Pass the tissues please

Photo by Lana Joos

You have been playing the flute for 6 years now and you're still enjoying it. There's even a small chance you will get an upgrade and join the adult music group in town.

There was a concert in Assenede in April and there will be another one in our town in May. We're so looking forward to coming to see and hear you play! I'm sure grandma and grandpa will be there too.

On the concert in April, you were asked to take pictures and you did real well. I'm so proud of you for being such a good photographer. Look at how you portrayed the singer present at the concert. You did a very good job at catching her emotions. Never doubt your talent, girl. You're getting better after every photoshoot you make.

I'm sure grandma and I will need some tissues during the performance. To be honest, I find it very emotional to see your child play an instrument and see her enjoy the play. And it's a boost to her, to see that we support her in what she does, by coming to her concerts and cheering for her. You go, girl!

ボナペティ

What a blast we had, at this sushi workshop in Aalst!

Shopping around in Aalst, I had found a small Asian shop. Since I'm so in to Asian food, it was a true joy to look around and pick up all those tasty Asian ingredients. At the desk, some fancy business card got my attention. It said:

Charlotte Van Schuylenbergh

Duivekeetstraat 54

B 9300 Aalst

+32 486 42 86 12

charlotte@sumosushi.be

www.sumosushi.be

Sushi Workshops

I had made sushi before, but I had never seen anyone make it professionally. I did watch some YouTube clips, but it's not the same. There are some specific techniques to make the perfect sushi and getting some extra information on the ingredients is very interesting to say the very least.

So I asked around to see who was interested in taking a sushi workshop with me. I didn't have to ask twice: right away, two sisters-in-law pointed their index in the air and yelled: we want to join you! And off we went..

Charlotte appeared to be a very energetic, attractive and fascinating personality. She was absolutely extroverted and eager to teach us all about the art of making sushi. Because it definitely is an art!

Six studious ladies were ready to roll up their sleeves and get going. Charlotte had 4 different types of sushi in mind for us. The first sushi roll we made, was a Maki roll, meaning it had nori (Japanese dried seaweed) on the outside and rice, crab sticks, strips of cucumber and yellow daikon (pickled horseradish) on the inside. That is the sushi roll most of us know and it's probably one of the most favorite ones as well. I must say: our rolls came out real well!

The next roll, I had never seen before: a Temaki roll or a cone shaped sushi roll, filled with rice, lettuce, raw salmon, avocado and black sesame seeds. A Temaki roll is packed in nori. Did you know that nori has more vitamin C than oranges? Don't be surprised to get a parcel of nori on Japanese airplanes instead of the more boring and fattening salted peanuts.. After all, the Japanese tend to be more healthy than us.. There's less heart disease and cancer in Japan than over here. So maybe it's time to get a grip and eat more Japanese food?

My favorite sushi was definitely the Uramaki roll: an inside-out sushi roll. It takes some skill to make an Uramaki roll, but we did it and it came out perfect! We sprinkled some panko (Japanese breadcrumbs) and black sesame seeds on top of the rice, before we flipped it over to spread a spicy tuna salad on the other side. We rolled it up "inside-out" before we sliced it into 8 equal pieces. The crunchiness of the slightly toasted panko gave it just that something extra that I really enjoyed.

Our last sushi roll was a Nigiri roll. Those were real easy to make: a small egg shaped ball of rice, topped with a thin slice of raw salmon or tuna or even a square piece of Japanese omelette (baked in sesame oil and seasoned with soy sauce, salt and sugar - love it!!). A small ribbon of nori held it all in place.

All sushi rolls were to be eaten with chop sticks and were accompanied by soy sauce, fresh wasabi (I'll never have the tubed wasabi again) and pickled ginger. I'm a big fan of ginger, especially the pickled version. I did skip on the sake, because we had a one hour drive ahead of us, but I'm sure I'll have some next time. Maybe we'll have a workshop at my place then!

If you feel the urge to learn how to make your own sushi, feel free to contact Charlotte and tell her I said hi!

