Axelle

This mandala I made for my dear SIL Axelle a few years ago, she will celebrate her birthday Monday and we will visit her! Good to see her again! I love her very much!Normally she doesn´t celebrate but our SIL from Venezuela will be there that day as well. I am busy with my Mom´s appartment, yesterday I stripped the wallpaper and I will do the other half tommorrow. This week I bought wallpaper and carpet and arranged the curtains to be altered. Wednesday I brought her home from the hairdresser and we had lunch together , that has been years ago! I Bought a single bed......Monday 9 and 10 March the place will be upholstered and then we can start moving her things in that week. The 16th Mom will move in. Meanwhile I am working on a very special mandala, which I can´t show you of course.... It is so good working on it in my spare time, it´s like meditation. Deze mandala heb ik een aantal jaren geleden voor mijn schoonzus Axelle gemaakt van wie ik heel veel hou! Normaal viert ze haar verjaardag niet, maar maandag is ook onze schoonzus uit Venezuela in het land en gaan we haar bezoeken op haar verjaardag. Ik ben druk geweest met de kamer van mijn moeder deze week. Sleutel gehaald, de overdracht, Ma van de kapper gehaald met haar geluncht, dat was echt jaren geleden! Spullen besteld en geregeld en gisteren van de helft van de kamer het behang afgetrokken, morgen doe ik de andere helft. 9 en 10 maart komen ze stofferen en daarna kunnen we haar spullen verhuizen. De 16e verhuist Ma zelf. Ondertussen werk ik aan een heel bijzondere mandala die ik natuurlijk niet kan laten zien........Het is als mediteren in deze drukke tijd waar er veel op me af komt.

Roses

This ATC I made yesterday. I went to a big swimming pool with my boys )they have a school holiday) and 3 of their friends. Normally I don´t like events like that and I don´t like to go into the pool with hundreds of screaming children. Lucky me all the kids are good swimmers. So I took along some cards so I had something to do while waiting and look after the children. These cards are great to take along! Deze ATC heb ik gisteren gemaakt. Ik ben naar het zwembad geweest met de jongens en 3 vriendjes, ze hebben krokusvakantie. Normaal gesproken vind ik het verschrikkelijk in zo´n zwembad en wil al helemaal niet het water in met hunderden schreeuwende en wie weet plassende kinderen. Gelukkig kunnen ze allemaal zwemmen en hoef ik alleen maar op te letten en te wachten met chips en limonade. Deze kaarten zijn geweldig om mee te nemen!

Animal Wednesday (#2)

Sarah. She has adapted well. She loves the petdoor, to be able to walk outside whenever she likes.

Sjimmie thought he was the boss untill I moved in!

Pomme, she is still hiding, but she did that in my parents house also. She is doing ok I think. She is old and walks difficultly. She hasn´t been outside for years, but here she is enjoying real sunshine! You go girl! Monday I finally was allowed to bring Mom home for a day! After her ward has been in quarantine for weeks..... She enjoyed her day, but most of all the reunion with her cats! Tomorrow I will get the key of my Mom´s new appartment! We have found her a place in a home for elder people. The appartment is small, but she will at least have her own space again, after spending 4 weeks at a PG ward (for Alzheimer patients, which she is not). I am so happy for her! Tomorrow I will also drive her to the hairdresser. We will have to decide what to do with the cats. A tough decision. What is best for Mom isn´t the same as what is best for the cats......... We will see. Happy Animal Wednesday!

dawn or sunset.......

Is the sun half way down or half way up in your part of the world? Have a nice day.................. Or sweet dreams.................

Cactus Monday (#24)

Cactus Circles (ATC) Happy Cactus Monday!

