It's too good to be true

It's still hard to believe all four of us are here, in Florida. We are so grateful that we could make this trip together and enjoy a wonderful time. Tomorrow is my 40th birthday. What a strange number.. Am I supposed to feel old now? Because I really don't. I feel younger than ever and life is awesome.

Yesterday, hubby had this bright idea! He wanted to see the other coast line of Florida. In January I had been to Daytona Beach with our friends and the four of us have seen Cocoa Beach this vacation, so the Eastern coast could be checked off of our to do list. But how about the West coast?   The beaches along the Gulf of Mexico must be totally different, right?

We packed some towels and beach wear, put cold drinks in the cooler bag, grabbed some snacks and told the GPS we wanted to go to Clearwater Beach. It was a 2 hour drive, but hey, we were not in a rush or anything. Lana wanted to take a lot of pictures, so wherever she wanted us to pull over the car to stretch our legs: we did.

We thought Cocoa Beach was pretty special. Well, I can tell you: Clearwater Beach is even better... Really! You'll agree once you see the pictures! We had an awesome day, although the weather forecast wasn't with us. They predicted 50% chance of showers and T-storms. All the way down there, the weather was great. But once we reached Clearwater, it was pouring so heavily, I thought we would have to turn around and go back. None of that happened. We parked the Jeep right by the beach, hopped into our little bikinis, spread our towels and ran into the ocean. What a great feeling to be here! The water was warm and so clear! That's probably where Clearwater Beach got its name! It's no lie! You can see your own legs through the sea water. That's so awesome! We saw fish swim around us and floating on our backs, we watched the pelicans dive into the ocean to catch their lunch.

On our way to Sand Key, we made several other stops. Parks, marina's, .. so many beautiful places to visit. The Columbia Restaurant at Sand Key was a superb place to have lunch. Right by the water, Spanish atmosphere and excellent cuisine. We were sitting there, amazed by the luxury of this vacation..

Around 5 PM, we went back to the shore. Near Pier 60, there were activities and people were selling craftwork. Every day, you can hear live music on the beach and on Fridays and Saturdays, you can watch a movie on the beach, on a huge screen, sitting in the sand. Isn't that romantic???

pirate boat at sunset - Clearwater Beach
all pictures taken by Lana Joos

We waited for the sun to set, so Lana could complete her album. We had a 2 hour drive back to Caribe Cove Resort, but it was definitely worth the ride. Worn out and aching from a horrible sun burn, we got back to the apartment, to get that shower we had longed for... I'm off to bed.
Night night..

T.G.I.F.

Most working people will look forward to Fridays, so they can start the weekend. Since I don't work and hubby works weekends as well as weekdays, to us Fridays aren't that different from other days. It is different because the girls are home for the weekend then, but otherwise...

Being in Florida, we have heard the song Thank God It's Friday too many times. Being on the road, we can see the fast food chain T.G.I.F. every 5 min or so... We haven't been there because after all: fastfood will always be fastfood, right? I mean: how different can burgers and fries be? We have been to MacDonald's (just for convenience on our first night here) and to Johnny Rockets (at least they have real burgers - more for the interior and the atmosphere than for the fastfood) and that's plenty. I'm not that much of a fastfood person I guess. I do prefer home cooked meals and more healthy meals. My stomach isn't impressed when I have burgers and fries or other fried products.

I long for vegetables and fresh fruit. Thank God (I wouldn't know who else to thank?) for Europe. I'm glad Europe is still a little behind when it comes to food and going out to eat. I would absolutely not want to live in a culture where hamburgers and fries or pizza are that common. Pizza is great as a treat every once in a while, but shouldn't be on my daily menu. I don't know how you guys and gals feel about that? Could you eat this kind of food every day? I know some of you could be I can't... sorry...

Plunge in

We had a hard time figuring out which park we were going to visit, while being here in Florida. There are so many theme parks and several water parks, that we didn't know where to begin. The girls wanted roller coasters, but also a movie theme park and then again they also wanted to have fun in a water park.. We overlooked all of the parks on the Internet. Distance wasn't a problem, since all the parks are only half an hour from the Caribe Cove Resort where we're staying at. But we had to make up our minds and we decided Aquatica was the park we wanted to go to. And we had a blast!!!

There are several fantastic rides in the park. We particularly liked the Tassie's Twisters, Omaka Rocka, HooRoo Run and Walhalla Wave and Whanau Way and... I guess we liked them all!!!

After 4 PM, a voice announced that we were to get off the rides, because a serious thunderstorm was on its way. They didn't want to take any chances and everybody needed to seek shelter. So we did... Unfortunately, the sun didn't really come back to Aquatica... Even a temperature of 26°C was too cold to remain in the park. But hey: we did all the rides and we were satisfied, so no tears! It was another great day and we had tons of fun!

I was so happy with my Quiksilver waterproof pocket. It kept my insulin pump dry and safe throughout the water rides so I didn't have to miss out on the fun. The people at the first aid station were very helpful and they kept my glucose meter, strips and lancing device within reach, so every now and then I could go over there to have my blood glucose checked and/or corrected. It was good to know I didn't have to worry about my diabetes or my insulin pump getting wet or lost.

Gatorland

Florida is known as Gatorland, since the alligator  is so popular around here. You see them all over the place: lakes, rivers, swamps,.. you just can't miss them. There are some in the lake around the Caribe Cove Resort as well! Lana has spotted them from the pool!

Today we decided to go on an adventure and buy a ticket for an airboat ride. Since the apartment is located so near to everything (you can get like anywhere within an hour drive), we didn't hesitate to hop into the car and drive all the way up to Boggy Creek at Lake Toho. The website sounded promising and we were not disappointed!

On the way over there, we pulled over the car, to see a dozen of black vultures having dinner.. Their pray was laying in the ditch and all vultures were taking turns pulling of pieces of flesh. It was so weird and surreal to watch this! We were impressed and totally excited!

It was a beautiful wildlife tour through the wetlands of Florida. We first had a leisure idle down a natural canal  to watch the exotic birds (I truly enjoy the white and grey herons around here - they are so gracious when they descend), turtles and alligators in their own natural environment. We got headphones and trust me: you need them...  Once the captain speeds up, you fly like the wind into the swamp experiencing the awesome feel of the airboat ride.  We didn't choose to go down to the Southern Everglades as most people would do, but the Central Florida Everglades were pretty nice! Another wonderful day..

Sound of Silence

To be honest: it was awesome.. It was breathtaking. It was phenomenal..

We had been looking into visiting a State Park in the Kissimmee area. Lana wanted to take pictures and train her photographic skills. She's particularly fond of making nice sunset shots.

caterpillar on flower

In the afternoon, we headed towards Clermont, Florida, a half hour ride from the apartment. I had googled the Lake Louise State Park and it sounded promising.  At the cost of only 5 dollars, we spent a wonderful afternoon and evening in the park. It was like we had entered a completely different world. This is the real Florida. This is so different from Disney and the parks, although they have a charm of their own.

