The Dike Synagogue in Sliedrecht, NL

Sometimes we hear/read about something and decide to follow it up...just like you, I'm sure.  In this case, our new-found friend, Janny, told us about the monthly open house for De Dijksynagoge in Sliedrecht (of all places, where Astrid happens to work) this past Saturday and Sunday from 2-4 p.m., 18 km from home.

So, it was a no-brainer.  We put it on the calendar and went on Sunday.

It's the only synagogue in the world built on a dike.

In fact, Astrid heard it's the only synagogue outside of Jerusalem built on a mound.

It was built in 1845 but was dismantled and rebuilt in 2002 when the dike was reconstructed.

It was moved 80 meters west from it's original spot.  Leave it to the Dutch, as I always say!

(Pay attention to the horseshoe hedge in the back on the lower level.)

Can you see how bright the space is?

And how gezellig...the English word is "cozy" but it's more than just cozy.

You immediately notice the important things...even though I don't know what they're called.

For me, this would be the "altar."

And the "pulpit," plus the menorah (lampstand) and the "light."

Astrid found out the menorah was made by our woodcarver friend, Adrie Bezemer, 

from a 1000 yr-old piece of oak wood.

And yes, there is even a wee balcony from which you can get an overview.

From there I could better see the skullcaps all men were required to wear.

There was even a grab-bin in the lobby for visitors who didn't have their own.

Back out in the lobby we took the stairs past the Star of David down to the ground floor.
(That piece of broken plaster exposing the brick means it's "never finished"
until the temple in Jerusalem is rebuilt.)

Remember, this synagogue is on a dike, so the back floor is below the front entrance above.

That's where the  museum is.

I can imagine how proud the Dutch Jews are of these artifacts.

The backdoor off the museum takes you to the garden inside the horseshoe hedge.

Everything grown there is mentioned in the Bible, with names and verse locations.

Totally worth the experience and most educational.

♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

It so happens you can see the 1886 Sliedrecht water tower from the synagogue.

And there were plenty of weathervanes in the area to make me happy,

including the second cat vane I've seen within two weeks.

It was my 71st birthday the next day, Monday, so let's just say I was a very happy camper.

As you know, it doesn't take much!

Bits-n-Pieces

Believe it or not, I just finished an easy week by my standards...not working all day long every day on getting images processed for a new post.

Just bits-n-pieces of this, that, and the other...as you'll soon see!

Promise not to laugh...but this past summer during the Olympics, our nearby Aldi grocery store brought in pallets of goodies from England, to celebrate the festivities.  One of the goodies I latched onto was Ginger Bier (= beer).

The 6-packs started out at €3.49.  "I can afford that," I said.

We're not beer drinkers, to be honest, but there's something about ginger, right?

And when Astrid said she liked it, I took her inch and ran it for a mile.

After a couple months, the price was reduced to €2 per 6-pack.

When it was then reduced to €1 per 6-pack, I bought the remaining 13 packs!

Thankfully the expiration date is next April because we drink only 4 bottles total/weekend.  HA!

So, speaking of ginger, which is gember in Dutch....

I really am a glutton for it!

I love the lemongrass & ginger oil I use for our Sunday-night homemade popcorn.

And when I saw it as a jam (extra jam!), I jumped for joy!

It doesn't take much to make me happy.  But you know that by now.

Backtrack now to Adrie Bezemer, the wood turner.  When we were at his shop 2 weeks ago, he told us about the exhibition where he would be this past weekend...in nearby Nieuwpoort.

It so happens that Nieuwpoort is a tiny town we like to visit

twice a year or so for their spareribs.  Another small pleasure.

And see, it's even ready for the season.

Within a one-block area, we went to the exposition and afterwards ate our spareribs.

It was fun to see Adrie again doing his thing, which he does so well.

We feel like we have a new friend!

And, as luck would have it, we found a new friend...Jan Scheffe.

Making bronzes is just one of his hobbies!  He also paints.

We had fun getting to know him better as he explained the art of making a bronze.

Aren't we lucky?!?!?!
(Maybe we can talk him into making a website?!)

Now, to fill in some more bits...

 Did I ever mention that Astrid and I have a chess game going all the time...

...and all year 'round!

This is the chess set Donica and I bought in Barcelona years ago, with the Gaudí flavor. 

And lest I forget (which I did!), we always have a jigsaw puzzel going!

These are ones we've finished since the last time I mentioned it...all from Jan van Haasteren: 

(in no particular order)

 

At the Gym (In de Fitness)--1000 pcs.

 

Castle Conflict (De Middeleeuwen)--1000 pcs.

 

Christmas (Kerstmis)--1000 pcs.

 

Departure Hall (Vertrekhal)--1000 pcs.

The Golf Course (De Golfbaan)--1500 pcs.

 

 

In the Car Respraying Shop (In de Autospuiterij)--1000 pcs.

 

Some like it Hot--1000 pcs.

 

The Playground (De Speeltuin)--1000 pcs.

 

United Europe--750 pcs.

The Kitchen (De Keuken)--1000 pcs.

Dat was it!  That's it.  Just a whole bunch of this, that, and the other.  Bit's-n-pieces.

For all my American friends, HAPPY THANKSGIVING this week!  It's the one American holiday I miss more than all the others put together.  (sigh)  I'm at least thankful for all the memories....

Adrie Bezemer: The Wood Turner

When I stop to think about it, Astrid and I are so darn lucky!

Remember a couple of weeks ago when I told you about the wood turner we saw in our nearby Grote Kerk at the end of our Summer Festival here in Gorinchem: 

His name is Adrie Bezemer and this is his hobby after retirement.  He's 72.

After that post, Astrid sent him the link to these above collages.

He responded by inviting us to visit him at his home shop for a personal demonstration.

WE ARE NOT DUMB!  We did it a week ago, on November 3, 2012!

Adrie and his wife bought a huge farmhouse 30 years ago 

and remodeled it themselves over 16 years in the evenings and weekends.

In the back of the house, the former cow stable, is now Adrie's display studio and workshop.

Because we arrived by 10 a.m., and true to Dutch custom, we first had koffie break.

Adrie's lovely wife made sure we had plenty to eat and drink.

More Dutch you cannot get!

The wood-turning shop, adjacent to the studio, was a photo op for both of us!

You know how they say it's all about having the right tools!

When Astrid strings tennis rackets, she says she goes into her own zone.

Adrie said the same thing!  He truly was in his own zone.

And what did he make, you might ask?

He actually made TWO different goblets out of goudenregen (golden rain) wood.

The one on the right is mine, of which the Vimeo video below is made.

The one on the left is Astrid's, who chose the same wood but different design.

After the demonstration, Adrie burned the name of the wood 

and his signature into the bottoms of both goblets.

See the A3?  That's his signature.  A (ah) plus Drie (Dutch word for 3) = Adrie.

But A3 also looks like AB for Adrie Bezemer.  How clever is that!

Those 2 goblets were gratis, by the way!

My gift to Adrie in return is the following video, which he plans to add to his website.

Adrie Bezemer: The Wood Turner from Ginnie Hart on Vimeo.

And just before we left, after all our oohs and aahs, I bought a wood ballpoint pen that Adrie had on display in his studio.  Just call me a sucker for any writing utensils! Totally worth €15.

And yes, Adrie inscribed my name on the pen!

I picked out the pen that looked the most like oak wood, my favorite.

Guess what wood it was:  goudenregen.  Golden Rain.

The same wood as our goblets!

THANK YOU, Adrie Bezemer.  THANK YOU.