tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10327858.post1227075812039846902..comments2024-03-25T17:28:41.270+01:00Comments on In Soul: BELGIUM: Dendermonde, Mechelen and LierGinnie Harthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14014434422568561157noreply@blogger.comBlogger26125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10327858.post-41327849376521234242022-01-08T08:24:22.687+01:002022-01-08T08:24:22.687+01:00Most kind of you, Willy. That seems so long ago n...Most kind of you, Willy. That seems so long ago now, having visited there shortly after moving here to the Netherlands to marry Astrid! Ginnie Harthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14014434422568561157noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10327858.post-18926347855833606232022-01-07T18:29:15.934+01:002022-01-07T18:29:15.934+01:00very nicely photographed and nice to see this thro...very nicely photographed and nice to see this through your eyes Ginnie<br /><br />greetingswillyhttps://willypics.wordpress.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10327858.post-76196559658368896572014-04-02T21:20:39.312+02:002014-04-02T21:20:39.312+02:00We always miss a lot, Cherry, we know, but we also...We always miss a lot, Cherry, we know, but we also see a lot and then get to a point where we say "That's enough." Then we see "the rest" through people like you. That's the wonder of the internet these days! Thank you.Ginnie Harthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14014434422568561157noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10327858.post-17938743185018458762014-04-02T20:26:55.829+02:002014-04-02T20:26:55.829+02:00It is nice to see your photos of Mechelen, you spo...It is nice to see your photos of Mechelen, you spotted some things that I missed. I took plenty of photos inside the Cathedral :-)CherryPiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11788084724907992076noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10327858.post-901653546241180142011-07-18T13:29:49.203+02:002011-07-18T13:29:49.203+02:00Victoria: You've greatly humbled me by your l...<b>Victoria:</b> You've greatly humbled me by your love of my collages. Thank you. I hope it will just be a matter of time before your collages will be as complete and exciting. Once I figured Picnik out, sliding those bars left and right, it helped. Now, if you can help me with macros, and I can help you with collages, we'll both have it made! :)Ginnie Harthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14014434422568561157noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10327858.post-15640664828722325412011-07-18T06:12:24.507+02:002011-07-18T06:12:24.507+02:00Well... you've done it again! Totally amazing ...Well... you've done it again! Totally amazing collection of images... and as I am struggling to go through all the pictures I took while in Sweden and Iceland, I have a renewed appreciation for your skill in putting together such marvelous collages to share with us as you give us a glimpse into your adventures with Astrid!<br /><br />We too saw many churches while traveling around... I cannot keep them all straight but believe my sister got brochures from EVERY one so I will be relying on her once I get to the point of wanting to tell a story.<br /><br />Your collages inspire me.. even more so now that I've been struggling to fit my pictures into Picnik's templates and feeling frustrated at not being able to get them quite right! I'm off to bed now with the hope that I can get to more of your posts tomorrow... I hate to miss even one of them and am hopelessly behind!<br /><br />One last comment... the pulpits in all the old churches we saw were fascinating... but none so ornate as the one you showed us dwarfing Astrid! Talk about ornate!Victoriahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12170129859014155605noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10327858.post-1037444722187964072011-07-03T17:03:11.611+02:002011-07-03T17:03:11.611+02:00Sham: THANK YOU. I've been having a blast an...<b>Sham:</b> THANK YOU. I've been having a blast and will write all about it once I get back to Atlanta-then-Netherlands. It's been a good visit and just what the doctor ordered. Thank you for sharing your excitement with me. Or anticipation. :)Ginnie Harthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14014434422568561157noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10327858.post-55723239155572511942011-07-03T16:03:51.150+02:002011-07-03T16:03:51.150+02:00Happy 4th of July to you and your family! Enjoy th...Happy 4th of July to you and your family! Enjoy the fireworks. And enjoy your family..... I'm looking forward to hearing all about it and seeing the pix when you gat back to Holland.Shammickitehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11969803866899076638noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10327858.post-51871027383990294972011-06-25T08:20:54.175+02:002011-06-25T08:20:54.175+02:00DB: The things we remember all the way back to ch...<b>DB:</b> The things we remember all the way back to childhood! We could write a book about them, right?<br /><br />I love the thought of having to leave bread crumbs in a cathedral to help you find your way out. You're not far off the mark :)<br /><br /><b>Margaret:</b> All these huge cathedrals have high pulpits and I always wonder about having to look up during the sermon. Now, if it were God...that would be different! :)<br /><br />You are such a sweetheart with your invitation for dinner and an overnight. I'll write you more personally but the short form is that there will be 4 of us (no Astrid) driving through the night without stopping...what we always do. It makes us feel we're not wasting any time. :)Ginnie Harthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14014434422568561157noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10327858.post-44459560285579221942011-06-25T04:42:18.921+02:002011-06-25T04:42:18.921+02:00Ridiculous, really, that pulpit... can you IMAGINE...Ridiculous, really, that pulpit... can you IMAGINE the sore necks in the congregation from having to look up?