Tuesday, January 1, 2008

Old and New

The old year has gone,
been chased away with fireworks.
The new year has arrived,
been welcomed with champagne,
and appelflappen (a Dutch delicacy only eaten on New Year's Eve).
It's 2008 now and I wish all my visitors a very Happy New Year!!!

After eating all those appelflappen, oliebollen and other stuff on New Year's Eve, I needed to work it all off a bit, so we went for a nice stroll on the beach near Zierikzee in Zeeland (Sea land).
Here we are on top of a dune, looking over the sea. It's rather choppy as there is a stiff breeze today.
The sea is foaming at the mouth err along the water's edge.
But even though it's not all that warm, we're not the only ones on the beach.
There are even two black labs playing in the water, brrrrrr better them than me.
I think it's time we call it a day, let's go somewhere else where it isn't so windy. So up those steep stairs again.
Ahhhh, that's better. Look at that gorgeous view, very Dutch those red tiled roofs.
Let's go a bit further and have a nice walk in the woods. It's very quiet there, this time of year. Very quiet and very bare, as you can see here.
But not everything is bare, some shrubs still have berries on them for the birds to feed on.
This tree looks very odd, don't you think? I hope it's not ill with something or other.
The pine trees are evergreen of course which is rather nice at this time of year when everything looks so bare, grey and dull.
But there's one thing that makes coming home great: all those lovely little lights twinkling away during the holiday season. They make for such a warm welcome home on a cold, gloomy winter's day like today.
A blissful 2008 everybody!

copyright 2008: Y.E.W. Heuzen

It's no coincidence that New Year resolutions are made when the garden is at its bleakest.
Monty Don, My Roots, A Decade in the Garden, 2005

35 comments:

Matron said...

You must tell me what an 'appelflappen' is? Would it be something with apples? and flaps? sounds good.

Garden Cats + Crafts said...

Happy New Year, liebe Yolanda,
alles Gute zum neuen Jahr wünsche ich Dir und Deinen liebe, dem ganzen Bliss-Team.
Ich freue mich auf viele schöne Posts von Dir 2008.

Liebe Grüße, Birgit

Lisa at Greenbow said...

I wondered when we would hear from you Yolanda. It looks like you brought in the new year with some yummy food, drink and a big bang.

You walk looked like fun along the sea. Those dogs are silly. I bet they get to go home and dry by a nice warm fire. That would certainly be the life.

That gnarly tree did look odd.

I just hate to take down the holiday lights. They certainly cheer one throughout the darkest days.

I wish you a happy and healthy New Year. I will be looking forward to a Bliss full new year of posts to enjoy.

Shirley said...

Hi there, Yolanda :-)

Thank-you, and a very Happy New Year to you too! Looking forward to seeing a full garden year at Bliss :-D

Anonymous said...

Happy New Year to you too, Yolanda Elizabet! I look forward to seeing what you'll be posting about in 2008.

Anonymous said...

Een heel fijn tuin- en kattenjaar!

Heerlijk zo'n uitwaaistrandwandeling. Dat is eigenlijk het enige dat ik mis in Drenthe, strand en zee.

Anonymous said...

Oei, ik dacht héél even dat je een nieuwjaarsduik was gaan nemen ;-)
Ook voor jou en allen die je lief zijn een heel mooi jaar gewenst!
Dat we maar weer gauw in de tuin aan de slag kunnen.
groeten, Marian

Libbys Blog said...

A Very Happy New Year to you and the Bliss team.I look forward to reading all about whats going on in and outside of your house and pinching ideas as well!!!!!!!!
{{hugs}}

Tracy said...

Thank you for the bracing walking on the beach--great way to welcome the New Year! Wishing you & yours love, peace and JOY in the New Year! ((HUGS))

Yolanda Elizabet Heuzen said...

Happy New Year and welcome to Bliss!

* Matron: yes indeed, appelflappen are made with apples. You peel an apple, remove the core, slice the apple in rings, put loads of cinnamon on top, dunk the apples in batter and fry until golden. Then put lots of castor sugar on top and enjoy!

* Birgit: I'm looking forward to visiting your blog often in this brandnew year.

* Lisa: I've been rather busy during the holiday season, visiting many friends, so not much time for blogging. I'm not taking down the holiday lights yet. I enjoy them too much as many days are very dull and grey around here.

* Shirl: looking forward to visiting your blog too, my Scottish friend!

