Tulip Fields and the North Sea

Paula made us a lovely breakfast this morning of delicious breads, cheese and meat, and sunny side up eggs, then helped us out with directions to Kuekenhof Gardens.

We walked to the main station (after missing our bus :P) and found the right bus to Lisse. A few of the people on the ride over actually worked at Keukenhof, so we talked all the way there and walking to the Gardens with them.

Daan and Nedal - they both worked at cafes, so we got a free lunch!

I can't even begin to describe how gorgeous the gardens were. Locals said they had a hard winter, so flowers weren't as full as usually, but it was still fabulous.

Anna in the pond.


Fields and fields of flowers all over the Dutch country side.

Each year the Keukenhof has a different theme. This year it is - From Russia, with Love.












Just wheelbarrows of flowers!

The various artwork and statues scattered about the park were a combination of fun, weird and beautiful.

Such a cute elephant!


Dancing bears...


I really wanted a pair of these (only in my size) but I wasn't about to carry them around in my backpack!

After leaving the gardens, we went back to our B&B. Paula let us borrow her bikes and even guided us to the trail head that would take us to Zandvoort, a cute little town on the North Sea.

Almost to the beach...






Windy and cold! Loved it!

Kite surfers all over. They were so fun to watch! Some of them would get 20 feet of air then land and keep on surfing. They came in so close to the shore and dashed back out again. No paddling for them! Too cool!

Back in Haarlem. I love the cities at night!

I sat outside the hotel with the bikes and did one of my favorite things - watched people, while Anna updated Mom and Facebook. We then had coffee with one of the guys we met and bicycled home.

~Sarah

my desk

this is my desk in the new room =)

*finally i could make it pink!*

graduation ceremony, apr 30 2010

Semalem acara graduation ceremony dilaksanakan. Acara terakhir untuk angkatan ke 28 2010. Acara terakhir di masa putih abu-abu selama 3 tahun. Acara terakhir yang mengharukan. Sekalipun banyak sekali kekecewaan yang mendera perihal acara terakhir ini. Tapi mau gimana lagi, namanya sekolah negeri, guru-guru suka seenak jidat, enggak tau hak dan kewajiban. Acara yang lebih mirip pesta kawinan ini pun berjalan. Dengan semua perempuan mengenakan kebaya, dan jas bagi yang laki-laki. Semua berubah, tampil mempesona.

Meskipun acara tangis-tangisannya enggak ada, meskipun acaranya enggak ada asik-asiknya, meskipun makanannya kurang enak, meskipun enggak seru cuma sampai jam 11. Tapi yasudahlah. Wall of fame-nya kereeen, siapa dulu yang design! ADYA! hehe. Nah kebetulan banget malam ini gue jadi tukang poto. buat danti yang pengen foto sama firga, dan zaskiah yang pengen foto sama budi. Asikk ga tuh. hahaha.

Tapi benar-benar engga terasa, 3 tahun kesel-keselan sama sekolah norak itu udah berakhir. 3 tahun memakai seragam penuh kebanggan sudah terlewati. 3 tahun sibuk panitia ini itu sudah tamat. 3 tahun berteman dengan orang-orang yang hebat meski berbeda ruang sekarang. Gue percaya, masa SMA adalah masa yang enggak terlupakan. Sekalipun itu memalukan dan bikin malas kaya SMA 65. Tapi gue cinta 65 kok.

Gue sayang teman-temannya yang beranka satwa beraneka ragam. dengan guru-guru yang baik sebenernya, tapi suka bikin emosi dengan ke-KOLOT-annya. Tapi guru favorite gue cuma Bu Dwi dan Pak Soleh. Sekalipun dua guru ini suka ngehukum murid, tapi mereka yang paling bijak dan mengerti.

Nilai UN gue cukup bagus, totalnya 48.80 atau rata-rata 8,13. Dengan rincian : Bahasa indonesia 8.20; bahasa inggris 8.60; matematika 9.50; ekonomi 7.50; sosiologi 7.60; geografi 7.40. Lumayan laaah. Meskipun di sekolah gue ada satu yang harus mengulang ujian, Sahuri. Gue enggak percaya dia enggak lulus ujian pertama, secara dia bukan anak bodoh dan imannya tidak bisa diragukan. Tapi kayaknya dia apes. 

Sekarang gue sudah libur panjang tinggal gimana  nanti kuliah aja. Tiba-tiba gue kangen. Kangen santa, adya, yvonne, puspita, rusli, robin, augry, ardy, eya, gevi, danti, tary, dimas, erik, semuanya! Semuanya yang selalu bikin rame hari gue. Ishong yang suka nyanyi-nyayi sambil gitaran, rusli juga yang suka bikin kita nyanyi bareng-bareng. Ahhh, kapan kita bisa bersama lagi? hanya di SMA semuanya terjadi. Gue enggak bisa bohong, gue sayang 65 dan teman-temannya.

Supperlicious....

Today after I got home from work I decided to make gluten steaks for supper. I have not had these in ages and it is one veggie dish that David actually likes. So I figured I should make them! Here is the recipe, that I got from my mom.

Gluten

1 1/2 C. walnuts

1/4 cup rolled oats

1/4 cup yeast flakes

1 tsp onion powder

1/2 tsp garlic powder

1 cup whole wheat flour

2 cups cold water

2 cups gluten flour

Blend walnuts and oats on high until ground. Pour into bowl and add flours and seasonings. Add cold water and quickly knead. (I usually rifrigerate this dough for a little while) Cut into desired shape depending on which entree will be used or roll into a log shape about 2" in diameter. Cut into 3/4' slices and drop into boiling Broth and boil for about 1-2 hours until done or soft throughout.

There are two different broths you can use. Here are both, I used the second one this time, minus the chopped onions. 

Broth #1

10 cups water

1/3 cup soy sauce

1 1/4 tsp salt

1/2 tsp sage

1 3/4 tsp thyme

1 1/4 tsp oregano

2 1/2 cup sliced onions

Broth #2

10 cups water

1/2 cup soy sauce

1 1/2 tsp salt

1 1/2 tsp onion powder

1 1/2 tsp garlic powder

1 1/2 tsp McKays Chicken seasoning

1/4 cup yeast flakes

1/2 tsp celery seed

1/2/tsp italian seasoning

1 tsp. soy oil

1 tsp sweet basil

2 bay leaves

1 cup chopped onions

Granola

Today I made granola for breakfast Sabbath morning. Here is the recipe.

1 large box of quick oats
2 c. shredded coconut (optional, I don't add this)
2 c. wheat germ
1 c. whole wheat flour
1 T. salt
1 c. chopped or sliced nuts of your choice
I also put raisins, cranberries, chocolate chips, and mixed dried berries.

Liquid:

1/2 c. brown sugar
3/4 c. oil
1 c. honey
3/4 c. water
1 T vanilla

Mix liquids and dry ingredients separately and then mix together. Bake at 250 stirring every 20 minutes for 1 hour or until brown.