This week some outfit photos and some funny stories.
With the staying at home rule it is harder to take blog photos. However, husband Ron came to the rescue. In his little shed at the community garden he took these shots of my green jacket by Irié Wash. The jacket is ancient, stretchy, very easy to wash (no ironing) and it keeps its shape. It wasn’t cheap but it will last me a very long time. It doesn’t crease either, is lightweight and perfect for holidays. I came up with this outfit all by myself (very proud of myself). The sweet bag which you saw a couple of posts ago, is red and pink and those colours are the opposite of green in the colour wheel. And opposites in the colour wheel make a very good combination. Doesn’t it pop well against each other?
The trousers by ME+EM you have seen a couple of times and they are a bit tricky to style. My options are a fitted jacket or a jumper (sweater) which is just the right length. High heels are a must. The silver pumps (Dune) work very well as a neutral. I don’t like them with dresses but they are perfect with trousers.
Below: Close-up of the shoes.
Below: Ron took this photo with the little plastic men on their motor “looking” at me.
Below: Then he put one of those plastic men on my shoulder. Anything for a laugh.
Below: Apart from the position in which I am standing and the dirt on the floor, there is not a lot of difference. The shed is small and we used the lens which lets in as much light as possible (indoor photography) but needs a lot of distance. Distance which is not there.
This is Ron’s “man cave”, his “second home in France, but then in the Netherlands”. No wife here to change everything, nobody interfering with what he is doing or telling him to clean up. Heaven for the man. The stuff in the cabinet is all old. He loves to collect vintage things, which is probably why he loves me so much. 😎
Below: He came up with an artistic idea: playing a record from the old days on a real turn table. The “table” is a drum which used to belong to the Amsterdam Police Band back in the days.
Below: I still know how to do this.
Below: We played Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young; the song Teach your Children. Very apt in this strange situation we are now living in.
Below: Close-up of my darling bag by Malene Birger.
Below: One of the vintage things in his collection is this natural science instrument. It demonstrates how you can accomplish one constant flow of water when you use two pumps instead of one. The inventor was Jan van der Heyden. The seller of the demonstration instrument asked Ron whether he knew what that was used for. Ron said: firehose. How did he come up with this? He didn’t know the inventor but he knew that one of the boats the firemen used in Amsterdam was called Jan van der Heyden. Together with his own answer to the question: “who could really benefit from a constant water flow?”, he came up with “fire fighters”. That is how his brain works. If there are three solutions to a problem, Ron will come up with solution number 5 and 6.
Jan van der Heyden made a significant contribution to contemporary firefighting technology. Read more about him here.
What happened in my life this week
Saturday: I bought some camera equipment with a lot of hassle in the shop in order not to touch each other’s items (this could be misconstrued haha). Kitty took photos of me in another styling of the blouse she photographed before. We had chats with neighbours in the street at a safe distance from another. In the afternoon I lay in the sun in the garden (lovely). I don’t have an outfit photo for Saturday. As compensation here is a short video of our dog Watson (with the orange collar). He met another dog which still had his leash on (his owner was there), so Watson took his new friend for a walk.
Sunday: Kitty and I went into town for another photoshoot keeping at a safe distance of anybody who was also there. It was very quiet. We were able to get a perfect cappuccino and latte to go. In the afternoon I picked up the dog bed from our seamstress and again lay in the sun in the garden for 2 hours. This is what I wore that day. You saw the top in this post with my black pleated skirt. Below I am wearing a green belt and a green necklace with a blue lapis lazuli stone as pendant. See for this necklace and 14 more my post Chunky necklaces.
Sunday evening one of my readers commented that I was wearing a lot of jeans and I realized she was right. That won’t do as I was really moving away from wearing jeans all the time.
Monday: A very quiet day with a lot of exercise and a bike ride in the morning. Read a few chapters in my book and went to walk the dog together with Ron. I wore this Sportmax dress all day, only added jeans and changed the shoes when walking the dog. I am wearing a stretch pencil skirt underneath the dress to elongate it as it is a little too short. This is the post about the dress.
As Ron started cooking, he found out that I had been hiding sweets on top of a pan and already ate half the pack. Busted. I should have been ashamed but I killed myself laughing. It had been one of those weak moments in the supermarket when I grabbed the sweets at the last minute thinking “Oh what do I care about my weight”. Only I didn’t want to “forcefeed” Ron as he is trying to lose weight.
