Tours & Taxis Revisited...

After Jimmy finished setting up, Alan led us across the river on a tour of Tours & Taxis, where he helped organize Brussels Beer Odyssey 2014, the largest hash event Jimmy and I have ever attended.

Construction dates back to 1900 when the large industrial complex was built as one of the world’s first multi-modal freight transport platforms, incorporating water, road and rail.  

The recent renovations have created a truly remarkable space for restaurants, stores and office space.

This steel sculpture was called The Abduction of Europa, from the Greek myth that led to the creation of European civilization.

Unfortunately we ran out of time to visit the adjacent gardens, where Alan regularly volunteers, but had time for a pre-party drink at his and Julie’s house. The party was fun with a delicious dinner and lots of dancing. 

 

Like Father-Like Daughter...

On April 2, we caught the train down to Brussels, dropped off our bags at a hotel, and walked to the nearby venue aboard a permanently docked ship where a postponed BMPH3 Christmas Party would take place that evening featuring Jimmy as the DJ.

Ironically, while Jimmy was entertaining about 40 hashers, Ashlynn was DJing a long set at BAaD, where she had been working as a bartender since August. Even more ironically, Jimmy, who also DJed while at university, got back into DJing because of Ashlynn, who was following in her father’s footsteps.
 

A Cosmic April Fool’s Joke...

After a very mild winter, Mother Nature must have decided to play a prank on us as we woke up to snow on April 1st, the latest it’s ever snowed since we moved to Holland. 

It didn’t stick around for long, but made for a pretty walk around town. 

Veronica couldn’t resist taking some self-portraits

 

Miscellaneous March...

An early March reflection...

…a reflection in the foyer of a theater...

…and a heron in motion.

Veronica was excited to convert her room into an office after she converted her search year visa into a Dutch American Friendship Treaty visa. So it was time to part with her loft bed that she actually hadn’t slept in about five years. When she found out that the buyer was a Ukrainian that needed it for her family that was fleeing from the war in Ukraine, she offered it for free, but the buyer refused. They settled on a 50% discount.

In March, Ashlynn was busy helping at a bake sale to raise money for a trip to Thailand...

…and at Subcity Community Radio. 

Signs of spring later in the month included Egyptian goslings...

…daffodils...

…and cherry blossoms.

 

Calves or Lambs?

Is it only me, or does that little black and white animal look more like a calf than a lamb? 

This was the first time there was a black stud at this farm and he clearly was a busy boy. 

Despite their wobbly legs, these little babies were very brave to climb up on the nearest sheep, who might or might not be their own moms. 

Instead of the usual sweet faces, the one in the back was pretty scary.
 

Lamb Time Again...

In early March we were thrilled to see a truly newborn lamb at our nearby farm. 

We started visiting the farm again every few days to see the progress of the babies. This year there were lots of adorable black and spotted lambs.

The moms can be incredibly rough with those little babies...

…such as this mom who just barreled out of the chute squishing two little ones.

Some of those lambs were really little. 

Sorry, fresh out of jokes about black sheep.

 

Reflecting on Delft...

The walk back to Delft Centraal was gorgeous with the soft colors of dusk and zero wind resulting in amazing reflections.

Jimmy met me in the city center and we grabbed a chicken kebab.