Wetcreek

Thursday, April 10, 2014

Where is the Beltway Apartment Anyway?

In this country:

http://youtu.be/GlOu7MJALQ4

Wednesday, April 9, 2014

Oh, To Become a Dutch Painter

Well, last Saturday I took a painting course.

Not what you think. The great Dutch Masters would not be too impressed.

I learned how to do this:

And this

With this and Annie Sloan Chalk Paint (French Linen)

And ended up with this

And one even a little larger like this

Later tonight or tomorrow I will use the soft clear wax in the plastic bag to shine them and protect the paint.

What I discovered/ learned about ASCP:

Bare wood furniture from Ikea needs primer. (ASCP is too expensive to serve as primer.)

Do not use ASCP straight from the can. Dilute it with water. (2 parts paint to 1 part water works well.)

Make up small batches at a time. Do not dilute in the original can.

Let your layers dry. You can use a hair dryer.

A cheap paint brush works fine.

ASCP does not cover water stained bare wood.

I can make cheap tables look a little classier!

I plan to experiment with homemade recipes for chalk paint this summer at home.

Will keep you informed with my chalk paint trials!

( And, yes, son, I have a new hobby!)

Update:

I waxed only the top of this table and the smaller one. Too lazy for the legs, but the top is now protected. That is the most important part for these two "fill in" tables. I will let the paint and clear wac cure while we go on a real vacation beginning this weekend.

The color French Linen goes great with our new couch and "salon" chair.

Sunday, April 6, 2014

ABBA--40 Years!

ABBA won the Eurovisie Song Festival on April 6, 1974 with "Waterloo."

40 Years of ABBA!

Could it be that life begins at 40?

(ABBA on stage in 1979 Premium Rockshot/ABBA The Museum)

Friday, April 4, 2014

Did it Again! Bought Online Auction Items!

Sight unseen, we did it again!

We shopped (and bought) in an antiques online auction!

Last week we offered below asked price bids on five items at a local auction house. It was their Aftersale, and we had been waiting to pick up a couple of decorative pieces for the Beltway apartment. We offered about 75% of the lowest asked price of each item. Within a couple of hours we were notified that we were the proud owners of all five pieces! My hub's words --"We bid too high!" He is convinced we could have gotten all five items for half of the lowest asked price, but they are ours no matter what.

We picked up the Comtoise clock, unsigned oil painting of boats, and the petite barley twist drop leaf table on Tuesday. This afternoon a buffet and a china cabinet will be delivered.

Barley twist table drop leaf table. (around 1900)

Unsigned painting of "botter" ships on the Zierikzee in The Netherlands.

Maybe a new hanging place? Not in front of the thermostat!

Comtoise clock made by Daniel Badoz (au PUY en Velay)

19th century

Harp pendule

Lovely white enamel face

Tuesday, April 1, 2014

All Hens on Deck

Sorry, but this post is not about chickens.

It is about our new deck at the Beltway apartment.

One of the only complaints from viewers during the 10 apartment viewings during the three years this apartment was on the market was that you could not see too much while sitting on the balcony. So my hub built a deck for us to use. He still needs to tweek it and reenforce the base, but the idea is there. And we have used it. While sitting and standing on the balcony you can see the trees, birds, and rooftops. No need to see the street, since you can hear the traffic as it passes.

And as the Dutch say: All Hens on Deck!

(Guess I am one of the "hens.")

Sunday, March 30, 2014

Flip is "Sleeping Over"

While we are at the Beltway apartment, Flip is on vacation in the Big City.

No ticks!

No "bloody" rabbits!

No annoying daily showers!

Lots of rest!

A fun friend who chases him around the couch!

Exciting nightly surveillance of the opossum in the backyard!

24 hours a day food and water!

And once in a while a different "caregiver" to add to some variety!

Flip has it good with our son!

Sunday morning nap.

What a Collection at Hotel de Leeuw in Deventer!

Back last Fall when we took the Etty Hillesum walking tour of Deventer, The Netherlands, we were told of a Jewish baker family that tried to hide from the Nazis during WWII by moving the family to the attic of a house across the street. They did not keep a good eye on their children and a small daughter was seen peeking out of a window. I can imagine that some Dutch neighbor became richer (5 guilders per person?) by reporting the family to the Nazis and seeing them transported to a concentration camp. Sad, but probably true!

Well, we passed the bakery shop (now a coffee/tea shop)/hotel while out walking yesterday and stopped in for coffee and tea and delicious krentewegge (richly filled raisin bread).