Tuesday: Picked up hair dye at the hairdresser which I am going to apply myself this weekend. That will be a first…. oh dear. Bought flowers and lay in the sun. I already have a tan as you can see in the photo below (I had just come out of the garden so I am still flustered). More photos of this dress in the post.
Wednesday: An easy day if you don’t count all the exercise in the morning. On TV there are exercise videos for the elderly and they leave me breathless. It was a day of clearing out part of our “cellar” (cupboard under the stairs) so it was not really a day for dressing up or high heels. (Is it going to be like this all the time? Noooo.) Sunbathing in the garden in the afternoon. This outfit is a convenience combination. You saw the sneakers in this post and the jumper (sweater) in this 2015 post. Wearing clip-on earrings as it will take a while before I can let my earlobes be pierced.
Thursday: We risked seeing my mum who lives an hours drive away. We were really careful. We put the flowers for her on this plank on wheels plus a book and latex gloves which she requested. She (carefully) shoved all the items off the plank and left them there for half an hour before picking them up. In return she put cake on the plank and Ron reeled it in with a piece of string. We kept our distance all the time. Difficult bit was going to the toilet… We couldn’t enter her house, so we brought a potty haha. There was enough privacy in the shed. One has to be resourceful these days.
My mum complained that the great tit hadn’t nested yet in her birdhouse:
Ron walked over to it, looked up and said: “I know why they haven’t nested yet.” Mum was intrigued and asked: “Well? Why not?” He replied: “They think the rent is too high. I have seen the price tag at the bottom”. 😂😂😂
I wore this that day (more in this post):
As we were happily talking away my mum remarked that she liked my bright pink trousers and that she thought they would fit her too…. What could I dó? What cóuld I do? I took the trousers off, she tried them on (after enough time had passed) and I left them for her hahaha. Luckily Ron had a spare pair of jeans in his car. This is how I went to the supermarket and home (not a pretty picture in more ways than one):
Of course mum never meant this to happen and when I insisted, she wanted to pay for them. Imagine, my mother having to pay for that. Not in my life. When we came home, we picked up Watson from day care and they both snuggled.
Friday: Nothing adventurous. My Facetime call was postponed and my walk with another friend as well. In the morning I was very busy doing my exercises and around one o’clock I cycled to friends to bring fresh fish which Ron had bought. They treated me to a bottle of alcohol free sweet “wine” (nice) and captured my new outfit on video through the window. For their “Corona period” video. The fact I was wearing a new outfit that hadn’t been on the blog yet is the reason there
A funny story
Ron had found this gnome, deserted at a bus station and took him home. He had a little plan over which we had so much anticipatory pleasure.
One day when the neighbours were out, Ron hoisted the gnome over the fence into their garden. Can you imagine their surprise when they looked out of their window to find a gnome in their garden hahaha? I may have to add you cannot go round the back to our gardens.
They sent us the photo below with the question whether we were responsible. They know Ron and logic makes it easy to figure it out it was him who whodunnit. They promised we can expect a countermove.
Greetje
I really like your green jacket (even more because it’s such a comfy piece and easy to care!) and your cute bag. And so lovely to have a look at the shed and all the interesting objects!
Actually, you rock in jeans, so I’m enjoying to see you styling them and looking fab!. Love your ruffled sneakers with zips, both white and black look Fabulous!
No wonder that your mum felt in love with your pink trousers, and so lovely that you decided to give them to her inmediately!. ;DD
besos
What a delightful post! I look forward each week to reading your blog, and this post was so much fun. Thanks for sharing.
Thank you. I am thinking whether my posts haven’t become too long for most people. I will ask my readers next week.
I love your stories, visiting with your mum, the cute belt tie with big jeans and the gnome. My daughter and granddaughter have found a secret gnome garden while hiking in hills near their home in California in populated area near San Francisco. People have left gnomes in the forest and other small things and now someone has made copper signs , very nice and also built little homes from scraps. Every few days there are additions. They never see anyone there. This time in our world is magical in some ways, also terrifying. I knew your post would make me happy. Thank you. JillZ
My mission is accomplished Jill if I made you happy. In turn that makes me happy.
We found a spot in the forest too with loads of gnomes. On the ground, in the trees. I agree with you, it feels magical.