A gopher tortoise - the state turtle of both Georgia and Florida - tried to cross the road while we just entered the park. Okay, that was worth a first snapshot. We knew not all wildlife would be that slow..
We stopped at three lakes: Dixie Lake, Hammond Lake and Lake Louisa. At the first stop, we saw this prehistorical looking alligator in the lake. It was really creepy! We intended to rent canoes but we kinda chickened out after we realized there were actually real gators in the lake. What if our canoe tipped over and we fell in? Or what if an alligator came up to our canoe? Would we have to hit it with our paddle? I'm not scared that easily, but I wasn't sure about this idea anymore..

gopher tortoise

alligator in Dixie Lake

There was another alligator prepared to pose for the camera, in Hammond Lake. It was just so surreal but then again it was more real than the rest of Florida we have seen so far. The lake was full of beautiful waterlilies and numerous fish.

We decided to follow the signs so the next stop was a hiking trail. We thought it was going to be a brisk walk through the woods, but in the end, we must have walked for over an hour. Supposedly there were bobcats, rattlesnakes, wild turkey, raccoons, opossums and squirrels around, but we didn't see any - except for a troop of turkeys and 1 squirrel. The walk took a bit longer than expected and my pace was slowing down. Stupid me.. I had not taken my purse.. meaning no glucose meter nor dextrose within reach. I didn't want to hold up the rest, so I kept going and I couldn't do much more than hope we would reach the end of the trail pretty soon. We had followed the blue track, but all at once, there were no more blue signs to follow. We only saw red signs, so we changed tracks. My blood sugar kept dropping and I knew I had to get out of these woods somehow. After at least another 20 min we arrived at the parking lot, where I tested and corrected that 42 mg/dl with half a tin of lukewarm ginger ale and about 8 animal crackers. Man, that felt so good..

hiking trail in the woods to Lake Louisa

mating butterflies

Those are moments I truly despise diabetes. You always have to consider what you bring and how long you will be gone. I know that, but see: every now and then, the excitement wins from the brain and that's when you get in trouble. I'm glad I didn't pass out.. There was nobody to be seen in that forest and we had left the cell phones in the car. We did not even have a clue where we were.. I'm glad that hypoglycaemia got fixed in an instant, because we were ready to visit the third and biggest lake: Lake Louisa. That was too much... so serene, so pure, so untouched.  Lana was over the moon. She said it was her best day in Florida.  And yes: she made extraordinary pictures. We even came back later that night to watch the sunset. We were all quiet... for once, the radio was not turned on while driving back to the apartment. I believe we were all moved by the beauty of this scenery..

Eva and Lana in Lake Louisa

sunset Lake Dixie

Summer has finally come

For the first time this year, we have no use bringing jackets and sweaters when we go out. We slip into skirts and tank tops and sandals can show off our brightly colored toe nails. We have already emptied one bottle of sunscreen in not even one week time. Wow. Although it's a little too hot, we're not complaining. There's air conditioning in all shops - and in the Jeep, don't forget - so we try to keep in the shops as much as possible. Maybe that's the trick!!! Maybe the AC is meant to make people come in to the shops and spend some money? We have definitely seen quite some shops.. Winter Garden Village, Mall at Millenia, Florida Mall, Premium Outlet Stores,.. There's one more to go now: The Loop. Hubby is coping real well, surrounded by his crazy women. I just had this weird idea today: what if he would have had 2 sons instead of 2 girls? Would we have done different things then? Adventure parks or go-karting instead of shopping? Would we have watched something different than cheesy romantic movies at night? Probably. But he said he doesn't mind. He likes his girls..

I'm getting used to driving this Jeep. It's an automat, like most cars over here. It's a joy to drive it and I love driving over here. The streets are avenues! I like the rule that cars may take a right even when the light is a red no-go. It makes traffic a whole lot easier going.

The apartment is air-conditioned too. It feels so good to be here. Although we do miss our pets, we would have no problem staying here for another week. We do have one week to go, but we were already talking about coming back for an even longer vacation. That's how fun it is.. No stress, no rush, just fun, relaxation and family time..

all pictures are taken by Lana Joos

Let's have a good time!

We looked it up on the Internet. Cocoa Beach would be like a 1 hour and a half drive. Last time I was here, we went to Daytona Beach and this time we wanted to explore the other coast line. The girls were all excited about going to the beach to get a tan. We had had quite some rain and we were really looking forward to some better weather. We should've known August is the month of thunderstorms in Florida, but we thought it would be more like 5 min rain showers... Anyway: the weather looked good so we packed up the car and drove down to Cocoa Beach. The temperature had risen to 38°C so a dive in the ocean sounded promising.

The beach was pretty empty. School started this week so there weren't many local kids. The shore was so clean and shell free, it was a true joy to find some refreshment in the water. It was kinda cold at first, but then again: we are not pussies! So we jumped up and down to keep our heads above the waves - no that didn't always work - and it felt real good! I do know now that insulin pumps should be taken off before you go swimming...
Did you know that the ocean over here is crowded with pelicans, diving for fresh fish? That was so awesome to watch! They are so fast and too smart!

We grabbed some lunch on the beach at the local Beach Shack: fresh sesame tuna and some corn chips with mango salsa for me, steak and cheese sandwich for the girls and grilled chicken chipotle for hubby. We're still not used to the free refills.. it's just too much. You're not done drinking your soda when they already bring you a free new drink. American people drink a whole lot more than we do. I think I'll stick to water from now on, since my tummy is bloated with soda..

I'm so glad Lana and Eva are taking loads of pictures. They are so good at it and the pictures will be a great souvenir to bring home.

Very much so

Girls... Anyone who has daughters will understand what I'm talking about. They love to shop! It was a bit difficult to make a choice, but the first mall we visited, was The Mall at Millenia. Eva had set her eyes on several shops: Abercombie & Fitch, Hollister, Juicy Couture, XXI Forever,.. She had looked up the mall on the internet a couple of weeks ago. She was totally excited about this shopping event. She got her own budget to buy treats and clothes and so did her sister. Although they are sisters and they have the same size now, they don't exchange clothes. Because they have a completely different taste. Lana is more of the flower power girl while one could describe Eva's style as preppy. It is interesting to see the interaction between both girls - or young ladies if you wish.

There are so many more malls they want to visit: Orlando Mall, Florida Mall, Premium Outlet Stores,.. We're having some pretty hectic days in front of us..

Tall buildings and narrow streets

That's absolutely not what Kissimmee looks like. We are used to going to Tunis, Turkey, Egypt or Morocco and that's where you will find old tall buildings and dark narrow streets. Those are the places where you stroll around and where young children try to sell you souvenirs or freshly picked flowers.

Kissimmee is a bit bigger I must say. It's full of life, but not as brightly colored as Morocco or Egypt. It's totally different and in fact it can't be compared. For instance, the language is so easy. Finally a country where we can make ourselves understood. Here in Florida, we have the warmth we enjoy when we go to Northern Africa. We are used to staying in all inclusive 5* hotels and this time we wanted something different. The girls have grown bigger and we are no longer forced to stay in a hotel where the food comes in buffet form. Because that was easy for the kids: they get to pick whatever they like and as much as they like. Here in Florida, there's an abundance of food to choose from and the products they use look familiar to ours. This time the girls won't have to ask what's on the menu. Their eyes will tell.