* Pam: it's always a joy to visit your blog and I'm still hankering after that bottle tree, my famous cat tree not withstanding. ;-)

* Brimstone: ja, zo'n strandwandeling is heerlijk om alle muizenissen en spinnenwebben in het hoofd te doen weg waaien. Maarre, waar jij woont is ook niet mis zeg!

* Marian: hihi, mij niet gezien, veel te koud! Ja, het zou wel lekker zijn om zo even zonder jas aan de tuin in te lopen om wat te rommelen. We moeten nog even geduld oefenen.

* Libby: happy pinching in 2008!!! giggle!

* Tracy: glad you enjoyed the walk, it was rather nippy outside, wasn't it? ;-)

Lis vom Lindenhof said...

Kann man am 2.Jan. auch noch ein Glas Sekt bekommen? :-) Ich würde so gerne ein Glas mir dir auf das neue Jahr und unser Wohl trinken.
Ich hoffe dass 2008 so gut verläuft wie das alte Jahr, da hab ich mich nicht beklagen können.
Bei uns scheint die Sonne und Schnee liegt bei uns leider keiner!

Anonymous said...

Yolanda,
Many thanks for the New Year wishes you left on my blog - and I hope your year is a great one as well. I've just been reading a piece by Monty Don and he rightly pointed out that, bit by almost unnoticed bit, the days are getting longer and a new gardening season will soon be upon us. Then we won't know how we'll get the time to do everything!
Best wishes in 08
John

Anonymous said...

whahahahahahaha leg maar eens uit appelflappen en oliebollen in het Engels , hihihi prachtig , meis al bekomen van alle feesten ??
Heerlijk die vakantie naar Zeeland , wij waren er in november nog , heb nog steeds foto's trouwens , nou ja wat in het vat zit hé ??
Een héél goed jaar wens ik je met erg veel tuinplezier want kan ik meegenieten ;))

Ewa said...

Dear Yolanda, I like a lot your post, feeling like I am taken for a walk :) Your post is soothing the soul...

Dogs surprised me little - do you see it often?

I envy you so much, that you can take a walk at the sea whenever you would like to :)

Whishing you many happy postings and gardenings :)

Anonymous said...

Dankjewel voor je nieuwjaarswens Yolanda Elizabet. (wat heb je een prachtige naam!) Ik wens jou voor 2008 heel veel liefde, geluk en gezondheid. En uiteraard ook heel veel logplezier! Ik heb je toegevoegd aan mijn favorieten.....misschien dat ik mijn engels zo een beetje op "peil" kan houden. Maar niet alleen daarom hoor, je hebt een heel leuk log!

Prachtig die foto's van de zee!
Die mis ik hier in Twente!!

Fijne avond,
beuzeblaadje

lisa said...

Happy New Year to you too, Yolanda!

Mr. McGregor's Daughter said...

Happy New Year! That walk on the beach looks so envigorating. I wish I could have done the same. I got my exercise instead by snow shoveling. :^( We got over a foot of snow between the afternoon of New Year's Eve & New Year's Day morning. Then it snowed some more, got windy & turned bitterly cold. (The low this morning was 3F.) I wish you good blogging & good gardening in the new year!

Entangled said...

Appelflappen sounds like a New Year tradition I should adopt. Followed by a nice long walk, of course.

Looking forward to reading of more great gardening, touring, and decorating here in 2008! Oh, and cats too. :-)

kate said...

Many blissful wishes for you, Yolanda, in 2008! I would love to have some appelflappen - it looks and sounds (from your above comment) delicious.

The beach looks really chilly, although it wouldn't faze Lytton. If Lytton sees any open water, he dives right in.

I liked the photograph with the red-tiled roofs and your last picture. Home always looks so inviting after being away for a bit.

Here's to many happy blogging days throughout this new year!

Bob said...

Happy New Year to you and yours. 2008 is going to be great. Bob

Carol Michel said...

Happy New Year, YE! I hope this year is one filled with fun, excitement and good health for you, and a whole lot more Bliss for all of us!

Carol, May Dreams Gardens

Yolanda Elizabet Heuzen said...

Happy New Year and welcome to Bliss!

* Lis: yes, I still have a bottle or two of champagne left and would love to drink a glass with you, and all my other garden blogger friends, too.
Here it is freezing at the moment.

* John: Monty and I are of the same mind ;-), the shortest days are around Christmas, after that they are getting longer again, which comes as a great relief to many.

