A Postcard A Day - Friday 16 June 2017 - Friday Smiles

Hello everybody!


How has your week been? My week was full of sorting out things after I came back from Holland, doing all the washing and catching up with the housework etc.


Last Sunday it was my best friend's 60th birthday and I spent Saturday making her a very special cake. As it is extremely hot here, I thought I'd do a cheese cake from the new  cake book that I bought in Holland recently. This is the book:

And this is the cake I tried to make:

 

It turned out very well and my friend was very impressed.

(Note the bunches of herbs in the background that she had picked that morning).

Earlier that day, in fact it was early morning, there was a mountain bike race in the village. They always pass by our house as we live on a 'precipice' at the edge of the village. (Beautiful views but oh so steep) I took lots of photos from the terrace and this one by the front door as they came up the hill:

Lets not forget the postcard. I haven't received any postcards lately as I haven't been sending them. (When I don't send, I don't get). So here are two postcards that I sent this week. They are both images of nearby villages and our village ,looks pretty much like them.

In the second photo you see a few cave houses, that are so popular in our area.

I received a little present this week:

 A piece of soap in a beautiful Little bag. The reason she gave this to me was that I used this soap in her bathroom. I came out with tears in my eyes as the frangrance just took me back. I recognised that frangrance as the soap my grandmother always used.

It has a very strong perfume and is still being made today (since 1905).

I finished another book this week. A thriller if ever there was one! It kept me awake at night, as I wanted to know what happened next. What you call 'superbly menacing'.

Alex Taylor wakes up tied to an operating table.The man who stands over her isn't a doctor.The offer he makes her is utterly unspeakable.But when Alex re-awakens, she's unharmed - and no one believes her horrifying story. Ostracised by her colleagues, her family and her partner, she begins to wonder if she really is losing her mind.And then she meets the next victim.

I have yet to write my Goodreads review but I am going to give it 5 stars. It is that good!


Finally here are some funnies as it is after all Friday Smiles:

That's all from me this Friday. I hope you all have a fantastic week with lots of smiles,
Hugs,
Lisca

A Postcard A Day - Tuesday 13 June 2017 - T for Turkish döner,Dutch flowers and Syrah/Shiraz

Hello lovely people,

Here I am again, back from Holland.

I went to spend a week with my mum. She celebrated her 93rd birthday and I wanted to be with her (she lives alone).
Here she is with a large bouquet of flowers that my cousin brought:

I think my postcard for today will have to be one from Holland:

I have probably shared this card already some time ago, but I will show it again, because it shows the things I like (and miss) about Holland. The special boiled sweets, the cheese, the 'stroopwafels' (bottom left), and the liquorice, which is salted, and definitely an acquired taste! These are the things I brought back from my home country.

We had a great week, my mum and I. I cooked lots of nice things for her. I would cook large amounts so that she would have many little portions to put in the freezer.

One day we went to the newly opened Turkish Baker in the shopping precinct across the road:

I love all the different types of bread. In the glass part of the counter are all the sweets. And boy, do the Turks love their sweet things! I remember from my trips to Turkey that they are almost too sweet to eat!
-

So we didn't have any of that. They have many nice savoury things too:

All very yummy, I can assure you. But we went for the 'hot' counter where those gents are standing:

This chappie does the döner 'pizzas':

They are flatbread with a spicey sauce, which gets blasted in a super hot oven until it sort of bubbles. Then they put slivers of lamb or chicken on it, add cheese and sauce according to taste and purse, then they roll it up and hand it to you in aluminium foil, ready to eat.

This is what we ended up with. It was delish! And too much really to eat in one go, so I wrapped half of mine up and ate it the next day for supper.

As I am joining Elizabeth and Bleubeard for T for Tuesday, I am proudly presenting my drink that day: a glas of red Syrah wine (Syrah is the name of the grape. In France the wine of that grape is called Syrah, and in Australia, where it has a more new world taste, it is called Shiraz).

That is it from me today.

Happy T-Day to all,

Hugs,

Lisca





A Postcard A Day - Friday 10 June 2017 - Friday Smiles

Hi Folks,

I'm sorry I was AWOL last week but I have been out and about. I have spent some time with my mum in Holland and have come back yesterday.

So my postcard(s) for today are typical of Holland. They are cards that have been given to me so that I might send them:

I had a lovely time. We celebrated my mum's 93rd birhday and it was great to see my relatives again, as I don't often see them of course.

I visited a friend in Amsterdam. The centre of Amsterdam is very old (unlike my home town of Rotterdam, which is very modern, having been bombed completely during WW2). I enjoyed just walking around and looking at the old houses. Here are some photos:

I had to smile at the little sign in the window: No bicycles!

The date on this house is 1618 (visible middle right).

A detail on one of the houses.

I am writing this on Thursday pm before going to the airport. This is where I am sitting: my mum's desk and computer station:

I found an old photo of mum at her computer many years ago. It was my old computer that I had given to her when we had bought a new one. She is sitting at the kitchen table. Unfortunately there is no date on the photo but I guess it is in the 70s...

That made me smile. 

Talking of smiles.... here are some funnies:

Anyone who has grandchildren will be able to identify with the above.

A bit of streetart.
And because I am about to leave for the airport:

I'm going to link in with Annie at A Stitch In Time and with VIrginia at Rocking Your World Friday.

Have a good week and...
Keep smiling!