<br />The last shot of all the steeples is really interesting - an you were lucky to have such dramatic sky for all of them! GA - MI. Well, if you come through central NC, I would love to treat you both to dinner and a nights rest! Just let me know!Margarethttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00007201357693227614noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10327858.post-15301928624966470482011-06-25T00:07:15.978+02:002011-06-25T00:07:15.978+02:00Vagabonde's story about the backwards French f...Vagabonde's story about the backwards French flag reminds me of the time my mother accidentally hung the Indonesian flag upside down when we lived in Java. No big surprise since I'm convinced she's dyslexic. Unfortunately some big local teenagers decided to harass her. I remember being terrified, even though I was less than five years old. Gee, I don't mean to get all morose...<br /><br />On a lighter note, I have never seen a pulpit so elaborate or massive. I would be tempted to leave bread crumbs along the way to make sure I could find my way back out.Dutchbabyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00844296297519447526noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10327858.post-85299065511964881572011-06-22T11:07:13.679+02:002011-06-22T11:07:13.679+02:00Sham: Someone mentioned on my other blog that the...<b>Sham:</b> Someone mentioned on my other blog that these pieces of work were like leaving a business card behind from the artisans. Makes sense to me. So much of it, so many artists...and who do you choose? <br /><br />It would be wonderful to meet up with you one day. Wouldn't that be something else! :)<br /><br /><b>Astrid:</b> No need to say that you're my biggest fan, so no wonder I do this for you as well as for me. Thank you for always appreciating what goes into these posts. I feel like it's "my job" during my retirement. And what a fun job it is. Thank you again and again for all these wonderful memories and gifts. Of course, we give them to each other!Ginnie Harthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14014434422568561157noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10327858.post-39337552482170313452011-06-22T08:31:40.185+02:002011-06-22T08:31:40.185+02:00After seeing this post I keep saying, THANK YOU, o...After seeing this post I keep saying, THANK YOU, over and over again, for making these wonderful posts.<br />It is so much double pleasure, first to be there in person and then your post.<br />Did we see all those beautiful things??<br />YES, we did and I even touched the wooden pulpit, that to me was fascination, ONE big tree and doing all that fabulous carving... now that is a piece of art.<br />I kept circling and circling to discover new things in the wood.<br />We were so lucky the City hall of Mechelen was open, that was so unique I think, it was great to walk inot those majestic rooms and look at all the woodwork and big paintings.<br />We did have a wonderful two day trip, I know 409 km is not far, not even more than one tank of gaz... Towanda does almost 600 kn with a full tank...( 30 liters) she is NOT thirsty at all.<br />You are so welcome, it was my delight to give you this special birthday memory... now I start thinking about what to do next year.Astridhttp://www.picturit.shutterchance.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10327858.post-84530035531188724732011-06-21T14:48:44.258+02:002011-06-21T14:48:44.258+02:00You are right, the mind gets well and truly boggle...You are right, the mind gets well and truly boggled when seeing so many wonderful ornate churches. My goodness, there must have been an awful lot of carving and painting and sculpting and stonemasoning going on in the previous centuries... building and beautifying churches and cathedrals was a profitable business to be in. <br />So you're going to be in the good old USA in a couple of weeks, Michigan isn't so far from Ontario, pity you can't drop in for a visit!!!Shammickitehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11969803866899076638noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10327858.post-18588065007312497732011-06-21T08:28:36.728+02:002011-06-21T08:28:36.728+02:00Mad: I know exactly what you mean! And yes, now ...<b>Mad:</b> I know exactly what you mean! And yes, now that I think of the churches as museums, it makes sense why we don't go to the others. We pick and choose our museums, most of which are free. :) Thanks.Ginnie Harthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14014434422568561157noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10327858.post-75223702437253450752011-06-21T07:45:13.273+02:002011-06-21T07:45:13.273+02:00I've never really thought about it before, but...I've never really thought about it before, but I'm drawn to churches more than museums, too...though I quite enjoy an hour or so in a museum as well. More than that and I get sensory overload. There are a few churches here that I've been meaning to explore, I think you've motivated me!madretzhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04476635723827784265noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10327858.post-87360812788242546432011-06-21T07:35:47.198+02:002011-06-21T07:35:47.198+02:00PC: The fact we don't have many cathedrals li...