We have prepared this holiday for a couple of months now, and there are a few things we would really like to do. We still haven't made up our mind on what Disney Park we would like to visit. We'll see. We can do whatever we want and we will come and go whenever we feel like it.

Kissimmee feels like coming home.. I'm glad to be back here..

Let's take a plane

Planes are fast, planes are an easy way to travel. Sometimes it's the only way to get to your destination.
We planned our trip months ago. The plan was to fly to Atlanta and then take a connecting flight to Orlando. Our first plane had a one hour delay and we were not looking forward to missing our next flight. There was only 1 hour 40 minutes between both flights and landing in Atlanta means all passengers with connecting flights need to pick up their luggage and check them in again. We were fortunate that the Delta Airlines staff gave us an orange card, meaning we didn't have to wait in line. Nevertheless, half an hour was not enough to catch a plane. We ran and rushed and did the best we could. Our hearts were pounding in our bodies.
The last stop was the security check. Again, we had to unpack our backpacks and put all electronic devices in special bins. There was a lady in front of me, all dressed in a special uniform. Lana thought she had joined a jamboree meeting abroad. It took some time for her to get patted down by the security staff. We grabbed our belongings and continued the rush to the next gate. We were so lucky to get there in time! We had made it! Too bad the connecting flight wasn't ready for take off. Due to thunderstorms, the airplane was not allowed to leave the airport. There was a 2 hour delay..

We picked up our rental car - we got a way too expensive Jeep SUV instead of the car we had ordered - and drove to the resort in Kissimmee. We unpacked the luggage and I unpacked my bags to get my notebook. I had promised some people to let them know we were fine.

I opened my notebook and to my surprise, my desktop was different. There was also a sticker with some phonenumber on the screen. You have got to be kidding!!! This was not my notebook!!! I was lucky that the owner had not logged out. So I opened his Facebook and asked him to contact me. He did pretty fast, leaving me a message on my facebook wall. Apparently, I had not logged out either.. He and his mom had come back from Sweden, where they had attended a.. Jamboree meeting.. I remembered the lady in Atlanta right away. So that's where the owners left for different destinations in the possession of the wrong laptops..

We'll sort things out. We have been in touch and in some days time, he will have his notebook back and I'll be typing on my own device. Thank you Facebook! Thank you stranger!

She wants her daddy

I know she's a D.O.G. but nevertheless, we are her mommy and daddy. She doesn't know any better. Inthe is a real drama queen when she misses her daddy. She then sits on the couch, her head all stretched out towards the window. Every now and then, I can hear her sigh. Her eyes are all droopy and she's looking depressed. I then ask her: do you want your daddy to come home? She holds her head to one side and points her ears. Like to make sure she heard me alright. So I ask her again and Inthe holds her head to the other side. That's the signal I have to look out for. Because that's the moment she will race towards me, lick me in the face and put her paws on my shoulders to give me a hug. She really misses him when he's at work. She looks forward to his home coming. And then: joy oh joy. Her memory is so short, she must actually believe he was gone for at least a week. She's a bit silly, you know. But I must admit: it's cute.

At night, when the sleep won't come

I didn't sleep much. We're about to board by now. Florida is waiting for us, to come and enjoy a wonderful vacation. Kissimmee is the destination. I was there in January, with our friends. We're going back as a family now. It'll be great to finally enjoy the sun, since this summer has not been very promising.

It might take us some time to settle in and get connected with you all. So don't panic yet. Just relax. I know we will too.. My brother-in-law and his girlfriend are going to look after our house. The pets have left for their hotels this weekend and the girls are right by our side. Let's go for it!

The rescue rangers

It's no secret that cats and dogs will not be best friends by choice. The situation here isn't any different. Although the dogs don't mind our tomcat Arthur strolling around the house, Arthur isn't too fond of the whippets. He bears their presence, but they can't expect anything more. He likes to tease them and in his mind he's the king of this jungle.

It's interesting to witness the interaction between the dogs and the cat. Whenever Arthur is sitting on the deck, waiting to come inside, Inthe is there to let us know. She cries and asks us to let Arthur in. Like Rebba licks Inthe dry after a walk in the rain, Inthe tries to dry off Arthur too. That's too much for this tomcat. His pride won't let him give in to this kind of luxurious treatment. So he sticks his tail right up in the air and paces to the bathroom for a bite.

Arthur's bed is right behind the couch where both whippets like to hang out on. I overheard Arthur making these funny throat noises, like he was not feeling well. Inthe panicked and raced over to him, like she planned on asking him what was wrong. She then gave me that desperate look: HELP HIM! I could tell how worried Inthe was. There was no need to, because Arthur does this every now and then and he's absolutely fine. But Inthe wouldn't rest until I came to see what was wrong. She stood right by his side to make sure I would help.

Some people say pets don't have feelings nor a brain. I think they are wrong. If only people would take the time to see the interaction between pets and their owners, they would know better.

Killing calves

My husband claims my killing calves drew his attention when he first met me. He thought I was a sports fanatic and that maybe I loved to go biking. Because that's what my calves told him..

That is so funny, since I'm not sporty at all. Maybe my calves are a result of walking on high heels for over 20 years? I don't know. I surely don't do anything - except for shaving them silky smooth and treating them with body lotion - to make them look appealing. Although my legs are a bit short (I'm not tall either), I do like my legs so yes, you will often see me wear dresses or skirts. The time hasn't been that good this year, so my legs still need to get a tan, but I'm sure the Florida sun will solve that issue.

Sorry hun, you'll have to ride that bike all by yourself. Or invite our sister-in-law, she's looking for a partner to ride bikes together!

I forgot to breathe..

This series of pictures is my favorite. Honestly, I don't know where your friend got the inspiration, but she surely did a great job! Look at the strength of the picture, come on! The little hairs in the back of my neck stood up. I would really like to have them all printed and framed. It's an extraordinary collection Lana. I'm so proud of you!

Photo taken by Helen Almey

I save the day

It must have been 1985. I was in High School at the time. Roberto Jacketti and the Scooters was a Dutch group and they were popular back then, trust me. I had this brilliant idea to contact the group and ask them to come play their music in our school. I was so excited and couldn't wait to tell my friends about it!

It didn't take long before the group wrote me back (no email in those days!). They agreed to come to Ieper and perform in our school: for free! Ha! Really, come on! Who would do that??? I asked some friends to help me organize this great event and contacted the principal. He thought it were a very good plan to let them come perform in the last week of that school year.

Too bad I never heard them sing.. For some reason (don't ask me what reason - I don't even know the reason), my mother told me I was not going. I was devastated and nobody understood. Both the class teacher and the principal called my mother to persuade her to change her mind. But that's not the kind of person she is. She had made up her mind that I wouldn't have a wonderful afternoon with my friends.. She didn't save the day. I never forgot.

I save the day...

I'm totally zen

What's the perfect way to give yourself total relaxation?
A massage?
A long walk along a pristine beach? Classical music or a romantic movie?

I'm not very good at relaxing. Some years ago, I signed up for a number of relaxation classes. The silence in the room freaked me out in advance. I wanted to hear some music instead of that deadly silence. But that was not going to happen. I heard nothing but my own breath and that could not give me any relaxation.