Hugs,
Lisca

A Postcard A Day - Tuesday 6 June 2017 T for Holland, cows and whipped cream

Hello Folks,

I apologise for not commenting last week. My computer was doing funny things again and I was too busy to sit down and sort it out.

This week I am in Holland at my mum's. So my postcards today come from Holland. I bought some postcards on Sunday in Amsterdam. Here they are:

A Friesian cow and of course cheese:

Sorry, I have not been able to crop the card on this computer, but you get the idea.

On Sunday I travelled to Amsterdam on the train to visit my best friend's daughter. She married a Dutchman and was very happy to receive greetings from her village in Spain plus some tasty goodies I have managed to carry in my suitcase. We took the ferry from the back of the central station to the other side of the river:

The ferry is for pedestrians and bicycles and scooters. As you know the Dutch all ride bikes. There was a lady with a box on the front to carry her child in.

The child is asleep as you can see.

We sat outside as it was reasonable weather, and had a drink. My drink was Radler, a lager beer with lemon:

Isabel had Chocomel, a typical Dutch chocolate drink (very smooth and creamy) with whipped cream. 

She is pregnant and indulged in appeltaart. The waitress brought it with three spoons so we could all have a bite.

We had a really lovely time. Here is lil'ol me:

Please join the T-party if you have a drink (any drink) in your blog post. Elizabeth and Bleubeard are inviting all to join.

Happy T-Day all!

Hugs,

Lisca

A Postcard A Day - Tuesday 30 May 2017 - T for...

Hi folks,

A happy Tuesday to you all. Are you all joining the T-party? Elizabeth and Bleubeard welcome you at Altered Book Lover.

Here is the card I am sending to a Postcrossing member in Germany who is crazy about old tractors. It is an image from 1960, a photograph by John Gay. The info on the card tells me: A tractor being driven through the doorway of St Etheldreda's church in Hatfield.

I haven´t really been up to much this week. I have no photos of outings or restaurant visits. And I am writing this away from my desktop computer where all my photos are stores, so my contribution to the T-party is this:

Isn´t that a lovely tea set? My mum used to have a posh tea set, but now we all drink from a mug. A shame really.

I did finish another book this week. I liked it very much. It was set in Italy during WW2.

I enjoyed it immensely and I will write the ´blurb´ at the bottom for those who are interested.

Thursday I will be flying out to the Netherlands to visit my mum for her birthday. I will be staying a week. Needless to say I am greatly looking forward to it. Next week I will have much more to report for sure.

Happy T-day all!

Lisca

Italy, 1943-Germany occupies much of the country, placing the Jewish population in grave danger during World War II.

As children, Eva Rosselli and Angelo Bianco were raised like family but divided by circumstance and religion. As the years go by, the two find themselves falling in love. But the church calls to Angelo and, despite his deep feelings for Eva, he chooses the priesthood.

Now, more than a decade later, Angelo is a Catholic priest and Eva is a woman with nowhere to turn. With the Gestapo closing in, Angelo hides Eva within the walls of a convent, where Eva discovers she is just one of many Jews being sheltered by the Catholic Church.

But Eva can't quietly hide, waiting for deliverance, while Angelo risks everything to keep her safe. With the world at war and so many in need, Angelo and Eva face trial after trial, choice after agonizing choice, until fate and fortune finally collide, leaving them with the most difficult decision of all.

A Postcard A Day - Friday 26 May 2017 - Friday Smiles

Gosh it's Friday already. Where did the week go!!
We've not done anything in particular, but still I'm busy every day and the week just flies!


I haven't received many cards this week, mainly because I am behind sending cards. (If I don't send them, I don't receive any).

This one arrived last week from Russia. It is quite sweet.

My week has been a week behind the sewing machine. I am by no means a good sewer. Wrong word: a good seamstress, but I can just about sew in a straight line. I shortened two pairs of trousers and two tops that were too long (I'm petite so everything I buy is always too long). I repaired two pillow cases that had ripped. And I sewed two fly screens together to cover the double doors to the terrace. I buy them at Lidls. The two parts have little magnets that will close the curtain as soon as you have walked through. Very handy. I had them last year too. I bought a new set as they have improved the adhesive and are now supplied with 5.60 meters of Velcro. Happy days!

I buy two for the double doors and sew them together. Simples.

My lovely hubby has constructed a carport this week. He bought the iron bars and started painting them black, when he accidently knocked over a 5 litre pot of black paint!

And he got himself quite messy too, trying to mop it up (imposible of course).



No I didn't shout at him. These things happen. We both laughed about it after hubby had got rid of his frustration. The roof terrace is not a terrace that we often use.

Last week I finished a good book: Brainrush by Richard Bard:

It's a thriller with a paranormal twist. The protagonist is the very likeable Jake, a young 'surfer dude' who is  diagnosed with a brain tumor. When an earthquake hits while he is having an MRI scan, he comes out brain enhanced. Then an Italian 'baddie'  wants to use those super powers for his own agenda. Set in USA, Venice and Afghanistan. There is lots of excitement, fast paced action and of course a love interest. I loved it.

Now for some funnies as I am going to link with Annie at A Stitch In Time. They are all wine related:

Don't worry, I haven't taken to the bottle. We have had many laughs this week. And these photos made me smile.

Next Friday I will be in Holland visiting my mum. (I'm flying out on Thursday night, so I will try to cobble a blog post together for Friday morning).

Linking up with Virginia at Rocking Your World Friday too.

Have a good week and keep smiling!,

Hugs,

Lisca