<b>PC:</b> The fact we don't have many cathedrals like this in America is surely why they intrigue me so much here, Maria. They're around almost every corner...or at least one in every town/city. It still astounds me. Yes, it was a great b-day trip. :)<br /><br /><b>Karen:</b> So much to see that we usually reach our saturation point at some time, near mid-afternoon, and know it's time to go home. But it's worth it. <br /><br />All that dust...where's the Women's Guild when you need them?!Ginnie Harthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14014434422568561157noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10327858.post-68877028284297612192011-06-21T04:36:51.535+02:002011-06-21T04:36:51.535+02:00So much to see, it must be a little overwhelming s...So much to see, it must be a little overwhelming sometimes. You mention about the dust in many of the churches. So sad. You'd think someone could be responsible for taking care of things.Karenhttp://kbgardenblog.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10327858.post-65555420487265681312011-06-20T22:36:13.709+02:002011-06-20T22:36:13.709+02:00that was a fun b/day trip. i do like to visit chu...that was a fun b/day trip. i do like to visit churches just to admire art too. but you know out here we don't get many of these grandiose churches.Photo Cachehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17734663922538063553noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10327858.post-23076793606648457162011-06-20T19:29:14.698+02:002011-06-20T19:29:14.698+02:00Tim: Thanks. And yes, I know. It's a lot, a...<b>Tim:</b> Thanks. And yes, I know. It's a lot, and mostly for the record, for Astrid and me, to look at later. We don't want all this info to sit in files we'll never look at!<br /><br /><b>Vagabonde:</b> What a great story about how you "stopped the press." Leave it to you! I love that for your effort to set things right, you got $50 in return. You go, Girl! :)<br /><br />It is clear that many artists have left their business cards all over Europe. I'm afraid America never paid attention enough to learn from them! (sigh)<br /><br /><b>ET:</b> HA! Well, I have no clue why on the flag similarities, but it occured to me that being neighbors makes sense. <br /><br />Those churches and cathedrals DO run together but when I go back to look at them, I see all the differences. Bottom line, Roman Catholic is Roman Catholic, isn't it! :)Ginnie Harthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14014434422568561157noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10327858.post-2125231170480143112011-06-20T19:15:29.303+02:002011-06-20T19:15:29.303+02:00So the flags, I wonder why they are that way? Bec...So the flags, I wonder why they are that way? Because they are neighbors? I thought you were going to say why as well.. :)<br /><br />That first shot of the houses in the city centre reminds me of Basel where you took a photo before.<br /><br />And funny enough, so many of those churches have so much of the same architecture and there are all live museums... I love looking at them too.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09455800980666388178noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10327858.post-37020565306044179332011-06-20T17:57:15.081+02:002011-06-20T17:57:15.081+02:00I have a funny story about flags – years ago the L...I have a funny story about flags – years ago the Limited Express came out with a sweatshirt with the French flag on it with some saying. I bought it and then realized that they had the colors reversed – instead of blue, white and red they had red, white and blue. I wrote to their Columbus, OH customer relation to tell them of their mistake. They sent me an apology, a $50 check to buy some other clothes, stopped production of all the sweatshirts and recalled all of them. Think of it, I may have a collector’s item!<br /><br />As for cathedrals and churches – at the time the top artists in Europe, carpenters, glass makers, would work on them to show the best they could do. They would use this work as sample, like business cards if you will, to sell their art commercially. It’s too bad that they don’t do this here. The last churches that have been built near my home in the last five years are nondescript, plain, some like a house with a steeple on top, no sense or art or architecture. Too bad for posterity.Vagabondehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10774109692564954568noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10327858.post-68246670575451829382011-06-20T17:56:37.839+02:002011-06-20T17:56:37.839+02:00As always, great architecture and art! Sometimes a...As always, great architecture and art! Sometimes almost too much to take in. :)Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06179486046864119527noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10327858.post-50003745740979117222011-06-20T16:40:04.166+02:002011-06-20T16:40:04.166+02:00Ruth: I'm glad you liked the flags. It helps...<b>Ruth:</b> I'm glad you liked the flags. It helps me to keep them straight, so to speak. :)<br /><br />I will continue to take the pictures inside the churches and put them into collages as a point of reference. You never know when you need to know something! HA! Well, I still go back to different posts from time to time, whenever I have a question about something...and where I saw it. I have gotten my answer almost every time. But apart from that, it all DOES run together.<br /><br /><b>Cusp:</b> HA! Who would have known! It really is a small, small world, isn't it. :)Ginnie Harthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14014434422568561157noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10327858.post-18854477132439164272011-06-20T14:42:28.447+02:002011-06-20T14:42:28.447+02:00You ARE following me aren't YOU ??? :O) Now ...You ARE following me aren't YOU ??? :O) Now you've been to Dendermonde which is where my in-laws come from !<br /><br />Lovely picturesCusphttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10717783581169397585noreply@blogger.com