Biking to Helmond Market

Saturday, 21-January-2012 - Helmond - Rode my mountainbike to the Helmond Market today. Said hello to Marij, John, Gilbert, Luis, and their neighbors (pic). I was good for 45 km. pics (26)

Low-cholesterol Pancakes

Friday, 6-January, 2012 - Veghel - Last November, I promised Cody (first cousin twice removed) I'd give him the recipe for my pancakes. Well, here it is below. My Aunt Bertha taught me how to fold beaten egg whites after the batter was mixed. Until today, I used an electric beater. I didn't realize how effective a whisk (garde in Dutch) is. My cousin MaryAnn simply uses a fork. She teaches using human energy whenever practical. pics (21) Pancakes Yield: 8 large pancakes (approx 7-in dia) Cholesterol per pancake when served with margarine and strawberry jam or maple syrup: 2.5 mg. Ingredient, Unit of Measure, Qty Baking soda tsp 2 Egg white each 2 Flour cup 2 Milk cup 1 Oil, vegetable Salt tsp 1 Sugar tsp 2 Water cup 1 Directions 1. Separate egg whites and yolks, and set aside. 2. Sift flour, sugar, baking soda, and salt in a large bowl. 3. Add milk and water, leaving out egg yolks (see note 1). Mix well (whisk or beater), adding water as needed to thin batter. 4. Beat (or whisk) egg whites in separate bowl, whites at room temperature until stiff. 5. Fold in egg whites to make a fluffy batter (see link). 6. Heat a lightly-oiled griddle (or large frying pan) over medium-high heat (see note). 7. Pour or scoop the batter onto the griddle, using approximately 1/2 cup for each pancake. Brown on both sides, and serve hot. http://video.about.com/gourmetfood/Fold-Egg-Whites-Into-Batter.htm Note 1: Leave out egg yolks for a low-cholesterol meal. Each egg yolk contains 200 mg of cholesterol! Note 2: The pancake cooking temperature is approx 375 Deg F (190 Deg C). When you let a drop of water fall onto a hot pancake griddle, the water drop will dance around and stay in its droplet shape while it skitters across the surface.http://EzineArticles.com/4630664 Note 3: The American Heart Association recommends healthy individuals consume less than 300 mg of cholesterol each day. A person with heart disease should eat a low-cholesterol diet and aim at 200 mg of cholesterol daily.http://www.heart.org/HEARTORG/Conditions/Cholesterol/PreventionTreatmentofHighCholesterol/Know-Your-Fats_UCM_305628_Article.jsp Note 4: General cholesterol health information: http://www.siumed.edu/medicine/gim/cholesterol.htm Note 5: Eggs: Are they good or bad for my cholesterol?

Getting Ready for Mom's 90th Birthday

Sunday, 13-November-2011 - Veghel - My sister-in-law Marlyn asked us to bring a picture of Mom and write a few words about it. These will be used to decorate the house for Mom's 90th birthday on 25-Nov.

link to story behind the pic

Skating to Hellevoetsluis

Sunday, 25-September-2011, - Rotterdam/Hellevoetsluis - It was a glorius, sunny day. After a nice overdue talk with ex-collegue Harald, I put on my skates and headed to Hellevoetsluis. Katherine and Logan picked me up, and we drove back home. High-time for supper. I was good for 30 km. pics (86). gps-tracked route part 1 part 2

Double Fun-on-Wheels Skating

Saturday, 10-September-2011 - Veghel - Twin sisters Arianne and Astrid joined us today. We headed for Wijbosch. When we got back we stopped at the Mac for ice cream. Nine skaters--good for 15 km. pics (26)
gps-tracked route

Return Trip to the Netherlands

Tuesday, 6-September-2011 - Zürich/Eindhoven - We left Zurich around 2330. I got more sleep on the way back. We dropped off Brigitte, Maurice, and Marion at a rest stop near their home where we picked them up. Got back safely to Eindhoven around 0900. Said goodbye to everyone and drove home to Veghel. Thanks to everyone for a great Fun-on-Wheels weekend! Special thanks to the organizers: Henriette, Kees, Marion, Ria, and Toon.
pics album (6) weekend top 50

Monday Night Skate Zürich?

Monday, 5-September-2011 - Pfäffikon/Einseideln/Zürich - Ria announced that the calf was born about 0300. I couldn't get to sleep after wakening for someone's snoring episode. On my way to the toilet, I saw that the morning milking had just started. I watched for awhile before going back to bed. It was still raining when we got up. After breakfast, we thanked our hosts and headed for the Einseideln Monastery for some sightseeing. We then drove back to the youth hostel in Zurich for the Monday Night Skate. It had stopped raining when we got there. We were on our own for a few hours--we'd meet back at 1730 to find out if the skate would take place. The sun came out after a few minutes--my hopes started rising. Marij and I found a nice place to eat lunch. pics (129)
clips
Morning Milking at Lützelhof part 1 (19 sec) part 2 (22 sec)
Monday Night Skate part 1 (21 sec) part 2 (39 sec) part 3 (19 sec)
gps-tracked route part 1 part 2

Swiss Countryside Skating

Sunday, 4-September-2011 - Zürich/Pfäffikon - After breakfast, we headed for the village of Bollingen, about 50 km from Zürich, to meet our hosts and and guides, Ernst and Prisca, for the morning skate. During the lunch break, we got a downpour that didn't quit. That ended our skating for the day. We then headed to the Lützelhof dairy farm in Pfäffikon. This is where we would stay the night. Had a good meal and fun afterwards. During the evening we found out that a calf would be born that night. Helene and Ria stayed up to watch the birth. pics (297)
clip skater with the bell
gps-tracked route

Skating in Zürich

Saturday, 3-September-2011 - Zürich - We arrived around 0930 at the youth hostel where we would spend the night. We put on our skates and headed for the lake front near the center of the city. Jürg, Monday Night Skate Team Leader, was our guide. pics (269)
Train Staton Music clips part 1 part 2
gps-tracked route part 1 part 2

Fun-on-Wheels Zürich

Friday, 2-September-2011 - Eindhoven - Marij and I picked up Bep on our way to the meeting point in Eindhoven: Willy de Kruyff Touring Cars. Twenty-eight Fun-on-Wheels skaters and family members boarded the bus at 2330. Piet was our driver for the weekend. We were on our way to Zürich! pics (12)