Such a cute post – loved reading it all…I know that feeling so well when your Mum decides she likes something it is hard to say no – hahahaha! The cookie one is good too… I hide my favourite coffee capsules in a china vase and forgot they were there the other day and filled it with water for flowers – how daft is that… hahah!!!
xoxo Yvonne
Hahaha… I love that china vase filled with water. I have put things in the oven because I didn’t have enough storage space. Not a good idea. Like you forgot your coffee capsules, I forgot that there was something in the oven and put it on to preheat… What a mess.
I enjoy hearing how other people are doing in this time of social isolating. I laughed at Watson taking that other dog for a walk (more like a run) and when I read that you gave your Mum the pants you were wearing – you don’t look bad at all in Ron’s jeans! I like his shelves for displaying his vintage treasures (I like old odds and ends like that too). You look very nicely put together in all your outfits. I will not be posting any photos of what I’ve been wearing lately to work from home 😉
Hahaha.. I take it you are not dressing up for working from home. I make it a point, but that is also because dressing up is the core of who I am. When I was 12 years old I stayed with my aunt and uncle for a week. My aunt said to my mum as they picked me up again: “What is the matter with that child? She changes clothes 3 times a day!” And we really did not have a lot to spend so I cannot have had many clothes. I also longed badly for the wooden slippers with a little heel at that time. So ladylike and elegant. But mum said: “No way, when you run on these things you wll break your neck.”
Thank you for cheering me up! Just what I needed! I really love your Irié wash jacket! I own a Irié wash pencil skirt in black, really a skirt to rely on. O that Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young record, great music! Love the mancave too!
As you and I have the same hairstyle, I am very curious what you will do about the fringe! Do you dare to cut it yourself? We have no choice, or grow a different hairstyle? My hairdresser brought the dye to my door, very sweet! Did not apply it yet, still use the L’Oréal spray. Please share your experience with selfdying. Will Ron help you? My husband will. Take care dear Greetje!
I do cut my fringe myself, but I am going to order a proper pair of hairdresser’s scissors. Then you can sort of “shave” the hair and it doesn’t look so blunt and clumsy.
I washed my hair this Sunday and didn’t spray the L’Oréal camouflage spray on it as I am going to dye it Wednesday. I just have to make sure I have good light and mirrors in front of me and behind me. Asking Ron to help me is a bit of a risk. He doesn’t like being told what to do and considers every hint as criticism. He is a great husband with a great sense of humour but not without flaws haha. And neither am I of course. I will tell you next week how it went. I am confident.
Yes please tell! I am also planning to dye my hair this week.
Yes it is a bit tricky for a marriage, especially when you are confined to the house. We are coping fine, let’s keep it this way.
Thank you for the tip about the scissors! Good luck!
Wat heb je toch een leuke kledingkast. Zulke creatieve outfits, elegant en net dat tikje speciaal. En zo lief om je mama die roze broek te geven; ja, wat kon je anders? 🙂
De meeste outfits worden samengesteld door iemand in een winkel, maar ik word er steeds beter in om ook zelf te begrijpen wat ik kan combineren. Het zit me niet in mijn bloed, maar ik doe er wel heel veel moeite voor. En die roze broek… inderdaad wat kon ik anders haha. Het is tenslotte je moedertje.
Greetje, Your weekly post is a highlight to my week, I love the European dress style and can’t wait to see what you put together and model for us. We’ve visited Amsterdam once at the end of our Viking River Cruise before flying home to Washington state, love your country!
I love your sense of humor, I think it is great that Ron has stepped in during this stay at home/6′ apart to take pics! I love the Red/Pink purse too!
Please keep sharing your daily snapshots of your life, you have brought so much joy to ladies around the world. Thank you! Debbie
Thank you very much Debbie. Comments like yours are fuel to my commitment to this blog. I love the whole proces, every bit of it, from outfit creation to writing, from photoshoots to technical stuff. It is very rewarding and stimulating when I read that it is appreciated. As you say, by ladies around the world, no less. So rest assured there will be another post every Sunday for the foreseeable future.
First of all: I love your blog. When you are out and about in Amsterdam I love seeing all the streets, canals and shops. Hope to get there one day
Second: I love reading about your life. Even though you are a continent away, with different lifestyle and profession (before retirement) at the end of the day, we all have the same dreams and hopes and praying this pandemic will be over and we can get back to normal. Here in Washington State we are in mandatory stay at home orders. You can go to the doctor, pharmacist and grocery store. We must wear mask and disposable gloves everywhere. We can exercise or walk all the while maintaining 6 ft apart.
