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Today I made a quiche with courgette flowers from the garden. I
used a recipe from Ottolenghi's book "Plenty More". Delicious
and highly recommendable!

for sarah

For Sarah, camomile flowers. When I see them, I always think of you
and the summer times when we went to the pasture to pick the flowers. You
washed your hair with them, to lighten it.
And I, as a little girl, looked at you full of admiration. My older cousin
who knew everything, who was the coolest girl I knew.
When we became older, the age difference became less apparent. I'm happy
that we are not only nieces, but also true friends.
Happy birthday Sarah!

weekend

Some pictures from this weekend; expo textile design in Gent (work
by Babs van den Thillart), on the beach with Flynn and open days in
Katy's school (more here).

joanna reuse

Some pictures I made on the exhibition of Joanna's graduation, 

last Saturday.

More info and pictures here an here.

being a mom

It's still difficult to get used to the fact that I will be a mom in three
months. Besides all the positive comments, people also warn me;
"your life will change", "you will be tired", "you will no longer have any
time for yourself",...
Sometimes I feel insecure: "how will I manage?", but in the end I
know I'll do fine.
Pictures above are slides taken by my dad, from when I was little
while giving my doll the bottle.

shearing jade, pipa and kate #2

It was almost one year ago that Jade, Pipa and Kate were shorn.
As you see here, last year JJ and Robert did the job. This time
an experienced shearer came. JJ couldn't help him, because he
was at work, but luckily our neighbors, who also have sheep,
came to give a helping hand.

the baby room

After many weekends working, the baby room is finally finished.
We had to paper and paint the walls, sand and paint the floors,...
I'm so happy with the result.
Before, I always looked with astonishment to pre-mums who were
stressed about "the babyroom has to be ready". But since I'm pregnant,
I also want everything to be ready before my boy is here. I have to
admit, I have nesting urge.

hirven jälki

JJ's mum and dad when to Finland and brought us an organic soap 

with a moose hoof print. 

That made me think of a serie drawings and paintings I made when 

I was twenty. Images of moose and reinders and myself, based on 

stories I invented when I was a child.

visboek

Another beautiful thing I discovered on the exhibition 'The World in 
a Mirror', was the fish-book from Adrean Coenen.  Beautiful drawings
of sea creatures.
More about Adrean Coenen and his book, here and here.

maps of the world

Sunday we went to an exhibition, The World in a Mirror, at the MAS. 

What struck me the most is how different people view 

and display the world, depending on where they live, their religion,...

The last map, by artist Mona Hatoum, shows us the Peter's projection. 

This protection correctly represents the size of the countries.

1. Arabic map of the world (a twelfth-century copy of a tenth-century 

map) by Abu Ishaq Ibrahim ibn Muhammad al-Farisi al-Istakhri, 

probably Iran, 1193 

2. Nansenbushu Bonkoku Shoka No Zu (Map of the world), Rokashi 

Hotan, Japan, 1710

3. Portolan chart from European coasts, Bartolomenu Lasso, ca. 1588

4. Projection (velvet). Mona Hatoum, 2013 

New lands (by nikola Madzirov)

One should scrape the wall
over which dampness has drawn
a map of the new world
and new separations should be applied.

Beneath them, the stones should be
rearranged haphazardly, like
the footprints of a man running from his fears.

One should be
a round mirror in an half-open palm
and reflect others' embraces
as sharp as scissor blades which touch each other
only when there's something to be cut.

New lands should be invented,
so one can walk on water once again.

oma in the garden

Everyday, if the weather permits, oma is resting in the garden. 

If it's really hot, just like yesterday, she lays in the shadow of 

the trees. 

If it's a bit colder, like today, she wears a scarf and a winter cap. 

visiting farther bruin

JJ and his sailing friends bought a boat, Farther Bruin. It's an old half 

ton racing yacht, made in 1977. The boat's name is derived from his 

designer, Bruce Farr and it's also a reference to an Norwegian tale. 

I saw the boat yesterday for the first time and I loved it! They still 

have a lot of work to get it in optimal condition. I hope they get 

it ready soon, so we can make some trips in the summer holidays!

Pictures below, are from the construction of Farther Bruin back in 1977.