Hi! It is 'Martes'

 

 

 

This week's dyptich is composed of two pictures I made last Sunday.

In our coastal village we have some lovely beach clubs and we were having dinner in one of them. From a former visit I remembered there was a huge poster on a frame of a saddhu. When I first saw it I had no possibilities to make a photograph, but this time I took my camera

 

The dinner was to celebrate father's day (without kids, for they live abroad). My husband is of Indian ancestry and though I never went to India myself, I have a keen interest in various topics 'India', it intrigues me, hence the saddhu choice.

 

In the same beach club there are several 'rangoli', painted in white on the concrete floor. Rangoli is an art form, originating in India, in which patterns are created on the floor in living rooms or courtyards. Its purpose is mainly decoration (Wikipedia)

 

 

The food was excellent, as was the service!

All in all this was a very successful Father's Day,in a relaxed beachy atmosphere...

 

Thanks for now,

 

Regina

 



On being inspired

 

Hi!

 

 

Restless Mind

digital collage

 

This is not a time for making art... Not for me, now all things 'summer' are needing my attention.

 

The yard is in full bloom, with our Jacaranda tree in a leading role with its purple-blueish flowers, so lovely!

Reminds me to take pictures today, because very soon it will be over again. Furthermore we have two old rose plants, one in a old fashioned pink color (which I absolutely do not like), the other one bright red. Both plants have been trimmed heavily by me and that seems to do the trick: fully in bloom for the first time since we live here.

 

The garden is a big mess on the backside of our house. We are making new terrasses and a summer house there, where we can have dinners in a comfy setting. It could also be a place for painting, when the weather is too hot inside. But first the mess, inevitable.

 

Our son has been visiting and of course that means quality time with him. Not a time to sit in my studio all alone like a hermit (which I normally love...)

 

But like always there is Inspiration galore!

I found two very inspiring paintings when I was preparing our painting theme of Nothing. The first one was with asemic writing and the second one I was attracted to by its colorscheme.

 

So yesterday, in a lost moment, I managed to combine these pics and compose the above digitial collage.

 

I have called it Restless Mind

for that is somewhat how I feel these days...

 

Thanks for reading, enjoy your day,

 

Regina

 



Christmas in our house

The branch that is hanging on the old orchard ladder below, is from one of our coconut trees.

Rather than buying a real christmas tree that has been transported to our island in an airconditioned container, I like to use what is on hand... going green

I had some gold spray paint lying around and used it to beautify the branches, bring them in
a sparkling Christmas atmosphere...

after some seven years it still feels a bit uncomfortable to celebrate Christmas here. Winter, with all its unconvenience, is imprinted in my genes, I think. Therefore, just a little decoration


here and there

Christmas in a tropical climate: different, yet very festive; slowly I am getting in the mood. Looking forward for the arrival of our eldest son and our daughter.

So happy with the light, the abundance of light. From the sun, from within...

I hope you enjoy these days approaching Christmas

Grtz, Regina

Summer in Holland

The last few weeks we paid a surprise visit to our children in Holland!

Despite our busy agenda, there was time left to enjoy other delicious things like...

the market with plenty of berries and cherries

a short visit to Amsterdam, where even in this urban jungle beautiful
garden holyhocks were to be admired

and of course my favorite Dutch heritage: old mills, this one is in the city of Hoogeveen, in the Northern province of Drenthe

perfect roses in the community borders of Zevenaar

and the mill in this city during the evening twilight.

Of course in July it is daylight untill late in the evening,

something one almost forgets when living in the tropics

Now we're back on our little island. Paradise is everywhere, and at the same time nowhere...

Dutch houses

The city of Zevenaar, where we're staying with our son, is small and quietly situated near the German border. Unlike our island Sint Maarten, where lots of people we meet are from far away, the people in this Dutch city are grounded and tied here. You can feel that when you walk the streets, the people seem to see that I am not from here. This afternoon, on my daily walk, it was slippery and at an unexpected moment I fell, out of the blue. Immediately people came and offered to help me, to give me a ride, and I was not even injured!

I had brought my camera and this is what I saw:

I was so used to this kind of house, but after having lived abroad for several years I now know that this is truly DUTCH style

as is this door: simple yet stylish

and this facade made in brick stone...

downtown Zevenaar...

thanks for joining me today!

Regina

A big surprise!

It was Saturday, July 31, 2010

We had hardly returned from our USA-trip, when our son had to leave for Europe again. One of the traditions on this island, is to make a farewell tour by boat. So my husband had been inquiring (he said...) for possibilities, but due to the low season there were no boats sailing on the usual Friday (he said..). But since he did not want to disappoint us, he had been able to make special arrangements on Saturday, so off we went that day, very, very early in the morning.

When we arrived at catamaran Celine, only the crew was present...

"Are there more people coming to sail with us today?", I remember asking. Yes there might come a few more, DH answered (he said rather absentmindedly...) and all of a sudden they appeared from behind a wall!

the friends that joined us that day for my early surprise BD-sailing party!