Third: love how your hair looks and really love that red dress.
Mary
Thank you a lot Mary. It is so nice for a blogger to read that your “creation” is appreciated. Always makes my day. And you are right, we all have the same dreams and hopes. Perhaps next year it will be safe again to travel to my little country. If you “do” Europe, don’t miss Italy. That is a beautiful country as well. We call it an outdoor museum.
As for my hair…it is thin and there is little of it. My hairdresser is a miracle worker and I am dreading to think what it is going to look like now that I cannot have it cut. It is already a week overdue and I do not foresee hair salons opening again very soon. But that is really such a minor problem compared to the life threatening things some people go through.
You’re right about the color pop from the red and pink bag. Very nice against the green.
You didn’t tell me the part about giving you Mum the trousers, LOL!
Ah, so that’s the man cave. Ron seems to have a good sense of humor. (BTW, Doug told me after we hung up that he’s ready to visit Amsterdam again…maybe next year if all goes well.)
oh … wouldn’t that be lovely, you visiting Amsterdam. Or perhaps you should have your holiday in France/Paris and when you see that it will be good weather in Amsterdam, that you pop over for two days by train for instance. Because I would hate to entertain you when it is pouring with rain again. And yes Ron does have a great sense of humour. Such a nice quality.
I love that you are finding the funny things in your day-to-day life, Greetje! I laughed at Ron finding your hidden treats (uh oh!), you handing over your trousers to your Mum, Ron’s comment on the birdhouse (ha!), and the gnome adventures! How fun.
I also really like Ron’s “man cave” full of all those wonders – it’s a great spot for your photos. Love that outfit (those pants are one of my favourite pairs of yours), especially those lovely shoes. I also really like your black and white dress.
I hope you had a good weekend, Greetje!
It is very rewarding to read how you appreciate this post. I am always so glad when I can entertain people. Ron has a great sense of humour and often makes me laugh out loud. The daily outfits were a way of creating content as I thought nothing was going to happen in my life anymore. Last week it was quite the contrary. Which is good of course. Oh and the black and white dress is actually blue and white.
Thank you for the great stories and your at home outfits. I love and get inspired to search through the closet for new outfit combinations as we stay at home or neighborhood.
Now that I am retired, I cannot spend as much money on clothes as I used to, so I will have to become more creative with what I have, which is about time haha. So much more sustainable too.
I just love that you gave those pink pants to your mother. And how you came up with an alternative pair at the time…so creative.
As for being vintage…aren’t we all, and that’s a good thing.
You have such wonderful style Greetje and here’s wishing you a wonderful Easter.
XOOX
Jodie
http://www.jtouchofstyle.com
Thank you Jodie, that is very sweet of you to say. I am not really a stylist by nature but I get a long way with blood, sweat and tears haha.
I like the dress you had been sunbathing in Greetje, it looks stylish and comfortable at the same time.
Have you and Ron wondered what form of retaliation your neighbours will strike with. Will you too, find a “visitor” to your garden?
I wasn’t sunbathing in that dress, I had my bikini on. After the sunbathing I put this dress on haha.
And honestly, I have no idea what form of retaliation our neighbours are going to strike with. They are very creative in jokes themselves. Like the time they went on holiday and we were going to water their plants. We got a Whatsapp message saying they had forgotten to tell us about the goldfish, called Fuzzy. Could we please feed him as well. Of course there was no such goldfish. Mind you… when they came back there was ! Revenge can be sweet haha. (We made sure we had another home for the goldfish if they didn’t want to keep it, but they kept it and it became pretty old.)
Your outfits are fun Greetje, and your sneakers – I love them. I can see why your Mom wanted those pink pants. Ron is funny, and Watson walking the other dog is hilarious. Seems like you not finding being at home too boring, I thought it may be like that, as someone who was a very busy self-employed entrepreneur and then retired at 50. 5 years on and I am still not getting bored or missing the work I loved and lived for, for 25 years. Best wishes from the Black sea.
I hope I can say the same Lise in 5 years. I am very afraid I will miss my colleagues, the fun and jokes we had at work, the laughter, the social interaction. I have to get that from somewhere else and I haven’t figured out how. But, there is time enough to think about it.