Heaven is in Belgium

Middelheim Park

2012-02-23T10:36:00.007+01:00

Project 366 # 54

Note to self: Next time I take photographs in Middelheim Park I should include the name of the artist and the title of the work. Unfortunately I forgot to do this!
Anyway, this is one of my favorite works at the park ...

Misconceivable

2012-02-22T12:24:00.004+01:00

Middelheim Museum has acquired the key work from Erwin Wurm’s exhibition Wear me out. The bendy boat, known as ‘Misconceivable’ (2010), has found a permanent home in the museum’s collection.

The work is typical for Erwin Wurm, presenting a form that is familiar and yet subtly different from the reality we expect. This work brings out a sense of doubt and uncertainty in those who observe it: after all, its very title – Misconceivable – demonstrates its likely misinterpretation. Like other works by Wurm, Misconceivable represents an exploration of the limits as well as the opportunities of three-dimensional art, and incorporates both an absurd sense of humour and a bitter undertone of impotence.

The placement of the boot ensures that it will become an important landmark for the museum. The large scale of the work is a remarkable element at the main entrance of the art park in the Middelheimlaan.

In response to the museum’s purchase of this work, Erwin Wurm also donated two others: Pedestal for One Minute Sculptures (2011) and Disziplin der Subjektivität (2011), both of which he created for the Wear me out exhibition.

Food, Glorious Food!

2012-02-21T11:47:00.007+01:00

Project 366 # 52

Foie gras, with an apple pear roquette and endives salad on the side.

Scallops with a tomato, saffron and basil vinaigrette.

Veal sweetbread with salsify and an Armagnac cream sauce.

Moelleux au chocolat.

What did you do this weekend?

2012-02-20T08:50:00.011+01:00

I spent most of Saturday making preparations for the little anniversary dinner we were going to have later that evening. We've been together for 30 years since Wednesday and this called for something special. We had to go to the fish monger, the butcher and the supermarket to get all the necessary ingredients in the morning, and some serious cooking had to be done in the afternoon.
Below you see our second starter, the scallops with a tomato, saffron and basil vinaigrette.
I'll show the rest of the food pictures in a new post tomorrow.

We ate all our favorites, foie gras, scallops, sweetbread and a chocolate moelleux with ice cream for dessert. We drank a lovely Saint Amour with it, there was romantic music ...
My hubby even invited me to dance!

30 years later we're still as much in love as we were the first week we were together!

On Sunday, after breakfast we made a little photo walk in Middelheim Park which is now a bit chaotic because of the renovation works that are going on. We will definitely go back at the end of May when the works are finished. However I did manage to take a couple of photos. I'll do a post on that later this week.

Project 366 #51

But then hail began to poor down, so we had to return home early. I did a couple of small chores at the house, and we spent some time behind the computer editing the photos and preparing yesterday's Weekly Winners post. If you haven't seen it, it's here, I'm quite proud of it, and my hubby is very pleased with it!

Weekly Winners, Love and Romance

2012-02-19T17:15:00.014+01:00

Weekly Winners makes you grab your camera during the week and publish your best photos at the end of the week. It is hosted by Lotus, at I am Lotus.

My favorite photos for this week, I think they speak for themselves ...

Project 366 # 50

Weekend Reflection, The Canal

2012-02-18T17:16:00.003+01:00

Project 366 # 49

This photo was taken with my baby camera. It is just around the corner from where I live.

To see more reflections from around the world, go visit James' Weekend Reflections.

Railroad in Antwerp

2012-02-17T10:13:00.004+01:00

Project 366 #48

RAILROAD, n. The chief of many mechanical devices enabling us to get away from where we are to where we are no better off. For this purpose the railroad is held in highest favor by the optimist, for it permits him to make the transit with great expedition. -- Ambrose Bierce

Bike City

2012-02-16T11:36:00.007+01:00

These bikes are for rent in Antwerp. It is part of public transport. There are 82 bike stations all over the city of Antwerp.
You can buy a day-, week- or year pass online. A day pass will cost you 3€. Biking is free the first half hour, 0.50 € the next half hour and you can use the bike for up to four hours in a row.

