Best of Presepio 2010: My friends. An ilustration of Anton Pieck for you...

From Coisas Minhas

Anton Pieck (1895-1987), Carol Singers


I like very much the drawings of the Dutch painter Anton Pieck. However, it was my friend Margarida Elias who reminded me of him when she published on her blog some of his fairytale ilustrations.

His works are noted for their nostalgic or fairytale-like characters and are widely popular, appearing regularly on cards and calendars. I managed to get some of them to send to my friends in Portugal for Christmas. However, this one was bought after it.

From 1952 to 1974, Pieck was responsible for designing almost everything for the fairytale park Efteling in Kaatsheuvel, which has become one of the most important theme parks in Europe.
We were there, remember? :-)

This postcard is for you. Inside it is written "Prettige Kerstdagen en Gelukkig Nieuwjaar". That means "Merry Christmas and Happy New Year" or "Feliz Natal e Feliz Ano Novo".

I wish you all a 2011 full of Joy, Love and Frienship :-) Thank you so much for your friendship, support and care! You are very important to me! Sharing this journey has been a wonderful experience! Obrigada! Bedankt! Thanks!

So, I want to remember some of the joys of friendship that 2010 has brought me and I shared with you before:

January

Sharing 7 beautiful things about Netherlands requested by Isabella

February

Meeting two bloggerfriends:

Arwa in Utrecht

Aledys in Amersfoort

March

Martisor: a gift of a Romanian friend

My first traditional Dutch Birthday Party with Monique

Visiting the Spoorwegmuseum in Utrecht with Mihaela...

April

My artist friend, Mihaela...

June

The first Barbecue in the Acthertuin with Mihaela and her family...

July

Visiting the CatharijneConvent in Utrecht with Raquel...

Sending clouds to Margarida...

A blue happy day with Monique and her family...

Sharing my photos in the Stadhuis with Aledys...

August

A beautiful sunny day in Amsterdam with Aledys...

September

In My Place on Earth with Aida and Pedro...

In Oporto with Carla and Tomas...

October

Sharing hilarious moments with Aledys...

Sharing a delicious Indonesian dinner with Meiko...

November

Going to the Kringloper with Monique...

Sharing a November afternoon with Raquel...

Meeting Yaz in my 40's Birthday at Sherlock Holmes House...

December

Sharing Christmas Eve with Mihaela and her family and enjoying a recipe sent by my friend Carla...

I want also to thank the beautiful postcards with caring messages and the beautiful gifts that I've received, not only in the Christmas, but during the year, like the beautiful little pillow from Isabel Tiago, the drawings from Anita, the book from Margarida, the notebook from Ana, the Sherlock Holmes cup and the little pillow from Yaz and the surprise that Rosa is sending me now. :-) MUITO OBRIGADA!

Specially to Anita, Margarida, Patricia, Aledys, Yaz, Rosa, Ana, Sara, Jacoba and Thelma for your regular presence in the blog with your comments and support.

A big Thank You to all the readers, the followers and the ones who are here in a more silent way :-)
A Great 2011 for everybody!

Beijinhos!! See you all next year!!

Best of Presepio 2010 [Travels]

January


Belgium

Bruges

From Brugge 2010

Gand

From Gand 2010

February

Netherlands

Amersfoort

From Amersfoort

March

Netherlands

Heineken Music Hall in Amsterdam: Spandau Ballet

From Spandau Ballet

April

Netherlands


Portuguese Royal Train in the Spoorwegmuseum in Utrecht

From Spoorweg Museum

Zuiderzeemuseum in Enkhuizen

From ZuiderZee Museum

May

Netherlands

Texel

From Texel

June

Netherlands

Katwijk aan Zee

From Katwijk aan Zee

July

Almere: De Citadel

From Almere (III)