Drama queen

We know you're not fond of other dogs. Neither one of you. Whippets are known to be true racists, meaning they bond well with their own breed, but they are not very keen on meeting other dogs.. They are something else, that's for sure!

Last week, when I came home from a visit to Grandma's, I let the dogs out of the trunk. And bam! I didn't see her come, but there she was: elegance to the top! Farida is a gorgeous Afghan hound who lives in the neighborhood. I knew where she lived, but I had never seen her before. It was about time our girls got to meet her. But that was a bummer. Rebba and Inthe had no intention to meet Farida.. They barked at her, despite Farida's attempts to be gentle and humble. Farida even kneeled down to come to their level, but I had to put them inside until they stopped making a fuss. It gave me some time to talk to Farida's owner and his daughter. What a lovely family and what a beautiful, well maintained dog. I fell in love with her right away!

After a while, I called Rebba and Inthe to introduce them to their new friend. They were still very hesitant to come outside, but I could tell Inthe was curious. Rebba was not that willing and didn't trust the situation at all. I comforted her and told her it was okay. She seemed more relaxed after some time and finally they met. They sniffed each other and touched noses. I was so happy to see that! It would be great if they could meet up every now and then to race around the socker field!! If only Rebba wouldn't be such a drama queen. For the rest of the night, she ignored me. Did she really think I was going to trade them for the Afghan? Absolutely not!!! They are my babies and I would never give them away. So relax Rebba. You and Inthe are still my number one!

An upgrade

Photo by Lana Joos

For a few years, Hubby has been on the look out for a new housing area for our three turtles. They keep growing bigger and the sandbox they usually sit in during summertime, has become too small. They truly needed an upgrade! After having surfed some time on the Net, Hubby came up with some good ideas.. so he went shopping..

To our pleasure, all three creatures are very happy with their new habitat. They have a nice pond now, where they can actually swim and enjoy themselves. They are having the time of their life! Especially in these warm days, they like to crawl out of the water and get a tan. Quite often, they sit on top of each other, making a pyramid of turtles. They stretch out their limbs and close their eyes while the sun dries their shield. Lana likes to observe them and take their picture. She's not a fan of picking them up, but that's okay. After all, turtles are not the kind of pet we tend to cuddle..

A picture perfect family

Last night, we took the girls out to dinner. Since Easter break has come to an end, we wanted to treat them to a nice supper. It took us some time to find a nice place to go to, since many restaurants are closed on Mondays in this area, but we finally came up with a restaurant that was even pretty nearby our house.

The weather was still good enough to sit outside on the deck. Our shoulders showed a bit of a sunburn, but that's part of the time of the year. We decided we were going to have asparagus and smoked salmon as an appetizer and chateaubriand as the main course. Dessert was lovely as well: mango and raspberry ice cream packed in a basket of dark chocolate. It was getting a little chilly by the time we got our desserts, but we were prepared and put on our jackets and little vests.

It was fun to go out together. It had been a while and all four enjoyed dinner and a pleasant evening. We do believe our kids deserved a nice ending of their vacation, since they did well in school and they helped out at home. Thanks hubby, for treating us!

Here comes the sun

Don't you just love those sunny days? They sure cheer me up! People tend to be more pleasant if the sun's out and I don't blame them. I love to wake up with sunbeams peeking through the blinds. The game of light playing on the bedding is a game I like to watch. I enjoy the early twitter of the birds outside our window (I don't consider jackdaws birds - I hate jackdaws for they poo on my car). It makes me think of Portland, Oregon, where Blue Jays would sing their song to me early in the morning.

This summer, we'll have a whole lot of sunshine when we will go to Florida as a family. We are really looking forward to that vacation. This time, nobody will be home to take care of the pets, so they'll go to their respective dog and cat moms. Our neighbors would be happy to look after them, but we don't want to bother them. We know how big the responsibility is, to look after someone else's pets. They'll do just fine in pet daycare.

I already got myself a new swimsuit. The girls might need new bikinis too I guess. After all, we won't need much more than swimwear, shorts, shirts and sandals in Florida. Four more months to go.. we're getting there..

