Temperatures are fluctuating which led me to create this Kermit green jacket with flared jeans outfit. It is a tried and tested concept as I have combined the jacket and jeans before with white and black (see this post). This new styling with the yellow/lime top, the scarf (thank you again Misja for the scarf tip; so useful), the yellow slingbacks and the tote, works better I think.
Loes was my photographer and the location was Hofje Willem van Heythuyzen. A ‘hofje‘ is a garden or a courtyard with almshouses. I have shown you a couple of them before and you will see another one in the near future. It was meant for poor people, usually single women or widows with little means.
Below: Loes the photographer, caught in a rainbow flare. A lucky shot.
I will have to kill a lot of darlings as we took so many beautiful photos of this ‘hofje‘.
Below: The view from the road. They have built a horrible block of flats behind it, but I photoshopped it out of sight. There are more really beautiful old houses in this area which now have a view of a dirty great big block of flats a few metres from their garden. I cannot understand why the city council gave permission for that.
Below: The plaque above the entrance door with the benefactor’s name in old Dutch. (One might be doing good, but one wants eternal recognition for that in return. LOL)
Below: This beautiful house is next to the ‘hofje‘, at the entrance of an adjacent park.
Below: Back to the ‘hofje‘. Straight as you walk through the little corridor into the courtyard/garden you are overwhelmed with the beauty of it, the flowers, the way the residents maintain it.
See the little gate behind the chair…?
Below: That little gate led to this part where there are only two houses.
Below: There were a lot of clouds (which is good for a photo shoot), but this photo in bright sunlight turned out quite well too.
Below: Just beautiful.
Below: Close-up of the sun dial on the wall.
Below: An old water pump.
Below: The rest of the garden is luscious.
Now, let’s talk outfit details.
Below: The scarf around my waist stayed secure with a brooch. I had pulled the scarf through the loops of the jeans (brand Paige) but when you secure it with a brooch, you have to unclasp it if you want to go to the toilet… After my toilet visit, I tied the scarf around the trousers and not through the loops and put the brooch back on. It seemed to stay put. The soft yellow/lime top is by lovely, sustainable brand Bellamy Gallery. I have it in fuchsia, green, cream and this colour. Love these tops.
Below: Yellow suede slingbacks from Marks & Spencer. I wish they still had shops in the Netherlands. I bought these in Newcastle when I visited Nikki of Midlifechic a couple of years ago (see this post).
Below: And finally the tote. Another bag I snatched from the racks seconds before paying at the Max Mara outlet in Turin. The brand is Marina Rinaldi. It is beautiful leather.
Below: Gold plated earrings with green glass by Lara Design.
A very successful photo shoot as far as Loes and I are concerned. So off to the nearby restaurant.
Below: Across the road in another park is this little restaurant with terrace called ‘Theehuis de Haarlemmerhout‘. Loes is checking her phone (on the right). We had coffee outside but went inside for lunch when raindrops started falling.
Below: The view from the restaurant. With deer in the park.
What a fantastic morning. I love photo shoots with my friends.
What happened in my life this week
Saturday I picked up mum from the hospital where she had a great old time. Nice bed, very good food, little snacks in between. Just the coffee was a bit too strong. I found her on the ward, chatting away to her roommate, a woman, only slightly younger than she was. I think, if she had the choice, she would have preferred staying another night. Years ago (about 30?) my mum and dad were in a road accident. While my father was at home with a broken leg, mum was in the hospital with a broken jaw. They patched her up and she could have gone home a day earlier than she actually did (she killed herself laughing there), leaving my father very much in a huff haha.
Sunday I did some shopping in town (just make-up stuff and such) and had a chat with Karlijn of kpa.haarlem. Nothing special to report; just blogging.
Only when I called mum, she said that her left foot was swollen and hurt like hell. She could hardly walk on it. That of course, worried us a lot. Fortunately Monday the surgeon told her that it probably was caused by the veins in her foot where blood was suddenly rushing through again. The veins had to adjust and the pain should be gone within a week. Gradually during the week, the pain got less but returned again.
Monday I did some bookkeeping work for Ron, some blogging, exercising, nothing to write about. Ron bought a bottle of Baileys for me and I was quickly emptying that bottle, until I was on the scale. Ouch… I have to stay off that bottle.