August

Belgium

Chateau de Beloeil

From Chateau de Beloeil

Netherlands

Den Haag: Sand Sculptures

From Haia

September

Portugal

Douro

From Douro

Miranda do Douro

From Miranda do Douro

Casa de Sezim in Guimaraes

From Casa de Sezim

Porto

From Porto

Costa Nova

From Costa Nova

Aveiro

From Aveiro

France

Grasse

From Grasse

Cannes

From Côte D'Azur

Antibes

From Côte D'Azur

Nice

From Côte D'Azur

Strasbourg

From Strasbourg

Reims

From Reims

Italy and Switzerland

From Como

From Suiça

Monaco

From Mónaco

October

Spain

Zamora

From Zamora

Avila

From Ávila

Segovia

From Segóvia

Zaragoza

From Zaragoza

November

United Kingdom


London

Christmas Market

From London

Sherlock Holmes House

From London

West End: The Phantom of the Opera

From London

December

Netherlands

Deventer

From Dickens Festijn 2010

Dickens Festijn

From Dickens Festijn 2010

Valkenburg

From Valkenburg

Christmas Market

From Valkenburg

Best of Presepio 2010 [Netherlands]

Best of Presepio 2010 [Netherlands]

Enjoy it and comment, if you missed it! :-)

January

A Dutch History Figure

Miep Gies [the saviour of Anne Frank's Diary] Death

A Dutch City

A Daybreak in Den Haag

A Dutch Painting

Girl with a Pearl Earring and Eduardo Serra

A Dutch Book/ A Dutch Film

De Twelling

Dutch Living

7 Beautiful Things about Netherlands

February

A Dutch City

Utrecht

Amersfoort

Dutch Health System

The Dutch Health System: My Experience

Dutch Appeltaart

Granny's

Dutch Politics

Dutch Local Elections

March

Dutch Restaurants

Restaurant Week

A Dutch Book

Hannah Goslar's Story: Memories of Anne Frank
[Anne Frank's friend]

Dutch Costs

Dutch Discounts

April

Dutch Birthday Party

A Traditional Dutch Birthday Party

Dutch Gardens

Gardens Dutch Flyers

Dutch Museums

The Spoorwegmuseum in Utrecht

Royal Trains in the Spoorwegmuseum in Utrecht

Portuguese Royal Train in Utrecht

Zuiderzeemuseum

Dutch Stairs

Traditional Dutch Stairs

May

Dutch Travels

Texel

Texel (2)

June

A Dutch City

A Tour in Amsterdam

A Dutch Music

Binnen

A Dutch Beach

Katwijk aan Zee

Dutch Living

My bike/Mijn fiets

July

A Frisian Music

Twarres

Dutch Museums/ Museumkaart

Museumkaart and Catharijneconvent in Utrecht

Dutch Football

A song to support Orange team

A Dutch City

Almere: De Citadel

A Dutch Tradition

Beschuit met muisjes

August

A Dutch Event

Sand Sculptures in Den Haag

A Dutch City

Amsterdam (2)

October

Dutch Language

Hilarious Moments

A Dutch City

Utrecht (2)

Dutch History

History Week

Dutch Nice Places

De Kemphaan

November

Dutch Living

De Kringloper

A Dutch Tradition

Sint Maartendag

Sinterklaas

December

Dutch Living

Snow

A Dutch Tradition

Pakjesavond

Dutch Royal Family

A Dutch Royal Family Wedding

Dutch Christmas Markets

Christmas Market in Almere

Christmas Market in Amersfoort

Christmas Market in Valkenburg

A Dutch Event

Dickens Festijn


And finally, the Dutch Film that I saw this month ...Oorlogswinter...very good, in my opinion :-)



I guess I became a fan of Dutch Cinema. I liked also De Tweeling and Zwartboek.

A White Christmas with a special message from Insego

26th December 2010

We went for a stroll nearby the lakes to feed the ducks...:-)

From Natal 2010

Such a quiet and peaceful day...:-)

From Natal 2010

The snow is melting down, so I leave you with these photos...

From Natal 2010

and the message that I received today from Insego...;-)

"Sandra, our leaderboard indicates that this month you created the most popular and valuable content, therefore your profile is featured. Congrats!"

