Today treated us to good weather, so we had a barbecue over at Mellien & Bas.
In the same vein I hung out with Nienke and Kim yesterday. I went for tea at Nienke’s place, and then later Kim came by here. She made pancakes and we watched Guardians of the Galaxy. I love that movie. And the pancakes were great.
I lost track of time a bit, and am also short on time right now. So short this will be, as well.
April first I went to see Zootopia with Gert. It’s a very good movie. Very well made, good story and a good message as well.
April 2nd, Ikea brought my shelves and Nienke’s dining set. I built mine, and Nienke’s parents picked up her set to deliver to Nienke’s house.
Then on Sunday I went to the farm where we had a work day to get material for our re-enactment camp back in good shape. We fixed existing benches and tables, and also built new ones. In the picture we’re working on the new kitchen workbench. It was a good day to spend outside, and we got a lot done.
The week after saw the voting for the Ukraine-referendum. I voted for the agreement, and am pretty bummed it didn’t pass.
Last Saturday I went to the Farm again, this time for Feije’s birthday. I got him books, as I like to do for small children. An informative book with huge pictures and fold out sheets about animals and a story book about a little kid on a farm with a goat. The kid as drawn looks quite like Feije.
Later this week we’re going to Ikea again. This time to pick up an extra dresser for my bed room. Plus there’s a movie plan for Friday and a Mom birthday this Sunday π
I have acquired a dining table π
With Nienke going away soon, I need some new pieces of furniture. Well, new to me anyway. Priority pieces are a cupboard for my plates and other kitchen stuff, and a dining table and chairs. So,Β I have been browsing Marktplaats quite frequently lately. A few days ago I stumbled across a beautiful table. Large, massive legs, real wood, in a nice pattern and a good dark colour. I bid on it and nothing much happened for a bit. Then I got outbid in a fairly serious way. I could outbid that person, but I felt she would continue and I might end up paying more than I wanted. So I mailed the seller directly, asking her to sell it to me for her asking price. And she agreed!
Eva had offered to help me get the table so after some contact with both Eva and the seller, Wednesday afternoon was agreed upon. Eva came shortly after I’d gotten home from work. We had a cuppa first and then drove a few towns over to get my baby. The table is one piece and the legs cannot be removed. We had no other options then but to put the table in the back of the van with the legs pointing up. We strapped the legs on one side to the car seats. Then we tied the van doors around the legs on the other side so they’d keep still while driving. The doors couldn’t close, so we drove home gently.
We got back without incident, and with a little help from my Uncle the table was inside in a flash. The cats, notably Monkey, approved. Now to get chairs for it, although that will be a while as the ones I want are not yet in the budget.
We then decided to check out the thrift store and turned the rest of the afternoon in a fun little shopping trip, taking Nienke with us. I almost bought a jacket, but didn’t like the fit enough. I did find a nice wooden decorative box and a reed basket. And books. Because I cannot leave there without books. It’s usually children’s books as they don’t generally have a lot of English works.
Nienke pointed out a Dutch translation Indiana Jones tie-in novel to me which I scooped up as I already have another one in this series. I also found a good, English, copy of Alice in Wonderland and Through the Looking glass and what seems like a fun youth book about a 19th century family emigrating to the USA.
Then I came across a rare find, at least for our local thrift store, a complete science fantasy trilogy in English. With them being only 30 cents a book, I got my grabby hands on them and did not let go π
I had an amazing weekend at Elfia in Arcen. The atmosphere was great, the whole thing looked fantastic and our camp rocked.
Friday morning, Mellien and Bas picked me up and we drove to The Farm. There we packed up the rented van, Harry’s van and Anneke’s car. Bas had to go to work and would join us in the evening. With the whole group, the packing was done quickly, and we were on our way. All together we were ten people and three dogs.
After arrival, we had some trouble finding our designated camping site. With some help of the organisation, we found it. They had moved us to a better spot. We were now across from the main stage behind the line of food carts. So our back was towards that, and we faced a beautiful pond.Β The build of the camp went very smoothly and before long we were ready. The visitors wouldn’t be there until Saturday so we could relax for now.