Comfort food makes me zen. Honestly.. Having spent time near my stove before I sink down in a chair to enjoy that one perfect meal. Total relaxation! I keep some recipes handy for these moments. How about a comforting apple crumble?

what do we need:

• 4 apples, peeled, cored and sliced
• 50 grams of real butter
• 50 grams of sugar
• 80 grams of plain flour
• 80 grams of cold butter, cut into pieces
• 80 grams of demerara sugar

what do we do:

• Preheat the oven to 180°C.
• Heat a pan on the stove. Melt the butter and bake the apple slices until nearly done.
• Sprinkle the sugar over the fruit and let it simmer for a while, until the apples caramelize.
• Fill 4 ovenproof bowls with the apple slices and press well.
• Mix the flour with the butter and the sugar until you get fine crumbs that look like sand.
• Divide the crumble over the 4 bowls and make sure all of the fruit is covered with crumble.
• Bake the apple crumble for 25 min or until golden.
• Serve plain, with vanilla ice cream or clotted cream.
• Dive in!

A road untraveled

Photo by Eva Joos

Not even a full month difference in age, these two beautiful young girls should be growing up in similar circumstances. They are young, pretty, intelligent and articulate. They have friends, they socialize, they like boys, music and movies. There's one big difference: one has diabetes, the other doesn't..

It doesn't show that one girl has diabetes. There's no warning sign around her neck or anything. If you don't know, you wouldn't tell. But it's there. It won't go away either, since it's a chronic disease.

I got to meet this one girl and her mom this year. It breaks my heart to know that this girl - that is so similar to our 16 yo daughter - was given this stupid disease. She didn't do anything wrong. It wasn't her fault nor the fault of her family. Just like that, her pancreas decided it no longer wanted to produce insulin. Our daughter has a pancreas that is doing just fine. I'm happy for her. It's no joy to have diabetes, especially not if you're 16. You just wanna fit in and be like all the other 16 year olds. You don't want to have any "condition" or be "unique in some way".

She's doing great, despite the diabetes. She's a responsible young lady. Due to her medical condition, she has to be very aware of what she eats, whether she works out or not, what time she goes to bed and what time she wakes up. Her life will no longer be like it was before she was diagnosed. I'm proud of her though. I'm proud of the way she copes and how she keeps going. Of course, every now and then she hates the insulin pens and she curses the diabetes. Her tears won't make D go away, but they will relieve the hurt.

Both our daughters have met this girl and her mom. I'm glad they have. Our girls take their health for granted. Not all children have that same good health. Some kids struggle. But then again: they persevere and they take good care of themselves and despite their deficiency they have a bright future ahead of them. Because they are brave and they don't give up.

Sixteen year old girls are supposed to have fun in life and shouldn't have to worry about anything. They shouldn't take their health for granted. We only have one body and we should take good care of it. Honor that body and don't ruin it. Be grateful for your health. It's a gift.

You think?

There is not one single day without me getting on that scale. I'm getting better at it though. I used to step on the scale several times a day: when I got right out of bed, after I went to the bathroom, after breakfast, when I finished showering..

Why is that number on the scale so important to us, women? Is it the pressure from society? Is it a lack of self-esteem? Is it health issue related?

Maybe we should just trash that scale. Seriously. It might do us good and we might get rid of the frustration the scale brings us too often.

I really like the idea of this scale. If only it would exist, I would treat myself on a similar balance. It's so much nicer to us than the ones we're used to.
I hear skinny women do the balance gimmick too. You know: weighing themselves several times a day. Some because they think they're not thin enough yet. Others because they are dying to gain some weight and it won't stick to their bones.  It seems we think in numbers at all times. Maybe we should just be happy with who we are and what we look like, to a certain extend. Only if your (mental) health is at stake, one should consider dieting. I hear about these young girls - some as young as 9 - that start cutting back on the cals. That's very troublesome.. Young girls shouldn't have to worry about their weight or appearance. If they start dieting at such a young age, their metabolism gets disturbed heavily. It's a never ending story.. You really don't want your daughters to go through such an ordeal.

I think I'm gonna promise myself not to get on that scale on a daily basis. How about no more than 2 times a week?

The reason why

For about 6 months, I took care of you and your (at the time) 4 siblings. There were two of us, two au pairs, to take care of you all.
There was your oldest brother, a very bright kid and very responsible. He was eager to learn and he always got good grades. Your sister just started primary school and reading and writing was what she liked to do best. She was a very pretty girl with long, black, shiny hair. I loved to read to her when she was ready to go to bed. This brother and sister were very good at playing the piano together, dressed in their best outfits.
The next in line was another boy. A bit more shy but at the same time full of life and sometimes mischief. Not meant in a bad way, he was just a little boy who liked to have fun and fool around. He loved to play in his room and the two of us had long conversations.
Then there was you. You had the most beautiful blue eyes I had ever seen. I still have your pictures. All of you children had special names, but yours I had never heard before. You were a special little boy, only 3 at the time. You liked to cuddle and I always thought you would break many hearts because the girls would fall for you by the dozen.. You liked to sit in my lap and we would sing songs together.
Your baby sister just learned how to walk. She was the little princess of the house and we all liked to pamper her.
I got to know my husband and I got pregnant. I left your house. Later, I learned you got another baby sister. There were 6 of you then. A beautiful family in a house like a castle..

I heard the awful news just the other day. It hit me in the face. It was so surreal. You decided you no longer wanted to remain in this world. What happened that life wasn't worth living any more? Why, sweet little boy.. why? I assume you had your reasons and maybe life wasn't that good for you as people thought. I hear you had so many friends. They will all miss you. So will your family. You will always remain one of 6. To me, you will always be that little boy with the bright eyes and the wonderful smile. RIP Augustin. I hope you will find the tranquillity you needed so desperately..

MOF MOF

Minimum of fuss, maximum of flavor. That's how Antonio Carluccio would name this pesto sauce. It's so easy to make and it comes in real handy. Toss it with home made cappellini, spread it on thick slices of ciabatta as an appetizer or use it to cover your gnocchi. It's so good and it can't be compared to store bought pesto. Just give it a try. It's a no fail recipe.

what do we need:

• 1 bunch of basil or rocket
• 1 clove of garlic, peeled and chopped
• 30 grams of pine nuts
• a generous dash of salt
• 50 ml of olive oil
• 60 grams of parmigianno reggiano 

what do we do:

• Remove the stalks and just keep the leaves. Chop them roughly.
• Get your blender out of its box and throw in the basil, garlic, pine nuts and salt. 
• Blend. 
• Add most of the oil through the opening of your operating blender.
• Open the blender, add the cheese and some more oil.
• Blend again.
• Done!

This pesto is ready to use or can be frozen. I like to freeze it in single servings. Great for a fast one person meal.

