Before the flowers were all gone, husband Ron took photos of my black trouser suit in the tulip fields. The colours are magnificent and the flowers are only there for a short time. The bulb growers cut the heads of the flowers which leaves you with a field full of stems. Not interesting. And the tulip growers will of course, cut the mature flowers to sell.
The tulip fields are only a 15 minutes’ drive from our home. When something is on your doorstep, you often take it for granted. We hardly ever go there in spring. Such a shame.
Below: Look at the beauty of these rows and rows of tulips.
When we arrived at the fields the sun was out in full blast which makes taking photos quite difficult.
Below: Wearing my leopard summer coat by Weekend Max Mara. I treasure this coat. I don’t like putting it over an outfit with a pattern but a black trouser suit is perfect.
Below: These silver pumps have serious stiletto heels as you can see. I can walk on them (which surprises me too) but it isn’t comfortable (duh). High, stiletto, small pointy toe…sigh…still love them though.
Below: Ron got distracted by this brooding swan. He used the long focus lens as it isn’t wise to come too close. Do you know a swan male and female mate for life? Or is that common knowledge?
Below: I got Ron’s attention again. The sign says: “Please do not enter the flower fields.” The tulip growers absolutely hate tourists who want to take pretty pictures and trample on the flowers.
I totally understand the grower who doesn’t want his precious flowers ruined for a photo. Which is why we moved. You may ask yourself: “So how come you are sitting among the tulips??”
Below: Surrounded by tulips.
As we drove on from the first field, we saw a sign of a very clever tulip grower: Tulip Experience Amsterdam, inviting everybody to take photos among the flowers…for a fee. I thought this was brilliant. They turned a problem (people trampling on the flowers no matter how many signs there were forbidding it) into an advantage: if this is what people want, let’s give it to them, but they have to pay a price.
They don’t just offer the fields as background for the photos, they also show a film on growing bulbs in the old days, you get a cup of coffee or tea and you can pick your own bunch of flowers. Plus they have a kids program. Covid was a spoil sport for the film but we gladly paid the entrance fee anyway.
Ron was the one who thought of sitting between the flowers (first photo and the one above). He even spread his jacket on the ground for me. Isn’t he a perfect gentleman?
(By the way: these fields aren’t actually in Amsterdam at all, they are in Noordwijkerhout, which is half an hour’s drive from Amsterdam. Just so you know.)
Below: As I wanted a photo of the black trouser suit without the bright sunlight spoiling it, we looked for a bit of shadow. Ron said: “Everybody thinks we are nuts. They are all taking photos with the flowers as background and we choose a grey wall”, hahaha.
The suit is very old and not really a suit. The trousers are from a suit dating 30 years back. It was by Piazza Sempione. Beautiful, I would buy it again. Alas, I wore the jacket to shreds. This jacket (Tiger of Sweden) is about 20 years old and it is really hard to see, it isn’t the same fabric as the trousers.
The shoes by Michael Kors are 5 (??) years old. The pale slate bag was introduced to this blog last week. I am using it a lot. The yellow earrings with silver buttons are by Lara Design. Of course. The top is by Filippa K.
Below: Close-up of the top, from 2018.
Below: Trying to hide from the sun, getting three chins.
Below: Right, that is much better, although still too much light.
Below: I changed the top for a white T-shirt with pink flamingos, a design that my niece and her husband created. Also wearing pink/lilac flats. This is much more comfortable but I hate wearing flats. The suit is totally losing its sex appeal. Because I have flat feet and a low instep, my feet look horrible in flat shoes.
Below: Pulling a strange face. Against the grey wall.
Below: The tulips were so in sync with the shirt, shoes and earrings. These fuchsia earrings are by Lara Design as well.
Below: Ron provided a ‘prop’ with this tulip basket. At least you know what to do with your hands.
Below: As we were leaving, Ron spotted this car with highly unusual car paint. It is not a photo gone wrong, there was a pattern in the paint, glittering when the sun shone on it. Never seen anything like this before.
What happened in my life this week
My friend Marita and I had a drink on a terrace Saturday. It was so cold! The sun came out now and again, but not too often and the temperature was low. We had to sit next to a heater and keep our coats on. Sitting inside a restaurant is still not allowed. In spite of the cold, the terraces were packed with people (at an appropriate distance) as we were finally allowed to do that again. Marita wore a lovely pink jumper with cream trousers and a pastel-coloured coat. We were talking so much, I forgot to take a photo. Bad blogger.
