This year is not like the ones before and it's no surprise that the end of year holidays must then be different as well. Here in Belgium the rules to limit the spread of the COVID-19 virus have changed every month or two: the government imposing restrictions when the infection rate is too high and… Continue reading My corona-proof holiday season
First of all: this is not a quilt. I don't know much about quilting, but as far as I know it should involve square pieces of fabric, manual needlework and attaching the three layers (design, isolation layer and bottom layer) in one go. What we're doing here is using up scraps of fabric to create… Continue reading Puzzle Plaids
Our last day here in the Ardennes.. Unfortunately that means extra work in the morning: pack everything, tidy the house and load the car. We drive off around ten with a full trunk, but are by now smart enough to keep the hiking stuff on the back seat, we'll need that soon! This morning we… Continue reading Squirrel!
The cell phone alarm starts ringing at seven and when it wakes me, I realize today is a day off and we don't actually have plans. So I stay in bed, reading a book. After Arne also opens his eyes about an hour later, we get up and discuss the entertainment options for the day… Continue reading 101 Waltzes and Polkas
When we get up this morning the sun is shining and there's not a cloud to see in the sky! We decide on a 15 km walk right on the border with Germany, once again from the 'Pleasure Walks' book/website. We drive through Eupen (listening to ancient Pure Music cd's - or rather the Spotify… Continue reading a beautiful day
We're getting used to having nothing to do but walk, cook and eat! We're going through the books and TV entertainment quickly, but luckily we came prepared with much to read and watch, so we're not worried that we'll get bored. After the usual morning routine (with some leftover chicken berberé for the sandwhiches today),… Continue reading not fens, bogs!
Today is predicted to be the rainiest day, so we decide during breakfast to do a woodsy walk in the hope that the trees will protect us a bit. We pick a walk from the flyer of the OstBelgien tourisme office, it's a bit further away - about half an hour by car - but… Continue reading Rainy..
elegant crack fix Up at eight, can you imagine! We sat in bed reading, cozily warm, for an entire hour before that. During a leisurely breakfast we negotiate which route to hike today, still with the eighties disco music list. It's supposed to remain dry until the late afternoon, so plenty of time to roam… Continue reading windy!
I wake up a few minutes before the alarm goes off at seven. This is a trick I only manage to pull off on holidays, so I suspect it has to do with active days and better sleep. It's pretty chilly in the house: there's no central heating and it takes a while for the… Continue reading settling in
Up at six, lots to do today! Arne wants to spend some quality time with his computer, so after breakfast I head over to my Mom to continue our sewing projects. We're making a fleece vest and the first job is to make a pattern. That's my Mom's specialty and not really something I can… Continue reading hop east
So this is a bit strange. Most of Western Europe is in some kind of lock down and here in Belgium only essential stores remain open. Cafés, restaurants, any stores except food, pharma, etc.: all closed. And Belgium is a 'red zone', so if you travel to another country you have to remain in quarantine,… Continue reading Corona holidays
No rush today, so yesterday evening I set the alarm at eight. It's a bit surprising when it goes off at seven instead, but as breakfast is only scheduled at eight thirty we kill it and sleep another hour. We spent half of dinner last night talking about the new COVID-19 counter measures: less social… Continue reading A significant navigational error
We have planned a short getaway: we have this Friday off work, will go for a walk or something and will sleep in the Voeren area of Belgium. Saturday more walking, something cultural or a movie, doesn't matter as long as it's relaxing! I have spent an hour or two in the evenings earlier this… Continue reading Mushroom Central
looking at it this way, it's obvious that it came from a sleeping bagwhen I walk around on the street, nobody looks twice, so it must not be that obvious that we made this from a sleeping bag..again: down WANTS TO ESCAPE. even through the tiniest holespiping at the seams stops the down from coming… Continue reading A THICK body warmer
Note that the size of the bra is a bit too big for the mannequin, so it looks a bit rumpled. You can see the five thread stitch used to close the darts. Requirements cotton fabric, because it's less stinky than synthetic fabricno underwire, because an underwire is less comfortablea moulded cup, to have support… Continue reading Perfect Underwear 2: weekend bra
Is this a 'broek' or simply a cut off arm of the Ijzer river? In any case this white heron was enjoying it until it saw me with my camera..No rain! The wind has picked up and is blowing the clouds away.The momument to the brothers Van Raemdonck, volunteers in the Belgian army in WW1.Did… Continue reading Summary
Alarm is still at six thirty, but we both wake up at six with an urgent urge to use the facilities. It's dry when we hop the 20 m to the common building, though the ground feels like it's been raining during the night. When we get back to our hut, we figure we might… Continue reading difficult knees
I must have woken up ten times during the night, every time I wanted to turn I got my legs tangled up in the linen sleeve inside the sleeping bag.. nevertheless I feel rested when the alarm goes at six thirty. We undertake a first express expedition to the facilities, it's not raining! Breakfast is… Continue reading Easily satisfied
Up at six, my Mom is the most polite wake-up alarm ever. We check the weather radar during the eggs and left-over sausage for breakfast and decide to put on Gore-Tex from neck to toes. All the luggage back down (over the narrow stairs, the lift is broken) and we load up in the entry… Continue reading A Gore-Tex day
all the luggage together Today is both a working day and a holiday: up at six, first work meeting at seven thirty - there's a few early birds at work and these early hours are the best for complicated meetings. It's quite busy, lots to do and somehow I manage to finish most of my… Continue reading pre-trip: hop to Mom’s
Next week Thursday my Mom and I are leaving on a week long bike trip. Corona is still limiting the travel options and I wanted a budget friendly holiday, so we're keeping it simple: we leave from home on the bikes, with just some clothes, a bar of soap and camping stuff, take three days… Continue reading How to pack for a bike camping trip
