Dipping a toe into the Dutch Auction

Bloemenveiling in Aalsmeer.  It's the world's largest flower auction house where approximately 20 million flowers from all over the world are auctioned every day, Monday to Friday morning beginning at 6 AM/oops, we missed that time frame.  It's proximity to Schiphol Airport, just a stone's throw away, is critical for speeding flowers to distant destinations each day.

  

 

 I found the following fun/fascinating/educational video that brings all of us (including me) up to speed on our recent visit.  

One over-the-top trip!

• Bazillions of bicycles with babies propped on handlebar seats, in enormous front-end bins or simply strapped on behind.  All as individual, crazy, old or rusty as their owners.  
• Charming old houses, some just a window wide, supported sideways by each other and vertically by wooden posts.  
• Many beautiful neighborhoods and photo opportunities.  Shoes, a carved wooden handbag and coat among them.
• The MOST AMAZING food.  Beautifully prepared and presented.  Diet before traveling here.
• A floating flower market where houseboat stalls are filled with every imaginable flower, plant and bulb. Still, it's tough to top the SF flower market.
• A city that becomes even more magical when cruising the canals at night.
• Yes, the red light district still exists.  And "coffee" houses stock breads quite unlike Starbucks back home.
• Massive fields filled with magnificent colors, grown primarily for the bulbs not the cut flowers. 

A passion for petals?  You've picked the right place.  It's Amsterdam and the surrounding countryside during the spring. 

Here are the first pictures from our two-week trip beginning and ending in Holland.  With a sensational stop in the middle.

More photos to follow as I sift through thousands of images.

Fascinating flower facts

This may be more than you want to know about tulips but I found it incredibly interesting.

Watch Tulips - Web Extra with Michael Pollan on PBS. See more from Botany of Desire.

A great time was had by all.

I have no idea what they are doing (other than totally enjoying the tulips) but I'd love to be there, too.

Who, among you, speaks this language?

Fill me in.

Nationale Tulpendag 2012 - Brand Activation from Syndiqate on Vimeo.

Fabulous, Filoli!

Tough to top this 16-acre English Renaissance garden in the Bay Area's Back Yard.  Simply sensational this spring.  Visit their website to plan your trip.  The roses were not yet in bloom last week.  But, given the warm weather forecast, they soon will be.

Finally figuring out how to merge music with pictures.  Whew.  Big Breakthrough!  Still a long way to go. Love the learning process.  

Enjoy the virtual walk through Filoli's gardens.  And then schedule your very own visit!

Thanks, Anne, for the terrific tutorial!!!

Update on Thursday, May 5, 2011 at 7:52AM by Lois

Mother's Day, Maybe?

Happy Easter

Happy Spring!

Happy Amazing Flowering World!

Happy Wild, Wonderful Life Around Us!

Secret Source Revealed: Stamps

Trying to be entirely paperless?  Perfect.  Me, too.  Far less impact on the environment/unparalleled speed of delivery. 

But there are times when USPS is essential.  Handwritten notes are just one very much appreciated example.  

In which case, you're going to need a stamp.  

My top pick, either as a gift for someone else or to use yourself:  Zazzle personalized postage.  I've tried others but continue to choose this company.  I like the print quality, color saturation, quick turnaround time and variety of stamp sizes.  And I typically order the largest version that they offer simply because it's a beautiful addition to the envelope.  Not for bills but for someone who would appreciate the extra effort. Great birth/or other event announcement.  And a cinch to do just by uploading your pictures.

ADDITIONAL CONCEPT:  If you live in the SF Bay Area, you're no doubt familiar with FLAX, an extraordinary art supply store.  Their stock of paper products is pretty unparalleled/let me know if you have a better resource.  I was shopping for A-7 (5.25" X 7.25") envelopes and cardstock to mount my own pictures. 

Then I found translucent envelopes.  Very cool to use for mailing something special, like a photograph or your own photo stationery. FLAX's price was substantially higher than other online sources I subsequently found.  So, if interested, Google "translucent envelopes" for a good deal.  I ordered some today from envelopemall.com.  You may find a better source/value. Let me know.

Another rainy day but spring is here to stay

BRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR. It's FFFFFFRRRRRREEEEEZZZZZZZZZZZZZING. And, yes, I know that we in CA are incredibly spoiled. Those on the east coast and midwest are still slogging through snow. Know that spring is coming your way soon!


Even the chickens are excited about producing more eggs!

What Brings You Joy?

What makes you come alive?

For me the list includes: laughing with my family and friends. Being with people I adore. Explorations in town and around the world. Being in, on or near water. Visiting gardens. Filling my car with flowers and plants to add to our back yard. Growing our own vegetables. Discovering new ways to do almost anything/like growing tomatoes in gutters or hanging them upside down from trees. Photographing everything. Creating something.

Keep the list going and growing. Submit your ideas by posting comments below. Let's expand our repertoire to include more of these memorable, often magical, moments. Imagine the impact this might have on our lives and on the lives of those around us.

"Let anyone who comes to you go away feeling better and happier. Every one should see goodness in your face, in your eyes, in your smile. Joy shows from the eyes. It appears when we speak and walk. It cannot be kept closed inside us. It reacts outside. Joy is very infectious."

Mother Teresa

From picts for cards