Eagle Owl

Stunning video of the BBC programme, The Natural World: Return of the Eagle Owl.

48 minutes long.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Z3AlMatF8Y

Niagara On The Lake

Yesterday, M and I and two good friends drove 90 miles south to Niagara On The Lake for a relaxing day trip.

The weather was perfect: sunny, warm but not too hot. Although I did find myself popping in and out of the air-conditioned stores to keep cool.

Queen's Landing

 

 

Queen's Landing is an elegant hotel with a water view from the bar and patio. We chose to eat lunch in the bar near the window, to avoid pesky bees and intense sun.

 

 



From the bar and patio you can see the lake and sailboats.

 

 

 

yellow cana lilies

 

 

Besides the Shaw Festival, Niagara On The Lake is best known for the outstanding flowers everywhere: beside the curb, on people's lawns, and hanging from lampposts.

 

 

 

 

 

orange cana lilies

"Black Day in July" by Gordon Lightfoot

Detroit is bankrupt, according to the tv news.

In 1968, Gordon Lightfoot wrote this song about the 1967 riot.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DPXL3iEVnCM

Writer's Quote of the Day

“Better to write for yourself and have no public, than to write for the public and have no self.”
― Cyril Connolly

Happy writing!

Wordless Thursday

two new Delft owls for my desk

 

* original owl on book, bought in 1993

Dutch Vocabulary Lesson: Food and Drink

View from hotel room in Amsterdam

 

 

 

Common words on Dutch menus

 

 

SAPPEN                                             JUICES                                                                   

 

Sinasappelsap                                      Orange Juice

Applesap                                              Apple Juice

Grapefruitsap                                      Grapefruit Juice

Tomatensap                                        Tomato Juice

 

 

SMOOTHIES                                      SMOOTHIES

 

Ananas                                               Pineapple

Ardbei                                                 Strawberry

Yoghurt                                              Yogurt

Sinaasappel                                         Orange

 

Frisdranken                                         Soft Drinks

 

Chocolade                                          Chocolate

Warme Chocolademelk                     Hot Chocolate

 

Wijnen                                               Wines

Bier                                                    Beer

 

******************************************************************

 

Appel                                                  Apple

Appelgebaken                                     Apple pie or tart  (one of my favourites!)

Aardappel                                           Potato

 

Basilicum                                            Basil

Broodjes                                              Sandwiches

 

Chutney                                               Relish

Chocolade Saus                                   Chocolate Sauce

Chocolade Gebaken                            Chocolate Cake
Chocolade Ijs                                      Chocolate Ice Cream

 

Dille                                                     Dill

Diverse Vissoorten                              Assortment of Fish

 

Franse Friet                                          French Fries

 

Gerookte Zalm                                     Smoked Salmon

Gerookte Kipfilet                                 Smoked Chicken

Geroosterde Paprika                             Roasted Bell Peppers

Gefrituurde Garnalen                           Fried Shrimps 

Garnalen Kroketjes                              Mini Prawn Croquettes

 

Ijs                                                         Ice Cream

 

Kaas                                                     Cheese

Kaastengels                                          Deep-Fried Cheese Sticks

Kreeftensalade                                     Lobster Salad 

Kaas Broodje                                       Cheese Sandwich 

Komkommer                                        Cucumber

Knoflookcroutens                                Garlic Croutons

Kippendijen                                         Chicken Thighs
Kip                                                       Chicken

Olijven                                                 Olives
Osenworst                                            Beef Sausage

Pindasaus                                             Peanut Sauce

Roomkaas                                            Cream Cheese
Rucola                                                  Arugula
Rosbief                                                 Roast Beef

Schaaldieren                                         Shellfish
Spinazie                                                Spinach
Selderij                                                 Celery
Slaagroom                                            Whipped Cream

Tomat                                                   Tomato

Uits                                                       Egg

Vanille Ijs                                             Vanilla Ice Cream
Vlamse Friet                                          Belgian Fries

Zongedroogde Tomaten-Pesto              Sundried Tomato Pesto
Zalm                                                      Salmon



Reckoning Alstublieft                           Bill, please
Zonder Slaagroom                                Without Whipped Cream (The Dutch like it on everything)





 

 

 

 

 



An Anniversary and A Dutch Treat, Part Two

Our Trip to The Netherlands


Part Two: Scheveningen


After a week in Amsterdam, we drove to Scheveningen, which is a small city on the North Sea, near The Hague. "Scheveningen" is such a hard word to pronounce and to spell, it was used as a Dutch language test for spies during World War II.

We stayed at The Kurhaus, where we also stayed on our honeymoon. The Rolling Stones played there--and were booed off the stage--in August 1964, in their first performance outside The UK. (M pointed out , "They didn't do so badly afterwards!") Stevie also played there.

We often ate at this Italian restaurant with its patio just outside the hotel.

 

 

 

 

Our room overlooked the beach and sea.

Click the photo to enlarge it.

You'll see a motorboat, a sailboat and a tall ship.

 

 "Which would you choose?"    ;-)

 

 

 

 

We walked through Westbroek Park and saw geese relaxing beside a pond.

 

 

 

 

Bookstores, and print books, are still very popular in The Netherlands.

 

 

 

 

The Hague is the seat of Parliament and where the new king, Willem Alexander, lives. We found some souvenirs in this covered pedestrian area, The Passage.

 

 

 

 

After a week, it was time to say goodbye to the sunset over the North Sea

and return to Amsterdam.

 

 

 

 

Last Day in Amsterdam

 

We had an afternoon and night in Amsterdam before flying home. We went for a walk and found some delightful shopping near our hotel, at the Nine Streets.

 

 

 

 

 

Bicycles and bridge on the Prinsengracht, not far from the Anne Frank House.

 

 

 

 

Mint Tower

 

 

 

 

The Pulitzer Hotel's sculpture garden

 

The Pulitzer Hotel is comprised of connected, renovated 17th century canal houses on the Prinsengracht and the Keizersgracht. Spanning the two canals are gardens.  It also has its own art gallery. Yes, it's the same Pulitzer family as the people who award the Pulitzer Prize.  :-)

The Rolling Stones played here, too; but more successfully than at the Kurhaus!

And so did this fellow...

Dylan in the Pulitzer bar

"Like a Rolling Stone"?

 

 

Tot ziens!