I think the bike stations are rather photogenic!
Project 366 #47

Midweek Blues

2012-02-15T15:13:00.004+01:00

Play along with Midweek Blues. Colors, moods, music or poetry, you can be as creative as you like! Midweek Blues is hosted by Rebecca at The Dusty Cellar.

Project 366 # 46

Happy Valentine's Day!

2012-02-14T16:32:00.001+01:00

Happy Valentine's day!

Project 366 # 45

What did you do this weekend?

2012-02-13T10:13:00.007+01:00

We had a long weekend again this weekend, but nothing spectacular happened. We took advantage of the extra time we had together by doing some household chores, like thawing the freezer. It was the right moment for this chore because of the cold. I could put everything outside while we cleaned the freezer, and we got the job done in less than two hours.
Weekly market on Saturday, grocery shopping in the afternoon ... Business as usual ...

Dinner by candlelight on Saturday evening. We had Devil Scampi's.

I made buttermilk crepes for breakfast on Sunday. It's a Weight Watcher's recipe, but it's a real treat with fresh cheese and some fruit.

Project 366 #44

In the afternoon we drove through the port of Antwerp looking for some interesting photos.
We had a drink in a pub in Lillo and I was planning to make some more photos there, but then it began to snow so we headed home instead where I spent some time editing my photos.
So there, another weekend that went by much too fast!

The Port of Antwerp

2012-02-12T18:24:00.001+01:00

My photo for today, the MSC Maureen entering the sluice.

Project 366 #43

Weekend Reflections, At the Arboretum 2

2012-02-11T12:20:00.001+01:00

Another reflection I saw at the arboretum.

Project 366 #42

Friday's Fave Five, Cold Weather Comfort Food

2012-02-10T10:09:00.005+01:00

The week went by much too fast! I can't believe it's Friday again!
Time to look back and share some of the blessings of the past week. Time to join Susanne's Friday's Fave Five at Living to Tell the Story...

1. My photographer's gloves I found at the weekly market. At least now my hands stay warm while I can still operate my camera.
2. The new Phalaenopsis hubby bought me. The other one has dropped all it's flowers, so I cut back the stem, but it's already starting to grow shoots. The new one is a lovely pink one with big flowers.
3. We made an early morning walk on Sunday. It was cold, but it felt good to be outside.
4. I made " hutspot", now that's real cold weather comfort food! It's made with green cabbage, onions, carrots and potatoes. You brown your meat first, remove it from the pot, drain the fat, and put the veggies and the potatoes in. Add some water, put the meat on top of the veggies and let it simmer until tender. Let it rest overnight.
5. Another fave of mine is Chili con Carne. I prepared it before we went shopping and let it simmer while we were gone. The hearty smell of that lovely stew was all over the apartment when we came back! It gave me the coziest feeling!

PS: I almost forgot! My photo of the day, project 366 #41

"Our" Robin

2012-02-09T13:48:00.002+01:00

Remember our robin? I was able to make some more photos of him, again this was shot right through my kitchen window!

Project 366 # 40

Midweek Blues, the Alwine

2012-02-08T07:17:00.001+01:00

Midweek Blues is hosted by Rebecca at the Dusty Cellar. Post (about) something blue ... colors ... moods, music or poetry ... you can be as creative as you like!

The Marina, In the Snow ...

2012-02-07T10:12:00.010+01:00

I know I said I was going to make this a monthly theme, and I have posted photos of the marina only last week, but not publishing these would be a real shame! I took these last Saturday on my photo walk along the canal.
Click this link to see all posts about the marina.

I love this one with the sea gulls,, so this is going to be my photo for the day. Project 366 # 38

The Weekend was Much too Short!

2012-02-06T11:06:00.022+01:00

Monday again, time to share some of the highlights of the weekend that has passed. This fun meme is hosted by Gattina, at Writer Cramps.