On Sunday my computer guy came round again for the finishing touches. Everything works again. Yay. And I did another photo shoot with Kitty. We discovered new nooks and crannies in old Haarlem. Even a secluded little park. After the shoot we had half an hour to sit in the sun on a terrace with a drink and ‘bitterballen’ (crunchy deep-fried meatballs), a typical Dutch appetizer with drinks.
Monday was a bit of an off day. I had a headache that couldn’t be solved with pills and I had to lie down in the afternoon. That helped.
No problem with my head on Tuesday. In the afternoon I visited Marianne for a chat and a coffee.
Below: Marianne, colourful as always.
Below: I wasn’t colourful that day, the outfit is all right but not blog post worthy. I made up for the lack of colour with a green top, a green brooch and green earrings by Lara Design.
My next-door neighbour invited me in the early evening to watch how she makes granola. She had given me a jar of granola because I mentioned at Easter that it looked delicious and it was. When I asked her for the recipe, there were lots of “a bit of this and a little bit of that” in it. I am a very bad cook and have no idea what “a bit” is. So I watched her prepare it and put it on video. The ease of modern society. Had to leave quite quickly as the 4th of May is the day of Remembrance of the Dead. The whole country is silent for two minutes. It used to be commemorating the people who had died between 1940 and 1945 (Second World War) but nowadays we commemorate all civilians and members of the armed forces of the Netherlands who have died in wars or peacekeeping missions since the beginning of the Second World War. You can hear a pin drop in our country at 20.00 hours.
The next day (Wednesday the 5th) is ‘Bevrijdingsdag‘ (Liberation Day), a national holiday when we celebrate being free again. Nine months after that glorious day in 1945, quite a few children were born as a result of the euphoria. Many soldiers who liberated us, unknowingly have kids in the Netherlands. There are parades and music festivals on this day…if there wouldn’t be Covid. Nothing this year.
I visited my mum again. All her social events like bingo and such have been cancelled, so she doesn’t really get out of the house much. Luckily she has a help who has become a friend, really a sort of substitute daughter who is much nearer than I am. They are very fond of each other. Mum also has her hair done once a week by a woman who deserves a place in heaven. She is so good for the elderly women and so kind.
So it is not that she is completely deprived of company and outings, but it is very little. As I am retired I have more time now, so visiting my mum is nice for me and for her.
Below: Mum and her iPad. She said: “Are you going to feature me again? Your readers will get fed up with seeing me.”
Below: I took mum grocery shopping. This is reality for you. Hair is a mess (mine, that is) and my big warm coat isn’t blog worthy.
Below: Thursday was a lovely day with lots of sunshine. As the weather forecast wasn’t too good, I was dressed for winter. Only Thursday was so much nicer than the previous days. Here I am, enjoying a cappuccino on the terrace in the secluded ‘garden’ of Vascobelo. The only thing missing was company.
Friday I visited Katrien who is making a long coat for me. Her designs and use of fabric are a guarantee for a showstopper.
Below: I remembered taking a photo of Katrien.
We had a lovely afternoon. She checked whether the fabric for the coat and the fabric for the lining was OK with me. (It was totally OK.) We decided on the one button and had coffee. I tried some coat models to see which size was best for me. This brought on the temptation of another coat, one she has already made and it is for sale. Knowing that I have already spent so much money and with the car repair coming up, I know I shouldn’t. Temptation, temptation.
Below: I wore my red trouser suit with tigers that day. Still love it.
Which concludes this week.
Greetje
You can tell your Mom that we enjoy seeing her on your blog! The tulip farmer has a great thing going on – why not charge for something people want? Saves people from sneaking into the flowers to try to get a photo before they’re caught and destroying tulips in the process.
You wouldn’t know your black “suit” wasn’t two matching pieces if you hadn’t told us. I like it with the pop of pink of the flamingo print shirt and pink shoes.
I will tell mum in a minute as I speak to her on the phone every (early) evening. I like the flamingo shirt and I like how it looks with the suit, but I will never get over my dislike of flat shoes (on me).
I love tulips – they have always been one of my favourite flowers. I really ought to visit your country to actually see them!