Pitch perfect

This is my favorite dish of the month: Asian steak salad. It's just pitch perfect! Just try it. I'm sure you won't regret the effort.

what do we need:

• 2 sirloin steaks
• 4 baked potatoes, quartered (not peeled)
• 2 boiled eggs, peeled and quartered
• a small tin of lima beans, drained
• 2 tablespoons of cashew nuts, toasted and coarsely chopped
• mixed greens
• 2 spring onions, chopped diagonally
• 1 onion, divided in rings
• oil
• marinade for the steak:
• 2 tablespoons of sweet-and-sour sauce
• 1 tablespoon of soy sauce
• a few drops of hot sauce
• dressing for the salad:
• a piece of fresh ginger, minced
• 1 teaspoon of liquid honey
• a few drops of hot sauce
• 2 tablespoons of orange juice
• 1 tablespoon of vinegar
• 1 tablespoon of soy sauce
• salt and pepper
• 2 tablespoons of oil

what do we do:

• Use a meat hammer to flatten the steaks.
• Marinate the beef for 15 minutes.
• Dress your plates with salad, cashew nuts, egg, potatoes, lima beans. 
• Sprinkle the dressing over your salad.
• Grill the beef shortly in a hot pan.
• Cut the meat in wide strips and drape them over the salad.
• Fry the onions in some oil and top the beef with the onions.
• Sprinkle with spring onion.

You look first class!

We drove from Bruges - an unexpected visit to your orthodontist - to Antwerp in no time. We wanted to do some shopping first. Eva needed new jeans and I was thrilled that it didn't take all day to find the pair she had set her eyes on.. We grabbed an Asian lunch in the mall and shopped some more. We had to keep in mind that we're leaving for Florida in two weeks, so we had to make sure we have some money left to spend abroad!

In the afternoon we had a beauty appointment in a wellness center in Antwerp. It was a treat for my little girl.. She deserved this arrangement after a year of studying and working hard in school. She was really excited to get pampered. She first got a foot rub and peeling to help her relax. The facial was her favorite though. Her skin looked so smooth and soft after the massage and oil treatment. Time to wash and blow dry her hair, before someone else took over and gave her a subtile make-up, adapted to her age. I could tell my little girl was happy. And that's all that mattered.. She looked first class!

Nighttime lows

Low blood sugars don't bother me too much during the daytime. They get solved rapidly and they don't make me feel too crappy. Nighttime lows though, are not that pleasant. Some are worse than others and some really freak me out. If I experience a 25 mg/dl during the day, I still function and do whatever I need to do. The other night I had a stupid 51 mg/dl, but the symptoms were so different. Sweat drops crawled down my spine, my face was pale and my lips were stinging. I had a hard time to focus and although I keep coke and cookies on my night stand, I decided they weren't good enough so I had to find my way out of the bedroom (that alone was hard enough) and stumble down the stairs. I felt like sh*t although 51 mg/dl is not even that low. I managed to find the right amount of cookies I needed to solve that hypo and started munching on them right away. Just having some juice or coke would've been much more efficient, but at the time, that's not something that crossed my mind. Your mind isn't working real well while experiencing a hypoglycemia. Crawling back upstairs, with my hands full of wrappers and cookies, my eyes had a hard time to focus. Those legs felt like rubber bands and at a certain time, I feared falling down the stairs. At a slow pace I moved on and I took my time to get back to my room. Those cookies tasted like heaven and I could feel life come back into my veins. My heart was still pounding way too fast and that's not normal for 51 mg/dl lows. Strange..

The 124 mg/dl morning reading surprised me though. After that abundance of cookies (I didn't eat the wrappers, but I know I had gobbled way too many carbs...), that is an odd number. I would've expected a reading of at least 250 mg/dl. So maybe that 51 mg/dl was only a sign of a blood sugar that was dropping really fast. Don't mess with me, body of mine. I don't like you!

Appetitoso

I was surprised when you called me. Not because you never call me - we do call each other quite often - but because you wanted to invite me to have lunch with you. What did you expect? That I'd say no to a wonderful lunch with an exceptional lady? Not!

I had no idea where you would take me, but I knew it would be a nice place. I normally don't like surprises, but I sure liked yours! Belga Queen Ghent was a very good choice! Despite the autumn weather, we could sit outside and enjoy our excellent three course meal. I was real happy to be there with you. Perfect scenery, great company and delicious food. Thanks for the invitation. You rock!

Because I'm crazy

Children and dogs can be compared to a certain degree. Especially if it comes to mischief on rainy days. Do you remember how your children behaved when it was rainy outside? Exactly! It was like they had had a humongous sugar boost, leading to overexcitement, hyper behavior and crazy circumstances..

The whippets are just like kids in bad weather.. They can't keep themselves busy. They want to go outside and then again maybe not. Or just for one minute.. or 10 minutes. Racing through the house like madmen, leaving a trail of wet paws on the floor. Throwing themselves on the couch, barking at one another and making foolish movements. They are just hilarious but very exhausting..

But hey.. don't we all suffer on rainy days? We are grumpier than usual and we have no energy. That's why I have my weekly dose of vitamin D. But I'm not sure whether the dogs need vitamins or not. They look pretty normal and healthy and their fur is shiny and silky smooth. I just know they prefer the sun to warm their bones up to the point where their brain starts to cook. That's when they crawl back inside to find a cool spot. They are so lethargic after their sun bath. A totally different situation of what we can observe at this instant..

A culinary masterpiece

I couldn't help it, but this message almost made me burst into tears. That was just too funny.

This friend and I both like to cook and we have the same values when it comes to good food. So we send each other recipes and ideas and we love to discuss food and food magazines. When he sent me this link "a culinary masterpiece", I was thrilled to open it and enjoy the pleasure of an extraordinary recipe. He sure made me laugh..

It is a fun idea to do with kids though. Well, that is small kids. Mine are too big for this kind of fun. They would give me that "are you kidding me?" look and I wouldn't blame them.

So buddy: thanks for making me smile. It worked!

Slip sliding away

You girls are so funny! Not that rainy days are the best days ever, but little Inthe is crazy about racing around in the pouring rain. So I couldn't deprive them from going outside for a quick walk around the soccer field. Rebba isn't a big fan of cloudy days and rain is a real turn off. But she didn't want to let Inthe go by herself, so she put on her leash too and she came along.

It was hilarious to see Inthe race around the field with a flat soccer ball in her mouth. She went bananas! Rebba was standing under the roof, looking for shelter. But then again, she felt like stretching her legs too. So we encouraged her until she found the guts to get out there and make some wonderful slidings. I should have brought the camera, to make brilliant pictures of the grass flying in the air and the splattering water coming out of the soil.

Racing around in muddy fields leads to taking a bath afterwards. The girls are not very fond of taking a bath, but nevertheless, they undergo it. I spread an old towel in the tub, before I fill it with warm water. It keeps them from slipping away. No slidings in the bath tub, thank you. You do seem to like the shampoo part and me rubbing your dirty bellies. I have to be real fast to dry you off, before you start shaking your body from head to tail. You smell wonderful girls! And your fur is all shiny again!

An offer I can't refuse

Although I had already done my preparations for dinner, I was happy with your suggestion to go out to dinner last night. Both girls are in summer camp and it's nice to have some private time together. I put the preparations in the fridge for the next day and chose another outfit: my new polka dot dress. After all, if you're invited to a date, you try to look your best huh?