* Lenie: de flappen zijn uitgelegd, naar de oliebollen heeft niemand nog geinformeerd, hihi. Ik woon niet zo ver van Zeeland vandaan dus daar kan ik regelmatig even langs gaan, lekker hoor want ik hou van de zee.

* Ewa: glad your soul was soothed. ;-) Yes, even when it is very cold, around freezing, many dogs go for a swim. They don't feel the cold as much as we do.

* Beuzeblaadje: tja, in Twente geen zee maar wel heel veel andere mooie natuurschoon. Ik ga er graag op vakantie. :-)

* Lisa: and to you!

* MMD: Wow, that is a lot of snow in such a short time. It's cold here too at the moment (freezing) with a very nasty easterly wind. Brrrrr!

* Entangled: appelflappen are a very tasty tradition to adopt.:-) I love walking and go for a walk every day, in the weekend twice a day. Can't stand being inside all the time. Rest assured; there will be plenty of kitties too. ;-)

* Kate: appelflappen are nice to eat when they're hot, especially when it's cold outside. They are Dutch comfort food! Yep, Lytton would probably just dive in, just like the labs in the pic. Dogs don't seem to mind the cold as much as we do.

* Bob: thank you and I hope you're right. ;-)

* Carol: now this is a wish I can heartily endorse. ;-)

Thanks for all the lovely comments and best wishes on Old&New!

Naturegirl said...

Yolanda I enjoyed this walk with you as I sit here cooped up with my broken ankle..I have never taken my quiet walks with nature for granted but I certainly will have a new appreciation once I am able to ~walk with both feet!~ again!
Thank you for sahring. hugs hop along

KC MO Garden Guy said...

Happy New Year to you too Yolanda. I hope 2008 turns into everything you want and more. Thanks for sharing your pictures. I always enjoy your post so much!!

Unknown said...

What a nice way to walk off the excesses of the holidays, Yolanda! I didn't excess and can't walk right now, but I went with you in spirit...loved the gnarled tree, it looks like it's forming bolls like some of our conifers do here.
I don't think I've ever had appelflappen, but then I don't think I was ever at my good Dutch neighbours' farm on New Year's Eve when I was growing up. I've had oliebollen, and butter stroopwafels, and those wonderful speculas ginger windmill cookies...but I don't care for Dutch licorice, sorry/!
A very Blissful New year to you, the undergardener, and the Bliss team, for a blooming wonderful 2008.

Karin said...

Happy New Year Yolanda! I hope you had a nice New Years eve. I'm looking forward following your blog also in 2008. :) I liked taking a walk on the beach and the woods. I guess you have better weather than us. It's cold, snowing a bit and wind.

Annie in Austin said...

Philo is a licorice fan, but when he tried Dutch licorice it was too salty for him!

Hi Yolanda - I'm catching up after a couple of weeks away and as always, love to visit here... you may have fewer flowers now, but the icy trees are beautiful and the story of Vita and Pippa was very touching.

Our Austin New Year's Eve also included Champagne and fireworks, with pecan brownies instead of appelflappen. May you and yours have a wonderful year 2008.

Annie at the Transplantable Rose

Robin (Bumblebee) said...

Happy New Year! I enjoyed the virtual walk. I also did some beach walking in South Carolina. The temps were up to 65 degrees F! What a treat.

I'm looking forward to visiting and seeing your beautiful kitties in 2008.

--Robin (Bumblebee)

Anonymous said...

Yolanda,
Thank you for the new years tour.
What a wonderful place.
I LOVE the ocean.
Wishing you a happy, healthy new year.

Anonymous said...

Yolanda,
Thank you for the new years tour.
What a wonderful place.
I LOVE the ocean.
Wishing you a happy, healthy new year.

Gloria said...

Stopping in to wish you a good year in 2008. Looks like everyone is here celebrating.
Great pictures from your walk.

Anonymous said...

Wil je bij deze nog even een geweldig nieuw 'tuin'jaar toewensen!

Whyite said...

What a nice stroll around your neck of the woods. Happy New Year

Anonymous said...

Hi Yolanda,

A bit late but still I wish you a very happy New Year.
Nice walk along the beach you've made.
Did you take a New Year's dip in the sea?

Bye,

Bert

Anonymous said...

Oh those darling gray things in front of the fireplace! Bliss!

~Becky