Baileys is so nice. I don’t drink any other alcohol, just coffee liqueurs, a little bit of champagne and some cocktails. Usually not more than one glass a month. But put a bottle of coffee liqueur in the fridge and I’ll keep coming for more.
Tuesday I paid a visit to the seamstress. I asked her to make a pattern from my best green jumper, so I can copy it in other fabrics. And I asked her to take up the hem of the kimono as it is really too long. Delicate work which she can handle very well. I stayed for a couple of hours, chatting and drinking coffee. Our relationship must be at least 25 years old.
In the afternoon I had a busy WhatsApp conversation with my BVA friends. We are going to Spain together next Wednesday for a week and the waiting time at Schiphol Airport is ludicrous. Lots of people had to wait in a queue for 5 to 6 hours…aaaghhh. Even still missed their plane. We can be at the airport 3 hours in advance and that is the utmost, because of Marianne. As she has Multiple Sclerosis, she needs help in the morning and cannot leave the house before ten a.m.
In the evening I had a Facetime chat with Susan of Une femme d’un certain âge. Always nice.
Wednesday I did the photo shoot of this week’s post with Loes and she set my mind at ease by showing me charts that indicated there wouldn’t be too much chaos at Schiphol on our departure date. No idea how they can predict that but I am hanging on to this straw.
Ron wasn’t home for dinner (he was at work) so I ate french fries and a croquette for dinner. When the cat’s away, the mice are gonna play.
Thursday was a nice day with Helena in Amsterdam. We met at lunchtime and it was beautiful weather. Of course I took the opportunity to shoot photos for the blog. When opportunity knocks… Helena quite likes taking photos, so I was in luck.
I came up with an outfit that involved sandals as the pedicure has put nail polish on my toe nails that morning and they still needed to dry.
Below: This is Helena in what we call a ‘brown café‘.
Had to call mum and the hospital a couple of times that afternoon as mum’s foot was playing up again plus her leg was feeling stiff. The surgeon said she had to put an elastic compression on her leg. I got her one via the pharmacy. But the second advice was to move more and she wasn’t listening to that advice which got me really angry. Poor woman, 93 years old and a daughter shouting at you.
Friday morning Marcella and I created another video and uploaded it to Instagram and Facebook. We are getting better at this. After she left I got on my bike to the hairdresser.
In the afternoon I laid in the sun in the garden but flies and bees kept pestering me by landing on my body. Probably the sweet scent of the hair products attracted them. I gave up after an hour. It was not relaxing.
So, very little photos in the section ‘What happened in my life this week’ as most outfits need to be featured first as main subject in a blog post of their own.
I have prepared a blog post in advance for the Sunday that I am on holiday. How about that.
Here is the weekly video. I made the effort again this week. Click on the photo.
Greetje
I like the scarf and brooch idea! I have so many scarves that I seldom wear so I’m going to have to give that a try.
I hope your holiday goes smoothly and look forward to hearing about it when you’re home again.
Just tieing a scarf through one or two hoops and let the ends drop adds interest to an outfit too.
I only used the brooch because these jeans are slighly lower than my shorts, where I started to wear this scarf with.
The suitcase is packed so I hope the trip goes smoothly.
The pops of yellow in your outfit are marvelous, Greetje! I love the scarf at the waist as well, but what a pain for using the toilet!
Glad to hear Mum made it through her surgery, but hoping her foot pain goes away soon!
Love your video – I chuckled at your little turn-around. 🙂
Now that I don’t put the scarf through the loops anymore it is fine. The scarf doesn’t need a brooch to secure it when the loops are at my waist. With these Paige jeans (which we bought together) the waist is slightly lower.
Her foot pain is slowly getting better. She’d like things to speed up, which I can understand.
My little turn-around was awful, wasn’t it haha? Ron said: “It is as if you are doing a clog dance” and my editor commented: “Could you have done a more stompy turn?” It just means there is room for improvement.
I love your blazer, it looks so cute with the jeans. I like the accessories of the look, the bag, the shoes, the scarf on your waist… Beautiful urban photos, beautiful houses.
I did well then. Thank you. I value your opinion highly.
Hope your mother is doing better.
You look fabulous in this outfit and those shoes are to die for.
Those almhouses and gardens are so lovely–thank you for showing us so many interesting sites every week.
