Looking at the photo above I cannot help thinking the jeans should have been ironed. Something which was an absolute no-no in the seventies haha. Times are changing. I bought the green jumper while wearing these flared jeans and immediately liked the look. The jeans are high-waisted and I wasn’t sure that the ‘French tuck’ would work with that, but it does when the jumper is long enough.
Originally I wore my basketball trainers with the jeans (see styling session in the bedroom below). But the dark blue wash of the jeans stained my laces and the leather of the trainers blue. It took me quite a bit of work to clean that but I still like the outfit better with those basketball trainers.
Anyway, meanwhile in Utrecht…as that was the town Anke, Sabine and I were in. Another get-together of the Shopping Saturday group.
Below: Utrecht has many canals and a lot of the canals have these wide quays where restaurants and bars are situated. A charming atmosphere.
Below: Sabine took photos on one of those quays and told me to sit on this lion. Anke was afraid it wasn’t secured to the ground and I might fall in the water. She is making sure I am safe.
Below: Anke, now knowing that the lions are safe to sit on or rest your foot on. LOL
Below: Sabine, hip and happening as always.
Below: Sabine directed me on to a tree stump. And this, my lovely readers, is how an old woman with a bad knee gets onto such a low thing. Very carefully and very focused, tongue hanging out of my mouth.
Below: Being very happy I made it, but still holding on for dear life to this water thing. When you are young and you see this, you must think “pathetic”. Well kids, that’s growing old for you. You’ll get there too, if you’re lucky.
Below: Sabine thought I could do circus tricks. “Now stand on one leg”. OK, as long as I can still hold on to something.
You can see the trainers I had on instead of the basketball trainers. They are nice but to me they are too sporty for the look.
Below: We were killing ourselves laughing, even though it was really cold. I look like a hyena.
Below: What a pretty building behind me across the water.
Below: We started our day in this charming little coffee place called ‘t Koffieboontje (The little coffee bean). Indoors of course. Outdoors was just for the photo.
Soon we hit the shops.
Below: Sabine was wearing a cute yellow cardigan. She bought the pink blouse.
Below: Anke trying on sturdy shoes (the one on her right foot). Her brown dress really looked good on her. Styled well with the cowboy boots.
Below: Girls goofing. Anke bought the shoes and 2 pairs of socks.
Below: Outside again. Above the door it says ‘Het hertenhuis‘ (The deer house).
Below: Close-up of the golden deer above the door.
Below: Let’s move on.
Below: Here are some photos of beautiful buildings along a canal in the centre of town.
Below: Restaurant called ‘Winkel van Sinkel‘ (Shop of Mr. Sinkel). It refers to a rhyme which cannot be translated. The history of this building is a really good read. I learned that the four caryatids, supporting the building, were colloquially referred to as the “British harlots”. You’ll find out why if you read the history. I only found out myself when I started to research the building for you.
Below: This is how the Winkel van Sinkel looked like in the old days (classier in my opinion).
Below: Our lunch restaurant Ubica.
Below: Two photos of the interior of the restaurant Ubica. Nice place, good food. Still in Christmas atmosphere.
Below: After lunch we continued shopping. I bought a silver coloured pleated skirt and a great big jumper which you will see next week. For now I will only show you my leg LOL.
Below: Sabine tried on these white sunglasses, which were a bit too wide for her. She bought the jeans she’s holding.
Below: Anke tried the white sunglasses on too and they suited her better. Sabine tried pink ones.
Below: We passed the magnificent building of the former post office (built in 1924) which is now a grand library. Worth a visit.
Below: In the window they had this doll house, or better said, mouse house. I recognised it immediately and checked with the staff. Indeed, part of the mouse house was on loan from the Amsterdam library (for more photos and the whole 11 stories mouse house see this post; you have to scroll down).
Below: Close-up of a detail. Too cute.
And with this our Shopping Saturday ended and we headed back to the train station. Another excellent day.
What happened in my life this week
I had a joyful morning with my friend Yvonne. We share the same kind of humour and she is quick with her humour, just like Ron. So we roared with laughter. There aren’t many things better than laughing out loud with a friend. Below: Yvonne and me, drinking hot chocolate as it was pretty cold. I waived the whipped cream as I have to lose a little bit of weight. Not much as I always keep that margin tiny.
