If you've been following me for a while, you probably remember that I wrote about family ties before. About my partner and his brother not having contact for years? That was somewhat restored a few years ago. No, they're not best friends, and we certainly don't see them very often. But once or twice a year we go out for a drink together. And that was last Sunday!

Enjoy a coffee at the Baroness?

This time we had a plan. We decided to meet at Castle Heeswijk, to be precise at "Bij de Barones" (At the Baroness). Sounds chic, doesn't it? Our idea was to enjoy coffee and pastries together on the terrace, chatting about everything that was going on in our lives. We only had one condition: we absolutely wanted to sit outside on the terrace. And why not? The weather in the Netherlands was finally such that it was possible! Fantastic weather with plenty of sunshine and pleasant temperatures.

But, as it often goes, the day didn't quite go as planned. When we arrived at the Castle, we first took a nice walk from the parking lot, through the nature around the Castle, over the huge driveway, only to find out that the terrace was completely full. And yes, we were all quite disappointed about that. The only available tables were inside, which was definitely not what we envisioned. So, after a short consultation, we decided to change our plans and look for another place. Drinking coffee "at the Baroness" would have to wait for another time.

Sheeps & Cows and a suprise

Fortunately, there is always a silver lining, right? We knew there were plenty of other options nearby, including a place called De Schaapskooi. And that turned out to be a much better choice afterward! Just imagine a radiant Sunday, a rustic landscape with cute cows and sheep grazing peacefully, and a cozy band that lets the raw sounds of 100 years of blues music float through the air live. And believe it or not, this is exactly what we found when we arrived at De Schaapskooi.

So, there we were, enjoying our coffee with delicious pastries, made from fresh unsprayed products from our own garden, lovely on a terrace in the sun. It was busy here too, but we were lucky and managed to get a table for four. Don't sit inside! Where we expected to drink a fancy coffee, it turned out to be quite different. Instead of "Bij de Barones" we ended up at De Schaapskooi. We jokingly called it "at the shepherd", and to be honest, that fits perfectly with the rural atmosphere and the raw sounds of blues music around us.

We discovered new things we hadn't seen last year

Last year we had been here too, but then we were unlucky with the weather and it rained. So we had to sit inside. This time we could sit outside and so we discovered what De Schaapskooi has to offer. For the little ones, there was a playground where they could let off steam and a flower garden that put a smile on the face of even the most down-to-earth adult. And let's not forget the friendly animals you could pet and admire while enjoying your coffee. In retrospect, we could have even brought our dogs. They would have been very welcome on the terrace, although I think we would not have been able to chat and sit as quietly as we did now. LOL. I love my dogs, but sometimes I'm happy to leave them at home and have a few moments without them.

Next month again

And here's something else to look forward to: We heard that there will be live music again on September 10, as a final salute to the summer season. My partner and I have already made a mental note to go back for another dose of musical joy and relaxation. And who knows, next time I'll spend a little more time capturing these unforgettable moments with my camera. My partner understands my love for photography and is therefore more familiar with the fact that sometimes it just takes time to shoot that perfect picture. And that I am so immersed in the magic of photography that I simply forget the time.

So, let's count down to September 10 together and get ready for another great adventure in De Schaapskooi. But until then, let's smile at the memory of last sunny Sunday, a day that began with a plan that fell apart, but ended with a smile, a song, and the enchanting sounds of blues music among the sheep and cows.

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