My weekend started a little earlier than usual. On Friday it began to snow and my husband's appointments were canceled because of the weather conditions. We had ran our errands before the snow, so we stayed warm and safe inside the house!

On Saturday morning we went to the weekly market where I looked for - and found - a pair of gloves. I call them my photographer's gloves because they keep my hands warm while I can still use my fingers to operate my camera.

They needed to be tested, so I set out on a little photo walk along the canal. No frozen fingers unlike last Tuesday when my hands hurt like hell.

Warming up afterwards with a lovely cup of Gluhwein and the weekend edition of the paper.

I prepared a big pot of "hutspot" which is a stew with cabbage, onions, carrots and potatoes. You bake your meat first, (I used pork ribs) remove it from the pot, add the veggies and some water and and put the meat on top again. Let it simmer on a low heat and rest overnight. It tastes even better the next day.

While that was simmering I prepared the mussels for our supper. After supper we watched some television. We saw Two Weeks Notice with Sandra Bullock and Hugh Grant.

Sunday morning we woke up to this beautiful sunrise.
We got up early because we wanted to do an early morning photo walk in the woods.
We ate a croissant and we were on our way.

I'm submitting this photo as my photo of the day. Project 366 #37

After our walk I fixed us breakfast. I ran out of oranges, so I made grapefruit/orange juice. It tasted heavenly!

The rest of the day was spent editing photos and blogging.

It was my husband's idea to drink an Orval Trappist beer to go with the stew. Delicious.
Needless to say, the weekend went by much too soon!

Baby it's Cold Outside ...

2012-02-05T16:43:00.016+01:00

A cold wave has struck Belgium over the weekend. It started with a little bit of snow on Tuesday, and by Friday evening there was a thick white blanket. Temperatures around -12°C in Antwerp, even colder in the southern part of Belgium. Time to get those snow boots out after all and go out photo hunting ...

Here are my favorite photos of the week!

Project 366, # 36

Weekend Reflections, At the Arboretum

2012-02-04T09:21:00.002+01:00

This photo was taken on our walk through the arboretum last Sunday.

Project 365 # 35

S.N.O.W!!!!

2012-02-03T08:22:00.014+01:00

February already! It's been a wonderful week for me, lots of good moments and little things that made me smile. It's very cold, but the sun is shining brightly. It's Friday again, so it's time to look back upon the week that has passed. Time to join Susanne's Friday's Fave Five and share those simple blessings ...

1. My little baby camera, the Canon IXUS 115 HS. I finally bought the little baby camera I have wanted for so long. My Big Guy is still in the shop for repair. I got a phone call from the shop informing me the cost of repair is going to be € 220! Awww, this is definitely NOT a favorite! I hope I'll get him back real soon, and in the mean time I got my Little Guy to keep me company. I take it everywhere I go, and it's always within reach when I'm home! It does an amazing job, and I love it!

2. A very nice weekend, I wrote a post about it here. It was a very relaxed weekend, nothing spectacular. The photo walk at the arboretum was the highlight of the weekend. I took some beautiful pictures there with my bridge camera, some of which I still need to share in the upcoming days.

3. Snow. Yesss!!! We had S.N.O.W!!! Nothing major though, we did not have to get our snow boots or shovels out, that's why it's in my favorites. It was a very slight dusting, a little sprinkle, just enough to pretty things up a little. As a photographer I was over the moon, and I took my camera to the marina to take some photos of the boats dusted with a little snow. If you're interested to see the pictures, they're here.

4.Decluttering and cleaning my study and my desk. The weather was very bright yesterday, and the sun suddenly revealed how much dust there was around my desk! I like how fresh and clean it now is!

5. In the process of decluttering I found some stuff I had lost. Old snippets of forgotten recipes, I now have all my reading spectacles B-) and in one of the red boxes I keep on my top shelf I found the neckless I had bought at Macy's when I was in Chicago. I've never worn it since I got back, because I couldn't find it! I'm so glad I found it now!