Purple Magic

purple magic green flower Starfish Cape Town by moonlight These are a few of the ATC´s I made in Cape Town. The first time that I saw this view I was 18, when I worked on a tankership with my father. And this was about as far as I got. The ship got it´s provisions by helicopter lowered on pallets. My father told me stories on how wonderful Cape Town was, he was a sailor all his life and really has been everywhere. Six year later I came to Cape Town, flying from a layover at Nairobi, those days on a 5 hour stop. A few years ago I visited Cape Town on one of my first 5 day layovers. Indeed what a wonderful place and wonderful country. Click below for more pictures of this trip to Cape Town. De eerste keer dat ik dit uitzicht zag was ik 18, toen ik op een tanker werkte met mijn vader. Veel verder dan dit kwamen we ook niet. Het schip kreeg zijn proviand per helicopter die ze met pallets naar beneden lieten zakken. Mijn vader vertelde me verhalen over hoe geweldig Kaapstad was, hij heeft zijn hele leven gevaren en werkelijk alle hoeken van de wereld gezien. Zes jaar later kwam ik weer in Kaapstad, vliegend vanuit Nairobi, we stonden er maar 5 uur. Een aantal jaar geleden kwam ik voor het eerst echt in Kaapstad op één van mijn 5 dagen stops daar. En inderdaad, een geweldige stad, een prachtig land. Klik beneden voor meer foto´s van Kaapstad.

Kaapstad

Mim

~Silver Lining~ This one is for you Mim! My heartfelt condolences Mim, I know how difficult this is, to let go of someone so dear. Know that we are all with you in thoughts. Sending you peace, love and light! A big warm hug from me............

Work in Progress

When you see this, tomorrow, I will be working, flying from Cape Town home. This mandala is not finished yet. I started this one here in Cape Town. Normally I can't show any mandalas in progress but this one is just a mandala for myself. Strange enough I made a mistake in it and made myself 20 years older......... Not meant to be I guess, but I like the result. No idea what to do with this one.......A mandala in watercolor (Inktense) pencils. I have to work on some details like the turtles and the snake. So I guess I still will have to make a real birthmandala for myself................one day. Have a nice day! Als je deze ziet morgen, ben ik aan t werk of al weer in Nederland. Deze mandala is nog niet klaar. ik ben er in Kaapstad aan begonnen, normaal kan ik nooit werk in uitvoering laten zien, want het is altijd voor iemand bestemd, maar deze is voor mezelf. Een mandala gemaakt met aquarelpotloden (Inktense) en ook nog eens met een fout erin. Ik had mezelf ineens 20 jaar ouder gemaakt........, maar gek genoeg vind ik hem wel mooi deze mandala van een niet bestaand persoon.. Ik moet nog verder werken aan de schildpad en de slang, maar ja wat doe ik er dan mee? Ik zal dus nog steeds mijn eigen geboortemandala moeten maken..........ooit. Een fijne dag!

Robbeneiland

Today I finally went to Robben Island, the place where Nelson Mandela has been kept prison for many years. It was quite an impressive visit! And an emotional one as well...... If you ever come to Cape Town dont miss this. A lot of tragedy has happened here but now they call the island a place of hope and healing..... the remains of injustice ....... A pile of rocks started by Nelson and thousands of other ex-political prisoners followed......... More than thousand rocks of different shape, color and texture. It is at the entrance of the lime quarry where the prisoners had to work 5 days a week. Never seen such a beautiful pile before, a memorial to their years of struggle and hardship.... Nelson Mandela spent 27 years on this island and this is his cell and how it looked in the beginning. The red bucket was used as a toilet, to wash his clothes in and wash himself..... What people are capable of to humiliate others and to create an illusion of difference between people is something that makes my blood run cold...... Of course it is an island with a long history of suffering and Nelson Mandela was one of so many who were banished and treated unfair there. I really hope people will learn from this but sometimes when I look around and see what is happening in the world I doubt it......... I left the island filled with sadness.

Animal Wednesday (#1)

Thanks Mim for letting me join Animal Wednesday! I have aways enjoyed all the Animal Wednesday posts. I have enough walking on all fours to get inspired for the Wednesday i guess. This picture I took from Sjimmie who was laying near the Buddha on the side table. They both have that relaxed look on their faces.................... That's what I love so much about cats, that they are able to, totally relaxed, watch the world go stressfully by....... Bedankt Mim dat ik met Animal Wednesday mee mag doen! Wat anderen bloggen op Animal Wednesday is altijd leuk om te zien en lezen. Ik heb thuis genoeg op 4 poten lopen om inspiratie op te doen voor AW denk ik. Deze foto heb ik van Sjimmie genomen een dag voor dat ik vertrok en hij is mijn eerste voor AW. Sjimmie die zo superrelaxed naast de Buddha ligt, als je daar niet rustig van wordt..... Dat is nou precies één van de dingen die ik zo liefheb van katten, het talent om onder alle omstandigheden totaal ontspannen de sressvolle wereld aan zich voorbij te laten gaan......... HAPPY ANIMAL WEDNESDAY!

