2025/Boerenwormkruid Nieuws - 3

 

Het heeft even geduurd, ik moest heel veel geduld oefenen (niet meer mijn sterkste punt sinds ik besef dat de tijd als zand door mijn vingers glipt), maar eindelijk kan ik mijn boek vasthouden. Maar wat véél belangrijker is: jij kunt het óók vasthouden en lezen!

Onlangs kon ik in Donner met heel veel plezier (en toch ook wel trots) een exemplaar overhandigen aan mijn Eerste Lezer Cindy (zij is de knappe blonde).

Dat blijkt dus best een 'ding' te zijn, je Eerste Lezer (net als een schrijvershuisje in je tuin, trouwens. Oeps, past niet op mijn balkon!). 

Op 14 februari hoorde ik 4 Nederlandse bestseller thrillerschrijvers nadrukkelijk beweren dat een schrijver absoluut niet zonder kan! Liefst tientallen, als ik het goed begrepen heb. Nu moet iedereen doen wat zij/hij/het wil uiteraard, maar ik had er gewoon eentje en die zei "top, hartstikke leuk, leest lekker weg, uitgeven!" En daar heb ik naar geluisterd.

Op 21 maart a.s. zal ik mijn boek in de namiddag signeren bij boekhandel Hoofdstuk Een, in de Nobelstraat 16 te Brielle.

Uiteraard hoop ik dat jij, nu je de moeite hebt genomen om dit stukje te lezen, ook denkt top! Dat boek wil ik ook lezen.

Mocht je niet in de gelegenheid zijn om naar Brielle te komen, dan kan je mijn boek bij iedere boekhandel bestellen, maar de snelste manier is via deze link naar Webshop Trichis

Heel veel leesplezier!

Renée Grashoff 

2025/10 - Raisin' the Canopy

 It would make a good song title! Especially when sang with an American twang.

The before photo.

Yes folks, there was sunshine! But at home, on the balcony, it was 5°C, so I had my winter coat and hat on...Boy, was that a mistake, I was sweltering within 5 minutes!

But I battled on valiantly, quite in tune with that twang. "I'm gonna raise that canopy and have myself a glass of Tangeray before I throw an elk on the barbecue" sort a thang.

I swear all rabbits that heard me did a runner, just in case.

And after.

Hm. Not quite the romantic picture I had pictured, but never mind. Those branches will thicken out over time. And at least I can now take that path again without my head getting tangled up in that shrub, and mow that grass.

Apart from my olijfwilg, I tidied up the border next to the greenhouse, where the tulips, narcissi, lilies and primulas are showing themselves. In summer there are masses of gladioli (in a hideous mauve colour) of my predecessor there, which produce masses of leaves which then die back like straw. I pulled them out, but left the bulbs. Somehow I cannot bring myself to dig them up, they try their best to grow and can't help that someone thought that colour would be fun. I compromise by cutting off the flower stems and putting the flowers in a vase.

Yes, yes, definitely further along than a week ago!

And so are these, aren't they sweet?

I hesitated about cutting down the spent stems of the artichokes, but decided to leave them for a bit. There might be insects overwintering.

Tadaaa! One of my favourite plants in spring. It brightens up the entire corner next to the frog pond, love it.

Good times ahead!

Apart from that, I could not do much else. I was the only one there, the soil is far too cold still.

Book news

There will be a 'meet-and-greet' in my local bookshop Hoofdstuk Een by the end of March. I don't know the exact date (yet).

But I am extremely chuffed and pleased to be able to report that the people that have read it so far and made the effort to tell me, really enjoyed 'Boerenwormkruid'. Hurray!

So if you are curious, follow this link to Trichis webshop or contact me at dutchdeltagardener@gmail.com 

Have a lovely weekend!

Renée 

2025/9 - Oh, thank All the Gods that the sun is out!

 Any God can apply for the job, by the way, I'm not picky!

After too many, too long days of greyness, wetness and chilly gloom, today the sun is out! Sooooooo lovely!

I cycled to Hunky Dory to let some water out of my waterbutts, as there will be frost in the night, and I don't want them to burst. I was the only one there, so it was just me, the worms popping up out of the ground (their homes were flooded by me, sorry, sorry) and the narcisii showing colour.

Every spring it is a happy event for me to pick the first bunch to take home.

That ditch wall is the first soil to warm up, so these bulbs flower first. I took a quick look at my other bulbs, and they are coming along nicely as well. The newly planted Camassias are 10cm above ground.

After a struggling first few years, my Viburnum tinus is finally looking as if she has decided to put down roots. Good, she's very welcome to stay.

Can you spot the Camassia? Bright green, on the left. Monty Don says it is 'a bit of a thug', but I have plenty of those in my garden, so I dare it to challenge the others.

Slowly, slowly, the Hellebore opens up. I wait with great anticipation for the first bumblebees to wake up. I suspect some of them live very near that Hellebore. But this week it is far too cold for them still.

