WORDLESS WEDNESDAY

Garden architect Louis Fuchs created the 14-hectare park alongside the castle at the start of the 20th century. 

Every year since 2003, the park is open to an international flower exhibition.

The floral shows in the grounds of Groot-Bijgaarden Castle, are dedicated to tulips, with over 300 varieties (early, medium and late varieties, as well as classic triumphs, botanicals, bleurs-de-lis, viridiflora,and multi-flora) and other varieties of spring bulb flowers. More than a million bulbs are planted. 

We visited the flower show on Monday, April 21 and it was the right time to see all flowers in full bloom and nothing had faded yet. It was a wonderful walk admiring the flowers, and the color creations. We enjoyed the exhibition very much.

 

 more participants here

AWWW MONDAY - WEEKEND APRIL 18

 

Linking to AWWW MONDAYS 

 

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WEEKEND 

My son had announced his visit for Saturday with Toby and their dog Leia. Naturally, it was the only day we had a constant shower. Since there was nothing special planned for Sunday's menu, they brought hamburgers and a cheeseburger for me, and instead of flowers, good Dutch cheese and tangerines.

Toby has grown again since February and is now 3 cm taller than his dad, who is 2 meters tall. We ate our hamburgers with gusto and caught up on all the news. Toby is the tallest in his basketball club, but his coach is even taller, 2.13 meters! He showed me a picture, and I asked where the poor guy buys his clothes and shoes! Leia really wanted to say hello to Rosie the cat, but Rosie made herself very small in her basket. We let Leia sniff around a bit, and then there was peace and quiet. Rosie in her basket and Leia on the floor. 

 I with my Body guards ! Obviously Rick has left me two nice souvenirs !  

The Italian blood had erased the German and Dutch, son has inherited from his father and the grandson has inherited the brown hairs too. Both I and my DIL are blond. They have nothing from our families

After lunch we went to the restaurant to join the others and I felt like a circus director leading two rare species around the room. Leia the dog preferred the people in wheelchairs, letting them pet her and waving her tail like a fan. Then it was the others' turn, but she was a bit shy at first. Afterwards, she felt completely at home and walked under the table, rubbing against everyone's legs! That was really funny, and the whole group enjoyed the presence of an animal.

Archery was on the agenda, and since we hadn't done it since childhood, or perhaps ever, only two of us hit the target! Me and a resident who was over 90 but fit as a fiddle. It was very interesting, of course, and my two guests had a great time, especially Toby. He loves coming and playing with the grandmas and grandpas. Unfortunately I forgot to take a picture when we shot !   

They helped Kim to prepare the tables, picked up coffee and cookies in the kitchen and I was proud that they were so helpful. I got quite a lot of compliments. A few thought they both were brothers, but I think they need new glasses ! 

 

As my son has a new electric car they were looking where they could charge the car for the way back. 

 

 

and Leia after having begged for cookies, finally settled down amongst all these legs under the table.

At 6 pm they returned to Amsterdam, it had been a very nice day !

On Sunday (of course) the sun was shining and I could do my daily walk through the park. Others had the same idea and rested on a bench. It was too cold to sit outside, so we had our activity inside.
 

 

I joined Solange and Brigitte on the Bench 

 

Kim had prepared a word game for us, which is called "words mixed up" it was quite difficult. The words we had to find were written on the left and the letters on the right. We then had to find the words in this jumble of letters ! But we managed and quite quickly !

After our coffee we chatted until it was time for supper.  

FRIDAY's FAVE FIVE

We had surprisingly sunny weather despite the weatherman's announcement of rain ! 

Of course we all were eager to enjoy the sunshine ! We left the terrace which is in the shade the afternoon, which is nice in hot summer temperatures, but now the ideal spot for our games was another place which was just in the sunshine. We had never used this space, I don't know why. I thought I will sit there and wait until 3 pm, to join the others. But suddenly first one joined me on the bench and then slowly the others and then we decided to stay. 

The castle cat joined in, and it was so nice that we just sat there and chatted and didn't play at all ! Elinor served the coffee, and our cook Amadeo had baked little cakes for us to eat with the coffee.

The next day it was the same again, only this time we played a "Spider Mikado" ! That was really hilarious ! Elinor put a (plastic) spider on the Mikado sticks and we had to pull out each stick without touching the spider, if the spider fall in the bucket you had lost. The sticks could move. It was the opposite of the right Mikado, but this one didn't have a spider either.

Isn't it beautiful ??? 

Here the first one started and we all watched with suspense if the spider would fall in the bucket .... and it did ! The next resident was better, and I the tree times I played managed that this beast stayed on the sticks.

One day we had to stay inside because it rained from time to time, and did a cross word all together.  But the next day it was nice and warm together and we gathered on our sunny spot.

Kim did a Quiz with us, about nature, science, animals and geography ! Not so easy but we managed. He had a nice working place ! We felt like on holidays

 

 

 

and this was my view sitting on the bench ! The trees are getting green and some flowers start to bloom.  

and then it was coffee time. I wish that the weather continues like that but it could get a bit warmer !

more participants at Susanne at Living to tell the Story.