Cape Town

I did this watercolor ATC when I came home from the waterfront. It's for you SB! I had a lovely day! 30 degrees C(86 I think in F). My kind of weather! After an illegal sunbath( I went to the hotel opposite the street, our hotel, the Westin, is fabulous , but it has only an indoor pool), I went to the waterfront. Always something to see there! I had a lovely salad there with a South African wine. I even took 2 ATC's with me and worked on them while waiting for my meal. (btw I made friends with the waiter of the hotel with the pool and told him I was not a hotel guest, I can come back tomorrow.........honesty is always the best policy) And here is my "office". I am amazed that within a day I can make such a big mess! I won't show you the rest of my room......... But it feel a bit like home like this. Blogging is slow here, but I will try to make some visits now. See you later.

ATC's

Shine Flow Bloom Out to get some Sunshine!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Have a nice day!

Cactus Monday (#23)

Well here is the new member of our family! I got this cactus last Monday(!) from my friend Marja. I live in a lane which is called the 3 kings lane, and I call my 3 men here in the house (husband, Lars and Felix) my 3 kings. So this cactus is my 3 kings cactus! Isn´t that a great symbolism !? Love the pot and the cactus! Thanks Marja.! You are too kind! Today Marja will have the newspaper at her home and she will cook a famous recepy from Rotterdam. It will be in the newspaper (a big one)on Wednesday! She was asked to stand in for someone who is ill. She is nervous but Marja; You will blow them away with you talent! I'm so proud of you! I wish you a lot of success! Nou hier is ie dan; het nieuwe lid van de familie! Ik heb deze cactus vorige week maandag (!) gekregen van mijn vriendin Marja.. Ik woon in de Driekoningenlaan en noem mijn man en kinderen altijd mijn 3 koningen. Dus dit is mijn 3 koningencactus! Is dat niet geweldig gevonden van Marja ?! De pot en de plant zijn geweldig! Bedankt Marja., je bent veel te goed! Vandaag heeft Marja het AD over de vloer en zal ze een bekend Rotterdams repect gaan koken. Het komt woensdag in de krant! Ze is gevraagd om iemand te vervangen die ziek is. Ze maakt zich een beetje nerveus maar meid; Hoeft niet je zal ze versteld doen staan met je talent! Ik ben zo trots op je! Ik wens je veel succes en lieverd probeer er ook een beetje van te genieten he!

Stone Mandala

Stone Mandala ATC I have added a few ATC´s at Flickr. Today I will have a busy day. This morning I will visit Mom whois still in quarantine, because of a virus on the ward. After that I will visit a home with my brother which has a short waiting list. Then I will have to pack for Capetown. I will leave monday for 5 days. Sun hold on here I come!!!! And besides packing I will have to prepare a workshop which I will do the day after I come home, I won´t have time or energy for that on Friday. Have a nice Sunday! I heb een aantal ATC´s toegevoegd bij Flickr. Vandaag zal ik het druk hebben. eerst na Ma, die nog steeds in quarantaine is, vanwege een virusuitbraak daar op de afdeling. Daarna ga ik met mijn broer kijken bij een tehuis waar ze een korte wachtlijst hebben. Dan moet ik nog pakken voor Kaapstad, zon ik kom eraan! Maandag vertrek ik voor 5 dagen. Naast pakken moet ik nog het één en ander voorbereiden voor een workshop die ik geef de dag nadat ik terug ben, daar heb ik vrijdag geen tijd en energie meer voor. een fijne Zondag!

Happy Valentine´s Day!

