Guus Bosman

software engineering director

You are here

Home › Monthly archive
dailylife

Een zing-knoopje

Wed, 04/30/2014 - 9:42pm

We bought a couple of Sesame Street DVDs this weekend and tonight we watched on my laptop for a few minutes.

When I told Nora that she should go play now, she started pointing to the underside of the laptop. At first I didn't pay much attention but she was very persistent. She said: "knoopje, knoopje" (button, button). She does have a loose button on her clothes so I was thinking that perhaps she had put something in the laptop, but the grills at the underside of the laptop looked too small for that.

She kept insisting, but I told her that it's impossible to put anything in through those vents. Then, it dawned on me, and I opened the DVD player: "Wil je de DVD hebben?" (Do you want the DVD?)

And she answered: "Oooooh!" (which means, "yes", in her language).

Then she said that the DVD was a "zing-knoopje!" (a "button for singing"). Our little poet.

»
dailylife

Nijntje

Mon, 04/28/2014 - 10:19pm

Today we received a wonderful present from Oma: a handmade Nijntje. It is an exact replica of the Nijntje Oma made for me 30 years ago and it is beautiful.

We told Nora Nijntje arrived by plane and we showed her Jaap's photo to explain.

»
dailylife

King's Day

Sat, 04/26/2014 - 3:14pm

This morning we went to the flea market at the Dutch school in Bethesda. It's King's Day today.

We bought a big pile of books and a couple of DVDs and CDs. It's a luxury to be able to buy them and not having to pay for international shipping!

»
dailylife

Easter weekend

Mon, 04/21/2014 - 7:46am

On Saturday we painted several eggs in beautiful colors. On Sunday morning we went outside, and met Ginny at the taverne. The kids were driving their scooters on the street and we drew with chalk on the street. The weather was gorgeous.

For lunch I made a chicken stuffed with lemon and garlic, with potatoes and carrots on the side. Came out very nicely. We spent the rest of the day on the deck.

»
dailylife

Day before Easter

Sun, 04/20/2014 - 9:22am

The Zane family arrived on Friday night and we're spending a nice Easter weekend together.

The weather was excellent yesterday and we went for a walk to the Italian Store. On our way back we stopped at the Hayes Park where the kids played and we all had a picnic together.

Rob and Jerry attended Gerlof's wedding where they were served various cheeses -- including the excellent Bergense Blonde.

»
arlington

Fire brigade on Kirkwood

Sat, 04/19/2014 - 11:03am

Last Sunday night we were having dinner outside -- the first time this year -- when we saw and heard a firetruck on Kirkwood, down the hill. Then another one, and a third, and even more... I went to take a look.

There apparently was a report of a bush fire near one of the houses opposites 14th Street, maybe the result of a BBQ and strong wind. The Arlington County fire department and police came out in full force and there were some 15 vehicles. Thankfully the fire was out very quickly.

The fire brigade opened two fire hydrants on the street. Later in the evening we had brown water -- we noticed when starting a bath for Nora. After flushing the house for 20 minutes the dirty water was gone. The next days Nora was asking a few times: "water vies?"

»
bicycling

Bicycle parking

Mon, 04/14/2014 - 8:59pm

When I got home today, my bicycle's parking spot had been taken.

»
dailylife

Martenitsa

Sun, 04/13/2014 - 1:03pm

It's very definitely spring now and we hang Nora's martenitsa in a tree this morning. For the first time on a tree in our own yard.

Then we went for a long walk with Nora. As I am writing this, Nora is having lunch in her high chair and talking to herself. All of a sudden I hear: "Geschrokken. Hond!" -- she is remembering that she got scared by a dog halfway the walk.

»
plants

Working in the backyard

Sun, 04/13/2014 - 9:58am

We worked in the backyard yesterday. The weather was excellent and we bought several flowers and planters for our deck. It was a lot of fun and it looks nice. Now we'll have to keep everything alive.

There is an empty patch of land in the middle of our yard. Last year the previous owners put a few small pansies, but the space is too big and deserve a nice bush. So we're looking into what to put there. Maybe roses, or hydrangeas.

This was also the first weekend we use our umbrella -- it's getting very sunny already.

»
arlington

Looking at the new sidewalk

Wed, 04/09/2014 - 8:57pm

Yesterday afternoon after I came home Nora and I went for a walk. We looked at the new sidewalk they're making on Kirkwood. It's really nice that our immediate area is improving. This sidewalk has been in the works for years. I remember when they built the first half, maybe two years ago. Little did I know then that we would live so nearby.

From Kirkwood we walked through Lyon Village to the Clarendon dogpark where we met Sasha who came from work. After we walked home together I realized that Nora had walked for almost an hour. Pretty cool -- it's only 10 months ago that she took her first independent steps.

This picture is from March 23rd. The sidewalk is being created where my red marking is.

»

Pages

Recent comments

Recently read

Books I've recently read: