Thursday, January 08, 2009

Canal Houses

More pics from my trip to Amsterdam last month. My friend Will and I had a lovely walk along the canals. It was beautiful but cold.


I love this house. Look at how it's leaning on its neighbor:

It's funny when I think about it. This house has the same things that I love in quilts. There are words on it - the house is named the Cape of Good Hope. And it's so wonky. Look at the shapes of the doors in particular - aren't they marvelous.

Different house. I loved the pink mixed in with orange for the detailing:

Another wordy house: It really doesn't matter. How mysterious.

In other news, my boring sorting/trashing/organizing life continues in sporadic bursts.

I finished watching Desperate Housewives Season 4. It was okay. Mildly entertaining but forgettable. Nathan Fillion was completely wasted in it - I want my Firefly back.

My sweetie and I are rewatching the first season of Burn Notice - we both just really enjoy that show, and it's getting our brains prepped for Florida. I love how the show isn't just jiggly 18 year olds, but actually features some "mature" actors. Wonderful humor as well as action - woohoo.

Our PC is dying a slow death. Well, I hope anyway, I don't want it to just go kaput. It makes loud grinding noises like it's ready to take off in flight. eeek. Must be time to back up photos etc again.

25 comments:

Millie said...

I use online backups. Everything is encrypted before it leaves my computer. It's about $5.00 a month for one home computer. The first backup takes a long time, but after that everything is a snap. I use it for my servers at work too. Really takes the stress out of how the computer is running.

I use Mozy.com and there is also Carbonite.com, but I don't know if either would work with you in France.

Good luck,

dee said...

Oh I'm so glad to dinf a fellow "Burn Notice" geek. I am so excited that the new season is beginning in a week or so. That and "The Closer" are my favs.
The houses are really beautiful. The more quirky, the more I like them. Lots of personality.

dee said...

Sorry, that's "find"...it's 5:30 a.m. I am type-challenged.

jovaliquilts said...

New season of Burn Notice starts the end of January, and you'll be in the States!
Love your description of those buildings as 'wonky!'

Victoria Findlay Wolfe said...

ooh. and address books, back that up.
I lost all my contacts, I thought I had mine backed up.... bummer.
we like burn notice too. we also like the new show with Timothy Hutton.
Leverage.
You might like that one too!

Cheryl Cato said...

Love your photos & your blog! I can see a stylized quilt with your Amsterdam houses blazing across it. It would be beautiful.
I pop in on your blog from time to time, but now have added it to my list to keep up on. Years ago I was a weaver, but got side-tracked along the way. One of these days I may pick up "fiber arts" again, but just now I'm taking photographs, playing golf, and traveling. Don't know if my hands can do the needlework needed in quilting unless I just try using a machine. Keep on blogging!!!

Millie said...

Thank you for sharing pictures of these beautiful homes. This is the first time seeing your blog....lovely blog!

Browndirtcottage said...

wow...I LOVE the leaning 'wonky' house...
We are 'burn notice' fans too....as well as 'the closer'

Laura said...

Enjoying all your pictures of your travels. Love the "wonky" house.

Colleen and Jason said...

The photo that you took of just the doors and windows is so inspiring. Why? It's wonderfully wonky. I could use some wonky red for the doors, some wonky neutrals for the sashing/moulding, some other interpretation of color for the main building color. I might not have the gumption to make it into a quilt, but it should be a post card. Thanks for inspiring me, I've been lacking inspiration lately. California hugs to you! --Colleen

Fabric Fanatic said...

I meant to leave a comment yesterday, but am a day late and more than a dollar short. I think your Joy quilt is my personal favorite of all your quilts and I have loved many of them. The colors!
The outrageous exuberance and in your face glee just charms me.

YankeeQuilter said...

I like the red on those doors...I ended up getting an external drive to do backups. So far it has worked ok! I also back up my photos each month to a disk and file them in their own box...maybe the only organized part of my life!

Unknown said...

If you have many fonts, back those up too.

I love houses with names. I remember seeing one on Nantucket called "Merry Thought".

Cindy said...

I came upon your blog "somehow" along the way browsing through sewing/quilitng blogs and LOVE your photos. You have made me "remember" Amsterdam when we visited there several years ago while stationed in Cairo.

Idaho Quilter said...

Amsterdam looks like a lovely place. I love those houses, the doors, the windows, and on a canal.
Pink and orange, you have good eye.

Clare said...

It reminds me of 12 Grimauld Place. Wonder if that's what JKR based it on?

Are you getting your Mac Book?

Rosalyn Manesse said...

I love the red doors. I definitely must take more "door" photos

Bonnie K. Hunter said...

Love the photos! How are you doing the copyright on the photos? I should start doing that.

On the backup stuff..you are LUCKY that your address book is safe on hotmail. I also am enjoying gmail, because i can save google documents.

I got a back up harddrive for Christmas..I haven't installed it yet :c|

Bonnie

Fulvia said...

A wonky, Dutch log cabin! Love it, thanks!

Magpie Sue said...

My PC has been very noisy for a long time. DH assures me it's just the fan. He's replaced it more than once during the time we've had it but now can't get the part. That's one reason I got a new PC for Christmas.

"Joy" is looking very joyful :- )

Thimbleanna said...

You know, I have no idea how I landed here (blog hopping tonight) but I'm once again amazed at how we can "know" some of the same bloggers, but how on earth did I miss you? Your blog is SO inspiring! I once did your free-style numbers in the border of a quilt (after a Beaver Island trip) and I've always wanted to try it again. And be it cheesy or not (for me to say), I LOVE your Love quilt!

Anonymous said...

Yep, we like Burn Notice too! We are also hooked on NCIS...love it. My 'puter is currently working. Sometimes the w, s, x stops working and I can't comment. Still lurking kiddo!

Gillian said...

When I was in Amsterdam in July, I noticed that most of the houses that are wonky are wonky in the same direction. It was nearly always the right side that was lower.

Now, I wonder why that is?

Julia Wood said...

Hi there. I so enjoy your blog, and I especially love your LOVE quilt. You've really inspired me. Please check out my blog - greenquilts.blogspot.com - to see how I'm interpreting your LOVE blocks.
Julia Wood

Julie said...

My husband brought home Burn Notice and we watched the first season straight through all weekend. Good show! Had to search through your posts about tv to find your mention of this funny and compelling show. When does season 2 go on CD????