Knotwilg - Getting to Know Something Familiar

In a previous post two days ago, entitled, Spring is in the Air! , I mentioned about learning a new Dutch word: knotwilg.  It is called pollard willow in English, which I also learned at the same time I looked up knotwilg.

Not only did I learn a new Dutch word but I finally found out what to call the trees that we have been seeing all around our region, but never took the time until yesterday to ask or find out. 

I promised myself,  after moving here in the Netherlands, I will take time to live consciously, not only pause to be fully aware of life, but write and share what I write about the life I am blessed with, as a sort of daily thanks.  Unlike when I was in Germany where I always thought, there will be time enough to do everything once this or that is settled.

Well, I guess this is how my various 365 projects is helping do - live, pause, write and give thanks.  Simple life. :)

In another previous post, from the 10th of  January, entitled, Biking Along an Ever-Changing Landscape... I shared images of our bike path on our way to school and back.

morning,10th of January

afternoon, 10th of January

Notice the trees at the background of these images?  They are pollard willows.

later afternoon, 25th of January

This image with the eldest  was taken 2 days ago, and you can see on this picture that the pollard willows have been cut.  And so this something familiar is now something I and my family are getting to know or shall I say, we are taking time to get to know better!

We can read together about pollarding, which I looked up tonight, over the weekend, perhaps when the weather is good on a Sunday bike ride.  It is much better to learn with others!

late afternoon, taken 25th of January

What would you like to take time to know better, maybe something familiar?

Spring is in the Air!

Please click on image for better view :)

The richness I achieve comes from Nature, the source of my inspiration.
Claude Monet 

Today was a wonderful day!  There are so much to share but too little time to do so.

So, I  will give you a Spring appetizer, just like we experienced the day - we got a taste of how Spring would be in images, since everywhere Nature's creation were out and about in pairs!  


The day also gave birth to an idea I will be sharing on Thursday.


How inspiring has your day been?


Postscript to this blog:


I learned another Dutch word today from taking pictures of something I have been fascinated for so long but never knew what it is called knotwilg.  Well, I learned it's English counterpart, too: pollard willow.


More in the next days!

Busy Hands Are Happy Hands (1)

Today, I commit myself to another year long project.  I learned a new Dutch word from P in the process!  

Kruissteek: cross stitching.

I plan to send handmade gifts every month to different friends spread all over the globe.

It will be a great way to go back to doing something creative, and also to return to sending hand-written letters.  Unbelivable that I can get excited with something I consider decades ago as quiet ordinary.

Hopefully, I can find a fun way to involve my family with this project, as they mostly enjoy such projects themselves.

While looking for a cross stitching image in the web, to which I can tag friends to, I found a very interesting blog called Cats & Quilts.  I think I will be visiting it often in search of inspiration.

Bloggers Note (08.01.11):

Found inspiration literally, after visiting Cats & Quilts today, in Geninne's Art Blog.  I love serendipitious "new blog to follow" finds.