A Travel Blog
Recently my husband took a short term job with Vermeer in Goes, Netherlands. This is a big adventure for us mid-western Americans! I have amended an old blog page I used a few years ago to keep friends and family updated about our life here. I will update periodically. Take care everyone! We miss you!
To read the most recent Blog, click below:
Food Highlight
2/11/26
Jabrak
As I have written before, I am blessed enough to meet people from around the world. In one of my language classes at the library, a woman from Syria brought us some brunch. It is a special dish from her land called Jabrak. The meat is baked chicken, but under it are grape leaves wrapped around a spiced rice mixture. The leaf bundles are then cooked in a tiny bit of oil for a brief time and sprinkled with lemon juice. The cook, Hasna, sent the leftovers home with me. Jeremy and I enjoyed the Jabrak for supper! It is quite good!
The Colosseum, Roma, Italie
A Dutch Discovery
2/11/26
Interesting Trees
This time of year you see many butched trees. You just see the trunk with a nub on top, or sometimes a ball shape on top. These are called Pollard Willows, and they are very common in the Southern Netherlands. They seem to be more of an ornamental tree than anything else. You commonly see them next to homes or along a road or bike path.
But yes, early in the year, it is important to cut off all the branches to manage growth. I think this is normally not done every year, but every 2-3 years.
Makes for a funny looking winter tree. But believe me, the branches return beautifully in the spring.
I sure do miss having a dog! Any time someone allows me to be close to their dog, I take advantage. My friend Ineke watches her grand dog once in a while. And when the dog is at her house, she lets me love on him. This is me and Pamuk. He wasn’t too sure about me at this first meeting, but after a few minutes, he was calm and quiet on my lap. And I of course was in my happy place. I have seen him a few more times since this picture, and he is slowly deciding to like me.
Recent Weather
2/11/26
The winter gray continues here in the Netherlands. We don’t see the sun much. And the rain is frequent. BUT… the temp has been around 40 degrees F. I don’t necessarily even need my heavy winter coat in that kind of temp. This weekend there will be a short cold snap. It will be in the mid 30s again, but that won’t last more than a few days.
Oh and… the days are getting longer. It is still light around 6pm. So exciting!