Bird nests, charmed city travels and a Reisenthel giveaway!
Summer is almost here, and the 30′C+ degree heat in Spain has blown into town. It is now time for the white linens, sundresses and wide brimmed hats to come out full-time. It is the time for gazpacho, chilled albariños, cucumber salads (um, E. coli free please…I am refering to locally know-thy-farmer grown, and organic). The local melons here in Castilla-La Mancha will soon begin to appear, then comes the fig season. Like last year’s, here. Cannot wait! But for now, let’s remain in the present moment.
We have been busy with Multibird Branding, our little company. Toiling away on work into the wee hours, cooled by evening breezes. A few days ago, when we arrived home from our recent travels, we noticed the most beautiful little birds’ nest. A pair of birds (please let me know if you can identify the variety) have taken up residence in the inside courtyard area of our apartment. With the perfect organic detailing in their nest – they are designer birds, definitely! So, being ‘bird fans’ and all, and in the early stages of growth of Multibird, we were over-the-moon to notice an egg in their nest! And then a few days later a second, and then today a third. I had to share this with you. Enjoy.
Over the past few weeks, we’ve been to Zurich, and Amsterdam. I tell you, there was much cheese and chocolate consumed. Clothes feeling a wee bit tighter, post sojourn!
flower shop in an old Apotheke in Zürich
First we took to Switzerland for some fresh alpine air, swam in the Zürichsee, loaded up at the Lindt and Sprüngli factory, hiked up rolling grass hills charmed by cows with their bells, and the linden trees. I lived near Zürich many years ago, and since then have always carried an ‘inner Heidi’ with me. One deep breath of Swiss air, and I’m yoodling away!
Sprüngli café, the most delicious place in the city
breakfast overlooking the Zürichsee
farm fresh raw milk, or rather 'frische Milch'
The following week we were in Amsterdam – actually, we stayed in the stunning country village of Laren. Officially we were there for a family wedding, but took time to peddle our way through towns, stopping to photograph the architecture and the abundance of flowers at every turn. The Heineken was cold and delicious, and the pickled herrings were sharp, salty and fresh. Cheese factories, pannekoeken, windmills and wooden shoes were also involved. A very happy country I think. Although, they could do with a little more sunshine!
bicycles and stroopwafels, what more could you ask for...
Amsterdam along the canal
typical Holland
a peak through some mid-century kitsch curtains, love them!
Now, most importantly, I have a little giveaway to offer you, my friends! With my lovely blogger/designer friends at Nicole Jane Home here, we will be drawing for a Reisenthel Carrybag. Just in time for your summer market jaunts. They’re even throwing in a couple of extra Reisenthel market bags to boot! Lovely, lovely.
Here’s the catch. Please go to the Nicole Jane Home website here, and tell me in the comments here below which is your favourite pattern. Everyone with a comment, who posts their favourite pattern, will be entered into the draw. Should you be the lucky duck, you’ll be gifted and shipped the Reisenthel Carrybag with the pattern of your choice, and two market bags tucked inside for good measure. The deadline for entries is Thursday, June 30th. We will post the winner here, and notify you via email.
{disclosure: this giveaway is limited to the US, and Canada. But no worries, there will be another giveaway coming up shortly for the Euro set!}
Until soon. Un abrazo,
K.
41 Comments
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my fave is the black & white
Baroque Blue.
I think the Reisenthel Loop Shopper in black is my favorite. Actually they are all pretty.
Nice baskets. My favorite is th polka dot:)
I love the classic black and white….it speaks for itself….strength, classic and confident. A timeless winner.
What a lovely little giveaway! I’m in love with the Baroque Blue pattern.
Oh and ps. My fave colour is Kiwi and as far as patterns go it’s the Baroque Blue. What a great contest and super fabulous shopping bags : ) xox
How gloriously gorgeous Kath! Perfect nests for some wonderful multibirds! Your photography is stunning and you make a beautiful Heidi. Yoodelahihoooo!
Check out my Polyvore set, using my favorite red Reisenthel Carrybag.
http://www.polyvore.com/cgi/set?id=33213014
Love your blog, the pictures are drool worthy, and I’m not just saying that to win the bag. Really. I’m not. I’ve bookmarked your blog so I can continue to follow your sojourns, with bag or not. lol
My favorite pattern in the carrybag, is the solid red. I always feel like my outfits can do with a hit of red. It is about the outfit, when shopping at the farmer’s market dontcha know.
My favorite is the black & white http://www.nicolejane.com/product.aspx?ProductID=1893&deptid=531&PriceCat=1&Lang=EN-US&SID=226be86a-0def-46e9-a109-c9cc91472b1a
You may not live in Capastrano, but I think your birds are mud swallows … or at least, that is what we call them.