Β 
The next morning, before the festival opened its doors, Jarig and I went to walk their dog. The park around Arcen Castle is fantastic and very elaborate. The big glass building is a greenhouse that also features a Jurassic Park bit complete with fake dinosaurs.
Β 
When we returned it was time to get the picture going. This meant find something to do all day so you’re useful, while having fun and presenting an interesting and pretty picture for the crowd. I mostly held fire watch where I kept the fire going and watched the food we were cooking. Beyond ourselves, the camp is dressed up with many accessories that make it feel even more alive. When the visitors stop and want to know more, or are impressed, you know you’ve done a good job.
It’s important that the camp always looks complete and lively. We get the free entrance in return for doing just that. So, during both days we took turns going out for a bit to stroll the festival grounds, take a look at other stands, maybe buy some stuff. Every one has something they can do that is sort of authentic to the middle ages. Julius gives little workshops in blacksmithing. Anneke cooks for all of us. Margreet spins wool, Harry does some wood working. Mellien does little felting workshops. Eva varies but this time around it was needle felting. Jarig, Bas and I don’t really have a niche, so we do whatever needs doing. Bas ended up assisting with the Blacksmithing a lot. And I did fire and tried my hand at some wood working with the small axe on the second day. This was quite fun to do, and I think I want to do that more often.
Β 
The evenings are almost an event on their own. After the visitors have gone, the music has died off, the sky has grown dark. Candles are lit, the fire is still burning. There’s a quietness but all around you hear the different camps still living. The last evening we sat around the fire for quite some time.
Monday morning we got up fairly early so we could pack up everything without having to hurry. In the afternoon we got back on the road to our Highland. Saying goodbye to Arcen for this year.
The stake I made. It needs some sanding to be nice and smooth and then it will be a gift for Nienke to hunt vampires with.
Monday I saw Man from U.N.C.L.E. with Gert. It’s a fantastic movie, I love it π It’s campy, and a glorious throwback to the sixties. In terms of plotting and general vibe it reminds me some of Kingsman, but then with Americans and in the past. It earned itself an immediate spot on my want-on-disc list.
After this we went straight on to The King’s Garden (aka A Little Chaos). This is a period film about the gardens of Versailles. It features Kate Winslet as a female landscape artist who gets hired to design and build a part of the gardens. She has to face her own insecurities, contempt and sabotage by other male landscapers and navigate the budding romance with the head landscape artist who happens to be married. It’s a cute film, with very good locations and a very nice Alan Rickman as King Louis.
Wednesday it was time to see The Fantastic Four with Nienke. It’s a fairly bland movie. I liked that the way they got their powers was different but other than that… I like the 2005 movie better and that one isn’t good either.
Today was market day in town so I took a gander with Mom. Bought some jeans on sale for β¬5, which was a steal. It’s a nice model with some flare around the ankles and a three-button close instead of a zipper. I also got this cute, light blue, stoneware pitcher. It’ll look nice with some flowers in the spring, or as a general decoration in the bathroom once I have adequate furnishings there.
At the end of the afternoon, Eva and Jarig came by with Feije. We briefly strolled around the market some more and then headed to La Sicilia for dinner. Β We ended the day with a quick cup of tea at home before they left for The Farm.
This Sunday should be fun as well, it’s my cousin’s baby shower π
I’ve never been a terminator fan. I’ve never seen any of the movies beyond bits and pieces during channel surfing or online maybe. But after seeing the trailers for the new Terminator Genisys I was intrigued enough that I wanted to see it. So that’s what Gert and I did Wednesday. The movie was fun and entertaining, not particularly special, but I enjoyed it. And I liked seeing Schwarzenegger reprising his role and poking fun at himself and his age.
After that we went on to see Inside Out, which is a really good movie. The themes were really quite heavy, which I wasn’t expecting. It shows well how depression affects a person. The layering is pretty good, in that it has something for both kids and adults, but I would’t directly recommend it for really young children.
Friday I headed over to The Farm for a barbecue with Eva, Mellien, Ingrid and Julius. The food was glorious, the company was great, and the weather fantastic.
Β 
Then yesterday, we had a market in town. Mom and I took a stroll around. I didn’t really find anything that struck my fancy. Since the weather was still fantastic, Mom and I decided to hit the cafe and get a drink and something tasty. She went for apple pie, the standard snack for cafes, and I picked strawberry tiramisu. It was delish!