After everybody was aboard, we started from the Lagoon with delicious coffee and pastries. Due to the early hour, the coffee was more than welcome ...

a few of our lady guests

the catamaran Celine took us to

this bounty island Tintamarre, that is located some miles out of the east coast of St. Maarten
where we took a swim and a walk, had lunch and a lovely time together

If you click the picture you can see the isle of Anguilla in the distance

and when the sun was getting too hot, we sailed to Creole Rock, which is a gorgeous place to snorkel.

the skipper had to be back at the Lagoon bridge in time for its final opening of the day.

Here is the Sandy Ground bridge, just before we entered the lagoon coming from the sea

We finished this splendid day of sea, sun and sand and laughter (plus delicious food and drinks) enjoying a gorgeous sunset.

Today is the real day that I joined the 6X club.

A huge thank you to my husband and friends who made this advanced BD-party a very special one!

Island treasures

When the girls were about to return to Holland, I felt the need to supply them with some real island treasures...

these pieces of driftwood and seagrape burl had been sitting in a basket on the veranda for quite some time, waiting to be crafted into something, not sure what at the time of gathering, but their final destination became clear to me in a creative outburst, the first one after my vacation in the States!

I simply knotted the pieces with some shells into a hanging ornament

made some little cards of places on the island I knew they had
spent many lazy or active vacation hours

and finished it into this (2x), an instant reminder back home to a great summervaction on our island...

Thanks for visiting, take care!

Regina

Holidays over: back to work!

These young folks have been our guests during the last few weeks: from left to right you see Ronald, Isabelle and Laura. Isabelle is a friend of Laura, Ronald and Laura are our children. One by one they have returned to their busy life in Europe, yesterday was Laura's turn. We have had such a wonderful time with them!!

Now it is back to work, for them and for me too...

I look forward to take up my artistic endavours!

Thanks for visiting today,

Regina

Snow and rain...

No bikes in this weather...

Do we really need to go out today?

'Moi' in the rain in Zevenaar (Holland) this morning

This year...

has been a good one for me, again

No, it's not December 31, I know,

but for me a new year of my life has started today!!

Last year has given me:

- beauty

while living near the ocean on a Caribbean island,

by travelling in foreign countrysides, by meeting lovely people

- creativity

while working in my studio, in sewing, painting, working with paper and glue; this all being possible

because I am free to spend the days as I want to

- inspiration

through the internet, the blogging community, through reading and often simply looking around and being

aware

- health

probably the most valuable of all. I am so glad with my body, that everything 'works' in the

proper way, that it serves me so I can do what I want, without being held back by physical problems

and most of all

- love

from the love of my life, whom I married 37 years ago, from my three wonderful

children, from my friends both in Holland and on the island

I am so grateful for that, happy birthday to me and:

THANKS ALL OF YOU! 

Peyto Lake, July 2009

Banff National Park

Canada

Welcome back!!

May I introduce you to my daughter Laura?

Today one year ago she left the Netherlands for a year of backpacking in Australia. You can read some more in this post. The backpacking adventure came to an early stop because she got ill and eventually had to have a major surgery, of which she fortunately recovered well. Due to visits to doctors and recovering, she has been living in Cairns for the biggest part of her stay in Australia, where she made friends quite easily and has been enjoying the incredible beauty of the Great Barrier Reef as much as she could.

And now, today, she is returning to Holland!

And just like last year when she left, I dread the fact that I can not be there to welcome her back. This is, again, one of these moments that I hate to live so far apart from my children...

But hey, I live on Sint Maarten, which still is a DUTCH island after all, so from this overseas part of Holland I say to you, my sweet Laura,

WELCOME BACK IN HOLLAND

!!!!

We hope you can settle down again without any trouble, and we know that your many Dutch friends will certainly do whatever they can to assist you if need be.

Goodbye Doggy

IF IT SHOULD BE

If it should be that I grow weak

And pain should keep me from my sleep,

Then you must do what must be done,

For this last battle cannot be won.

You will be sad, I understand.

Don't let your grief then stay your hand.

For this day, more than all the rest,

Your love for me must stand the test.

We've had so many happy years.

What is to come can hold no fears.

You'd not want me to suffer so;

The time has come -- please let me go.

Take me where my need they'll tend,

And please stay with me till the end.

Hold me firm and speak to me,

Until my eyes no longer see.I know in time that you will see

The kindness that you did for me.

Although my tail its last has waved,

From pain and suffering

I've been saved.

Please do not grieve -- it must be you

Who had this painful thing to do.

We've been so close, we two, these years;

Don't let your heart hold back its tears.

--- Anonymous ---

Yesterday the vet had to put asleep our dear family friend Doggy. Although our dog has not been a part of my life in the Caribbean, his death brings back so many cherished memories, of years with our children in Holland, living on our farm, of Doggy so very happy and always cheerful in executing his dog-tasks. The poem above tells it all.

Thank you dear Doggy, for all you have given to us, unconditionally

Avatar, me?!

Hi,

As you may well know, our family of five is living in all parts of the world. Our two sons are living in The Netherlands, our daughter is backpacking in Australia and is presently applying for a permanent visa (!), and we, the parents live in the Caribbean...