Hubby must have read my mind, since he suggested we'd go out for mussels. I really like mussels, although I don't want to have them that often. Just once or twice a year. I like my mussels pure. No fuss, no cream or alcohol. Just mussels. I skipped on the French fries and bread as well. Because I really wanted to taste what we came for: luscious seafood. And I truly enjoyed my dinner. It felt good to have a date with my husband, especially because he had taken the initiative. Too bad he had the early shift this morning, so we had to end our evening.. Nine more days at work and then: time for vacation!!!

I'm gonna pack my bags

It's your turn, cupcake! Your bags are packed and daddy checked your bike to make sure you'll make a safe trip to your destination in Limburg. You and your friends will ride 170 km in 2 days. What a shame it's still pouring out there.. I hope you'll be able to keep yourself warm. There are spare clothes in your backpack and enough snacks and drinks for 2 days. You wanted a chicken curry pasta for lunch and some bread rolls for later on. You do need your munchies!

Your sister isn't home yet and now you're gone too. It'll be quiet around the house. But not for too long. Sweetie pie will be back tomorrow by noon and she'll have a lot to tell. Don't forget to memorize your stories too, huh?

I'm sure you and your friends will have a blast. You always do. You have been looking forward to this summer camp for weeks and it's finally there! Enjoy sweetie!!!!!

Chirolokalen Overpelt Centrum
Chiro Ekyrpak - Lana Joos
Ravotterkespad 2
3900 Overpelt
Belgium

Photo by Eva Joos

When will Cupid strike?

Sweet little Inthe... We won't be able to let you run without a leash in the meadow for a while.. You're on heat. There may be potential lovers around the corner, waiting to seduce you. I'm sure you would be very willing to mate, but we have decided you will never be a mommy. Meaning you can't date or find a mate. Does your tummy hurt? You lay down on the couch, looking at us with that special puppy look and then you cry. It's heart breaking. That's when we wrap you in your favorite blanket, so you can take a nap.

Let's hope your period will be over soon. At least, before we leave for Florida. Because in your dog hotel, there are too many handsome male whippets. We just can't take the risk. Around the house, you wear your special black undies, but they wouldn't keep a male dog away.

We'll pamper you sweetheart, don't worry. You're in good hands.

That's who I am

Photo by Lana Joos

It's so good to see you happy.. You look radiant and loved and very elegant. Is it the age or has something happened lately?

You sometimes worry about getting older and getting more wrinkles. But you know what? The wrinkles don't matter, neither does aging. You are still you, only wiser by the year.

I like to hang out with you. There's always something to talk about and there's not one encounter where we don't burst into tears - caused by pranking jokes or just telling stories.

Happy Birthday SiL! You rock!

There's no place like home..

but it's great to take a break every now and then.

We're getting ready for our next holiday in Florida. This time, Hubby and the kids will join me. We're really looking forward to this vacation. Hubby has worked real hard all year and he's so longing for some time off. I'm making plans for the 14 days we're going to spend abroad. Booking the trip, arranging a rental car (I picked out a wonderful Chrysler - after all, we're in the States, right?), planning our outings, getting our passports and ESTA forms, making reservations at the pet hotels for the whippets and the cat,.. There's still so much to do!

This time, our stay in Florida will be a little bit different from the stay I had in January of this year. This time will be more of a family vacation instead of a vacation with grown up friends. We won't go out three times a day to grab food. I'm sure we'll do breakfast in the apartment, a light lunch on the road and a home cooked dinner at night. We'll definitely go out for breakfast once or twice during our stay, no doubt about that. But I'm sure the girls will enjoy breakfast on the deck a lot more.

We'll do a lot of shopping in the several malls in the Kissimmee area. There's a lot to see in the neighborhood as well. A trip to Cape Canaveral to please dad, combined with a visit to Cocoa Beach to make the girls happy. One of the girls wants to go to Disney, the other one only wants to visit Universal Studios, so we'll have to make up our minds somehow. We'll pay Old Town another visit, because I do want my family to experience the atmosphere of that special Saturday Night amongst cars from the fifties and their owners.

I'm looking forward to sitting by the pool and enjoy the view over the lake. There's no place like home... and Kissimmee is starting to feel like a second home..

Splish Splash

I just read this text on how men take a shower and I couldn't do anything else but roll over the floor and laugh. This is just too much, but so true!

How men take a shower..

Sit on the side of your bed, strip off your clothes and drop them right by your feet.
Step over that pile of clothes and stroll to the bathroom, a towel tied around your waist.
If you accidently happen to cross your wife in the hallway, drop the towel and shake your private parts.
Look at your male appearance in the mirror. Rub your Humpty Dumpty belly like it's your biggest achievement.
Pull in that abdomen to see if you've already developed some chest muscles (not).
Turn on the water.
Don't look for a wash cloth, since you don't use any.
Wash and rinse your body in 5 minutes.
Wash and rinse your private parts in 15 minutes.
Wash your bum.
Shampoo your hair and skip the conditioner.
Make a shampoo mohawk.
Open the shower door, admire yourself and giggle.
Rinse yourself.
Get out of the shower, look for a towel and smell it. If the smell is bearable: dry yourself and drop the wet towel on the floor.
Step over the wet towel and go back to your bedroom.
If you cross your wife in the hallway, shake your private parts.
Roll over your bed to dry off your back..

Bicycle Race

I still can't believe I signed up for a bicycle ride with my diabetes friends... O lord.. You all know I hate bikes, but this time, the love for my friends is more important than the displeasure riding a bike gives me.
I'm not even going to try to put my bike in the trunk of the car. I'll rent one. That might be safer as well, since my bike is being used for spare parts for everybody else's bike.

There will be around 10 people I guess. It'll be good to see my friends and have a chitchat. That is, if I can still catch my breath.. Is there enough time left to reconsider my registration for this totally out of your mind bicycle race???

Bye bye for a little while

We're all a little nervous this morning. Last night, you packed the last items since today, you're leaving for summer camp. You haven't slept much. Too much excitement, I guess? You will meet up with your friends in Bruges around noon, where all of you will take the bus to Durbuy. Last year, you went to that same summer camp and you loved it! This year will be different. It will also be the moment where you and your schoolfriends will enjoy each other's company for the last time. Most kids have chosen different schools for September. It will be a special week for all of you.

I'm glad I have the chance to bring you to the meeting point. It would be a whole lot more difficult if I would be working. We'll go out for lunch first, before I drop you off at the bus stop. Your bags weigh like you put rocks in them! Sweetheart, come on, 7 pairs of shoes??? You're such a girly girl..

Don't forget to brush your teeth! I'm sure you'll have more candy than you can handle, but that's part of the fun. You picked out your favorite treats at the store and you're looking forward to sharing them with your friends.

The weather is less exciting.. You were really unhappy, since you planned on wearing shorts and skirts and little dresses. Instead, you had to bring sweaters and pants and socks. I'm sure there will be rain cheque activities planned. They won't let you do death rides in the pouring rain. I hope..

