Life: Idiotropic

This morning I took a couple of ladies who have just moved here recently to Sittard. They are both in that new stage, getting moved into their houses and not quite comfortable driving around the area yet, so I showed them a few things. We parked near the market where I park three days a week for ballet and walked down Putstraat directly to Bagels and Beans for a nice visit with coffee, bagels, and date pie. It was fabulous as always. Every one that I take there goes back and Lillian, the owner, is very nice.

After that we walked around the market. I needed to get cheese, so we found my favorite cheese guy and stood in line. The pesto gouda I get is absolutely amazing. I love it. Elise kept eating the samples of Gaas Kaas - the cheese made from the first milking of last summer - in June of 2006. It was a bit oranger than most Gouda's and very good. We also picked up a regular Oude Gouda and a wheel of Camembert - my new favorite since Paris. My friends wanted to look at purses, so we stopped and the purse seller gave Elise and her friend marshmallow sticks. Marshmallows are very popular in the Netherlands. They are not white and squared off like ours, but in a rainbow of pastel colors and in different shapes and sizes. Some are dipped in colored sugars. Some are twisted together. Some are strung on sticks like kabobs. These were pink and yellow twists and the girls ate them up very quickly. Candy is passed out a lot more here than in the States. People are always giving candy and chocolates to children.

As we were leaving passing by the back of the fabric vendors, we saw a sweet Basset Hound. And, as soon as we saw her, she saw us, stopped in her tracks, then ambled to the very edge of the platform and leaned her nose so far out that I worried she was going to fall down. We pet her for a few minutes. Elise wasn't scared a bit even when the dog sniffed her face.

Next on our tour was the Rousseau chocolate shop in Sittard on Langs De Heij. Once again I took my tourists through the factory, talked to the man who owns and runs it, watched the people make the Easter chocolates and write on large tablets with white chocolate. The lady writing asked if we'd like a taste and squirted out a generous ribbon of creamy white chocolate onto each of our fingers. Elise got her usual chocolate "lolly," and my friends shopped and sampled their goodies in the car on the way home Mmmmm-ing all the way.

From there we did the BisBis - the Dutch junk store/Goodwill type place. I found an antique iron for 5 Euros that is full of personality and an old sled. What a deal! Today both ladies called wanting directions both to the chocolate shop and the thrift shop so they can go back.

So, that was our morning. Just as we were leaving the market, the first, tiniest flakes of almost imperceptible snow came floating down. When we got home, a light white dusting lay all over the fields. It was our first snow.

That afternoon we had our first swim lessons - ever for two.

Arianna and Luci started for the first time ever and both did very well. Arianna, with no fear or trepidation, went right in and swam with Chris. Luci played in the little pool for ten minutes refusing to swim, but slowly, she warmed up to Stephanie, and once Stephanie allowed her to dump a bucket of water over her head, she was in. Luci swam well also and both girls played afterwards in the little pool. Elise played the entire time. She is very happy in the water. Tiara swam too. I think she's happy to be back in the water again.