6. This picture, I'm going to make it my photo of the day. I'm amazed how clear this photo is, considering I snapped this right through my kitchen window! It's "our" little robin visiting the feeder. I've been trying to capture a photo of him for a long time, but this little guy is as quick as a flash and I was never quite successful!
A special thanks to the big zoom on my bridge camera, the Canon SX1 IS.

Photo 366 #34

Even where you least expect it ...

2012-02-02T10:07:00.003+01:00

Bikes are everywhere in Antwerp these days. On my last photo walk with my Big Guy, I spotted them everywhere, even in places I least expected it to.
Haven't I told you before you should always remember to look up?

Well ... I did, and look what I found?

My new entry for Project 366 # 33

Midweek Blues, One More ...

2012-02-01T07:13:00.001+01:00

Midweek Blues is hosted by Rebecca at the Dusty Cellar. Make a post with blues in it, moods ... colors, poetry, music ... You can be as creative as you like!

The marina, seen from the other side of the water.
Project 366 #32

Monthly Theme: the Marina

2012-01-31T11:41:00.012+01:00

We're finally getting a little bit of Winter here in Belgium. It's very cold and it snowed yesterday.
I know readers in Canada (and other countries with a cold climate) will probably laugh out loud when they see the amount of snow we had. I know, it's just a little sprinkling, a transparent layer, and it would have melted in two hours had it not been so cold. I went down to the marina this morning to take some pictures to use for my monthly theme and my fingers nearly froze off! My fingers were so numb I could not even push the shutter anymore!

View from the bridge

Even the seagulls look like they're cold!

I was busy taking pictures when suddenly this lady walked up from behind me. "This is going to be perfect for my monthly theme" I thought instantly, and quickly pushed the shutter.
So there ... my photo of the day, my new entry for Project 366 # 31

These photos were taken with my bridge camera, the Canon SX1 IS.
I'm planning on making this a monthly theme. I know it's not February yet, but hey... You can see my first post here.

A Very Relaxed Weekend

2012-01-30T10:17:00.020+01:00

This fun meme helps you to remember what you did during the weekend and it's hosted by Gattina. We had a nice and very relaxing weekend. Because I wanted to toy with my new baby camera, I took a lot of photos, and I thought it would be a great idea to share them through this meme. So here we go ...

Introducing ... my latest toy, the brandnew Ixus 115 HS! I had a lot of fun playing around with it and getting to know this little baby camera. I'm going to make this my new entry for photo 366, not because it's such a great photo, but because I will want to remember when this little baby came into my life. Project 366 #30

I was up early on Saturday morning, had my morning coffee, ate some cereal and played with both my cameras.

When I went out to get a newspaper, the shopping street in my village still looked quite empty.

I usually buy a paper on weekends because I love the weekend edition of this paper. Lots of interesting subjects like recipes, restaurant reviews, travel ... etc.

By then my hubby was awake too, and we went to the weekly market together. I bought cheese and shrimp croquettes and we had them for lunch. Not exactly Weight Watchers style, but hey, after all, we're celebrating the weekend here, aren't we?

In the afternoon I baked a cake. It's a 365 recipe from Weight Watchers. I try to make it a little different each time I bake it. The original recipe is apples and raspberries, but I made apple and cinnamon this time.
In the evening we watched a little bit of television. We saw " the Bucket List" with Jack Nicholson. I had never seen it before and I enjoyed it!

I usually try to make Sunday breakfast a little feast.

After breakfast I made red onion soup. We were going to have leftovers for supper and I thought a nice bowl of onion soup would make the meal complete.

In the afternoon we visited the arboretum in Kalmthout. I wanted to make some winter pictures while practicing the manual settings of my other camera. We made a long walk, my hands were frozen, but it was good to be outside. When we came back inside to have coffee, my camera dropped to the floor. It scared the living daylights out of me, but fortunately, no harm was done. Phewww!
When we got home, we spent some time behind the computer editing the photos and blogging.

The onion soup was very tasty and comforting, and we ended up not eating all of the leftovers. I still have some stew left for today.
So, how was your weekend? I hope it was as good as mine!