Good evening! Slept well last night? Turned the clocks ahead one hour? This will be a bit of a long one this evening! Better get yourself a cup of Hot Chocolate and settle down, get cozy and warm! We experienced a very cold Easter. Coldest in years and years!

After spending the night sleeping in tents, brrrr, it was time for the Cub Scout and Parent Hit Hike Baarn 2013 to get going!  

First the introduction of the Hike and then the 25 Cubs with their parents were divided into 4 groups!

 The first group headed out at 9:45 am!

 First activity took place in the Peking Garden in Baarn!

 Equipment: a bicycle pump, plastic bottle filled 1/4 with water and a wine cork!

 Pump the bottle full with air!

And then, it's up, up and away! And to Post 2!

There, the Sea Scouts were busy getting ready for the day!

 We're enjoying warm sunshine for a few minutes!

No, I'm still a "land Scout"(Girl Guide at heart!)

 Time enough to clean the deck

and get ready for the first passengers to enjoy..

 ...A boat cruise along the Eem River!

 All Aboard! Enjoy the trip!

 There they go to the third post!

 After disembarking, the participants had a short walk to post 3. Before climbing into that green truck they were in for a nice surprise!

A warm cup of home made soup! Thanks!

 The truck then drove through Soest and dropped them off at an entrance to The Stulp nature area! After a bit of a hike through the woods they were challenged at...

 ...the ropes course at post 4!

Then they hiked over to...

 ...Archery at Post 5!

Great instructions! 

 Happy Cubs!

 And happy parents! Moms too!

 Yes, it was a cold day! Snow flakes and sunshine!

 Around 5 pm., the last group was heading back to Buitenzorg! 

Time to warm up! Cup of tea please!

Thanks to all for organising the great day outside! 

 Here's a map of the area! 

"Because when you stop and look around,

this life is pretty amazing!"

Hope you enjoyed your Hot Chocolate!

 Good evening! How was your Saturday? Here, it was a  "Wait 5 minutes and the weather will change" kind of day! Sun, snow, sunshine, snow... great to bake weather!

 It worked! Here's a great idea! I saw this idea on a cooking show a long while back! Bake squares of thawed out puff pastry about 10 minutes until it rises and is a bit crispy. Punch down the middle bit forming a "bowl". Then fill with a quiche recipe of your choice. Today, my choice, was Spinach and Stilton! Bake about 20 minutes longer until the quiche is set.

Stilton and Spinach Quiche in Puff Pastry Shells!

We're turning the clocks ahead tonight! Are you?

 Good Morning! Enjoying your long weekend?

 Snow started falling yesterday afternoon!

 Nice big flakes of snow kept falling! The snow is still here this morning! Warming up to +4C today, -3C tonight and again +4C tomorrow. Easter egg hunt in the snow? Just to let you know, that The Dutch Hosta Society's Hosta Summer day out when we will be visiting a Hosta Nursery and 2 gardens is in 11 weeks time! Big green leaves by then?! Hosta Days! As I look outside now, I wonder if this cold spell will have any effect on the slug, snail, mosquito, tick and wasp population this summer! Think I'll do a bit of baking today! How does Carrot cake Muffin Tops sound?

  

Good Friday!

 Good Morning! Here we go then! I'm going to try a new recipe from Inside BrewCrew Life! Biscoff Cream eggs! Marshmallow Fluff, Biscoff Spread(Speculoospasta), butter and icing sugar all in one bowl! Those that have a sweet tooth will love this one!

 Mix, roll into egg like ball shapes, flatten a bit.

 Chill! Outside it's just below freezing! 

 Great to use it as a "walk in" fridge/freezer!

 Dip in melted chocolate and decorate !

Place back in fridge to set the chocolate!

Protect from those big black birds!

While that was happening, made a batch of Whoopie Pies!

Trying out a new pan, which leads to new ideas for next time!

Hope you can enjoy this Good Friday!

Good Morning! Have a great sunny day!

Enjoy the dry weather now, while it lasts!

 Good Evening! Sun is still up and it's above 5C!

 A great day to get out on the bike!

"A cheerful heart is good medicine,

But a crushed spirit dries up the bones."

 Dry? Yes, there is a camp fire ban here at Buitenzorg and in other parts of the Netherlands :o(  With the Easter long weekend ahead and so many Scouts active with Hit activites ,  I'm sure there will be great creative solutions! But how can you not sing around a campfire when there is someone there to play the guitar?! 

Latest baking development!

Marshmallow Fluff !

I'll let you know what's being made!

 Good Morning! -2.5C this morning! But it's warming up to 4C with sunny spells! A dry week ahead! There was work on the rails this weekend between Baarn and Amersfoort! To get to Soest by bike you had to choose a different route! Will check it out later today!

 Went to Lage Vuursche for a walk in the woods. Woods? 

Wonder what the plan is here? 

It was a blustery cold day yesterday! Dressed warm!
I hear we might be importing the sun from Australia soon! 

The white felt arrived ! Thanks Saskia! Now I can see if I can get this Easter Egg , thanks Shiny Happy World, made for this Easter weekend! There's always next Easter! LOL.

Good morning! I think that now I would say "If you have a garden and Internet you have everything!" I was just looking through Picasa photo's from this time of year, two years ago! Quite a few changes ! Seems like it was quite a nice start to Spring too! And, I'm really, really glad that I don't have my allotment anymore! 2C today and a cold east wind! Hope you can have a creative Sunday! And here's an inspirational story about old sewing machines! You migth have to scroll down to Saturday! Take care!

 Good Morning! What a windy day! Plus they're talking about "Wind Chill" factor! It's 23 of march! What happened to global warming? LOL What will Summer be like? Come and visit me in a few months time when Summer arrives! Love to see you and talk about the Hostas!  Hostas!  The Hosta Journal from The American Hosta Society is in! Full of great green Hosta photo's! Think I'll enjoy reading that with a cup of tea and a pot full of flowering Hyacinths!

Over at Buitenzorg usefull stuff has been delivered!

 A cheery new table cloth for the Staff room !

 These things for that project!

 The new "Second Hand" oven and dishwasher for BVH!

This oven looks like it's a job for Dasty! Do you see the size of that potato masher?!  Plus the 2 and 3 liter measuring jugs?! The BVH kitchen will be a fun place to cook in for groups bigger than 60! Have to get a few oven proof baking dishes for that Lasagne we're always talking about! LOL ! Time to go see what today will bring! 

 Good Morning! Sunshine yesterday!

 But that wasn't white blossem falling from the sky!

 What were they doing in the Polder yesterday?

 Oh, Asbestos removal!

 Guess something happened! They didn't see the 2 signs!

A third "3.9m" sign and frame has been added!

 Planted forget-me-nots in the front garden! Between the Hostas for a bit of Spring colour! If they self seed it will be a see of blue flowers within years! Or if I change my mind, I'll be weeding them out forever! I have this challenge in a different garden!

If you don't have your own cat, or a guard dog to chase them away, then the other cats from around the neighbourhood use your garden! Bah. This product says that it helps keep cats out! Main ingredient is garlic oil! Garlic! Last Summer, I was reading information about spraying Hostas with a garlic solution to keep slugs off your Hostas. Maybe this product will help? Can't hurt! If it works it's a win win situation! No cats! No slugs! Just have to wait and see!

Another creative ingredient available at the Xenos!

Hope you can get out and enjoy this sunny Friday!