Week 15
Janny and her sister don't believe me.....
I heard the following on a podcast, not unlike television's QI. In our last few shopping forays at Lidl, I have picked up trays of multicoloured carrots, particularly liking the "presentation" appeal. Yesterday, we took Greethilda with us. She didn't believe me about the purple/orange carrots!
I also picked up some black potatoes this time around. Lidl actually has quite a range of fruit and vegies, not like the more "local" supermarkets. I just figure that there must be other people being more adventurous with their food. Aha, I am not alone, after all....
Janny's parents have been with us for 1 year exactly, so I'm making them a Sunday Roast; pork but without the crackling (they simply don't sell it here with the crackling attached!).
Anyway...
Orange carrots get their bright orange colour from beta-carotene. Beta-carotene metabolizes in the human gut from bile salts into Vitamin A. The origins of the cultivated carrot is rooted in the purple carrot in the region around modern-day Afghanistan.
The modern day orange carrot wasn’t cultivated until Dutch growers in the late 16th century took mutant strains of the purple carrot and gradually developed them into the sweet, plump, orange variety we have today. Before this, pretty much all carrots were purple with mutated versions occasionally popping up including yellow and white carrots. These were rarely cultivated and lacked the purple pigment anthocyanin.
It is thought that the modern day orange carrot was developed by crossing the mutated yellow and white rooted carrots as well as varieties of wild carrots, which are quite distinct from cultivated varieties.
Some think that the reason the orange carrot became so popular in the Netherlands was in tribute to the emblem of the House of Orange and the struggle for Dutch independence. This could be, but it also might just be that the orange carrots that the Dutch developed were sweeter tasting and more fleshy than their purple counterparts, thus providing more food per plant and being better tasting.
It is thought that the modern day orange carrot was developed by crossing the mutated yellow and white rooted carrots as well as varieties of wild carrots, which are quite distinct from cultivated varieties.
Some think that the reason the orange carrot became so popular in the Netherlands was in tribute to the emblem of the House of Orange and the struggle for Dutch independence. This could be, but it also might just be that the orange carrots that the Dutch developed were sweeter tasting and more fleshy than their purple counterparts, thus providing more food per plant and being better tasting.
So there!
and the black potatoes...
and for barbeque lovers....
Harlingen
De Deelen - not far from Heerenveen - showing the result after peat digging
Sanfjirden. Never heard of this one. About 20 people live here.
Windmill "de Rat" in Ijlst. Still a working sawmill.
The Planetarium in Franeker (the oldest in the world - started building 1774)
The former prison in Leeuwarden - now used partly as a hotel and business development centre.
One of the "11 Cities" of Friesland
I can't pick which one it is! More photos of the 11 Cities can be found here...
https://www.friesland.nl/nl/ontdek/de-elf-steden
The afsluitdijk
The church on a terp (mound) at Hegebeintum. (7 metres above sea level)
We went here more than 20 years ago but I can still remember how impressed I was with the history. Before the dykes were built, people "headed for the hills" in times of flood. They would take their chooks and cows with them! So, a place of physical sanctuary as well as spiritual. There is also an opening and recess in the outside wall. Thieves or other "unworthies" were not allowed inside the church but had to witness the service through the opening.
Oud Bildtdijk. 13 kms long - the longest dyke with residences. Built in 1505 to keep the Waddenzee out after the land was reclaimed.
A typical "kop-hals-romp" farmhouse (head-neck-body) supposedly looking like a cow lying down!!? (never heard that before).
Around the farm.....
not much different this week. Still cleaning up the felled trees, preparing the vegie garden, mowing and expecting sub-zero temperatures next week!
Ben has a month trial at a new job. Being a contact person at music and other festivals/shows.
https://www.facebook.com/livecrowdNL/
and the black potatoes...
and for barbeque lovers....
House of the Week
In Dokkum, one of our favourite places, by boat or even by car for visitors.
and in 2014 we were moored just in front of it!
more photos...(of the house).
Small Boating Licence
Under the existing system, more than 388,000 people have the Klein Vaarbewijs (Small Boat Licence). I got mine in 2012 - wow 5 years, already! In this week's Boating Newsletter there is an article stating that the Small Boat Licence system is being taken over by a Govt. Department. The existing Watersport Organisations who currently manage the exams are concerned that the Govt. Dept. is more oriented towards the Professional Shipping Licences which they now administer. Despite the protests, the Minister is going ahead with the changes over the next two years.
