enjoying the winter

merry xmas birdies

With subzero temperatures, birds burn mega energy and need to eat ALL THE TIME, so help your garden birds by putting out BIRD food - peanuts, black-oil sunflower seeds, suet packed w fruits or seeds or mealworms - and don't forget fresh water!

glorious wings n things

Photos courtesy of Werner Goussey (kranen) and Gilbert Rijmenans (zonsondergang)

how to destress the holidays

1. GO BIRDING!!!! What could be better than discovering new hides and getting some fresh air? Sint Agatha Rode kijktoren in background -- just 20 mins away --- perfect place to take kids on a little explore, and escape from the hustle and bustle. Views from the tower are very nice indeed.


2. Add a new bird to your LIFE LIST -- instead of debt to your credit card. Bewick's Swans at Sint Agatha Rode (#232 on my WP list) - the 3 birds on the left - can't you see them! They didn't stick around long enough for me to show Stijn and the kids, but at least i have this pic to show they were there (earlier that week), even though you probably can't tell the Bewick's from the Mute's, which are the 2 swans dipping on the right.


3. Get DIRTY! Finally figured out HOW to get our kids outdoors - w good old-fashioned M-U-D! After 1 hour they were covered in mud and DELIRIOUS with joy. Yes, the mud DID go over Phoebe's boots and Alex's white pants DID come clean after several washings. They can't wait to go back!


4. Say oom. If getting OUT isn't an option (bad weather, no time, etc.) then go IN! There's nothing like some time with Rodney Yee, guru of power yoga, or just some slow, deep breathing in a full or 1/2 lotus, whichever you prefer. That's my little Buddha!


5. If all else fails, there's always Sleep.

komt de Sint dit jaar?

The klompen sat by the fireplace w drawings, carrots, cookies and water. Would Sinterklaas and his zwarte Pieten bring treats this year?

Or would we wake to find a note, telling us the kids have been taken by steamboat back to Spain? This is the punishment for kids that misbehave, or so they're told.

Hmmm ... ever since mommy learned of this tradition, she's been wishing the Sint would take HER back to Spain so she could spend the year birdwatching! Could that explain why she's been naughty lately?



Woke to find a letter from the Sint along with chocolates. Apparently, most of the zwarte Pieten were sick w the stomach flu so they were low on help. They'd have to stop by later to drop off gifts, assuming the kids were still behaving well.


To pass the time, Phoebe decided to make more cookies and taste test a few.


After dinner - finally - the knock on the door - a box waiting outside -

filled w, among other things, a skateboard for Phoebe, poker chips for Thijs, and a diary for Alex.

But wait, where's mommy? Quick, check the stoomboot!

what's the latest on swifts?

The RSPB (Royal Society for the Protection of Birds) has published some results of their swift study from last year.

http://www.rspb.org.uk/news/details.asp?id=tcm:9-177038

If you know about swifts, you'll find it interesting. If you don't know about swifts, then it will raise your awareness. Either way, it's good stuff! Enjoy.

Urraca cazando murciélagos

... as my 6 year-old Phoebe says, the magpies have to eat too!

mini yogis tip of the week

Click here for a mini yogis tip of the week from Shana, which are messages designed to help teach yoga to kids. BUT most of the messages are general enough that you may find them helpful even if you don't do yoga.

For instance, this week's message is about teaching kids not to overreact by hitting or screaming. It's nothing new really, but sometimes just hearing how another adult handles the situation, in a positive and motivating way, can help us reconsider how we deal with our own children's/grandchildren's behavior (or misbehavior, as the case may be). At any rate, I hope it helps!

Namaste