I'm so happy!! Thanks Insego!! :-)

Mexidos: a traditional Portuguese Christmas dessert

From Natal 2010

On the last 24th December, I received an email from my friend Carla who lives in the North of Portugal, in Oporto.
She was telling me how she would spend the Christmas Eve and what kind of sweet desserts she was preparing with her family.
In the mail, she referred Mexidos, explaining that it's a mix of nuts,hazelnuts and almonds, a typical dessert from the city of Braga [capital of Minho province, located in the North of Portugal] where her maternal family comes from.
"Oh, Dear!" I thought, "I think I will like it very much!!". So, I asked Carla if she could send me the recipe.
I must say I wasn't expecting a reply on that day because the 24th is a very busy day in the Portuguese family's kitchens with all the preparations for the Christmas Eve's meal.
However, Carla sent it on that day. I liked the way she began the mail: "My sister is cooking the "Mexidos" and I'm sitting at the kitchen table writing the recipe for you :-)". Very sweet of her!
We didn't have the time to prepare it for the Christmas Eve because we were busy already with the cooking of the "Bacalhau a Lagareiro", the main course of that day, as well as other Portuguese desserts. Our friends from Romania would be here soon to spend the Christmas Eve with us.
On the 25th, we went to their home and during all day, we only tasted delicious Romanian food.
So, we ate the Mexidos on the 26th, a more quiet day and the second Christmas day in the Netherlands [Boxing Day]. :-)
We went to the supermarket to buy what was missing for the recipe and after a while, we were eating Mexidos and watching, relaxing on the sofa, A Christmas Carol of Charles Dickens. ;-)
What a Gezellig [acolhedora/cosy] afternoon, don't you think? :-)
After feeding the ducks in the lakes on our way to the supermarket, it was the most cosy moment of this Christmas afternoon :-)

I hope you enjoy this recipe! It's just delicious! Thanks again, Carla!

Recipe:

Pour in a pan 2 liters of water and add a cinnamon stick, a lemon peel, 6 spoons of honey, 2 shots of port and sugar to taste.
Heat it to a boil. Meanwhile, cut a rustic bread (white thick bread) in very thin slices and add them to the mix.
Stir until the bread completely disintegrate into dough (it might be good to initially add just enough bread to soak all the liquid, and only add more bread if you see the mix is not thick enough).
Add nuts, hazelnuts, almonds, pine nuts and raisins to the mix (how much is up to you), and stir for 2 minutes.
Take it from the heat, pour it into dishes and sprinkle it generously with cinnamon powder.
Eat it hot (I think it's better :))

Receita:

Levar ao fogão 2 litros de água, um pau de canela, uma casca de limão, 6 colheres sopa de mel, açucar a gosto, 2 cálices de Vinho do Porto. Deixar ferver.
Cortar muito fininho o pão rustico.
Deita-se na mistura e mexe-se até se desfazer por completo.
Deitam-se frutos secos (avelãs, nozes, amêndoas, uvas passas , pinhões) e mexe-se durante 2 minutos .
Retira-se do fogão, deita-se em pratos e polvilha-se com canela.

Bom Proveito!/ Eet smakelijk!/ Enjoy your meal!

The Christmas Tree/ De Kerstboom/ A Arvore de Natal

From Natal 2010

From Natal 2010

From Natal 2010

From Natal 2010

From Natal 2010

The movie of this second Christmas day was...

A Christmas Carol (1999) with Patrick Stewart as Scrooge.



Thumbs up! ;-)

The movie of this Christmas afternoon was...

Mary Poppins




Do you like it?

What is your favourite Christmas movie?

Christmas 2010

Presepio/ Nativity Scene/ Kerststal

From Coisas Minhas

The crib was given by my mother. She bought it in Portugal and sent it to me by the post. I bought the figures at Xenos. So, this kerststal is a Portuguese-Dutch mix :-)

From Coisas Minhas

This Christmas Pyramid was bought last year in Aachen Christmas Market.

From Coisas Minhas

From Coisas Minhas

This Christmas Tree is with us since... ever :-) The angels too :-)

From Coisas Minhas

Stay warm and happy! :-)

Merry Christmas! :-)