Grey and gray

The Ikea ad below is running in Belgium and posters are displayed around Brussels.

Ironically, this year, Belgium has seen more sun than any year since records have been kept.  Normally, I couldn't agree more with Ikea, but not this year . . .

I'm just glad we were here to witness the best weather Belgium has ever seen!

Holland Holiday

We met our friends Steve and Carole for a long weekend in the Netherlands.  We visited the city, the countryside, small towns and the coast!  

Here's a little video (with music :) of our trip . . .

Abbaye de Villers

Last weekend when driving to the Hallerbos, we stopped over at this abbey.

The Abbey was established in 1146.

Construction began in the 13th century

and was finished before the end of that century.

The abbey's wealth diminished during the 17th and 18th centuries.

Guess they should have brewed more beer.

It was finally abandoned in 1796 

during the French Revolution.

In 1893, Belgium purchased the property.

It's now an official historic site.

According to their handout, extensive restoration has taken place.

And it's now home to these little mallards.

Abbaye de Villers

Villers-la-Ville, Belgium

Bloemen

Everything is blooming here in Belgium!

This tulip tree is right around the corner from our house.

Just loaded with flowers.

This tree and a lot more like it line a street near our house.

Crabapple?

The orchards are also in full bloom right now.

Apple, cherry, pear . . .

This past weekend we took a drive to this forest.

It's covered in wild hyacinth, also known as bluebells.

The forest covers over 1,000 acres and was first mentioned in the year 686.  As with Belgium, it has changed hands a few times over the centuries.

The Spanish, the French, and the Dutch managed the forest.  Finally the Germans cut most of the trees during WWI.

After the war, it again became the possession of the Belgians and it was reforested in the 1930's and 40's.

For a few weeks each year it looks like a blue carpet.

Hallerbos

Halle, Belgium