My great new camera is performing so well. Even friends, who have no photographic experience take pretty good images with it. Not all photos are fantastic, after all it is a skill, but most of them are good enough to publish. Such a big difference to my previous camera.
This time I met Peggy in the beautiful old city of Delft. I have done more photo shoots in this city. Peggy didn’t mind at all to take blog photos, although she warned me about her camera skills. I do love my friends for this kind cooperation.
Below: I showed this photo of Peggy last week too. We are in an Italian restaurant / shop having a delicious lunch (me) and great cappuccinos.
Below: The outfit of this week is a neon pink top which I found in a vintage shop, Vintage No 5 in Alkmaar. The funny thing is, it isn’t vintage…it is brand new. I asked the owner why she had new items made and she explained that the supply of vintage stuff in summer is low as many people are on holiday. Her demand however, is as always, hence the newly-made items. I liked the collar, the colour and the sleeve style. My kind of thing.
I did also find a vintage thing which you will see in the autumn.
I bought the top in another neon colour as well. Not often can I find a top with this design in such bright colours and the price was right too.
Below: As I said, Delft is a lovely old town, which means canals.
Below: We couldn’t resist this background. The lovely little silk crepe scarf which I tied around the handle of my bag is from Emma J. Shipley in London (they ship worldwide). It is not my find but Susan’s (see her post on Une femme d’un certain âge). I am dangerously close to copying too much of Susan’s stuff.
Below: Church towers on every corner.
Below: The big church on the main square. I climbed the stairs of that one when I was about 19 (??). At one-third of the distance was a platform where you could rest. I was knackered and there was this handsome Delft student keeping guard. Rest of the story is dot, dot, dot.
Below: We wandered through the city, people sitting on terraces in the sun everywhere. I repeated to Peggy what I so often say: “A town without trees is dead”.
Below: Peggy popped into a hairdresser to ask whether she could photograph this abstract painting of Vermeer’s Girl with a pearl earring, which was painted on the wall. That’s how I like my photographers…bold!
Below: Next-door we found a huge Delft blue shop, called Heinen Delfts Blauw; they ship worldwide and no, I do not get any remuneration for telling you this. The story of this family company is sweet. It all started with a hobby.
Below: They serve coffee on the little terrace outside but we were too curious and after taking this shot, we headed into the shop.
Oh such wonderful things we saw in the shop. Have a look.
Below: These tulip vases you can stack anyway you like. All in one colour or several layers of colours. What an innovative creation.
Below: Anyone of these would look great in any living room.
Below: Huge stacked piece. And huge was the price (€ 7,500). Not be put anywhere in an area with earthquakes.
Below: This was one of my favourites. Funny.
As we walked out again, a lady who had been sitting next to me on the bench outside, stopped me and said she had handed my sunglasses to one of the shop assistants. I had left them on the table. What a kind woman. I am very attached to these sunglasses.
Below: You can hardly see the little sleeping duck in the canal, so I put a blue circle around him/her.
Below: The left side of the town hall.
Below: And the impressive front, taken in the morning when there were more clouds.
Below: Ah…the kind of square Ron and I are always looking for when on holiday in France. Lots of trees and terraces.
Below: In the Netherlands, you can find a statue of a (colourful) bull, standing on buckets at a square like this.
Below: The black earrings are by Baublehaus and the black belt is Loewe. I wouldn’t have minded getting the belt for free in exchange for mentioning them on my blog haha but alas, I paid for it myself.
Peggy and I both ordered a “Pornstar Martini”. No idea why that cocktail is called that as there isn’t any martini in it and pornstar…??? Apparently they make them in different ways. I liked it, but the one I had in Haarlem was better. Anyway, it was a good finish to the day.
Below: We call this position: ‘Bending for Bacchus‘.
What happened in my life this week
Saturday Marcella came round for a chat and she had a technical question. She turned up wearing the same earrings as the ones she gave to me, only with a different colour button. Hers is green, mine is red. We decided to do a ‘side effect photo‘. (see below).
Below: Close-up of the two of us.
Sunday both Ron and I went to see mum. She was wearing light blue trousers with a fun shirt on top and a matching necklace (see below).
Monday was a chore day, bookkeeping, blogging, fitness, phone calls, grocery shopping and ironing. As it was going to be very hot the rest of the week, I ironed everything that needed ironing as Monday was still reasonable temperature wise. Wore this outfit below; like wearing PJ’s.
Tuesday I needed to come up with an outfit for the blog to be photographed the next day. I still had a few outfits ‘in stock’ but not suitable for 30+ degrees C.
Dyed and washed my hair to look smart the next day and did household chores. I think I will stop mentioning that I do household chores. Not interesting. We all do that.
Wednesday was delightful. Kitty and I photographed a shirt with three different trousers, shoes, bags and earrings at a lovely beach place near a lake.
We had just finished when my friend Rolf (see below) walked in with whom I had a lunch date. We go way back; we have been friends since I was 28 and he was 22. His lovely wife is down with long Covid, the poor soul.
Thursday I had my teeth bleached again. It must have been 4 years since I did that and brown (coffee) lines were creeping back into my teeth. It isn’t a joyous endeavour as you have to lie in one position in the chair for two hours and a bit. I even got cramp in my feet and had to jump off the chair haha. But the result is that my teeth are now 2 1/2 shades lighter. My own teeth are pretty yellow so I will never achieve white-white, but I am very happy with this result, see below where I am grinning like a horse. I presume you will never see the difference on a photo but as long as I am happy, right?
