Hottest day

Yesterday was the hottest day until now, the temperature at our place was 37°C. But because it was so hot during the day, a thunderstorm formed and around 7.30 pm the storm hit Antwerp with these picts as a result. (The pics are taken from GvA).

At our place we also got some water in the houde, but a half bucket at the most, so no problem. And all our trees in the backyard withstood the storm, so nothing happened. But in the city there was a lot of water trouble as you can see.

However, the thunderstorm was beautiful to watch and the kids slept through most of it.

African flower

Just wanted to show you a picture of what I have been doing the last past weeks. I have been crocheting African Flowers. I wanted to make a bag, but I have decided to make a throw blanket. I like the colors so it will be a blanket for myself... The only downside... it is getting quite heavy.
The weather has been very poor over the weekend, heavy showers, so we stayed indoors mostly, so ideal craft weather.

Weekend

Yesterdaymorning we went to Planckendaal, a large zoo in Mechelen. As you can see, the kids had a great time.

Ealier that morning a bird flew into the window, nothing new at our place close to a lot of trees, but it happened three times so I had a look and so a young bird. I picked it up to show the kids and then released it in the back garden where I saw a sibling sitting near our back door. That one was smaller and not in such a good shape.

When we returned home in the afternoon, my DH called me and showed me one of the chicks sitting on one of our window sills, as you can see on the pic. His mum and dad were close because I could hear them. But where was the other chick.
I found it, but as I feared it that morning, I got in our pond and it didnt drown but I think it died because it was to exhausted trying to get back out of the slippery banks of the pond. I hope mum and dad will take good care of this chick.
P.S. I dont know the name in english, is it a Jay bird. We call it a Vlaamse Gaai.

Stoomtram Hoorn-Medemblik

During the Ascention day weekend, the Steammuseum here in Medemblik has her annual steamfestival and you can take a trip with one of her steamtrams. The tram rides almost the whole year but during the festival actors dressed in clothes from around 1900 are travelling with you, old timers drive next to the trams, as you can see on the pic, to make the experience complete.

When the train stops there is something to see, like these two engines, the big one is used for a harvesting machine, the small on to run a pump.

On one of the stations we saw this little engine called the Ooievaar (stork), and it is unique in the world. I must admit she was a beauty.

And after a hot day in the train; the boys had a go at a small rowing boat garndma and grandpa bought them. And amazingly only one of them fell into the water...

Sprookjeswonderland

Yesterday we visited Sprookjeswonderland in Enkhuizen. As you can see, the weather was excellent and we had a great time until son#3 got tired and we went home.

Son #2 built his reputation as pirate and they had pancakes for lunch, so everything was A OK...

Even the wait in line was worth it for a trip in the small boats. The smallest one enjoyed evey minute of it.

Sprookjeswonderland a fun day out for the kids.

Zuiderzeemuseum

On wednesdqy night we went to Medemblik where my PIL´s sailboat is stationed. Yesterday we sailed to Enkhuizen to visit the Zuiderzeemuseum. An open air museum where they built traditional buildings (real ones, the they torn down in all parts of Holland and built up again in the museum).
As you can see, we visited the cheeseshop and bought some yummy old cheese.

Then the boys made a boat out off bad quality wooden shoes. They keep them for the kids to make boats out off, they have holes in the,m or are not suitable to wear. They boys are very proud off their wooden shoes.

And this is us, making ourselves ready to go back to Medemblik. A little girl came this morning to check what kind of pirates were on board, but luckily they are just small pirates...