As for your black suit, I really like it with the silver pumps (but I couldn’t even go out with them on lol) but I LOVE it with the pink tee and flats. I don’t think your feet look funny in flats, but I understand where you’re coming from!
Tell your mum that we would never tire of seeing her on the blog, Greetje!
Oh and I can’t wait to see your new coat!!
Big hugs
Suzy xx
Visiting the Netherlands (and me) would be a very wise decision haha. If you want to see the tulips, it will have to be next year around this time.
If you understand where I am coming from with the flat shoes, I am surprised you love the outfit with them. The items themselves (T-shirt and shoes) are ever so nice, I just don’t like the shoes on me.
Mum reads my blog and the comments so she will see your reassurance.
The new coat will be coming up soon (I hope, depending on the photographers’time).
I do admire the black suit with metallic pumps. So attractive! The tulip fields are so beautiful. They are my favorite flowers. Mine bloomed in April and made me happy. Tell your Mom it is always a pleasure to see her on your blog.
The suit with the silver high heels make me feel sexy. Which is quite an achievement at the age of 67 haha.
Tulips have all the colours that I like.
Mum reads my blog and the comments, so I am sure she will read your comment too.
Wonderful pictures of you in the fields of tulips, Greetje! How smart of them to charge people for taking pictures, but to make it a more fun experience – that is really working with what people want and what the vendor can provide. I love your black suit – those trousers are so good on you! I like this just as much with the flats as the heels – those pink ones are adorable!
Marianne’s sweater is a glorious colour. So nice you can have people inside. Our restaurants are still the same as yours: patios and decks only. Fortunately our city has permitted restaurants building out into parking spots and sidewalks to help them.
Your Mum is beautiful (I love her sweater), and we’d never get tired of seeing her!
That tiger suit is my absolute favourite – put my name on it for when you are tired of it!!
Yes, that tulip farmer knows what marketing is all about. Because the trousers suit me so well, I kept them all these years. They make my tummy disappear. That alone is reason enough to hang on to them.
The pink shoes are adorable, true, I just don’t like them very much on me.
And I agree about Marianne’s sweater, or really her cardigan. Gorgeous colour. The government tries to discourage people of visiting each other, for sure. But if you do meet (no more than 3 people in a room), then take all the necessary precautions.
My mum reads my blog and the comments, so I am confident she will read your comment.
I will add your name the tiger suit. It might take quite a few years though.
Greetje
You look so cute in black and pink dear Greetje and those tulips are making me want to beam over to you… maybe soon we can visit each other!!!
xo Yvonne
http://www.funkyforty.com
Wouldn’t it be great if we could just beam over to another place? What a way of transportation that would be.
Beautiful pictures and beautiful woman! I love Katrien’s look as well.
Well thank you m’am…that is a nice compliment. And yes Katrien has got STYLE.
Wonderful flowers and a beautiful and elegant outfit that you wear. The blouse is gorgeous and I love the black suit with silver shoes. The alternative playing with pale pink is less formal and is still very pretty. I loved seeing your mother and also seeing you with that colorful print outfit, full of tigers.
I knew you would like this suit. From time to time I still “do” elegant. Mind you, even though I can walk on those silver shoes, they aren’t comfortable. It is nice that you like my pink alternative styling too, but I don’t.
The tulip fields are amazing! The only time I’ve seen anything similar was the year that we lived in Japan. Japan is better known for cherry blossoms in the spring time, but there is an annual tulip festival at Sakura which is close to where we lived. The location even has an authentic Dutch windmill!
The Japanese have copied a lot, even whole cities and countries. It doesn’t matter where the tulip is, it is always lovely to see. Such vivid colours. I think you can say that all tulip colours are good for my complexion.
Cherry blossoms are stunning too. I think I love them even more. Only their pastel colours wouldn’t match my skin haha.
Hello, You
The photo of you in the black suit and stilettos against the plain background is just about the very best Ron has ever taken of you, I reckon. Stunning!
Ah, tulips of Amsterdam! Well, nearby. Love ’em.
And that paint job on the car. I wonder if it was Sikkens’ paint? They used to do lovely colours years ago when our family company used their products.
Have a good week, and love to your Mum x
Hello to you too. I will be sure to forward the compliments to Ron. He will be very pleased (although he won’t show it haha).