The rules for afterwards I had initially forgotten. For 48 hours I could only eat white food, like cauliflower, chicory, rice, white bread etc. And I was not allowed to brush my teeth for 24 hours which made me decide not to eat anything at all the first evening. I don’t like going to bed without having brushed my teeth and with food plaque on them. Actually, I have never in my life gone to bed without brushing my teeth, not even when I was as drunk as I could be (happened once).
No coffee is the worst bit.
Friday was warm, boring and no coffee.
Greetje
I love seeing your mom each week, partly because she seems so sweet, and partly because my mom is gone. She and I used to spend lots of time together, so I enjoy hearing about the two of you. Mom and I used to play Rummikub too!
Rummikub is a great game because it keeps your brain active. You have to think of clever ways to use the tiles on the table.
Ooh, I love your neon orange top! It has a funky style to it. Great pics of Delft – so beautiful. I also tie my scarves to my purses! I didn’t know that those were tulip vases – what a cool idea to make them stackable. I also like the emu plates!
Mum is looking fabulous in her outfit! I have done the drugstore tooth-whitening, but like you, my teeth are naturally yellow-ish. I have 3 fake front ones, so they’ll never be other than my actual colour. Did you know that blue-y red and blue-y pink lipsticks will make your teeth look whiter? Avoid orange-based (orange lipstick makes my teeth look yellow) colours.
You are so right. Orange lipstick makes my teeth look really yellow. When I need orange lipstick I usually go for a soft pink.
Glad you enjoyed the post. I’ll be over to your posts soon (promise).
The photos from Delft are beautiful. And wouldn’t I just love to shop in the store! Yes I would! The neon top is gorgeous on you. The neckline appeals to me. Also, your laundry outfit is stylish. I would wear it. Nice to see your Mom looking so good.
You can shop in the store online haha. They deliver worldwide.
My laundry outfit…I had to look that up and when I saw the photo I understood. Yes it does look good right? And so comfortable.
Mum is still wondering why everybody wants to see her.
You can really carry off that color and shape and I like how you kept the rest of the outfit neutral. I also love all the whimsical objects you found. That’s what makes finding new shops and craft fairs so special – discovering people’s creativity. I can see those blue vases looking smashing in your living room. Love all the color this week: orange kimono and dueling earrings! Your mum looks healthy and well.
“Dot dot dot” and “bending for Bacchus”– you always give me such a laugh! But please define ” knackered.”
Love your neon pink top and your PJ’s outfit!
I am so pleased I could make you laugh. You just made my day.
“Knackered” is being very tired, exhausted. Pardon my slang (I am actually very proud of my knowledge of slang haha).
No pardon necessary. I’m going to have to incorporate knackered into my vocabulary!😉
It sounds wonderful when you pronounce it. Just like the word “discombobulated”. It just rolls of your tongue.
The colour and shape of the top were so right for me that I immediately went to the shop when I saw it on IG. SO me.
Walking through a city brings you to new places you would miss on a bike or in a car. Walking is good.
Actually, the blue vases, even though I love them, would be too much in our already very colourful living room.
Greetings from North Carolina USA! I just love your blog and this one – especially – is nothing short of spectacular! Thanks for sharing your beautiful self, your friends and your beautiful country with us!
Really? “Nothing short of spectacular?” I am amazed and of course flattered. To tell you the truth, I think it is a lovely post, but I have done so many more really good ones. I suppose it all depends what you are looking for.
But I am glad I was able to entertain you.
You are a joy to read! I live in Philadelphia but was going to Paris for a month for seven or so years. Now I am ready to go up your way! Everything appeals to my taste! Hopefully in the spring I will head on up. Thanks for your delightful entries here!
You are very welcome to come to Europe. Spring is a lovely time but weatherwise it is fickle, especially in the Netherlands. Italy is gorgeous too and has better weather. Just saying.
Wow – so many beautiful things to look at this week! Blue and white is my favorite color combination, so I guess I’m naturally a Delft person. I agree with Susan – the cushions are gorgeous. Thanks for taking us on this trip with you. Have a great week.
You definitely are a Delft blue person. Glad I was able to entertain you again this week.
I love this top, its color, its design, the volume. And, although it’s not really vintage, I like that Audrey Hepburn vibe that the look breathes. I really like that abstract interpretation of Vermeer’s The Girl, it looks beautiful. As always some beautiful photos that take me to your beautiful country, your new photographer is very good. Today I love your close-up sipping the cocktail.
Ah, the “bending for Bacchus” photo. If a glass is this full, you have to start drinking like this so you won’t spill.
Glad you enjoyed this post too.
Love your neon top..beautiful…but the photo of the lily pads and sleeping duck reminded me of a Van Gogh painting. Fabulous photo with the reflections.
Oh funny…when I read “Fabulous photo of the duck with the reflections”, I thought “Refelections??? What reflections?”
I had to look at my own photo to discover the houses being reflected in the water haha. Gosh I am bad as an artist.
Very flattering neck-line !
And love the happy colour.
Another great ” visit” too.
Thank you for the compliments. Visit my blog anytime; I love to entertain people.
I love that top on you! The neckline is interesting and the color is fabulous (and goes so well with “our” scarf, haha!).
The blue Delft pottery is so pretty, but I’d be most tempted by those print cushions…
Hah… “our scarf”, good one.
The company of the cushions do sell cushions worldwide. Didn’t see these particular ones on their sight but it might be worth a DM.