Allotment garden

Yesterday we made a walk in the neighbourhood and passed some allotments gardens.

They looked so pretty and well taken care of. That brought back memories of our own experience with an allotment garden.

When we moved in 1979 from Amsterdam to a new built city Almere in the Flevopolder, we could hire an allotment garden in our neighbourhood. Optimistic as we were we, both born city people,  decided to grow our own vegetables.

We could choose for a small or a big garden, well you guess, we went for the big one! With no knowledge of gardening we planted tomatoes, potatoes and many vegetables, all lined up in rows.

We hadn't realized that with the growing vegetables also a lot of weeds are growing as well, even faster than the vegetables. At the start it was fun to eat you own products but with two little kids around and a husband working all day, it  became a challenge to find the vegetables between all that weed. We had not enough time to handle such a garden and gave up in the end.

Sofietje

When  I have no inspiration, there is always Sofietje saving my blog post for today.

Monday Mural

A mural at the Rolling Kitchens festival in Amsterdam last June.

Here a closer look. Linking to "Monday Mural"

People

A few leftovers of the Pride Canal  Parade two weeks ago. What people do to have a good look over the crowds.

Can I have my bag please?

Thank you!

Still standing.

Herons

A heron in Artis the Zoo. They don't belong to the inhabitants of the Zoo but many of them like to fly in to have a nice fish snack.

Here they visit the Pelicans.

The penguins have recently got a net around their residence to ward off the herons.

Linking to "Saturday's critters"

Decorations

In the run-up to the Pride Canal Parade in Amsterdam, the city was already decorated with  banners along the canals.

Every window here had a LBJ coloured hart.

Rainbow coloured garlands.

A little umbrella at a sculpture.

Gulls

Sea gulls at the Museumsquare in Amsterdam.

We see them more and more in Amsterdam.I read they find a lot of food here, because many people throw not eaten food away in the streets or open bins. They have become real fastfood snackers!

Flower bridge

The bridge opposite  the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam

is itself a painting.

Dutch Mountain

We have a mountain in Almere. It used to be a heap of waste, but has turned into a green mountain you can walk up. The sheep love it too.

And walk up the path with you.

Come on!.

The path circles up to the top.

These are half way.

There are signs aside you can see how far you are.

We made it to the top with a fancy seat to take a rest. The view is not specatacular, only green trees, so I didn't make a photo.

Linking to "Our World Tuesday"

Monday Mural

A mural of Dino with a lot of teeth. Seen at the KNSM former shipyard area in Amsterdam.

Linking to "Monday Mural"

Rembrandt (2)

Today a few more of the Rembrandt portrait exhibition I showed you ""here" last Saturday.

This one "Selfportaits at a young age" made me smile. Jildou de Jager is the artist.

This one is from a real talented painter "Remy Diephuis".

And this one I liked very much too, so many talented people making all this at home.

Reflection

A reflection seen from an art gallery in Almere with a look over the Weerwater.

Linking to "Weekend Reflections"

Fountain

In the garden of the Rijkmuseum in Amsterdam it is always fun with the fountain. The boy hesitated, but his sister had no doubts. When you step in time in the centre you don't get wet, and you are surrounded by the water.

She is almost invisible, he is a still a bit worried....

Statement

"Ode to the pig" is the name of this artwork made by "Jantien Mook" at the Museum square in Amsterdam.The traveling pig makes a leap of joy. A leap to the freedom that every animal deserves. Ode to the pig is the symbol of one of the largest animal welfare campaings ever: the European citizins' initiative against the use of cages in animal livestock husbandry.

Painting class

When I visited the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam last week to see the exhibition of Rembrandt, I walked through the garden around the museum. There was a painting class for amateurs to practise their skills.

Serious business.