The majority of my plants and shrubs are still straw coloured. It makes the sheds and glasshouses stand out, as well as those waterbutts. Not very pretty...But oh well, it is an allotment after all. And just you wait for my roses.

Oh, will you look at that sky?! But I prefer that to the solid grey one we see so very often over here.

Puck and I braved two snow showers already, which turned her into the puppy that she has not been for 9 years. But the snow has melted away as soon as it fell, the frost is only in the night. 

Anyway, that sun lifts everyone's spirits, you can tell. May it stay with us for a while! Have a lovely weekend!

Renée Grashoff is the author of 'Boerenwormkruid'

ISBN 9789492881939

NUR 342

Trichisboeken.nl 

2025/8 - And there it is!

 It is such a cliché: my 'baby' has arrived.

But clichés have become themselves for a reason: they are truth.

When I opened that box from the publishers yesterday, it felt as if the baby of my leap of faith had finally arrived. I had worked hard for a year and then practised being patient for a year and a half, and there it was. 

Colourful. 

New. 

Mine.

Doing it all yourself certainly has its drawbacks (uncertainty about my investment, to name but one), but it has so many advantages too! I can do with it what I like now. 

I don't want to jinx things, so I'll keep my plans to myself for just a little while longer, but I do have plans, and they are (mostly) fun. And no-one is going to stop me, or demand 80% of the income of MY creativity and hard work.

And let me tell you, that is a wonderful feeling.

So. The only way is up! When doubt is creeping up on me (am I an old fool to start this at my advanced age?), I always remember a quote by Mark Twain:

"Age is an issue of mind over matter. 

If you don't mind, it doesn't matter."

There is a lot of life in this old biddy, I tell you! Besides, there is no fool like an old fool, right? Here's to all old fools!

Renée 

2025/7 - 💥 Fame at last!💥 Boerenwormkruid and Gig.

 Totally off-topic, not a plant in sight (except on my photos), but it is my philosophy that if I'd like to Celebrate Life, I need to hang up the bunting myself! (That is a very useful practise by the way, at least you know there IS bunting).

In the webshop!

Update Boerenwormkruid

Another titillating titbit of news about the anticipated launch of my book: 

IT IS HERE!!!😊🇱🇺

You can order it through this link to the webshop  

https://www.trichisboeken.nl/product/boerenwormkruid

From today on you can also put your name forward to receive a regular Newsletter about my writing activities, by sending an e-mail to dutchdeltagardener@gmail.com leaving your name and e-mail address.

Yes, this blog is in English and the book is in Dutch, so this seems counter-productive, but I know my blog is read on a weekly basis by my fellow countrymen and Belgians both (in English, the clever clogs!). And they certainly are my 'target' (my apologies about that word, my Dutch and Flemmish friends, I totally appreciate you!)

Right, let me tell you about our gig last Sunday afternoon.

After a new bass player and drummer joined, and with an almost entirely new repertoire, Dusting Diamonds had practised for a year and a half before we thought to be ready. Our lead guitarist is a stickler for perfection you see, and rightly so, I see too many 'just for fun' bands perform (even charging money) that are not up to par. And I certainly do not want to make a fool of myself on a stage (unless I WANT to). 

Exactly

   

   So, there we were, Sunday afternoon, the music venue happily buzzing with those friends, family members and other folks that were not in bed with the flu. Trust me to organise a concert during an epidemic...

   Now do not think we sold out the Amsterdam Ziggo Dome; first of all it was a free concert and second muziekcafé MACH doesn't pack more than 80 or so. But enthusiastic people are wonderful! Especially when they sing, dance and sway along to your music.

   We all five brought in our darlings (and saw many fall along the way), so we play an eclectic mix of country-rock, blues, jazz and folk. 

   My personal preference is slow, steaming, swampy blues. I couldn't tell you why, as I have never visited the Mississippi area, and probably never will. But it resonates deep within me, if it were possible I would tell you it is in my blood. Hm. Probably from some past life (or utter bollocks). If you'd like an example of what I mean, please listen to the intro of Led Zeppelin's 'When the Levee Breaks', until Robert Plant changes pitch. No? Not your thing? Then try Buffalo Nichols 'Lost & Lonesome'. Still No? All right, good old Muddy Waters then: 'Mannish Boy'. I heard this at age 13, listening secretly under the covers in my bed, and was utterly blown away by it. That song was the start of a life-long love affair with the blues.

Anyway, a fellow musician from another band made my day by declaring he'd experienced goosebumps (from emotion, not horror) when I sang Lovin' Whiskey by Rory Block. Wonderful! That is exactly the reaction I like.

Have a great end of the week and weekend, won't you?

Love, 

Renée 

2025 - 6 Frost and freezing winds do not a happy gardener make!

 Whilst I sit here trying to thaw out after an hour in my garden, I will make good use of my time and write a blog. For those of you that experience real frost ours is peanuts. But it is exactly our wishy-washy winters that make it so complicated.