Sunday proved to be a day of moderate adventure and great fun π Eva’s little boy had his birthday earlier this week, and Sunday they were celebrating.
So early in the afternoon I traveled to Groningen. I met up with Mellien on the train, which helped ease the half hour wait for the next train. We then boarded for Grijpskerk where Ingrid picked us up to drive to the farm.
We chatted, drank tea, ate tasty cake and gave presents. I’d bought a couple children’s books in Frisian and Gronings for him. Two for him directly, and one and a audio book first to Eva as he’s not old enough yet. Both parents and boy seemed to like it, so I call it a success π
They had bought a pair of young rabbits the day before, and on Sunday Eva’s brother in law was bringing two more young rabbits as a birthday present. They are very handsome, but turned out to be a weeee bit larger than expected.
Hop Hop Hynke, Frisian rhymes and songs
Instead of about the same size as the others, they’re about double that. Which made the cage that was supposed to be their home for a day or two rather on the small side.
Sikko kleedt zich aan/trekt zuk aan, about a goat who wants clothes
We left at the end of the afternoon as Ingrid, who had come from Leeuwarden, had to go back there as well. However, as saying goodbye is wont to do, it took a while before we set out. We then had the bad luck of finding the bridge open, which resulted in Mellien and I missing the train.
In Nije Stjer, a Frisian tale of the Three Wise Men
After comparing options, we decided to ride with Ingrid to Buitenpost to grab the train there. This was more fun, because more time with Ingrid, and left us a half hour wait in Buitenpost as opposed to waiting an hour in Grijpskerk.
De Bruorren Liuwehert, and audio book version of the Astrid Lindgren book by theater company Tryater
Fortunately the weather was fairly nice so the wait was easy. And once back in Groningen, I treated myself to a milkshake to pass the half hour wait there for the train home. So, quite a trip, but it was worth it!
Went out to eat with Eva, Ingrid and Mellien again. We went out to eat at Het Koetshuys in October, which was a great evening. So we set out to repeat it and after long planning, we settled on tonight, at Kaap Noord.
I met Mellien on the train, and then we met Ingrid and Eva at the restaurant. I’d never been to Kaap Noord, but it’s a very rugged and rustic looking place. I like it.
I had a salad of smoked chicken and bacon with a chutney of pineapple, red peppers, and cilantro as a starter. Then for the main course I went with a Groninger mustardsteak with herb butter and finished with a cherry mon chou cheesecake for dessert. It was all very tasty, but the dessert was not my favourite. The cherries were kind of dominant, and I didn’t really like the crumble they used for the crust.
After dessert we spent a long time just talking, which was great <3 So long even that I had two cups of tea π
When we finally did decide to call it a night, Eva got to her car, Ingrid to her bicycle and Mellien and I headed for the nearest bus stop. Unfortunately, we missed the bus by a minute or two.
Waiting for the next one would mean standing still in the cold for half an hour or more. So we decided to turn back and walk to the train station. We ran into Ingrid who had to ride in the same general direction so she kept us company as we walked. It was a bit further than I thought, though, so that wasn’t very pleasant. We did manage it, and caught the next train home.
Three cats keeping me company while reading the other day.
Decorated my winter tree (of of the two we’re putting up, Nienke does the other one) yesterday.
And today, Eva, Jarig and Julius came to drop off three cabinets. When they moved into their farm, the previous owners left a lot of stuff behind for them, including a bunch of cabinets, standing in one of the barns.
When I first saw these, I already liked them. At first, since not everything was in place yet, they were using some of them, but Eva mentioned not really liking them. So I asked, if neither Anneke nor Julius wanted them, if I could possibly have them.
A while later, it turned out that (fortunately for me) they didn’t want them either, so I could have them. I am, unfortunately, not in the possession of a driver’s licence or a car big enough to take them, so that was the end of it for a while.
Then Eva called this morning, would it be okay if they came by? Which they then did early afternoon. We carried the cabinets into the garage, where they are to be placed while we live here. They are made of massive wood, and metal shelf-bearers, so they were quite heavy.
I left them there for now, I’ll be cleaning and putting them in place over the weekend.