Thanks to modern communication we manage to keep in touch and updated on a pretty accurate level. One of the programms we use is Hyves.

Today I posted a new picture on my account, since I didn't like the old one so much. Guess what: only a few minutes after this change, I got a reaction on Hyves from our oldest son: "BTW: did you change your avatar"??? Oh dear, me, an avatar??

Long time ago I heard of such a thing for the first time, and from what I remember of those days (I was quite a digibete in those days, compared with today!), it was kind of an ideal women figure, looking like Angelina Jolie somewhat, at least that's what I remember now, that was an avatar... And even now, after so many years, the very first thought that jumps in my mind, is a picture of Angelina (now that is a true Pavlov reaction, isn't it?).

Now, everybody that knows me in person, can confirm that I look everything but her, I'm looking like a typical Dutch lady of my age (I think). which is: strong, solid, fairhaired, not Agelina-lookalike at all. When I looked upon the word Avatar in the dictionary, I got these results:

1. Hindu-religion: descent of a God in the form of a human being or animal ( again: me?!)

2. archetype, embodiment, incarnation (of whom, of what, wish it could be Picasso, his art, not his personality!)

3. exposure, revelation, manifestation (maybe it is this one...)

Just to show that I am a real person of flesh and blood, I have for one time posted a picture...

Pioneer people

When moving last week I came upon an old National Geographic copy from 1986. In it is a story about The Oregon Trail, and when rereading the article I was once again struck by the look on the faces of these early settlers, how tired and hungry they must have been!

Although the situation here at present is not ideal , with the very cold weather, hardly heating in the house (except for one room in the attic, no possibility to cook yet (but we do have a microwave!) and having enjoyed the last shower about a week ago, I think the situation is by no means comparable with the pioneers who were travelling the Oregon Trail in their search for a better life.

We on the other hand have the luxury of plenty of food, a good house that will be quite comfortable in let's say a week, our own wonderful house in the Caribbean that will welcome us in a few weeks and of course the big advances of our time like traveling by airplane and communication through the internet...

It's minus 20 degrees...(Celsius, don't know about Fahrenheit!)

You can see where we were today!

Holland in winter, it is a long time ago since it was cold like this...

Ice on the window in the living room, it really is cold

Today we travelled from Zevenaar (in the eastern part of Holland near the German border where our son is living) to Hoek van Holland, which is in the most western part of this small country. It is a 1 1/2 hour drive. I can on ly say that it was very cold!

Moving into a new home...

Hi,

From tomorrow on our DS1 will be moving into his new home in Zevenaar! We had some problems and the bedrooms are not ready yet, but we will sleep in the attick for as long as it's necessary.

Today I had a day off, because my sinuses are troubling me as they always seem to when I'm in Holland in winter (don't know English words for it, hence the description). But still I have been busy all day: preparing boxes, emptying closets and cleaning. The picture shows the view over my right shoulder, some 10 minutes ago...

Will try to post if communication and the internet allow (transfer tomorrow)

Have a wonderful Sunday!

Vanaf morgen gaat onze oudste zoon verhuizen naar zijn nieuwe huis in Zevenaar! Wij hebben wat vertraging gehad en de slaapkamers zijn nog niet klaar, maar voorlopig slapen we op de zolderverdieping. Vandaag had ik een dagje vrij, want ik had erg veel last van mijn voorhoofdholtes, die schijnen altijd op te moeten spelen wanneer ik 's winters in Nederland ben. Maar ik ben de hele dag bezig geweest : dozen vullen, kasten leegmaken en schoonmaken. Op de foto zie je wat ik zo'n 10 minuten geleden zag toen ik over mijn rechter schouder keek...

Morgen zal ik weer schrijven, als de communicatie en het internet het toelaten (morgen gaat de boel over)

Een mooie zondag gewenst!

Day 8

"My" men

Blue sky in winter: it's freezing in Holland

Wallpaper samples from the hardware store: at present

my only creativity...

Talking about remodelling ...

We arrived in Holland a week ago. First we had to adjust a bit due to jetlag, the very crowded roads, the racing (compared to our relaxed island) and the greyish weather. You get bored by sun everyday too, believe me, but the grey dark weather is definitely not my thing...

But after one day we were back into our usual Dutch 'mode' and this meant: building, getting the job started!

We zijn een week geleden in Holland aangekomen. Eerst moesten we weer wennen; door de jetlag, wennen aan de drukke wegen en het gejakker (vergeleken met ons relaxte eiland) en het grijze weer.

Altijd zon gaat ook vervelen, geloof me, maar grijs en donker weer is absoluut niet favoriet bij mij... Maar na een dag waren we al weer terug in onze Hollandse stand en dit betekende: bouwen, aan de klus beginnen!

Remodelling: Expansion of the bathroom upstairs

Old tiles have been removed, all broken materials carried down in buckets
Can you imagine the dust this caused?New floor with heating in it!

Choices have been made, it will be the tile on the left

This kind of heating is fantastic, your feet are always warm, and so is the rest of your body
And important with the rather small houses in Holland: you do not lose lots of space by central heating elements

And now it is Christmas and I wish all of you a very wonderful day

(and we take a little break)