Ron accompanied me visiting mum. She loves him and so did my father. We had a jolly afternoon. I pinned the trouser legs of her new PJ’s as they were far too long. They will be shortened. Ron took the photo of us below. Mum is wearing one of her new jumpers. Most of the time while being photographed she failed to smile. Ron said “Wait, I know how to put a smile on her face….” and waved a banknote in front of her face. That was of course nonsense but it did make her laugh. He always makes her laugh.
(Link to original post with my outfit. In that post I also combined the trousers with another blazer.)
My dental hygienist was very pleased with me and gave me compliments on how I brushed my teeth. I had been worried the night before about how to get to her as icy rain was forecast with slippery roads. As usual, it wasn’t half that bad. We even had sunshine in the afternoon. Our neighbour Ina from across the road came for tea in the afternoon. I forgot to take her photo.
I had a drink with Misja and we decided to pay a visit to a new vintage shop in Haarlem, called Vintage No. 5. We already knew them from their shop in Alkmaar.
Below: Here we are in the shop. Misja’s short coat is to die for.
Being the person I am, I came home with boots and a quirky trouser suit. Ron sent an email to my mum with a photo of the bag and wrote:
“Again, Greetje goes into town only for 1 cup of coffee…. and then comes home when it is really dark. With a big bag containing new shoes, new trousers, new jumper.
Why don’t you say something about that? As she doesn’t listen to me.
Oh…why do I bother, I am asking the wrong person. I just threw out 18 boxes that delivered your new clothes….”
You get that everything is highly exaggerated, and it made my mum laugh.
See you next week.
Greetje
I love Ron’s cheering up of your mum (lovely pic of you and her), that made me smile too!
Ah, your day with your girlfriends looks like so much fun, Greetje! And I know what you are like to shop – I felt like I was there! Those flared jeans are fab on you, love the tuck of the jumper. I adore the candid photos – your personality really comes across.
Sending you a big hug, across the sea and a continent!
We had a ball at Nordstrom, didn’t we? I sometimes see the photo with your face again in astonishment as you saw the Prada price tag haha. I still love the Paige flared jeans I bought there. You will see them on the blog again soon.
Your compliments are so sweet. I am chuffed.
Loved the post and of course the outfit. Thank you again for sharing a part of your life with us.
It was my pleasure entirely. Some posts are more elaborate (and usually more fun) than others. I cannot always get what I want. Especially the weather is often a spoilsport.
Lovely pics of you and your friends. Can see you’re having fun. The green jumper and jeans look is very youthful and contemporary. Top marks.
Thanks Gail. I saw an Instagram video today of a woman who was dressed in the old-fashioned way, her hair tied to the back, no make-up and she was about my age I think. After that picture, she showed what she normally looks like. Holy moly, so modern, vibrant and fun. Not at all mutton dressed up as lamb, just lovely. I want to walk that way. But it does take quite a bit of effort and it needs to be ‘your thing’, your passion, otherwise you won’t bother. Which is fine as well, really. We are all different.
My daughter lived in Utrecht for 5 years and I grew to love the city and feel at home there. Thank you for the great memories today!
My pleasure entirely Christie. The goal of my blog is to entertain, to spread joy and let people smile (or laugh, when I am doing really well haha).
What a nice post, full of friends, attractive fashion, and kindness to your mother. I liked your comment to young people about getting old – “if you are lucky”. If I complain about old age creeping up, my son always asks, “What is the alternative?” Haha!
Your son is right. We have a song in the Netherlands of an artist that has a sentence “Are you fearing tomorrow? Then you have to hang yourself today”. A bit crude but it means the same. It is good to remember old age isn’t given to everybody.
Greetje,
I enjoyed all of the beautiful buildings you showed. Do people live in the upper floors of those buildings?
Many of our inner towns in the US aren’t as busy as yours. People enjoy shopping in shopping malls or strip malls.
I loved your jeans and jumper. I don’t have dye transfer. I use a cup of white vinegar in a load of dark clothes and the colored clothes.
A lot of bloggers are using the lighter tennis shoe and not as much as the basket ball shoe which is so heavy.