Have an easy airport experience and a great time in Spain.
I never knew but Marks & Spencer do really nice shoes. They are not the most fantastic quality but they are trendy, not expensive and, best of all, my feet like them.
It is going to be a matter of time and I will be running out of interesting sites haha. This city isn’t very big.
I absolutely loved the outfit. So elegant and modern. Well girl with those legs, jeans and trousers look great on you. I hope your mom’s pain goes away soon. Poor lady.
I agree that jeans and trousers look good on me. That is, if I select the right model but that counts for everybody, right?
Nevertheless there is part of me that craves dresses. You will see a few in the coming weeks.
I am hoping with you that mum’s pain will go away soon.
I really like the green jacket with denim. You look vibrant. Very attractive.
Hope your Mom is feeling better. BTW your hair looks so good!
Oh gosh thanks. Who doesn’t want to be called attractive. I am flattered.
Keep on telling me my hair looks good, then I will keep on giggling. Hurray for my hairdresser and the art of backcombing.
I love this outfit on you! Classic and colorful is my favorite. Hope all goes smoothly at the airport and you all have a blast on your trip!
Thanks for the good wishes. I like classic and colourful too and I like to add a twist, something extra.
Hello, You
Absolutely lovely outfit this week. Top marks! And the hofje gardens look so beautiful. As for the flats behind the almshouses, yes, indeed, why do councils make such bad decisions sometimes?
Good luck with the airport on Wednesday. I fear it’s been mayhem over here recently so we’re staying home until the situation improves as we can’t be doing with all that hanging around.
It’s good to know that your Mum’s foot is improving but the doc’s is right: she really does need to keep her it moving. Keep up the nagging! And add mine too! x
Have a great time while you’re away. I bet Ron will!
Gee x
Hahaha, Ron will just do what he always do and that is going about his own business. He gets all the freedom he wants and needs from me because that means I have it too.
Postponing the holiday is no option for a number of reasons but we have high hopes now that it will go smoothly.
I will tell mum you agree on my nagging haha.
You should have no problems at the airport as you’re with Marianne. When I go, I use a wheelchair too for the same reason, I’m rushed thru no queuing first on.
You chose such fabulous locations
Hope mum improves
We are very hopeful of our holiday flights going smoothly. It is getting harder to find locations which I haven’t already shown but fortunately the weather is often not such a big issue as in winter.
Glad to hear your mom is a little better. Those almshouses are so pretty! I appreciate the effort you put in to show us lovely areas for your photo shoots. Of course, your outfits are lovely as well 🙂
Believe me, it’s not really an effort when you enjoy doing it so much as I do. I love photo shoots and everything to do with blogging. So we have a mutual interest. Me creating content and you reading it.
I must say your hair looks marvelous in all of these pictures. And I especially love that last top which is blue and white. where did you get that? Love it!!!
Hope your Mother’s foot is better now
Haven’t I got a terrific hairdresser? As I have thin hair and not a lot of it. The blue and white top has silver in it as well and is by Essentiel Antwerp, collection Spring Summer 2020. Here is the link to the original post when I still had those amazing high heeled silver pumps. I loved them but they had little room for my toes and are too high for retired life, so I gave them to a friend. With a bleeding heart.
https://www.nofearoffashion.com/2020/05/31/silver-and-blue-silk-blouse/
Mum’s foot isn’t better yet but gradually less painful. Which is progress.
You look so great in the jacket and jeans outfit, and also in the jeans and the blue and white blouse at the end. Love those.
Gorgeous setting in the hofje – thank you for taking us there.
Hope your mom is feeling better. Have a good week!
I am very much a jeans girl (well…woman). Which is good in this part of the world. But I love dresses and skirts too; it just takes more effort to come up with good outfits in them. Funnily enough.
Mum was feeling a little less pain in her foot today, so we are hoping this is progress.
The “Kermit” jacket is a very nice color on you! Those little gardens around the almshouses are so pretty and charming. Makes me want to get out in my yard and plant some flowers…maybe next week haha!
Always nice chatting with you. Hope your Mum continues to recover OK.
You know me, I love any bright colour. This jacket has been in my closet since 2015. Because I have so many clothes, they don’t wear out and I hang on to things I still love.
Mum was a little better today, so we are hoping.