Happy Valentine´s Day! A perfect day for an award for you! Here a few names in random order Marja Yoon See Yessica Julie Lisa Rivas Studio Lolo Margaret Messy Fish Soulbrush Lisa at G Teri Mim Museswings Fannie Daily Art Stop Vic I don´t like to exclude anyone, I think I gave it to the rest of my blogfriends a while ago.......(like Suki and Lynn, Amy ,Kim and HB) but if your name is not in the list above and you don´t have the award yet, please help yourself and don´t be shy. All my favorite blogs and blogfriends on the sidebar are nominated. If you visiting and like the award please take it. The rules? None. Just like love, all good things should be shared and passed on freely, so just give the award to anyone you think who deserves it. click here for other sizes Enjoy And now some wonderful presents I got this week to make my Valentine Day a special one. The pictures are also in random order: A wonderful watercolor by Diana who came in the mail this week. I love Diana´s watercolors! I won this one just by commenting at the Daily Art Stop, so what´s keeping you? This ATC was a gift from Lisa, what a cutie!!!!!!!!!!!I looks just the stuffed rabbit I had as a child. I know what this one meant to you so I will cherish it! These vases Anna took all the way from Sweden on her lap in the aircraft so no coffee or sandwich for Anna................I saw these last year in Sweden but could not take them on a plane, but Anna could! This beautiful handmade card by Lisa! Three layers of beautiful drawings hold together by a ribbon. It is so pretty! This ATC I traded with Lisa, I love it! Orchids from my hubby! Wat ben je toch een lieverd! The envelop my prize was in. A work of art by itself. Sjimmie in a Pumpkin! I got to pick a print from Diana. It is so lovely, it looks like velvet in real! The colors are so vibrant. A lino print of Emmitt! I love you Emmitt! Handmade cards by Diana, sooooooooooo sweet! A wonderful card from Melissa! (look at the beautiful paper) This Valentine card by Lolo, with an embellished heart. Love it! And this beauty from Marja, which I will reveal on Monday. (Image from the internet) And something I can´t show you; all the sweet words in the cards,comments and in my ear. Well how lucky am I ?! I feel blessed ! Thanks so much everyone! Hope you all have a Happy Valentine´s Day, with lots of love!!!!!!!! Hope you all feel loved today the way I did this week! Love you all!

More Hearts

Just to stay in the mood, here is an old one I made for Ellen a few years ago with a heart in the middle and 33 hearts surrounding the mandala. As an experiment I painted a mandala for her twin sister Lisette as well. A lot alike, different, both special in their own way. Click on the image below to see them both. Om in de stemming te blijven is hier een mandala die ik een paar jaar geleden hebt geschilderd voor Ellen. Met een hart in het midden en 33 hartjes om de mandala heen. Als experiment heb ik ook een mandala gemaakt voor haar tweelingzuster Lisette. Een grote gelijkenis, verschillend, maar ieder bijzonder op zijn eigen manier. Klik hier beneden op de mandala´s om ze allebei te zien.

Chocolate Hearts

¨ I made this one digitally for the Daily Art Stop Wednesday Challenge; hearts and chocolate. You can make your own by downloading my Valentine Heart Mandala coloring page.

Puppy Shower / Kraambezoek

Hey, don´t put the treats there, they are out of reach! Ain´t I just the cutest puppy ?! And I can listen! And sleep like all dogs can do so well...... This Monday I went to my friend Marja to see her new baby Beaudor, a Rhodesian Rigdeback. I was not too pleased about the pictures I took, but here they are. I just went to her blog and found a post about my visit. Have a look, if you can´t read it (it´s in Dutch) it is about her forgetting to take pictures of my visit on Monday...... The pictures are of a trip to Shanghai where we met last year. The first one was made on board on our way back home, Marja was a passenger and I was working. How about that?! We know each other for over 44 years and we see each other way too little and we meet in Shanghai! I flew Marja and Ruud back from their holiday to China. The second picture is made by Ruud when we had dinner in one of the most famous restaurants in Shanghai. When it comes to food just leave it up to Marja, she is an expert! I also got a surprise from Marja, she can´t resist giving me treats! Which I will show you Monday. have any idea what it is...........? Guess!!!