It’s always fun to see your friends, they seem like a lot of fun and love clothes too!
I didn’t work today, it snowed so they closed the outdoor mall. It’s 14 degrees F. We’ve been boiling water with spices to make it feel warmer by adding humidity to the air.
Yesterday when I was at home, I reached high for a soup bowl and the shelf came down on me! I got hit on the very top of my nose with a plate. If the plate had hit me a little lower, it would have broken my nose!
So nice to see your sweet mother. It looks like Watson got to go too!
I know the difference between the US towns and the European towns and I am so scared that online shopping will force our city shops to close and we will be left with malls as well.
I will put my jeans in a bucket of water with vinegar. I know it helps to keep the colour; let’s see whether it also stops the staining.
My basket ball shoes are fashion shoes and not heavy.
Gosh Cathy, you seem to have accident after accident. Are these your 7 bad years?
I always enjoy seeing photos of you and your cute friends. You find such interesting places to photograph.
Sometimes it takes quite a bit of effort to find yet another interesting place to photograph. I know lots of places but I am not prepared to travel for hours to get there.
Love seeing you and your friends. You always look like you’re having a great time. I love the building photos and stories too.
Have a good week.
We are indeed having a great time. We always look forward to our Shopping Saturdays. Not just for the shopping; actually the shopping comes third. Being together and talk + laugh take first and second place.
What a great post — I love seeing your style, your friends, the spectacular buildings you show us, and your mom. Question — don’t the jeans also stain the white shoes you are wearing?
The jeans didn’t stain these trainers (sneakers), mainly because the laces are black. I think I will throw the jeans in a bucket with water and vinegar. They say it preserves the colour, perhaps it also stops the colour from staining my shoes.
I love seeing all the “trouble” you and your friends get into on your shopping expeditions. Enjoyed reading your blog today on a snowy, freezing cold morning in Ottawa, Canada
We call our weather freezing cold as well. But it is nothing compared to Canada. We start telling each other it is really cold when it is around zero degrees Celsius haha.
I am glad I could entertain you. It’s my main goal with this blog.
Ron is such a card! Haha.
You have such a wonderful social life and a strong sense of community.
Love the outfit with the jeans and green jumper. You have legs for miles and look very svelte.
Suzanne
You know what I am like…very sociable. I talk to anyone any time. And I make the effort to maintain my friendships. Couldn’t do without them.
Looking svelte hah? Who wouldn’t want to hear that? Thanks.
And yes, Ron is my own personal comedian.
I love this week’s edition. I love seeing all the buildings in Utrecht. Buildings can be so lovely in Europe! America, not so much! And I love when you all go shopping! I find it fascinating regarding what your friends and yourself buy! cannot wait to see next week’s edition! I miss “winter” clothing so much! you can do so much with a nice scarf and a cute coat! I love Misja’s jacket! I looked at her blog. how does one sign up? I usually don’t go on Instagram. We are having a “cold” winter here in Florida (around 45 F. has been the coldest) so I am loving wearing my new sweaters and jacket. I wear a lot of denim jackets because at 10am it might be cold but two hours later it can be 20 degrees warmer! Sorry to hear your knee still bothers you. I thought it was getting better? It look so nice in that outfit, love the jeans! Nice to have long legs! Mine are short so pants always have to be shortened. I saw a gorgeous pair of jeans but they would have been shortened six inches for me to wear them. lol
Utrecht is indeed a very pretty city; we are blessed with such cities in the Netherlands. We have a lot of them.
I think Misja stopped with mailing new blog posts to new subscribers. So you just have to check and see once in a while.
I see what you mean with the Florida climate. Many people adore the fact that it is so nice and warm there, but I love the four seasons we have. Apart from the occasional yelling at the rain.
My legs are indeed long and they are my best assets.
Leuk die foto’s van Utrecht, mooie stad ook. Ik lees graag je blogs, leuk om je moeder weer te zien.
Hele mooie stad. We zijn in Nederland gezegend met veel mooie steden. Ben blij dat ik je kan amuseren met mijn posts. Daar doe ik het voor, entertainen, mensen blij maken, al is het maar een glimlach.
Moeders doet het heel goed.