On my knees

I left work early today to do some work in the garden. There is still so much to do before the gardening season starts. The veranda and terrace are full of branches that we have to make mulch of and there are still trees that we have to prune. I am always a sort of excited when I walk the path to our garden. How will it look like, will everything be ok, will there be something new in bloom? The best way to see it all is on your knees, with your nose just a few centimeters above the ground. I could see the pulmonaria pink haze, the blue crocusses and the white helleborus in bloom. The helleborus purpurascens and the daffodils won't be long. I could already see the buds. The leaves of the acquilegia's and the lady in the bath were just visible. I can't wait for it all to grow. While sitting there two long tailed tits came flying by and a treecreeper worked it's way up the big pine tree. How beautiful nature is! 

While sitting in my garden house contemplating what would be my next gardening project I decided I might as wel stack some cups and plates to join Irma's Stapelen op vrijdag.  I hope it won't be long before I can use it all again for a tea party. I plan to host one in May or June and perhaps invite some blogfriends who live nearby.

Today is the day that I would announce the winner of my giveaway. This time the book will be send to Germany, to Susi from Susi's gelbes Haus. Susi congratulations to you!! Will you please mail me your name and address so that I can send 'Bazaar Style' on it's way?!

All the other ladies thank you very much for taking part in my giveaway and leaving comments on my blog. Unfortunately I haven't been able to reply to you all. I am sorry about that, but I hope you will forgive me.

I wish you all a wonderful weekend!

Lieve groet, Madelief 

The Mad Hatters tea party

Finally I found some time to join Irma's party 'stapelen op vrijdag'. I emptied my dresser and was amazed at the amount of cups and plates I had collected over the years.

My eighteen year old daughter watched me put all the porcelain on the table. She had a grin on her face and was shaking her head. A blogging mother is one thing, but a mother who piles cups and plates and takes photographs of it is something else.... I have a feeling it will take a while before I will be taken seriously again! Anyway, I made the piles and the photographs and had a huge mess on the table afterwards. According to my daughter it looked like the Mad Hatters tea party from Alice in Wonderland. She was right!

In between I had some time to finish my cup of tea and enjoy the magazine that Anja from the blog Sofies Haus sent me. Inside the magazine is an article about Anja's blog! Anja, once again thank you for sending me the Wohnidee. I enjoyed your article and the magazine very much!

I also want to welcome my new followers and say thank you to you all for leaving comments and taking part in my giveaway!

I wish you all a happy weekend! I am off to see The Kings Speech! Have you already seen it?

Lieve groet, Madelief

Love's Philosophy

The fountains mingle with the river

And the rivers with the Ocean,

The winds of Heaven mix for ever

With a sweet emotion;

Nothing in the world is single;

All things by a law divine

In one spirit meet and mingle.

Why not I with thine?

See the mountains kiss high Heaven

And the waves clasp one another;

No sister-flower would be forgiven

If it disdained its brother;

And the sunlight clasps the earth

And the moonbeams kiss the sea:

What is all this sweet work worth

If thou kiss not me?

By Percy Bysshe Shelley

Wish you a day full of love! Happy Valentine's Day!

Lieve groet, Madelief

Top Hat, White Tie and Tails

One of the main events in Rotterdam during the summer is the festival of romantic music. We try to visit every year. The festival is held in one of the cities major parks. There are perfomances throughout the park all day. From popular romantic music to piano recitals and gypsy.

What I like most about the festival is the atmosphere, the way the people dress up for the event. Early in the morning the first festivalgoers arrive carrying chairs, tables, complete sofa's and even chandeliers. They all look for the perfect spot on the grass. It's all about 'to see and being seen', about looks and dress. Men wearing top hats, white tie and tails and women wearing the most beautiful dresses and extraordinary hats. Although I have never been to Ascot, I think our Rotterdam festival has an 'Ascot' feel to it, but without the horses :-)!

Let me show you some pictures of last years event.

What I would love to know is: what is your favourite event?

Wish you a happy Wednesday!

Lieve groet, Madelief

Garden of the year

At the end of last year the prestigious English Garden magazine 'Gardens Illustrated' and the London Garden museum selected 'Villa Augustus' in Dordrecht as 'Garden of the Year' 2010. The chief editor of the magazine called Villa Augustus one of the most remarkable gardens she had seen in years. I agree with her, it is a very special garden!

My husband and I visit Villa Augustus at least three times a year. Not only to enjoy the gardens, but to have lunch or tea in the restaurant as well. Even in winter the garden looks beautiful. It reminds me of a saying: 'a garden that is beautiful in winter will rarely be dissappointing in other seasons'.

I have already shown you some photo's of the garden in one of my older posts, but I love to show you some more. The photo's were taken in July, August & January. I hope they will inspire you to visit the garden when in Holland!

Don't forget to sign up for my giveaway!

Happy weekend to you all! Lieve groet, Madelief