All is well

Those are the words I would like to hear from you. You had surgery this Tuesday and I haven't been able to come see you yet. Are you okay? I hope it wasn't too painful. Did you get sufficient pain relief?

Take your time to heal. You will be home from work for a little while. Time to catch up?

Let's call it a night

I'm exhausted. My left ear hurts and I have put some cologne on a cotton swab before I stuffed it in my ear. Most of the time, that helps to make an early infection go away.
There's not much going on on TV. I think I'll take a bath. Sounds tempting. A hot bubble bath to soak my tired body until wrinkles on my fingers tell me it's time to get up and dry myself with a fluffy warm towel. I might read some or listen to Michael Bublé. Would I finish that bottle of Chardonnay that is sitting in the fridge? Maybe I'll have a good night's rest then? We'll see..

Quality time

I decided it was time to spend some more private time with the family. So we planned a day out in Aalst.  I had been in Aalst quite a few times in the last couple of months, but I had never taken my family there. The girls heard about the numerous shops and Hubby liked the idea of sitting outside on the market square, a cup of coffee in front of him, watching the crowd go by.

The sun warmed our faces and it was a joy to walk around town and in to so many shops. Our hands full of bags, we sat down for lunch and took some time to stretch our legs. Shopping is exhausting, isn't it?
The girls needed new summer shoes, Hubby was happy to find new tennis trainers and I treated myself too! A girl can never have too many shoes, can she?

We got some new outfits as well. We're ready for summer!! I enjoyed this family day and the satisfying faces of the other three told me the same thing. It's a great feeling to be able to treat your family on an outing. Spending time together with my family, was as satisfying, I must say.

Loyal as a dog

As soon as you put on your clothes, little Inthe stands right beside you. She just knows - she's trained well - you are going to take both of them for a long walk. She doesn't loose track of you for one second. Rebba is more relaxed. She's more patient and she won't come out of bed until she hears the clinging sound of her ID dog label against the leash. And then they go wild! They jump up and down on the couch, race around the house and wag their tails like crazy!! That is - if the sun is out.. You won't see Rebba jump up and down out of joy on a rainy day. She will hide her head behind the pillows, pretending not to be there. Inthe doesn't mind bad weather, if only she can go out and have fun. But don't you try taking only one dog for a walk! They go mad if you leave one behind!!! They are like BFF, always wanting the other one around.

I love to watch them walk on the leash. One right beside the other, like Siamese twins without actually being attached to each other. They're doing better than a couple of months ago. Inthe used to bark at any dog, cat or person coming by. The dog whisperer was very helpful in that manner. We now tell them in advance we have seen that dog in the distance and they comprehend they no longer have to warn us for upcoming danger. That's a good thing, because I hate it when they bark and jump up when people approach us. We're getting there!

Mystery solved?

Most of you readers are familiar with Facebook, aren't you? It's a good way to find old friends and to keep up with friends and family that don't live that nearby. Every now and then though, strangers try to contact you. You have never heard of them but still they want to be your friend? I find that very weird and it rarely happens that I let them in. I mean, after all, I do know my friends and if you're not one of them or if I'm not ready to get to know you, why would I add you to my list of friends? I don't get that.. I see people who have 400 Facebook friends, but how many of those do they actually know? 10? 25?

There was this person who tried to contact me. Her profile showed a little white dog. I had no idea who she was (maybe it wasn't even a she but a he??), but she (let's assume it was a she) claimed she knew me. How she knew me, was not something she wanted to share. Hello? Does my forehead read STUPID? So I declined her friendship request. I don't like it when people play games with me.

To my surprise, she contacted my diabetic friends and many of them added her to their friendship list. For the simply reason she told them she knew me? How sick is that? I asked around and nobody who added her actually knew who she was. No more information than that she knew me (which she doesn't). Internet is a terrific way to go around, but it also attracts weird people, that enjoy intruding the life of others...

What's love got to do with it?

Everything! Nothing matters more to children, than being loved. Not the most expensive game neither the newest toy is that important, that kids would trade if for the love they crave...