I will also pass your love on to my mum.
It’s Mother’s Day in the U.S. and I feel like I got a bouquet of tulips with this post. You look as glorious as the flowers, love the black suit and silver stilletos. Ron is a wonderful photographer and the backdrops are stunning. I will never tire of seeing your mom, she’s so lovely. Thank you for sharing your life with us, you have added some brightness to your readers lives during covid. Be well.
Thanks for the compliments and it is my pleasure. Glad my hobby is met with so much joy. And I suppose, showing your mum again on Mother’s Day (in the Netherlands as well) is quite appropriate.
The black “suit” looks stunning on you!! And OH, traipsing in a field of tulips on killer heels!! i sent to the orthopede a few dames while on ER duty!!
The tiger suit reminds me of a lovely “tigress” burgundy silk pj i had to wake up the “tiger” sleeping next to me! It never failed!!
Your mother always looks so “soigne”!! Good for her.
Like swans, geese always mate for life, and when one dies, the one left if ostracized by the rest of the pack. It’s so sad. When my husband passed away many years ago, my friend, a psychiatrist, advised me to find new friends. I was in my 40s at the time. So sad, but i survived. Such is life.
I didn’t traips in the field of tulips with my high heels. Only very carefully, stepped on the ground before the rows of tulips. When I stepped in the field, I ws wearing flat shoes.
Had to laugh over your PJ adventures haha.
My mother always dresses nicely with accessories and all, even if she knows nobody will visit her. I am a chip off the old block.
I get what you are saying about losing your “mate” and it is another reason to maintain friendships, especially with women. They will never be able to replace your husband when he dies but they can be a great comfort.
Greetje,
Tell your mom she’s looking great! and, no, your readers are not tired of seeing her!
As always, a great post!
Reading my favorite blogs constitutes my socialization during this pandemic.
Thank you for all the effort you put into your postings.
CJ
I will tell my mum. And the pleasure is entirely mine. You like reading the posts, I like creating them. Gives us both something to do.
You look amazing in that black suit — both versions. Thanks so much for sharing the tulip fields — just stunning. Your mom is so pretty — I love her silver hair! And it’s always nice seeing your friends.
I did well then with this blog post. It was one, done in haste. I asked Ron whether he could take the photos that week, fearing the fields would be (half) empty after the Mother’s Daty weekend. When he said yes, I had to come up with an outfit pretty quickly. I have an album on my phone called “Outfits still to do”. Ever so handy.
Amazing tulips and people. And, I’m still laughing at myself, I thought the beautiful Marianne had a wine rack attached to her chair for easy access?! Brilliant idea, right? 😉
That wine rack idea is indeed brilliant. I will put it forward to Marianne haha. It could be that next time(s) I visit her, she might be drunk as a skunk.
Beautiful pictures of you and the flowers, the black suit was very becoming. Love the pictures of your mom. Its nice your able to see her more now.
Thanks for the compliments. I have to agree with everything you say haha. My husband did a very good job with the photos, the black suit, suits me and yes, it is nice to see mum more often.
I love the suit with the heels. Classic and sexy. And, I like the tee shirt with the flats. With your legs, you totally pull that off.
I agree about the outfit with the heels being sexy. But really that sexiness gets totally lost with flat shoes. Even though I have long legs, my feet don’t look good in flats and the position of my body is different.
Naar de bollen, naar de prachtige bollen. Waar je ademloos geniet van de kleuren die je ziet.. Voor jou om rijmend te vertalen 🤪. Leuk shirt met de flamenco’s.
Ja ja… alsof dat te doen is haha. “To the bulbs, to those magnicent bulbs. Where you breathlessly enjoy the colours with overjoy.” Hij is fijn. Je kan niet zeggen dat ik het niet geprobeerd heb.
Oh, those tulips are stunning! So clever of the farmer to boost their business by providing a photo opp!
I like the “suit” best with the pink flamingo tee and pink shoes. Always nice to see your Mom and friends!
What the farmer did, is what me call “Thinking Around”(literally translated). You take the problem and look how you can turn it around in such a way that the problem becomes the Unique Selling Proposition.
Funny that you like the suit best with the pink shoes. Perhaps you are used to this silhouette. I miss my high heels too much. Do you have a high instep?