snowy whi-t-t-t-t-e

It's xmas time....and this year, it was snowing!! (just like in the movies/music videos/ads for hot chocolate)...it's quite unusual for it to snow this much so early in winter - normally this is more common in February....but you know it's been snowing all night when you..

1) leave these in the snow..

2) see this at your doorstep when you open the main door..

3) go out and buy a tree..

4) bring it home ..

5) and put some great decorations on it!!

(they're great aren't they? I especially like the x'mas eggplant....)

and the days have been full of...

 

Happy x'mas from us both in Amsterdam!!

-K & J

in our new city!

So....if you haven't heard yet, we've relocated to Amsterdam (for almost 2 months now) and are looking to kick-start our 2nd adventure in Europe..

and today (with the excellent weather amidst winter - about 6 degrees during the day), we took a little walk around town.. (the first pic above is the American Hotel....really nice architecture)

 And just around the corner we have the Leidseplein where 'ye olde' stalls selling oliebollen and other traditional treats for tourists and locals alike..

 

 

As well as b-boys dancing for the crowd - as well as to keep warm..

 

ah......FEBO, its ubiquitous in town because it's the one stop shop for all your....

deep-fried goodies from a vending machine (you put your coins in, open one of the windows, and voila, instant deep-fried satisfaction)

as demonstrated here; with me and my satay kroket...its a satay-flavoured ragout in a deep fried crisp shell....it's as amazing/unbelievable as it sounds!

next, we ended up in the vicinity of the Amsterdam flower market; where in season, tulips go for €10 for a bunch of 50...but seeing as to how it's winter....we have pictures of dummy cheeses outside the 'cheese basement'

clogs made of felt for indoors; i'm on my 2nd pair now, having since moved to Europe - they help keep your feet warm in the colder weather, and are a great fashion statement..

and yeah...a bit of a non-event photo of tulips, but normally the shops aren't too happy if you make photos without buying, but this was strangely placed on the opposite side of the walkway, so it was fair game..

oh yeah....i just looked at the next pics i'm about to post....there's actually no relationship between these 2 pics and everything else i've uploaded for this entry, but hey, it wouldn't be fair to withhold pics of...

 

Blackforest cake (chocolate/sponge/cherry/cream/madness) and a nut-apple pie (freshly baked crust-apple-macadamia-almond-walnut-pecan-cashew avalanche)...for our mid-afternoon-sugar-resuscitation-at-the-cafe

 

party-in-the-house!

Sinterklaas Sinterklaas!

It's that time of the year where we all get together, get some presents, give some presents, and have a grand ol' time rhymin' and dining..

and of course, the obligatory pic of chee-ee-ee-se!

all going towards the extremely successful lasagne for the evening

We'd also made some marzipan things; courtesy of Josefine and some nimble fingers..

and the star of the show....the table of presents!!

and another photo, just so you can see how much Sint got for us all!

 

and with a break here, and a lasagne in the oven after, it was time for dinner!