Paris Parfait

Stormy weather

 The calm before the storm, Kinderdijk, Zuid-Holland. Click to view detail.

You may have heard there was quite the fierce storm Monday in the UK, the Netherlands and much of Northern Europe. Several people were killed as high winds wreaked havoc, with many trees falling on cars and branches breaking and flying into canals.

Reeds blowing in the wind at Kinderdijk.

In our own back yard, several tree branches fell to the ground. On the bank opposite "our" canal, one tree was completely uprooted and another snapped in half, wedging part of it onto another tree (below).

Firemen (pictured in the background) spent hours clearing fallen branches and debris from the train tracks. Train service in the Netherlands was suspended on Monday, but resumed this morning.

We're thankful for calmer weather: cloudy, with intermittent rain, interrupted by splashes of sunshine. Wishing you a day filled with sunshine, wherever your path may lead!

Better.

Velvety roses amidst a fall "welcome home" bouquet from friends.



David is home, recovering after surgery. He is doing well, although there are many things to remember and warning signs to watch for...

I am fine exhausted. But most of all, I am grateful. Grateful for an excellent surgeon and wonderful nurses and kind ambulance drivers and attendants. Grateful for doctors' explanations and pharmacists' instructions in English. Grateful that I've been able to stay positive and remain cheerful for David's sake. Grateful for friends and neighbours who stepped in, when needed.

Thank you for your thoughts and prayers; for the many messages via email and text. Your support means more than you might imagine.

Chaotic.

Autumn is my favourite season, but this one is proving quite chaotic and unpredictable.

As the leaves begin to turn into a riot of colour, I've barely noticed. As so often happens in life, unexpected challenges arrive, shining a beacon on priorities - and leaving everything else in the shade.

Luckily, our own garden offers a glimpse into nature's seasonal changes.

The swans have returned to "our" canal, after summering elsewhere. And I'm hoping for smooth sailing - and swan-like serenity - through rough waters. Quite unexpectedly, my husband David was admitted to hospital last Thursday morning and is having surgery Tuesday in Amsterdam. It will be his third surgery (unrelated to the previous two) this year!

We hope the surgery is a fairly simple procedure, but are awaiting further word from a cardiac specialist. All good wishes, positive energy and prayers are appreciated.

"Chaos is the score upon which reality is written." - Henry Miller

Bon weekend!

"Grand Livre" French file box, circa 1900. It is one of two antique files storing notes for ongoing editorial projects. Click photo to observe the time-worn patina.

It's been a beautiful, sunny, fall-like day in Amsterdam - and I've been privileged to visit interiors filled with remarkable antiques and vintage collectibles. Nothing like a little inspiration to spark rearranging my office! (Photos coming soon). Plus I've been doing a bit of holiday shopping, as parcels mailed internationally can take weeks to reach their destination (depending upon how long they languish in customs).

Today's news is too infuriating to contemplate - or, as we say in the South: "too sinful to discuss."  But there's plenty to distract and admire in the lastest issue of 91 Magazine. See for yourself!

Friso Kooijman's "Believing in Amsterdam" project

Photographer Friso Kooijman has made a series of photographs depicting Amsterdam's diverse cultures and faiths. Friso's work chronicles prayer services, as well as various events and social functions in which different faiths peacefully interact and cooperate with each other.

Friso said he hopes that his pictures "show people what happens in and around houses of prayer in Amsterdam." "By that, I hope to add to solidarity among people in our city."

To make sure his project representing Amsterdam's diverse faiths is displayed at churches, mosques, synagogues - as well as various public facilities - Friso has launched a crowd-funding project. The funds will cover costs of printing and mounting the photos on traveling display boards and transporting the exhibit to multiple venues. The project's sole aim is to promote tolerance and understanding of different faiths.

For more information on the Believing in Amsterdam project - and how you can contribute - visit www.voordekunst.nl and see more of Friso's photos here.

All photos copyright Friso Kooijman 2013.