Easter bonfires
Easter fires are lit in various parts of Europe and probably have pagan origins. In the Netherlands, most are found in Drenthe, Groningen, Overijssel, Twente, Friesland and Gelderland but there are all sorts of regional variations about what is burnt and when. The village of Espelo in Overijssel has the world record for the highest hand-built Easter fire – 27 meters and no cranes allowed.
There is one bonfire that won't be going ahead - because a Great Tit has built a nest in it! The organisers said that they are happy to let nature run its course - they'll burn it at the next opportunity.
BTW, my East St. Kilda/St. Georges Motel Correspondent has been sending me information from a Dutch News website (in English).
I'm not sure who writes it.....
In another source, I read an article the other day about the way Dutch people bring up their kids - "free-range style". It was written by an American who was giving her views but stating it as "the way it IS" - rather than saying it was just her opinion.
http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2017/04/08/how-dutch-parents-raise-free-range-kids.html
In another source, I read an article the other day about the way Dutch people bring up their kids - "free-range style". It was written by an American who was giving her views but stating it as "the way it IS" - rather than saying it was just her opinion.
http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2017/04/08/how-dutch-parents-raise-free-range-kids.html
It made me think about the way I might say some things here - although I try not to include politics and religion. (It's hard to avoid the madmen politics at the moment!). (I think) it is especially true that foreigners (me) can't help but be coloured by their previous experiences and so their view of the things they see around them is going to be skewed.
Good Friday
Not for the first time, I was taken unawares by Good Friday. It is just a "normal" day here. I never get used to it, again showing how one's previous experiences have so much influence. There was a footy match in Melbourne for the first time ever on Good Friday....well, well. Who knows, we might even get Sunday shopping here?
On Slowing Down....
I have been unwisely thinking how good it is that "I can still do everything". Seems I can't!
Note to self: "spend more time on the boat"!
't Moaiste fan Fryslân
More of the top 100.
There are 10 categories.
The jury has selected the first 50 and the public has been asked to submit their ideas for the next 50.
- Heritage
- Green and Water
- Religion
- Icons
- New Development
- Public Buildings
- Transport, Energy, Conservation
- Neighbourhoods, Villages, Cities
- Work
- Living
My selections, so far....
Hindeloopen
Harlingen
De Deelen - not far from Heerenveen - showing the result after peat digging
Sanfjirden. Never heard of this one. About 20 people live here.
Windmill "de Rat" in Ijlst. Still a working sawmill.
The Planetarium in Franeker (the oldest in the world - started building 1774)
The former prison in Leeuwarden - now used partly as a hotel and business development centre.
One of the "11 Cities" of Friesland
I can't pick which one it is! More photos of the 11 Cities can be found here...
https://www.friesland.nl/nl/ontdek/de-elf-steden
Edit: part of our boating this year will be to include as many of the 11 cities as we can.
The afsluitdijk
The church on a terp (mound) at Hegebeintum. (7 metres above sea level)
We went here more than 20 years ago but I can still remember how impressed I was with the history. Before the dykes were built, people "headed for the hills" in times of flood. They would take their chooks and cows with them! So, a place of physical sanctuary as well as spiritual. There is also an opening and recess in the outside wall. Thieves or other "unworthies" were not allowed inside the church but had to witness the service through the opening.
Oud Bildtdijk. 13 kms long - the longest dyke with residences. Built in 1505 to keep the Waddenzee out after the land was reclaimed.
A typical "kop-hals-romp" farmhouse (head-neck-body) supposedly looking like a cow lying down!!? (never heard that before).
Around the farm.....
not much different this week. Still cleaning up the felled trees, preparing the vegie garden, mowing and expecting sub-zero temperatures next week!
Ben has a month trial at a new job. Being a contact person at music and other festivals/shows.
https://www.facebook.com/livecrowdNL/
What were you trying to do that prompted the reflection on the mobility/capability?
ReplyDeleteBut....I did believe you Ken! Janny didn't!:)
ReplyDelete