Poop

Pigeon poop on stoop.

This $#!* is for the birds.

A Post:

While you were sleeping:

Check out Smarts & Crafts' blog, this photo was posted for their Thursday Photo Assignment.

Looking out the window, this is the town square of Leuven. Just a peek of what's to come as I still have photos to post of Leuven, hopefully I will get to that on Sunday.

This weekend, say good-bye to the dog days of summer:

In a Brussels cafe.

Hello fall!

Brussels Park

We're leaving on a train for Bruges today.

First stop, the parking lot of the train station:

I will probably eat lots of this:

Sausage and stoup

(Veggies and potatoes all mashed together for creamy, buttery goodness. Ooooh!)

Walk on streets that look like this:

Next week's photo assignment for Smarts & Crafts is "suburbia." I hope I can get some great shots in Bruges, but how does medieval translate to suburbia? Maybe I should ask the future urban planner...

What a journey it has been so far!

Have a great weekend!

One more symbol for my new creative habit:

Thank you Mr. Bialetti!

New Project: 100 things.

I'm starting a new project. But, it's a project I've already started. So I'm starting over, because I forgot my journal and I am in a new place, and I liked what I've created so far.

On this blog, I've talked a lot about this person. I think she is awesome and on her way to changing the world for a better, more creative place.

Check it out:

100 things

So, if you'd like to join me, print out the pdf version and cut out the squares.

Keep them in a safe, precious place
Draw one.

Today's pick:
# 3. Buy something inexpensive as a symbol for you need to create, (new pen, a tea cup, a journal). Use it everyday.

My Dutch language date stamp, one of my best souvenirs yet!

Boeken

(Dutch for books.)

I love books. They bring a sense of comfort to me and make any place feel like home... along with a little bit of clutter.

But the book I was going to read while I was here, was not meant to be. I accidentally left it on the plane during my first flight to Chicago. Oh well. I have plenty others.

A stack of titles I brought with me in a packing frenzy. I felt like these were the ones I absolutely could not leave behind.

All titles linked to Amazon.

Berlitz French and Dutch phrase book and dictionary. Essential.

Lonely Planet's guide to Belgium and Luxembourg. Another essential.

The Art of Hand Lettering, see below.

Culture Shock! Belgium. Not really essential, but helpful!

Bill Bryson, Neither Here Nor There: Travels in Europe. I like Bill Bryson, but I think he was in a bad mood when he wrote this book.

Spiral Jetta, by Erin Hogan. An arty memoir, interesting so far... we'll see how it finishes. I keep waiting for CRAZY drama, but she is an art historian...

Keri Smith's new book, This is Not a Book. ESSENTIAL! Yay! Keri Smith!

A Year in Japan by Kate T. Williamson. Essential for inspiration. (I also brought my watercolors.)

Edith Hamilton's Mythology, for my new project. I love myths.

I also brought the illustrated memoir French Milk by Lucy Knisley, which was about her time spent in France. I really liked this book, it was cute and inspiring. Miss Knisley just got back from another trip to France, and you can check it all out on her blog.

An essential cookbook: I wonder if this is published in paperback.

I need to start using it soon, to justify bringing it and its weight all the way over here.

On my first few days here in Leuven, I visited this antique bookstore. It was awesome. I just LOVE books. The proprietor sits at his antique desk among first editions, and used copies of books on art, architecture, music, travel, literature, history. My favorite books to peruse were the books about books. Gah!

I tried to resist, but ended up purchasing this copy of

The Art of Hand Lettering.

It's full of useful information on materials, process and inspiration. Plus, it will give me something to do, not that I'm bored or anything...

Markets happen every weekend in Leuven, more on that later. Saturday is the big day for antiques, books and junque.
I can't help myself so I peruse:

I've always wanted to read The Little Prince...

I wish I would have brought my copy of The Diary of Anne Frank. I hope to go to Amsterdam to see her little attic soon.

I've also perused titles in proper book stores. I like books with pictures. I was immediately drawn to these titles:

An illustrated French, English and Dutch dictionary.

It's heavy, but soooo cool!

I really, really, really, WANT it!

A large part of comic history lies here in Belgium, with famous cartoonists such as Georges Remi aka Hergé, creator of Tintin, and Pierre Culliford aka Peyo, creator of the Smurfs! Yay!
Comics and graphic books are a tradition that is alive and well here in Belgium, and prominently displayed,

This calendar could be a good way to learn some Dutch.

The European best seller, Cash

The English translation of this title will be released October 1.

And finally, a book that has been out since 2007 in Europe, but has yet to be translated to English:

Kiki

This is a illustrated biography of artist and muse of the early 20th century Alice Prin.

I think I will buy the French version as a teaching tool for myself.

Fonske

From Wikipedia, "Fonske" is a statue near the centre of town. His full name is Fons Sapientiae, Latin for "fountain of wisdom." The statue represents a university student who, while reading a book, lets wisdom flow into his head as liquid from a glass. Just like Manneken Pis in Brussels, Fonske is from time to time dressed in costumes appropriate for the occasion.

Fonske is also known to have beer floating in his head from time to time.

Fonske will be guiding my posts this week.

BE Skirt Shots

Skirts are very popular here in Belgium. I'm still getting used to the weather and daily activity here, so somedays I go out in jeans. But, I still get around town in skirts. I just love the way they make me feel - so feminine and free. Sometimes it's a little more formal than expected, but I think that's a nice surprise. I also like the way they flutter in the wind, going down the stairs or behind me on my bicycle.

Skirts with tights and boots are pretty much everywhere.

Leuven is a university town, and it's really fun to see all the fashion statements.

Red skirt at the flea market right outside our door.

Mother and daughter skirt, and random shopper skirt. I especially love the little girl's brocade skirt. It reminds me of The Sound of Music, when Maria made playclothes for the Von Trapp children out of curtains.

I love this skirt! Gingham is very popular here.

It reminds me of a certain pencil case someone made for me...

The bubble style skirt like the yellow-green one on the right is everywhere.

In Brussels, on Louise Street.

Guess who?

Just had to share...

This beautifully illustrated, smart NY Times blog by Maria Kalman.

Enjoy where you are, what you have and where you come from.

Meet My Bike

"Humfriet"

I picked him out because he was green, and because the Velo dealer/mechanic told me to.
Velo is where I picked up my bike. It is economical and ecological. I posted a pic of the bikes they had on this day, but here is a real gem of the establishment,

The tool wall!

Eat your heart out Lester!

Much of Humfriet's charm is in the front. He has a bell, two orange reflectors on each end of the handles and a generator that keeps my headlight and back light on at night.

But the best part is the squishy seat; so many lumps in so many places.

How could I not love these imperfections!

Self shot on the bike - very dangerous.

Away we go!

"Humfriet"

I was hoping to introduce my bike Humfriet on this post, but I am having difficulties uploading photos at the moment. Anyway, my bike is a boy, heavy and lime green. His name is a Belgian derivative Humphrey, but the friet part is for the "friets" that Belgium is known for. Humphrey is the first name that I thought of as I was cycling up a hill...

Harumph

Harumph

Harumph.

It will get easier as time goes on, I'm sure.