Have fun!!! We'll miss you!!! xxx

La Petite Merveille
t.a.v. Eva JOOS
Rue comte Th. D'Ursel 51
6940 DURBUY

Photo by Lana Joos

Mise-en-place

There's probably not one cooking show on TV that I don't watch. I love those programs! It's a whole lot of fun and entertainment comes along with it. But I also learn a lot from the candidates and their chefs. How to properly use a cook's knife for example. Or kitchen terminology like chiffonade. I knew the technique, but the name was new to me.

Mise-en-place is a lot of work, but it makes cooking so much easier. By the time you really have to start the cooking part, you're totally zen and at ease. I like to chop vegetables and herbs and get ready to cook. Sorting out the spices and the needy ingredients, will keep you from a last minute rush to the store. It is hateful once you're cooking, to realize you're out of cream or eggs. Some things can be left out or substituted, but mostly it will just aggravate and disappoint you, for not having read the recipe properly in advance. I'm not used to following a recipe to the T, but I do try to use most of the star ingredients. I mean, you can't make a proper béarnaise sauce without tarragon, can you?

Worst cooks in America is the show I've been watching lately. I really feel bad for those grown ups, that simply don't have a clue of what cooking is about. They either never tried it or they dislike it or I don't know what their excuse is, but life is so much easier if you know how to cook simple, healthy meals in little time. It doesn't take 2 hours in the kitchen to prepare a decent meal, as many people think. Going out for take away is probably stealing more time from you than cooking your own meal. It all comes to organization, planning and having ingredients in your pantry and fridge. I dare you: what are you going to cook today?

High Tea

I believe the English cuisine not to be the best, but their High Tea can surely please me. The atmosphere, the gestures, the special treats.. there's something that really makes me tick.

Something I make on a regular basis, must be English muffins. They cannot be compared to American muffins (a sort of moist cupcake) at all. They are a type of flat bread, roasted in a dry non-stick pan and split and toasted when you are ready to eat them. I normally make a bunch of 24 English muffins and I keep them in the freezer. Whenever we feel like having one, you just split them open and pop'm in the toaster. Spread some home made lemon curd (another favorite High Tea treat) on top and enjoy!

Lana likes to make scones, although she prefers baked goods that don't need that much time to prepare. When I feel like it, I try to make crumpets or even biscuits. Maybe it's a good idea to invite some ladies for a special High Tea!

Na fiesj moesh kele

Languages are wonderful. So many sounds to enjoy, so many words to learn how to pronounce. A language that has always drawn my attention, is Arabic. I know I will take Arabic classes one day! It's great to be able to say some phrases if you're in some islamic country.

A couple of weeks ago, I was shopping with a friend in Holland. Two Arabic men were in a fierce discussion and they were all wired up. I took a look at them, and said: na fiesj moesh kele - meaning: no problem! and I kept going. They went silent right away, turned their heads, looked at me and laughed. They yelled back: na fiesj moesh kele! It warmed my heart to see their smile and they completely forgot what their discussion was about.

I have an Egyptian restaurant in my neighborhood, where I can practice my Arabic vocabulary. They love to hear me talk and every time I frequent the restaurant, the owner and his family teach me some new words. It's a pleasant pastime.

A red flag

If they would hang up red flags in the beginning of the streets that have shoe shops, it would keep me from buying more shoes.. Honestly! I can't grasp how women can enter a shoe shop without buying any shoes? How do they do that? I mean: what's the fun? Window shopping is not in my dictionary. If I shop, I shop well. Every month, I buy at least one pair of shoes. Mostly high heels. I do own some flat shoes, but I hardly ever wear them. My youngest daughter taught me to keep some ballerinas in my oversized purse, for emergencies only. And that was a good idea. Since I like to shop in Bruges and since cobble stones are not very comfortable to walk on, I do need an extra pair of shoes, to prevent my feet from getting blisters. Diabetics need to take very good care of their feet and my podiatrist warned me about the effect of wearing high heels for such a long period of time.  It's just that I'm so short.. I need those high heels to feel feminine and a bit taller. They make your legs look longer and high heels stretch your calves. They may not be the most comfortable shoes, but they sure make a woman look more attractive..

A couple of years ago, I decided I needed a decent shoe rack. Not one store bought rack could please me and was appropriate to display my shoe collection. So I decided to make my own. It took me no more than 2 hours to draw a plan, go to the timber shop and order the boards and screws I needed. That afternoon, I built my own shoe rack and it came out a whole lot better than I had presumed. The rack holds about 40 pairs of shoes and boots. It's time to build a second rack, matching the first. I had to get rid of quite some pairs since my feet seem to have shrunk. Depending on the discounts I can get, my shoe size ranges from 39 over 40 to 41. My feet tend to swell in the afternoon so by the evening I might need a larger size.

Maybe I should ask the girls to photograph my most favorite shoes. That would be a fun idea! I'm sure they would love that. The more I think of it, the more I get convinced that I need to draw out that second shoe rack.. because I feel the need to check out the sales at my favorite shoe shops..

This is letting go

Photo by Eva Joos

You are so happy! It's wonderful to see the happiness in your eyes.. You and your boyfriend get along real well and I can tell he makes you laugh. He's a fun guy to hang out with and I like to see the two of you have a good time. You even introduced him to your grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins. He's very welcome at any time.

You're growing up so fast now. Us parents have to let go every day. That's okay. Every now and then, we will step back and let you grow and move on. It will make you a responsible and undependable young woman, who will know what she wants in this world. It gives us a good feeling to see you go through that episode to adulthood and to witness your progress. Enjoy! xx

Morning breath

I'm so sorry sweetheart, but you have a terrible morning breath.. And not only in the morning unfortunately. I don't know how to solve this. Do you have stomach problems or maybe a bad tooth? We'll have the doctor take a look at it. You reach over to give me a kiss and it really repulses me. I don't want to pull back, but it makes my stomach twirl. Maybe you should change your diet? It's not that you are a big fan of garlic or smelly cheese or anything. Okay, you don't brush your teeth, I know. That would help a lot, but I've never brushed someone else's teeth. It's kinda weird to do so.
You eat well and I don't hear you groan so I guess it's not a bad tooth after all. It surely doesn't bother you (maybe because you can't smell it!).. I still love you Rebba, even with morning breath.

Not at any price

All the time I hear this same line: you'd better work out. I hate sports! Not at any price will I go to the gym or start to run or dance Zumba. Go ahead, feel free and enjoy yourselves. I'm not going. Period.

It's a shame I don't like sports, I know that. It would make things a lot easier if I would be more of the sporty type. It would keep me in shape and healthy. It's just so boring! I know there are many different kinds of sports and yes, maybe I should try something else. It's just not going to happen, trust me. Working out doesn't give me that rush you people talk about. It doesn't give me any highs. I'm just drop dead after a work out and all I want to do is lay down and cry and be left alone. It leaves me with back pain, sore muscles, crazy bloodsugars and an overall crappy feeling. Nothing wonderful about that.. 

So maybe people need to be a bit more understanding, that not everyone is fitted to do sports. I know I'm not the only one out there. Feel free to do whatever you want, but just let me be the non-sporty type.