We have been thinking about what to get you for your 69th birthday, grandma. Eva came up with the idea of giving you some framed pictures of all of your 9 grandchildren. Because that's what's most important to you, grandma: family.. You love all 5 of your children and their partners and you would do anything to please your grandchildren. You're awesome! Our girls love to come over and spend time with you. You are a very loving person and all 9 of your grandchildren are treated equally. Although you're the godmother of our youngest, you love our oldest daughter as much. Thank you for doing so!
Our girls like to go through your drawers and wardrobe, and you even let them try on your wedding dress and pearls. Whenever Lana has a dance or music performance, you're the first one in line to get tickets to come see her. You always stand up to clap your hands and cheer. That means so much to a child and they are so lucky to have you.

Have a very happy birthday, grandma! We hope you enjoyed your present and Eva's famous chocolate moelleux!

Looking hot

Photo by Lana Joos

Look at you, Eva. You have changed so much since you turned 14. Being a teenager was something you looked forward to. Being 14 is so different from being 13. Being in second grade is a whole lot more interesting than the previous class. By now, you know your way around in school. We were pretty proud of you, for being the second best of your class, when you handed over your last report card. You and your sister are good students and you do your best. That's exactly what your teacher told us!

For nearly two years now, you have been in boarding school, the school of your choice. It's time to make a choice for the upcoming year. Will you make a choice that will allow you to stay in this school, or will you choose something else and leave your school? We don't know yet and neither do you. One day you say you want to stay, the next day it's the other way around. It's difficult to make choices in life, isn't it? Especially if you have no idea what to expect. How are you supposed to know whether you will like Economics or not? I totally understand your hesitation sweetie.. It's not easy at all. But I'm sure we'll work things out and you'll make the best choice for you.

You drive a fast car

Today is your day. Your godfather has invited you to go karting. You're turning 11 in June and you're totally fascinated by cars. That may sound typically boyish, but it flatters you. I'm sure you're pretty excited about this event, as is your godfather. A professional will tell you all you need to know about the car you're going to drive. I assume your hands will be quite sweaty, but you won't admit that. You're a proud young man and there's some macho behavior bubbling to the surface. That's okay, don't worry about it. It's probably something hormonal.

Have a blast kiddo! You'll have the time of your life! We'll be there to cheer on you!

Talk to me

Photo by Lana Joos

If only you could speak.. what would you say? I often wonder what you're thinking. Is it so, that animals don't have a mind of their own? Or are they brighter than we could possibly imagine? I honestly believe that you understand a lot of what we say. There's definitely a sixth sense present in you, dogs. Sometimes, you give me that sad puppy look that we just can't resist. You know when your bowl will be filled with food or when it's time to get your leash to go for a walk. When the clock ticks away and the leash is still dangling on the hook, that's when you give me that sad puppy look. You stare at me and if you could sob, you would.. 

You have a body language of your own. Your ears are pointed and your posture still like a statue, when you hear a noise you don't like. When you are all excited, your ears are all over your face and the tail that is mainly hidden between your hind legs, finds its way out to wag and whip my legs. Sometimes, you post your front legs on my shoulders to give me a hug or maybe you just ask to be cuddled?

Sometimes, it's good to be silent like a dog. To think, without speaking. To listen, without judging. To be quiet when others are talking. Sometimes, I wish I could be a little more like you. Just every now and then..

A safe harbor

Photo taken by Lana Joos

Every body needs a safe harbor to call its own. That harbor may be different for every one of us. It can be a place or a person or a state of mind you like to make your own.

A safe harbor is something special. A place you want to keep sacred and private. It's a place you can turn to, when things are getting hectic or scary or uncomfortable. It's also a place without fears, without borders. It's a place where you can be whoever you are, without the fear of being laughed at. It's like coming home, but more intense.

We should all have a safe harbor. It must be a comforting thought to know that you have a place or a person you feel completely safe with. Someone you can trust your deepest secrets to. Someone who will not judge you or ridicule you for your innermost thoughts. Doesn't matter if it's a place or a person: your safe harbor is whatever you feel comfortable with..

