New adventures

Hello!

It's been ages since I wrote last. I hope you are still out there, and well? Sorry it took such a long time for this post to appear, but once I put my laptop in the cupboard, it was difficult to get it out again.

The last couple of months I made some major decisions. One of them is to sell my garden. We spent nine happy years there, but it's time for a change. The garden really is too large for me to handle, and although the girls help me my out as often as possible, it's not enough. So it's a few tears, but a smile as well for New adventures are to begin.

The photo's in this post were partly taken in Delft, one of my favourite towns, on a hazy day about two weeks ago. The town looked magical with the December decorations already up.

The cake on my photo's is a Pistachio coconut and lime cake. It's an easy bake and absolutely delicious! You can find the recipe here.

As you know I have a love for vintage dresses. The ones in my photo's are from the late sixties/early seventies. I found the brown dress with the golden pattern in a tiny shop in Haarlem. I wish I could tell you the name, but I simply forgot. The dress with the black and brown graphic pattern and black belt was bought in Edinburgh (Armstrong & Son). I think they are both late sixties/ early seventies. Do you have a thing with vintage clothes?

Wishing you lovely days ahead!

Love,

Madelief  X

If you would like to see more, please check out my Instagram account 'madeliefblog'

A wonderful year

It's probably too late to wish you a Happy, Healthy and Sparkling New Year, but since this is my first blogpost of the year, and I think the time is always right to wish someone 'all the best', I will do it anyway:  
A wonderful year to you all.

The girls and I had a lovely Christmas. What a joy it is to stay in bed late, to have enough time to read a book and do some baking. I made our traditional Christmas Bundt cake, and the girls baked a chocolate mousse tart. They even made their own chocolate leaves. I was SO proud. The tart looked really good and the taste was divine. 

My boyfriend and I made some beautiful walks. One along the river Merwede in Gorinchem, with the trees covered in hoarfrost, the windmill set against the blue sky, on a cold and wind still day. 
When stranded in Dordrecht, because the train wouldn't go any further because of the snow, we walked along the canals and past the harbour. My favourite walk was the one we made along the beach. It was so quiet, the sky and sea seemed to merge, and there was not a ripple on the water.

I hope some more beautiful winter days will follow, before the spring sets in.

Next time I will show you last years garden highlights. Wishing you happy weeks ahead. Before I forget: thank you for your kind Christmas and New Year's wishes. I hope I will find more time to visit your blogs this year.

Love,

Madelief x

If you like, you can see more photo's on Instagram.

Vintiguing in Antwerp

This post is long overdue. Sorry you had to wait such a long time for it to appear. I have been on a short holiday with my parents, and on a long weekend to Antwerp, one of my favourite towns in the Benelux.  It's only an hours drive from Rotterdam, and such a different world. It's hip, it's classy, the food is better, the clothes are finer and the people much more relaxed. My late husband and I used to visit regularly, to see an exhibition, do some shopping or just walk around town and enjoy the good life.

It was four years ago since I visited last. I thought it would be difficult being there, but somehow the town got me in it's grip. I enjoyed it just as much as I did before. It helped that I was in the company of two sweet friends who live in Antwerp during the weekend and showed me around town.

As they are just as keen on vintage clothing as I am, and now the best shops in town, I came home with two new winter outfits: an amazing turquoise jacket, two sweet hats, a copper sunburst necklace and an antique priests stole, which I use as a belt. I customized the jacket and belt a little, but furthermore the outfits are ok and look fab. 

For those of you who are interested  in the names of the shops I discovered my treasures: Think twice, the Kringwinkel and the Oxfam store. 

My photo's were taken around Antwerp, near the MAS/het Eilandje, in the city centre and my favourite B&B Bed, bad & brood.

Are you a vintage shopper and did you find any treasures recently?

Have a good week ahead!

Love,

Madelief x 


Thank you Marianne and Henny for a fabulous weekend! X