PB

I know Belgians are not that fond of peanut butter, but I am, together with the Dutch and the Americans. Peanut butter is nutritious and tasty and I use it on a regular basis. As a dip with apple slices or to make a stirfry sauce creamy. Or just on a piece of toast, with or without jelly. My favorite PB is JIF, the creamy type. Over here, it's not that easy to get it. There's one store in Antwerp where I can buy silky JIF. So I stick to the Dutch brand Calvé, that is a lot chunkier and less smooth. But it'll do.

This summer, during our stay in Kissimmee, Florida, I'm sure I'll have my portion of peanut butter. One of the girls is a PB fan too, the other one refuses to try it. She's more of the chocolate spread type, I guess.

Both whippets are huge peanut butter fans. They get to lick out the empty jars. They're plastic, not glass, so they are safe to play with. They drag the jar into their kennel and for some time, you hear no whippets in the house. They are very quiet while they enjoy their special treat.

I don't want to do anything

What a great day we had yesterday! The weather forecast promised a good time, so in the afternoon we decided to go to the beach. The whippets were not invited. Too hot for them, so we gave them a special treat, a bowl of fresh water and the shadow of their outer kennel.

Since we live that close to Holland, we always go to their beaches. Only half an hour away, peanuts! We packed the car with beach seats, towels, goodies and drinks, new magazines and books to read. The girls were all set in their teeny bikinis and off we went.

We parked the car in a meadow near Palm Beach. That's the name of the beach we stranded on. As we had expected: it was a beach for people who like to run around naked.. Not our cup of tea. The girls protested so we kept on walking until we found a strip of sand where people were wearing tank tops and swimwear. It didn't take us long to fall down and get settled. Time flew by and I nearly finished my book on World War II. We left the kids by themselves to go for grown up coffee in the Beach House. That Jamaican coffee was really good and very relaxing.

It's great to be home and be able to go do things with the family whenever we feel like it. I'm sure the girls enjoyed their day out as well. Hubby planned on working in the garden, but he was glad he joined us after all.

Later that evening, we sat outside on the deck and we played cards. We had a blast! It had been too long since we last played a board game together. That glass of South African Chardonnay was refreshing, after a warm sunny day..

Think outside the box

Flemish people are pretty particular about their food. They like their plate to look as so: boiled potatoes, a nice piece of meat, gravy and some vegetables. It's not always easy to convince them to try a different cuisine for that matter. They don't want to miss out on their potatoes and they are not happy if you skip the meat. Just don't overfeed them on the veggies, because that's the part they like the least.

Am I a real Flemish woman? I mean, I really don't like the traditional Flemish kitchen. I love a more exotic touch to my food and I don't mind to make sacrifices if it comes to meat or potatoes. I do like my greens though.

There are plenty of substitutes for meat, although that's not a word I would voluntarily use. I don't feel the need to substitute my meat. It's not that I'm a vegetarian. I'm more of a flexitarian, meaning I do eat meat, but only when I feel like it. I prefer legumes over meat. How about some lovely kidney beans or wax beans? Lentils and chickpeas? They have so much flavor and no fat. They are very nutritious and yes, they contain quite some calories, but they are healthy and filling. A favorite legume recipe of mine, is hummus. I like to make my own. It's not that difficult and it's so satisfying to make your own chickpea puree. Because that's exactly what it is.

What do we need:

• a can of chickpeas (also called garbanzo beans), drained (save the liquid though)
• 80 ml tahini (sesame paste)
• 60 ml lemon juice, freshly squeezed
• a pinch of salt
• 2 cloves of garlic, pressed
• 15 ml good olive oil
• a pinch of paprika
• parsley, freshly minced

What do we do:

• Blend the chickpeas with the tahini, lemon juice, salt and garlic. Add some of the juice until you reach the desired consistency.
• Transfer the hummus to a serving bowl.
• Drizzle the oil over the hummus. Sprinkle with paprika and parsley.
• Serve with (pita) bread and crudites.

There's nothing you can't be

My little girl is growing up so fast.. Sometimes I still see her as the little girl she once was, but then again, I have to let go of that phantasy and come back to Earth, to see the beautiful young woman she has become.

You have changed so much in the last two years. Being in boarding school, we didn't see that much of each other as I wanted to. I'm sure we missed out on a lot of your activities and we didn't always know what kept you going.

You showed me one of your blogs you're keeping. I was truly stunned.. Wow girlie! You are truly amazing! Congratulations! There's nothing you can't be! I had a great time reading your blog and I will be a follower from now on. I'm proud of you! You are very versatile and your talents are worth mentioning: drawing, designing clothes, making great pictures, being a fashionista and a good friend..
I'm so happy to read you and the fact that you let me in to your blog world, means a lot to me. Keep it up sweetie. You're doing a great job! xxx

Photo by Eva Joos

Dog 'O' Nine Tails

I got to know Lisa Rees on Facebook. Just like us, she adores greyhounds, whippets and all sighthounds. Since she has a webshop, I had already purchased some phone charms with little whippet heads as decoration.

Last week, I ordered two new collars and matching leashes for Rebba and Inthe. They are custom made by Lisa and I must say: she does a very good job! You get to pick the fabric and the width and I asked for matching leashes and to my surprise, not even one week later, the martingales (that's how you call those greyhound collars) and the leashes got here.

The dogs went frantic over their new gadgets and they were ready to go for a walk right there on the spot. I'm real happy with the handmade martingales. The dogs will look their best!

Take a look at Lisa's webshop. Or make her your friend on Facebook: Dog 'O' Nine Tails Store. She's truly amazing!

Changing overnight

Last night, you were just 43 and this morning you turned 44. Just like that! Isn't that strange, that in a snap of your finger, you age one year?

Too bad you have to work today. Keeping that in mind, we treated you in a restaurant this Thursday. Just the 4 of us. You said you didn't want a birthday party. Maybe when you're 50. But not just yet.

You were a little surprised when we handed over your birthday present. The three of us thought it would be nice to get you a new car for your birthday. But since that is a pretty personal gift, we gave you a certificate to pick out your own car. You spend quite some time in your car, driving to Brussels to go to work and although your car is still in good shape, you wouldn't mind trading it in for a newer example. I'm pretty sure you'll stick within the same brand, since BMW is your favorite. You'll make a good choice, no doubt. Although you say that you really don't need a new car, we'll join you to the carshop and help you make the best choice.

Happy Birthday Hubby! Happy Birthday Daddy!

C'est magnifique!

Finally, school's out! The girls did great and studied well for their exams. It's time to relax now and enjoy the upcoming holidays. The schoolbooks of this year need to be returned and new books have to be ordered. Both girls had to decide what they were going to do in September. Lana chose Economics and Modern Languages and we think that was a very wise choice. She's doing so well in school and she's a good student. She's not sure yet about the far ahead future, but she's working on that.
Eva is ready to attend a different school. She'll miss her boarding school and her friends for sure, but she'll get over it. She's a loving girl and she'll get new friends in no time. She and her sister will be riding their bikes to the same school now. Not that they will see a whole lot of each other, since it's a very big school and there are 3000 students, compared to the 340 Eva was used to. Eva has made the best choice for her too: Humane Science will be very interesting for her and I'm convinced she will love the different classes.

I'm looking forward to this summer vacation and to a wonderful time with the family. Congratulations girls! You did real well. We're proud of you!