I love this blog! Such beautiful photos! Simply gorgeous!
You should do a “gotta-go-visit” list if any of us go on vacation! Such great ideas here!
My fave pattern would have to be polka dots – so cute!
@charmedchickJG
I had a really hard time choosing a favourite pattern. Almost all spoke to some mood or circumstance…but I settled on the ArtDeco because it’s just so much fun! It could serve in any season, though I certainly see it functioniong perfectly at any of the 5 Farmers’ Markets I have access to each week (lucky me!).
Love your blog. Happy First Day of Summer!
I love your photos. Looks like heaven!
I like the Reisenthel Carrybag (black & white)
I love the contrast, the style and the usability. Adorable! Thanks!
spcale at yahoo dot com.
Katharine. Your photos are amazing as always!
My favorite is – no surprise I’m sure – pink. Second would be dots. So fun and so practical.
oops…just re-read the challenge for the give-away, and if the choice is for the carry bags, I like the red one!
p.s. Happy Solstice!!
Hi Katherine, Lovely to see what you are up to….looking good! Your blog and photos are so interesting with such beautiful images. What a life you are enjoying! Hope you have been having loads of fun with your family lately.
I love the market bags. I particularly like the black loop shopper.
xo Jennifer
Your pictures are making me long for a vacation! I haven’t been to Europe in soooo long!
I love the Reisenthel bag in Red.
Thanks for such a wonderful blog!
great photos–and what a wonderful gift to have the nest so close to ‘Multibird’! The green bag gets my vote.
love to you,
AB
wonderful new photos! green bag is my choice. stay cool!
‘AB’
I concur, they are swallows! I love swallows.
So many beautiful photos here, there’s so much eye candy I don’t know what to focus on. I’ll just say that a new shop opened last fall in my small town, and they sell raw milk! We’re impressed – it seems like all the US big-talking legalities mumbo-jumbo would keep raw milk from being available for sale.
Baroque blue for the Reisenthel.
What a super giveaway!! I have to say I love reisenthel carrybag in black & white!
I love the photos of the bird nests!
Katherine! I was thinking about you the other day when I saw a programme called “From Spain with Love” or something on the food network! Sounds like you’ve had some fun adventures as of late! I love Holland.. the land of my people! As for the giveaway.. it’s a toss up between the Reisenthel Carrybag in “dots” (perfect for all of my teaching stuff that I cart to and fro every day!) and the XL shopper bag in Art Deco (I have almost the same print on my laundry room curtains). What a fab giveaway!
I love Jennifers treasures…. my ultimate FAVE bag is the XL Reisenthel shoulder bag in Baroque Sand….. and the black and white carrybag. Fingers crossed! Kara
That is a hard one…. just one of my fav’s……. I think I will have to pick… Artdeco. The movement in the pattern and the colours tell it all.
So glad I found your blog! What a beautiful post, love the vintage linens in the last photographs. I am a huge fan of these bags. My favourite in Nicole’s shop is the Raster Dots Carry Bag.
I love the black loop shoppper! So sleek! I hope you have a great time there! The photos are wonderful!!
OH, the photos are wonderful!! Have a wonderful time. I really love the black loop shopper bag! It is sooo sleek. Wonderful giveaway, thanks everyone!
For some reason my computer had me commenting 2X Sorry!
Wonderful photos Kath – what an exciting life you are living over there, with lovely jaunts to other countries! I like the “dots” bag the best.
Much love to you three,
B
Love the black and white carrybag!
Hi!
The black & white is my favorite pattern but the baroque blue is a close second.
Thank you so much for the opportunity!
~Mippy
bunnysmip (AT) yahoo (DOT) com
Kath, love your photos. I love the green(lime) fabric.
Ummm… I think I like the black & white the best, but I also really like the Baroque Blue and green, as well. Honestly, they’re all really cool!
LOVE the pictures. Wonderful!
Blessings!
Hello there, I recognise the Zurichsee
Really enjoyed your post & especially pleased to see that you have a wee birds nest to coincide with Multibird Branding, that fits in so nicely!
Wishing you all the very best with everything,
K xx
Wow that is a pretty impressive nest – but I cannot identify the birds. Unfortunately the only ones I see in the city are usually pigeons
Glad to hear Multibird is going well.
Love those bags – I like the Raster Dots best!!
Whiskey
I believe your birds are sparrows, golondrinas in Spanish. Their red bib gives them away…
Bother, I meant swallows…
Lovely pictures Kat. So great to hear that Multibrand is going well.
I adore Amsterdam it’s such a relaxed place and so much to do!