The bench and the window

And somehow they fit very well together. Seen in Papenburg.

Mr Sandman

Now, lean back, close your eyes and listen to the story this man of sand is going to tell you...!
(a picture from the sand sculpture exhibition in Garderen)

From the archives #23

Vancouver Island - Canada (2012)

In colourful China Town, Victoria (BC)

Four frogs and a cat

At the Garden Flower Show in Papenburg were lots of things to lighten up your garden, like these happy figures for your fence!

Linking to good fences #14

Sea fishing

Fishing in the North Sea, on the beach of Texel.

Zooming in

A picture taken only a few minutes ago -around 8 pm- from the back of our garden, telephoto lens ready and zooming in on the large grain field shining in the summer evening sun. We live right at the edge of town..

Underground

Following up on yesterday´s post, this is a picture taken in the cellar of the 16th century Drostenhuis. The exhibition shows (broken) pots, plates, cups, glass items, etc. etc., once found in the ground here. It all dates back from a time when the environment wasn't an issue yet, and burying your waste (and almost everything else) in the ground was thought to be normal..

Hallway

Walking through a hallway from one room to another here, in the Drostenhuis. This ´Drosten House´ originally dates back from the 16th century and is now part of the Stedelijk Museum Zwolle, the City Museum of Zwolle.
Tomorrow a photo of the exhibition in the cellar.

Peekaboo!

Pssst..! Hey lady!    What's that on your plate?

We caught this cute but very nosy (stone) pig outside a restaurant in Garderen.. ;))

From the archives #22

North Cape, Norway (2009)

Watching the sun at midnight from the northernmost tip of Europe at 307 m above sea level, known as the North Cape.
Happy Midsummer!

A sand sculpture after a painting by Rembrandt

This scene in sand, from the Sandsculpture Festival in Garderen, is after a painting by Rembrandt van Rijn: 'De anatomische les van Dr. Nicolaes Tulp' (The Anatomy Lesson of Dr Nicolaes Tulp), an oil painting on canvas made in 1632. Dr Nicolaes Tulp is pictured explaining the musculature of the arm to medical professionals. Some of the spectators are doctors who paid commission to be included in the painting.

This photo shows a replica, hanging in one of the rooms of the Sandsculpture Festival. The original painting can be seen at the Mauritshuis museum (opening again at the end of this month after a 2 year renovation) in The Hague.

Sand sculptures

At the ´Veluws Zandsculpturenfestijn´, a sand sculpture festival, in Garderen. Isn't it amazing what can be done with sand!

The Half Moon

This is the sign at the entrance of ´Brouwerij De Halve Maan´ ('Brewery The Half Moon'), the only family brewery in the centre of Bruges. The brewery goes back on a very long history; already in 1564 the town register mentions its existence! From 1856 Leon Maes, also known as Henri I, becomes the owner of the property. Nowadays 'De Halve Maan' brews 2 beers: 'Brugse Zot' (a goldenblond beer) and 'Straffe Hendrik' (a bitter tripel ale).
During our stay in Bruges earlier this year we joined one of the 45 min. guided tours, offering both a visit to the modern brewery as well as the museum. Very interesting!

Linking to signs, signs.

Glass Angel

This is the 'Glazen Engel' (Glass Angel), made by sculpturor Herman Lamers, looking out over the market square of Zwolle. It is constructed from 350 pieces of (1cm thick) glass plates piled and glued together, making the statue more or less transparent.

I can't say that I'm thrilled about it, but I still wanted to show you because I think it's quite unusual, maybe even a bit unique. So, what do you think? Do you like it?

Sassen gate

This is the Sassenpoort ('Sassen gate' in English), a gatehouse in the citywall of Zwolle. It was built in 1409, restorated at the end of the 19th century, and now part of the Top 100 Dutch heritage sites. In order to prevent damage by exhaust gasses, driving under the gate has been prohibited since 2010. The gate now serves as a pedestrian road.

Above a door

´Drogist´ is Dutch for 'drugstore' or ´chemist´. This remarkable sign above a door in the old city centre of Zwolle reminds of days gone by, when chemists could be recognized by the face of a ´gaper´ (lit: 'yawner'). Apparently this chemist was selling spices and things for painting as well, according to the text 'Specerijen en verfwaren' underneath the head.

I posted a photo of 'gapers' before (click HERE), then from a collection at the museum in Enkhuizen, added with a little more information of the origin.

PS. Only when looking at this photo at home, I noticed the reflection of the building´s windows across the street!  :)

From the archives #21

U.K. (2011)

Entrance to a backgarden in a tiny village called Two Dales, in the Peak District.

Bicycle bell

..and a happy looking one too! :)
The bicycle was parked at the Garden Flower Show in Papenburg.

Butterflies..

.. on a plate with fruit, at the Garden Flower Show in Papenburg.

For the dog

Woof! Woof! Can somebody please fill the bowl, I'm thirsty!
(A photo from Bruges)


Linking to signs,signs.

Rainbow bench

Following up on yesterday´s post, this is another view into one of the gardens at the ´Landes Gartenschau´ in Papenburg.

Ready to jump!

Colourful art at the 'Landes Gartenschau', a garden flower show, just across the German border in Papenburg.

Texel beach

View from one of the beach restaurants on a windy day, on the island Texel.

From the archives #20

Iceland (2008)

Gulls sitting still on the road was a weird phenomenon we saw on Iceland in August. Even when a car approached they didn't move, so they were frequently driven over and killed. I really wonder why they do this? Is it because the asphalt is still relatively warm?
For this one we stepped out of the car and made a photo from less than a meter distance. The bird didn't move.

Almost..

The cherries in our garden are almost ready to eat!

Chocolatier

This tiny and eye catching shop caught my eye because it seemed so out of place here, as if it somehow was separated from a far away castle, and then was glued to a large -more ordinary- building...   

Inside is a chocolatier -selling luxury Belgian chocolates-, and you can find it at the Voorstreek in Leeuwarden.

In black and gold

Another sign from Bruges! :)   Isn´t this an elegant one?

Linking to Lesley's signs, signs.

Round and round..

..and downwards goes the small locomotive (now about halfway on the left side), then up again and round and round on it's endless ride..
Simple but ingenious! Seen at Bricks Art in Zuidlaren.

Wet

This may look like a large pond, or a shallow lake, but unfortunately it is a farmer´s field. The area, as we saw it during our hike this afternoon near the village of Gees, suffered from torrential rains in the past week.