Handicapable

I'm a big fan of positive thinking and ditto reinforcement. Some words have a negative sound to them, so I try not to use those. Just to give you an idea: how does the word "handicapped" make you feel? Is it a positive feeling or rather a negative experience? Exactly.. So when I first heard the word handicapable (did you know Sue Sylvester - the awful coach in Glee - used the word??), I immediately knew I was never going to use the word handicapped again. Because even disabled (we need to come up with a more positive word for disabled too) people have their qualities. So why not call them handicapable?

Do you use more positive sounding words to replace the negative ones? Let me know! I'm always in to learning new words!

No-one to turn to

What must it be like, if you have absolutely no-one to turn to? Nobody to talk to or share your life with? To be honest, I have no idea, but it intrigues me. Is the human kind made to live by themselves or were we designed to have partners in life?

Life isn't always easy. Some days are less fun than others. It is good to come home and have someone to talk to. It's good to have a partner who's interested in what you do. Someone who's excited about your coming home. Someone to come home to.

Imagine not having anybody at all, like Remi, All alone in the World. How would you cope? Would the solitude drive you nuts or would you welcome the silence with open arms? What about meals? Would you enjoy having dinner all by yourself or do you always look forward to having dinner with your beloved ones? But what if you really don't have anyone? Is that something that you could have prevented or something you should've worked on more? Are we - people - becoming too picky when it comes to finding a partner for life? Or is that lifetime partnership nothing but a utopia?

I know it would ruin me. To live all by myself, I mean, without anyone to talk to. I need my social life. I really do. It fulfills me and it makes me happy and life worthwhile. Because after all: we are so tiny on this planet. We are nothing but dust. We are so fragile and meaningless at the same time. So if you can make your life worth living, why wouldn't you do it? It's so wonderful to live and be. It's a joy to help others and support them. To matter to someone else. That's what makes life good. It is what makes the world go around..

A second opinion that changed your life

It was 2008, when the doctors told you your life was going to end soon. Cancer had intruded your body and was eating its way through. You were not ready to give up yet, because that's just who you are. So you decided to get a second opinion in a different clinic. Your new oncology team was more hopeful. They didn't tell you you were going to die somewhere soon. They didn't tell you you would beat the cancer either. They just told you, they were not going to give you up. They talked to you and your family and tried to find a method that would help you feel better. They couldn't take away the C word, but three years later, you're still here..

I finally managed to pick up that phone to call you. But not until I read your message on the Internet.. meaning you were still alive. Not well, but alive. That's when I decided to call you... Your lovely wife picked up the phone and by the tone of her voice, I could hear you were having a very, very hard time. I could hear the tears crack in her voice, but at the same time, she was happy I called.. We talked a little and she informed me about your condition. Your sight is leaving you.. your legs are giving up too. Most of the time, you lay down to nap. But the one thing you won't give up, is to have visitors. So yes, you said I could come over and visit. I wanted to make sure the visit wouldn't be too hard for you. That's when you told me you would really look forward to my visit. Yes, it would tire you out, but you didn't care. You want people over to come see you and talk to you. Although you can't say much yourself - you're really short of breath - you love to have people over and listen to their stories. It helps you forget the C-word for some time...

I know it will be my last visit. I heard your voice.. You're no longer a strong bear, but a tiny, little, fragile bird... Deep down, I could hear your humor and that warmed my heart. Despite the pain -  morphine doesn't take away all of the pain - you can still make jokes. I love you buddy... See you on Thursday x

It takes two

Photo taken by Lana Joos

Need I say more?

The children are home for Easter break. I'm glad to have them around and do fun stuff together. They are loving and caring and I feel blessed for being their mom. The calendar is overloaded, since the girls want to meet up with friends as well as hang out with us and their family. Grandma can't wait to welcome them for sleepovers and they are looking forward to spending some time with their grandparents, nieces and nephews.

The older the girls get, the better they get along. It's heart warming to hear them laugh their hearts out and enjoy a good time. I like the time they spend in the bathroom together, exchanging tips about beauty and hygiene. How they compliment each other with their new outfits and their hair styles. It's great to have two daughters. They bring us so much joy!