Cortaderia selloana

  It should be either a proper winter, or none at all...not 4 nights of frost and sunny days and next 2 degrees C nights and 4 C days with an Eastern wind that feels more freezing than those proper frosts! This confuses my plants and cheeses me off.

  My spider plants in the greenhouse were confused as well and died. This experiment has taught me it is no use trying to keep them in there over winter.

Thankfully my spider plant has plenty of babies.

   Anyway. I was glad to see the rest of the garden was looking bedraggled but alive. My new stakes were upright despite the storms we've had, so that's good news.

And the spring bulbs are still alive as well, great.

My paperwhites even show buds. They are underneath the artichokes, so perhaps they are a bit protected. They are always the first to bloom.

So happy to see the bearded iris are alive, next to some more narcisii.

The hellebore next to the frog pond is almost in bloom too.

And the rozettes of the teasles are fresh and perky. I started out with one, and have at least ten by now. I value them, as they provide seeds for the birds and shelter for the insects. Besides, I like the historic value: they were used for combing wool, to get it ready for spinning. For someone who writes, those are useful details about our past.

My logs are there for the same reason as the teasels: shelter for the insects. This afternoon there was a robin perched on them, but as is so often the case, when I tried to take a photo all I captured was a blur, as it bolted.

The apple trees are pretty in their own way, with lichen. And canker... they are not very healthy and the apples are mostly mealy. But as I inherited them, I simply leave them be (except for pruning) and enjoy the spring blossom.

My frog pond is full of leaves, which I will not disturb yet, as I hope there is wildlife hibernating in that mud underneath them. So far the frogs have shunned it, but there are plenty of boatsmen and other swimming creepy crawlies in there. So strange, I have plenty of toads in the garden, but frogs, nope. I had one three years ago. Perhaps they are afraid I will try to kiss them?

Looking rather grey and boring... But just you wait!

Amaryllis

   In a few weeks time that grey, boring space will suddenly burst out in colour. And then my life will evolve around the garden again.

   In the meantime I have a gig next Sunday, wish us well.

   And my book will be for sale in approx. 2 weeks. Cannot wait!😁 (If you are interested in buying it, you can order it at Trichisboeken.nl, that's the webshop, or alternatively send me an e-mail at dutchdeltagardener@gmail.com )

   Have a lovely weekend, wherever you are.

   Renée 

 

2025 -5 Patience, patience, patience! (Boerenwormkruid)

 Not my thing, to be patient... Especially when I feel passionately about something, like my garden, OR my writing. So perhaps you can imagine my restlessness now that I have to wait for my gardens to wake up, for our gig with the band, and for my novel to be published all during the same month. I am like a cat on a hot tin roof. Or like my darling Puck when she notices I am getting her bowl, but am not slicing her doggie sausage just yet.

My 'historical' map of Den Briel

   Anyway, the good news is all is in hand.🤗

   The gig is happening on Feb.9th, the gardens are weathering the windy wetness and I have checked the 3rd printing proof for Boerenwormkruid (Tansy) and returned it to the publishers.

And exhale.

I realise that I am writing about a novel that most of you (3/4 of my readers are from 'foreign' countries) will not be able to read (yet?). But I will explain. There's nothing doing in my gardens right now anyway.

That woman you see speeding on her bycicle is Noor, my protagonist. Noor loves two things: her allotment and detectives. She's a pensioner now, but was a hippy in her youth, is rather eccentric, and extremely stubborn.

When she discovers a dead man in a clump of tansy on her compost heap, she decides it would be such fun to find out who murdered him.

 The second narrative in the story is that of Agnieken, a young woman in 1572, who has to deal with being a roman-catholic carer for the sick in a rapidly changing environment which is evolving to a protestant country, and thus is at war with Spain. 

At first glance the two stories have nothing in common, but as they unfold, you'll realise that there may be 450 years between Noor and Agnieken, but shockingly little has changed, at many levels.

Civilisation...Such a baffling concept. 

Just one example: there IS a medicine against AIDS, but financial motives of a xenophobic country stop this medicine from reaching people who suffer from this horrendous virus.

The Year of the Snake

    If only 'civilisation' was as warm as the drawing on the left. I have no idea what the characters beneath it spell out, but I expect they say something like 'may you have a very prosperous, healthy, happy new year, amongst your loved ones'.

   If only...As if those poor ill AIDS sufferers have no loved ones, and should simply perish.

   It makes me furious.

   But let's keep it light, right? You do not read this blog to be ranted at.

Here you are, a lovely, hopeful sign that this cold, wet, windy season too shall pass. My wallflower on the balcony is telling me it is looking forward to spring. And so am I!

If you are on the Asian side of our planet, may you enjoy your holiday week, and if you are on that other side, please remember those historical words by The Beatles: "All you need is love, love is all you need!"

Renée